I now believe that the draw is rigged and this draw has done nothing to disprove the OTL story; in fact it reinforces it.

To all the Pat McEnroe-haters i.e. Rafanatics, he has picked Rafa to win USO. Here's the link :

http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/picks/_/tournament/

Djokovic, doomed by Ricky:-)

Harrison over Cilic? Come on Ricky! Cilic has more powerfull ground strokes than Harrison, if I were you I wrote there Cilic in 4 sets...

Djokovic has called a press conference at 3.00 pm NY time.

Harrison lost to Cilic in straight sets, so there goes that prediction.

90 percentage good predictions from Ricky for Monday schedule except from Cilic that I assume it as emotional prediction about Harrison...;)

Djokovic has called a press conference at 3.00 pm NY time.
nadline, 8/29/11 8:03 PM

I know you're hoping that he withdraws.

federer will beat djokovic in 4 if they both make it to semis and i have doubts that is not going to happen and simon is not beating delpotro and murray has all the hurdles to make it to semis if murray faces nadal in semis he will beat him if murray djokovic play the final murray will win if its nadal federer then nadal will win if its federer murray then federer will win if its nadal djokovic djokovic will win ................................tricky isnt it but top 4 wont be in semis imo and consistency in the second week will led 1 out of these 4 to win the open

and against the odds i am picking federer to win murray as the second choice nadal third djokovic 4rth (seems strange) this is my opinion and has every probability to go wrong so please no hard feelings

isfand,

You better take a look at Fed's match being played now. He was up 5-1 and now it's 5-4.

You might want to change your prediction.

yes thats why i said against the odds

Murray can't get pass Delpo? Which Delpo are you talking about? The 2009 USO champion or the current Delpo? Murray has beaten Delpo everytime they played on the hard courts and Murray is in good form right now with a win in Cincy whilst Delpo was knocked out in the first round at Cincy. Also if Rafa is good enough to reach the semi, that means he's playing well, I don't see why Murray would sure beat Rafa if they meet in the semi; to me it's 50:50 chances for both of them.

I don't know that you are against the odds. Many have predicted Fed to go at least to the semis. I thought he would get to the semis in Cincy and have a good shot to take out Nole. Now I am not betting on him. I have to see his next match, because he is trying to make this match harder than it should be. Giraldo can't do anything, yet somehow it's back on serve in the second set.

out of 24 matches today ricky got 17 right 7 wrong including harrison troicki malisse montanes nishikori bellucci and de bakker which were picked by him to win (70.83%) and 7 absolute right (exact no of sets) including fish berdych tipsaravic fognini anderson dolgopolov haas federer(33%)
(subjected to federer's supposed win over giraldo in straight sets)

@luckystar i never said murray cant get pass delpotro and murray beating nadal in semi
if they face each other is my prediction i think so might not happen though and nativenewyorker i am picking federer to win not to go to semis

and against the odds i said as odds rate djokovic nadal murray and federer as favourites in the order mentioned while my order is totally opposite federer murray nadal and djokovic

Wow. Who'd have thunk it? Who is the only player in the top three that gets the privilege and advantage to play on the first day? Is it the defending champion (who would traditionally play first if it was Wimbledon)? No? Maybe it's the new reigning Number One in the world? Not him either? Huh, who's left???

Ohhh, it's Federer of course!!!! Natch.

Go Fed!!! USO Tournament Referee Brian Earley's fav!

So Andy and Rafa aren't playing till Wednesday??? What's going on???

my 2 cents: Fish - Rafa final, and bring the fish puns

deuce,

Where did you hear that? I thought that Rafa was scheduled to play Tuesday night at 7:00 pm. I don't know about Andy.

Sorry NNY, I'm probably wrong about Rafa, but I think Andy is scheduled noonish Wednesday.
Just such an advantage to play Monday, especially if the weather turns bad again :(

Hi NNY just checked official site Rafa plays 7pm your time.

So it is a late night tonight!!!!

The time lag (with midnight BST coming half way through the day's play) means you need a wet towel round the head to keep track of who is playing when.

