Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Day 1

[Kieran]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

I agree, Darth, it's hard to see Gasquet doing well. If Rafa serves Ferrer up on a platter tomorrow, then the second spot could well go to Stan.

All-Swiss final, anyone? What's the odds?

 

[Kieran]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

Always amused to see that Berdych buys his gear in H&M. Gotten a few things in there myself, including a fabulous long black coat!

Surface looks a bit slower than Paris, is that right?

 

[kskate2]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

yep.

 

[Front242]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

Always amused to see that Berdych buys his gear in H&M. Gotten a few things in there myself, including a fabulous long black coat!

Surface looks a bit slower than Paris, is that right?

Mentioned this before but Berdych's quads are monstrous. At work and streaming is blocked so can't watch matches but it could well be slower.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

I agree, Darth, it's hard to see Gasquet doing well. If Rafa serves Ferrer up on a platter tomorrow, then the second spot could well go to Stan.

All-Swiss final, anyone? What's the odds?

Stan wouldn't be beating anyone in the semi but it'd still be a decent cap to his best season to date.

 

[kskate2]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

Is everyone going to wear black in the O2? Stan takes the first set 6-3

 

[DarthFed]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

Yea the surface is slow but with a dead bounce, very good for Roger and almost perfect for Nole methinks.

 

[Kieran]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

Cupid lineswoman! :heart:

 

[Didi]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

I think group A might surprise us. For starters I don't think Nadal will win all three matches given how good Ferrer and Wawrinka are in form at the moment and how well they handle the bounce of this special court. In fact a lot of people underestimate what a handful player Ferrer is Indoors. He's made it to the YEC semis on multiple occasions and ran Novak incredibly close to defend his Bercy title. In contrast to Nadal he can easily stay in his comfort zone and does not have to adapt. Flat shots, taking the ball on the rise and changing directions is Ferrer's nature and he can make use of it on this court better than on others. The sad thing is that if Berdych were in better form this would be a hell of a group but the way he's looking at the moment he might turn into everybody's patsy here.

 

[tented]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

FYI: I didn't realize until this morning that the Tennis Channel is also broadcasting the doubles matches. This is a rare opportunity to watch the best doubles teams in the world.

 

[nehmeth]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

If Rafa serves Ferrer up on a platter tomorrow, then the second spot could well go to Stan.

You really think there's a chance of that happening tomorrow?

 

[nehmeth]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

Always amused to see that Berdych buys his gear in H&M. Gotten a few things in there myself, including a fabulous long black coat!

Surface looks a bit slower than Paris, is that right?

Mentioned this before but Berdych's quads are monstrous.

They're called "tree trunks"

 

[NADAL2005RG]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

Yea the surface is slow but with a dead bounce, very good for Roger and almost perfect for Nole methinks.

That slow dead bounce suits Nadal too, as we saw in 2010 when he beat Djokovic, Murray and took a set from ON-FIRE Federer.

 

[Riotbeard]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

I think group A might surprise us. For starters I don't think Nadal will win all three matches given how good Ferrer and Wawrinka are in form at the moment and how well they handle the bounce of this special court. In fact a lot of people underestimate what a handful player Ferrer is Indoors. He's made it to the YEC semis on multiple occasions and ran Novak incredibly close to defend his Bercy title. In contrast to Nadal he can easily stay in his comfort zone and does not have to adapt. Flat shots, taking the ball on the rise and changing directions is Ferrer's nature and he can make use of it on this court better than on others. The sad thing is that if Berdych were in better form this would be a hell of a group but the way he's looking at the moment he might turn into everybody's patsy here.

I agree. I wouldn't have predicted Ferrer beating Nadal at Bercy, but I wasn't surprised. His approach to playing Nadal is ultra-aggressive (by his standards), and this is the type of court that will reward that style if he can execute.

 

[tented]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

I think group A might surprise us. For starters I don't think Nadal will win all three matches given how good Ferrer and Wawrinka are in form at the moment and how well they handle the bounce of this special court. In fact a lot of people underestimate what a handful player Ferrer is Indoors. He's made it to the YEC semis on multiple occasions and ran Novak incredibly close to defend his Bercy title.

Plus, Ferrer made it to the final in 2007.

 

[kskate2]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

2nd set breaker. Who wins this set? I vote for Stan.

 

[nehmeth]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

I believe 2007 was played in Shanghai and that was when they still played 5 setter finals.

He beat two out of the three in Group A at Bercy, will he do it again here?

 

[Kieran]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

Yeah, Ferrer is like a hyperactive sub-atomic particle. He'll be full of himself tomorrow. We need the Rafa that stormed through the North American summer to come back for the week...

 

[kskate2]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

Stan is stinking up the TB. 0-5

 

[NADAL2005RG]

RE: Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Nov. 4-11

I think group A might surprise us. For starters I don't think Nadal will win all three matches given how good Ferrer and Wawrinka are in form at the moment and how well they handle the bounce of this special court. In fact a lot of people underestimate what a handful player Ferrer is Indoors. He's made it to the YEC semis on multiple occasions and ran Novak incredibly close to defend his Bercy title. In contrast to Nadal he can easily stay in his comfort zone and does not have to adapt. Flat shots, taking the ball on the rise and changing directions is Ferrer's nature and he can make use of it on this court better than on others. The sad thing is that if Berdych were in better form this would be a hell of a group but the way he's looking at the moment he might turn into everybody's patsy here.

Berdych doesn't look like Wawrinka's patsy at all. They are one set all. Unless they are both patsies, which they certainly are when compared to Nadal, no matter where they play. And don't forget, Nadal has done something indoors neither of them could even dream of doing - reach the final of the World Tour Finals (and took a set from in-form Federer in the final). Even last week, Nadal made the semis of Paris (also indoors). Obviously Nadal is one of the better indoor players in the world. Certainly better than Wawrinka/Berdych.