Montreal 2017

First topic message reminder :

If Rafa reaches the semis in Canada he will be back at number one. So far, delpo has seen off Isner in straight sets, with Kyrgios, Monfils, Gasquet and Ferrer (who beat Edmund in three) among the other winners.
   It's back to the old days, with Rafa and Rog the top two seeds. Long way to go before a final between these two, though, although the way things have gone this year another meeting is certainly a possibility.

reckoner wrote:All looks like a glorified practice sesh for Federer thus far.

I'd expect Zverev to give him a harder time tomorrow, if he gets past Le Shapeau!

Yeah, it's been one of the worst tournaments I can recall. Even this Zverev v Shap match has so far been dire and I'd be amazed if this set isn't routine for Zverev. If the final is one-sided, it really will be a dreadful event.

Born Slippy wrote:

reckoner wrote:All looks like a glorified practice sesh for Federer thus far.

I'd expect Zverev to give him a harder time tomorrow, if he gets past Le Shapeau!

Yeah, it's been one of the worst tournaments I can recall. Even this Zverev v Shap match has so far been dire and I'd be amazed if this set isn't routine for Zverev. If the final is one-sided, it really will be a dreadful event.

Slippy,
It's a toughie for the sponsors and tournament director if so many of the top players defect or mail it in.

Sure you'd agree that it's a fantastic event as a spectator, disappointing that Wimbledon was a week late this year.

I agree @Born Slippy. Serves the purpose of practice before the USO I guess? And ranking points, #1 seems to be a goal for Fed now that it's a realistic possibility.

Break a piece in the second set, tied at 1-1.

Zverev rattled, back to back double faults. Claws it back though to make it 4-4 in the second.

Born Slippy wrote:Yeah, it's been one of the worst tournaments I can recall. Even this Zverev v Shap match has so far been dire and I'd be amazed if this set isn't routine for Zverev. If the final is one-sided, it really will be a dreadful event.

Zverev is a Rome 2017 MS winner, IIRC. 2009-2017 monotony of the Big Four has been broken by Davydenko, Ljubicic, Roddick, Soderling, Ferrer, Wawrinka, Tsonga, Cilic, Zverev.

Zverev in trouble.

Very close in the second, isn't it laverfan? 5-5 as we speak.

Of course as I say that Le Shapo goes 15-40 down...

Zverev serving for the match.

6th double fault for Zverev, dear me.

MP for Zverev, but goes long.

Both seem very nervous. Inexperienced mistakes. TB? It would be good to have a third set.

Zverev through.

Saved 2 match points but the 3rd was too far. Valiant effort from Le Shapo after 5 deuces, but Zverev is through.

So a Fed-Zverev final. The young man beat Rog last year but was smashed in the final at Halle in June. Zverev has played a lot of matches in the last few days. Not sure if that will make a difference. 
   Sorry that some have considered this a poor tournament. I would have thought that Denis The Menace's heroics would have made it memorable.

@sfp I agree Le Shapo was definitely the best story of the tournament. Such a shame he couldn't take more than 1/7 break points to make it to the final, but he's leaped what 70 places in the rankings?

I like his game, it's nice to see a SHBH with some interest in coming to net. Once the dust settles I'm confident he'll back this up with results over the next year or 2.

I do feel the tournament as a whole suffered from all those big name withdrawals unfortunately. Let's see what the final's like!

Djokovic, Murray and Wawrinka and their respective withdrawals are no different than Federer not playing for months or Nadal being out with injuries. Just a matter of perspectives and subjectivity.

If there has to be an infusion of young blood, there will always be some matches which do not have veterans. The willingness to watch new talent can be challenging with their trials and tribulations.

If Shapovalov is a great find, hopefully, he will mature into fine wine or fade like a fad. Let us see.

to both finalists.

Put a sneaky little wager on Zverev yesterday (was offered 3/1 ...... reasonable, even if it won't make me rich ) based on a hunch that youth will triumph over experience this time. The guy shows every sign of making it to the top, but of course time alone will tell.

On balance I think it would be good for the sport if we get a 'new blood' winner - otherwise we'll be endlessly watching the old guard raking in all the big prizes. And the OAP has won quite enough this season already ......

lags72 wrote:And the OAP has won quite enough this season already ......

... and he wants more.

Did Gillette drop their sponsorship of Federer?

First set to Zverev.

Looks like Federer's back is an issue. He just wants to get off the court.

Congrats to Zverev for his second calendar MS.

Congrats Zverev.  Well done.  He has now won back-to-back Masters 1000 tournaments.  But he still has never been past Rd4 in a slam.  He should have a decent chance at the USO.

If his current form continues, and if he manages to somehow win the USO, he is also in the running for the YE #1.

Anyone else think fed got distracted by y/e #1? Pretty lame to go out to Zverev in the final!

Fed said afterwards he had a few aches and pains and that he would see how he felt in the next couple of days. Perhaps he'll give Cinci a miss. 
   I thought Zverev might do well in the final. Only worry for him now is overplaying. 
   Meanwhile Murray chalks up 41st week at number one, the 14th best total run. This will be his last week, of course - for now. Will he ever reach number one again? Who knows ? But Rafa and Rog have shown this season that anything's possible.
   This time next year we might be talking about Zverev being number one. He has an excellent chance of finishing third this year. February 2004 was the last time anyone outside the Big 4 reached numero uno.

