Bercy ATP 1000 - 2nd Nov. to 8th Nov.

[nehmeth]

Novak is like 3 for 16 on first serves. And is broken. :cover

 

[Kieran]

I think Novak is soon to put the rubberstamp on this one...

 

[Kirijax]

Morning everybody. I see Sock is doing his best Isner impression by doing great in the 250s while crashing in the tournaments that really count. Really, Jack? Has Troicki even won a match since Wimbedon?

And we get another Nadal-Rosol match? :cover

 

[Kirijax]

Novak is like 3 for 16 on first serves. And is broken. :cover

Who's going to start the "Is this the beginning of the Decline" thread for Djokovic?

 

[nehmeth]

Novak is like 3 for 16 on first serves. And is broken. :cover

Who's going to start the "Is this the beginning of the Decline" thread for Djokovic?

I will. In about three years. He's just rusty from taking time off with the fam.

 

[Kirijax]

Tuesday's Results:

Round 1
E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) bt I Karlovic (CRO)--4-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(5)
V Troicki (SRB) bt J Sock (USA)--6-2, 6-3
J Chardy (FRA) bt L Pouille (FRA)--3-6, 6-3, 6-2
R Bautista-Agut (SPA) bt P Herbert (FRA)--4-6, 6-3, 6-2
B Coric (CRO) bt F Verdasco (ESP)--6-4, 6-4
L Rosol (CZE) bt G Garcia-Lopez (ESP)--6-2, 2-6, 6-3

Round 2
(1) N Djokovic (SRB) bt T Bellucci (BRA)--7-5, 6-3
(4) S Wawrinka (SUI) bt B Tomic (AUS)--6-3, 7-6(6)
(8) D Ferrer (ESP) bt A Dolgopolov (UKR)--6-2, 6-2
G Simon (FRA) bt B Paire (FRA)--6-4, 4-6, 6-1

Karlovic is 0-10 in 3rd set tie breaks? Aye carumba! Heard he smashed his racket on the court and left it there. I would too. Sock needs to be winning these kind of matches. Big chance lost. Good win for Coric but maybe not. It's hard to say with Verdasco anymore. Good win by Ferrer over a tough opponent. Can't help but root for the little guys.

 

[nehmeth]

You sell Troicki short, Jax. He's top 20 calibre (reaching #12), and may be making a run at getting back there.

 

[Kirijax]

You sell Troicki short, Jax. He's top 20 calibre (reaching #12), and may be making a run at getting back there.

Well, I have expected more from him and he had a great first half of 2015 but has pretty much flamed out since losing that Possipisilipili match at Wimbledon. And I didn't want him suddenly waking up against Sock! lol

 

[Riotbeard]

Well done Coric on beating Verdasco. Not an easy first round match.

 

[nehmeth]

Dimitrov v. Cilic.... should I get up to watch it?

:cover :nono

 

[Kirijax]

Dimitrov v. Cilic.... should I get up to watch it?

:cover :nono

Could have some entertainment value. :snicker

 

[Mile]

Novak is like 3 for 16 on first serves. And is broken. :cover

Who's going to start the "Is this the beginning of the Decline" thread for Djokovic?

Wait for 2018.

 

[Kieran]

^^ It can happen faster than you think.

Rafa is showing signs of old form coming back, although he played nowhere near his best in Basle. this is what's impressive, because winning and battling while you're far from your best is one of the signposts on the way to recovery. It's better than the way he was losing earlier in the season.

But I think another old habit is showing its hand right now, and that's scheduling issues. Fourth tourney in five weeks. And he adds doubles too... :cover

 

[nehmeth]

Rafa is showing signs of old form coming back, although he played nowhere near his best in Basle. this is what's impressive, because winning and battling while you're far from your best is one of the signposts on the way to recovery. It's better than the way he was losing earlier in the season.

But I think another old habit is showing its hand right now, and that's scheduling issues. Fourth tourney in five weeks. And he adds doubles too... :cover

We'll see how he does with Rosol, always a bit of a Bellweather for old Ralf. :snicker

I got to finish watching Djoker's match with Bellucci yesterday evening. Other than a deplorable first service percentage in set one, that was a very entertaining match.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/tournaments/bnp-paribas-masters/352/2015/match-stats/D643/BD20/live/MS016/match-stats

For now we are still on course for their semifinal meeting.

 

[Kieran]

That looks like a good match for Novak: no real danger of losing but a good workout to shake off the rust. I dunno if Rafa will make the semis, and I wouldn't mind if he didn't. Let's have him back to his best for their next hoedown, eh?

 

[nehmeth]

Dimitrov takes the first set from Cilic in a tiebreak. I expect with Franco Davin as his coach we will be seeing some real improvement. Hopefully soon.

After hanging tough against the diminutive Japanese, Chardy mentally went away in the deciding set. Disappointing.

 

[nehmeth]

Dimitrov through in two. 7-6, 7-6. Some entertaining tennis.

 

[Kirijax]

Cilic is out! That's 67 Masters tournaments and he has never made the semifinals. Not once. :cover

 

[El Dude]

A big win for Grigor. Maybe he can build on this and make 2016 a breakthrough year. Would love to see him put it all together.

 

[Kieran]

Cilic is out! That's 67 Masters tournaments and he has never made the semifinals. Not once. :cover

That's a fairly damning stat... :nono