ABN Amro, Rotterdam, Netherlands, ATP 500

[britbox]

Results from the World Indoor Tournament Men's Singles Round 1 matches on Monday

4-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Marius Copil (Romania) 7-6(3) 6-4
Evgeny Donskoy (Russia) beat Marcel Granollers (Spain) 6-4 6-4
Robin Haase (Netherlands) beat Florian Mayer (Germany) 7-5 7-6(3)
Pierre-Hugues Herbert (France) beat Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 7-6(5) 7-6(5)

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

Order of Play - Tuesday

 

[Moxie]

A lot of good matches tomorrow.

 

[Carol]

Unfortunately Tsonga and Berdych have lost their big names awhile ego, I wouldn't be surprised that one of the younger ones would win this tournament

 

[herios]

It is odd, I know, but as a 32-player tournament, there are only eight seeds and Sascha is ranked #18, so not seeded. That said, it is weird because RBA is out so I would think Sascha slips into the 8th seed as he's ranked right behind Pouille.

But it would seem that the lucky loser (Istomin) just slips into RBA's slot in the draw.

Technically, Zverev was ranked 21 when the draw came out, but that was not making any difference, being ranked right behind Pouille among the participants.
The reason why Istomin was slipped in RBA place, was that REBA pulled out only after the draw was done. When this happens, they will not redo the draw and not mess it up , the LL gets the emptied spot, seeded or not seeded.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It is odd, I know, but as a 32-player tournament, there are only eight seeds and Sascha is ranked #18, so not seeded. That said, it is weird because RBA is out so I would think Sascha slips into the 8th seed as he's ranked right behind Pouille.

But it would seem that the lucky loser (Istomin) just slips into RBA's slot in the draw.

Technically, Zverev was ranked 21 when the draw came out, but that was not making any difference, being ranked right behind Pouille among the participants.
The reason why Istomin was slipped in RBA place, was that REBA pulled out only after the draw was done. When this happens, they will not redo the draw and not mess it up , the LL gets the emptied spot, seeded or not seeded.

Not that simple. If withdrawal happens after the draw and before the first ball is struck, the tournament has the option to rebalance the draw and there are rules (that I am too tired to cite now) governing how the rebalancing is done.

 

[isabelle]

Simon beat Mahut, Kholi beat Pouille, Muler beat Griekspoor

 

[isabelle]

Simon beat Mahut, Kholi beat Pouille, Muller beat Griekspoor
Zverev is now N°18 on ranking, hope he can improve and become a top 10

 

[herios]

This is a nice tournament, with an interesting mix of players. Zverev v. Thiem should be interesting. I wouldn't be surprised if Khachanov takes his quarter. Dimitrov is the player to beat, even though Tsonga and Berdych are the big names.

Both Berdych and Tsonga are past their prime. I would not consider them the main favorites.
Grigor rides a momentum, he could just confirm it here, then he would be deservedly back in the top 10.
Let's go Dimi!

 

[El Dude]

Yes, I agree they're both in decline but they're still the "big names."

 

[El Dude]

Pouille lost. I wonder if he's due for a big drop in the rankings, especially once we get to Wimby and the USO. I could see him ending the year more in the #18-25ish range.

 

[herios]

Pouille lost. I wonder if he's due for a big drop in the rankings, especially once we get to Wimby and the USO. I could see him ending the year more in the #18-25ish range.

Plenty of time until Wimbledon. I have patience with him.

 

[Carol]

It's incredible how much admiration people has for the 4 top guys that when a player beats them (and more to one of them) and only once then they are expecting too much of him

 

[El Dude]

Carol, you really need to stop being so defensive about Rafa.

That said, the expectations about Pouille aren't only because he beat Rafa, but more so because he reached two Slam QFs and finished #16 - the second youngest player in the top 20. Most of us are chomping at the bit for the next generation to rise up and challenge, so any sign of this is exciting and garners expectations.

But yes, let's be cautious. On the other hand, we shouldn't write players like Pouille off. He doesn't look like a future elite, but he could be part of the next second tier group.

 

[Carol]

Carol, you really need to stop being so defensive about Rafa.

That said, the expectations about Pouille aren't only because he beat Rafa, but more so because he reached two Slam QFs and finished #16 - the second youngest player in the top 20. Most of us are chomping at the bit for the next generation to rise up and challenge, so any sign of this is exciting and garners expectations.

But yes, let's be cautious. On the other hand, we shouldn't write players like Pouille off. He doesn'tPouille look like a future elite, but he could be part of the next second tier group.

You always like to mixed pears with apples. I'm just realistic about how many times any player that beat one of the top guys is getting famous and more when they beat Nadal. Have you read too often and too much about Istomin, old Zverev, Querrey, Stakhosvky, Vesely and others more players than Soderling, Rosol, Kyrgios (until he also beat Roger) and now Pouille who I haven't say that he wasn't play well reaching the two slam QF's but come on, I think the first ones that I have named deserve a lot of credit too, isn't?

 

[Front242]

Soderling reached 2 consecutive French Open finals, beating Nadal on route to the 2009 final and Federer the following year. Bad example and you know it. His career was very much on target for him going sky high before he got mono and had to retire. He knocked Murray down to number 5 and himself reached world number 4 in 2010. Who among the others you named did that or will ever do that? Only Zverev has the chance imo. Kyrgios too if he sorts his head out. Certainly has the potential. Rosol has the game only really to win on grass and the others besides Istomin just aren't consistent enough. Istomin has a decent game but has been plagued by knee injuries for years. Way too early to pull the plug on Pouille. He's just 22. Hard to believe 'cos he looks way older.