2015 Shanghai Masters 1000

[herios]

I imagine it is pretty hard for Federer to be as motivated for Shanghai. First of all, he just came off two heart-wrenching losses to Novak in Slam finals. A Masters even just doesn't have the cache, perhaps especially these last two which almost seem like "ATP 800" events. I know Roger says he loves playing at all tournaments, but I imagine he mainly just wants another Slam.

Suddenly this is an "800 ATP event"uzzled
. Have you called it this way last year when Roger won it? I cannot recall...

I think he's referring to the shared sense that a lot of the best players aren't always as focused in this part of the season. I think it's a fair statement.

As others have mentioned it, the prize money paid off makes this event very attractive. And the players love coming here, because how they treat them. El Dude sounded more like sour grapes, just look up what he mentioned on the first page: "Finally a real event".

 

[herios]

As for the rankings, Murray has a good chance of finishing YE #2 now as Roger has more points to defend I think. Roger needs to defend 500 points from Basel and a 1000 points from WTF.

Finally, Roger is not going to enter extra tourneys or fight hard for the #2 spot. If the fight was for #1, Roger might care and give a good fight. But, for some one who has been at #1 for so long, it really does not matter whether he is called #2 or #3 (although it would seriously hurt Roger's
chances at AO).

If we want to speculate in what order the top players will end p the season, under the new circumstances, it makes more sense to look at the "Race to London" race at this point, because that gives us the real points accumulation, instead of trying to figure out who will defend how many points and where.
Based on this ranking, before Shanghai, Andy Murray has 7510 points and Roger has 6740, so Andy has already a 770 point lead. This can be extended this week over 1000 easily (by Andy reaching the SF).
That will make Roger's mission rather difficult to recapture the second position by year end.

Also, you cannot count out Stan Wawrinka at this point, as he trails Roger by 780 points. In case Stan is living up t his seeding and makes the finals here, being the highest seed left in the bottom half, he could get 600 points and quite close to Roger.

So we will have to see how this event pans out, as it could become interesting, in the 2-4 ranking section.

 

[DarthFed]

This is another one of the Simpson's Paradox matches by Fed. So, I am not really worried about this loss too much.

Here are the stats of the match. First colum is for Ramos and second one for Fed.

Service Stats

6 Aces 15
3 Double Faults 1
75% 1st Serve 71%
60 1st Serve Points Won 46
15 2nd Serve Points Won 13
6 Break Points Faced 2
67% Break Points Saved 50%
15 Service Games Played 14
65% Service Points Won 77%

Return Stats

9 1st Serve Return Points Won 27
9 2nd Serve Return Points Won 14
2 Break Points Opportunities 6
1 Break Points Converted 2
14 Return Games Played 15
23% Return Points Won 35%
48% Total Points Won 52%

I'd be worried if he beat this clay court nobody 6-4, 6-4 as that'd be an indication he showed up in bad form. But losing to this guy on anything but the slowest clay is maybe his worst loss in over a decade unless one in 2013 "trumps" it.

Anyways, not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, Roger's chance to do something big this year ended at USO. This might be a hangover from his disappointment at the slams this season. I don't see him winning YEC but that's the only thing left that can salvage his year.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

You are right. But, you should give Roger a break due to lengthy absence and lack of motivation.
I would not be surprised if Roger decides to not even play in Shanghai next year.

 

[Carol]

It's very unfair the Tignor analysis about the Ramos win maybe because he predicted Roger went to win the tournament :s. I've read from better and fair sources that Ramos has played very good. The second set Roger was unbeteable with his letal serve but the third was a very diferent story, Ramos broke and Roger couldn't do too much after that :cover

 

[herios]

About the lack of motivation, he could have elected to stay home and prepare for the final events indoors easily, as he is not obligated anymore to show up in masters.
He skips Miami and Montreal but goes to Shanghai. Go figure. Well worth the trip...

 

[DarthFed]

Roger should be motivated to keep #2 as long as possible due to draw purposes. With that said his chances at AO and RG are pretty much nonexistent at this point regardless of his seed.

Murray has a lot of points to defend through RG so Roger could take back the #2 rank in time for Wimbledon or simply be ranked #2 there due to their system.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

About the lack of motivation, he could have elected to stay home and prepare for the final events indoors easily, as he is not obligated anymore to show up in masters.
He skips Miami and Montreal but goes to Shanghai. Go figure. Well worth the trip...

His selection is logical. If he skips Miami, he gets 2 weeks break even though he skips only
one tourney. As for skipping Toronto, it is a wisdom born out of personal experience of
what happened in last year's USO. That gamble actually paid off.

There is nothing to save himself for by skipping Shanghai and so he went there.

I actually expect him to skip Shanghai (in addition to Miami and Toronto) next year
and play Vienna instead.

 

[Fiero425]

About the lack of motivation, he could have elected to stay home and prepare for the final events indoors easily, as he is not obligated anymore to show up in masters.
He skips Miami and Montreal but goes to Shanghai. Go figure. Well worth the trip...

His selection is logical. If he skips Miami, he gets 2 weeks break even though he skips only
one tourney. As for skipping Toronto, it is a wisdom born out of personal experience of
what happened in last year's USO. That gamble actually paid off.

There is nothing to save himself for by skipping Shanghai and so he went there.

I actually expect him to skip Shanghai (in addition to Miami and Toronto) next year
and play Vienna instead.

I can't remember the new rules completely, but he has seniority to skip as many events as he wishes since he has over 600+ wins and 10+ years on tour! The specifics I'll have to go check! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Kirijax]

Upsets coming? Ferrer drops 1st set 6-4 to Tomic and Nishikori loses 1st set 6-1 to Kyrgios. Ferrer might could come back but Nishikori looks lethargic or something.

 

[Fiero425]

Upsets coming? Ferrer drops 1st set 6-4 to Tomic and Nishikori loses 1st set 6-1 to Kyrgios. Ferrer might could come back but Nishikori looks lethargic or something.

How many times do I have to say it about the "new blood" of the tour; brittle? Not sure Raonic or Kei will ever be a consistent threat if they can't stay on the court! :cover :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Kirijax]

Isner wins pretty easily, Tomic upsets Ferrer and Nishikori leads 4-2 in the third!

Come on Nishikori! :clap

 

[Kirijax]

Nishikori wins! 6-4 in the third. Nishikori hit a return winner on match point but had to wait while Kyrgios challenged his own serve. LOL :cover

 

[isabelle]

happy that Samurai Kei beat bad Nick

 

[Kirijax]

Hot Top Ten Newcomer Anderson knocks out Fognini 6-3, 7-6! Sadly there will be no Foggy, Rafa match this tournament. Dang it.

 

[isabelle]

Nadal must be happy....thanks to Anderson !!

 

[nehmeth]

Martin is not bringing the kind of tennis he played the last time he met up with Nole.

 

[herios]

Novak won 6-2, 6-1 against Klizan.

 

[herios]

Stan defeats Troicki

 

[herios]

Both Canadians on court right now, Vasek is in the 3rd set on serve against Gasquet and Milos just started the match against Bautista Agut.
Let's go Leafs!!