As a matter of interest, was it Alex who sabotaged the 'Who Will Win' Poll on TT? Or has it crashed because the 3-line whip instructed Club Fed to register multiple votes. ;-)

Andy complained yesterday (and rightly so) about playing his 1st match on Wed which means that he will play his USO GS over 11 days whilst somebody, who shall be nameless, will have a 14 day tournament, having played his 1st match yesterday. All I'll say is, Andy should take heart as Rafa played his 1st match on Wed last year.

They should follow the example of other GS who give all the players a fair chance of spreading the load over the same number of days or near enough.

Rafa is definitely on at midnight BST today.

Key Matches - Tuesday, 30 August, 2011

Singles - First Round
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs C Niland (IRL)
A Golubev (KAZ) vs [2] R Nadal (ESP)
[5] D Ferrer (ESP) vs I Andreev (RUS)
[11] J Tsonga (FRA) vs Y Lu (TPE)
[14] S Wawrinka (SUI) vs M Gonzalez (ARG)
[16] M Youzhny (RUS) vs E Gulbis (LAT)
E Prodon (FRA) vs [17] J Melzer (AUT)
J Nieminen (FIN) vs [19] F Verdasco (ESP)

nadline, they obviously want youknowwho in the final :(
ed, American season is a KILLER isn't it? alex complained about poll, does he have the power of sabotage? If so will set him to work at once on Andy's opponents..;)

If you click on poll archive, it comes up 'temporarily unavailable etc.' and has done now for several days. Then afterwards, when I try to click back to TT items, I get the same message so have to close and then log on again.

deuce,

Thanks, I checked and Rafa is playing at 7:00 pm et tonight,which is 4:00 pm pt for me out here in L.A.

I have no idea why Andy should start on Wednesday! That makes no sense to me at all. With Super Saturday and then the final and no day of rest in between, the players who start on Monday have the biggest advantage.

I don't get what is going on with the scheduling.

I will be watching Rafa's match and will try to post some thoughts. This is the only slam where I don't have to up till all hours.

I would not even try to defend this bizarre scheduling.

Isn't the first round of every GS normally three days long due to all the matches? This is normal. It's just that somebody has to be a draw on that 3rd day and, until Murray wins some GS (and can throw his weight around), he's the likely candidate to play on the third day.

Murray, Soderling, Simon and JMDP all have to wait til Wednesday to play their r128 matches. That is a pretty significant disadvantage for some pretty big names. Definitely some poor planning.

Numero,
If he's the 4th best player in the world & the main seed of his quarter, he def has some weight dear boy, at least to be on the second day with Numbers 1 & 3 on in the first!
`Numerorically` speaking that is.
No need for Mafioso style `leaning`or bouncing `pussy wagons`with ` gangsta brothas` armed to their golden plated teeth etc, blah blah.
Anyhoo, Spilt Milk & all that.....

For the past 2 years, at least, Rafa has played his first match on the Wednesday and last year it didn't do him any harm. It is unfair not to spread the matches out for all players especially the top players who are likely to make it deep into the tournament. I distinctly remember that in 2009 Roger finished his 2nd rnd match even before Rafa played his 1st rnd because I wrote to Sky Sports about it.

Roger will be playing his 2nd match tomorrow, no doubt, and if they give Andy the night slot, then Roger will have finished his 2nd round before Andy takes to the court.

For me, the tournament has started until I see Rafa weild his racquet.

Djokovic's secret: pressurized egg
NewsCore
The Wall Street Journal

Updated Aug 29, 2011 1:21 AM ET

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is using a secret weapon called a CVAC pod that its creators claim boosts performance by simulating high altitude, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Ever since last year's US Open, Djokovic has been trying to improve his fitness by climbing into the rare $75,000 egg-shaped, bobsled-sized pressure chamber.

The machine, which is made by a California-based company called CVAC Systems and has not been banned by any sports governing bodies, is one of only 20 in the world.

Unlike the increasingly trendy $5,000 hyperbaric chambers many professional athletes use to saturate the blood with oxygen and stimulate healing, the CVAC is a considerably more ambitious contraption. It uses a computer-controlled valve and a vacuum pump to simulate high altitude and compress the muscles at rhythmic intervals.

