Weeks 10 & 11 - ATP1000 - Indian Wells, USA Hard

9vicman · Satellite level

Weeks 10 & 11 - ATP1000 - Indian Wells, USA Hard

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Nice report from a junior, about playing etc with Cam Norrie last week:

"Cooper Woestendick has already been in Indian Wells for more than ten days, after playing in the men's qualifying a week ago Monday thanks to the wild card he received for winning last year's inaugural ITF J300 title here during the second week of the BNP Paribas Open.

Today he began his defense of the Fila International Junior Championships boys singles title as the No. 2 seed, beating qualifier Keaton Hance 6-0, 6-3 in second round action under sunny skies at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Woestendick lost his first round qualifying match to Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-3, yet he gained a new perspective on his own game from the experience.

"I played ok," said Woestendick, the reigning Kalamazoo 16s champion. "I didn't play my best tennis at all, but it was definitely good for me because I saw that my level is there with the pros. I didn't play very well, but I was in the match, totally in the match. It was 2 and 3, but I had lots of chances."

Woestendick also has been practicing with pros in the days since that qualifying match, which has also given him more confidence.

"I practiced with (Cam) Norrie, I practiced with (Ugo) Humbert, I practiced with Norrie a lot actually, and I can see obviously, that they're unbelievable, but I saw that I'm not that far off," Woestendick said. "My level is getting higher and higher and I'm happy with that."

Norrie and Woestendick have two connections, one longstanding, as they both have worn the K-Swiss brand for years, and one new, with Woestendick recently committing to TCU, where Norrie competed in college.

"I'm really happy about my decision, I love the coaches," said Woestendick, who will join friend Jagger Leach in Fort Worth in 2025. "Norrie didn't try to sell it to me at all, but he was just like, yeah, if you want to play college tennis and then be a pro, you should go to TCU. That's all he said. But him and his team are some of the nicest people I've met and to have some hits and see his level, it's really impressive the way he plays.""

brittak · Satellite level

Bizarre end to my last day in the desert. Play has been suspended for over 90 mins and counting due to a bee invasion
There were thousands of them - first noticeable when some attacked Alcaraz. It looked he had been stung but not sure so they got players and officials off pretty darn quick.
They then seemed to be attracted to the spider cam which after a long break and beekeeper arrival some sort of bee hoover was used to try and get rid of them!
Definitely seen it all!
This after a dismal womens match and Wozniacki retiring - its been a funny old day

They are finally back up and running now

-- Edited by brittak on Friday 15th of March 2024 12:14:15 AM

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

9vicman wrote:
Maybe we could create a separate chat for those who want to troll Novak. It's almost as exhausting as the Djokovic zealots. Shan't miss either when he retires. Not condoning Novak if he did say (in Italian) to Nardi at the handshake: "It's not fair but well played."

can a moderator discipline this individual for their fawning sycophancy towards Novak?

sticking up for such a despicable human is unconscionable.

indiana · Tennis legend

Jeff Stelling wrote:
9vicman wrote:
Maybe we could create a separate chat for those who want to troll Novak. It's almost as exhausting as the Djokovic zealots. Shan't miss either when he retires. Not condoning Novak if he did say (in Italian) to Nardi at the handshake: "It's not fair but well played."

can a moderator discipline this individual for their fawning sycophancy towards Novak?
sticking up for such a despicable human is unconscionable.

Hmm, maybe we can discipline misrepresentation of another forum member ( though personally I haven't got a problem with the Novak comments, then again I don't disagree with them ).

Anyway, moving on ...

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Medvedev, Alcaraz and Sinner into semis and joined by Tommy Paul. Paul is rising up the rankings and top 8 of the Race or close, Jack Draper must be looking on wistfully!

9vicman · Satellite level

Jeff Stelling wrote:
9vicman wrote:
Maybe we could create a separate chat for those who want to troll Novak. It's almost as exhausting as the Djokovic zealots. Shan't miss either when he retires. Not condoning Novak if he did say (in Italian) to Nardi at the handshake: "It's not fair but well played."

can a moderator discipline this individual for their fawning sycophancy towards Novak?
sticking up for such a despicable human is unconscionable.

That's me told. Although I wasn't aware of any sycophancy towards Djokovic on my part. In fact I am driven mad by the online Djokovic fans who use every opportunity to show how badly he has been treated and try and trash Federer and Nadal. Just don't enjoy reading group pile-ons towards any player.

Neil Gee · Club Coach

For me the Alcarez/Sinner match should be the final here, not a semi.

They are both in sizzling form and I can't wait for it to start.

the addict · Tennis legend

Such a shame that there is a rain delay. I recorded the match to watch later and I am seeing Sinner chatting to a ballgirl under an umbrella !

Neil Gee · Club Coach

No play before half past ten our time.

Bugger!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Didnt see any of it but Alcaraz and Medvedev both came from a set behind to win their semis and reach the final.

brittak · Satellite level

So Alcaraz wins and retains his title by beating Medvedev in the final.

Well deserved and played well all the way through the tournament. I really enjoyed my time there and watching the final weekend at home.
Heres to going there again in the future!

Tennpar · Strong Club Player

Piqued my interest re a future visit one day (preferably without the rain and the bees biggrin )
Good to get insider knowledge and info, and glad you enjoyed the trip, many thanks, Brittak smile

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, loved all the reports, brittak

And also loved Andy Roddick's takedown of Djokovic about the Nardi point:

Its a desperation move, I dont see any world where Novak should ever be desperate against someone ranked 123 in the world. One, the guy didnt stop. Like, you watch it, he didnt stop, the 32-time ATP titlist declared.
Like, there have been 27 other clips of him (Djokovic) where, and I hate this, to turn back the clock 13 years and expect us to remember a certain point, but like there are all these things of Novak kind of definitely not stopping, but stopping way more than Nardi did in that point.

Nardi did not stop. And even if your opponent stops, that doesnt mean that you have to. Quite the opposite! If they stop, you keep going, you win the point.

So its like, to choose to one, be wrong about what someone else is doing. Then make the wrong decision on continuation, then make a stink about it to the ref, and then mention it to a young player who just had the biggest moment of their life at the handshake, is just an unforced error in my mind.

Tennis journalist John Wertheim also gave his thoughts on the controversy and claimed Djokovics complaint was gamesmanship.

Youre playing a lucky loser outside of the top 100, whos closer to your kids age than he is to yours. You gotta do something to shake things up. I think this was sort of gamesmanship from Novak try and get into this kids head, he said.

I dont think he had much of a leg to stand on. At some point, you gotta let it go, I mean, the fact that it came up in the handshake, Im curious what a former player would make of this, cause from what I saw, it just seems a little beneath him?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

It was gamesmanship and it was a big faux pas from Djoko. My feeling?

He sees Sinner going above him now, and sees Alcaraz as better than him on clay (and grass?) and suddenly it looks like he might run out of road on slam titles - he sees the end of the road somewhere in the distance and the young guys at the top can stop him getting anymore. And suddenly, the chance to be the all time greatest by a clear margin (ie not open to dispute) is slipping away.

And the guy is spooked right now and that is compounded by not being match fit.

So his frustration came out in losing to a lucky loser - blame something other than yourself.

And he realises he is going to miss that chance of being the GOAT without there being an ongoing debate about it. Records are records because they are usually hard to beat - a wall is often hit at inconvenient times and I reckon Djoko has hit that wall.