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blueberryhill
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #180 on: September 22, 2012, 08:36 PM »
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Am gonna disagree about "luck" again. How many players did Nole beat to get to the final? Same with Tsonga. Wasn't "luck" to win all those matches.
However, if anyone was ever lucky, twas Fed. He started out when Sampras and Agassi were declining,  b4 Rafa had got going and while Nole and Andy had only just started out.
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janetx
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #181 on: September 22, 2012, 08:39 PM »
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True BBH. Maybe "luck" is the wrong word. That's why I put "luck" in quotation marks at one point in my post, in the sense that you can beat only who's in front of you, AND you still have to get that far, no matter what. "Opening" is a better word perhaps. I think we all use "luck" perhaps due to idioms like "luck of the draw" etc.

Muzz and Nole have had less "openings" at the slams in their careers, and even Rafa always had to face Fed to win. Maybe it comes down to competition. Fed has had more "openings" than most, considering, as you say, he came at a time when the competition was weakening, arguably, and the new contenders weren't near to the level they are today. Plus those two titles where he didn't have to face a slam winner all the way through were quite a boon! Then there are weather, conditions, injury and all sundry of things that can affect outcome - call those luck or just life.

It's still amazing, no matter what, how consistent these top 4 have been; we are watching one fabulous era of tennis at the moment.
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blueberryhill
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #182 on: September 22, 2012, 08:43 PM »
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Yep, janetx and we all know what winning does to confidence and that losing leaves  you "wounded" and in need of a holiday Whistle
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janetx
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #183 on: September 22, 2012, 08:46 PM »
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Indeed. Smile
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Aileen
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #184 on: September 22, 2012, 11:52 PM »
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I agree with you Alis.  Brad Gilbert once described Andy as a "tactical genius", which is fine, but unless a player has the right mental attitude he will only be able to go so far, and that was what happened with Andy.  I believe it was the 2010 AO defeat that started the downward mental spiral.  It certainly knocked the stuffing out of him and it's taken someone like Lendl to get him back to believing that he deserves his place in the top four, and Andy proved it not only by winning Olympic gold but finally winning his maiden Slam.  He knows he still has to work on certain aspects of his game, but now that particular monkey has been taken off his back, he can focus fully on doing just that.

If ever there was any luck in tennis it had to be during the Murray/Berdych match.  I'm not denigrating Andy's performance but there's no doubt that gale force wind played it's part in that match.  Andy coped magnificently but that didn't stop balls heading close to the outside lines from being blown either out or in!  The comms I was listening to were quite impressed!
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blueberryhill
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #185 on: September 23, 2012, 06:48 AM »
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Yes, but......Andy had already beaten Berdych earlier in the year on hard. Also, Andy's serve was as much disrupted as B's. Still not convinced, I think you make you're own luck.
Even with net cords, you're playing so you skim the top of the net, lots of skill there.
I suppose.......Wink if your opponents all drop out on the way to the final, that could be called "lucky," but that often seems to be countered by being less match sharp.
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Philip
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #186 on: September 23, 2012, 09:47 AM »
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I think the Gods have been smiling on Andy at this year Olym and USO.

1. At the Olympic, good old Delpo keeping Fed out on court for so long serving to stay in the tournament 12 times must have drained Fed enormously.

2. At the USO, having the extra day off before the final really helped Andy to recover and be at his best for the final. The swirling wind helps to move the ball around making it difficult to position correctly and increased Berdych error count as the guy likes to hit it big. A defensive slice has much bigger margin for error so Andy versatile style is at a great advantage.

However, at the end of the day, I would say that Andy made his own luck by thrashing Raonic before being hit by rain and being mentally strong and coming back and win all those 5 tiebreaks. To come out and win the 5th set after being pulled back to 2 sets all indicates a focused and strong mind even with torn toe nails and the body hurting. At last, Andy has gained the mind of a Champion, fully focused on the task at hand.

I am looking forward to enjoying many more GSs and other titles in the future.
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Aileen
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #187 on: September 23, 2012, 04:34 PM »
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Good comments Philip. Smile



Quote from: blueberryhill on September 23, 2012, 06:48 AM
I suppose.......Wink if your opponents all drop out on the way to the final, that could be called "lucky," but that often seems to be countered by being less match sharp.
Well Andy's path has been smoothed in the past by threatening opponents dropping out or being unexpectedly beaten, and it's done him no favours.  He certainly didn't exactly shine in the Miami final after Raonic and Nadal pulled out.


  
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BigNose
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #188 on: September 24, 2012, 03:35 PM »
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Quote from: Aileen on September 22, 2012, 11:52 PM
If ever there was any luck in tennis it had to be during the Murray/Berdych match.  I'm not denigrating Andy's performance but there's no doubt that gale force wind played it's part in that match.

Cobblers. Its an outdoor tournament. Sometimes its windy, sometimes its not. Sometimes its hot. Sometimes its cold. The players just have to adjust their play to suit the conditions. There was no luck involved.
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Fiverings
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #189 on: September 24, 2012, 03:39 PM »
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Well said, Big Nose. The elements affect both players, the one who can use them better to his advantage will reap the benefits
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BigNose
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #190 on: September 24, 2012, 03:41 PM »
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Quote from: blueberryhill on September 23, 2012, 06:48 AM
I suppose.......Wink if your opponents all drop out on the way to the final, that could be called "lucky," but that often seems to be countered by being less match sharp.

What!? I guess you understand that if a player beats several higher ranked players on the way to a QF or SF he's there on merit. ie. he's proved himself the best player (so far). Better than the higher-ranked players he's beaten. So if Andy ends up playing this guy in a semi-final how is Andy lucky?
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Aileen
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #191 on: September 24, 2012, 06:31 PM »
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Quote from: Fiverings on September 24, 2012, 03:39 PM
Well said, Big Nose. The elements affect both players, the one who can use them better to his advantage will reap the benefits
I was only referring to the aspect of "luck", not commenting on either player's performance.
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blueberryhill
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Re: How many slams? « Reply #192 on: September 24, 2012, 06:53 PM »
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Quote from: BigNose on September 24, 2012, 03:41 PM
What!? I guess you understand that if a player beats several higher ranked players on the way to a QF or SF he's there on merit. ie. he's proved himself the best player (so far). Better than the higher-ranked players he's beaten. So if Andy ends up playing this guy in a semi-final how is Andy lucky?


I don't believe in "luck." Didn't u read back? I was being facetious.

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