Big congrats to young Zverev

(I had faith in you when I placed my bet !)

Yes, well done Zverev, he continues to impress.

Meanwhile the Express has an article saying Federer injured his back in the final, quoting Annabel Croft: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/840672/Roger-Federer-US-Open-Alexander-Zverev-Canada

Do hope this isn't the case!

Federer was playing poorly, hitting shots into the net that wouldn't even have threatened had they gone over. I did wonder if something was going on because he didn't seem to care and hardly seemed to be trying. That said, we should just say that this article is purely a guess from a pundit watching him play, no definite info, irresponsible tabloid journalism to headline this injury scare.

Zverev another player who almost lost in the first round and then went to the end of the tournament, again shows the line between success and failure can be so small.

Zverev does have a very strong record this year outside the slams. He lost to Rafa in a 5th set at AO, and Raonic in a 5th set at Wimbledon, suggesting he is knocking on the door at the slams. In both cases it was a weak 5th set (6-1 or 6-2) suggesting he needs more experience at best of 5 level, or may not have peaked physically (lost to Verdasco in 4 at FO again with a weak last set of 2-6).

It's official, Federer played that final with an injured back. He's pulled out of Cincinatti.

@HB it may have seemed as if he was "not trying" as you say, but Federer is the sort of player that does their best not to show when they are injured.

Wish him a speedy recovery for the USO.

Hmm ...... yes ..... let's see if he can get fit enough to put in a decent showing at USO.

But the overall picture really is not good :

- soundly defeated in the Final of his very own tourney ('Rogers' Cup)
- languishing at a lowly No.3 in the rankings
- aged 36, oldest player in Top 100 (IIRC)
- most worrying of all : a whole month since he last won a Slam

Maybe time to call it a day ..... ?

haha good point. at his age, and with a back injury, of course he will never win another match again.

until he wins wimbledon again next year in which case I will re-annoint him as the GOAT and announce my new prediction that he will win another 5 slams.

Henman Bill wrote:haha good point. at his age, and with a back injury, of course he will never win another match again.

until he wins wimbledon again next year in which case I will re-annoint him as the GOAT and announce my new prediction that he will win another 5 slams.

Wait, you de-anointed him as the GOAT?! Dagnamit HB!

reckoner wrote:

...............................

Wait, you de-anointed him as the GOAT?! Dagnamit HB!

After his dreadful showing in yesterday's Final, I don't think HB had any option. Fully justified

lags72 wrote:Hmm ...... yes ..... let's see if he can get fit enough to put in a decent showing at USO.

But the overall picture really is not good :

- soundly defeated in the Final of his very own tourney ('Rogers' Cup)
- languishing at a lowly No.3 in the rankings
- aged 36, oldest player in Top 100 (IIRC)
- most worrying of all : a whole month since he last won a Slam

Maybe time to call it a day ..... ?

Think you forgot 38 year old Karlovic.

Ah yes ... good old Dr Ivo. More TB's than I've had hot dinners.

Still hammering down these serves - enough to have picked up the odd low-key title in recent years

lags72 wrote:After his dreadful showing in yesterday's Final, I don't think HB had any option. Fully justified

Crikey I hope Fed doesn't get the flu or anything, that could really send his stock plummeting!

lags72 wrote:Ah yes ... good old Dr Ivo. More TB's than I've had hot dinners.

Still hammering down these serves - enough to have picked up the odd low-key title in recent years

Yes. Probably one of my least favourite players but still in the top 50 at 38. Shows how far having a good serve can get you. Not comparing them at all but I think the serve is the key to Federer's longevity. His placement on both first and second serves is so good and consistent that he rarely gets broken and he can normally get at least one break of serve per set.

@Calder106 - am very much with you re Karlovic ! I do wonder just how many people would actually pay good money to watch the guy (but for all I know there is a big Karlo Fan Club somewhere in the world .....)

On Federer : yes, the serve is a major weapon. But as you say, not because of speed or power but the sheer consistency and accuracy of placement. That - and the fact that his ball toss varies very little, making it very difficult for opponents to read.

As an aside, the Canadian guy Polansky, who played Fed early in Montreal, gave an interesting insight of what it's like for a player who spends most of his time on much smaller stages to come up against someone of Federer's pedigree.

Now ...... Polansky obviously doesn't have the talent of Zverev, but his post-match comments on speed of movement and pace of play probably strike a chord with many journeymen who have met Fed over the years :

“He plays very quickly,” Polansky said. “I like to develop the points, but he plays so quick and that threw me off a little. You can’t adjust for just one match. Maybe if I was exposed a little more to playing at the higher levels, I’d be more comfortable. Going from playing players ranked 50 to 150 and then going against Federer, it’s different.

“His transition from the baseline to the net, it’s a joke,” Polansky said. “You blink and he’s at the net. You hit balls pretty hard at him and he’s handling them likes it’s no problem. Guys I’m used to playing, if I hit really hard, they’ll kind of block it, but he’s constantly moving forward like a freight train.”

Very interesting comments. Meanwhile keeping an eye out for the news about whether Murray, Federer will play at the US Open.