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ajspurs

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Jul 7, 2007
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With Cilic a lot of the time it depends on him. He must be quite a frustrating person to coach, can go from unplayable to mediocre very quickly.

I wouldn't bet on him beating Nadal, but the one thing that Edmund has over the rest (apart from the American that beat Thiem) is that he really has no real pressure, he's already massively exceeded any expectations including his own. He should just go out there and try to enjoy the occasion.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
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With Cilic a lot of the time it depends on him. He must be quite a frustrating person to coach, can go from unplayable to mediocre very quickly.

I wouldn't bet on him beating Nadal, but the one thing that Edmund has over the rest (apart from the American that beat Thiem) is that he really has no real pressure, he's already massively exceeded any expectations including his own. He should just go out there and try to enjoy the occasion.

Such is tennis for most!

While perhaps not at the same level as Cilic (!) I used to be convinced that the intermittent heights were my natural game, while the frustratingly frequent mediocre depths were completely unrepresentative. I've just about come to accept that's it's always been the other way round. :(
 

ajspurs

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Jul 7, 2007
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Such is tennis for most!

While perhaps not at the same level as Cilic (!) I used to be convinced that the intermittent heights were my natural game, while the frustratingly frequent mediocre depths were completely unrepresentative. I've just about come to accept that's it's always been the other way round. :(

Yeah very much so mate. Do you still play now? You often find the top players are the not only talented players but the most consistently good ones. There are plenty of talented players, especially in lets say, the top 20/30 but only a handful of those players have the consistency required to really separate themselves from the rest.

I guess there are just varying degrees though. With players like Cilic or Wawrinka for instance the highs are very high so the difference seems a bit more when they all of a sudden play mediocre. But players like Dimitrov, Zverev, Berdych or Thiem are just consistently quite good but not quite at the heights of Cilic or more so Wawrinka when they're really at their best.
 

Arnoldtoo

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May 18, 2006
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Yeah very much so mate. Do you still play now? You often find the top players are the not only talented players but the most consistently good ones. There are plenty of talented players, especially in lets say, the top 20/30 but only a handful of those players have the consistency required to really separate themselves from the rest.

I guess there are just varying degrees though. With players like Cilic or Wawrinka for instance the highs are very high so the difference seems a bit more when they all of a sudden play mediocre. But players like Dimitrov, Zverev, Berdych or Thiem are just consistently quite good but not quite at the heights of Cilic or more so Wawrinka when they're really at their best.

I do still play, in the brief periods when I'm between injuries. Coach a bit, too. You?

Kyrgios is going to be another one who is brilliant and then shit, unless he sorts his head out.
 

ajspurs

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Jul 7, 2007
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I do still play, in the brief periods when I'm between injuries. Coach a bit, too. You?

Kyrgios is going to be another one who is brilliant and then shit, unless he sorts his head out.

Ah nice! Cool that you coach as well. I used to play fairly casually, but was quite good for someone who had never been coached before. I used to just watch a lot of videos online of different grips to use, forehand/backhand motions and serves and such and just try to apply it every time I hit the court. Haven't played for a while though but would love to get back into it, have some beautiful grass courts around the corner from me and the place is a pleasure to be at in the summer :)

And yeah Kyrgios is certainly another one. I'm just not sure his heads right to ever really reach the top to be honest. A shame and a bit of a waste really.
 

DanielCHillier

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Feb 26, 2014
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So Nadal is out as well now through retirement, but full credit to Cilic still. An unbelievable opportunity for Edmund.
 

aliyid

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Dec 28, 2004
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Such a shame to see Nadal pulling out through injury but Cilic had been playing well up to that point.

Cilic has to go in as favourite but Edmund will match him serve for serve and he’s shown by beating Anderson in the first round that he can deal with facing a big server bombing down aces.
 

BSJ93

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Jul 22, 2013
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Just saw the HLs to the Edmund game.

Weird one. Seemed like Dimitrov was slicing everything back to Edmund's forehand, trying to keep it low, rather than to his backhand. I know that Edmund 'hides' his backhand more than most but even on the relatively tame shots from Edmund - where it sat up nicely - Dimitrov never really went for his backhand drive and continued to do the same thing which obviously wasn't working (you could even see that he was getting frustrated to his coaching staff). That's where the real winners have the toolkit/on court brain to adjust tactics and find a way themselves.
 

aliyid

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Dec 28, 2004
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Just saw the HLs to the Edmund game.

