Ed, great job with the commentary on nbcolympics.com!

If... you plan to be at the Open for the entire day, bring your own lunch and store it in your car (if you are driving in). Saves you $$$$.

hey,
any links to the Roger and Rafa matches?

oh crazy elf ... why play new haven ... you have nothing left to prove against these non elite fields - drop out and get some rest, we want to see you at your best against the Big Three on the big stage.

I am disappointed that we don't have co-heroes of the week for the men. I feel that Roger and Stan's triumph was a hero-worthy performance.

Ed, thanks so much for your post.
I have to come back and read "beyond the bracket " yet.

I just wanted to say that the commentary on nbcolympics.com was just great. How did you manage to watch the match and type those comments in no time with no typos, is just beyond me....Great job!

I'm repeating the post on the Pilot Pen which I made last night on another thread,in case anyone's interested in going to the tournament:
Report on Day One of Pilot Pen tournament
Hello, TWibe. This will be a two-part report, with the first post focusing on the tournament itself and the second on the players we saw.
As a headline in the free newspaper handed out at the tournament acknowledged, this year’s Pilot Pen is “a test for the fans.” Another article said the tournament is “highlighting younger players,” which is certainly putting the most positive spin on the situation: with most of the established players off in Beijing, the field is seriously lacking in recognizable names. Even Pilot Pen regulars such as James Blake, Nikolai Davydenko, Tommy Robredo and Elena Dementieva are absent this year (I can see why Dementieva might think winning the Olympic gold took higher priority.) So if you’re planning to go, think of it as a nice day in the sunshine watching good competitive tennis, but not necessarily from players whose names are familiar to you (at least not yet familiar).
Some practical matters to consider if you’re planning to go:
1. Parking costs $10; there is also a free shuttle that runs from the New Haven railroad station to the Yale Bowl.
2. The food court emphasizes pizza, with several of the famous New Haven pizza restaurants represented (though I can’t vouch for their authenticity). You can bring your own brown-bag lunch, though not big coolers.
3. There is very little shade (except in the main stadium late in the afternoon), so be sure to bring a hat and sunscreen.
4. The only functioning water fountains are in the stadium, so bring bottled water if you’re planning to spend most of your time on the outside courts.
5. The best court for watching tennis is the grandstand; you’re pretty far away in the stadium. At outside courts #2 and #3, it’s a good idea to choose the back row. You can watch standing up (good for aching backs and arthritic knees!) and see a bit of the action on the neighboring court by looking over the fence.
4 Be sure to watch the doubles! Doubles matches may not televise well, but they’re great to watch live—by far the most entertaining match we saw all day was a women’s doubles match. Pilot Pen fans get more vocally involved in the doubles than in the singles (at least in the early rounds); they are well informed, and they are very appreciative of good shotmaking.

Russ,
let this one be Rafa's ! Fed has had many heroic moments. lol!

Pilot Pen, part 2

Since all the seeds have a first-round bye, and the tournament is lacking big names to start with, the lineup on Sunday was not exactly star-studded. Some of the matches were still qualification rather than main draw. However, all the matches were competitive, and we got to see some of the players who are considered up-and-comers, including American teenagers Jesse Levine and Donald Young.

Jesse Levine lost his qualification match to Alex Bogomolov (sp) 6-4, 7-6, a bit disappointing since he won a match or two at the French Open earlier this year (I think he was the last American left at Roland Garros). The players were well-matched in ability, but Bogomolov won on experience and greater variety. Levine is a left-hander, has a big serve but needs to be more consistent and also not to let himself get rattled by adverse calls (the service line judge did seem rather generous to the server at times). He seems rather unsure of himself at net; his opponent was quite successful at pulling him up and then lobbing over him. Of course one can think of other, more experienced American players to whom this description would apply.

