[Aileen]

http://www.usagoals.video/c/tennis/grand-slam-australian-open/24-01-2020/john-millman-vs-roger-federer/1/

Wow history nearly repeated itself! Couldn't get the links to work so watched live scores.  Fed won 10-8 in the fifth set tiebreak.

Meanwhile I see Milos serve-bombed his way past Stefanos in straight sets.

[waverlybear]

For anyone who hasn’t subscribed to  Eurosport the BBC are  showing highlights of the day’s play from tomorrow.   Not sure of the times every day but tomorrow it’s on BBC1 at 14.50.  Only an hour and 30 mins, but at least it’s something.

[waverlybear]

Thanks for that wb.  Will try to remember to look at the times!

Sun it’s BBC 2 13.00 - 1430.  Mon -Fri  BBC2 15.15 - 16.15.

That’s as far forward as my guide goes.  I notice it’s only an hour on weekdays.

[blueberryhill]

1) I only had the livescores, which was nerve-wrecking enough. Millman already led 8:4 in the final set TB, and yet he could not get over the line. This must haunt him.  2)Did not see any of Raonic vs. Tsitsi: was it serve-botting or was Tsitsi (who is not a weak server, either) somehow out of sorts?

1)Millman blew  that 2 point advantage in the tie with awful, careless play. Fed so lucky to escape.
2) A bit of both, Robot was indeed in a serve botting, unreturnable frame of mind, but Tsitsi looked slow and a bit off TBH. I've read the the courts are fast and the balls heavy    am wondering if that favours big servers. Very disappointing whatever.

Amazing re Coco, she must've been on a steep learning curve since she was beaten so soundly by Naomi, who think, has looked lost since she parted company with Sascha.
Didn't watch Serena, but age is catching up with her, inevitably.

[Aileen]

^MA - Long but interesting!  I would disagree with one thing though, and that is your statement that "Natural talent does not exist".  Of course it does otherwise there would be no base on which a sportsperson could build and develop.  The same goes for authors, musicians, artists, etc.

Re Andy's numerous physical problems, I'll leave you with what Matt Little, his long-term fitness trainer said a couple of months ago - "The only good thing about Andy is his hip".

[blueberryhill]

It's a bit silly to say that natural talent doesn't exist.

Agree. 150%. Andy and Fed, just for starters, have more "natural talent" in their little fingers than Isner, just for starters, does in his whole body. Of course you have to do the work, you can't just rely on it.

[marathonarthur]

^MA - Long but interesting!  I would disagree with one thing though, and that is your statement that "Natural talent does not exist".  Of course it does otherwise there would be no base on which a sportsperson could build and develop.  The same goes for authors, musicians, artists, etc.

Re Andy's numerous physical problems, I'll leave you with what Matt Little, his long-term fitness trainer said a couple of months ago - "The only good thing about Andy is his hip".

I am sorry Aileen but natural talent in sport really cannot be proven to exist. This fact has long been established.
I will try to explain although it would be better to read the studies done.  Basically we all have specific advantages from genes, physical advantages, our upbringing activity, experiences and environment experienced that moulds our specific abilities. That is all it is. I was good at my sport partly because I had a very strong heart with a pulse rate that could exceed 200 and go as low as 30 at rest. There was a lot more needed which were advanced by having sporting minded parents and brother. Seb Coe was similar in that he had an incredible metabolism. These are advantages that can be utilised and no guarantee of a positive unless nurtured with further developing the sporting skills to a competitive level. 
However explaining why a young kid can become a child piano playing prodigy is much harder to do without some serious physiological explanations that are beyond me. Those great abilities like phenomenal memory and those you mention are all activities developed by routines that develop the skill just like tennis.

I think your last comment regarding Matt Little's comments on the Andy Murray body are spot-on. It sums up how hard it has been for him with all the body defects we know he has. I do think that this new one is probably not long term.

I am disappointed that we are not seeing him play at present for even on a comeback very rusty he was 'a class player'. I dare not say what i think of his GB successors on the tennis court. Perhaps Andy might consider doing as Tim H did and show off those skills without so much pressure in some seniors events? Less pressure but a lot of enjoyment for him and spectators alike?

[marathonarthur]

^ Aileen, I speak only what current thinking is. I do agree with it. It has largely been forgotten now by the modern society that the first five years of life are those that determine most of what you become later mentally and physically.

I cannot command your knowledge of backgrounds and genetic variations for the top players and how that changes in family generations. My mother was an island cycling champion at 20 but she stopped me riding a two wheeler bike on roads in London. We did though play most sports on a regular basis as a family before we went to our first primary school which provided us with ball skills and the physical capacity to play well. I played 5 sports well by the time I was 15. That was despite being from a comparatively poor background. In the end that can help or hinder depending on ones mental strength again influenced in a big way by parental involvement.

I return to my first contention that it is the mental side that determines success not the physical. Andy has that and I suggest that whatever others say he will want to play again competitively. The hard bit with comebacks is that some of us find it hard to lower expectations. Again I think that Andy is one of those. The next six months will be interesting.

I agree with your last sentence wholeheartedly.