2014 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals…ATP 1500...London, England

[don_budge]

Let the games begin…start your engines.

The top 8 are ready and so am I!!!
Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Gentlemen…start your engines. The preparation that goes into a tennis tournament…on the part of the players. So meticulous, leaving no stone unturned. Now it is time. The players are feeling that nervous energy…like skittish race horses being led into the gate. It's not the best time to be around these guys. Maybe the wives and girlfriends have to reign in their egos…emotions. It's crazy. What a feeling.

Andy Murray vs. Kei Nishikori…A couple of polar opposites. Murray owns the diminutive Nishikori 3-0 without the loss of a set. Can he really dominate him like so? If the courts are quicker…who does it favor? Murray…I think.

Roger Federer vs. Milos Raonic…The Main Event. Whenever Roger is playing it is the Main Event by default. Who do they pay to come see play? It's a great match. The timing couldn't be better. The talk on the pro tour lately has been a lot about Milos…the hugeness of his serve. His ability to stay in any match with anyone on the basis of his serve alone. But now he has solidified his backhand somewhat. The forehand can be huge behind the big serve. A great one-two combination.

Roger owns the lumbering Canuck by a 6-1 margin. The only loss last week when Roger was running on fumes. He didn't necessarily tank but he didn't compete tooth and nail. But today he will be. Much of the performance today is psychological. Consider that it is Milos' maiden voyage in this venue. Consider that Roger has won it a number of times. Roger is in his comfort zone and it will be up to Milos to serve him out of that zone. Look for Roger to serve impeccably and to follow any loose play to the net…where he will pounce like a cat. Like a nimble feline. Watch him. This is a good match for him to begin with. He has incentive to perform well to avenge the soft loss last week.

The edge to Federer…but in this format, in this half of the draw every match is a crap shoot. Much has to do with the preparation…who is ready. Really ready…because the top eight players in the world are competing and lots of incentives are there for them to perform well.

Gentlemen…start your engines. Let the games begin.

[klacr]

The top 8 are ready and so am I!!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcM2ceKqgdc

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

I don't think Roger did a tactical retreat vs Milos. I think he really did want, and may still get, the number 1 ranking back. That is about the only record in tennis he does not have, the oldest number 1 in the modern era of tennis. I just have the feeling he would like to have that also. I, like db, like his chances in London.

It would be strange if Roger finished the year as number one. I feel Djokovic has had a much better year overall. His results look, and are, better when you look back at 2014.

[stroke]

I don't think Roger did a tactical retreat vs Milos. I think he really did want, and may still get, the number 1 ranking back. That is about the only record in tennis he does not have, the oldest number 1 in the modern era of tennis. I just have the feeling he would like to have that also. I, like db, like his chances in London.

[don_budge]

Roger Federer…jockeying for position

Federer found himself short of what it took and he sort of meekly laid down for Milos Raonic. Raonic for his part overcame Tomas Berdych in an exciting three set semifinal but it he too found himself short of recovery time when it came time to face Novak in the finals. Novak knows how to take full advantage of an opponent who is less than one hundred percent. He mowed down two consecutive opponents who were decidedly still recovering from their previous matches.

It was an interesting tournament in Paris last week and the drama continues into next weeks grand finale. Roger Federer after claiming to end of the season victories at both Shanghai and Basel came into the Paris event a bit worn and torn. He barely survived a stiff challenge from Jeremy Chardy then he played it soft against one Louis Pouille, another Frenchman, until he got into position to be mowed down by Milos Raonic.

So he put himself into position for the season finale in a couple of different respects. Prior to his Shanghai tournament he had a couple of weeks off to do some training and to let his body recover from the summer grind. His run up and into the U. S. Open had to be pretty tough on his body…not to mention the additional set of twins in the house. Gael Monfils threw the final wrench into his plans when he took Federer to his limits…he had nothing left to go up against the sleeper and eventual champion Marin Cilic. But Roger made a stellar appearance in Shanghai and his performance in Basel was rather scintillating. He had a great combination of sufficient rest and match play in his preparation to be able to attain peak performance. He was scheduled to appear in Paris but he has learned through the years to never change a winning game. He showed up but he wasn't all there so now he will try to duplicate his run up to the Shanghai tournament with some rest and practice.

Obviously Novak Djokovic is the conventional wisdom choice to win this tournament as he is also the defending champion. But I wouldn't count Roger out…if he can make it to the finals. I believe that he can take Milos down…as Milos' quarterfinal victory in Paris could very well be rendered meaningless. Raonic's win over Federer in Paris was his first in seven tries…perhaps Roger didn't see the point in getting tangled up in another battle to the finish. He had to go through Tomas Berdych and then Novak Djokovic in the other half…why not do a tactical retreat? Position himself for the more prestigious season finale.

