2015 ATP General Tennis News

[Denis]

http://www.madrid-open.com/en/noticias-tennistainment/novak-djokovic-y-serena-williams-protagonizaran-el-charity-day-del-mutua-madrid-open/
Here it says that Djokovic will play a charity event in Madrid, but he isn't playing the tournament itself, that is the only reason I found it odd but whatever.

Remember what happened in 2013 playing against Dimitrov? that's the reason, very absurd because most of the crowd were Bulgaries

Why put up with the high altitude, rude crowds, and another useless Masters? This will put pressure on Federer to live up to that #1 seed! Can he even make the final? :ras: :nono :angel: :dodgy:

It sure will give Nadal a chance to build on his mythical 'confidence'. Spanking Roger will certainly help.

 

[Carol]

http://www.madrid-open.com/en/noticias-tennistainment/novak-djokovic-y-serena-williams-protagonizaran-el-charity-day-del-mutua-madrid-open/
Here it says that Djokovic will play a charity event in Madrid, but he isn't playing the tournament itself, that is the only reason I found it odd but whatever.

Remember what happened in 2013 playing against Dimitrov? that's the reason, very absurd because most of the crowd were Bulgaries

Why put up with the high altitude, rude crowds, and another useless Masters? This will put pressure on Federer to live up to that #1 seed! Can he even make the final? :ras: :nono :angel: :dodgy:

High altitude? come on, Federer plays well there
Rude crowd? the Bulgaries? yep
Pressure? to whom? :huh: :angel:

 

[Carol]

Remember what happened in 2013 playing against Dimitrov? that's the reason, very absurd because most of the crowd were Bulgaries

Why put up with the high altitude, rude crowds, and another useless Masters? This will put pressure on Federer to live up to that #1 seed! Can he even make the final? :ras: :nono :angel: :dodgy:

It sure will give Nadal a chance to build on his mythical 'confidence'. Spanking Roger will certainly help.

Nadal's mythical 'confidence' will be back any time, in Madrid or Paris where for years the crowd were very rude and even that he got 9 titles. Some players should learn that lesson:clap

 

[Denis]

Why put up with the high altitude, rude crowds, and another useless Masters? This will put pressure on Federer to live up to that #1 seed! Can he even make the final? :ras: :nono :angel: :dodgy:

It sure will give Nadal a chance to build on his mythical 'confidence'. Spanking Roger will certainly help.

Nadal's mythical 'confidence' will be back any time, in Madrid or Paris where for years the crowd were very rude and even that he got 9 titles. Some players should learn that lesson:clap

There is no good reason for Djokovic to play in Madrid. It is not prestigious, he already has tons of points, and it is generally not considered to be a good tournament to prepare for Roland Garros.

 

[Kieran]

I think that Nole has played a lot this year so the break will do him good, but it's a double edged sword. If he's to go to Paris as favourite, I would have preferred him to get into Rafa's head, kinda like 2011. Avoiding Madrid could give Rafa breathing space to grind out an MS title. This happened last season, and when they met in Rome it didn't really bother Rafa when it came to Paris.

If Nole went to Madrid and took it, then took Rome, he'd be heavily favoured in Paris, especially if he beat Rafa both times. It could be that Rafa gets beaten by FFFS again in Madrid anyway, in which case, enjoy your gluten-free sangria, Nole. But it could backfire on Novak in the long run...

 

[Carol]

It sure will give Nadal a chance to build on his mythical 'confidence'. Spanking Roger will certainly help.

Nadal's mythical 'confidence' will be back any time, in Madrid or Paris where for years the crowd were very rude and even that he got 9 titles. Some players should learn that lesson:clap

There is no good reason for Djokovic to play in Madrid. It is not prestigious, he already has tons of points, and it is generally not considered to be a good tournament to prepare for Roland Garros.

What tournament is prestigious for you besides RG, Wimbledon, USO and AO? any?

 

[Denis]

Nadal's mythical 'confidence' will be back any time, in Madrid or Paris where for years the crowd were very rude and even that he got 9 titles. Some players should learn that lesson:clap

There is no good reason for Djokovic to play in Madrid. It is not prestigious, he already has tons of points, and it is generally not considered to be a good tournament to prepare for Roland Garros.

What tournament is prestigious for you besides RG, Wimbledon, USO and AO? any?

Plenty. All masters except Madrid, the GS, WTF, and some other smaller events, such as Queens, Barcelona, Rotterdam.

 

[Denis]

I think that Nole has played a lot this year so the break will do him good, but it's a double edged sword. If he's to go to Paris as favourite, I would have preferred him to get into Rafa's head, kinda like 2011. Avoiding Madrid could give Rafa breathing space to grind out an MS title. This happened last season, and when they met in Rome it didn't really bother Rafa when it came to Paris.

If Nole went to Madrid and took it, then took Rome, he'd be heavily favoured in Paris, especially if he beat Rafa both times. It could be that Rafa gets beaten by FFFS again in Madrid anyway, in which case, enjoy your gluten-free sangria, Nole. But it could backfire on Novak in the long run...

I was thinking it could benefit Rafa. But at this point there is no solid basis to think that Rafa would win both Rome and Madrid.

Besides Novak should think about himself and not about Rafa. If he needs the break its a good call and he knows best.

