CLAY SEASON - General Discussion

[GameSetAndMath]

If it bores you that Nadal is a great champion on clay, that's part of the story, but there is a lot going on in the field. And I would ask you, as a Federer fan, when he has swept the field or scooped up records, if that also bored you?

No, it is not just that Rafa is scooping all the trophies (that has happened before as well). It looks to me nothing eventful is happening this clay season.

 

[MartyB]

No, it is not just that Rafa is scooping all the trophies (that has happened before as well). It looks to me nothing eventful is happening this clay season.

I agree nothing meaningful has happened this clay court season that takes nothing away from what Nadal has achieved. It's exactly as everyone thought it would be not a ripple or a little challenge by anyone.

 

[herios]

A new champion will be crowned in Madrid. First noticeable change.

 

[Denis]

So realistically will anyone stop Nadal from winning RG this year? Who are the contenders? I see literally no one.

Hard to see Thiem repeat Madrid for best out of five at sea level.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rome Draw is out . We might see a repeat of Nadal vs. Thiem QF. Finally, Novak gets a nod from draw gods. He has landed in a soft area of the draw and should win his quarter, if he is really improving (he faces dog and then a qualifier, then isner and then grigor to win QF, doable task). Also, Stan makes debut appearance in the clay season here.

Here are the projected quarterfinals.

Rafa vs. Thiem
Grigor vs. Isner
Anderson vs. Cilic
Del Potro vs. Sasha.

 

[El Dude]

The biggest threat to Rafa at RG is his own body. Assuming health, it will take either a resurgent Novak, a surprise Roger wildcard, or SomeYoungGuy having the tournament of his life.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

The biggest threat to Rafa at RG is his own body. Assuming health, it will take either a resurgent Novak, a surprise Roger wildcard, or SomeYoungGuy having the tournament of his life.

No Roger does not make surprise appearances like that, it's not his style. But I would replace him with Stan who's returning.to Rome, and I agree with your picture. On clay Stan, when in form, is a biger threat to Nadal than Fed.

 

[Mastoor]

Aren't you aware the Rome draw is out for some time now? There's no thread for it.

Nole has a normal draw finally, after 6 very hard ones in a raw, so I can't complain. His 3rd round match against Izner will tell a lot about his form.

 

[monfed]

gymnast will lose to Isner

 

[isabelle]

A new champion will be crowned in Madrid. First noticeable change.

yes, it's great for Madrid and tennis world

 

[Mastoor]

Lajovic v Cicipas in qualification final in Rome. Wawrinka, Ferrer and bunch of American players are starting round 1. Nole has already had a practice on Foro Italico in front of thousands of fans.

 

[isabelle]

Tsonga out of RG as expected, sad for him and for French people

 

[racketbuzz]

Updated results - 2018 season :

April 9: Houston 250 - Steve JOHNSON
April 9: Marrakech 250 - Pablo ANDUJAR
April 16: MONTE CARLO MASTERS - Rafael NADAL
April 23: Barcelona 500 - Rafael NADAL
April 23: Budapest 250 - Marco CECCHINATO
April 30: Estoril 250 - Jaoa SOUSA
April 30: Munich 250 - Alexander ZVEREV
April 30: Istanbul 250 - Taro DANIEL
May 7: MADRID MASTERS - Alexander ZVEREV
May 14: ROME MASTERS - Quarter Finals today, 18th May :

• Fabio Fognini vs Rafael Nadal (1)
• Pablo Carreno Busta (10) vs Marin Cilic (4)
• Novak Djokovic (11) vs Kei Nishikori
• David Goffin (9) vs Alexander Zverev (2)

 

[mrzz]

Welcome to the boards, racketbuzz. Just not to lose the habit:

April 30: Estoril 250 - Jaoa SOUSA

It is "João". You are forgiven if you just miss the diacritical "~" (it signalizes a nasal sound)...

 

[Horsa]

Welcome to the boards, racketbuzz. Just not to lose the habit:



It is "João". You are forgiven if you just miss the diacritical "~" (it signalizes a nasal sound)...

I'm very sorry to interrupt your conversation but felt the need to let you know that sometimes miss out accents, cedillas, umlauts & tildes because they can be hard to type without the insert function & I've got my word-processing level II & I don't know how to type them without the insert function so I think other people may be in the same position. I know you're only trying to help because you're a very informative & helpful guy. :0)

 

[Horsa]

I've just noticed the insert option on the top of the text box @britbox. Is there any chance of adding letters with accents, cedillas, tildes & umlauts to make these easier to type when typing foreign words, please? I'm asking because when I'm typing in my word processing applications I just click on insert & tell it what I insert picking the correct letter with punctuation, I can't do that here & don't know how to type them. What about upside down question & exclamation marks for when typing in Spanish because they have upside down question & exclamation marks preceding the question or exclamation letting you know it's coming as well as after.

 

[britbox]

I've just noticed the insert option on the top of the text box @britbox. Is there any chance of adding letters with accents, cedillas, tildes & umlauts to make these easier to type when typing foreign words, please? I'm asking because when I'm typing in my word processing applications I just click on insert & tell it what I insert picking the correct letter with punctuation, I can't do that here & don't know how to type them. What about upside down question & exclamation marks for when typing in Spanish because they have upside down question & exclamation marks preceding the question or exclamation letting you know it's coming as well as after.

Unless somebody kidnaps my wife and kids and puts that request on the ransom note, then the chances of it happening are close to zero.... and even then it would be touch and go.

 

[Horsa]

Unless somebody kidnaps my wife and kids and puts that request on the ransom note, then the chances of it happening are close to zero.... and even then it would be touch and go.

Haha! I just thought I'd ask. Lol.

 

[Fiero425]

Welcome to the boards, racketbuzz. Just not to lose the habit:



It is "João". You are forgiven if you just miss the diacritical "~" (it signalizes a nasal sound)...

A new deckhand on "Below Deck: Mediterranean" has a guy by that name; a real convo starter usually precipitated with a spelling! :whistle:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

OK. Major part of clay season is over. One final whose outcome we know and a couple of itsy-bitsy tourneys about which nobody cares unless the players involved are your friends or relatives.

It appears that the following four have kind of distinguished themselves.

1. Rafa (Needless to explain).
2. Sasha ( a win in Munich, followed by a win in Madrid, followed by a final in Rome).
3. Thiem (who cares about titles, only man to tame the dirt devil)
4. Novak (ok, it is a stretch to say he distinguished himself, but definitely a better way to end clay season with 4 wins and a loss to devil)

Even Monfed would agree that Rafa is the favorite at RG. I am (and several others in this forum) are of the view that Sasha cannot possibly trouble Rafa in a five setter at RG. Sasha has not yet proved himself at GSs despite winning 3 MS titles. He has not reached QF yet. You cannot seriously expect him to make a huge leap from that status to conquering dirt devil in a five set match at RG.

Even though Novak lost today, it was not a blow out. Rafa won, but failed to make a statement exposing Novak. In other words, Novak's progression is quite good. It may be coming back to him.

I would give the best chance of beating Rafa at RG to Thiem and second best chance to Novak. I would give less than 0.001
percentage chance to all other players put together for beating Rafa.

Unfortunately, folks like Shortman and Andujar failed to deliver in the European clay season part. Other Old Spaniards like Verdasco and Almagro are weaker than ever. PCB might reach R16.

If someone else beats Rafa, there is a good chance that Sasha might win RG even though he has not reached QF before at GSs.