Istanbul Open -ATP 250 - Apr. 27 to May 4

[GameSetAndMath]

The draw for the inaugural Istanbul Open is out. Federer probably gets more money by playing here than by winning Rolland Garros.

Poor Turkish folks, their local hero Marsel Ilhan and the only Turkish player in top 400 draws Fed in the second round, assuming he wins the first round.

Other top seeds are Grigor, Pablo Cuevas and Sanitago Giraldo.

p.s. Murat are you visiting family? If so, post some family pictures.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

The draw for the inaugural Istanbul Open is out. Federer probably gets more money by playing here than by winning Rolland Garros.

Poor Turkish folks, their local hero Marsel Ilhan and the only Turkish player in top 400 draws Fed in the second round, assuming he wins the first round.

Other top seeds are Grigor, Pablo Cuevas and Sanitago Giraldo.

p.s. Murat are you visiting family? If so, post some family pictures.

Funny because I was going to start this thread and bitch about Marsel's luck but you beat me to it.

I had every intention of being there but things came up beyond my control and I am not able to go. It feels surreal that Roger is in Istanbul but I am not.
This draw is stronger than I expected it to be for its first year. Most usual suspects like Istomin, Youzhny, Darcis, Bellucci , Dodig etc are here.
If the draw plays out, the Turks might be treated to a nice final.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Murat, your priorities are mixed up. Didn't they teach you that family comes first?

What happened to Marcos Baghdatis? Being from Cyprus, I thought he surely will be
playing in Istanbul. It does not look like he is there.

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn51RF8Y2mQ[/video]

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Murat, your priorities are mixed up. Didn't they teach you that family comes first?

What happened to Marcos Baghdatis? Being from Cyprus, I thought he surely will be
playing in Istanbul. It does not look like he is there.

They did brother and I apologize :snicker

As far as Baggy, well, as sad as it is, it might be a political thing that he is not there. Cyprus is a divided island, with the Greek and Turkish parts and the relationship has...history so to speak, even though Greeks and Turks have to be the two most similar people on the face of the earth , religion aside. They eat the same things, drink the same things, dance to the same things...I am not sure exactly about Baggy's situation but that's what I think.

Youzhny is out early again, and the Big K won his qualifier.

 

[herios]

Murat, your priorities are mixed up. Didn't they teach you that family comes first?

What happened to Marcos Baghdatis? Being from Cyprus, I thought he surely will be
playing in Istanbul. It does not look like he is there.

They did brother and I apologize :snicker

As far as Baggy, well, as sad as it is, it might be a political thing that he is not there. Cyprus is a divided island, with the Greek and Turkish parts and the relationship has...history so to speak, even though Greeks and Turks have to be the two most similar people on the face of the earth , religion aside. They eat the same things, drink the same things, dance to the same things...I am not sure exactly about Baggy's situation but that's what I think.

Youzhny is out early again, and the Big K won his qualifier.

Baggy was playing last week in Bucharest, which is not too far either from Cyprus, he may have gone this week to visit his family and rest. He is not young either, you cannot expect him playing every week.

 

[Puppet Master]

Finally, a clay tourney that Fed has a decent shot at. I still fail to comprehend why does he suck so much on clay currently... Anyone can just pound on his backhand for a few games and beat him.

 

[DarthFed]

Murat, your priorities are mixed up. Didn't they teach you that family comes first?

What happened to Marcos Baghdatis? Being from Cyprus, I thought he surely will be
playing in Istanbul. It does not look like he is there.

They did brother and I apologize :snicker

As far as Baggy, well, as sad as it is, it might be a political thing that he is not there. Cyprus is a divided island, with the Greek and Turkish parts and the relationship has...history so to speak, even though Greeks and Turks have to be the two most similar people on the face of the earth , religion aside. They eat the same things, drink the same things, dance to the same things...I am not sure exactly about Baggy's situation but that's what I think.

Youzhny is out early again, and the Big K won his qualifier.

Yes, I'd say Baghs would be about the last person on tour you'd expect to play in Istanbul.

 

[mrzz]

Finally, a clay tourney that Fed has a decent shot at. I still fail to comprehend why does he suck so much on clay currently... Anyone can just pound on his backhand for a few games and beat him.

I don't think is that simple. The BH ismuch better this year than early 2014 and 2013. Let's see, I guess he'll do ok on clay this year.

His last clay loss, against Monfils, had nothing to do with the BH specifically. He just hit 23873273247 UFE from both wings and played poorly and passive in every important point.

 

[tented]

Finally, a clay tourney that Fed has a decent shot at. I still fail to comprehend why does he suck so much on clay currently... Anyone can just pound on his backhand for a few games and beat him.

I don't think is that simple. The BH ismuch better this year than early 2014 and 2013. Let's see, I guess he'll do ok on clay this year.

His last clay loss, against Monfils, had nothing to do with the BH specifically. He just hit 23873273247 UFE from both wings and played poorly and passive in every important point.

Get your facts straight, or don't post them. It was 23873273248 UFEs.

 

[Puppet Master]

Finally, a clay tourney that Fed has a decent shot at. I still fail to comprehend why does he suck so much on clay currently... Anyone can just pound on his backhand for a few games and beat him.

I don't think is that simple. The BH ismuch better this year than early 2014 and 2013. Let's see, I guess he'll do ok on clay this year.

His last clay loss, against Monfils, had nothing to do with the BH specifically. He just hit 23873273247 UFE from both wings and played poorly and passive in every important point.

Yeah, I only watched highlights but even there he didn't play so clean against Le Monf. Just wasn't feeling it that day I guess. Can't wait to see him in Madrid.

 

[Puppet Master]

Finally, a clay tourney that Fed has a decent shot at. I still fail to comprehend why does he suck so much on clay currently... Anyone can just pound on his backhand for a few games and beat him.

I don't think is that simple. The BH ismuch better this year than early 2014 and 2013. Let's see, I guess he'll do ok on clay this year.

His last clay loss, against Monfils, had nothing to do with the BH specifically. He just hit 23873273247 UFE from both wings and played poorly and passive in every important point.

Get your facts straight, or don't post them. It was 23873273248 UFEs.

Imagine Fed equaling his UFEs with his winners... Jesus
No strategy would work against him

 

[mrzz]

Finally, a clay tourney that Fed has a decent shot at. I still fail to comprehend why does he suck so much on clay currently... Anyone can just pound on his backhand for a few games and beat him.

I don't think is that simple. The BH ismuch better this year than early 2014 and 2013. Let's see, I guess he'll do ok on clay this year.

His last clay loss, against Monfils, had nothing to do with the BH specifically. He just hit 23873273247 UFE from both wings and played poorly and passive in every important point.

Get your facts straight, or don't post them. It was 23873273248 UFEs.

I saw the match and I counted them myself. I told you a million times UFE is a subjective concept.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I used to take those boats from the Asian side of Istanbul where I lived, to the European side of the city where I went to university.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Boy, you were commuting from Asia to Europe everyday uzzled

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Boy, you were commuting from Asia to Europe everyday uzzled

Yep...Istanbul is a pretty unique place, being built on two continents. In reality, nothing changes when you cross the Bosphorus but geographically , it is another continent all together.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Schwartzman beats Kavcic 6-1, 6-2. I am starting to like the little guy for some reason.
Istomin beats Paire in straights as well. And looks like Darcis quit in the firs set.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Marsel in trouble , a set and a break down against Nieminen.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Marsel out in straights; at least can't complain about drawing Fed any more. :snicker

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78f9uLAH9HA[/video]