Weeks 35 & 36 - US Open

the addict · Tennis legend

Weeks 35 & 36 - US Open

RJA · Hall of fame

Topemp wrote:
I don't think we're really that much in disagreement, RJA or Coup Droit.
His demeanour early in the 5th set, suggested he was gone physically and mentally. He looked like he could barely move in the third game. I accept that mentally the fourth set had taken a huge toll, but whilst accepting that his whole performance up to then suggested he's in really good shape, why should he feel that having matched Stan over 4 sets that his chance had gone?
The first two games of fifth set he was still competitive, if he could have won one of those maybe it would have given him a renewed lease of life.
He had every reason to be shattered, he'd run a lot more than Stan had, and he isn't used to playing five setters as players who regularly appear in Grand slams are. I also agree that single-mindedly running up and down mountains isn't the only route to success, but I think he might also pause to wonder whether in a year's time he could be in a position where he still had as much to give in the fifth set as he had in the previous four and how he could get himself in the shape to do that.

I think you are misunderstanding why he didn't have much left for the fifth set, it was more mental than physical. He had put in over 3 hours of extremely intense mental focus which is something he is not used to having to do. No amount of time in the gym, on the track or on the practice court can prepare a player for that. It is only through playing matches like that over and over again that a player can get used to it, it just isn't an experience that can be replicated.

Besides, in between playing 117 singles matches (+ 19 doubles matches) and all the work he has put in off the court how much more time do we think Dan needs to spend working on his fitness? Does he have to train 365 days in the year before it is accepted that he is fully committed? Surely we all recognise that some time off is absolutely essential and that the odd night out is perfectly reasonable and not an indication of insufficient commitment? I believe that 3 time slam champion Stan Wawrinka has been quite open that he enjoys a few beers from time to time.

I have been brutally critical of Dan in the past when I thought his actions have warranted it and I will still knock him for his occasional lack of professionalism on the court but this idea that he needs to show even more commitment is one that I find deeply unfair and fails to appreciate just how much he has put in over the last 16 months.

indiana · Tennis legend

christ wrote:
We may also be guilty of overlooking the fact that even if Mr Evans had beaten Mr Wawrinka, there is no guarantee that he would have replicated Mr Wawrinka's subsequent results.

You mean that defeat didn't cost Dan the title ?

Seriously I don't think anyone has really suggested that Dan could well have replicated Stan's subsequent results. A R4 match vs Marchenko on the face of it would have been a good chance, but Del Potro, Nishikori, Djokovic .. .

The discussion has been very much concentrated on Dan's defeat to Stan on that day. Then through his superb play on the day against a decent but not great Stan on the day he could have / should have won. Would have been great to see Dan advance and follow what transpired, but well as he was generally playing the strong odds are greater overall ability and importantly experience would have won out. I imagine that would be people's general thoughts.

But still beating Stan on that stage in itself and advancing further would have been huge in itself. And his utter disappointment was very understandable and expressed openly and honestly .

Re that fifth set it would be utterly understandable that it would have been more mental than physical tiredness that took its toll after being so close to victory. We see in much more experienced and clearly very fit players real let downs no matter how fit they are, often with an appearance of having gone physically when I am sure it is much more mental. Andy, particularly in some Djokovic matches, is a very clear example but there are loads of others.

In general, even going back a bit, I have never really seen physical fitness to see through a match as a problem for Dan. And it is clear that in the last year or so he has put in great efforts. In the rarified levels of 5 set chanpionship tennis of course the fitter still he can get the better but he has come so far in such a short time.

Of course he should want to improve further in all areas, but physical fitness certainly does not stand out to me as a major problem.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 12th of September 2016 02:03:39 PM

Smudge226 · Strong Club Player

Dan Evans is now a good top 50 player. I don't expect that he will go backwards, he is maturing as a man as well as a player and has obviously found within him self a more balanced approach that only he could learn. You can't knock a guy that's finding his way and really improving, just got to get on board and enjoy the ride...

Really hoping he gets a chance to shine in the DC, he deserves it after working his nuts off this year.

Spectator · All-time great

From Jon Wertheim's regular '50 points' at the close of a Slam:

On the heels of a Wimbledon quarterfinal run, Lucas Pouille beat Rafael Nadal in perhaps the match of the tournament. .... That was a titanic effort that signals lots more success.

Assorted other players who impressed: Pablo Carreno Busta, Daniel Evans (who had match point against Stan Wawrinka) and 18-year-old Ana Konjuh. And heres a shoutout to Roberta Vinci, who was defending a boatload of points from her 2015 Serena takedown, and made the round of eight.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I agree Dan is now a top 50 player and has been a top talent his whole career.

In no way I am having a dig. Dan has had an outstanding year. He has shown increased maturity over the last 18 months and reaped the benefits, my feeling is that there are still low hanging fruit for him to pick that will allow him to compete harder and or for longer. At the top it is increasingly attritional.

When he went out to play Fed at Wimbledon after Marcus had been well and truly beaten, Dan said he had to treat the game as just that, a match he was trying to win, unlike Marcus's v Fed which became more of an event where just getting there was the definition of success. Dan rationale was he was a professional tennis player with a job to do, there is no doubting that the guy he played that day, who has a more refined and consistent but uncannily similar skill set is the definition of professional to which he should aspire.

Dan obviously does enough grunt to get fit, however to make further progress and compete consistently with the very best he now needs to look after himself, look carefully at what he eats and drinks when and why, how he rests, and as finances allow either through consultation or recruitment add the apropriate people to his team that will allow him to do that.