Donald Young vs. Dudi Sela (the Israeli who got his country into the World Group of Davis Cup) was the marquee afternoon match in the stadium, won by Sela 6-4, 6-2. Again, a disappointment considering that the Pilot Pen was where Young won his first ATP match last year, and that Davydenko had complimentary things to say about him after their match there.
Both players are shorter than average and slight of build; Young actually looked big compared to Sela. Predictably, neither man plays with a lot of power. When they first started playing "patty-cake” with big looping shots, I thought to myself that they weren’t hitting as hard as the women who had just finished the preceding match (Mattek and Pironkova). My husband didn’t believe, on the basis of his performance today, that Young is going to be the next big thing in American tennis; he thinks that Young could get into at least the top 50 if he stops making so many silly mistakes, but that he lacks the big shot he needs to get into the top 20.
So, this report is not exactly an enthusiastic endorsement of the up-and-coming American teen-agers; we’ll see what actually happens.

Hey Ed,
Thank you so much for your match calling on nbcolympics.com.
Thanks again.
Jim

Ed- I really enjoyed your commentary during the Olympics. Great job.

*I am disappointed that we don't have co-heroes of the week for the men. *

I agree- but I think it should not be limited to just the men- but also included doubles for the ladies as well. Although the WS have won numerous titles- their win was also praise-worthy.

I wonder if as a result of the fun Federer had while playing dubs at the Olympics as well as the rise in singles of Wawrinka we will see Feds play more Davis Cup.

"if you've been to the U.S. Open before, what advice would you give to first-time visitors?"

1) Be prepared to spend a lot of money. ;-)
2) Stay hydrated if you're going to be in the sun all day.
3) Ashe Stadium is not a good watching tennis, unless you're in the lower levels. I prefer the side courts since you can get closer to the action.

Ed: Nice job with the Olympic commentating - thanks for your hard work there.

Ed, we get angry at the commentators because they're _talking_, even when the point has begun. When the commentator is simply typing, it's just fine. ^^ Besides, you didn't feel the need to post pointless remarks after every single point, or repeat the obvious, like, "That was a fault," for which I was grateful. Thanks for your commentary during the Olympics. ^^

i also put forth my thanks to you Ed for the live commentary.

Sam, thanks for the advice :) i have a feeling i'll be spending more time at the outside courts than at Ashe, but i'm not complaining.

any more USO advice? hehe, i need to buy the latest TENNIS so i can see what it says. i always love it for the little guide to the USO.

Ed - Thanks for all your commentaries @ nbcolympics.com! And as always a great Monday Net Post..

Ed, I really enjoyed your commentary. I know it's got to be difficult to focus on the action and type it up quickly. Your comments were great for either someone who follows tennis religiously or a casual observer. I hope NBC or others will use something similar to this format for large tournaments in the future. Again, great job!

Ed, here's my favorite eBay auction from earlier this year; it didn't sell. Just wondering if Brad Gilbert has similar designs with Rafa's Wimbledon racquet, which I understand he has.
http://tinyurl.com/694m67

If--
you are on a tight budget, go to qualifying (free) and/or buy a $5 grounds pass on the final Sunday, when you can see the junior finals.

So tomorrow's when the USO draw fingerpointing comes!!! I can't wait for the cupcake arguments!

if answer:

If you are content to wonder the outer courts to watch the lesser mortals of the tour, its fine.
But if you want to see the games elite (and I mean ATP, as nothing of the WTA compels me in the least) stay home and watch Primetime at the Open on USA for the last time. You have the best seat in your house, and the sometimes annoying, but always delightful banter of Johnny Mac and his poodle Ted.

The truth is that Arthur Ashe is the worst spectator stadium I can imagine. Unless you have connections, a ton of money or the fortitude to wait out a 5 hour rain delay and they let you move down...you can't see the player's much less the ball. In the upper reaches you even get sound delay. Its human nature that you just end up watching the match on the jumbo screen.

First time USO goers....here are a bunch of tips.
1) If you own a Lexus, call your dealer and ask for a special parking permit. The Lexus lot is where the players park as well, I've run into all sorts of players from Qualis to Agassi there.
2) Bring a can of balls to be signed!
3) Do not bring a racket to be signed, you will not get it into the place.
4) Go to the practices!
5) Try to go in the round of 64, its the best time.
6) Visit all the stands, you can get a bunch of free stuff.

Don't like this comment: "Will Nadal disappoint at the U.S. Open?"

After what Rafa has done this summer, no matter what happens at the U.S. Open I, for one, will not be disappointed in him.

