Madrid Draw

[tented]

Well, Nadal seems to really like the Madrid courts this year. Guess that'll make things a lot harder for everyone.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/05/nadal-madrid-red-clay-great/47335/#.UYbp3UrmzNo

Thanks for the link, Front. It makes sense that a new tournament would have kinks to work out. It's good news if the courts are settling into something better. (And I guess you mean that 'that'll make things a lot harder for everyone," else.)

LOL! (I hope so!)

Yup, Moxie. Harder for everyone but him unfortunately Fed's chances of defending (slim as they already were), just got a whole lot slimmer.

I'm not so sure about that. These courts suit his game better than Rafa's. And even though they're back to using red clay, it's still a part-time clard court. I picked Rafa to win in the draw challenge, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if Roger wins.

 

[Front242]

Well, sure would be happy for him to at least defend one tournament so far. Nothing but lost points and poor play the last few months and I'm eager to see how Fed fares after 2 months off and recovering from a dodgy back.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Well, sure would be happy for him to at least defend one tournament so far. Nothing but lost points and poor play the last few months and I'm eager to see how Fed fares after 2 months off and recovering from a dodgy back.

Funny thing is he extended the gap between himself and Murray by a couple of points while taking a nice break...I don't know what that tells about Murray...

 

[shawnbm]

Roger Federer has always seemed to me to know when it is time for a break to refuel and rejuvenate. I would not sell him short. He has performed well in Madrid over the years, with our without the blue clay. Probably the main thing is he remains TMF.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Man, Dolgo really whips his body thru his serve.. I like his game

 

[Denis]

... but he loses to Haase. I have the impression that both Haase and Dolgopolov usually lose, except one or two tournaments a year, where they go on and win it. For a drawchallenge Ferrer is much better, at least he is consistent. Loses to the big 4 and almost always wins against the rest.

 

[the AntiPusher]

... but he loses to Haase. I have the impression that both Haase and Dolgopolov usually lose, except one or two tournaments a year, where they go on and win it. For a drawchallenge Ferrer is much better, at least he is consistent. Loses to the big 4 and almost always wins against the rest.

i would rather pick the places where the next lightening bolt will strike than the beginning rounds of a MS 1000 event, this is not a science

 

[Denis]

... but he loses to Haase. I have the impression that both Haase and Dolgopolov usually lose, except one or two tournaments a year, where they go on and win it. For a drawchallenge Ferrer is much better, at least he is consistent. Loses to the big 4 and almost always wins against the rest.

i would rather pick the places where the next lightening bolt will strike than the beginning rounds of a MS 1000 event, this is not a science

yeah quite a minefield allright.

 

[Denis]

Just saw this Marti dude (wildcard) lose to Dimitrov. Ranked 200+ and as tall as a 12 year old, I kind of felt sorry for the guy. Pity is not a good thing in tennis... I liked the single handed topspin backhand though, although it was very erratic.

 

[tennisville]

Hey tented Tiriac spent a lot of money to remake the courts . Its not clard anymore , if anything these courts the players say are better than the ones at RG

 

[britbox]

Nole/Dimitrov next round. It will be interesting to see how Dimitrov performs.

 

[Moxie]

Nole/Dimitrov next round. It will be interesting to see how Dimitrov performs.

Good point. While he's unlikely to win, he's seen as one of the up-and-comers. This is the big stage. He's better acquit himself well.

 

[Front242]

Tommy Haas is just so damn good right now. 6-1 6-2 demolition of a very proficient clay courter who only last year had a 2 sets to 0 lead against Djokovic at RG. Did Haas play Madrid and Rome last year? Don't believe so. Maybe you could help out, herios?

I see Cilic and Almagro are at 11 and 12 respectively and 2,615 ranking points so if Haas does well here and Rome he'll climb higher in the rankings before RG? Actually given Tipsarevic's rotten form of late it's probably not long till Tommy cracks the top 10. I'll be so impressed when, not if, it happens. And of course with his poor showings at the slams last year thanks to some tough draws, Haas can gain plenty of points there.

---

Commentators are even saying Haas is playing better than ever, even when he was at world number 2.

 

[herios]

Tommy Haas is just so damn good right now. 6-1 6-2 demolition of a very proficient clay courter who only last year had a 2 sets to 0 lead against Djokovic at RG. Did Haas play Madrid and Rome last year? Don't believe so. Maybe you could help out, herios?