The company claims that spending up to 20 minutes in the pod three times a week can boost athletic performance by improving circulation, boosting oxygen-rich red-blood cells, removing lactic acid and possibly even stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis and stem-cell production.

Djokovic is so convinced that the pod helps his game that during the US Open, which starts Monday, the No. 1 seed is staying with a wealthy tennis-trainer friend in Alpine, N.J., who keeps one of the machines on his property.

"It really helps ? not with muscle but more with recovery after an exhausting set," said Djokovic, who has never spoken about the pod publicly before. "It's like a spaceship. It's very interesting technology."

While pod users do not do much beyond sitting while they are inside (cellphone use is permitted), CVAC Systems chief executive Allen Ruszkowski said the treatment seems to have many of the same effects on the body as intense exercise. He claimed that the technology may be twice as effective at helping the body absorb oxygen as blood doping ? a banned form of performance enhancement.

In 2006 the World Anti-Doping Agency ruled that such oxygen tents enhance performance and violate "the spirit of sport," but did not add them to the list of banned substances and methods, saying it would wait until further studies were conducted.

Patrick McEnroe, the US Tennis Association's general manager of player development, said he was skeptical that any such contraption could have much impact on tennis performance.

"I don't really take this stuff particularly seriously," he said. "Maybe there are a few things that have helped [Djokovic] mentally, but let's remember that before he ... went into a hyperbaric chamber he had already won a grand slam and beat Roger Federer."

Thanks for posting this entire article Nadline. I saw another a few days ago on Tennis.com and on Fox Sports news. What's suspicious, is that Novak keeps story keeps changing all of the time, and it has now boiled down to he only used it a couple of times at the 2010 USO, and has not used it since.

I suppose the Djokovic fans will say it's because I hate him that I'm commenting, but that's so very far from the truth. I thinkl that it's unfair to the other players that one player is using a device that enables him to perform more superior to his peers.

I happen to like Patric McEnroe, but I disagree with his rationalization. Yes, Novak had won a GS, and some MS titles, and beaten Federer, prior to 2010 USO, but he's done considerably more since steppingng into the pod, e.g., won 2 additional GS titles, 5 MS, and has a 57-2 record.

I'm not a player, and I'm angry that this situation has occurred, so I'm just wondering how Fed, Nadal, Murray and the other guys are feeling about this pod, especially Fed and Rafa, who've been beaten by Novak so many times this year. And, the worst is still to come, coz what will stop Novak using the pod throughout the US?. This is so not right.

I'm sorry, I don't believe him. If we were to back-track to post USO in 2010, it's clear that his improvement in stamina and match play began after using the pod at the USO, helping him with Davis Cup and then we all know about the amazing run' this year.

I had my suspicions of the gluten-free diet, coz my GF's father, who's a DO, as well as a Naturopathic physician, said that it was impossible for a diet to produce such amazing results in so short a space of time. He said dietary improvements is cumulative, and it will take a lot longer than a few weeks to see such phenomenal results as Novak has obtained, especially with improved stamina/endurance and being able to handle heat (as at Miami) vs. Rafa. A diet cannot produce such remarkable enhancements to one's health. The following speaks volumes:

"Djokovic is so convinced that the pod helps his game that during the US Open, which starts Monday, the No. 1 seed is staying with a wealthy tennis-trainer friend in Alpine, N.J., who keeps one of the machines on his property."

"It really helps ? not with muscle but more with recovery after an exhausting set," said Djokovic, who has never spoken about the pod publicly before. "It's like a spaceship. It's very interesting technology."

"He claimed that the technology may be twice as effective at helping the body absorb oxygen as blood doping ? a banned form of performance enhancement."

Dunno, how anyone views this, but all I can say, if this device causes him to recover faster than the other players, who are using the normal recovery methods, e.g., protein drinks, lactic removal via cold shower immersion, then maybe WADA/ATP/ITF should make this pod standard equipment for all athletes at every facility, to facilitate faster and more efficient recovery, or disalllow its use by Novak. He's the only ATP player using it, and the only one with a 57-2 record for this year . By allowing one athlete to engage in the use of the pod, places him at a huge advantage over the others, and this should be disallowed.

