I get the impression that Jules Marie has been been someone to gain some of the most benefit from the Masters.
He's been the official sparring partner, doing about 4-5 hours a day, at the O2, at Queens etc. He says Roger's cool, a joker, just doing classic stuff. The Bryans just bombarded him with balls, not allowing him to stop to get a drink of water :) Kei was a little wierd, a whole training session and he didn't say a word - not to Jules, not to his coaches, Stan was fine, and the other doubles players too . . . all good, interesting stuff really.
Have any young Brits been involved as hitting partners this week ? It would be a great chance to gain some experience. I know Fitzy did that job for a couple of years.
From what I read, Jules was chosen by Technifibre, who are the sponsor, and who also sponsor Jules - although I guess they sponsor others too.
But, yes, like you, it'd have been nice for any of the GB players to be involved - after all, not sure if Jules was the only one hitting partner, but it'd make sense (to me) to have several. And players like Ed, or Tom F, or even Ash, would be perfect - as Jules says, the top 8 are never playing at 100%, they just want solid, clean, consistent balls to hit.
Ha, Djokovic has gone off the boil. I take it all back.
And at least we can enjoy the commentary from the dream team of Henman & Castle. Henman just had to remind Castle that they were supposed to be commentating on a tennis match instead of engaging in, er, "merry banter"
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"Where Ratty leads - the rest soon follow" (Professor Henry Brubaker - The Institute of Studies)
Make that 3 3-setters in a row. And this one, very close to the bitter end.
I'm quite glad Fed won - had Wawrinka done so, he would have gone another 400 points ahead of Andy, with the possibility of another 500 after that. Fed's too far ahead to worry about at the moment.
No idea what the arrangement is, but good of Andy to give the ticket holders a spectacle - and I guess Djoko will 'go easy' a little on our man - I assume his cheque and points are neatly sewn up.
So Andy v Nole in a one set (to 8) shootout and then Andy & McEnroe team up to play Henman & Cash in a doubles.
Personally I would love to see Murray team up with McEnroe on a more permanent basis with Mac as coach but I guess his media committments would prevent any chance of that.
-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Sunday 16th of November 2014 06:10:17 PM
The 2014 WTF reputation was in danger of partially being restored with these 3 setters with even one of the SFs being recognisable as a really competitive match - at least the Swiss can fight !
So it had to throw in a 0 setter for the final when one of the fighting Swiss couldn't come out to fight.
Interesting, wolf, re faster courts ( thanks for a suggestion ). Yes, should keep the scores tighter, but I wonder if helping master blasters keep scores tighter by reducing the superiority of the skilled rally players is better ? Yes, for more games, but for more enjoyable matches ? - A quandry, and personal preference, I suggest.
I still personally think pretty much leave as. Seems just that the 2014 WTF was doomed, doomed I tell you.