OK I'll bite..I have a ton of them over on the TAT website in the form of a countdown in regard to our tailgate.
Enjoy: http://tinyurl.com/5npe3g

http://tinyurl.com/5npe3g

http://tinyurl.com/5npe3g

Also make sure that you don't have huge back packs. They are picky about the size and also hide the bottled water.

Sorry for the double posting.

I wonder what the USO draw will be like. When does it come out again... Does anyone know? Obviously if it's an upset-free tournament, the final will be another Nadal-Federer showdown (in which case I hope the latter emerges triumphant). But it could be really interesting if the 2nd and 3rd seed are drawn together... Last year's final could become this year's semi! And what about juan martin del potro, he's having a good time just like Rafa... On a smaller scale, of course, but could he possibly stop the new no 1 on his way to the final stages?

Whatever happens, I reckon we're in for a cracker of a tournament.. on the men's side at least. And more than anything this will be probably the final test of the year, not just for nadal, but for the man most in need of passing it.. Roger Federer. Allez Roger!!!!

Just want everyone to remember. Roger from 2004 to 2006 lost a total of 15 matches- that is 6 in 2004, 4 in 2005 and 5 in 2006. He won 74, 81 and 92 in those same years. He also won Wimbledon in those years in 3 or 4 sets. Nadal won in the 5th set this year and it could have really gone either way. I don't see him dominating like Roger and hope he doesn't since I can't stand to watch his brand of tennis. Lets talk about him being the greatest after 237 weeks at number 1 not just one day. He is dominant on clay but just like Roger the target is on his back and everyone will figure out how to beat him just like they did Roger. Oh yea they beat Roger and Nadal overtook him in the year Roger had mono and lack of practice in the off season due to illness and it still took almost the whole year for Nadal to take over. Wouldn't have happened if Roger didn't suffer in the beginning of the year with illness. Nadal with his brand of tennis will suffer injuries just like Hewitt.

Maha:

I believe the USO Draws come out this Thursday.

Also, ESPN Classic will be airing the Wimbledon Final on Sunday the 24th before the USO starts. TC will also be showing the Wimbledon final on Friday night.

Advice on attending the US Open:
1) If you're going during the first week (the best time to go), don't bother paying extra to buy tickets that give you entrance to Ashe Stadium. You're too far away to see anything, and the matches aren't likely to be competitive. Grounds pass tickets give you entrance to everything else, including Louis Armstrong and Grandstand.
2) Louis Armstrong Stadium is a terrific place to watch tennis. You'll see some well-known players (the one day we attended last year we saw Safin, Henin, Henman and Jankovic); you are up close to the action; and the seats have backs to them. If you go up the stairs to the upper level at Louis Armstrong, you can stand on a balcony and look over the fence to see action on the Grandstand as well.
3) Do NOT carry a bag, or you'll be stuck in the package search line forever trying to enter the grounds. Put everything in your pockets (cargo pants would be ideal). I include a flat tote bag made of canvas or strong plastic which folds up pocket-size; once inside the grounds, I take it out and transfer my junk to it.
4) How to get around the no-food-no-drink rule and save some money: If you have a car, follow the previous poster's advice about leaving a lunch in your car. If you are taking the subway, carry sandwiches along and eat them just before entering the grounds. Put some mini-juice boxes and some granola bars in your pockets to help stave off hunger pangs, though this probably won't be enough to carry you through a full day session. There are functional water fountains throughout the grounds, a rarity in this day and age.

Ed, I haven't posted here in ages, but I had to come out of hiding to tell you how much I enjoyed your commentary during the Olympics. It must have been exhilarating/exhausting to be up so early working each morning, but it was great to watch the matches with your text commentary and just the sounds of the court/stadium (and not Ted Robinson and friends blathering on.)

Also, I just loved the fact that NBC made the streaming available to all of us tennis fanatics so that we could watch in real time. Do you have any idea of the best way to give NBC this feedback about the streaming and the commentary? I poked around on the Olympics site and didn't see a "contact us" link.

Thanks again for all of your great work!

Open tips:

Go days 1 - 3 for the first round, everyone's still in the event and there are singles matches on every court.

