2015 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals…ATP 1500...London, England

[klacr]

Semifinal Saturday

Djokovic v. Nadal
Federer vs. Wawrinka

These 4 men survived group play.
Nadal was in a 2 hour 38 minute battle with Ferrer (Nadal could have thrown in towel and still taken 1st place in the group) His reward, a date with Djokovic.

Wawrinka hung tough with Murray. Murray was battling and got to 4-2 in the tie-breaker. Then he went off the rails. Losing 5 straight points and gifting Wawinka the set. Murray then got down 2 breaks in the second. Valiantly fighting back to capture one break back and had chances for another with break poins. But Wawrinka could not be denied.

Murray now his other tennis on his agenda. Great Britain takes on Belgium next week in Davis Cup. Michael Llodra has been training and coaching the Belgian team the past week. Let's see what effect that has.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Doing the little things well adds up to accomplishing big things.
If you can't do the little things, how in the world can you ever accomplish the big things?

The top players always seem to get that extra shot back, they seem to go for more and usually get it just when they needed to. They seem to always stay on course and although they will lose points, they manage and control the damage done to them while inflicting more on opponents. Great players know where their best interests lie and they know what they need to do to get there.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Yes I think Pete Sampras got it right when he said you have to figure the game out as you progress through the different levels...the requirements being different the higher up you go. Federer burst through at the age of 22 all of a sudden. It had taken a while be had finally figured things out. He became the greatest player in the world literally overnight...after his 2003 Wimbledon victory.

[klacr]

Doing the little things well adds up to accomplishing big things.
If you can't do the little things, how in the world can you ever accomplish the big things?

The top players always seem to get that extra shot back, they seem to go for more and usually get it just when they needed to. They seem to always stay on course and although they will lose points, they manage and control the damage done to them while inflicting more on opponents. Great players know where their best interests lie and they know what they need to do to get there.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Berdych did hit some great volleys during the match. Sadly, it's the one he missed that made the difference. Yes don_budge, it's always the little things. Bummer. Doesn't help that Berdych's first serve was once again below 60%. Against the top guys, you can't give them that many looks on a 2nd serve. Tough week in London for my boy. We'll use this as motivation in the offseason.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

It's interesting this "little things" business. This was all the discussion at my club the other day. As one member rightly pointed out, the top players seem to win those odd points here and there that count most. It's not as if Nadal and Djokovic don't have "little things" missing form their game either.

[klacr]

At 4.40 in this highlight video…the turning point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Uiv_PRWvQ

At 3-4, advantage Djokovic, Berdych hit a good serve to wide to Djokovic's backhand and the return came back high, slow and in the middle of the court. Berdych came swooping in…and muffed a swinging volley harmlessly into the net. Novak then routinely served out the first set.

If Berdych comes in and plays that shot the way it is supposed to be played…the first volley sets up the kill shot he is back to deuce. Interestingly he did make a number of nice forehand volley's. There's one at about 6.30 in the highlight video. If he had gotten back to deuce and won his serve he is still in the first set. It's little things that decide matches. This was a key point.

Berdych did hit some great volleys during the match. Sadly, it's the one he missed that made the difference. Yes don_budge, it's always the little things. Bummer. Doesn't help that Berdych's first serve was once again below 60%. Against the top guys, you can't give them that many looks on a 2nd serve. Tough week in London for my boy. We'll use this as motivation in the offseason.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[tennis_chiro]

Exciting matches!

Sorry. These guys are putting me to sleep. Try watching the young Americans playing for a wildcard into the Australian Open. If any of the three Americans left in the draw in Champaigne win the tournament, they would at least tie Noah Rubin in the wildcard race which concludes with this even.

https://www.usta.com/Pro-Tennis/Pro-Circuit/2015_pro_circuit_mens_live_streaming/

I'm partial to young Taylor Fritz who demolished the first seed today. Big weapons, great technique, nice attitude on the court. And he even is trying to occasionally go to the net.

