Barcelona Open 2018, ATP 500

[Moxie]

Out of curiosity went to see the schedule of play today and couldn't help but notice that Nadal was playing on the premier court named for him? I guess I missed that moment last year at this tournament. I know Nadal has earned it but still never heard of an active player getting a court named for him. Must be a nice feeling.

Oh, admit it...you're having a peak to see what's going on, even though you claim to be done with tennis until the grass season. Anyway, yes, that happened last year. It is kind of weird that they did it while Nadal is still active, but my secret theory is that they didn't want Madrid (and the vile Tiriac) to get to it before they did in Barcelona. It's the right place, and I'm sure it would be what Rafa would most have wanted. You know Basel is going to do the same for Roger, but there's no competing tournament that would scoop them there.

 

[Carol]

If Carballes-Baena is the best Spanish clay courter after Nadal, then their prospects are really grim.

[/QUOTE]
Well, of course he is not Nadal and he never will but he is doing pretty well and even much better than Thiem, Nishi and company maybe because he doesn’t have anything to lose, he took more risk which helped to do more games than the others and also playing better than the others Spaniards

 

[herios]

Guys, if Baena was that good he was doing a lot more by now .
I can safely bet that he will never come anywhere close to a Ferrer or Robredo calibre either.

 

[herios]

What happened to Schwartzman?
He got decimated by Tsitsipas

 

[Moxie]

What happened to Schwartzman?
He got decimated by Tsitsipas

I was going to bring this up. I can't find info about injury, but he is not living up to expectations this clay season, so far. @mrzz seems to think it's his fault for declaring Schwartzman's candidacy for President. Maybe so. I keep picking Tsitsipas to make waves, rather injudiciously, so maybe this works for me.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Looks like Chung was supposed to play here and withdrew. Also, some other seeded player is replaced by LL and I don't know who that is.

 

[Moxie]

Guys, if Baena was that good he was doing a lot more by now .
I can safely bet that he will never come anywhere close to a Ferrer or Robredo calibre either.

Be careful what you bet. Somebody gave me a hard time for calling another player too old at 25 the other day. You really never know which of these Spaniards will float rather higher than you thought. RCB looked impressive today.

 

[Moxie]

Looks like Chung was supposed to play here and withdrew. Also, some other seeded player is replaced by LL and I don't know who that is.

Seems there are 4 LL's in this draw. One just replaced a qualifier. Andújar replaced Chung. And Verdasco is out. Knee.

 

[britbox]

Results Round Up - Wednesday

1-Rafael Nadal (ESP) beat Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4 6-4
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez beat 14-Kei Nishikori (JPN) 6-3 (Retired)
Martin Klizan (SVK) beat 6-Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-2 1-6 6-3
16-Karen Khachanov (RUS) beat Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 6-4 6-3
Pablo Andujar (ESP) beat Bjorn Fratangelo (USA) 6-4 6-3
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) beat 7-Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 6-2 6-1
10-Albert Ramos-Vinolas beat Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA) 3-6 6-3 6-4
Jozef Kovalik (SVK) beat Guido Pella (ARG) 6-3 6-3
3-Dominic Thiem (AUT) beat Jaume Munar (ESP) 7-6(8) 6-1
5-Pablo Carreno Busta beat Benoit Paire (FRA) 6-3 6-3
2-Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) beat Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-2 6-1



Martin Klizan talks about the win over Novak Djokovic.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

WTF is happening with Diego? Why is he losing horribly in the last two tournaments? Hurt?

 

[Moxie]

WTF is happening with Diego? Why is he losing horribly in the last two tournaments? Hurt?

I asked the same above. No intel.

 

[mrzz]

Not only Diego lost badly his last two matches, in the match before that (which he won), he lost the first 6x0.

And, hmmm... Carbales Baena might have a future. I saw bits of the match today and he has really good shots.

 

[britbox]

Rafa takes the first set v. Carballes Baena for the record: 37 consecutive sets on clay won. I think they said it was Nastase that held the record. Meantime, Carballes Baena playing some good tennis. Kei had to retire with leg injury. Hope it's not serious.

Apparently, it was Coria who had it. There's a graphic on the ATP site.

 

[britbox]

Stefanos Tsitsipas has been way off my radar. The kid is flying up the rankings. Up a set on Ramos-Vinolas.

 

[Moxie]

Apparently, it was Coria who had it. There's a graphic on the ATP site.

I saw that, but Tennis Channel insists that Nastase's record was 37, and that's why they called it after the first set yesterday. Whichever, Rafa's now. And note the 4 other times he'd gone on a run of 30.

 

[Moxie]

Stefanos Tsitsipas has been way off my radar. The kid is flying up the rankings. Up a set on Ramos-Vinolas.

And he beat him. He's a tall, handsome Greek kid. I like his game and he seems a cool character.

 

[herios]

Stefanos seems to do better on clay.
He started to move up a few months ago on HC, but rather slowly. Now the speed got accelerated as he is winning more since the clay season started. He is either a fast learner, getting better and better, or clay suits him. Or both.

 

[kskate2]

Dimi executes his get of jail free card today. Down 4-1 in the decider and a 2 MP's, he comes through in the deciding TB after having 4 mp's of his own.

Domi through in straights again. The young Greek showing his stuff to home fave ARV.

Klizan takes Feli out in straights.

 

[britbox]

Thursday Round-up

3rd Round
1-Rafael Nadal (ESP) beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1 6-3
Martin Klizan (SVK) beat 12-Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-1 6-4
4-David Goffin (BEL) beat 16-Karen Khachanov (RUS) 2-6 7-6 6-0
8-Roberto Bautista Agut beat Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-4 6-1
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) beat 10-Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4 7-5
3-Dominic Thiem (AUT) beat Jozef Kovalik (SVK) 7-6(5) 6-2
5-Pablo Carreno Busta beat 11-Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 6-2 4-6 7-6(6)
2-Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) beat Malek Jaziri (TUN) 7-5 3-6 7-6(8)

Highlights:



Interviews:

Stefanos Tsitsipas



Grigor Dimitrov



Rafael Nadal

 

[britbox]

Dimi executes his get of jail free card today. Down 4-1 in the decider and a 2 MP's, he comes through in the deciding TB after having 4 mp's of his own.

Domi through in straights again. The young Greek showing his stuff to home fave ARV.

Klizan takes Feli out in straights.

Klizan will have earned his corn here, that's for sure. Djoker, Feli, now Nadal.

Surprised Dimitrov had so much trouble with Jaziri. You usually only hear about Jaziri when Marrakech comes around.