Further, the article states, "....can boost athletic performance by improving circulation, boosting oxygen-rich red-blood cells, removing lactic acid and possibly even stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis and stem-cell production."

Boosting of oxygen-rich red blood cells, stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and stem-cell production, are all similar to injecting someone with enhanced stem cells, which is banned, and not much different to ingesting HGH. Years ago hyperbaric oxygenation was used for sick people who had compromised lung function, but that's for the sick, not for the healthy. This device is entirely different and should be placed on the *banned list* by WADA, considering that in 2006, they were contemplating banning a less efficient device, but were awating results of further studies.

If this device did not help djokovic, then why has he kept it a secret for so long? I think the only reason he's talking about it now it's coz news of it leaked out, and he had no choice but to call a press conference in an attempt to stop the media and the sports-world from thinking he's cheating.

I totally agree any comments pertaining to this story should not be interpreted as animosity towards the player concerned. It is a serious issue with long term ramifications and people should be allowed to discuss the subject without being attacked for their views.

He cannot be accused of cheating since this contraption has not been banned outright by WADA or the ITF but he knows he is in murky territory - why else did he change his version of events.

Bearing in mind it was the reputable WSJ that broke this story on the eve of the year USO they must have solid information to support it. Following his press conference the WSJ posted another story yesterday titled 'Novak Djokovic Backtracks on His Pod Time' (subscriber access only), that indicates that they're sticking to their original story.

ed, I love Nole and wouldn't dream of attacking him, but u can't help wondering about the long term implications for his body, if he's regularly using this device.

Er $75,000, I suppose Fed and Rafa can afford to get one too. If it's not banned by WADA, then maybe these top guys should each get one of it when there's proven results. Maybe the ATP should own some too and rent them out to those not so wealthy players who can't afford to own one!

I don't know who leaks out this news, or is it the manufacturer's intention to get Nole to help sells it's product??

Bearing in mind it was the reputable WSJ that broke this story
ed251137, 8/31/11 9:04 AM

That's the funniest thing I've heard all year! Reputable and the WSJ do not go hand in hand if you follow the financial news. It may be considered more reputable than say "The National Enquirer" but then that's not saying much.

Regarding the hyperbaric chamber, it's legal. Oxygen is not a banned substance. If the others want to use it, they can. What's the story here? Lend it to Wayne Odesnik and see if he gets to #1.

Ben Johnson got caught for steroids he used to beat Lewis at the 1988 Olympics. Was Johnson a non-contender???? He was practically equal favourite with Lewis!!!

Like people said, they should be allowed to discuss without sanctimonious ones trying to ridicule them! You're not exactly reputable here yourself given how boased YOU are!!

biased

Regarding the hyperbaric chamber, it's legal. Oxygen is not a banned substance. If the others want to use it, they can. What's the story here? Lend it to Wayne Odesnik and see if he gets to #1.

numero , 8/31/11 2:29 PM

That's not funny, but its got me giggling.

I think this is being made a bigger issue than it really is. Like luckystar pointed out, if the rest of the top guys want to use it, they can afford to get one themselves. All this about the ATP 'allowing' the others to use is senseless; where is it stopping others from using it? Besides, there is no proof that this has directly contributed to Nole's rise this year.

Ha ha, seems like Nole pissed some big shot off :) The WSJ is nothing but a tool for the elites to spread their propaganda and make you support their agenda - so its is far from a reliable source of information in most cases. This does not mean that this story is false, since Nole has owned up to using the chamber.

The question is, is using extra supplies of oxygen illegal? Sure, it does give him an unfair advantage but why hasn't it been banned by WADA?

Secondly, how do you explain the situation of someone like Nole who is hampered by breathing problems - that he is on a level playing field with Federer and Nadal? We've seen how good he can be when he isn't hampered by them, so is it fair that he continues to be let down by this problem? What was wrong in him using a solution that wasn't banned by WADA in the first place? I thought cheating had to do with stuff that was deemed illegal?

I don't believe for one second that Nole is carrying a chamber everywhere he goes - that would be very obvious and the media would have been on to something ages ago.

