Gaels Monfils' Crazy Trick Shot Overhead

Here's one insane trick shot played by Gaels Monfils in a competitive match vs defending champ Tommy Haas at Halle, Germany yesterday. This is why I describe Monfils as the Cyndi Lauper of the ATP tour -- the Frenchman just wants to have fun. 

ATP Halle 2012 Final Federer vs Haas Condensed

Good video, high quality vid condenses key points into 10 minutes of high-quality full-court attacking grass court tennis. Good antidote to the gridnerball of the last two weeks of Roland Garros13. Tommy Haas upsets Roger Federer to win the Gerry Weber (aka Halle) in 2012. This is the first grass court tournament on the WImbeldon swing. 

On Federer's Lethargic Loss to Tsonga at RG13

 

After his desultory performance in the French Open aka Roland Garros13 quarterfinals, Roger Federer hasn't won a tournament yet this year and, if he does not defend his Wimbledon title in a few weeks, will drop to number five in the ATP rankings just before his 32nd birthday. 

How Nadal Beat Djokovic in French Open 2013 Semifinal

People will analyze this match extensively, but after over four-and-a-half hours of intense ball striking it comes down to this: Novak Djokovic was up a break at 4-3 in the fifth set when he tired and started making errors. Unlike their epic Australian Open final, where Djokovic seemed more energetc toward the end, Rafal Nadal was fitter this time. 

Federer Hits Around the Net against Simon at French Open 2013

The around-the-net-post forehand must be one of Roger Federer's personal favorites, he's certainly hit enough of them. Here is today's from his come-from-behind victory over Giles Simon, putting Fed in his 36th straight Grand Slam quarterfinal. Fed was on cruise control until he tripped on his own racket and either hit his right knee or sprained his ankle, according to conflicting reports and played badly for 45 minutes before righting the ship. 

Is it an optical illusion, or did Fed have to curl the ball with sidespin because he didn't have a line of sight to Simon's backhand corner? 

How Nadal Is Dominating Clay Court Season

Two vidcaps from Rafael Nadal's matches in Rome succinctly show how he is dominating this year's clay court season leading up to the French Open.

You Can't "Keep Your Eye On the Ball"

There are two problems with the old cliche' of keeping your eye on the ball: You can't, and if you could your brain couldn't keep up. Other than that, it makes sense. 

Even Tour Pros Can't Explain What They Do

The only way you can see what top, tour pros do on strokes such as their serves and forehands is to look at slow motion video and still photography. Even those pros frequently can't explain what they're doing, although they can repeat the stroke reliably. 

Here's an interesting example (and I am not trying to criticize this player; I could have picked others such as misstatements by Novak Djokovic): 

Tipsarevic, Murray Criticize Court Homogeneity

Janko Tipsarevic and Andy Murray joins the chours of ATP Tour players saying that courts play so similarly, there is little need to change tactics from surface-to-surface -- it's all tedious, grinder-ball tennis everywhere every match. 

Wither Jo-Wilfried Tsonga?

The flashy Frenchman (and is that redundant?) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is 27 years old and after years without a coach, has paired up with the respected Roger Rasheed.