Get out of Ashe stadium!!! Go to the outer courts to see Top 20 players playing competitive matches up close.

Sit, at least once, on the side of Armstrong that abuts the Grandstand to get two matches at once.

Don't bring bags or purses. That line is ridiculous, unless it's life or death, leave it at home.

Don't eat in the restaurants, it's a tournament, grab a sandwich and eat in the stands.

Check out the practice courts if you're into autographs or picture snapping.

If two players are seeded or ranked close to each other, go to that match, end of story.

This is not your living room, you have to remain seated until changeovers.

Bring sunscreen, it's not the beach, but if you can burn, you will.

Know that the top bowl of the stadium is a seating free for all in the first days of the event, don't get bent out of shape if you have to move a few seats.

The food court is expensive and the lines are slow. I still go, but just a warning.

The LIRR from the city is more expensive, but more comfortable and a lot faster than the 7.

There are certain spots around town where you're likely to spot players as well, official hotels, certain restaurants, etc.

goodness it is quiet on here today. I expected much much more jubilling.
What's up with Rafa still trying to claim that Fed is the number one and favourite. The boy is going to have to face up to the hard reality now. He is the target, he carries all the expectations. Let's see how he does with that load to carry. one day down and only gosh how many to go?

Unsolicited endorsement: GVGirl's tips at the TAT site are outstanding.

My particular choices: wear sunscreen, go to outer courts where you can get close to the players (I stood next to Moya last year and was so overwhelmed I could hardly breathe!), food is $$ but is decent quality, smoothies and water help keep you cool. We stay in Manhattan and take the 7 train to the tennis.

Thanks to jhurwi for the New Haven report. I have been there once -- two years ago -- and found it to be a nice, friendly tournament. I think that year there were a few more "name" players than this year, but in my view all pro tennis is worth watching if the match is competitive.

To follow up on the comments about Ashe Stadium:
http://www.slate.com/id/2069974/

Arthur Ashe Stadium is a disaster, possibly the worst sports venue in America. Some stadiums are unfriendly to fans. Some are disliked by players. And some come across poorly on television. Arthur Ashe Stadium accomplishes all three at once.

The sheer size of Ashe makes it a miserable place to watch tennis. With a capacity of 23,157, it's the biggest tennis stadium in the world. But that just means it has more bad seats than any other arena. While the best tennis venues provide a sense of intimacy, Ashe's double-decker stack of luxury boxes, located immediately above the courtside seats, pushes everyone else higher, making fans in the upper deck feel as if they're watching tennis through the wrong end of a telescope.

For ya'll Rafa fans - there is a photo shoot in this week's New York Magazine that you might want to check out. The article is titled "The Beefcake in the Backcourt" and it states that he is "willing to be ogled." Here's the link to the article and the slideshow: http://tinyurl.com/58dqyy.

"So tomorrow's when the USO draw fingerpointing comes!!! I can't wait for the cupcake arguments!"

Oh joy.

More tips:

- Stand in line for available grounds passes during Week 1. You will meet dedicated tennis fans and make a friend or two along the way.

- If you are lucky enough to get a seat in the lower tiers of Ashe, ignore the Blackberry-toting yuppies who got tickets from the employers/clients/rich friends and know nothing about tennis. They will cheer for errors.

- Go to Flushing or Jackson Heights for dinner after leaving the BJKNTC. The ethnic enclaves of Queens are chock-full of yummy, affordable food. Give back to local businesses.

GvGirl:

I just read all of your awesome tips on attending the USO. You mentioned the day before the start of the tournament begins all courts are used by players to practice. Does this include AA and where can you sit to watch those practice sessions.

Also, I have my own tip. If you know you are going to a certain match try and see that player practice before their match, then you know how well they are playing and the match will be more enjoyable. If you see they are shanking balls everywhere don't go to their match!!!

Sam:

The USO draw comes out tommorow? I thought it was Thursday.

I love the introduction on the ATP homepage! Very fitting...new wave of Rafa!

I don't even know why I bother read your articles anymore. The fact that your question is: "Will Nadal disappoint at the US Open? is very telling. You are hoping he does, don't you? Get over it. Federer lost his #1 ranking and Nadal should be the favorite for the USO. While I understand we are all human and cannot help but to have preferences, I would think that a journalist should show a bit more objectivity

Let us forget about Fedex being the GOAT, now at least !

