Barcelona Open 2019, Spain, ATP 500

[isabelle]

Ferru beat Misha

 

[Fiero425]

Ferru beat Misha

Then Sasha goes down in flames a little later to a LL; N Jarry! Unbelievable! It's like he doesn't really want it; even with the help of Lendl! Zverev had match point and found a way to lose this early round match to a qualifier! Will Lendl question even bothering with him? Zverev's still a "hot head" when things are going tough for him and getting ahead in a match is no guarantee of a victory! :whistle: :cuckoo:

 

[herios]

Then Sasha goes down in flames a little later to a LL; N Jarry! Unbelievable! It's like he doesn't really want it; even with the help of Lendl! Zverev had match point and found a way to lose this early round match to a qualifier! Will Lendl question even bothering with him? Zverev's still a "hot head" when things are going tough for him and getting ahead in a match is no guarantee of a victory! :whistle: :cuckoo:

Trust me, he wants it.

 

[Fiero425]

Trust me, he wants it.

I'm sure Kei, Grigor, & Milos also wanted it, but so far we're still waiting! :whistle: :cuckoo:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Tiafoe, Sousa and Goffin are all gone too. But, they are not shock upsets, even if they were technically upsets.

 

[mrzz]

Tiafoe, Sousa and Goffin are all gone too. But, they are not shock upsets, even if they were technically upsets.

Struff over Goffin would be a shock last year, but sadly since he Goffin had that ball hitting his eye he never really returned to form. On clay this would be quite a shock, given that he is a very good clay courter and that Struff is much more a S&V type.

By the way caught glimpses of ThiemxSchwartzman, quite a good match. Best R2 of an ATP 500 of all time, probably. Nightmare draw for Thiem as DS should be seeded, only wasn't as his staff made a mess. And now he's got Munar, who is a very good player, at home. Let's see if Thiem makes a statement. The forehand is clicking, backhand still shaky, but overall quite good level.

 

[MartyB]

I don't think you're reading the draw correctly...you're looking through your hate-glasses, and projecting too many matches that have yet to happen. You've gotten confident thinking that Rafa just lost in MC. His quarter is not bad. He's destroyed Pouille on clay, and Pouille is no one to count on. The quarter below him has Goffin, Tsitsipas and Fucsovic, so it depends on who comes through, but I'd be more worried about Fucsovic, tbh.

Out of the bottom half, maybe Medvedev or Fognini, but I wonder who thinks the Fog is ready to double up?

I agree that some not myself are jumping too quickly about Rafa's supposed demise on clay. I do think Rafa's draw has potential hurdles but he should come through. One word of caution when Fed lost Halle last year to Coric it was a harbinger to come.

 

[herios]

Sasha was 4 ranked for the RG as far as betting odds, after Rafa, Novak and Domi.
That will change soon if he is not improving his result.
Munich and Madrid are coming up where he is the defending champion.

 

[Federberg]

Only caught the backend of the 2nd set tie break FAA closed out. I'm very impressed at the pace and intention in his shots. That was almost Rafa like when the chips were down.

 

[isabelle]

the Fog pulled out, not a big surprise
Ferru beat Pouille, Mc Donald beat Simon

 

[herios]

Surprising win by McDonald over Simon, especially considering the surface .

 

[mrzz]

I told you it was a tricky first round... first set Mayer.

 

[kskate2]

The Kang in a bit of trouble on his home court. Going to a decider. Meanwhile, Pella is beating Karen like he stole something.

 

[kskate2]

The Kang in a bit of trouble on his home court. Going to a decider. Meanwhile, Pella is beating Karen like he stole something.

The Kang recovers 6-2 in the 3rd. Karen wakes up from his beating but still goes down in a breaker.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa looked very ordinary today, but found a little magic at the end.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa plays his pigeon Ferrer next round. That should be a straight sets win and also will probably bring Rafa back to form (as Ferrer will provide the rhythm that Rafa wants).

 

[kskate2]

Shapo in trouble. Down a set and 5-2.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Shapo maintains his bad form. Meanwhile Pella and Pairi maintain their good form and win again.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

That Garin dude is on fire though...

 

[Moxie]

Rafa plays his pigeon Ferrer next round. That should be a straight sets win and also will probably bring Rafa back to form (as Ferrer will provide the rhythm that Rafa wants).

"Pigeon" is kinda mean and disrespectful, don't ya think? The guy is playing the last few tournaments of his very terrific career. Anyway, Rafa can't play as poorly as he did today, or Ferrer will move on.