Which brings us to the question, should the use of the chamber be banned or shouldn't it? That is something I cannot answer, but I'm willing to admit Nole had an unfair advantage perhaps. Would you call that an unfair advantage similar to the one Ben Johnson used or one that McEnroe used with his racquet in 1984?

As for letting others use it, I don't see when the ATP ever banned anyone from using the chamber. So its not like the other top guys couldn't use it if they wanted to. Maybe they will try it now :P

luckystar: The timing of this news. surfacing when it did, strongly suggests CVAC Systems (probably working in conjunction with Gordon Uehling III) placed the story in order to cash in on their high profile 'user' at a time when it would attract maximum attention. However I would hazard a guess they did not seek Djokovic's persmission to reveal his involvement before issuing their press release.

The Djokovic camp are now unwittingly involved in a damage limitation exercise which would best be served by complete transparency and a concerted effort to disambiguate some of the statements issued over the past few days.

"The Djokovic camp are now unwittingly involved in a damage limitation exercise which would best be served by complete transparency and a concerted effort to disambiguate some of the statements issued over the past few days."

somehow i have the feeling you are doing the same, trying to minimize the damage of your first post!

as Cheryl pointed out already (on the proper thread), you shouldn't be surprised if you heard that other players used/tried this technology already.

WSJ reputable, you must be kidding:

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11403


feel free to browse their archives on the "wall street" topic, it may change your perception on what "reputable" means.

Mmm So Novie B uses a space age ventilator thingy,
Interesting!
An unfair advantage?
Not really, unless the other players are not allowed to use one as well.
They'll probably have them in gyms soon!
I wonder if Novie B also keeps Llamas and has a chimp called 'bubbles' too?
Well, I was only asking!

"Feel the dark side of force Novak!"...

You seem to be confused between the term Wall Street (as in the financial centre of New York) and The Wall Street Journal. They are not one and the same thing.

The above is addressed to frzr.

To me.... it seem kind funny... in between Berlusconi, Sarko and Damascus government..... Nole's egg :)

mriiidula, I agree, there is nothing to stop other players using the hypervaric chamber if they wish, who knows maybe they have tried it already. Surely if it made such a difference, or any difference at all, they`d all have one! Or it would be banned. Personally I think its debatable to say the least. Its probably like these toning tables which the manufacturers claim 10 minutes on this has the same result as sweating blood down the gym for an hour, aye right so it has! If that were the case every household would have one. CVAC Systems are maximising the publicity due to the timing and Noles team are trying to limit any possible damage.

Sosueme, Im off down the gym, apparently they have had this superduper new gadget installed, a real performance enhancer, lol!

mojo: have heard they've got a chimp called Bubbles down there too, give her a peanut from me...;)

Fantastico Mojo dear!
Do report back to TT on any 'improvements' accrued.
Certainly, I know many of the bone idle Haus Fraus here would appreciate
any way to better themselves without doing too much..
Me, I'll just chew the fat with Bubbles...he's got the juiciest on MJ!!

haha you guys, i have the strangest mental image of djokovic pensively sitting in an egg-shaped tanning bed-like object with a little chimp on his lap, as the pod begins to glow and engulf them in oxygen.

Does the treatment make you light headed?

There's nothing 'little' about chimps dear Mriiiddula!
As that poor women with the bitten off face can testify!
Mr Bubbles however is a simply sublime conversationalist, & Bon vivant!
And, fortunately for me, cutting down on his face eating for the mo,
Apparently, they go 'straight to hips' you see!

Well folks no improvement in my performance (I really was at the gym), almost needed a heartstart never mind an oxygen pod!
Bubbles says Hi guys!
Mriiidula, Im visualising the image as I type!

Well, there's always steroids Mojo.......

Oh Sosueme, you are naughty!

@Mojo

I KNOW!

