Found your blog by accident, so am trying to read older content as well. What you have is the most in depth analysis I have seen on major matches, thanks for writing such great content !!
I hope Ruud continues his success next year. It takes humility and guts to change your technique after you've made it to the top. And what a monster Nole is, christ. I used to root against him because I didn't want him to surpass every record Roger set, but fuck it, it's impossible not to love the guy. Right now I'm just grateful that I can watch him play. Great analysis, as usual. Your writeups have bettered my understanding of the game. I used to train hard but always in groups, so I didn't get much specialized technique training, it was mostly fitness and matchplay. Your blog has motivated me to take some time off from matches and work on my technique.
Quick question on Ruud's BH - is it just me or does his follow through not quite have the racquet head tilted towards him like the left side of a 'V' as explained in the Fritz video? It's much more noticeable in Djokovic's follow through and comparatively Ruud's actually looks like it finishes more on the 'V' right side from the match highlights. If so, do you think that is an area that Ruud could look at to further improve his BH and what would be the main benefits in making this tweak?
You're correct - Ruud rolles his racquet over. Nothing wrong with that; Nadal/Sinner etc do that. You'll get more spin, so it's just a tradeoff really.
Another great piece, man. Loved seeing the little comparison footage between Ruud's BH in Miami vs there (I remember rewinding that one vs Novak at the time, trying to focus on the details of it after what you wrote about). Was on the same page as you about the really killer patterns from Novak, too – his FH really overhauled whatever Casper tried, and it even seemed to dig himself out of the weary-looking BH trades that he wasn't getting his feet around quickly enough, and once he did, the variation in placement/angle/pace just allowed him to dictate, to continually step around the ball, and to earn many more typically-loopy balls from Casper's end that he could slam down on with that effortless down-the-line timing. Conditions obviously helping the FH to FH dynamic that proved so effective in the 2nd when Casper had little response.
Thank, Peter. Agree, Novak used his forehand from the ad-court with great effect. He's just got too much control compared to the field, coupled with a serve that is severely under-rated.
Found your blog by accident, so am trying to read older content as well. What you have is the most in depth analysis I have seen on major matches, thanks for writing such great content !!
Thanks Jay R!
I hope Ruud continues his success next year. It takes humility and guts to change your technique after you've made it to the top. And what a monster Nole is, christ. I used to root against him because I didn't want him to surpass every record Roger set, but fuck it, it's impossible not to love the guy. Right now I'm just grateful that I can watch him play. Great analysis, as usual. Your writeups have bettered my understanding of the game. I used to train hard but always in groups, so I didn't get much specialized technique training, it was mostly fitness and matchplay. Your blog has motivated me to take some time off from matches and work on my technique.
Terrific analysis, as always.
Quick question on Ruud's BH - is it just me or does his follow through not quite have the racquet head tilted towards him like the left side of a 'V' as explained in the Fritz video? It's much more noticeable in Djokovic's follow through and comparatively Ruud's actually looks like it finishes more on the 'V' right side from the match highlights. If so, do you think that is an area that Ruud could look at to further improve his BH and what would be the main benefits in making this tweak?
You're correct - Ruud rolles his racquet over. Nothing wrong with that; Nadal/Sinner etc do that. You'll get more spin, so it's just a tradeoff really.
Another great piece, man. Loved seeing the little comparison footage between Ruud's BH in Miami vs there (I remember rewinding that one vs Novak at the time, trying to focus on the details of it after what you wrote about). Was on the same page as you about the really killer patterns from Novak, too – his FH really overhauled whatever Casper tried, and it even seemed to dig himself out of the weary-looking BH trades that he wasn't getting his feet around quickly enough, and once he did, the variation in placement/angle/pace just allowed him to dictate, to continually step around the ball, and to earn many more typically-loopy balls from Casper's end that he could slam down on with that effortless down-the-line timing. Conditions obviously helping the FH to FH dynamic that proved so effective in the 2nd when Casper had little response.
Thank, Peter. Agree, Novak used his forehand from the ad-court with great effect. He's just got too much control compared to the field, coupled with a serve that is severely under-rated.