Brisbane 2014 - ATP 250

[Moxie]

And Cilic takes the 2nd 7-5. Going to the decider. Bets?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

One semifinal is set. Nishikori beat Cilic in 3 sets. Hewit had easy win.

The SF will be between Nishikori and Hewitt. Independent of who wins this
SF, Roger can expect a tough fight in the finals.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Chardy has won another QF. Assuming Fed wins, Chardy will be his next opponent.

 

[Front242]

Good to see Chardy playing well again. I got up to find Fed's match was over in just 57 mins. Scoreline looks like one hell of a beatdown. Fed look good out there or Matosevic just outclassed/not play well? Kind of annoyed I missed it. Surely a good indicator of how his new racquet is faring.

 

[Goldenboy]

Roger looked good, Matosevic not so much. Way too many errors.

The real test of the new racquet will come at the AO, can't see anyone at this tournament troubling him. Although Nishikori could be interesting.

 

[Front242]

Roger looked good, Matosevic not so much. Way too many errors.

The real test of the new racquet will come at the AO, can't see anyone at this tournament troubling him. Although Nishikori could be interesting.

Cheers for the update. Yeah should be a good test against Nishikori, who Fed must be aching to redeem himself against, having lost to him last time they played.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Two points I saw at Roger's match tells me he is not thinking about the new racket anymore, it is just his racket and he owns it: One was a drive volley, and the other was his classic drop-shot fake, where he opens the racket head and makes sure the opponent sees it, as if he is going to go for the drop, the opponent commits to running forward, and Roger goes deep with the slice forehand winner. Also playing the doubles is helping a lot sharpening the net game.
He looked good.

 

[DarthFed]

I love that scoreline. It seems he has adjusted to the new racquet pretty well, which was a worry since he had no match practice with it coming in, unless you count the 2 tournaments 5 months ago on clay. Hopefully it will be Chardy and then Nishikori, decent tests with the new stick.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I'd love to see Nadal win Doha and Federer win this one. That way, they, along with Djokovic, would enter the AO with momentum and confidence. Djokovic of course, hasn't played a warm up tourney, but that exhibition in Abu Dhabi counts for something and he's riding a big winning streak. Too bad Murray isn't likely to be in good form just yet. But the other three coming into the AO playing well is exciting news. Though I do think Roger is the one who needs confidence and momentum the most now, whereas the other two can probably do well regardless. Interesting how things change with time and age.

 

[bobvance]

Here are some highlights from Fed's match for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGdKycfokWI

I agree that he looks very comfortable with the new racquet. Also his movement seems to have improved from his first match. I'm excited to see him playing this well before the AO even if it's not against top-10 guys. It would be great if he gets a favorable draw and isn't in Nadal's quarter at the AO.

 

[DarthFed]

Here are some highlights from Fed's match for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGdKycfokWI

I agree that he looks very comfortable with the new racquet. Also his movement seems to have improved from his first match. I'm excited to see him playing this well before the AO even if it's not against top-10 guys. It would be great if he gets a favorable draw and isn't in Nadal's quarter at the AO.

Yes same here, and if Murray doesn't play or is in such awful form, then he suddenly has a 50% chance of avoiding Nole and Rafa before the semis.

 

[herios]

Here are some highlights from Fed's match for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGdKycfokWI

I agree that he looks very comfortable with the new racquet. Also his movement seems to have improved from his first match. I'm excited to see him playing this well before the AO even if it's not against top-10 guys. It would be great if he gets a favorable draw and isn't in Nadal's quarter at the AO.

Yes same here, and if Murray doesn't play or is in such awful form, then he suddenly has a 50% chance of avoiding Nole and Rafa before the semis.

You lost me here, what has Murray's form to do with Roger avoiding Rafa or Nole before SF?

 

[DarthFed]

Here are some highlights from Fed's match for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGdKycfokWI

I agree that he looks very comfortable with the new racquet. Also his movement seems to have improved from his first match. I'm excited to see him playing this well before the AO even if it's not against top-10 guys. It would be great if he gets a favorable draw and isn't in Nadal's quarter at the AO.

