Which tennis player you hate the most?

[brokenshoelace]

Regarding Kyrgios and "talent", I posted up an interview with Patrick Mouratoglou - I think he nailed the interpretation and how it works in practice - your comments immediately sprang to mind. About 35:30 in.

Serena Was an Underachiever, Djoker has no single outstanding weapon: Patrick Mouratoglou Interview.

In this video from the High Performance Youtube channel, Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou lays out his claim that greatness has more to do with mindset than talent. Along the way, he states Djokovic has no outstanding weapons,and that Serena was an underachiever. He also...

www.tennisfrontier.com

That's the most accurate take on the subject I've heard. Typically not a big fan of Mouratoglou, but I'll now give the whole interview a listen as I'm a fan of this particular podcast and the discussions usually have more depth than the usual "Messi or Ronaldo?" type questions we hear on 90% of other sports pods.

 

[kskate2]

We have basically the same opinion about Kyrgios. I only add that he is very "talented" to sell this (completely bogus) "I don't care" attitude, and also the "headcase" persona. For me, from day one, everything he does in court is meant to destabilize the opponent, and he is very effective at doing that.

I wouldn't put him in the "hate" category, although for a long while a had a tendency to "hate" players who I tought very extremely overrrated, and Kyrgios is surely one of them. Monfils was another. But then one day I realized those guys have no control if people overrate them or not, so I made a sincere effort not to care about that. But I still naturally root against those guys, if only for the overrraters to have to work harder in ther overreactions.

I hate overraters. I am a overhater.

Except for the times he destabilizes himself.

 

[mrzz]

Except for the times he destabilizes himself.

This happens way , way less often then the other way around. Also, you do not see him losing it in a tight, competitive match. In those matches what happens is that he makes the other guy flip. Most of the times he destabilizes himself, he does that in matches he was already getting his arse kicked. For every match he lost because of his head he won another ten because that same head messed with other guys head. I am not saying that I like it, I am just saying it is effective.

 

[El Dude]

Was effective. I doubt we're every going to see "peak Kyrgios" again.

Anyhow, I don't know if I'd call Monfils and Kyrgios overrated as much as they get more attention than most players of similar accomplishments, due to a couple of factors. One, they both possess elite talent in particular areas: Monfils' speed and athleticism, and Kyrgios' serve and penchant for remarkable plays. This has given both the sense that "if only" they'd become more well-rounded, they could be elite players. Two, they're big personalities that get more attention than most players of similar "ranking tiers."

In a way, they're like the kid in class that speaks up all the time but is only kind of smart, or brilliant in a very narrow way. They get a lot of attention because of their court antics, but in the end they are what the results show.

 

[Jelenafan]

Robin Soderling was such a surly & nasty character to me, and for someone who impressively upset Nadal at the French Open, it annoyed me no end that he basically bent over & handed Federer the French open final.

It’s weird, his beating Nadal was ok with me, I mean upsets happen, but when he stepped onto the court for the Final that year it was so obvious he was not going to put up a fight with Roger, such a gutless wonder. Never knew why others rated him so highly.

 

[Murat B.]

Osaka for sure. She was likeable for about 10 minutes during and after the first Serena final, after that she became this weirdo...The final straw for me was her treatment of Mboko after the Roger's Cup final in Canada when she lost. She should F right on...
As for dudes, I am getting a constant whiny brat vibe from Rune. He is like the male version of Arantxa Sanches Vicario, whom I detested as well.

 

[tented]

Djokovic, I mean yeah. He played him more than any other player and given how long, physical, grueling, emotional and important the matches were, it's hard not to be sick of him after a certain point. In my defense, I was a Novak hater super early on. I think it started at the Australian Open in 2008, which he won. His entire family seemed insanely obnoxious (and reading about them over the years, it's only reinforced this view), and then the way things progressed since made him a pretty easy hate.

As a fellow early Djokovic hater, I’d go back a little farther with Novak. My hatred began during the 2007 USO. He already had an “I’m the Annointed One” attitude, even though he lost to Roger in straight sets. But yeah, the 2008 AO really kicked things up with “The king is dead” talk from his family after Novak beat Roger in the SF.

 

[tented]

I noticed a lot of Nadal fans dislike Djokovic and Kyrgios... and Rosol (who you didn't mention)

It’s not *just* because Novak beat Rafa so many times, in important matches — I’ve never liked him. Nor Kyrgios.

Rafa lost to Davydenko nearly every time they played — certainly if it was on hards — but I always liked him. It was interesting to watch them play. (@brokenshoelace wrote a great analysis of this years ago on the Tennis.com boards — too bad they’ve been deleted.)

I’m also a big Federer fan, who also beat Rafa at key moments. The 2017 AO final still lives rent-free in my head, but credit to Roger for fighting for it.

Other famous/infamous loses don’t bother me either: Rosol, Dustin Brown, Darcis, Wawrinka, Berdych, Fognini, etc. Several of them I quite like, especially Wawrinka.

 

[atttomole]

It’s not *just* because Novak beat Rafa so many times, in important matches — I’ve never liked him. Nor Kyrgios.

Rafa lost to Davydenko nearly every time they played — certainly if it was on hards — but I always liked him. It was interesting to watch them play. (@brokenshoelace wrote a great analysis of this years ago on the Tennis.com boards — too bad they’ve been deleted.)

I’m also a big Federer fan, who also beat Rafa at key moments. The 2017 AO final still lives rent-free in my head, but credit to Roger for fighting for it.

Other famous/infamous loses don’t bother me either: Rosol, Dustin Brown, Darcis, Wawrinka, Berdych, Fognini, etc. Several of them I quite like, especially Wawrinka.