The stiffest challenge in Federer's group may actually come from Andy Murray who seems to have been resurgent in his own right. Kei Nishikori could also conceivably become a factor but his penchant for getting involved in lengthy and energy sapping not to mention injury inducing battle may work against his best interests. He also may be getting weary after a season long grind and all of the attention that has been dumped on him since he reached the finals of the U. S. Open. He may also have a case of the "Wawrinka Effect" too…eventually. Everyone will be gunning for him now.

So it appears that Roger has jockeyed himself into position…pole position. He has taken everything into calculation and left no stone unturned. The equipment variable was the biggest decision that he made and it is paying huge dividends for him now. That 10 or 11 percent amount of real estate that he is using now has made all of the difference and he has to be kicking himself for not doing it years ago. In the end I am certain that he realized he did not have the fuel to overtake Djokovic for the year end number one ranking so he banked on the more prestigious London venue. If he takes this tournament he may not be the official number one but in the hearts of tennis aficionados and connoisseurs he will certainly own that slot.

If the courts are just this side of quick…just a tad faster…advantage Federer. He will be looking to conclude things just as fast as he can…to conserve on energy and to demoralize and confuse his opponents.

[hockeyscout]

Tennis is truly a unique sport in a number of different ways. It is so easy to write a story about a tennis tournament. We can speak of its technical aspects in terms of science and we can also expand upon and discuss the more ethereal elements such as philosophy, art, psychology and even historical aspects as sort of a intellectual pursuit. The drama is unique to other sports as well. The tournament is usually in the course of one or two weeks. Golf is much the same.

Even the change in venues and formats is truly unique. But the lines never change…even though the equipment has. Gods gift to mankind in terms of recreation. Tennis is golf on the run. Can you imagine running up to your golf ball and taking a swing in one motion?

Remember "Happy Gilmer"? That Adam Sandler sure is funny. In a moronic sort of way. It was so hilarious when he punched Bob Barker in the kisser…don't you think so? No? Maybe it's an acquired taste. Like drinking Scotch. Or chewing tobacco. hahah…a golfer with a hockeyplayer mentality. I find THAT funny. Sort of like polo…without the pony. Basketball without a hoop. Tennis without a racquet. That's interesting…too. Don't you think so?

I couldn't agree with you more…my friend. This is going to be interesting.

Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QJiAK-s5a0

Wish we could go to London. We had it planned. Wanted to buy a decent racket and strings as we're playing with third world equipment right now. Afraid to order anything in cause it never gets through flipping customs. Guess we will have to make a trip into Prague at the end of the month just myself, and the child, and leave everyone else at home. However, war in Ukraine, and embassy's have just stopped processing visa's, so we've had to cancel. Third time unlucky now for mama! Grigor did not make it either, so that's sad for me as he's my favorite player.

[don_budge]

It is interesting: 2014 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals…ATP 1500...London, England

Should be interesting.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Tennis is truly a unique sport in a number of different ways. It is so easy to write a story about a tennis tournament. We can speak of its technical aspects in terms of science and we can also expand upon and discuss the more ethereal elements such as philosophy, art, psychology and even historical aspects as sort of a intellectual pursuit. The drama is unique to other sports as well. The tournament is usually in the course of one or two weeks. Golf is much the same.

Even the change in venues and formats is truly unique. But the lines never change…even though the equipment has. Gods gift to mankind in terms of recreation. Tennis is golf on the run. Can you imagine running up to your golf ball and taking a swing in one motion?

Remember "Happy Gilmer"? That Adam Sandler sure is funny. In a moronic sort of way. It was so hilarious when he punched Bob Barker in the kisser…don't you think so? No? Maybe it's an acquired taste. Like drinking Scotch. Or chewing tobacco. hahah…a golfer with a hockeyplayer mentality. I find THAT funny. Sort of like polo…without the pony. Basketball without a hoop. Tennis without a racquet. That's interesting…too. Don't you think so?

I couldn't agree with you more…my friend. This is going to be interesting.

[klacr]

If Djokovic goes 3-0 in Round Robin play, he will clinch the #1 year-end ranking.

Djokovic is a combined 41-5 against the rest of his group.

Federer has won the event 6 times 9all-time record) In 5 of those 6 titles, he went undefeated.

If Federer makes it to the finals, It will be his 9th time in the world tour finals, which would tie him with Lendl for the most all time.

Should be interesting.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

The Groups…

Roger Federer
Andy Murray
Kei Nishikori
Milos Raonic

Novak Djokovic
Stanislas Wawrinka
Tomas Berdych
Marin Cilic

This is a made for television event…made for streaming event. The year end gala. It's a party…designed to kick off a party season. But the party is waning…it's almost over.

A lot to consider with all of the recent events. A couple of good questions to answer. I don't have all of the answers but I certainly have a couple of very good questions.