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by TLR
Host Todd
Hello TLR Nuts and tennis fans! The 2009 grand slam
season has begun and Tennis Live Radio will be back
soon. I thank you for your patience and very much look
forward to speaking to you all again. While we wait for
our radio return, I decided to express some of my
Australian Open opinions right here during the next two
weeks. Please excuse any spelling and/or grammatical
errors. We do this on the fly. |
#1. NO MORE MURRAY:
On Day One I addressed
Roger Federer's concern with Andy Murray's top status
with the odds makers in Melbourne. Apparently the 2008
AO Champ has concerns of his own regarding the world's
number four and the media's interest in him. When asked
by the media about Murray receiving more consideration
for the title than he, Djokovic responded with this.
"What's his ranking and my ranking? All the respect
to Andy, I like him as a person and as a player. He's
done a lot in the last couple months, and he's a very
talented player and we can expect him to win some Grand
Slams in the future. But you cannot put him as the
favorites next to Roger and Rafa and myself here at
Australian Open.â€
Why not? Should owning a slam title be a prerequisite
for consideration above all those that have already
achieve ultimate slam status? If that's the case Mr.
Safin should be considered before Murray to win in
Australia....but he isn't. Murray has the confidence,
hunger and more importantly the belief a slam champ
should possess...the hunger, confidence and belief Safin
should possess. If winning a previous slam was the
difference, why have so many failed to repeat the feat?
He is 8-1 versus the Top 3 since the start of the US
Open. Maybe he is due for a loss to one of them in
Melbourne, but that does not mean he shouldn't be
considered as much of a threat to the crown as Novak
Djokovic.
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#2. FOOD for THOUGHT: Who watched the
Nalbandian/Lu match on Day 2? During a changeover ESPN's
camera's revealed the extra weight David is carrying
around. While I understand stress and circumstance
affect everyone regardless of the economic status or the
occupation of the individual, but I never quite
understood how some compete or expect to complete in
this day and age of professional sport without being the
proper shape. I'd be willing to stick the fork in
Nalbandian if he would get it out of his mouth.
Motivation (or lack there of) after many years on tour
may be a factor, which is why credit to Andy Roddick for
his continued effort to improve his physical and
tactical game.
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#3. SPEAKING of ANDY:
I'm curious to know what others think. I was watching
ESPN's Chris Fowler and Brad Gilbert discuss Roddick's
off season training program and his slimmer physique.
Larry Stefanki obviously believes a slimmer and quicker
Andy will better compete against Rafa, Roger and Novak.
Roddick's former coach Brad Gilbert said he if was still
coaching Andy he would have actually put more
weight on Andy to increase mph's on serve. What do you
think? He has recorded the 4th fastest serve so far at
133mph (214 km/h) and is 6th in aces. I don't believe a
faster serve would have changed the results against Rog,
Rafa or Novak in the past, so I believe a lighter
physical frame is worth the try.
Gilbert's response doesn't surprise me. As I have said
on Tennis Live Radio in the past, I believed there to
was an obvious bias towards Rafael Nadal acquiring the
#1 ranking in 2008 in the tv commentator booth,
including from Gilbert. I've always believed Gilbert, a
Oakland Raiders fan, to be partial to Nadal because of
his football like frame, style and presence. I'm making
an assumption here, but it is what my gut tells me. My
apologies if I am incorrect. |
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#4. SURPRISED but NOT CHAKED: As I said on
Day One, I love the
hometown stories during the slams. Jelena Dokic knocked
out Anna Chakvetdaze in the 2nd round. It may be
surprising to some that Dokic can return to the top of
the game, but I doubt they are Chaked she could go
through Anna to get there. Congrats to the former world
#4 and good luck to Anna as she will surely want to get
back in the top 10.
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#5. SHORT on OPINIONS:
Sorry, but I'm out of opinions today. Maybe I'll add
some during the day. |
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