Weeks 12 & 13 - ATP Masters 1000 - Miami Open, FL, USA (hard) - singles

JonH · All-time great

RE: Weeks 12 & 13 - ATP Masters 1000 - Miami Open, FL, USA (hard) - singles

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes Jon, I've always agreed about the contrast offered by servebots ( not that I would rush to a queue to watch one or heaven forbid two ) and that they are a fair part of the game that just need overcome. And I am very much for TBs including final set ones at Slams. But Isner does test my beliefs. They are just about still surviving.

Miriambee · Futures level

the reason his matches become so close is that his returning skills are lacking, if they were good he would be winning his opponents' serves.

Because he doesn't return well, he gets to tiebreaks and close sets so often, and has to rely on opponent's making mistakes on their own serves.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Yes Jon, I've always agreed about the contrast offered by servebots ( not that I would rush to a queue to watch one or heaven forbid two ) and that they are a fair part of the game that just need overcome. And I am very much for TBs including final set ones at Slams. But Isner does test my beliefs. They are just about still surviving.

So you would at least agree that they are anything but entertaining to watch, then, Indy? wink

indiana · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
indiana wrote:
Yes Jon, I've always agreed about the contrast offered by servebots ( not that I would rush to a queue to watch one or heaven forbid two ) and that they are a fair part of the game that just need overcome. And I am very much for TBs including final set ones at Slams. But Isner does test my beliefs. They are just about still surviving.
So you would at least agree that they are anything but entertaining to watch, then, Indy?

Oh yes. But I wouldn't propose a law against them

Though you could start a petition

JonH · All-time great

FAA is through to semis to play isner. He looks the real deal, did well on clay and hard, looking forward to seeing him, tsitsipas and coric on grass this summer. FAA recent performances remind me of Becker back in 85, it would be great to see a big slam performance from him this season.

indiana · Tennis legend

Early days in Isner vs FAA and indeed on serve at 3-2*.

Felix though had 3 BPs in all in game 5, each defended by Isner aces 5, 6 & 7. He ended that game with his 8th so far.

indiana · Tennis legend

Isner wins another TB set, this time 7-3.

Though in a shock development there was a break of serve each ( Felix led 5-3* ), taking Isner up to 4 breaks for the tournament.

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

Great to see Big John get the win. Over to Roger now to complete the dream final line up.

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

indiana wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
indiana wrote:
Yes Jon, I've always agreed about the contrast offered by servebots ( not that I would rush to a queue to watch one or heaven forbid two ) and that they are a fair part of the game that just need overcome. And I am very much for TBs including final set ones at Slams. But Isner does test my beliefs. They are just about still surviving.
So you would at least agree that they are anything but entertaining to watch, then, Indy?
Oh yes. But I wouldn't propose a law against them
Though you could start a petition

It's not so much the player, but the scoring system. Tie breaks favour the big server. That's what the likes of Isner, Raonic, etc. are aiming for when they start a set, win 6 service games, blast away at the receiving end, giving the opponent no rhythm. Get to a Tie Break, basically a double length game, ... right up the street of the power serve merchant. Why not change the tie break scoring system, perhaps best of three 5-pointers, ie. first player to 3 points in each mini-TB? More radically, change the game deuce 2-point reset scoring system, drop the Advantage point, first point after deuce wins the game. That would get rid of the one hit wonders, and bring back tactical shot making.

Being able to place the serve, and vary the serve speed and slice from a ball toss .... that's the serve advantage, it's fair to a point and both players get a chance to serve. But it's the rallies, and the groundstrokes that are the essence of tennis and other racquet sports, so when players seek to gain too much of an advantage when serving, the lawmakers of the game should rein those players in. The big serve is a blight, it's contributed to a proliferation of baseliners, doublehanders, attritional warriors, and muscular marvels in both the men's and women's games.

I made some of that up .. but what the heck.

-- Edited by foobarbaz on Friday 29th of March 2019 09:06:02 PM

-- Edited by foobarbaz on Friday 29th of March 2019 09:28:55 PM

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

For once, am pleased to see a Roger the Lodger win: 1 & 4 over Isner in the final. biggrin

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

It's scary how easily Fed has won, and how in front of the field he seems to be.

indiana · Tennis legend

Isner won just 3 out of 35 return points in the final.

Strangely enough that didn't help towards a break and in his 6 matches in the tournament he ended up with a total of 5 breaks of serve.

All that said in a strange kind of way I admire what he has achieved with such little game and wouldn't change any rules to 'deal with' such a player. You can't do so radically such as go to one serve since that would simply be unfair to players that have grown up with the two serve system and I wouldn't change any scoring systems such as with TBs because of servebots either.

It is variety ( if unappealing to most people ) and ultimately an Isner doesn't beat a very good player playing well but does present a different challenge.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 31st of March 2019 07:23:45 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Helen40 wrote:
It's scary how easily Fed has won, and how in front of the field he seems to be.

Great credit to Federer but he isn't generally getting better so indicating how poor the competition is compared to the rest of the 'big 4' at their best.

Elegant Point · Satellite level

Thought the final dull :0( Not a fan of the " servebots" (what a great phrase!!) just banging down aces takes skill, but tedious to watch when not backed by equally good ground strokes. Have commented before I think Isner is just too big - give me Nadal or any of the "smaller" guys any day. Not sure what can be done to reduce the impact of this type of game. Agree would not want to tinker with the scoring system....