Weird one. Seemed like Dimitrov was slicing everything back to Edmund's forehand, trying to keep it low, rather than to his backhand. I know that Edmund 'hides' his backhand more than most but even on the relatively tame shots from Edmund - where it sat up nicely - Dimitrov never really went for his backhand drive and continued to do the same thing which obviously wasn't working (you could even see that he was getting frustrated to his coaching staff). That's where the real winners have the toolkit/on court brain to adjust tactics and find a way themselves.
Think it was mainly due to how Kyle came out early to attack and hit some big shots in the first set (particularly off Dimitrovs 2nd serve). Looked like it got into Dimitrovs head a bit and he played it a bit cautious waiting for the inevitable mistakes to come as Kyke got nervous.

Looked quite a scrappy game with far too many errors coming off Dimitrovs racket (not seen what the stats look like but he was missing quite a few basic rally balls without ‘going’ for shots)
 

aliyid

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Dec 28, 2004
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Edmund looks knackered.
Think this is his first night time game so he’s done well to tough it out this long, awesome tournament from him and should hopefully see his ranking see him compete in some of the bigger masters tournaments now.

Loved that moment in the 2nd set where he got angry and started slamming big forehand’s down :wideyed:
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
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Think this is his first night time game so he’s done well to tough it out this long, awesome tournament from him and should hopefully see his ranking see him compete in some of the bigger masters tournaments now.

Loved that moment in the 2nd set where he got angry and started slamming big forehand’s down :wideyed:

Yeah he needs to follow this up with some solid tournaments, but his confidence should be high, so why not. So long as the press don't make him the next Andy Murray, cos I don't think he's ever going to be that.
 

aliyid

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Dec 28, 2004
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So long as the press don't make him the next Andy Murray, cos I don't think he's ever going to be that.
Agree, he’s got the shot making but nowhere near the level of intensity, consistency and single minded determination (yet...)

I see him becoming more of a Tsonga type player who can go deep in occasional tournaments but not quite make that final step (but I really hope he proves me wrong)
 

ajspurs

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Jul 7, 2007
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Just hoping to get a contest here with Federer and Chung, not the best chance of that so far with Federer breaking straight away. I think the last few Grand Slams have been like this.

In the US Open there was Kevin Anderson and Carreno Busta in one semi with Nadal and Del Potro in the other and at Wimbledon we had Cilic, Querrey, Berdych and Federer. Not the best final 4 in them to be honest. The sooner obviously Murray gets back and Djokovic and Wawrinka get up to speed the better IMO. Even more so if players like Del Potro and Nishikori step up but the latter in particular seems to be plagued by that wrist injury.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
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Wow, what an incredible disappointment.

I get that blisters hurt, but so does being on the receiving end of a stuffing. Am I being unfair in wondering whether both played a role in the retirement?
 

ajspurs

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Jul 7, 2007
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I get that blisters hurt, but so does being on the receiving end of a stuffing. Am I being unfair in wondering whether both played a role in the retirement?

I was wondering the same, he had a bit of a 'fuck this' look about him but then he always has a pretty emotionless expression. I think we would have seen more of an extended anguish from anyone else which may have made the retirement seem less of a surprise but like I said, he has a pretty blank face. I've seen plenty of people suffering and getting treatment for blisters during a match, not sure I've personally ever seen anyone retire from one.

2 fairly disappointing semis in the end, one which was straight sets and the other that looked ominous for one after the first game and finished with a retirement. Am actually looking forwards to the Women's final now in which we can hopefully see a bit of a contest and if not at least we'll see a first time Grand Slam winner.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
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I was wondering the same, he had a bit of a 'fuck this' look about him but then he always has a pretty emotionless expression. I think we would have seen more of an extended anguish from anyone else which may have made the retirement seem less of a surprise but like I said, he has a pretty blank face. I've seen plenty of people suffering and getting treatment for blisters during a match, not sure I've personally ever seen anyone retire from one.

2 fairly disappointing semis in the end, one which was straight sets and the other that looked ominous for one after the first game and finished with a retirement. Am actually looking forwards to the Women's final now in which we can hopefully see a bit of a contest and if not at least we'll see a first time Grand Slam winner.

Cilic retired with blisters in the Wimbledon final, but he was in tears.

Again, I may be being very unfair on the guy, but he just looked like he wanted to be somewhere else.
 

ajspurs

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Jul 7, 2007
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Cilic retired with blisters in the Wimbledon final, but he was in tears.

Again, I may be being very unfair on the guy, but he just looked like he wanted to be somewhere else.

Correct me if I'm wrong and I know he broke down in tears in the second set but I'm pretty sure he finished the match.

I agree though, didn't look like he wanted to be there. I just think the way it was done from him didn't make it look great.
 
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