Has Dimitrov lost a step?

[calitennis127]

Today he lost a tough 3-set match that he was very close to winning, whereas two years ago in a similar match on clay, against Baghdatis in Munich, he won. I think this is a sure sign of decline. As Darth would put it, "he clearly isn't the same player", and I'll pull a Broken and trot out one isolated video example to show how Dimitrov has lost a step.

Watch the point beginning at 1:34 here. CLEARLY, and I mean CLEARLY, Dimitrov doesn't move like that anymore. Did you see that forehand up the line on the run? He doesn't hit those types of shots anymore, or else he would win tight 3-setters on clay. Clear loss of movement. Clear loss of a step. Who could deny it? No one with a rational bone in their body.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlndrwhkKwI

 

[Andrew William]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7AoWobY054[/video]

 

[Moxie]

Cali, I know you're kidding with this thread. LOL!

 

[Asmodeus]

That depends on whether his house is sinking into the ground.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Troll threads when the forum is a just a few days old. Yup, Cali everyone.

I prefer troll threads over Nalbandian idiocy though.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Troll threads when the forum is a just a few days old. Yup, Cali everyone.

I prefer troll threads over Nalbandian idiocy though.

The phrase "Nipping at the bud" comes to mind....

 

[I.Haychew]

What's your point?

 

[herios]

What's your point?

Cali is bored

 

[BalaryKar]

Yes, I agree that Dimitrov has lost a step. Otherwise, he would be winning Paris+Madrid, which he did not. So you see, I am right. Dimitrov lost a step, and Nalbandian two limbs + three arms + 10 heads.

Replace Nalbandian with c********s?

 

[brokenshoelace]

What's your point?

Cali is bored

That, plus combined with the usual cries for attention.

 

[calitennis127]

What's your point?

Cali is bored

That, plus combined with the usual cries for attention.

This remarks shows that beyond any completely corny joke, you have absolutely no sense of humor whatsoever. Someone makes a sarcastic comment and they are "crying for attention". The usual lunkheadedness of Broken Shoelace.

The fact is, I made a perfect mockery of so many of your silly and ignorant points about Federer and Nadal declining and you had no answer for it.

---

Troll threads when the forum is a just a few days old. Yup, Cali everyone.

No introductions needed. Maybe you should get your facts straight and notice that everyone on the board here has been on the old boards.

I prefer troll threads over Nalbandian idiocy though.

Like what? Pointing out that with shots like incredible lobs he has more variety and shotmaking talent than Nadal?

Sorry for my impudence, your royal corniness.

---

What's your point?

Cali is bored

Not at all.

I actually haven't been paying much attention to tennis at all this week and stopped by the boards for a little bit to chime in on the later-round matches. I can assure you I am not bored. I simply made a point that I felt was very pertinent to some recent conversations on TennisDigital.

But, nice try though.

 

[Moxie]

What's your point?

Cali is bored

That, plus combined with the usual cries for attention.

This remarks shows that beyond any completely corny joke, you have absolutely no sense of humor whatsoever. Someone makes a sarcastic comment and they are "crying for attention". The usual lunkheadedness of Broken Shoelace.

The fact is, I made a perfect mockery of so many of your silly and ignorant points about Federer and Nadal declining and you had no answer for it.

---

Troll threads when the forum is a just a few days old. Yup, Cali everyone.

No introductions needed. Maybe you should get your facts straight and notice that everyone on the board here has been on the old boards.

I prefer troll threads over Nalbandian idiocy though.

Like what? Pointing out that with shots like incredible lobs he has more variety and shotmaking talent than Nadal?

Sorry for my impudence, your royal corniness.

---

What's your point?

Cali is bored

Not at all.

I actually haven't been paying much attention to tennis at all this week and stopped by the boards for a little bit to chime in on the later-round matches. I can assure you I am not bored. I simply made a point that I felt was very pertinent to some recent conversations on TennisDigital.

But, nice try though.

---

---

I got the joke. And I thought it was funny.

 

[DarthFed]

Good to see I'm still on your mind Cali :s Clown threads like this is one of the reasons I barely bother posting on tennis threads here anymore. Almost every thread gets taken over by the attention w----.

 

[Moxie]

Good to see I'm still on your mind Cali :s Clown threads like this is one of the reasons I barely bother posting on tennis threads here anymore. Almost every thread gets taken over by the attention w----.

Oh, c'mon, Darth. It was a joke! It's not unusual for people to make threads that rib our preoccupations. I know Cali's not known for his sense of humor, but I thought this one was clear.

And Darth, I really do hope you'll keep posting here. Your opinion is valued.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Really Cali? Because I seem to recall on the previous forums an article posted by MikeOne that you supported before I proceeded to make a mockery out of and you, quite conveniently and once again, failed to address it.

