Steve, in the drinking game, you forgot to mention the phrase, "his charge," when they inevitably pan to a player coach.

skimmed through this one, the drinking game section is hilarious and so true of the commentators' tendencies! haha!

"I would have chastised Bellucci for his mental weakness, and said that this was why he wasn’t Top 20 material. But his irrational reaction to pressure reminded me of someone: Myself, unfortunately."

First time I;ve laughed out loud today, Steve. Brilliant.

Hey, listen, I'm with yoiu about shorening the season, too. And yes, I'll miss the big-name tennis, but that's because I don't watch other sports, except for the last few games of the World Series and a few quarters of football all season long.

Here's the rub, though. we could end the season effectively after a YEC in early to mid-October, tally up the points and declare our winners; then old the Davis and Fed cups, and send everybody we really care about packing to get some rest and rehab. And we could also start the 2010 campaign in November, with a slew of 250-level events and lower, and if guys like Davydenko and Robredo want to get a jump start on Federer and Co., let them at it. It would give us come tennis to watch, albeit without our brightest stars, but what the hay.....

""This is a big part of what makes the Spaniard's style so labor intensive. He often faces the best his opponent has. ""

Unfortunately that's true. And we've seen that several times over the years. Which is probably why some of Nadal's losses on the faster surfaces have been pretty bad. Ultimately Rafa has to serve better and flatten out his shots, if he wants to dominate tennis again.

Thanks for the article Steve. Very nice read, as always.

Slice
***we could end the season effectively after a YEC in early to mid-October, tally up the points and declare our winners; then old the Davis and Fed cups, and send everybody we really care about packing to get some rest and rehab. And we could also start the 2010 campaign in November, with a slew of 250-level events and lower, and if guys like Davydenko and Robredo want to get a jump start on Federer and Co., let them at it. It would give us come tennis to watch, albeit without our brightest stars, but what the hay.....****

I hereby nominate you to be the next head of ATP!

Love the idea of ending the year say in September, then have DC in October and have some 250s and exos in November.

But I also think a quick fix will be to reduce the number of mandatory MS, at least for the top 20. Let the players choose 5 out of 9.Move the YEC immediately after Paris.

What is with all these people retiring in shanghai. It is really a shame that people do not stick through matches unless they are seriously injured. I love watching these fall tournaments. I was looking forward to Shanghai but then Murray and fed dropped out, Rodick retired, and del Po lost.

Thanks for the drinking game but I what does it say if I'm indulging on a Saturday morning :)

Also, side note, I feel like nobody's seriously talking about Nadal's game of late. He seems like a shell of his former self and is anyone worried he will never get back to full form?

It would be a good idea if "Steve Tigor" would not refer to himself as the third person...I wonder if Roger Federer would say "its a bad day when Roger Federer loses to Joe Blow"

What about "inch perfect" from the AMS commentary on the drinking game?

I honestly think that some of them have no solid reason to retire, other than "hey, everyone else is retiring so no one cares about this tournament anyway". Perhaps the fact that there is no one in the stadium to watch the match makes it hard for them to motivate themselves to keep playing when things aren't going their way? I mean, last year, this very same tournament was happening in Madrid, with good atmosphere and all top players attended, and I don't remember anyone complaining about the schedule then, at least not as loud. This time around I guess players have too much time to think about how much they don't want to play this tournament while they were flying past continents.

How about a double-chug for "inch perfect."
M&M

Hi Steve, if Roger was playing, we could have addded "The world number one" to the list.

"Unbelievable get from the world number 1"

"A standing ovation from the world number 1"

"A relatively poor performance from the world number 1"

And so on.

At first, when Rafa just took over the top spot, they'd often still make the mistake and call Roger world number 1, I thought it was hilarious.

Master Ace
"Ince Perfect" and "Haaaaf Chance"!

Nass
As long as I remember players did not like the long season. I know at least Blake, Rafa and Roddick have talked about it before.
About injuries, I just remind you of last year's YEC in Shanghai!
I don't think they are faking! see how many have already had surgeries or are planning to have one. This is insane!

