[EaglesPhan36]

Well Fed shat on my 2nd bet. Blows his service game after jumping out 40-0.

[EaglesPhan36]

2014 Season Overall Profit: +4.22
US Open: +0.66

[EaglesPhan36]

Looks like the biggest upset day most of us have seen in a decade. New Blood, you wanted it, you got it.

[Dollars2Donuts]

Looks like the biggest upset day most of us have seen in a decade. New Blood, you wanted it, you got it.

I absolutely love it. The sport needed this and I will watch the final and be very excited. It was a matter of time, especially with Nadal's injuries catching up to him. I love Djokovic, Nadal and Federer but it is time we see some new blood.

[frugalgambler]

Who the f.ck will be watching this final, apart from degen junkies and japanese ? USTA execs are probably going to go on a drinking binge tonight. You need a big name for the final, not two nobodies trying to become a one-slam wonder.

[EaglesPhan36]

I don't think I'd call two guys in the Top 20 "nobodies" ... Final is stupidly played again on a Monday afternoon, so it's a ratings skunk anyhow.

[frugalgambler]

Trust me, EP36, these two are nobodies to any casual fan not from Japan or Croatia, wherever the heck that country, with a population of what 15? Serbs is located. You might as well stamp "joachim johansson" on the winner's forehead. I am pretty sure scalpers are devastated.

[matt1216]

It's true, this match on monday will kill the ratings. The average Tennis fan has no clue who either guy is. Up in Canada, I'm pretty sure everyone knows Federer, Raonic, and Bouchard just due to all the stupid chicken comercials from Bouchard, and the Milos getting beat by a 3 year old girl comercial from 3 years ago. Other than that Who ever runs the US Open is probably choked about the outcome today. All they need is one of the big two in the final, lol. I had a feeling Cilic would be inspired after what Nishi did.

[poet]

It's not just that they are nobodies, it's also that Cilic has no personality or charisma and his game puts you to sleep. Nishi, on the other hand, is extremely fun to watch. Had he played Monfils (for instance) or Dimitrov, I'd bet you'd get twice as many viewers for the final. Cilic is the real ratings killer here.

[Hardcoar]

Why don't they just start 7 or 8 pm or so?

[frugalgambler]

It's not just that they are nobodies, it's also that Cilic has no personality or charisma and his game puts you to sleep. Nishi, on the other hand, is extremely fun to watch. Had he played Monfils (for instance) or Dimitrov, I'd bet you'd get twice as many viewers for the final. Cilic is the real ratings killer here.

Have to agree with you, Nishikori is indeed a world class shotmaker and he is fun to watch. Anyway, I was pretty happy to see him beat Djoker and Cilic obviously deserves to be in the Final too. It will be a fun match, I smell a 5-setter. The chance of a lifetime for both dudes.

[EaglesPhan36]

Why don't they just start 7 or 8 pm or so?

NFL

[EaglesPhan36]

I don't agree on the nobodies angle or lack of personality. Does Federer really have much of an on-court personality? You'll get the Allez! when he really needs to get himself going, but Cilic does the same. I think the point is they are DIFFERENT. We have been used to the same four guys being involved in the business end of Slams for a decade, this is DIFFERENT.

I understand the casual fan angle, but the casual fan isn't that likely to tune in to a Monday afternoon Final regardless of the participants. And the casual fan might have been Djokovic and Federer, I always hear those two names ... does anyone else ever win? Seeing different names may actually attract more.

One of these guys is going to be a Grand Slam Champion and then move into the "know" for Joe Public. Just like Stan Wawrinka. Wawrinka isn't the most engaging personality, but people watched him because he won a Slam. I think the same will happen here. Obviously as stated, Nishikori winning would probably do much more for the game - but in any case, it's a transition period starting for the men's game. It happens every decade and this has been a long time coming. The game seems to survive every time and is as popular as ever.

Just my two cents.

[poet]

EP, personality/charisma and/or game. Fed has the game, if not the persona. His game has so much flair that it more than makes up for his personality. Cilic is a dud on all levels. I wouldn't go see him if he was playing in my backyard. Stan's game has a lot of flair and the guy is head case which makes it all the more fun. I know you like to contrarian EP, but Cilic is a bore on all accounts.

[poet]

...

[EaglesPhan36]

Particularly with Cilic, I think he's a much different player than he was in the past due to Ivansevic's influence. It's a new generation. Power is the biggest trait of a lot of the new generation. I think there is a big difference between guys like Cilic and Raonic who have shown some ability to do more than just serve like an Isner.

Flair - you can probably count those guys on one hand with Nishikori and Dimitrov.

We'll see how things develop. This may just be a blip and the next year could still be all Djokovic, Murray and Nadal if they stay healthy. I think though the lack of names is simply lack of exposure. Getting to a Slam Final gives you exposure. I agree with most that Nishikori could be a huge draw if he stays healthy. Djokovic didn't really latch on until he started getting deep into Slams and also started crafting a personality on and off the court. Remember, he used to be perceived as a total asshole and choker because his fitness was questionable.

[Hardcoar]

All my niggaz be hatin' on Isner...
: (

[EaglesPhan36]

9.7.14
WTA: Wozniacki +1.5 Sets @ +125

[Dollars2Donuts]

Murray is done, washed up....his doctors have told him that he needs to stop working his body out so hard because he is killing his back. Without the steroids that he started about a year before the Olympics he will lose his only advantage.

[zec]

Cilic is not often as quite on the court as he was with Fed. I think he liked staying calm in that match and the whole crowd was rooting for Federer so there was nothing to feed off of. Probably respect towards Federer and the way that Federer contains himself on the court. I have watched him play some decent players on smaller courts where he has just as much support from the crowd as the other guy and he was not holding back his emotions at all. Berdych at Wimby comes to mind.

[EaglesPhan36]

I think he played more quietly also to not give Fed any energy. When you're dominating a player, you don't want to give them any chance to turn it around. I think that's what helped Fed against Monfils. Monfils antics visibly irritated him once or twice and amped him up.

[EaglesPhan36]

9.8.14
WTA Tashkent: Sasnovich-Rogowska Over 20.5 @ -114

[EaglesPhan36]

2014 Season Overall Profit: +4.22

[Hardcoar]

Bitches retired then?

[EaglesPhan36]

Add...
WTA Quebec: Tatishvili-Maria Over 21 @ -118

[EaglesPhan36]

Blogged about my thoughts on the new blood in today's final. Find it on the piggy Twitter if you choose. Obliged for any views

[EaglesPhan36]

Bitches retired then?

Que?

[Hardcoar]

You upped your record without changing it. I could only assume your bet had pushed, or that it has not yet been settled (which I find less likely since you did update your record after posting it). I still have not yet looked at the draws or scores so I have no idea.

[EaglesPhan36]

It won, but that was even on my loser in the US Open Final on Sunday.

[EaglesPhan36]

Add...
ATP: Nishikori @ -120

[Hardcoar]

Genius.

My bad!

[EaglesPhan36]

Looks like Cilic is just gonna bomb his way through.

[EaglesPhan36]

Guess ESPN paid someone to try and get this finished before the first NFL game starts ... Looks like they might make it LoL

[EaglesPhan36]

2014 Season Overall Profit: +4.12

[EaglesPhan36]

9.9.14
WTA Hong Kong: Mayr-Achleitner +1.5 Sets @ -107