Sad that Jon Wertheim was getting ready to write a book on federer just as fedex was getting of the No 1 wagon;

Fedex is a great champion ; an all time great ; but this Fedex as GOAT business is a humiliation of all the past great champions !!

Fedex never implied anywhere he is the GOAT; but Jon Wertheim could not see beyond his immediate commercial interests !!

afwu1216: I don't know - I was quoting crazyone's post.

eww

piyush, Federer won 12 freaking slams and had a huge number of accomplishments. He's worth writing a book on no matter what.

Now your point is that Federer's not only the GOAT, no one should write books about him?

At any rate, I hope you don't write a book about him, 300 pages of "Fedex is not the GOAT" would get repetitive.

*eye roll*

afwu216, I guess I was wrong, it's the qualies draws that come out tomorrow. No worries, we can have cupcake arguments about those too :P

So WHAT if Rafa called Federer the favorite for the USO?!? I remember very disctincly before Wimbledon, while most of the media was calling Nadal the favorite, there were many fans in this forum who said...our guy is the 5 time defending champion, he is STILL the favorite. Why is that different for the USO? Is it because Fed is only the FOUR time defending champion in NY? If deflection is the way Rafa handles those questions, who are any of us (mere posters on a website) to decide how Rafa should handle the pressure.

As as far as handling the pressure, it's not like Rafa went from 50 in the world to 1 in the world today. I'm pretty sure he felt pressure as the #2. Once you get in that stratosphere, pressure is pressure.

I had really hoped that Rafa would get ONE freaking day as the new number one without being torn down on this board. Wishing thinking, I guess......

LL

afwu- That Sunday players are practicing on AA, I don't remember if it's open, I would imagine so. I'm usually on the outer courts.

Vanessa - The reason I ended with that line is because if Nadal doesn't do well at this year's U.S. Open (let's say, if he doesn't best his career-best QF appearance), considering all that he's accomplished this year on hard courts, I think most people would consider it a disappointing showing. Simply put, the pressure on him to play well there, especially as the new No. 1, certainly exists. He's handled it before, and I didn't say he couldn't again. In fact, I put him as the slight favorite.

GVGirl: One year, I went the Saturday before the US Open started, and had a front row seat on Armstrong to watch Sampras practice, followed by Hewitt.

kind of OT, but I saw this billboard on my way home the other night. Pretty cool to see a tennis icon used as inspiration:

http://www.forbetterlife.org/billboards/giving-back

thanks for the link Rani. :-)

Rafa can say all he wants that Fed is the favorite to win the Open, but EVERYBODY knows that job falls on the number one in the world now. He knows it. He has proved he is the big "winner" this year. Makes not one iota of difference is Fed is the reigning champ, Rafa will be expected to win it. And if he can't, then people won't consider him the true number one!

Luscious you can't have it both ways. If you are the number one in the world you will be the number one seed and therefore the favourite. To claim otherwise is just plain aggravating. I think he does not want the pressure....but guess what? Destiny just came knocking. Just as it did for Fed. Let's see what Rafa does with it. So far i am not impressed with this disclaiming of his status. It is no longer sweet, it is fake.

Ed,
Maybe with Rafa , the meaning of "disappointment" should change too. Rafa does not expect to win every tournament. He just wants to play his best tennis.

He has already won 8 titles, among them the Frenco open, wimbledon and the Olympic Gold. No 1, doesn't mean superman and as Rafa fans, I think I want to be as realitic as him.

I want him to be healthy and play good tennis. Whatever that gets him in US Open, is fine with me. Because I know a defeat doesn't mean the end of the world for him. Just a lesson that he will take into his heart to improve even further.

So, in one sense, there is no real loss for Rafa and no disappointment, because he never gives it less than 100%. That's the new No 1!

Rafa is the favorite to win the Open, whether he likes it or not! It is expected of him. And I'm just going to laugh and laugh.
He can't even take the pressure yet, saying Roger is the favorite. What planet does he live on? Doesn't he know what it means to be the number one player in the world? LOL!

