Week 35 - US Open (men's main draw - Dan) - hard

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Week 35 - US Open (men's main draw - Dan) - hard

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

I agree with everyone that a few more good challengers is the way to go for Dan but I'd prefer to see him choose the European swing not the US one for all the reasons given in favour of the US. If Dan is going to remain at thin commitment and work ethic he needs to be able to do it anywhere, and he needs to prove to himself that he can as soon as possible. He's not going to get very far if he can only play well on long flyaway trips. He's got the motivation and the hype from the US Open so if he can't manage to keep focus in Europe now i fear he never will.

Having said that if he can wrangle a couple of wild cards into ATP tournaments in Asia the I would love to see him take them and test himself against the big boys week in week out.

steven · Tennis legend

I always get the impression that doing really well in Challengers is the quickest route to the top 100 for players who aren't likely to be top 10 one day (and even Andy won two US Challenger titles before stepping up full time) - indeed, winning 5 matches to win a big Challenger title gets you a similar number of points to winning 5 matches to go Q+R3 at a slam.

Spectator · All-time great

From the BBC running commentary:

"Piers Newbery, BBC Sport in New York

Robredo is currently comparing Roger Federer's game to Dan Evans' in press. It's been a funny old week."

Actually, just read the full interview (which is extremely gracious) - here's the full quote. Clearly (as the questioner says, though somewhat less graciously) no one is going to suggest that Mr Evans is on a par with Mr Federer, and the discussion of the differences is interesting. But even the comment that "obviously they play a little bit similar" is probably not one that anyone would have expected to hear several months ago ... and rather a coup!

Q. When you had the match with Evans, it was a similar style. You play on Armstrong and beat Evans. No way you can compare Evans to Federer. Do you feel in some ways the match with Evans actually prepared you for Roger today? Do you feel you had an advantage coming into this match?

TOMMY ROBREDO: I played there once more than Federer, of course. He had beaten me 10 times and me 0. He also had a lot of advantage. He's also better player than me. So he had a little more advantage there. If you compare Evans to Federer, there's no comparison. No, obviously they play a little bit similar. But the ball from Roger, it comes like fire, no? All the time it's so, so fast. You have to be trying so hard with your legs to go down and try to put the ball in. With Evans it was different. From the backhand, all the time he was slicing. It was time for me to get the chances. With Roger, even if he slices or hits the ball, the ball goes very, very fast. You have to be very focused all the time. But anyway, both matches have been good for me, and I just hope that next one can be the same.

-- Edited by Spectator on Tuesday 3rd of September 2013 05:26:04 AM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Just seen that Robredo has taken the first set off Federer !!

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I hope Dan manages to get some WCs and make good use of them. Not a glorious as GS's, but probably more motivating to him than challengers.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Cheering on Tommy and Janko at the moment. If Fed loses it might be the time at the end of the season to retire?

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I don't think I'd miss Fed, but I would miss PseudoFed.

indiana · Tennis legend

I would very much hope that Dan can get "motivated" to play challengers. Would be rather worrying if he couldn't.

I also do see Imoen's general point that he does need fo adapt to play in a greater variety of locations.

Anyway, be interesting to see what his choices are for the next couple of months.

indiana · Tennis legend

I'd prefer not to see the bottom half of the draw donated to Rafa, so let Fed especially stay around a bit longer. I'd also actually love to see Andy defeat Fed in a Slam final.

Longer term, been great to have such a huge talent in our midst over the last decade, so although his powers may be waning rather, I am in no great hurry to see Fed retire.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I think the game would miss him and the public in general, but I personally don't like what I've seen of him over the years. He's been so smug and condescending, especially about Andy before he was beaten by him at the Olympics - always referring to him as Murray prior to that. SmugFed will always suit him in my book.

Miriambee · Futures level

It would be nice for Dan if he could say he was beaten by the man who beat Federer - however i'm not staying up tonight to see the end.

RJA · Hall of fame

imoen wrote:
I agree with everyone that a few more good challengers is the way to go for Dan but I'd prefer to see him choose the European swing not the US one for all the reasons given in favour of the US. If Dan is going to remain at thin commitment and work ethic he needs to be able to do it anywhere, and he needs to prove to himself that he can as soon as possible. He's not going to get very far if he can only play well on long flyaway trips. He's got the motivation and the hype from the US Open so if he can't manage to keep focus in Europe now i fear he never will.

I was going to say something similar earlier but I had to go out and you beat me to it. If Dan is going to have a good career he has to take responsibility for his own actions, he has to be able to avoid the temptations and distractions that are there. He cannot be protected from them for ever and frankly if he can't motivate himself to do what is necessary after the last 6 weeks then not only will he not make it as a top player but he won't deserve to make it as a top player. If the last 6 weeks hasn't resulted in a permanent change of attitude then nothing will. If the adulation of fans, the respect of his peers and the financial rewards haven't convinced him to give his career 100% then he is beyond redemption. If after all that he needs to be packed off the America to keep him away from trouble then the last 6 weeks will have been in vain.

NB: Before someone misinterprets this post I think he has changed, I think he has grown up and is ready to do what he needs to do. I also have no problem with him going back to America but it should be for the right reasons.

RJA · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:
I'd prefer not to see the bottom half of the draw donated to Rafa, so let Fed especially stay around a bit longer. I'd also actually love to see Andy defeat Fed in a Slam final.

Longer term, been great to have such a huge talent in our midst over the last decade, so although his powers may be waning rather, I am in no great hurry to see Fed retire.

Fed's smugness may have grated at time but his play contains a beauty that Nadal and Djokovic have never come close to matching so I completely I agree that I would like to see him stick around for a while yet.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I separate in my mind and my viewing Fed the player ( a joy ! ) and Fed the person at times ( I don't necessarily disagree with some comments made here and elsewhere ).