Tennis
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The big 4 train has successfully sustained both itself and its own myth for four or five years now
But when wheels come off a speeding train they come off for good, and this is that time
The clearest contender is Gasquet. Without question the most talented player in the semi finals but year in year out sabotaged by his own mind
The Ferrer match has huge significance though coming through a fifth set like that and putting to bed the demons of nightmare 5 set losses to murray etc in past slams
Richard's game has the most potential to fill the void left by a fading Fed. His game has more of the direct quality of Roger at his best than the absorbing/counterpunching/frustrating core games of the other Big 4-ers
Also Djokovic was viciously exposed in the final at SW19. He ended up looking like Murray's hitting partner at times,
and a more mentally stable Gasquet playing the 'wait, bait, winner' routine could be a nightmare for Nole.
As for Nadal, the guy is running on fumes, and his recent run in masters events has been flattered by other 'big boys' patently saving their main fuel for the big one.
Lots of players are beaten by Nadal before the first ball is served, but Gasquet has always been about beating himself.
If the mental headlock has finally come off then he has the guns to blow Rafa away
Wawrinka is more of a hard working earnest eternal bridesmaid who has earned his place through dogged unexciting persistence,
and might find himself benefitting in the weeknd's chaotic game of musical chairs
To stake 5 points (outright market)
Richard Gasquet to win tounament 3.5 points at 84-1 (current price) nap
Stan Wawrinka to win tournament 1.5 points at 19.5 (current price) nb
But when wheels come off a speeding train they come off for good, and this is that time
The clearest contender is Gasquet. Without question the most talented player in the semi finals but year in year out sabotaged by his own mind
The Ferrer match has huge significance though coming through a fifth set like that and putting to bed the demons of nightmare 5 set losses to murray etc in past slams
Richard's game has the most potential to fill the void left by a fading Fed. His game has more of the direct quality of Roger at his best than the absorbing/counterpunching/frustrating core games of the other Big 4-ers
Also Djokovic was viciously exposed in the final at SW19. He ended up looking like Murray's hitting partner at times,
and a more mentally stable Gasquet playing the 'wait, bait, winner' routine could be a nightmare for Nole.
As for Nadal, the guy is running on fumes, and his recent run in masters events has been flattered by other 'big boys' patently saving their main fuel for the big one.
Lots of players are beaten by Nadal before the first ball is served, but Gasquet has always been about beating himself.
If the mental headlock has finally come off then he has the guns to blow Rafa away
Wawrinka is more of a hard working earnest eternal bridesmaid who has earned his place through dogged unexciting persistence,
and might find himself benefitting in the weeknd's chaotic game of musical chairs
To stake 5 points (outright market)
Richard Gasquet to win tounament 3.5 points at 84-1 (current price) nap
Stan Wawrinka to win tournament 1.5 points at 19.5 (current price) nb
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nice story, but this
 "As for Nadal, the guy is running on fumes.." |
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Running on fumes is just a British expression meaning that he's like a car running low on petrol.
After a long break he's had an extended run of playing and winning tournaments. Eventually that has to take its toll To a certain extent murray was also 'running on fumes' after Wimbledon as the huge pressures and final euphoria clearly took their toll |
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Gasquet vs Stan - let's have a REAL final
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don't you mean "running on empty" or am I thinking of something else
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Running on fumes is commonly used too, but either way it is invalid; Rafa may have played a lot of tennis in the last few weeks but he doesn't look the slightest bit affected by that.
Gasquet v Stan final would be wonderful but that idea, and the OP, is just wishful thinking. |
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Gasquet v Stan final would be wonderful but that idea, and the OP, is just wishful thinking.
a world class tennis player once said BELIEVE |
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I do know the meaning of the quote above. I was just surprised to see it here - as Nadal hasn't shown any signs of exhaustion, tiredness, lack of motivation etc.
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"Lots of players are beaten by Nadal before the first ball is served, but Gasquet has always been about beating himself.
If the mental headlock has finally come off then he has the guns to blow Rafa away..."  |
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Pennetta 6-4. Time to step it up, Penne.
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is the poster of this thread suggesting that gasquet, a physically weak player who plays a metre behind the baseline is the nearest thing we have to roger federer....... I stopped.
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unlucky journeyman
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