So was Fed the favorite at the French this year because he was number one? Or Rafa because he was the three time defending champion? You can't have it both ways.

LL

Crazyone,

federer's quality of opponents for his 12 grandslams was roddick-safin-hewitt-gonzales-davydenko-blake;

in the era of nadal-djokovic-murray, federer is not capable of winning more than 2 or 3 slams hereonwards;

they youngsters have improved their games beyond fedex ; federer will have to pay a heavy price for not having a coach ;

>>What planet does he live on? Doesn't he know what it means to be the number one player in the world? <<

he's been the number 1 player in the world for less than 24 hours. So no, he doesn't. So give him a break.

Lucius the Luscious

*****So was Fed the favorite at the French this year because he was number one? Or Rafa because he was the three time defending champion? You can't have it both ways.******

Spot on!

rani tks rafa looks so damn hott in those pics... for those caring, click on the slide show there are more ;)
if fed was all class as number one rafa is so hott on and outside a tennis court, but as allways a matter of taste !

i'm allways confused with people keeping watching rafa when they don't like him ? it's like trying to eat a kind of food you don't like, what's the point ? being a self proclamed rafa martyr ? gosh... there are 99 other players likely to be enjoyable tennis wise, no ?

nadal and joker are too tough for federer to handle ;

federer is probably going tobe no 3 hereonwards ; even andy murray is too tough for federer to handle ;

federer spoiled things for himself by concentrating on endorsements, appearances, exhibitions, etc

I can see it coming...by the end of the year TMF will take back the # 1 ranking.

I agree with one of the posters above...with Rafa I smell another Hewitt career. Rafa was overdue for some good results, that's for sure. He's been working hard and was way overdue. He had not won anything since last July so when the spring came and the clay courts were dusted off, naturally he would rack up some titles. That's what he does every year. Only this year he managed to add some significant hard court events and Wimbledon to his haul. Can we say one year wonder?? I'm not talking him down, really I'm not. But let's just see what he does for the next few months before we start calling him a contender for GOAT, passing TMF in Grand Slams, etc. I really can't see that happening. Roger is a more complete player.

He knows how to win. Rafa has just figured out a way to win. There's a big difference.

Allez Roger!

Liz,

nadal may or may not remain no 1, but federer will never be no 1 anymore;

joker and murray are too tough for him to handle ;

marcela, mariej - glad you enjoyed the pics! I wasn't sure whether to mark the link NSFW (Not Safe for Work) or not ;).

roger is going downhill now ;

roger is growing old now ;

he might win a coupole of slams ;

but by the end of the year , he should be no 3;

Here are some Olympic images less seen.

A fan (the Queen of Spain, actually) losing her cool when Rafa won the Olympic final:
http://tinyurl.com/6de8jq

Guys, it's OK to step up here with me just for a photo:
http://tinyurl.com/6fqmb6
Note that the best tailored tracksuit on the podium belongs to Nole (Kappa, an Italian brand - why of course).

A private smile during a very public ceremony:
http://tinyurl.com/5vhq34

A Chinese fan's emphatic statement:
http://tinyurl.com/567zlt

Tomorrow at New Haven:

John Isner vs Ivo Karlovic

How many aces? Over/under : 20 2 sets 30 3 sets.

Return games won by % : Isner 9 Ivo 12

*Can we say one year wonder?? I'm not talking him down, really I'm not.

That's not talking him down? Sheesh.....

LL

Roger should accept brad Gilbert as his coach and dump Mirka from the position of business manager ( not girlfriend)

roger will dissappoint his fans by his weak game ;

roger is too old now to be no 1 ;

also too weak ;

thanks malimeda, you never disappoint. I loved how Nole looked SOOOO happy. I hasd to see the ceremony on youtube because NBC didn't bother to show it, and it was nice to see him happy throughout. He really has his "baby" :-) I also loved the group hug. I'm such a sap for that kind of stuff.

>casually ignoring the big debate<

BolSep are playing the Battistone twins right now in New Haven. those crazy, double-handed racquet using, jumping 6 foot in the air bros.

the Italian orgy in R32 is just amazing.
Bolelli v Fognini and Seppi v Starace.

malimeda - Thanks so much for the pictures and stories. I love reading the stories about all these players and see their pictures (and fan) from behind the scene. I wish you post more often! :) Thanks again!

