Brasil Open 250 Clay

[herios]

Draw:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2015/533/mds.pdf

 

[isabelle]

Hope Tommy'll win that

 

[herios]

Top ranked Brazilian Bellucci lost in the first round to Klizan.
Last year champion Delbonis aldo lost to his compatriot Bagnis.

 

[herios]

De Bakker def. Monaco.
Juan's best days are clearly behind him.

 

[Denis]

De Bakker def. Monaco.
Juan's best days are clearly behind him.

Yup, strange career in a way. Has always been more of a top 50-100 player, but peaked at number 10 for a while, which really was overachieving I guess.

 

[herios]

De Bakker def. Monaco.
Juan's best days are clearly behind him.

Yup, strange career in a way. Has always been more of a top 50-100 player, but peaked at number 10 for a while, which really was overachieving I guess.

I do not agree with you about where you have ranked him:

2007 - 23 ranked
2008 - 46
2009 - 30
2010 - 26
2011 - 26
2012 - 12
2013 - 42
2014 - 62

Just looking at these numbers it is obvious to me that Monaco was a lot better than a 50-100 player, in fact he was a very solid top 50.
He peaked at 28y getting into the top 10 after 3 solid years as a top 30, for me he did just fine, a very solid clay courter.

 

[Denis]

Agreed but he did have an odd peak for one year where I think he punched a bit above his weight. Credit to him for that though.

 

[Carol]

Monaco still plays well the doubles with Nadal

 

[mrzz]

The tournament is 300 yards from my place and I still cannot make it... absurdly busy week, both professional and personally wise. Maybe tomorrow I can see one match... let's see.

About Monaco: in fact, on clay I think he underachieved it. He is a very talented point constructor. This works in any surface, but on clay it is particularlly proeminent. I won't be surprised if he still finds some months of good form, even if I haven't seen him play in years. I was hoping to see him now, but... too late!

 

[mrzz]

Hey! There is still a match to be played today!!!!! Going there!!!!!

 

[mrzz]

Just came from the J Souza x M Klizan match, local boy Souza (nickname "Feijão") won 36 63 62.

Klizan is a fine player, but he is a headcase. He let the crowd got the better of him. Souza has a lot of raw power, if he were more consistent on the serve he could be a top 50, maybe more. He has a very powerfull forehand. A good first serve, but too many DF's.

And if players complained about the surface, they're right. It stinks. I stoped counting the bad bounces.

 

[herios]

Many surprises here. SF:

Vanni - Souza (both ranked outside of the top 100)
Cuevas - Giraldo

 

[nehmeth]

:eyepop :wow: :cover

There are two (2) Joaos in the ATP? One Sousa from Portugal and the other Souza (of whom I had never heard), from Brazil. There were a few moments of consternation as I tried to figure out how a player was able to lose in the first round to Simon, fly half way around the world and get a WC bid in another tournament.

:nono

Two different guys.

 

[herios]

:eyepop :wow: :cover

There are two (2) Joaos in the ATP? One Sousa from Portugal and the other Souza (of whom I had never heard), from Brazil. There were a few moments of consternation as I tried to figure out how a player was able to lose in the first round to Simon, fly half way around the world and get a WC bid in another tournament.

:nono

Two different guys.

Yup there are. I went through this a year ago, when I compared their names, both Joao, but one "Sousa", the other "Souza"
The way I differentiate them, is that the Portuguese is higher ranked.
But now, when you put the pictures out, they seem to even resemble to each other, except skin colour.

 

[Billie]

There is only 1 Joao Sousa, the handsome player from Portugal, which I saw play numerous times. I didn't know about mrzz' compatriot Souza until now.:huh: Thanks for pointing this out nehmeth and herios so I won't be confused in future when I see these similar names.

 

[nehmeth]

There is only 1 Joao Sousa, the handsome player from Portugal, which I saw play numerous times. I didn't know about mrzz' compatriot Souza until now.:huh: Thanks for pointing this out nehmeth and herios so I won't be confused in future when I see these similar names.

Sousa and Souza have yet to meet on tour.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=SG64&oId=SH90

 

[Billie]

The dream week continues for Luca Vanni, unheralded Italian who is in the final by beating J. Souza, the local guy, in the semi final. He will try to win his first ATP title against Pablo Cuevas, tough task but who knows.

 

[Billie]

Cuevas beats Vanni in 3 tough sets: 6:4 3:6 and 7:6. Congratulations to him, but Luca Vanni must be thrilled with his week as well.:clap