Radek Stepanek: Farewell to a Tennis Legend

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

Duke, you're right, forgot that. France will be heavy favorites with Goffin depleted.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Hartt; 2016 may have been the pinnacle of Raonic's career. His self belief may be toast now.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Hartt; Hope I'm wrong but that's just my sense on Raonic. How can he play any better? Looks like the top guys have him figured out and some of the younger guys can also handle him. Raonic could be one of those players, Wally Masur indirectly mentioned as creating and fabricating excuses for their own fragile egos. Not sure I buy all of the injuries or the severity of the injuries. Would love to see Raonic prove me very wrong as he certainly deserves to be a Grand Slam champion and he has more than paid his dues.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Peliwo just keep pounding down everyone. Looks like the breakout of an overdue junior star is happening now. Peliwo was a member of the tennis Warehouse.com forum in his early years about five years ago and he would start threads and answer all questions by fans which was really interesting. I asked him about his hit with Federer and included the very good comments in my book Facing Federer. Peliwo was very active for a while, then as he struggled he wasn't as active on the forum. Fritz vs Paul today and Sandgren keeps winning. Double Mac is winning matches now too.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

If Fissette is so in demand as a coach by all these players, imagine what a guy like Spadea could do...

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Now why would one want to focus on the worst segment of Spadea's fine career? He won one ATP singles title and had wins over Agassi, Sampras, Federer, Nadal, Rafter, Roddick, etc. Had a pro career that lasted well over a decade. Spadea's career is a lot more than anything Fissette achieved.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Research what Isiah Thomas did with the Knicks. Unprofessional embarrassment.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Chazz, Andrew was always overly negative about Sock's backhand. It was NEVER as bad as he made it out to be. For some reason, people have a tendency to be unfairly cynical about certain player strokes. The Sock backhand has always ranged from good to okay to sometimes very good. A couple of bad misses here and there does not speak the whole story.

 

[Moxie]

TC speculating on Radek Stepanek for the day-to-day coach for Djokovic. What do you think the chances of that are, Scoop?

 

[Front242]

TC speculating on Radek Stepanek for the day-to-day coach for Djokovic. What do you think the chances of that are, Scoop?

Very interesting as they've often had some cracking matches against each other and there's a lot of mutual respect. Stepanek was still playing at a very high level prior to his back injury and was making a mockery of Murray in the first round of RG 2016, a match I wish he'd won. To be that good still against top players at his very advanced age for a tennis player, shows he hopefully has a lot to offer as a coach.

 

[mrzz]

I wouldn't say he's really giving it a go. He didn't play any tournaments from 2011 to 2015, and I think before that barely any for a few years. Maybe just having a bit of fun, like when Thomas Muster played Dominic Thiem a few years ago.

Actually I remember Muster's attempt to a comeback. He played a lot, I guess around 15 matches, most on challengers and I guess two ATP 250´s (all wildcards obviously). He won a few sets but just one match. He was 43 and was really trying to achieve something.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Moxie, Stepanek connecting with Djokovic is probably going to happen would be my guess. Friendly terms, mutual respect, both live in Monte Carlo. Stepanek seems like the type who is a tennis lifer and is happy to be involved in the sport in any way possible. Perfect choice by Djokovic.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Joe; I never saw Spadea exhausted or tired or retiring from any matches. Maybe he was no Lendl or Navratilova in terms of fitness but he was definitely not unfit. Not sure where you get this idea.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Yes mrzz, Muster was not playing those ATP matches in his 40s for fun or laughs, he was as always deathly serious. I saw the one with Haider Maurer and he was surprisingly competitive but he just didn't have enough to win consistently. It was interesting to see. Wish McEnroe would have tried his contemplated comeback in singles in his 40s inspired by George Foreman's boxing success but I guess he knew that he couldn't do it and succeed though he did have the big doubles title win in San Jose with Bjorkman over Jim Thomas and Paul Goldstein in his 40s.