Rani - thanks for link *fanning self*

malimeda - thanks as always

Ed,

Thanks for the gold medal commentary. Terrific, punchy insights. You handled the juggling act of "studied v. snappy" extremely well.

And again, I would reiterate that with the men's game in flux right now atop the rankings, the draw is particularly relevant. Let's wait until Friday.

LL the absurdity of that argument just makes me say .. fine.

Where's Samantha Elin today? C Woz beats Cibulkova 76(7) ret'd. Go Ski Boots!

thanks malimeda. You always find great pictures that leave me grinning at my computer screen.

And Naughty T as you so vehemently pointed out just recently, Rafa wasn't number one until today. Did he call Federer the favorite for the US Open today or when he was still the number two player in the world? HWL! :)

Can you honestly tell me that you don't think that Federer and Dkjoker have just as much a chance as Rafa on those fast NY hard courts? VERY recently there were dozens and dozens of posters talking here about how Rafa is a horrible HC player. Just because the little number next to his name on the draw changes he is now the only favorite? How does a number change his game on those courts? Listen, I'm not denying that there are expectations on Rafa in NY. Of course there is, but because he has been on a roll, not because he is 1 instead of 2. I just think there are three co-favorites. And I would never assume to have the absolute answer on how any athlete (especially ones I do not know) should handle their pressure or whether there are being sincere or not.

LL

Liz,
that's a surprisingly disappointing comment from you.
****one year wonder?
He knows how to win. Rafa has just figured out a way to win. There's a big difference****

Geez, this is Rafa's first day as No 1 and already such comments? When all Rafa and many of his fans have done was to respect Federer?

If Federer knows the way to win, he better use his knowledge before it is too late. Djoko is breathing at his neck. That's all I am going to say, with all due respect!

I'm just realising that there is no point in arguing with some of these people who are determined to tear down either Roger or Rafa or Djoko or in fact anyone.

*has epiphany*

I would love to see a Roger-Rafa at the USO. Unfortunately I will be marooned in a tent in France without TV or internet, so will have to rely on French newspaper reports and text messages...eek, not sure how I'll cope.

You said that if you are number one you are the favorite. All I asked was, as the number one player in May was Federer the favorite at the French?

How is that absurd? It isn't a legitimate question?

Maybe Federer was the co-favorite.......

LL

*Luscious you can't have it both ways. If you are the number one in the world you will be the number one seed and therefore the favouriteI*

Naughty T- do you think that Pete Sampras should have claimed he was the favorite for the French Open the years he was number one?

jewell - the same happened to me last year at wimbledon . . . .. i missed everything from the first friday onwards .. . . .the only info i got was from the internet on my dad's phone!!!!!

*curses parents for deciding to go on vacation to french campsite rather than the usual floridian holiday whilst the greatest tournament in tennis was on!!!*

and to make things worse . . . .gasquet made the semi's and bartoli made the final . . .. .and they still didn't show ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!

of course i was really on the tv in a cheap campsite bar!!!

LOL

unfortunately for me, i think nadal will be number 1 for 3,4 years. i don't see anyone out there who will stop him. he is defintely not a one year wonder. i don't know how anyone can say something like that, he has been beating up on roger for years now.

*I'm just realising that there is no point in arguing with some of these people who are determined to tear down either Roger or Rafa or Djoko or in fact anyone. *

Jewell, I know this in my heart, but sometimes my head gets in the way! :)

I am going to jump on the coat tails of your epiphany.

LL

Piyush sharma

I don't think it is endorsments or exos. Federer has a very well-planned schedule and is very careful about it. I think it is the age factor, plus the mono that did not let him practice and be in shape. I also think he concentrated too much on winning the French and that might have affected his game. The recent losses, I would say lack of confidence in his own game plus lack of invincibility that gives other players incentive to play better.

Fed needs to win some matches and he will be back. He is just too good to fade away. He has already done it last year in Paris and Shanghai. He just needs to be careful about his health and that mono. I seriously expect a big come back from Roger and it might just happen at the US Open!

