Weeks 3 & 4 - Australian Open - men's singles main draw (hard)

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Weeks 3 & 4 - Australian Open - men's singles main draw (hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

Jaggy1876 wrote:
It was Jon, I watched the match from start to finish. Barely a fault from either player, some great serving and shot making. Sublime backhand slice work from both. Fed just too good, Dan certainly playing top 50 tennis there.

Very good to hear. Must have been a pleasure to watch. May we see Dan taking on more of the top players in the coming years. Dan, even without the added attraction of that Fed character, is I think for most of us the clearly most watchable of our leading men if no Andy.

indiana · Tennis legend

Jaggy1876 wrote:
Dan played really well, key moment was when he was 5-4 up in tie break, just needed to hold serve and he was a set up. Deserved a set against Roger who was pretty much flawless today and he had to be.

Still confident Dan can push on and this next year perhaps be GB number 1. No doubting on form he is our best player. As well as being the most entertaining to watch.

As I indicated, I agree the most entertaining. On their top form I would certainly question him being better than Kyle.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Techically Dan is a mini Federer (with a greater tendency to slice and swear) which is why I love to watch the guy. Dan has made fabulous progress and it is great that he has addressed his demons for the time being.

We will have plenty to watch on the ATP/WTA tour and in the first weeks of slams, Kyle when fit and Jo on occasions will take us into the second week. Incredibly excited by the 2001 cohort of boys, Cam, Katie B, are and Jay, Harriet, Emma R, Fran, Holly F, Katie S all have the pedigree to be genuine main tour pros, it will be fascinating watching their careers evolve.

Andy was Andy we were very lucky to have him but I am certain he will enjoy watching tennis over the next 5 years and the cohort of 12, year olds he inspired winning Wimbledon and playing grand slam finals year on year (except 2014) from 2010 through to 2016. We probably should too.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

I got the feeling the crowd were surprised by Dans standard and were almost rooting for him in the 2nd set, when you consider how Fed gets the love thats an achievement in itself. Amazing Roger will be 38 this year and still could go on another year or two yet. I wonder if Andy really wants to retire. One last op might work for him.

For Dan lots to be positive about. He doesnt look out of place on this platform at all, he never did even before but he looks fitter and more composed now as well. Top 100 by Wimbledon is a possibility.

Jan · Hall of fame

Glad to hear that Dan played so well and pushed Fed. Love to watch Dan play.

indiana · Tennis legend

Andy most certainly doesn't want to retire !!!!!!

That's why he is being emotionally pulled all over the place and now even voicing another op and perhaps, just perhaps, see you again. That guy would be playing on for many more years if he was fit.

But nice to effectively announce a retirement to test out how much adulation and tributes he woud get

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 16th of January 2019 07:55:44 AM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Andy is done, one last hurrah perhaps but what is the point? He has ticked every box, he is not built like Feder he doesnt play in the same way, he has made a certain physical sacrifice for his achievements. This attempted comeback was over optimistic he really now needs to do what is right for his quality of life after tennis ie the next 50 years. An amazing guy with lots to contribute.

indiana · Tennis legend

Probably Oakland.

I just never though bought that it would be anything other than a desperate wrench ( though he is even more all over the place than I imagined and it is so sad to see ) and that he had his family, his other interests etc. The guy just loves competing.

Michael D · All-time great

Jan wrote:
Glad to hear that Dan played so well and pushed Fed. Love to watch Dan play.

Yes indeed... even just watching a short highlights piece Dan looked back to his fluent, fluid best. Really lovely to see... and to take the Fed to two TBs is a huge achievement. Looking forward to him being back within the top 100 again soon... and hope it doesn't take too long. Would be great to have him back in there before the start of the summer season....

christ · Futures level

indiana wrote:
Jaggy1876 wrote:
Dan played really well, key moment was when he was 5-4 up in tie break, just needed to hold serve and he was a set up. Deserved a set against Roger who was pretty much flawless today and he had to be.

Still confident Dan can push on and this next year perhaps be GB number 1. No doubting on form he is our best player. As well as being the most entertaining to watch.
As I indicated, I agree the most entertaining. On their top form I would certainly question him being better than Kyle.

It depends what one means by "better", I suppose.

Granted when everything is working, Kyle is more likely to beat Dan than vice versa, but that can be akin to Isner beating Federer (or Rusedski beating Henman): power overwhelming art. Kyle has the more powerful weapon(s), but when they (it?) malfunction he has no fallback plan. Dan is an artist, and has more fallback plans - and the skill to execute them.

Overall I anticipate Kyle will have a higher career high than Dan, though, if that is the measure.

-- Edited by christ on Wednesday 16th of January 2019 09:04:01 AM

Michael D · All-time great

Oakland2002 wrote:
Techically Dan is a mini Federer (with a greater tendency to slice and swear) which is why I love to watch the guy. Dan has made fabulous progress and it is great that he has addressed his demons for the time being.

Exactly what Federer himself said Oak, and a huge compliment to Dan! smile From Skysport

Federer, who extended his winning run to 16 matches in Melbourne, said he felt he was playing a "mirror" image of himself

"I think I couldn't pull away early in the match," he said. "I think he played very well. It was hard to pull away and that's to his credit. I was happy to win the first set, that was big.

"It feels like playing a mirror a little bit. He has a lot of slice backhand on the return, he can serve and volley. I maybe just have a little bit more size and a bit more on my serve and maybe that was the difference."

Julia Carrot · All-time great

I did watch some of Dans match live. His play was outstanding and his demeanour on court commendable (for Dan wink ). After a particularly long rally the umpire said something to Fed and they both had a laugh and Dan also joined in with some comment and a chuckle. Did anybody catch what that was about ?

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Wednesday 16th of January 2019 10:34:46 AM

matesalka · Social player

I think a baby was crying and Dan asked Federer if he didn't mind playing with the baby crying and he said he didn't mind on that point (and not on the previous point where he was facing a break point) I think

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

For the record:

L64: (3) Roger Federer (SUI) WR 3 defeated (Q) Daniel Evans WR 189 by 7-6(5) 7-6(3) 6-3

And the Beeb's assessment.