His serve is made for grass. His volleys are technically perfect. And where some thought all JMDP could do with a ball was bash it, it turns out he's got great feel for placing it anywhere he wants. His FH drop shot volleys are as good as any I've seen. In fact, when I watch him hit it, I feel it in my own hands as I used to when watching Becker volley. All Del Potro had to figure out was the right time to move forward. And when this man serves and volleys the point is over. Hard to get the ball past that wingspan and high enough on a lob for him to not reach it.
I remember Del Potro's game in 2009, improving match by match until he lifted his first US Open trophy. His learning curve on grass now reminds me of what he did in 2009. Each tournament we hear his 4th round opponent talking up a storm about how he must work harder, how he strives to improve, how he's not the favorite, how he will do his best, blah blah blah. And there is JMDP. Not talking about it, not drawing attention to himself. Just going on about his tennis, getting better and winning on a surface he used to hate.
I wish him well against Nadal on Monday. May the gentle giant come though with the win. Wouldn't that be something!
I am so happy to see Delpo back. He's not my most favorite player to watch, but I'll take Delpo over any of the ball bashers around any day of the week. Here in the US, they've barely shown any of Delpo's matches, so it's comments such as these that give some sense of his play.
ReplyDeleteI think he can trouble Nadal, not just because of his play, but because he's quite fearless. Even if he doesn't win this match, it bodes well for him for the upcoming HC season. I hope he stays healthy.
PS. I was wondering if after the wrist injury there is any change to the way he's hitting his FH.
I haven't noticed any change in JMDP's FH since wrist surgery. Mind you, I haven't seen any close-ups at point of impact and follow-through. Rickyroger is pretty good about picking up those details if he's been able to see JMDP play this event. It seems to me, that JMDP is hitting the ball as well as ever and his movement is back.
ReplyDeleteWhat struck me most about JMDP when I started following him during the 2009 clay season, was how well he moves and gets under the ball for such a tall man.
When his match against Simon resumed yesterday, with JMDP serving at 2-4, 30-all, 2nd set, I was concerned that he'd start slow and be vulnerable to another break in the 2nd set. Instead, he game out of the gate with both guns blazing, held serve and broke Simon to level the 2nd set. Between the two players, their encounter the day before hurt Simon more.
What I found interesting in the JMDP/Simon match versus Federer/Nalbandian is net approach stats. JMDP was 22/33 and Roger 10/14. What's more, Simon moves as well as anyone from the backcourt and can hurt you badly with passing shots. Nalbandian who also can pass like there's no tomorrow was visibly wounded. And still Federer came in far less than JMDP.
Maybe Roger is more confident in his forward game going into the second week and didn't feel the need to play more aggressive each round after the next. Meanwhile, JMDP has been steadily working on that part of his game.
Del Potro plays classic tennis. He's a big man, with big weapons with shots and a big heart.
The net approaches stats are so interesting. Delpo approaches more, but his success is slightly less than Roger (66% vs. 71%). Of course, Rog's slightly higher success rate may have to with the fewer times he approached. But the more important thing is that there is a willingness to approach for Delpo than with Roger. I wonder why this is, because with Paul A in his corner, I can't him being discouraged from moving forward. After all, he was very willing to do it at the FO.
ReplyDeleteDelpo's movement forward and his willingness to finish points at the net overturn the conventional wisdom regarding his height.
Perhaps we'll see Roger approach more against Misha. Roger's not going to be terribly troubled by him, so perhaps he'll feel more comfortable bringing out the entire tool-kit.
Thanks for the comments, WCR.
nacciyar.
i am so sad that he lost the match today. he was playing so well so well.. looks like the classy tennis will never prevail and will always succumb to the injuries forever.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I found Del Potro's developing game on grass the most interesting thing about Wimbledon this year. I was hooked on his matches from start to finish and thought myself pretty lucky to watch his game improve day after day. As much as I would have liked to see him beat Nadal, that he lost didn't take away from the fun I had watching him.
ReplyDeleteThe one weakness I would like to see him improve is how he handles the short balls. He didn't always measure the ball well before he struck it. This happens on bad bounces but such was not the case with most of the time. He needs more practice measuring the short balls especially if their floaters. And off his penetrating serve and ground strokes he should be better prepared to see a lot of them.
I have to say I liked his simple strategy of pounding the FH side until the ad court opened up for a winning shot. Time and time again he pulled this off. Then mixed it up with s/v and great hands around the net.
I'll be in Los Angeles for the UCLA tournament where he'll play. I can't wait.