2017 Australian Open Tennis

[jeemak]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

Thanks 'stache. The only point I disagree with is that Hewitt was a tool for a very long time, and while I get he was determined to win and couldn't control his emotions, he was built and brought up to be a tool.

It's a credit to him that he turned it around in his latter years. He's actually a very reasonable voice in tennis commentary now, given he doesn't have the sycophantic tendencies everyone else on Ch7 seems to have.

Could you ever see a guy like Kygrios adapt and transform like that?

[Greystache]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

Could you ever see a guy like Kygrios adapt and transform like that?

It's difficult to say. He's young enough to turn it around, and he'll have enough lows and people getting into him to perhaps wake him up, so there's a chance.

But in my opinion I think he'll be one of those guys years after his career had petered out who will look back and realise what a dick he was and regret that he wasted his opportunity. He'll probably launch a good will campaign and try to win back the public's respect, but he'll be a D grade celebrity that people just don't care about.

[Sedat]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

A lot of people seem to be more upset at the likes of Tomic and Kyrgios not reaching their optimum potential than they are themselves. If they want to coast along and make $10m a year on the fringes of the top 20 for the next 10 or so years it's their prerogative. Dimitrov has been doing the same thing for the last 4 years in beteeen shagging the likes of Maria Sharapova and Nicole Whatshername from the Pussycat Dolls, and nobody really gives a toss about his waste of talent. Gael Monfils is also one who hasn't made the most of his God-given attributes but doesn't really care when he is raking in many millions year after year as a perennial top 20 player.

I do agree with the previous posters that Kyrgios is a) dumb, b) a child and c) a bit of a douche, but he is so much more watchable than the automatons like Ferrer and the dullards like Djoker and Murray. That car crash against Seppi was as fun to watch as tennis gets.

Phillipoussis was a little different in that mobility injuries cruelled him just as he was about to explode - 3 or 4 knee surgeries for a tall bloke not blessed with on-court agility killed his chances to be the best in the world, which his talent could have got him to. Still, he won 2 Davis Cups off his own raquet for Australia, one in France on clay and the other when he tore his pectoral muscle off the bone and still won the reverse singles rubber to clinch the win - people are very quick to forget this from his CV.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

A lot of people seem to be more upset at the likes of Tomic and Kyrgios not reaching their optimum potential than they are themselves. If they want to coast along and make $10m a year on the fringes of the top 20 for the next 10 or so years it's their prerogative. Dimitrov has been doing the same thing for the last 4 years in beteeen shagging the likes of Maria Sharapova and Nicole Whatshername from the Pussycat Dolls, and nobody really gives a toss about his waste of talent. Gael Monfils is also one who hasn't made the most of his God-given attributes but doesn't really care when he is raking in many millions year after year as a perennial top 20 player.

I do agree with the previous posters that Kyrgios is a) dumb, b) a child and c) a bit of a douche, but he is so much more watchable than the automatons like Ferrer and the dullards like Djoker and Murray. That car crash against Seppi was as fun to watch as tennis gets.

Phillipoussis was a little different in that mobility injuries cruelled him just as he was about to explode - 3 or 4 knee surgeries for a tall bloke not blessed with on-court agility killed his chances to be the best in the world, which his talent could have got him to. Still, he won 2 Davis Cups off his own raquet for Australia, one in France on clay and the other when he tore his pectoral muscle off the bone and still won the reverse singles rubber to clinch the win - people are very quick to forget this from his CV.

One New Year's Eve I had to go and visit someone in Willy hospital. At the next bed the guy visiting the little kid looked familiar. It was Mark Phillopouis. He'd cancelled his plans and given up his New Years Eve to sit with a sick kid who'd asked especially. Why New Year's Eve? It was the only time he had available in his schedule.

