Madrid 2015 Masters

[Great Hands]

Horrendous draw for Murray. First match likely to be Kohl, who took him to 5 sets at RG last year. Then could be Monfils, who also took him to 5 sets at RG last year. Then could be Raonic, who has a winning record against him and has won their only meeting on clay, then likely Kei, who is great on clay, or David - Murray has played David 4 times on clay and David has won all of them, and then would be any one of Roger/Rafa/Tomas or Stan, all of whom are also better clay court players than him (Murray has played these four guys 12 times on clay and lost all of them). Murray will do well to win a match or two here.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It has been more than a year since a Fedal match was played (last one was AO'14)
and it has been more than three years since Roger won one of them (last one was IW'12).
Let us see if one or both of the above events materialize in Madrid.

Although Rafa is good on clay, I believe that Roger has a winning H2H on Madrid Clay over Rafa.
That fact combined with current form of Rafa, would make it a nice opportunity for Roger, assuming both of them reach there, which of course is not given (it is even possible that neither reaches there).

In Madrid they have me 3 times, with Rafa winning 2 of those meetings. However, with Rafa not being even close to his best, I can totally see Roger beating him here. Let's see how the rest of the tour behaves without Novak around.

Yes, you are right. Even on Madrid Clay, Rafa leads by 2-1.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Tignor has spoken. While we don't know who will win, it is safe to say that Kei will not.

 

[Denis]

Tignor has spoken. While we don't know who will win, it is safe to say that Kei will not.

He also basically rounded up what has been said on this forum the past two weeks.

I think we might actually see a Berdych nishi final if it's not going to be Nadal.

 

[crystalfire]

fed has been playing pretty badly on clay so far. dont really expect much from him especially with the tough draw

 

[GameSetAndMath]

fed has been playing pretty badly on clay so far. dont really expect much from him especially with the tough draw

On the bright side, if Fed loses early in Madrid (on or before QF), he will be playing in Rome, which actually is a real preparation for RG and also which is something he has never won.

As I posted in the "Fed Schedule" thread, Fed has indicated that he will most likely skip Rome, especially if he goes deep in Madrid.

 

[Moxie]

Just giving a good look at the draw. Federer does have a rough road. Kyrios is likely his first test, and the brash youngster could get him, given the form that Roger is displaying. Andújar is also looking good this season, and Berdy looms. (Not to mention Rafa.)

Rafa has an easier road. Dimitrov, Fognini and Wawrinka will have to play off to meet him, and he's really not seeing anyone interesting until the QFs.

Murray could meet Kohlscreiber right away, so it will be interesting how their final goes tomorrow. I think he should be good through QFs as well.

Nishikori doesn't have an easy draw, unless it opens up: potential meetings are Gulbis, Bautista-Agut and Ferrer.

 

[Front242]

Nishikori and indeed anyone half way decent should mop the floor with Bautista Agut, one of the ATP's biggest pushers. Hoping Ernie's form improves fast 'cos he can be a deadly opponent on clay when in form. Probably won't but will hold out some hope.

 

[Fiero425]

Nishikori and indeed anyone half way decent should mop the floor with Bautista Agut, one of the ATP's biggest pushers. Hoping Ernie's form improves fast 'cos he can be a deadly opponent on clay when in form. Probably won't but will hold out some hope.

In my later years, I took a lot of pace off my shots, so I may have been the "amateur" biggest pusher 10-15 years ago! While other people are taking full swings trying to take the cover off the ball, I was just getting it back, hitting it deep and waiting for a short ball to come into the net! Very aggravating play for today's players; or it was when I was out there! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Front242]

These days that kind of play is suicide though as Really Bloody Awful (RBA) demonstrates in his painful to view matches

 

[Fiero425]

These days that kind of play is suicide though as Really Bloody Awful (RBA) demonstrates in his painful to view matches

People said that about Martina against Serena; "a target on her head if she dares try that tactic!" lol! :angel: :dodgy: Graf was no slouch in pace of shot; esp. on the forehand! :eyepop

 

[Moxie]

Nishikori and indeed anyone half way decent should mop the floor with Bautista Agut, one of the ATP's biggest pushers. Hoping Ernie's form improves fast 'cos he can be a deadly opponent on clay when in form. Probably won't but will hold out some hope.

Could you explain what you mean by "pusher?" It's tossed around a lot, and I confess that I don't know what it actually means. Nor why it is so derogatory.

 

[Front242]

No real offensive weapons. Pushers just keep pushing the ball over the net with no real purpose and rarely ever win points themselves, instead trying to induce errors. Think Wozniacki on the WTA tour. Human backboards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pusher_%28tennis%29

 

[Moxie]

No real offensive weapons. Pushers just keep pushing the ball over the net with no real purpose and rarely ever win points themselves, instead trying to induce errors. Think Wozniacki on the WTA tour. Human backboards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pusher_%28tennis%29

That was instructive. Thanks!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Just giving a good look at the draw. Federer does have a rough road. Kyrios is likely his first test, and the brash youngster could get him, given the form that Roger is displaying. Andújar is also looking good this season, and Berdy looms. (Not to mention Rafa.)

Rafa has an easier road. Dimitrov, Fognini and Wawrinka will have to play off to meet him, and he's really not seeing anyone interesting until the QFs.

Murray could meet Kohlscreiber right away, so it will be interesting how their final goes tomorrow. I think he should be good through QFs as well.

Nishikori doesn't have an easy draw, unless it opens up: potential meetings are Gulbis, Bautista-Agut and Ferrer.

Not so fast. La Monf will have something to say about it. I agree with Tignor that La Monf
will be the winner of this quarter.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed vs. Krygios 2nd round --- two finalists of this week
Andy vs. Kohly 2nd round --- two finalists of this week

Of course Krygios and Kohly need to win their 1st round while Fed and Andy have a bye in 1R.

 

[Fiero425]

Fed vs. Krygios 2nd round --- two finalists of this week
Andy vs. Kohly 2nd round --- two finalists of this week

Of course Krygios and Kohly need to win their 1st round while Fed and Andy have a bye in 1R.

I keep saying a breakthrough has to happen sooner or later! The "Big 3" can't keep ruling the tour forever! It should help that Nole isn't there so I'm looking for some upsets! :ras: :angel:

 

[herios]

Fed vs. Krygios 2nd round --- two finalists of this week
Andy vs. Kohly 2nd round --- two finalists of this week

Of course Krygios and Kohly need to win their 1st round while Fed and Andy have a bye in 1R.

I keep saying a breakthrough has to happen sooner or later! The "Big 3" can't keep ruling the tour forever! It should help that Nole isn't there so I'm looking for some upsets! :ras: :angel:

This year the window is opened for a surprise winner at this event, considering how Roger and rafa have played this clay season.
If Kei would win, although he would set a new milestone for himself, that would not be sucj a big surprise.

 

[Kieran]

Rafa's been spotted practicing in Madrid with the old racket...

 

[Puppet Master]

Rafa's been spotted practicing in Madrid with the old racket...

The new one should have given him a bit more power in exchange for some of the control. He was obviously screwed in that deal. :dodgy:
If he did actually switch back, good riddance.