Citi Open (DC) 500

[Riotbeard]

Well somebody has to get these American hardcourt threads going, so I suppose it will be me again! Mardy is still back! He may have lost last week but it's good to see 2 tournaments in a row. It's a pretty strong field outside the top 10 (with only delpo).

The seeds are:
1. Juan Martin Del Potro
2. Kei Nishikori
3. Tommy Haas
4. Milos Raonic
5. Gilles Simon
6. Sam Querrey
7. Kevin Anderson
8. John Isner
I guess I will do the other 8 bye receiving seeds... Come on 16 for a 500?!
9. Alexandr Dolgopolov
10. Grigor Dimitrov
11. Julian Benneteau
12. Ivan Dodig
13. Bernard Tomic
14. Nikolay Davydenko
15. Marcos Baghdatis
16. Michael Llodra

Here is the draw.

 

[SF Nadalite]

Good crowd...this might be worth watching - thanks!

 

[ClayDeath]

tommy haas or del potro for the title.

 

[Front242]

Niceone. Decent players there alright and off work till August 12th so will watch some of this.

 

[Riotbeard]

Mardy wins today. Took down Ebden, not great, but not a nobody.

 

[Riotbeard]

Harrison takes out Hewitt. Could be back in the top 100...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

SomDev took out the Dog, who is the defending champion. He next
plays Isner (assuming Isner gets thjere which should be routine).
These two have interesting history. SomDev actually defeated
Isner in NCAA Singles Championship when both were in college.
However, Isner obviously has tremendous career success in
Pro circuit and Somdev is almost a nobody in procircuit and is
ranked outside 100.

 

[Riotbeard]

I am excited to watch Mardy play Benneteau tomorrow. Two of my favorite players two watch. They have pretty similar game so it should be interesting. Anybody able to recommend a good stream for us in the states?

 

[Front242]

Somdev was out for quite some time with injury and hence the low ranking. He wasn't competing most of last year. Highest ranking was 62 according to Wikipedia

---

I am excited to watch Mardy play Benneteau tomorrow. Two of my favorite players two watch. They have pretty similar game so it should be interesting. Anybody able to recommend a good stream for us in the states?

That should be a great match actually. I always use http://www.livescorehunter.com/Livescores/Livescore-Tennis.html and works well for most people wherever you live.
http://www.streamhunter.eu/tennis-live-streaming-video.html is a mirror site also.

 

[ClayDeath]

so the #9 seed was removed from the facilities by devvarman.

well done.

 

[herios]

so the #9 seed was removed from the facilities by devvarman.

well done.

Dolgopolov was considered among the most talented young players with a very good shot at a top 10 player, maybe even a slam winner candidate by some.
With this loss, he will drop out of the top 32 and this will just reflect how poor his results were this year.
His ceiling for now will remain that 13 ranked player. (lucky or unlucky?)

 

[djmm]

Delpo plays Ryan today and I don't think the young American can hang with Delpo. It's gonna be ugly, lol

 

[Luxilon Borg]

so the #9 seed was removed from the facilities by devvarman.

well done.

Dolgopolov was considered among the most talented young players with a very good shot at a top 10 player, maybe even a slam winner candidate by some.
With this loss, he will drop out of the top 32 and this will just reflect how poor his results were this year.
His ceiling for now will remain that 13 ranked player. (lucky or unlucky?)

The Dog is ultra talented, but clueless as to how to play without relying on his talent. Very little thought process out there. He also needs to double up on off court fitness. He is no where near in optimal condition. Jut my take.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Delpo plays Ryan today and I don't think the young American can hang with Delpo. It's gonna be ugly, lol

Under normal conditions Harrison cannot hang..but DelPo has not played a match since Wimby if I am not mistaken.

Harrison has a lot of flaws in his game. His movement laterally is a disaster, no efficiency, he never cuts balls off, his forehand has little extension and is very "army". He is super motivated and hungry, and very physical on the plus side.

No way he can be top ten unless there are big changes.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I am excited to watch Mardy play Benneteau tomorrow. Two of my favorite players two watch. They have pretty similar game so it should be interesting. Anybody able to recommend a good stream for us in the states?

Benneteau is a fox. Mardy? Ughh..ugly forehand..and I can't stand the baggy
basketball shorts...

Gotta give Fish credit, he is super smart on the court, HUGE serve, and mentally tough. Not pretty to watch IMO.

 

[Riotbeard]

I am excited to watch Mardy play Benneteau tomorrow. Two of my favorite players two watch. They have pretty similar game so it should be interesting. Anybody able to recommend a good stream for us in the states?

Benneteau is a fox. Mardy? Ughh..ugly forehand..and I can't stand the baggy
basketball shorts...

Gotta give Fish credit, he is super smart on the court, HUGE serve, and mentally tough. Not pretty to watch IMO.

Really? Mardy has great hands. Good serve and volley. One of the best backhands on the tour. The forehand... yeah. But if you like aggressive all court tennis, they're aren't many better on tour. Every part of his game but his forehand is good to watch.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I am excited to watch Mardy play Benneteau tomorrow. Two of my favorite players two watch. They have pretty similar game so it should be interesting. Anybody able to recommend a good stream for us in the states?

Benneteau is a fox. Mardy? Ughh..ugly forehand..and I can't stand the baggy
basketball shorts...

Gotta give Fish credit, he is super smart on the court, HUGE serve, and mentally tough. Not pretty to watch IMO.

Really? Mardy has great hands. Good serve and volley. One of the best backhands on the tour. The forehand... yeah. But if you like aggressive all court tennis, they're aren't many better on tour. Every part of his game but his forehand is good to watch.

Definitely can serve and volley. Good mover...but that forehand just kills me. There is a reason
he has never semi'd in a slam, and barely qaurtered.

He is a classic California hard courter......big first serve, then attack the next ball.

 

[Riotbeard]

Also Brian Baker update: He thought he was going to be back for DC, but I guess that didn't happen.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/tennis/2013/07/18/brian-baker-recovery-diary/2559973/

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Also Brian Baker update: He thought he was going to be back for DC, but I guess that didn't happen.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/tennis/2013/07/18/brian-baker-recovery-diary/2559973/

We have to get real with Baker. I stood next to him at the US Open. I have never seen a professional tennis player that had that little muscle mass. His arms and legs were smaller than juniors I play with.

All those injuries..shoulder, elbow, knees etc...the guy is not built for tennis and truthfully I don't know if it is because he does not train properly or just bad luck.
But he ain't built for this game... I was shocked when I looked at his calves and forearm.

 

[Emma]

While Dolgo is talented, he is also one of the most inconsistent players out there so the result is not utterly surprising.

Harrison got it really tough. First Hewitt and now Delpo. And then Tomic next. Geez. Still, he can definitely give Delpo a challenge if he keeps his head together and his goal should be just that.