Or
***At first, when Rafa just took over the top spot, they'd often still make the mistake and call Roger world number 1, I thought it was hilarious.****

they did the same mistake today in Rafa/Robredo's match. Saying something like : "a good shot from the world number one!"

"Inch perfect" - that's the one Jason says over and over.

Another one: "soft hands".

Sometimes it's so repetitive I have to mute the tv. Can't take anymore. And I wish they'd get rid of the American dude - he's so negative.

zolarafa, I do not think I accuse anyone of faking injury. I'm saying that some ache and pain for sure is there but not necessarily troublesome enough to retire. No players is playing 100% healthy anyway. But some are too easy to call it a day not because it was too painful to go on, just no motivation to. Of course players complain all the time about the long season, we hear it often. Not saying it's not a legitimate complain, just saying that in this particular tournament, because of the atmosphere and situation that caused the players to be more frustrated, hence, more are complaining. I don't know if I'm clear about my pt, hope you get it.

Rafa is still not at his best and question is will he ever be?.
I have to agree with Michele,nobody is talking about Nadal be able to be at the level he once was.Is it possible we will have to settle with Rafa being ´just ´top 5.I don t want to be too negative,but....

Nass,
oops, I did not mean to say you were accusing anyone. I understand what you are saying. That perhaps Shanghai is not the place most of the players want to be.
I am not sure about that. It is still a master 1000 event and still 4 more spots need to be filled for London. If the points or the money cannot motivate the players to be in a master 1000, then indeed the season is way long!

mirko, michelle,

Rafa has not had the chance to play lots of matches in a row. I think we need to wait and see. I also think he would not want to push his body too much right now and have another injury. Perhaps AO can be a better indicator.

As far as Nadal ever getting his "form" back..it's possible he's peaked. But players don't go through same predictable arc with their careers. After all, nobody realized that Johhny Mac had peaked in 1984 and was never going to win another Major.

Nadal has gone through "valleys" before in the last five years..and his demise has been pronounced more then once. It appears that barring a big upset of Ljubcic , he will have made 4 consecutive SF's this fall (Cincinatti, USO, Beijing, Shanghai)..That's still better then just about anyone in th top 10. So I wonder why fans are quick to write him off after only a handful of tournaments since his return.

zolarafa
Hence, only the one that are still in the picture of running for the remaining spots are motivated to stay and they aren't complaining. Soderling, Tsonga, Davydenko, Verdasco, Gonzalez all are playing their 3th weeks in a roll, most of them run deep in these few weeks' tournaments. They should be tired and aching all over by now but you won't hear from them yet cos it's too much at stake for them.

Court 1234...i agree it s been just a few tournaments and it is too early to speak about Rafa being like he was in 2008 and the beginning of 2009.It will take time,but the way he lost those semis is not nice to be seen,Nole,Delpo and Cilic.Soderling could be and probably would be waiting at the semis here.Hope Rafa brings something extra and put up a figth

Tignor,

This is the best article and funniest i've read in the recent past from tennis.com.

Awesome! love the drinking game and pointing out Koeing's commentating. I'm kinna getting sick of the tennis channel now...it's like you can feel the players dun give a damn about these asian events..

i'd love to see more grass court events..that gets federer/nadal to sign up right away

Two more phrases for the drinking game:

"Fortune favours the brave" and "For my money"- Robbie

Drinking game addition: "Can you believe it?"

As this usually follows a choke, I think you have to "accidentally" pour your drink on your shirt a la Robert Hays in Airplane.

if i had a penny for each time at wimbledon that vjiay amitraj says "glorious backhand/forehand/passing shot"...

I'd rather miss tennis for a few months than wince through injury withdrawals. I mean, wouldn't it be nice to imagine a sport where injuries are a surprise instead of the expected? It's not about who will retire in Shanghai, it's about who can make it at all.