I think you were hardly a Roger fan my friend. How then were you disappointed when Roger beat Rafa in 2017?

 

[tented]

I think you were hardly a Roger fan my friend. How then were you disappointed when Roger beat Rafa in 2017?

I rooted for Roger, unless he was playing Rafa. The 2017 AO final was brutal for many Nadal fans with him up a break in the fifth again, only to lose. I give Roger a lot of credit for pulling that one out but it was still tough.

 

[Jelenafan]

I rooted for Roger, unless he was playing Rafa. The 2017 AO final was brutal for many Nadal fans with him up a break in the fifth again, only to lose. I give Roger a lot of credit for pulling that one out but it was still tough.

Unlike you I don’t like Federer, he annoys me on different levels during his career.

This gold marching band outfit….sooo ridiculous

But I’m not a hater…….; )

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Tented,'
I dont think Federer should be blamed 100% for that Wimbledon outfit
Nike has to shoulder some blame?
Mrrz and I were talking at the start of the AO this year
I said what has Nike done to Hate Jannik? putting him in that mustard top with match pants and shoes, I had to sit there watching that 'vomit' attire live at the AO, my good friend Britbox likened it to a Assistant Keeper at a zoo
Mrzz said to me, it was 'Embarrassing what Nike did to Federer at Wimbledon that year! I concur Mrzz

 

[atttomole]

Unlike you I don’t like Federer, he annoys me on different levels during his career.

This gold marching band outfit….sooo ridiculous

View attachment 10613
But I’m not a hater…….; )

You can find any reason for hating a player. As a Sampras fan that’s not surprising. And for some reason, you also see Djokovic the same way.

 

[Jelenafan]

You can find any reason for hating a player. As a Sampras fan that’s not surprising. And for some reason, you also see Djokovic the same way.

I’m always fascinated when my tongue in cheek humorous posts are taken at face value. ; )

 

[atttomole]

I’m always fascinated when my tongue in cheek humorous posts are taken at face value. ; )

Same with me my friend!!

 

[Federberg]

Robin Soderling was such a surly & nasty character to me, and for someone who impressively upset Nadal at the French Open, it annoyed me no end that he basically bent over & handed Federer the French open final.

It’s weird, his beating Nadal was ok with me, I mean upsets happen, but when he stepped onto the court for the Final that year it was so obvious he was not going to put up a fight with Roger, such a gutless wonder. Never knew why others rated him so highly.

lol! speak for yourself. I don't think a single Fed fan wasn't nervous. Yes we expected Roger to win, but after the Haas and Delpo matches we weren't expecting anything easy. I don't think he "bent over", that was his first slam final against an overwhelming fan's favourite. You would have to have had peak Djokovic cohones to go into that viper's pit and over perform. And let's be clear... he would have had to over perform. Remember that the conditions were perfect for Roger.. I think that statement is a disservice to Soderling, even if I didn't particularly like the guy either

 

[Federberg]

It’s not *just* because Novak beat Rafa so many times, in important matches — I’ve never liked him. Nor Kyrgios.

Rafa lost to Davydenko nearly every time they played — certainly if it was on hards — but I always liked him. It was interesting to watch them play. (@brokenshoelace wrote a great analysis of this years ago on the Tennis.com boards — too bad they’ve been deleted.)

I’m also a big Federer fan, who also beat Rafa at key moments. The 2017 AO final still lives rent-free in my head, but credit to Roger for fighting for it.

Other famous/infamous loses don’t bother me either: Rosol, Dustin Brown, Darcis, Wawrinka, Berdych, Fognini, etc. Several of them I quite like, especially Wawrinka.

oh if we're talking about specific losses that bother me... Delpo vs Fed at Flushing and Edberg vs Stich at Wimbledon are the two that immediately come to mind. I'm also bothered by Fed's Anderson loss at Wimbledon. I honestly think he could have won that year but playing on Court 2 (?) must have fkd up his mind. I felt like vomiting watching that one when Anderson chased him down, it was shades of Tsonga

 

[britbox]

oh if we're talking about specific losses that bother me... Delpo vs Fed at Flushing and Edberg vs Stich at Wimbledon are the two that immediately come to mind. I'm also bothered by Fed's Anderson loss at Wimbledon. I honestly think he could have won that year but playing on Court 2 (?) must have fkd up his mind. I felt like vomiting watching that one when Anderson chased him down, it was shades of Tsonga

The Edberg v Stich match felt like an injustice (as opposed to frustration) - I think with the Delpo match it just felt bizarre. There were a few frustrating ones with Rafa on clay - Hamburg 2008. I think Fed was 5-1 up with a set point and lost the set.

 

[Federberg]

The Edberg v Stich match felt like an injustice (as opposed to frustration) - I think with the Delpo match it just felt bizarre. There were a few frustrating ones with Rafa on clay - Hamburg 2008. I think Fed was 5-1 up with a set point and lost the set.

Delpo one felt like an injustice! The umpire let Delpo abuse the challenge system, and Roger got so angry he lost the thread of the match and allowed Delpo to hit bombs. If Roger had kept using the angles he would have won that match comfortably. Truly one of the worst strategic matches of Roger's career

 

[britbox]

Delpo one felt like an injustice! The umpire let Delpo abuse the challenge system, and Roger got so angry he lost the thread of the match and allowed Delpo to hit bombs. If Roger had kept using the angles he would have won that match comfortably. Truly one of the worst strategic matches of Roger's career

I thought Roger seemed to mentally self-sabotage in that match. When I use the term injustice - with Edberg I felt he had done nothing wrong to lose the match vs Stich. With Fed, I think it was on his mental control. He should have held it together.