Mojo, quite vivid imagery isn't it ;)

Ah Sosueme, did you really have to bring up that woman. I read the news on yahoo some time ago and was miserable for most of the day, tragic indeed, but so avoidable!! I do hope Bubbles is a lot more tame than that, I don't want anything to happen to Nole's pretty face ;)

ooh mriiidula, that "egg" would have to have a quick upgrade if that happened..;)
btw r u doing challenge?

deuce, not for the USO unfortunately, i signed up but i was just not taken to the screen where u can make your picks :/ who do u have winning it all, or is that a silly question ;)

mriiidula, did 2, hedging my bets..;)

mriidula, think he`d be more concerned about another part of his anatomy, lol!

ah mojo, i dont know which is worse! for me at least ;) oh dear, if you're a guy you'd be shaking your head right now. please be female :) we're really veering off the topic of tennis aren't we ;)

deuce, smart move, good luck! how are u doing so far?

mriidula, was first, out of about 20, for one glorious moment! But alas, alas fading fast thanks to not seeing upsets like JCF , who'll likely now go out next round, being exhausted, Gasquet etc. And backing blooming Amalgro to go way too far.
However, still find it great fun!
Also doing WTA....what a disaster!!

The attendance this year has been poor, dare I say that Rafa has had the fullest house so far, even Fish played to a half empty stadium. I wonder if the threat of a hurricane scared people off.

Mriidula, am defo a girl, yeah we are going to be sent to the naughty step, lol!
Gael Monfils wow what a shot!
Nadine perhaps they have come down with the same bug/food poisoning as the players? 10 at the last count I beleive?

Also recession?
Happy birthday for the 11th, nadline. Don't know how u can go on holiday when.....

Thanks, deuce. If Rafa bites the trophy it won't matter too much that I didn't see it live. I am having trouble fitting my life into Rafa's calendar. Lol

nadline, a lot of fans had to cancel their flights for the USO due to the hurricane. I don't know if you read the reports on what was happening in nYC. all of the airports were closed and everything was on halt. I doubt it has anything to do with Rafa having the fullest house. i think by the time Rafa played, things were geting back to norm al and the airlines were back in operation.

scoretracker, don't let the reasons get in the way of me wallowing in Rafa having the fullest house.

My goodness, look at all these retirements! Must be some sort of record. The last man standing will win at this rate.

Well, we had yet another one today with Berdy retiring against Tipsy with the shoulder injury. It's becoming like a plague.

They are dropping like flies!

can someone please help me as I am clearly ignorant without excuse.
I've just read yet another tennis 'expert' - this time the respected Nick Bollettieri - say two things about muzz in virtually the same sentence ...
1) Andy Murray has a world class backhand (others have described it as one of the best, if not THE best, backhands in the world).
BUT ...
2) Andy Murray will never win a slam because he doesn't have "weapons".
Please someone help me because I'm starting to feel stupid:
Why does a backhand not count as a 'weapon'?
http://tennisplanet.typepad.com/blog/2011/09/djokovic-is-th e-most-complete-player-of-all-time-says-nick-bollettieri.html

I can fill you in on this one, as I saw an interview last year by Bollie on Murray...
He means Muzzy needs to use his forehand like a HAMMER,
I kinda agree, but what's good is that in this tournament he's started to re introduce his forehand as a weapon, it was always there.
He uses it better than anyone right now anyway as a cross court passing shot and of course his running CC FH is incredible, but it has to become more prominent offensive shot up the lines, a la djoko.
His double backhand is joint Number 1 with Novie I would say, despite his confidence I'd still give m bear the slight edge, and is certainly a great weapon, but you need the forehand too.
I think Nick wouldn't mind being Andys coach as his prestige would be greatly enhanced in this era if he 'was the one that took Andy to slam glory etc,
So I think his sober statement was something of an advertisement by him.
As it's bullshit that he can't win a slam without etc, without the nerves I believe he would have already broken through.
Funnily, I noticed in the Rome Semi, that after a disastrous first set, M Bear
Really started to target Novies BH with great success, so maybe it has now become his 'less' powerful side, he sure can slap those forehands nowadays!

alex, I'm learning not to take these experts seriously, they really beg the question all the time and just tailor their opinions to the current state of affairs and they even somethimes forget what they said a minute ago.

Alex, you Gotta excuse Bolleterri, coz he's an old man who's lost track of reality.The backhand is a weapon. Isn't Djokovic's BH considered a weapon?

Sosueme: one of the American commentators was saying CC forehand is too predictable, that's the one he favours and opponents know it. Think Andy should be putting his BH and FH down the line more often.
Am surprised v. Young is a day match. Usually they put Yanks on the favoured position later. Is the weather causing problems?