I see Cilic and Almagro are at 11 and 12 respectively and 2,615 ranking points so if Haas does well here and Rome he'll climb higher in the rankings before RG? Actually given Tipsarevic's rotten form of late it's probably not long till Tommy cracks the top 10. I'll be so impressed when, not if, it happens. And of course with his poor showings at the slams last year thanks to some tough draws, Haas can gain plenty of points there.

---

Commentators are even saying Haas is playing better than ever, even when he was at world number 2.

---

Right here, my friend, on the ball

Yes, Tommy indeed didn't play Madrid and Rome last year, so he isurely is in a very good position to make a charge soon into the top 10.
And those in front of him, well, seems that some decided to coopoerate.
Cilic had already lost , biggest upset in the R1 IMO, losing to Pablo Andujar, who has a WC here, because he has completely fallen through the rankungs (now 113, after he started the year 42).
Janko lost today to Monaco, and he will lose a big chunk of points, as he was SF here in 2012, one of his best events, so he is now doomed.
I was also waiting for some time to see who will crack the imobile top 10 (I think it was one of the most stable ever for about 6 months or so with no penetration whatsoever from behind), but that is about to come to an end.
What is the most funny of all, the one who might be the next top 10 is nt any young guns, after all the El Dude entertained topics, but rather the oldest active player of all

How ironic and cool at the same time is that??

 

[Front242]

Tommy Haas is just so damn good right now. 6-1 6-2 demolition of a very proficient clay courter who only last year had a 2 sets to 0 lead against Djokovic at RG. Did Haas play Madrid and Rome last year? Don't believe so. Maybe you could help out, herios?

I see Cilic and Almagro are at 11 and 12 respectively and 2,615 ranking points so if Haas does well here and Rome he'll climb higher in the rankings before RG? Actually given Tipsarevic's rotten form of late it's probably not long till Tommy cracks the top 10. I'll be so impressed when, not if, it happens. And of course with his poor showings at the slams last year thanks to some tough draws, Haas can gain plenty of points there.

---

Commentators are even saying Haas is playing better than ever, even when he was at world number 2.

---

Right here, my friend, on the ball

Yes, Tommy indeed didn't play Madrid and Rome last year, so he isurely is in a very good position to make a charge soon into the top 10.
And those in front of him, well, seems that some decided to coopoerate.
Cilic had already lost , biggest upset in the R1 IMO, losing to Pablo Andujar, who has a WC here, because he has completely fallen through the rankungs (now 113, after he started the year 42).
Janko lost today to Monaco, and he will lose a big chunk of points, as he was SF here in 2012, one of his best events, so he is now doomed.
I was also waiting for some time to see who will crack the imobile top 10 (I think it was one of the most stable ever for about 6 months or so with no penetration whatsoever from behind), but that is about to come to an end.
What is the most funny of all, the one who might be the next top 10 is nt any young guns, after all the El Dude entertained topics, but rather the oldest active player of all

How ironic and cool at the same time is that??

---

Sweet. Cheers for the updates Yeah, no young guns making inroads but just the oldest dude on tour. Awesome to behold. Huge points lost for Janko so this week. Feel sorry for him 'cos he was doing well last year but I'll be much happier to see Tommy Haas back in the top 10! How cool would it be if he makes top 10 before the RG seeding cutoff after Rome! Nothing but points to gain till then.

---

And here we go. The first match for Fed in over 2 months. Good thing I took a day off.

 

[herios]

Another seed upset: Gasquet by Gimeno-Traver: 7-5, 3-6, 4-6.
I tuned in for the last game, when Richie was serving to stay in the match, and he was broken to love.:s

 

[Front242]

Yeah good result for Gimeno-Traver. Decent player on clay. A few points lost for Gasquet so. Made the 3rd round last year losing to Fed on the slippery but pleasant on the eye blue clay.

 

[Riotbeard]

Anybody else notice that Fed seems to be wearing one of rafa's shirt. I don't support this collar-less fed. Something is afoot in the spanish capital.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Roger had a decent start after 2 months. Any match under the belt should be good.

 

[jhar26]

Roger had a decent start after 2 months. Any match under the belt should be good.

Yes. He showed a bit of rust when he was serving for the match, but overall a decent performance.