Turin. World Tour Finals (ATP)

[ponchi101]

From watching Nadal vs Ruud, it seems to me Nadal is staying closer to the baseline not because he is trying to be more aggressive, but because the balls are not coming through..the bounce is low and pace is not fast..so players have to go to the ball..and Nadal is a great volleyer anyway so he is not afraid to go to the net...
Fritz is doing well because the court is slow ...his own lack of speed doesn't hurt him, neither does the speed of people like FAA get them much advantage .

It's interesting that you say that because the commentators the other day were saying this is the fastest hard court event of the year.

To me, it is pretty confusing.
There have been very few breaks of serve. Felix and Taylor had two breaks combined (well, Taylor did) and further up the topic the numbers are available. But you have to consider that these are the top 9 players in the world, and you don't get to be a top player if you get broken every other service game.
But then, you see the matches and the players are simply getting to everything. 20 point rallies have been very common.
But then, again, Ace Machine Rafael Nadal (not) hits 16 aces in a two setter.
So, how fast is this court really? I still say it is like all modern courts. Slower than anything that was being laid down in the 80's or 90's.

[ashkor87]

From watching Nadal vs Ruud, it seems to me Nadal is staying closer to the baseline not because he is trying to be more aggressive, but because the balls are not coming through..the bounce is low and pace is not fast..so players have to go to the ball..and Nadal is a great volleyer anyway so he is not afraid to go to the net...
Fritz is doing well because the court is slow ...his own lack of speed doesn't hurt him, neither does the speed of people like FAA get them much advantage .

It's interesting that you say that because the commentators the other day were saying this is the fastest hard court event of the year.

I know..it puzzles me too because that is not what my eyes are telling me!
But I have seen only one match thus far so someone who has watched them all can enlighten us...

[ashkor87]

Maybe the low bounce is why people are finding service return difficult..? I really don't know...

[Suliso]

I think it's just indoor effect. Players find it easier to come up with their best serves without the wind and sun effect.

I wonder if there are any statistics comparing hold % on hard courts indoor and outdoor.

[ashkor87]

I think it's just indoor effect. Players find it easier to come up with their best serves without the wind and sun effect.

I wonder if there are any statistics comparing hold % on hard courts indoor and outdoor.

Makes sense...

[meganfernandez]

I think it's just indoor effect. Players find it easier to come up with their best serves without the wind and sun effect.

I wonder if there are any statistics comparing hold % on hard courts indoor and outdoor.

Makes sense...

I bet there are. I'll ask Jeff Sackman/Tennis Abstract on Twitter, see if he knows.

[ashkor87]

There doesnt appear to be enough room behind the baseline either..Nadal has no option but to hug the baseline! Maybe it is just the camera angle..

[ponchi101]

Honor where honor is due.
I said that Novak would tank any third set if it got there, to save energy for tomorrow.
I was totally wrong. He is fighting till the end. Kudos.

[ashkor87]

Commendable fighting spirit ..this match doesn't even count..yet he is fighting..

[skatingfan]

I think Novak wants to win this tournament without losing a match - for the points, the prize money, and the bragging rights.

[ponchi101]

I agree with you except for the prize money. For him, that stopped being a motivation a long time ago.

[mick1303]

It looks like that Australian Open final destroyed Medvedev. He did not forget how to play, but he forgot how to win. Out of 65 times in the history of this event when a player loses all 3 matches in a round-robin - it is the first time when loser gets beaten 3 times in a 3rd set TB.

[ti-amie]

This is usually something that happens when your blood sugar is very low. That said...

LizNYNY
@liznyny

Replying to
@Olly_Tennis_
Surprised that this is happening. He monitors his food intake so carefully that you’d think he would be keeping his sugar and potassium levels up enough during a match. His trainer should be on top of it, too.

Javidan Karkaria
@javidank

Replying to
@Olly_Tennis_
And the Oscar goes to ….

[ti-amie]

[JazzNU]

Javidan Karkaria
@javidank

Replying to
@Olly_Tennis_
And the Oscar goes to ….