Japan suffer triple blow at French Open

Japan suffer triple blow at French Open

No disappointment, save energy and get ready for next tournament.

Obviously expected.

I am not the only one who is sick of this "save energy" nonsense that the "Nishikori is over-rated" club keeps bringing up on every tennis story?

I don't remember who it was that originally started this "save energy" thing, but surely that person just meant it in a sense of "rest up for the next match".

No one would lose a match and claim they were just "saving energy", but it is a simple truth that losing does give the opportunity for some extra R&R. That's precisely why Murray withdrew part-way through the Rome tournament.

These results were indeed expected - the Japanese players were faced with some really tough opponents in their first-round matches. Unfortunate, but that's the (bad) luck of the draw.

fxgai: I'd respond to your comment, but instead I'm just going to save energy.

I am not the only one who is sick of this "save energy" nonsense that the "Nishikori is over-rated" club keeps bringing up on every tennis story? well since theres this Nishikori is wonderful group that keeps playing up his hopes, all the while he hasnt even won one major or masters tournament yet. this was his make year and its about half way through the season. cant be labeled a great player until youve won at least one major. can you blame the knockers with all the hype and little results, so often put on up and coming J sports stars

Maybe they were just "Nishikori-inspired" to save energy for the next tournament.

fxgai: If you're tired of people sarcastically making fun of the media and posters who keep playing him up (yourself included) and then using excuses like, "He was tired!" (other players could not have been!), or "he was just saving his energy for the next tournament", then look in the mirror and also talk to those posters who keep using it as an excuse and the joke will wear out eventually. Unfortunately, you're never going to run out of people making excuses for the guy when he loses instead of simply saying he was outplayed or giving the other player credit, so tough!

And can you stop with the "I bet he'll be fourth this time next week!" and hoping he gets easy draws so that he doesn't has to face anyone tough and can finally win? It also undermines his actual ability.

The article only mentions the Japanese mens' matches. It makes no mention of the fact that on the ladies' side Kurumi Nara won a tough match against a French player 7-6, 7-6.

well since theres this Nishikori is wonderful group that keeps playing up his hopes,

How much better does he need to be before it's acceptable to "play up his hopes"? He is ranked 5th in the world, only 10 ATP ranking points off being 4th, and is younger than all the guys above him. You think he's useless and going to drop down the rankings, not go higher? I'd take the other side of that bet.

can you blame the knockers with all the hype and little results

Huh? Look at his results. How many guys have better results? Do you think he won't achieve more?

so often put on up and coming J sports stars

If you were talking Ryo Ishikawa, I'd agree, but Nishikori is no Ryo Ishikawa.

posters who keep playing him up (yourself included) and then using excuses like, "He was tired!"

When have I ever said that?

also talk to those posters who keep using it as an excuse

I recall only one such comment, and I'm not even sure if that one was meant as a joke. Maybe you can dig some examples up for me to prove your point.

And can you stop with the "I bet he'll be fourth this time next week!"

Why? Cos he might well be 4th, given he's already guaranteed to gain ranking points from his showing in the 1st round.

and hoping he gets easy draws

You get an easy draw by earning the 4th placed ranking. What don't you get about that? He is EARNING his 5th / 4th ranking by his accumulated performances over the past year. Why can't you admit this? Hope has nothing to do with it.

so that he doesn't has to face anyone tough and can finally win?

Duh. Even the top 4 have to win semis and finals to win.

Kurobune: "It makes no mention of the fact that on the ladies' side Kurumi Nara won a tough match against a French player 7-6, 7-6."

You're right, it doesn't. I thought instead it might be mentioned on the thread that focuses more on the women's performances, but that too also features men and has no mention of the woman you mentioned. But, that's part of the media hype that many posters are against here -- they choose one or two 'golden boys' or girls and the others get little or no mention, often if they ARE mentioned only being mentioned in terms of said golden boy/girls. Just look at how many skaters were called "mini-Mao" instead of using their actual names even when they skated BETTER than Mao herself!

fxgai: "You think he's useless and going to drop down the rankings, not go higher? I'd take the other side of that bet."

You bet last time he'd be in fourth before no time (and the time before that, and the time before that), hoping he'd get an easier draw so he could win, and then he slid to sixth. Did you forget that? And no, I don't think he's useless at all. I think he's a great player with a lot of potential. I just don't think he's the GOD that many fans and the media make him out to be, nor is he infallible. Whenever he loses, it's never, "Murray beat him", it's "he was tired," or "he was saving his energy" as though he didn't lose -- he just didn't play his best to win.

"Maybe you can dig some examples up for me to prove your point."

Seriously? There are heaps, and there's good reason why nearly everyone on here is sarcastically mimicking the people who make those posts.

"Why? Cos he might well be 4th, given he's already guaranteed to gain ranking points from his showing in the 1st round."

No, because you 'bet your tennis pride' on it every time and are wrong. You've been saying "I won't be surprised (or "I bet") if he's fourth by this time next week" since January. Since then he's gotten worse, not better.

He's a good player. The point people are making is that the media is making something out of him that he is not, and playing him up TOO MUCH, which always sets players like him, Ishikawa, Fukuhara, Tanaka, and others for a big fall (well, just to be ignored by the media later, anyway), instead of giving other players their proper due! Just yesterday these players that lost out were all "Nishikori-inspired" to win -- not winning of their own strengths and talents, same as my example of "mini-Mao" in skating, or what have you. The media is awful, and so are posters who constantly make excuses for a player instead of just saying "he lost. Oh well. Better luck next time".

You bet last time he'd be in fourth before no time

So is next week not fast enough for you?

He's already been fourth for 3 weeks this year, and unless currently fourth ranked Berdych (a mere 10 points above him) does really well at the French, Nishikori is likely to be a clear fourth again next week.

This is not opinion, it's just how the rankings work, assuming Nishikori does better than his injured-effected effort last year - which he already has. Berdych needs at least to make the semis to prevent Nishikori getting back ahead of him, off the top of my head.

hoping he'd get an easier draw so he could win,

He is capable of winning, that has nothing to do with it. It's a simple reality that an easier draw improves the chances for any player, whereas a harder draw reduces them. And if he gets the easy draw, it's because he's earned it, not because I hoped for it.

and then he slid to sixth. Did you forget that?

For just one week! Before he was back to fifth, although almost tied for fourth.

I just don't think he's the GOD

Yes, I agree. Federer is the GOD and Nishikori will not be GOD. But as a tennis fan, he's just exciting to watch.

You've been saying "I won't be surprised (or "I bet") if he's fourth by this time next week" since January.

I doubt I was saying that back in January, prove me wrong if you like. But I had believed for a long time he'd be top 10 in years past (might have mentioned it here, if you want to check).

Since then he's gotten worse, not better.

He's been consistently ranked fifth since November last year, so I don't know what you base that on. I get your peeve with the fawning J-media, but there's no need to denigrate him.

Nishioka should have been awarded the win simply for having the audacity to wear those shorts! What was the man thinking?!

smith, I think you need to listen to fxgai. I don't think you understand how tennis rankings work. Kei Nishikori will get more points because his performance this year will be compared to last year, when he lost in the first round after a back injury. How they calculate the points is very systematic.