My opinion of Mark Philipousis stretched way beyond what he did on the tennis court that night.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

Agree. He's a massively insecure kid masquerading as an arrogant tool. He's also not bright enough to pull off the act convincingly. The whole I don't care about tennis, and I don't need a coach reeks of someone terrified if they give it their best they might fall short, so they give themself a series of excuses for not succeeding.

Hewitt acted like a tool when he was young, but that was because he was so determined to win he couldn't control his emotions. I'd take that over a pampered sook everytime.

He may actually be afraid of the success that his best shot may produce.
I don't think he is mentally equipped at this point to handle success.

I have seen plenty of people in life and business, keep doing what falls short, so that they do not need to cope with the pressure of success.

[Ozza]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

I'm excited to be seeing Roger Federer play live at Rod Laver tonight. I have over the years always seemed to end up missing out on seeing him, due to either being there on his rest day, or being at the night session when he has been on during the day, or vice versa.

I wouldn't say I'm a tennis 'fan' - but seeing Roger Federer play live has always been in the sporting bucket list.

[whythelongface]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

I'm excited to be seeing Roger Federer play live at Rod Laver tonight. I have over the years always seemed to end up missing out on seeing him, due to either being there on his rest day, or being at the night session when he has been on during the day, or vice versa.

I wouldn't say I'm a tennis 'fan' - but seeing Roger Federer play live has always been in the sporting bucket list.

Enjoy. Watching the great man is very high on my to do list as well - not many more years left to see him.

[Topdog]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

Watching him live is something else, you get a greater appreciation of just how good he is.

[westdog54]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

I've only seen him play live once. That was in 2008 against French journeyman Fabrice Santoro.

It was a clinic. 6-0 6-1 6-2. It was extraordinary to watch.

[jeemak]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

A lot of people seem to be more upset at the likes of Tomic and Kyrgios not reaching their optimum potential than they are themselves. If they want to coast along and make $10m a year on the fringes of the top 20 for the next 10 or so years it's their prerogative. Dimitrov has been doing the same thing for the last 4 years in beteeen shagging the likes of Maria Sharapova and Nicole Whatshername from the Pussycat Dolls, and nobody really gives a toss about his waste of talent. Gael Monfils is also one who hasn't made the most of his God-given attributes but doesn't really care when he is raking in many millions year after year as a perennial top 20 player.

I do agree with the previous posters that Kyrgios is a) dumb, b) a child and c) a bit of a douche, but he is so much more watchable than the automatons like Ferrer and the dullards like Djoker and Murray. That car crash against Seppi was as fun to watch as tennis gets.

Phillipoussis was a little different in that mobility injuries cruelled him just as he was about to explode - 3 or 4 knee surgeries for a tall bloke not blessed with on-court agility killed his chances to be the best in the world, which his talent could have got him to. Still, he won 2 Davis Cups off his own raquet for Australia, one in France on clay and the other when he tore his pectoral muscle off the bone and still won the reverse singles rubber to clinch the win - people are very quick to forget this from his CV.

One New Year's Eve I had to go and visit someone in Willy hospital. At the next bed the guy visiting the little kid looked familiar. It was Mark Phillopouis. He'd cancelled his plans and given up his New Years Eve to sit with a sick kid who'd asked especially. Why New Year's Eve? It was the only time he had available in his schedule.

My opinion of Mark Philipousis stretched way beyond what he did on the tennis court that night.

These issues arise when prize money is so lucrative across second and third tier competitions. TV rights resulting in a large number of tournaments being scheduled means that the best 25-50 don't really play against each other that often, and players can earn ridiculously good money not having to be at the absolute pinnacle of their games.

It's a tricky one because in order to sustain the tour and get players in prime condition for the majors you need the ordinary match practice tournaments to pay their bills and keep the players in practice. Unfortunately it means the likes of those you mention can play the system and avoid having to be within the absolute top tier to make a killing.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: 2017 Australian Open Tennis

Chris Anstey was proudly sporting a Western Bulldogs premiership cap on Rod Laver Arena this week at the tennis. Good one Chris.