Has anyone done the math to see what Federer has to do to keep his #2 ranking?

headless,

First he has to defend his points in US Open.
If Fed loses early and Djoko reaches the final or wins the US Open, fed will be no 3.

He needs to at least get to the finals, unless Djoko is out early.

Carrie,

oooooooo, good point!

I honestly thought this would be a happy place to come to celebrate Rafa's new rank. I fear I was wrong.

LL

Hi Jacko,

due to my various sporting obsessions there are few times in the year when I can go away, and September is one of them - I'd rather miss the USO than Wimbledon, or the FO, or the snooker World Championships. I'll be here for the first few days anyway.

It is so frustrating when you're desperate for results and the people you are with are unsympathetic!

Rafa's first pic as No. 1 (looking all formal and practically frantic with expectations & pressure of being favourite):
http://tinyurl.com/5vyg7q

He's sitting in front of the Spanish delegation building at the Olympic Village, giving interview to a Chinese agency today, just before leaving for NY.

oh god we are again on the dead horse favorite talk...

rafa will never say he is a favorite at anything because his family tought him not to overlook his own achievements more than they need to. they tought him to wait until he's done to appreciate his "carrera" :p
rafa knows there are many guys he can lose to, that have more talent and they can perform at a very high level any day and beat him if he's not at his best.
it's called : not taking anything for granted in my book !

being humble is not a way to avoid pressure, it's the way he's been educated. if you haven't figured that out after more than 3 years, you are completely missing out what kind of person rafa is, imo.

fed is the big first favorite, not because he has won 12 slams, and 4 at the uso, but because he's the most talented guy no matter what... he has'nt play his best, but he still can next week... you doubt him because he had not a stellar year, ok... but if you say rafa is more favorite than him, it's at your own risk ! i'm not counting fed off by any means.

Djoko is 2nd big favorite he had one of the brutal draws last year and he reached the final, inexperience cost him the tittle, he won't make the same mistake since he has now the experience of the AO. his best chance to win another slam is here, he knows it and he's probably ready for it.

Rafa is the 3rd favorite, he's on a roll with an improved game, he had allways trouble adjusting his game for the second part of the season but he looks like having figure that out this year probably he had more motivation this year with the number one at his reach plus the olympics... just my 2 euro cents
he can crash to some guy who'll just be on a fresher form and on top of his game like it has happened to him here in the past with blake or youznhy, even ferrer... but if he can reach the final four, i like his chances :P

the only relevant question is who are the other favorites ?
blake ? he was playing very good at the olympics.
del potro on a 19 winning streak ? sure !
murray ? why not he won cincy, no ?
who else ? roddick and davy as usual suspects, gasquet who skipped pekin to make it strong here...

honestly the favorite talk is just as irrelevant as who's feeling most the pressure as number one ?

when you are in a contender shoes like rafa, fed, djoko or even roddick you have to feel the pressure no matter what.

rafa has more pressure during the clay season because he has an incredible amount of victories and he's expected to win against anyone, on the hard court it's more on fed or djoko who have better reccords.

now rafa has the little extra pressure of number one, but no more than the pressure he got when he had to beat djoko twice to defend his numer 2 ranking : that's when you have real pressure, when your ranking is at stake during a match.
he did well handling it saving his ranking and later clinching the last win to get the number one, if you think he won't handle it well, it's your big mistake.

Hi Jacko,

due to my various sporting obsessions, which include everything from snooker to football, September is about the only time in the year I can go away...I was pleased that Roger won last year, but it wasn't quite so exciting as this year's is shaping up to be!

It is horrible to be desperate for sports results and yet be with unsympathetic people who simply do not understand what it is about sport that is so great. (read: husband - love him but he just does not understand sport!)

LL, I can't think of a single regular poster on TW that hasn't congratualated Rafa on one thread or another.

Sorry for the near-double post, typepad went mad on me.

OMG i just saw that the battistonew bros are playin doubles against the oh so dreamy simone bolelli and andreas seppi!!

they are the guys who play with the two handled racket!!

if anyone hasn't seen it here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzNr90XZ05A

mariej-

Hallelujah! You said everything I didn't! I promise I won't let myself be led into that debate ever again.

:)

LL