Yeah, he's hard to figure out. One match he'll challenge Djokovic, the next he'll lose to 150 in the world or just completely tank. On a smaller scale he regularly tanks individual games. If he's down in a game (particularly the other player's service game) he'll give away the final couple of points without a fight. He's like Pete Sampras without a gun serve.

He's still very young though. I think he'll be inconsistent for the next couple of years, but hopefully he can make a few good runs.

Have you seen much of Dimitrov, Mint? Or any of those other young guns, for that matter? I remember seeing Raonic saying that he thought Dimitrov was the most talented of that age group but that Harrison (American kid) was the biggest fighter.

I didn't know Pete used to tank games. I guess when you had his serve you could manage it. I bet a large majority of tennis players have tanked games though.

I've only seen a little of Dimitrov, looks like someone who will make it to me. Plenty of talent and weapons just needs to improve his movement (same as Tomic in that sense). You never know with guys like Harrison...these sort of fighting types with good speed and talent but no real obvious weapons...he comes to the net a bit but that style hasn't really been a winning style recently (due to slower courts). Who knows though, great fighters sometimes make it right to the top (Courier, Hewitt, Nadal etc)...but I think it's more likely he'll be a solid top 10 or 20 player. There's always the chance he'll really struggle (like Donald Young who had a lot of hype as a junior). I doubt he'll ever be a dominant player, whereas Dimitrov for instance has that potential.

Sampras was notorious for tanking games, particularly in the early rounds of a tournament. He'd get an early break and then just hit out on return for the rest of the set without over exerting himself. If it came off, great - another break. If not the game's over quickly and he gets to serve again.

why is it that most russian male players are self-combusting head cases?

safin, davydenko, golubev, kafelnikov... russian women are a little better, but still, half of them are crazy too - safina (sharing marat's genes), kuznetsova, et al. sharapova is an exception for her mental toughness but her case is also an exception because she grew up in america.

youzhny and dolgopolov (who is from ukraine, but what's the difference really) are two younger guys who have decent mental toughness (esp the latter, as he gains more experience and confidence).

still, is there any other place in the world that produces talented players who are total psychological basket cases?

it must be cultural... a society where everybody constantly berates, degrades, and beats up on each other, the people internalize techniques of self-loathing and self-sabotage to match their professional skills.

compare this to american or australian players, for example, who are almost without exception full of swagger and confidence and belief that the match is in their hands and never lose hope. e.g., i think if hewitt were russian, he'd be just another davydenko type of player. some of the europeans and south american tend to be a bit more sedate, but they're generally pretty mentally tough, too, i think. are my generalizations right?

You're probably right when it comes to playing matches, but on the other hand I think the Australians and Americans have got a lot softer than in previous generations. They don't work as hard as the eastern europeans.

It's probably a bit like long distance running. For Kenyans and Ethiopians running is a way out of poverty and hardship...for westerners it's risking potential poverty and hardship! Tennis is somewhat similar.

So many unforced errors by Delpo. Can't win a game playing like that. Not the best day for the Argies.

Federer's match won't start any earlier than 11:30 pm New York time. Seriously, the US Open needs to sort this shit out, happens every year. The schedule is obviously dictated by the networks but they shoot themselves in the foot because not many people are going to be watching Federer play after midnight. Will they play into the early hours or reschedule it for tomorrow? Either way you wouldn't be happy.

If Federer wins he plays Tsonga who will now have a big advantage.

I love late night tennis (:

Well Federer got around the potential problem by hammering Monaco in the time it takes Nadal to win a set.

Although in the US Tennis players almost always come from the upper class (because that is what it takes to afford the private coaching).

Yeah that's kind of what I'm saying. It's the same here. A lot of American and Australian teenagers who have potential will get to the point where tennis and training is really hard and then think 'screw this, i'll go to college/university, get drunk and then work for my uncle's hedge fund' ... whereas the teenager from serbia or a poor part of russia will be thinking 'tough it out, tough it out, when i'm the best i will live in monaco, make millions and secure my entire family's future'

So it starts raining, but they don't cover the courts with anything?

What the hell? Seriously, cover the court so that when it stops raining you don't have to wait for the bloody court to dry. I really can't believe it.

Nadal KILLED Roddick, wasnt expecting that

Yeah, man. Gotta put an eye on Nadal, he's looking really strong.