Weeks 21 & 22 - French Open 2016 (inc. Andy) (clay)

scottie1 · Futures level

Weeks 21 & 22 - French Open 2016 (inc. Andy) (clay)

indiana · Tennis legend

scottie1 wrote:
Andy needs Lendl back great achievement getting to the Final but according to Eurosport he is hitting his forehand about 5 to 10 kph less since Lendl left

Ah, the one man who apparently got into Andy's head and for a time made him all that he could be. Pragmatism. The what much more than the how.

Be thankful Andy had him at all, I just wish it had been longer.

Doubt they will ever have anything like a full time working relationship again, but as more a consultant, around at the big times, if it worked with his team ...

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Not particularly relevant to anyone else but Andy has now achieved all the targets I set for him when he first broke into the top 100 in the early days of this forum. They were to win a slam and reach the final of all 4 grand slams. His career can now be officially considered a success. Well done Andy.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Interesting views re Mr Lendel but I don't see the relevance to RG in the context that this is the best performance by any British tennis player let alone Andy at RG on clay since 1937.

Andy is now twice the player he was on clay under Ivan Lendel, his performance in the first set against a player that history will show to be one of the greatest if not greatest tennis player ever was close to perfection after being broken initially.

The way he plays on clay has improved dramatically over the last two years and there is significant potential for further growth. Amelie I feel has made a significantly greater contribution to this post Lendel clay skill set, surprising given Ivan's wins in Paris, but I feel his impact on Andys clay court skills were negligible.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Sunday 5th of June 2016 06:11:39 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

It's a superb career in so many ways, throwing in also Olympic Gold, Davis Cup and so much else, rewriting so many of these "it's been xy years since a Brit ..."

I feel sorry for him more than anyone that just about the main stat folk look to now and in history for tennis players is number of Grand Slam titles, and not such as Masters successes.

Still I hope he can yet clearly separate himself from this generation Stan's 2 and JMDP ( though of course some what might have been re him ) and Cilic's 1, quite apart from certain players of past generations

RJA · Hall of fame

It was last spring when I swore that I would never watch another Andy v Nole match. Apart from the odd game here or there I kept to that until today, more fool me I guess.

It would be easier to take if Andy simply wasn't good enough to beat Nole but to constantly have him match or outplay Nole only to not be able to maintain the intensity is just a killer. Going from watching such a fantastic first set to knowing the match was a good as over less than 10 minutes later was torture.

indiana · Tennis legend

Oakland2002 wrote:
Interesting views re Mr Lendel but I don't see the relevance to RG in the context that this is the best performance by any British tennis player let alone Andy at RG on clay since 1937.

Andy is now twice the player he was on clay under Ivan Lendel, his performance in the first set against a player that history will show to be one of the greatest if not greatest tennis player ever was close to perfection after being broken initially.

The way he plays on clay has improved dramatically over the last two years and there is significant potential for further growth. Amelie I feel has made a significantly greater contribution to this post Lendel clay skill set, surprising given Ivan's wins in Paris, but I feel his impact on Andys clay court skills were negligible.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Sunday 5th of June 2016 06:11:39 PM

Is not a great deal to do with Andy's improvement on clay ( and it's great to see ) his confidence in his body on clay, particularly after his back surgery, and sliding in a way he didn't for many years ?

It was a surface he grew up with and has said only recently in many ways a favourite with him ( so more than what some may have thought of as an outdated 'favourite' entry on say the ATP site )

I don't really see otherwise particular clay improvements that could not have been achieved by Lendl with a fully fit and believing Andy. Maybe even more - pragmatism, belief, sticking to a game plan probably apply even more on clay, as distinct to any particular tactical changes. Andy seemed to have those most with Lendl.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 5th of June 2016 06:52:44 PM

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
It would be easier to take if Andy simply wasn't good enough to beat Nole but to constantly have him match or outplay Nole only to not be able to maintain the intensity is just a killer. Going from watching such a fantastic first set to knowing the match was a good as over less than 10 minutes later was torture.

For once, I find myself in total agreement with RJA. I just wish Andy could keep the momentum going for long enough in a Grand Slam final to wipe that smug grin off the bloody Serb's face!

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Pity Andy couldn't get the break set 2 game 1; could've all been very different.
Brilliant that Andy made the final though and won his SF against the 3rd seed so convincingly.
Big step forward this RG for Andy; looking forward now for some early rectification against the world #1 at Wimby :)

Spectator · All-time great

And I am also in agreement (though I wasn't watching this particular match at the time) with RJA.

But I have high hopes for the summer.

christ · Futures level

It looked to me (and, apparently to Mr. Murray) like his first serve wasn't going in often enough after the first set. Not sure how Lendl would have helped with that.