ANDRE AGASSI SAYS THE NADAL ERA IS ENDING

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=Ak5nL4XRczojAmvKxQZpn884v7YF?slug=ap-agassi-federerandnadal&prov=ap&type=lgns

Hi

it seems a bit tough to be writing off Rafa, since his comeback hes made the quarters and 3 semis and in the quarters again at the moment. Thats not bad and is consistent. hes not losing in the first round and his main problem is that he seems to lose concentration at crucial points in a match. I think hes preparing for the Davis Cup and that is his major goal to finish off what has been a crappy year for him. We all know what winning the Davis Cup did for Verdasco and Im sure that it will be same for Rafa. having thousands of Spaniards scraming for you, being in a great team environment and playing on clay should do a world for his confidence and will get the fire ignited back in his belly for 2010.

I think he has a lot to prove and he is a fighter, we all know that. Currently the confidence is not that to really nail the shots, but it will come. Sometimes all you need is a little bit of luck and winning comes a habit again.

Also how come when Rafa is injured, people say his career is over, yet Murray and Del Potro both have wrist injuries and no-one is bothered? Surely having wrist issues is as bad as sore knees?

Anywhere heres hoping we get some good matches in Shanghai - it would be marvellous to say a 'madrid' style final here.

VAmos

Porto,
Actually Agassi said Federer-Nadal dominance is ending!

Hi, can someone please tell me HOW I order the Tennis Channel? Thank you!

a dollar every time dick enberg says "oh my" and we would own our own islands

Steve, you are "spot on".

Does anyone know if there's a chance Nadal could end the year at #1?

Slice,

I like your calendar suggestions. However, it probably makes to much sense to be undertaken. To many "other" economic priorities already in place.

Philflipt,

You may need to contact your cable TV provider, assunming you have one locally, and then you must purchase a Hi-Def (HD) package, which will get yoiu the HD box (tuner), with hundreds of channels on it, including options for buying movies on demand, etc. You should have an option to purchasde a Sports package, which will include the Tennis Channel. I am pretty sure that you cannot purchase the Tennis Channel exclusively, without purchasing the Sports package. But it only runs you about $4 or $5 a month.

vamos rafa

This is turning into a lame joke
Ljubicic just retired!!!!

Roddick retired vs. Wawrinka who retired in his next match
Monfils retired vs. Ljubicic who retired in HIS next match..
so I guess, theoretically, that means Nadal will retire vs. Lopez??

This is turning into a lame joke
Ljubicic just retired!!!!

Roddick retired vs. Wawrinka who retired in his next match
Monfils retired vs. Ljubicic who retired in HIS next match..
so I guess, theoretically, that means Nadal will retire vs. Lopez??

Speaking of Nadal-Blake, two things came to mind watching those athletes gallop all over the court. One, Nadal has a knack for great matches—he's been involved in the two best of 2009. This is because, while he isn't completely defensive or reactive, he lets the other guy play his game. His opponent, as long as he's Top 20 material, generally knows he can get his swings in and maybe find his groove. This is a big part of what makes the Spaniard's style so labor intensive. He often faces the best his opponent has.
------------------------------------------

I cannot agree more on this. The greatest show for tennis fans is when both players are on the very top of their game in the same match. That's the reason I love most to watch Djokovic vs. Nadal (and also a reason I find Andy Murray utterly boring).

Steve, I don't agree with the "choking" comment in relation to Rafa. Instead I think he's the birthday party kid giving out goody bags to his buddies only to challenge himself to raid the bags before the kids head home.

This is also where Rafa is so different from Roger (and also why I believe Rafa is a better #2 than #1). Rafa likes the chase while Roger likes being royalty. Roger takes hold of his opponent and immediately blows out any flame of hope he might have. Rafa strings his opponents along before taking the match (and this is where he will start getting into more trouble as the nagging injuries pile up - he can only play that game if he's healthy).

I think the comment about Rafa letting the other player play his game is spot on. It's one of the main reasons that Rafa plays so many competitive matches (which he often wins in the end), and also why Rafa is so popular (because his matches are so entertaining). I think the player that was least likely to let his opponent play their game was Pete Sampras, and that's why Pete, as good as he was, never enjoyed the popularity of many other players of his generation.

What kind of slump is Delpo if he is not able to play? its not slump if you are not able to compete. :l

Very entertaining as per usual, Steve.