Check it out.

don

London may be more exciting in the semis and finals.

[don_budge]

Another Swinging Volley Bites the Dust...

Federer made himself work a little extra today against Nishikori. Had a set and 4-1 lead before Nishikori came storming back, or should I say, Federer let him back in the match.

Berdych vs. Djokovic coming up. Berdych does not want to finish his season 0-3 at this end of the year finale. Djokovic does not want to lose two matches in a row. Someone's wish will not be granted. Berdych advances to semis if he wins in straights. Believe in Berdych!!!

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

At 4.40 in this highlight video…the turning point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Uiv_PRWvQ

At 3-4, advantage Djokovic, Berdych hit a good serve to wide to Djokovic's backhand and the return came back high, slow and in the middle of the court. Berdych came swooping in…and muffed a swinging volley harmlessly into the net. Novak then routinely served out the first set.

If Berdych comes in and plays that shot the way it is supposed to be played…the first volley sets up the kill shot he is back to deuce. Interestingly he did make a number of nice forehand volley's. There's one at about 6.30 in the highlight video. If he had gotten back to deuce and won his serve he is still in the first set. It's little things that decide matches. This was a key point.

[klacr]

Federer made himself work a little extra today against Nishikori. Had a set and 4-1 lead before Nishikori came storming back, or should I say, Federer let him back in the match.

Berdych vs. Djokovic coming up. Berdych does not want to finish his season 0-3 at this end of the year finale. Djokovic does not want to lose two matches in a row. Someone's wish will not be granted. Berdych advances to semis if he wins in straights. Believe in Berdych!!!

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

One week later...

It looks like Roger Federer will have Friday night off. This is probably the best of all possible scenarios. A day of rest will be so important going into the weekend.

Meanwhile…Europe is teetering on the brink of insanity. These guys are amazing.

"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs…"

[tennis_chiro]

Nadal i...

Still it's round robin so everything still to play for. Even with two wins Nadal is not certain to qualify.

At 4 sets to 0, I don't think Nadal or Federer could be knocked off #1 in their groups. Either Wawrinka or Murray could tie Nadal at 4-2 (if he lost to Ferrer straight sets), but then head to head would seed Nadal ahead of either.

For Federer, you could have three guys with 2-1 match records (if Fed lost straights to Nishikori). But sets won and lost would put Federer ahead of Nishikori. Djokovic could tie Federer at 4-2 and I think head to head would put Federer ahead.

But I don't know the order of tie-breakers in a three way tie at 2-1. Do they just knock one of the three out on the basis of sets won or do they go right to games won %?



don

[stotty]

Nadal looking better...

Nadal is looking better. For the first time in a year or so he hit a dozen or so really good forehands. The last forehand he hit to win the match was the best he has hit in ages...a really fast-paced, hooking forehanding. I hope he gets back to where he was because it will make things more interesting among the elite.

Murray was poor and didn't help himself. How much of that was down to Nadal it's tough to say...certainly a little at least.

Still it's round robin so everything still to play for. Even with two wins Nadal is not certain to qualify.

[klacr]

Well, demons like getting "exercised" but I think you meant "excorcised"...

That predictive text stuff can be a darn nuisance...but comical at times too.

HAHA!

Yes, good catch. that's weird. I actually made that post from my phone and had every intention of using proper verb, I guess the autocorrect kicked in assuming I was talking about fitness and changed exorcised into exercised. My fault. You knew what I meant. Thanks

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Well, demons like getting "exercised" but I think you meant "excorcised"...

That predictive text stuff can be a darn nuisance...but comical at times too.

[gzhpcu]

Good to see Federer win. Exercised a few demons perhaps.
Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Well, demons like getting "exercised" but I think you meant "excorcised"...

[don_budge]

Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic…and the racquet

http://www.zengardner.com/paris-attacks-brilliantly-explained-10-minutes/

Great win for Federer. Typical that I managed to miss it! Why am I always working when Federer beats Djokovic? When I do manage to watch their matches Djokovic always wins...weird. Next time they play in a grand slam final I better make sure I am out working.

