re: 2016 Non-GS Tennis Thread

and he might see kyrgios in the 3rd round.

Rafa has 180 points to defend. Stan has 360. Rafa has 705 points to go. Stan still has Geneva, where he could pick up 100 or so points if he set his mind to it.

I think Rafa would need to win Rome.

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I often wonder why slams are considered the de facto measuring stick for GOAT-ness as opposed to masters.

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This is a good question, and I guess it's just an easier way for the media to present tennis to the average sports fan. Also, it may have to do with how casually players withdraw and/or retire from Masters events to be at 100% for the slams.

Monfils being Monfils

2nd angle with slo-mo

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I think the Master's series started in the late 80's/early 90's. If that's right, then you really can't compare the number of Master's titles that Djoker, Nadal, or Federer have compared so some of the old time greats because there is no number of titles to compare it to. At least with the Grand Slams, you at least have a number.

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They had a predecessor, though: Grand Prix Super Series

But I think the broader point of it not being as easy to compare year to year the slams*. Hell, Madrid was an indoor hard court event ten years ago.


*though there are still tons of issues with this as well. Like the fact that none of the top guys started playing the Australian Open till about the mid 80s.

Speaking of Madrid, I forgot to bring this up last week. In 2012, the tournament experimented with a blue clay surface in an effort to make the ball more visible on television. Unfortunately, there were other issues with the design and drainage that gave it a different feel, and the weather didn't cooperate that year. Some of the top players were opposed before stepping on the court, and early-round losses strengthened their criticism, so they switched back.

Personally I loved it, and I hope we see the blue, or some other darker colors, in the future. I know we already have "green", but it looks more like gray to me, and I'm not a fan of it.



Madrid 2012 Final

Thoughts?

Nick Kyrgios doe

Likely

You've gotta pick one player to play against Djokovic with your life on the line. Sorry for a de facto death penalty, but who gives you the best chance of living?