 

[Kieran]

There is no good reason for Djokovic to play in Madrid. It is not prestigious, he already has tons of points, and it is generally not considered to be a good tournament to prepare for Roland Garros.

What tournament is prestigious for you besides RG, Wimbledon, USO and AO? any?

Plenty. All masters except Madrid, the GS, WTF, and some other smaller events, such as Queens, Barcelona, Rotterdam.

Why should Rotterdam be considered more prestigious than Madrid, which is an MS event?

 

[Fiero425]

There is no good reason for Djokovic to play in Madrid. It is not prestigious, he already has tons of points, and it is generally not considered to be a good tournament to prepare for Roland Garros.

What tournament is prestigious for you besides RG, Wimbledon, USO and AO? any?

Plenty. All Masters except Madrid, the GS, WTF, and some other smaller events, such as Queens, Barcelona, Rotterdam.

I feel that way about Shanghai! It's new; more a replacement for Hamburg being demoted IMO years ago! :cover Paris Indoor has at least been around for a while! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Denis]

What tournament is prestigious for you besides RG, Wimbledon, USO and AO? any?

Plenty. All masters except Madrid, the GS, WTF, and some other smaller events, such as Queens, Barcelona, Rotterdam.

Why should Rotterdam be considered more prestigious than Madrid, which is an MS event?

History for one, there are not that many indoor events for another. I like Shanghai because it's an event in Asia.

I actually did like the blue clay, it was nice to the eye and gave the tournament some originality.

 

[Kieran]

Plenty. All masters except Madrid, the GS, WTF, and some other smaller events, such as Queens, Barcelona, Rotterdam.

Why should Rotterdam be considered more prestigious than Madrid, which is an MS event?

History for one, there are not that many indoor events for another. I like Shanghai because it's an event in Asia.

I actually did like the blue clay, it was nice to the eye and gave the tournament some originality.

That's kinda random. Shanghai has no history, and blue clay is "original", which suggests it has no history. Rotterdam doesn't blip on too many radars, it's more a junket than anything. It's fair enough not to like Madrid - I don't like it myself, but more because of gimmicks like the blue clay, sexy ballgirl-models, and something about Tiriac...

 

[Denis]

Why should Rotterdam be considered more prestigious than Madrid, which is an MS event?

History for one, there are not that many indoor events for another. I like Shanghai because it's an event in Asia.

I actually did like the blue clay, it was nice to the eye and gave the tournament some originality.

That's kinda random. Shanghai has no history, and blue clay is "original", which suggests it has no history. Rotterdam doesn't blip on too many radars, it's more a junket than anything. It's fair enough not to like Madrid - I don't like it myself, but more because of gimmicks like the blue clay, sexy ballgirl-models, and something about Tiriac...

Yes, agreed. Kind of random, don't really like it as much as other events, so don't really consider it to be prestigious if one wins it.

I think generally and more objectively speaking the history and the field determine the prestigious nature of an event in combination with some extra X factors (the bay at Monte Carlo for example) that make you want to play there.

 

[Kieran]

I think generally and more objectively speaking the history and the field determine the prestigious nature of an event in combination with some extra X factors (the bay at Monte Carlo for example).

That's true, and I agree about Queens. If they ever want a grasscourt MS event, there it is, but really, it doesn't need it. Queens has history in abundance, and a certain quality about it, maybe it's the association with the beginning of grasscourt tennis, traditions, I don't know...

 

[Carol]

All the MS are equal prestigious but it depending the eye of the viewer or fan, we can like more ones than other and also depending the result of our fav, isn't? :snicker :nono

 

[Denis]

No they are clearly not equally prestigious.

And it's not based on fanboyism (kind of embarrissing for you to accuse someone of that) because cincy has more to it than Madrid, an event Djokovic has won.

 

[Carol]

No they are clearly not equally prestigious.

And it's not based on fanboyism (kind of embarrissing for you to accuse someone of that) because cincy has more to it than Madrid, an event Djokovic has won.

Embarrasing of what? tell me one reason why Cincy is more prestigious than Madrid :huh:

 

[tented]

They're all Masters Series 1000s, with equal points allocated for the same rounds. Different people may prefer some over the others, but clearly the idea is they're all equal. Beyond that, it's purely subjective -- bordering on arguing which is the best color.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I think it is a good move by Novak.

On the one hand one can think of this move helping Rafa, as it lets Rafa to be in top four
and also he does not have to worry facing Novak. However, it also puts pressure on Rafa.
Rafa must win either Madrid or Rome (which would possibly be more difficult due to Novak
coming back) to be in the conversation as a favorite for RG (not withstanding his past
achievements).

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Also, as I posted in Fed's schedule thread, Fed is seriously thinking about skipping Rome
and would do so with high probability especially if he goes deep in Madrid. That would again
help Rafa to be seeded in top four at Rome as well.

So, Rafa gets a top four seeding in both Madrid and Rome, despite being ranked #5.
It remains to be seen whether he can possibly earn a legitimate top #4 seed (as there
is no other way to get #4 seed in RG with tournament organizers declining to mess
with seedings and with no one ranked higher likely to drop out.

But, it won't be easy for Rafa as he is defending 1600 pts in these two.