2019 ATP Season .... Starts with Murray calling it a career ...

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
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Real men play singles. Other than mixed doubles, I just can't play (or watch) doubles. The few times I played doubles I kept hitting my partner with my shots. On at least a couple of occasions I've hit my partner in the back of the head with my serve.

Frew McMillan was largely a niche player (doubles).

Eddie Dibbs and Harold Solomon were also largely niche players. Their best surface by far was clay. At my club we called them "Dirt Devils".

Question: Do they still have the seniors tour?
If they do then it is pretty low key.

I remember it started shortly after the golf seniors tour which was and still is quite popular, but the tennis version petered out pretty quickly. You can see how much slower and less fit the players are. Actually, I think golf is the only sport where a seniors tour would be a viable entity. The reason for that is that there is very little athleticism in golf. As such watching a 55 year old hit a ball is not much different than a 25 year old hitting a ball. In other sports you move slower, you are not as strong, you can't jump as high, hit or throw the ball as far, you can't dive to make a catch etc. etc. and that diminution of athleticism is evident to everybody and is actually kind of sad to watch. You don't see that loss of athleticism in golf because it is basically a skill, swinging a club. All they have to do in golf is make the holes a bit shorter and the players can stick it as close to the pin as they did when they were in their prime. So there is still the same drama in golf unlike other sports. Watching a 55 year old playing tennis is dull.
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
51,139
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Toronto
Real men play singles. Other than mixed doubles, I just can't play (or watch) doubles. The few times I played doubles I kept hitting my partner with my shots. On at least a couple of occasions I've hit my partner in the back of the head with my serve.

Frew McMillan was largely a niche player (doubles).
I didn't realize that the question was about 2 handers on both sides of only singles players. Frew won some singles titles and as I said before, the only one in the hall of fame. He was obviously the most successful and had the best career of any player with that skill.
 

Darts

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorne_Main

Lorne Main was the club pro at Rockland Tennis Centre when I lived in Montreal. I hit a few balls with him in a friendly practice session.

No, we never played a serious match. If we did, he would have won 6-0, 6-0 in 10 minutes without me winning even one point. I wouldn't be able to return his serve and he would have killed my serve.
 

Pinseeker

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Oct 3, 2008
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The reason for that is that there is very little athleticism in golf. As such watching a 55 year old hit a ball is not much different than a 25 year old hitting a ball.

You don't see that loss of athleticism in golf because it is basically a skill, swinging a club. .
I get what you're trying to say but I don't fully buy it. Pull up a video of Nicklaus' swing in the early 60's and then another from say the late 90's and you'll see a world of difference. The diminution may come more slowly in golf but it still comes.

I think what makes oldtimers so sad to watch in most sports is the loss of running ability (skating in hockey) and that's mainly a function of worn out hips and knees.
 

bemeup

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Nov 12, 2010
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Yesterday FAA (that’s Felix Auger-Alliasime) had his most impressive win on tour. He waxed Stefano Tsitsipas 4 and 2. Tsitsipas is a top ten player and the hottest young gun on tour , and Felix had no trouble with him.This portends well for the 18 year old Quebecois. He may end up having the better career than Shapo or Milos.
 

Darts

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Yesterday FAA (that’s Felix Auger-Alliasime) had his most impressive win on tour. He waxed Stefano Tsitsipas 4 and 2. Tsitsipas is a top ten player and the hottest young gun on tour , and Felix had no trouble with him.
Is his tachycardia now under control?
 

Insidious Von

My head is my home
Sep 12, 2007
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Andreescu made the Indian Wells Women's Final. Fucking DAZN is preventing us from watching her.

She goes up against Angelique Kerber. On clay, Kerber would win, on hard surface it's a pick em.

My sugar baby got embarrassed.

 

Insidious Von

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The contrast is fascinating. Bianca could become the Queen of Indian Wells - and she did it as a wildcard, no less. She worked her ass off and could be rewarded.

On the flipside, all Genie has to do is show up.

 

nottyboi

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May 14, 2008
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I was super impressed by how Domonic Thiem beat Fed, this guys is a future #1 IMHO. That victory required nerves of steel. !!
 

Insidious Von

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On the men's side, Milos blew another chance. This time it's not as egregious as in Oz, Dominic Thiem is the new Mats Wilander. He beat The Fed to take the men's championship.

Thiem doesn't make unforced errors, he waited Milos out. He got him moving lateral in the third set, that's Milos's Achilles Heel.
 

bemeup

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Felix is on to the semifinals after an impressive win over Coric. Shapo plays Tiafoe for his spot in the semifinals tomorrow. The two are best buddies, and the future is so fun to think about.
 

bemeup

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Felix put up a game effort against Isner, but lost 7-6,7-6. Felix served for the first set at 5-4, but unfortunately double-faulted 3 times. He also served for the second set at 5-3 but again was broken. Too bad, but the future still looks very bright, he is the only player born in this century to be ranked in the top 50. Now Canadian hopes rest with Shapo, but it will be tough to beat Roger in tonight’s semi.
 

Insidious Von

My head is my home
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Felix AA had me bamboozled! I was saying to myself, "he's too young to play like Andy Murray". The Scotsman is undefeated against Isner and Milos by not worrying about the middle ace (which takes more energy) and taking away the angles as the set progresses. Then his serve got wonky and the experienced Isner took advantage. Great result all the same and the Scotsman will be missed. Shapo vs The Fed in just over an hour.

The Rogers Cup advert is out of date, Genie is featured.
 

Insidious Von

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Shapo was overawed by playing his idol. When you play erratically against The Fed, he doesn't open doors for you. That's why he's The GOAT.
 

raptorizedguy

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Roger Federer at the age of 37 is leading the ATP race to London standings ...

Roger Federer 2,280 ... Novak 2,225 and Nadal 1,605 ... Funny the years keep going by but the top 3 always seems to go to the over 30 club ..
 

raptorizedguy

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The contrast is fascinating. Bianca could become the Queen of Indian Wells - and she did it as a wildcard, no less. She worked her ass off and could be rewarded.

On the flipside, all Genie has to do is show up.

Bianca has me following WTA events that she is in ... I have become a big fan and she has the athletic body that will give her power in her game ...
 

Pinseeker

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Oct 3, 2008
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Roger returns to clay for the first time in three years this week at the Madrid Open. I wonder if he'll remember his clay court game and make it through a couple of rounds.

Meanwhile Shapo and FAA meet later today in the first round. Shapo has done nothing on clay so far this year while Felix has had some good results so should have the edge. For their troubles the winner gets Rafa in the second round. Only good thing about that is Rafa hasn't had his usual invincible start to the clay season.
 

Darts

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Meanwhile Shapo and FAA meet later today in the first round. Shapo has done nothing on clay so far this year while Felix has had some good results so should have the edge.
FAA did win. Looks like the boys are getting ready for the Rafal Nadal Open in France.
 
Ashley Madison
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