 

[DarthFed]

Good to see I'm still on your mind Cali :s Clown threads like this is one of the reasons I barely bother posting on tennis threads here anymore. Almost every thread gets taken over by the attention w----.

Oh, c'mon, Darth. It was a joke! It's not unusual for people to make threads that rib our preoccupations. I know Cali's not known for his sense of humor, but I thought this one was clear.

And Darth, I really do hope you'll keep posting here. Your opinion is valued.

It's the same type of crap that gets posted on half of these threads. The other half are usually about how a player who hasn't been relevant in 5+ years, shows how he is the most talented player ever just by pushing a set to a tiebreak. Cyanide vs. rat poison...

 

[Moxie]

Everyone is welcome to start their own thread, if they have a point of view they don't feel is addressed. Same as always. This IS an open forum.

 

[justapasserby]

and Nalbandian two limbs + three arms + 10 heads.

and four stomachs

 

[calitennis127]

Really Cali? Because I seem to recall on the previous forums an article posted by MikeOne that you supported before I proceeded to make a mockery out of and you, quite conveniently and once again, failed to address it.

Didn't the Tennis Digital board shut down?

---

Good to see I'm still on your mind Cali :s Clown threads like this is one of the reasons I barely bother posting on tennis threads here anymore. Almost every thread gets taken over by the attention w----.

Oh, c'mon, Darth. It was a joke! It's not unusual for people to make threads that rib our preoccupations. I know Cali's not known for his sense of humor, but I thought this one was clear.

And Darth, I really do hope you'll keep posting here. Your opinion is valued.

It's the same type of crap that gets posted on half of these threads. The other half are usually about how a player who hasn't been relevant in 5+ years, shows how he is the most talented player ever just by pushing a set to a tiebreak. Cyanide vs. rat poison...

Oh Darth, I am so sorry that Mike and I don't agree with your silly excuse-making for Federer in every loss of the last 4 years that he "just isn't the same player".

The fact is, Federer is playing better competition now in Djokovic, Murray, and Nadal than he faced a few years ago and he can't dominate them like Roddick or Fernando Gonzalez. I'm sorry for getting on your nerves for stating the obvious.

I also apologize for stating things with some flamboyance. Perhaps it comes across to you like a Djokovic forehand winner on match point of the US Open semifinals.

Not much I can do about it.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Really Cali? Because I seem to recall on the previous forums an article posted by MikeOne that you supported before I proceeded to make a mockery out of and you, quite conveniently and once again, failed to address it.

Didn't the Tennis Digital board shut down?

---

Good to see I'm still on your mind Cali :s Clown threads like this is one of the reasons I barely bother posting on tennis threads here anymore. Almost every thread gets taken over by the attention w----.

Oh, c'mon, Darth. It was a joke! It's not unusual for people to make threads that rib our preoccupations. I know Cali's not known for his sense of humor, but I thought this one was clear.

And Darth, I really do hope you'll keep posting here. Your opinion is valued.

It's the same type of crap that gets posted on half of these threads. The other half are usually about how a player who hasn't been relevant in 5+ years, shows how he is the most talented player ever just by pushing a set to a tiebreak. Cyanide vs. rat poison...

Oh Darth, I am so sorry that Mike and I don't agree with your silly excuse-making for Federer in every loss of the last 4 years that he "just isn't the same player".

The fact is, Federer is playing better competition now in Djokovic, Murray, and Nadal than he faced a few years ago and he can't dominate them like Roddick or Fernando Gonzalez. I'm sorry for getting on your nerves for stating the obvious.

I also apologize for stating things with some flamboyance. Perhaps it comes across to you like a Djokovic forehand winner on match point of the US Open semifinals.

Not much I can do about it.

---

Of course, Djokovic, Nadal, and Murray are the ONLY players Federer has lost to in the past 5 years.

There were no losses to Fish, Roddick (twice), Karlovic, Blake, Stepanek, Bennetteau (twice), Melzer, Simon, old Hewitt (on grass!), Tommy Haas (on grass!), Wawrinka, a laundry list of losses to Berdych (whom he had previously dominated), a sudden vulnerability against big hitters (two back-to-back losses to DP in 2009, losses to Tsonga, Soderling, as well as the previously mentioned Berdych), Davydenko (twice), Baghdatis, Montanes, and Gasquet.

Likewise, there have been no hints of Federer aging such as repeated back problems and multiple injuries. Gassing out in longer matches (even admitting that he took the foot off the pedal in some sets to conserve energy for others), and no sudden losses in focus that resulted in him blowing more matches after having match points (and not just against Djokovic) than he had in his entire career up until that point.

You're absolutely right. No hints of Roger being a bit below the player he once was at all.