Re(1): Question of the Week #251 - Who will challenge Arriaga in the late games?
Posted on June 4, 2008 at 04:11:27 PM by Jim

My opinion: Arriaga's entire game is based purely on confidence. When Arriaga dropped that sitter floater forehand on the wood at Orlando in game 1 of WORLD CUP, he just went away for the duration of the event, and it was predictable (FP can vouch I called it), and sickeningly sad, because we KNOW he's majorly talented and a phenomenal mover. His game is based heavily on confidence, and I just don't see him able to shrug adversity off as much as other players can. Arriaga, when he is playing confident, and feeling he's the best in the house, he dominates. When Egi was playing (and playing so well), along with an in form Celaya, Arregui, even Urkidi at times in the doubles games, and some others, Arriaga played very well, but because it was so competetive, the stats don't show total domination. He's no Goiko. Now, that he's the man again, so to speak, his confidence will probably soar, and he will real in the wins and terrific stats. I feel two players can challenge him: DIEGO and perhaps ERIK, who we need to see in the lates consistently now and judge him in that rank, which so far, he looks very, very good, and he always looked solid, anyway. I don't often see ERIK or DIEGO with "off" days. Arriaga, on the other hand, has them, and that's the difference that could change things.