Remarkable non-GB performances

Josh · Challenger level

RE: Remarkable non-GB performances

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Never heard of him and I know he lost, but how well did Lucas Pouille play against Monfils!

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Very well indeed. And some gamesmanship-type tactics from Monfils which I did not expect - though I haven't watched him a great deal.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

The Optimist wrote:
Never heard of him and I know he lost, but how well did Lucas Pouille play against Monfils!

Seem to remember Pouille and Fitzy having a couple of match ups in Futures events a couple of years ago.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

The Optimist wrote:
Never heard of him and I know he lost, but how well did Lucas Pouille play against Monfils!

Lucas was the guy who I still hold a major grudge against as (without looking it all up) he got a wildcard into a 10k in East Europe somewhere last May, despite being well over-ranked for the tournament. Then slaughtered a couple of players, including a Brit, before then withdrawing because he was going to be offered a wildcard to Roland Garros and wanted to get back to practice.

Messed up the whole profile of the draw - didn't even honour the commitment re the wildcard that the organisers had nicely given him . .

NB Monfils has been spouting lots of rather cryptic comments that he's not in a good place, his heads all messed up (which is saying something !!! Lord knows what a 'messed-up' Monfils head looks like :) ), personal problems etc. etc. Might all be double bluff, of course, but many expected Gael to lose.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Thanks for the background CD. Really poor show re the WC event, but still really enjoyed watching him play this morning. As for Monfils, has his head ever been in the right place ??!!?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I don't know if this got a mention in the main Oz Open thread, but a huge 'well done' to Smyczek for sportsmanship which, seemingly, has got the tennis world talking.

I saw it on the stream and thought he was a real gentleman. Nadal gave him real credit too . . .

For those who missed it, it's written up in:

www.nytimes.com/2015/01/22/sports/tennis/australian-open-rafael-nadal-praises-tim-smyczeks-sportsmanship-in-close-match.html

Nadal's public relations manager was maybe slightly OTT when he said:

I think he deserves the sportsmanship award for the next 10 years, and Im going to be pushing for that, Perez-Barbadillo said of Smyczek. Im sure that Rafa would agree and everybody would agree. Ive never seen that, and Ive been in tennis for 19 years. Unbelievable.

But he has a point . . . well done, Sir . . .

indiana · Tennis legend

Great gesture by Smycek even if, yes, wonderfully OTT reactions.

As for Sportsman of the Year, bah, Sir Fed still walks this earth doesn't he ...

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Agreed that it is was great gesture and he undoubtedly deserves a similar level of credit that which Jonny Marray got for admitting his net touch in the Wimbledon final.

However, I would like to think that there are many similar examples of sportsmanship that go unnoticed simply because they do not happen under the spotlight of a slam and live on TV.

But well done to Smyczek for his gesture at such a crucial moment in the match.

Spectator · All-time great

Thought it was really impressive. Tight match; crucial point; still a chance of keeping in with Nadal on Laver in the biggest match of his life thus far; not a necessary gesture ... quite a combination. Seems like a really decent, solid, down-to-earth person all around. Hope he has a marvelous year.

Edit: Just found this blogpost ... which echoes the general consensus ... and mentions Jonny Marray! http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/01/another-way-winning/53739/#.VMJKjy6CBdg

-- Edited by Spectator on Friday 23rd of January 2015 01:26:37 PM

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Gilles Muller

Sim · County player

Have to add Venus to the list, beating Aga and now 9 matches unbeaten in 2015 at the age of 34 and with her illness issues.

Interesting battle of the generations against Madison Keys in the quarters. It is Venus's first slam QF since 2010

Spectator · All-time great

Definitely second the last two. Super job by Mr Muller (and Mr Delgado) ... and Venus Williams is extraordinary.

Spectator · All-time great

Not remarkable in the sense of surprising ... or unusual. But Serena Williams' 19 Grand Slam titles over 16 years is certainly remarkable in terms of quality and longevity. The serve and the mental strength are extraordinary. And it's fascinating to realise that when she won her first slam, Roger Federer hadn't yet broken the top 100; Rafa Nadal and Dinara Safina were preparing to win Les Petits As; and Andy Murray was preparing for the Orange Bowl U12s.

RJA · Hall of fame

This week is Roger Federer's 800th consecutive week in the top 100 (he has done 802 weeks in total). Later this year he will almost certainly surpass John McEnroe (835 weeks) and early next year Ivan Lendl (852 weeks). That just leaves Jimmy Connors on 889 weeks whom Federer would surpass on the 24th October 2016.

Mikhail Youzhny has now managed 732 consecutive weeks and over the next month will surpass Sampras (734) and Chang (735) to move to No6 on the list. If he stays there till after the French Open, probably needs a couple of main tour wins between now and then, he will also surpass Edberg (750).

Selected other current players; Lopez is at 657 weeks, Ferrer is at 655, Nadal is at 616, Berdych is at 575, Verdasco is at 570, Kohlschreiber is at 546, Wawrinka is at 511, Djokovic is at 501 and Murray is at 488.

Haas has 779 non-consecutive weeks (will drop out again next week) but only managed 327 consecutive weeks (also had a spell of 313). Hewitt has 756 non-consecutive weeks but only did 522 consecutively. Robredo has 669 non-consecutive weeks but "only" managed 564 consecutively. If these three had managed to stay in the top 100 from the date they first got there they would have done 926 weeks (Haas), 836 weeks (Hewitt) and 728 (Robredo)