Yes same here, and if Murray doesn't play or is in such awful form, then he suddenly has a 50% chance of avoiding Nole and Rafa before the semis.

You lost me here, what has Murray's form to do with Roger avoiding Rafa or Nole before SF?

Well it is meant to say that he would have a 50% chance to avoid an elite player before the semis. I can see how what I said was confusing since he has a 50% chance of avoiding Nole and Rafa regardless. But basically all I'm saying is he could have a much easier path to the semi than normal if Murray doesn't play or loses early due to bad form/condition.

 

[herios]

Here are some highlights from Fed's match for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGdKycfokWI

I agree that he looks very comfortable with the new racquet. Also his movement seems to have improved from his first match. I'm excited to see him playing this well before the AO even if it's not against top-10 guys. It would be great if he gets a favorable draw and isn't in Nadal's quarter at the AO.

Yes same here, and if Murray doesn't play or is in such awful form, then he suddenly has a 50% chance of avoiding Nole and Rafa before the semis.

You lost me here, what has Murray's form to do with Roger avoiding Rafa or Nole before SF?

Well it is meant to say that he would have a 50% chance to avoid an elite player before the semis. I can see how what I said was confusing since he has a 50% chance of avoiding Nole and Rafa regardless. But basically all I'm saying is he could have a much easier path to the semi than normal if Murray doesn't play or loses early due to bad form/condition.

I knew of course what was on your mind, but the way you said it did not come across too meaningful.
I do agree that he has a better chance to get into the SF based on Murray's uncertain form.
And you now me, if Roger is to meet Andy in a QF there, I am all for Roger to get through

 

[brokenshoelace]

I'm interested in seeing DP at the AO. Historically, it has been his weakest slam as the medium pace courts don't seem to suit his game at all (slow enough to where better movers can defend and move him around, but not too slow to where he can take huge cuts. Meanwhile, it's not fast enough for his shots to completely penetrate). But if the courts are as fast as everyone is saying they are, it could change things. The heat still bothers him though.

 

[DarthFed]

I'm interested in seeing DP at the AO. Historically, it has been his weakest slam as the medium pace courts don't seem to suit his game at all (slow enough to where better movers can defend and move him around, but not too slow to where he can take huge cuts. Meanwhile, it's not fast enough for his shots to completely penetrate). But if the courts are as fast as everyone is saying they are, it could change things. The heat still bothers him though.

True, if the courts are much faster than DP and Roger become bigger threats for sure. I know most think I'm too harsh in regards to DP but the fact of the matter is he only has 1 slam semi in the past 4 years. I will believe it when I see it, I do think best of 5 is a negative factor for him.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I'm interested in seeing DP at the AO. Historically, it has been his weakest slam as the medium pace courts don't seem to suit his game at all (slow enough to where better movers can defend and move him around, but not too slow to where he can take huge cuts. Meanwhile, it's not fast enough for his shots to completely penetrate). But if the courts are as fast as everyone is saying they are, it could change things. The heat still bothers him though.

In the last couple of years, whenever DP played a top guy, he was the one running out of legs at the end of a long match. He might have pulled a couple of those off, but him winning marathons do not seem likely to me. He has to close deals early, in my opinion.

 

[Front242]

Here are some highlights from Fed's match for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGdKycfokWI

I agree that he looks very comfortable with the new racquet. Also his movement seems to have improved from his first match. I'm excited to see him playing this well before the AO even if it's not against top-10 guys. It would be great if he gets a favorable draw and isn't in Nadal's quarter at the AO.

Nice. Cheers for posting 'cos I got up at the wrong time and it was already over lol. Fed's movement is what looks especially good here compared to much of last year. Seems very comfortable with the new racquet at this stage. The AO and the rest of the year is gonna be interesting.

 

[Front242]

Already 38C (100F) in Brisbane now since 11am apparently. Gonna be brutal heat out there for Roger and Serena in a few hours.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Already 38C (100F) in Brisbane now since 11am apparently. Gonna be brutal heat out there for Roger and Serena in a few hours.

That's where all that Dubai training pays off....in theory.