Roddick has the night spot on Ashe and Oudin/Sock have the night spot on Armstrong in mixed doubles.

I personally prefer Rafa in the early slot because it's not easy sitting around all day wondering what's going to happen plus being anxious at 2 am is just not funny. Rafa has said before that he prefers to play early and he's done his fair share of late night matches.

nadline, I think it's the weather. I seem to remember you get tons of rain after a hurricane. Apparently it's tipping down in NY now. Suspect lots of delays :(

deuce - another new 'weapon' has been emerging in muzz's game - flattened, outside forehand with blistering pace, matching anything I've seen the so called big hitters unleash. when it fires you barely see the ball touch the court. delpo and nole have been doing it as long as I can remember but it's an encouraging new development in muzz's game.

alex, Andy always had a "blistering" flat forehand until blooming Corretja started tampering with it, in order to make Andy improve at RG (slower, top spin eg) Ruined what, as you say, was a superb weapon. That's what coaches do..ho...hum..
Thank goodness Andy ditched other Alex (;)) and got his mojo and his forehand back!

Djokovic over Murray prediction looks increasingly plausible now...

I believe you, deuce, just don't remember it - shows what a 'good job' corretja, as you say, must have done with him.

In fact, deuce, now that you mention it, I seem to remember a BBC news clip of a pre-Barcelona 13-ish year old rising star impressing everyone with the power of his forehand ...

atul1985, in fact Sosueme has already pointed out what you have to do to beat Nole. You certainly aren't gonna do it on the baseline. Nole these days is faster, stronger and more accurate than anyone else. No, you've got to what Dolgopolov did, slice, dice, change the pace all the time and take away rhythm from Nole. Easier said than done of course and I do like Dolgopolov v. v. much, he is so entertaining to watch but he couldn't keep that game plan up, probably because Nole is so strong. Fed has the game to beat Nole but I'm not sure if he can get through Tsonga, who most interestingly has the game to beat Fed but not Nole, it seems. Fascinating, and is why I love tennis so :)

Murray's development in this tournament has been slightly different, in that he has not been playing his best early but has instead introduced new elements with the intention of peaking in the second week sometime.
He served yesterday against Flopez at 76%, this is almost unheard of from M Bear, so that appears to be coming together nicely.
If he does get through to the final & meets Novie there, the game plan is clear....Attack the BH!
Not,of course, because it isn't great (it is), but it causes less damage than the 'weapon of mass destruction' that Novies forehand has become, his success this year is all to do with that forehand effortlessly firing off from both sides of the court. He'll want to let the forehand dictate, so he must not be allowed to.
 I was impressed by dolgo.. but really, his mastery of pace is elementary compared to M Bears who reigns above all others in this dept, and must be utilised to almost kaleidoscopic levels to throw Novies metronome out the window.
And for goodness sake, he must start bringing Novie into the net, as it's a place where he's uncomfortable (unlike M Bear), again there's no point letting Novie play his game as it has beaten everyone this year and will beat M Bear too.
Most importantly he has to show up as a grown up and not get too damn nervous again. This is something no one except Andy Murray can do and we can talk about tactics until we are blue in the face but he has to believe and come out with all guns blazing, not all this touchy feely rubbish to ascertain Novies level, I've a clue M Bear, he's in the final & shall be blazing!!
All of this is easier said than done but if he delivers on it (and he's certainly capable of doing it) then It could be a breakthrough tournament for him esp if it goes to five as I know Andy will have drawn him in to a long one & probable defeat.
But they're still both going to have to get there...

Dolgo did show how you try to beat Nole. However, there are were a few problems with Dolgo. First, he did not serve well, 40% won't get it done against Nole. I though that first set should have been Dolgo's, but his inability to get his first serves in or maybe an ace when he had those set points, ultimately cost him dearly. You don't normally get that many chances against Nole these days, so you have to capitalize when you have it.

I also thought that Dolgo wasn't aggressive enough when he had set points. He was content to keep the ball in play, continuing to slice his shots. He needed to be bold and go for winners. He is capable of doing that. He kept Nole off balance with the slicing shots and then out of nowhere he would blast a powerful forehand.