I'd recommend adding "now that's just unplayable" to the drinking game. Robbie Koenig FTW!

I'll take TTC commentators any day over JMac's strolls down his playing days. Oh, and add "take the ball early" to the list.

So Juan Martin Del Potro loses 2 straight first tournament matches and there's no talk of his game being in decline? Isn't this the same JMDP that has never won a Masters title? And hasn't he just said that he has wrist tendonitis that has reared it's head several times in the last couple of years?

Of course such speculation at this point is hilarious and unreal.
Now lets see, coming back from injury Nadal has made his 4th straight SF run in a tourney and has tied Novak for most victories by a player during the year. But his game is in decline and he won't get back to his best form by his results so far.

Ok.......

delpo wasnt fit whole asia tourney(he actually lost only one match and wasnt feeling well that match(had stomach problems), one was retirement because wrist tendonitis... wasnt able to compete so it its not loss)and wasnt ready after emotionally exhausting us open.

Rafa, was awesome today after losing the first game, he and Luby was everywhere-then poor Luby got hurt. See everyone there are some valid reasons about this inhuman schedule,everyone fell out like flies. I was sitting here trying hard to remember who Rafa played yesterday, now I know I am getting older but alzheimer-NO.
See it's a blur for the fans too because I watched and always tape Rafa's games, I am sitting here still befuddled (I can't remember). I would have to turn back to the scores and if I do my comments would be lost and it takes me all day to type. Someone better come up with a fix of some sort or they are not going to be able to pay the big bucks the players make. Lucky Rafa and Doke has braved it out or we would see the fans playing and that ain't good for business.

lol the Drinking Game
Add
Jason Goodall's
'we're coming to the business end of the set now'
'X Player was able to elevate his game just when he needed to'
'Not a vintage perfomance from Federer but he's done enough to get through'

but I still miss
Dan Maskell's (rip)
'ooh I say'

Why not schedule the Asian swing at the start of the year thus culminating at the "Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific" a.k.a. Australian Open?

Seriously.

The top players need to start playing more in Asia because this is a growing market which will benefit the tour in the long-term.

The tournament would be more interesting if Fed were in it and I suspect he would be if not for taking this key time in his life to put family first. Also if he's there maybe fans would be more likely to park their duffs in the seats. The trip is probably a hassle for most players but Aussies have to make these trips all the time and China deserves a big-time tournament.

for the drinking game, add:

"that's good stuff' and one I like is, "earn his coin"

Philflipt,

If you own a home/condo get a satellite dish and Tennis Channel is included, no extra package to buy.

Professional tennis players have a lot of nerve. Let's put this in perspective. Other professions work more than 18-20 weeks a year. Other professions don't make a salary of six-to-seven digits annually. The reason tennis players play so much is because of money. Pure and simple. Yes, you want your ranking to improve, but that also comes with more prize money. No player complains about playing January exos in Australia and getting nice sums of change for showing up. If the season is too long for you, don't play. If you feel pressure to make the year-end finals, then keep playing, but don't whine about the season being too long. I don't hear the guys playing the satellites complaining about the season being too long.

Real tennis enthusiasts want to see good tennis - we don't care what country you are from. We don't care what your ranking is. We don't want you whining about doing your job. If you want to whine, get yourself some cheese, get over your inflated sense of self. We enjoyed the game before you came along and we'll enjoy it just as much when you are gone.

Steve,Jason and i had a good chuckle over the drinking game, enjoying your work! Here's one for the readers.... You try describing a forehand/backhand winner( of which we see about 100 a day, multiply by 5 days...) in a different way?? We do repeat, i must confess, but then we commentate on about 4-5 times more matches than any other commentators in the english language, so be gentle guys! SO, my challenge to the readers is to volunteer some good "catch phrases"/descriptions that we will use on air...but they gotta be good!!!
Lets hear what you got Ed, Master Ace, Marcel from Montreal,Or, Zolarafa etc....
Thanks to you guys for your feedback, we're always trying to improve and deliver the best product! RK