Been on court all day. Missed both Berdych and Federer matches

They are replaying the Fed-Novak one right now. Looking forward to watching it.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

If Roger Federer is playing Novak Djokovic there is only one thing that is going to keep me from watching him and that is wild horses. Last night I wasn't disappointed.

I managed to finish my last class at 7.30, do some grocery shopping, drive home and micro wave my dinner (salmon and salad with a little rice) and got my ass in position up in my little office in front of the computer. They were in the first game tied at 40 all and Federer managed to serve out the game in the next two points. Apparently I brought him some good luck and he was struggling to win the first game. If he hadn't it may have been a different story.

Were the conditions just a bit quicker than normal? They certainly seemed to be the way that Roger dictated play…by the way he was maintaining pressure on Djokovic. After the initial game Roger's presence on his service game was absolutely majestic and he kept just enough pressure on Novak in the first set to prevent him from getting his teeth into the match. The difference in the end…when he finally broke Djokovic to win the set was a combination of some slice backhands, pummelled forehands and a skittish little half volley to seal the deal on set point. One break for winner take all.

The second set was almost a formality. Roger broke Novak in his first service game to go up 2-0 but lost his own serve in the next game. No matter…he went right back to work and put the pedal to the floor and really kept the pressure on Djokovic.

Once again Novak Djokovic looked to be very shaky playing anywhere inside the baseline…closer to the service line. His approach game is very tentative and indecisive and his volley technique and tactics are rudimentary. He looks like a very good club player at the net and approach game. Very mediocre. So all in all…you must deduce that this is not by any means the G.O.A.T. …this is a player that specializes in one aspect of play plus he has a very good serve to back up his backcourt game.

Roger on the other hand showed why he is the only Living Proof still playing the game and the last connection to any sort of Classic Game paradigm. He plays the whole court with complementary tactics. He had Djokovic off balance and totally out of sorts. Granted…Novak did not have his best game but it his responsibility to bring something other than his A game when he is playing a tennis player of the likes of Roger Federer. Once again it appeared that the conditions may have had some influence on the results and Roger has the game to capitalize on these conditions and they only serve to take a bit of the teeth out of Djokovic's backcourt and defence game.

Afterwards in the interview room for once the commentatoe got down to some legitimate business and was quizzing Federer on the larger racquet that he moved to two years ago. Two years after the fact they are asking the question…I was asking more than two years before. Roger confirmed every single point that I have discussed about the larger racquets in his answers and without saying it he more than corroborated everything that I have said about the modern game compared to the classic. If Roger had been playing in a field of players that existed some thirty years ago he would have been great…no doubt about it. But his immortal status may not have been so illustrious. His style would most certainly not have the same type of unbelievable flair…as even now he has the tendency to some rather ridiculous mishits. If you missed that interview…you missed the most revealing interview that has taken place in tennis in the past thirty years with regards to equipment.

Regards the match…it is true it was only a round robin match but that is to beg the question. These two were tied in their head to head and any time they go out on the court it is going to be the best man who will win. They may meet again in this tournament and the outcome may be different. But then again we might point out the difference in their ages. But this night Roger was the best man fair and square and judging by the way the handshake looked…there is no love lost. Just the way it should be. None of this lovey-dovey bullshit. No hugs. Just a nice and decent handshake…a pat on the chest and a muttering under the breath…"see you on Sunday chump".

Great stuff under great pressure. The pressure in Europe is mounting. This is now post "Friday the 13th" Europe and it will never be the same. I'm glad that I got to Paris when it was still Paris. That conversation that I had in that cafe will forever be etched in my mind. I wonder if that couple was thinking of good old don_budge after things unfolded. They were such wonderful people. She so beautiful and he was ever so charming and intellectual. A true tennis aficionado who actually knew who Don Budge was. He wasn't so much an avid player. We just shared a bit of each other's journey as we went off into the night.