Nole was smart in the tb and started moving toward the net, which threw off Dolgo. I don't think Dolgo has the mental toughness and physical strength to stay with Nole and it showed in the next two sets. He didn't seem to have the will or ability to keep on fighting.

We know that it's not possible to beat Nole from the baseline. You can't outhit him these days. The key is to throw off his rhythm, be aggressive, take time away from him. I think Andy did this very well in their semifinal match in Rome. He lost the first set 6-1 and realized he had to try something different. He started stepping into the court to take his ROS much earlier. He became more aggressive, going to the net and managing to take Nole out of his comfort zone. It was a brilliant effort and showed that Andy is capable of thinking and changing his tactics in the middle of a match. He had that match won, but couldn't keep it together mentally as he tried to serve out the set.

I am waiting to see if Fed gets by Tsonga. No predictions from me this time about a possible Fed/Nole semi. It's too soon for me to even think about a Rafa/Andy semi.

no tennis today at all, what a shame. some exciting matches were supposed to be on.

Ricky,
Your prediction generally proves wrong, I think neither Djoker nor Andy is in the final this time. Will talk to you Sunday when two other guys meet in the final.

NNY Andy has the capability to do that, and often does so. Another example, playing Nalby last year, he completely changed tactics when finding himself losing. One of the many reasons why I love him so..;)
Oh mriiidula, what a shame :( At least a decision has been made and they aren't hanging around in the locker room, catching GERMS!

deuce,

I can't recall Andy playing Nalby last year. Where and when was it? Maybe that will refresh my memory. I think the fact that Andy is now trying to do different things during a match, thinking and adjusting rather than just getting negative and yelling at himself and berating himself, is a very good sign and an indication that he is working on getting mentally stronger.

I am disappointed about no tennis today, but very happy that they didn't keep the players hanging around.

It was in Paris indoors last year,
The court was grease lightning so he played S and V like they did back in the day in those conditions, very amusing.
Part of Murray's hope for greater success is in his ability to be positive in a match and not let the tragedy unfold like a Greek play,
There are signs that he is able to do this more and more,

Sosueme,

Ah, Paris indoors last year! I don't think I saw that one. I wish that I had seen it, Andy serving and volleying? That's using your mind against a guy like Nalby.

I have this feeling that the win over Haase, when Andy was down two sets and managed to come back in five, was a huge moment for him. He must have been seeing visions of last year's early exit to Wawa and the year before to Cilic. It was a gut check for him and he passed.

Could not agree with you more my sweet,
The issue, of course, is whether it provided M Bear with the requisite 'eureka' moment needed to Move up a gear or not (maybe demi moment?)
Either way,
We'll soon find out...

Nice ones Ricky on picking Isner over Simon and Roddick over Ferrer.

No kidding, these predictions are basically right on up to the QF apart from Berdych being injured, and Tsonga beat Fish in 5 after being down 2-1. Let's see about the SF now...

and the final is on Monday, not Sunday...I wonder if Ricky still thinks Nole will beat Fed...I did not see the match just the first couple of games before the rain interruption but Fed surely looks on a mission here...he is playing aggressive and causing all sorts of problems to his opponents...I think he has got the game at the moment to beat rather UEs prone Nole...if all 4 are in the semis we will witness some of the best semis ever...they all have chances...with Nole's performance against inspired Tipsy I am no longer sure he is the clear favorite...at this point, they all are...except that these two have already reached semis whereas poor Rafa and Murray will have to fight the crowd and the umpires (and I am saying that because Roddick does scare umpires and they may end up being a little less sharp in their calls :))...Anyway, big matches tonight...I wish them both luck tonight...It will not be easy...VAMOS RAFA!!!

My heart says Isner and Roddick. My head says Murray and Nadal. :(

SF prediction will be only 50% correct!

My heart says Isner and Roddick. My head says Murray and Nadal. :(

numero , 9/9/11 2:41 PM


You must never let your heart rule your head.

Advice you yourself should consider!

Unless you're kidding?

Ha-ha-ha

^^^Thankfully, my heart and my head tell me the same thing.