re: Official French Open Discussion Thread

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Isner just lost to Davydenko who Baker beat.

Just keep an eye on him.

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that doesn't mean that baker is better than isner

Baker is playing phenomenal right now...however, saying he is currently the best American right now over Isner who is playing top 10-15 tennis is just too much at this point. Baker has been a great feel good story this year and the past couple of months for those who really follow tennis. He no doubt has world class talent as he was top 5 ITF in the world juniors and previously got to the finals of the French Open juniors. However, he is still on his way back after years of being away from the game. Again, you could tell he was starting to tire out towards the end of his 3 set yesterday. I think he was lucky it didn't go 4 or 5 sets.

As far as you thanking the other poster for "his insight", not sure how much different his post was from you posting your "brother's insight" on Baker. ESPN has already beat that dead horse into the ground. That aside, with Baker winning the US WC for the French, getting to the finals of Nice, and then winning his first round match v. Malisse and an opportunity to do well v. Simon, coupled with the sad state of American men's tennis, I'm sure ESPN will pumping up the Baker story the next couple of days.

On a related note, I'm watching Donald Young go into the tank right now. Man, after watcing Roddick bow out quick and Harrison lose yesterday, it really is almost painful to watch the American men nowadays.

quote:

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Baker is playing phenomenal right now...however, saying he is currently the best American right now over Isner who is playing top 10-15 tennis is just too much at this point. Baker has been a great feel good story this year and the past couple of months for those who really follow tennis. He no doubt has world class talent as he was top 5 ITF in the world juniors and previously got to the finals of the French Open juniors. However, he is still on his way back after years of being away from the game. Again, you could tell he was starting to tire out towards the end of his 3 set yesterday. I think he was lucky it didn't go 4 or 5 sets.

(1)
As far as you thanking the other poster for "his insight", not sure how much different his post was from you posting your "brother's insight" on Baker.

(2)
ESPN has already beat that dead horse into the ground. That aside, with Baker winning the US WC for the French, getting to the finals of Nice, and then winning his first round match v. Malisse and an opportunity to do well v. Simon, coupled with the sad state of American men's tennis, I'm sure ESPN will pumping up the Baker story the next couple of days.

(3)
On a related note, I'm watching Donald Young go into the tank right now. Man, after watcing Roddick bow out quick and Harrison lose yesterday,

(4)
it really is almost painful to watch the American men nowadays.

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(1)
My brother's statement was based on the eyeball test after watching a single match, and was probably driven as much by optimism than anything else. My relaying of that statement wasn't intended as an endorsement of the statement as an absolute gospel; rather, it was just an anecdote of a tennis fan's reaction upon watching the guy play.

He said that Baker had a nice all court game and contrasted Baker's all court game with Ryan Harrison's game, which he described as "Andy Roddick but without the serve". I thought the Harrison characterization was a bit off, but whatever.

(2)
My brother thinks he will beat Simon. I told him he should temper his enthusiasm and that Simon will probably beat him. I said this even though I have yet to see Baker play. Simon is playing really well right now.

(3)
Donald Young is the opposite of mentally tough. Have any of y'all seen him play in person? The guy could be superb. He doesn't have any flaws in his game. His serve is good. He is strong on both sides of the groundies. He has really nice hands at the net, and he moves well. The flipside of that is that he doesn't have any real weapons either, which definitely puts a ceiling on his progression. But based on his skillset, he should unquestionably be a top 20 player.

(4)
It is rough. We need a new stud up-and-comer. Maybe Jack Sock will end up being good. But I won't be holding my breath.

I had 50 on Monaco at -1200. He made me sweat a lot more than I would have liked.

All clear now.


FYI: if one would have been interested in making a hundred bucks off the Nadal match, one would only have had to risk 20K. That was sarcasm. Those are obscene odds. I wouldn't play that even if I were a whale.

Hampton lost earlier today

wow serena is ab to lose in the first round

Serena in full meltdown mode. Down 5-0 in the third to Virginie Razzano. Noone saw that coming....

If she goes down, it will open up the quarter for Sharapova big time.

That Razzano bitch sort of looks like an older version of Vika Azarenka.

Come the frick on Razzano!