Monte Carlo Masters 2013

[Iona16]

Well, not sure what to say about Andy's performance. Just awful. Stan played well but I've seen him play better. A performance from Andy that I'm best deleting from my memory.

Well done to Stan though.

Fully behind Rafa now.

 

[I.Haychew]

I'm thinking (hoping, actually) that this event will pan-out as follows...

QF: Djokovic def. Nieminen
QF: F3 somehow finds a way to beat Gasquet
QF: Nadal def. Dimitrov
QF: Wawrinka def. Tsonga

SF: F3 advances to the final via a walkover from Djokovic (has to save the ankle for more important events)
SF: Wawrinka def. Nadal for the win of his life.

Final: F3 def. Wawrinka because of a huge letdown by Wawrinka.

Sound good to you? Sounds great to me!

 

[SF Nadalite]

Fascinating tennis at MC - I'm behind on today's matches, only caught Rafa before work - Rafa looks good, not great... almost as though he is starting his season again.

Novak seems to be at a loss - but not much different from the way he played at Indian Wells or Miami.

I'm loving that Fabio is marching forward - i never realized how many fans come from Italy (tennis clubs by the bus-loads on the early days, they must get discounted tickets) - but they SCREAM through the entire match for him, it's a riot!

 

[ftan]

I'm thinking (hoping, actually) that this event will pan-out as follows...

QF: Djokovic def. Nieminen
QF: F3 somehow finds a way to beat Gasquet
QF: Nadal def. Dimitrov
QF: Wawrinka def. Tsonga

SF: F3 advances to the final via a walkover from Djokovic (has to save the ankle for more important events)
SF: Wawrinka def. Nadal for the win of his life.

Final: F3 def. Wawrinka because of a huge letdown by Wawrinka.

Sound good to you? Sounds great to me!

 

[Andrew William]

So someone finally did it: Matesovic kicked over Rafa's water bottles at 2-5 against in the 2nd. Maybe he shouldn't have waited so long:

http://tennis.si.com/2013/04/17/rafael-nadal-monte-carlo-masters-water-bottles/

(You won't see the actual 'crime,' but you will see it give Rafa a laugh.)

That's a hoot Moxie! Farther down the page, there's another video of Rafa playing Seppi and in that one Nadal actually pauses mid-celebration to fix the water bottles he inadvertently knocked over, then goes back to fist pumping!!! What a riot.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Stan needs to get that fitness beefed up. He is fit but nowhere near the level of the top 5.

 

[herios]

This event is really takes a toll on me. Novak coming in injured and Verdasco in a dismal form, then Jarkko kicking out Milos and JMDP back to back. I had better days

 

[Moxie]

So someone finally did it: Matesovic kicked over Rafa's water bottles at 2-5 against in the 2nd. Maybe he shouldn't have waited so long:

http://tennis.si.com/2013/04/17/rafael-nadal-monte-carlo-masters-water-bottles/

(You won't see the actual 'crime,' but you will see it give Rafa a laugh.)

That's a hoot Moxie! Farther down the page, there's another video of Rafa playing Seppi and in that one Nadal actually pauses mid-celebration to fix the water bottles he inadvertently knocked over, then goes back to fist pumping!!! What a riot.

I didn't want to over Rafa the post by mentioning the second video, but it is a hoot!

 

[Moxie]

I'm thinking (hoping, actually) that this event will pan-out as follows...

QF: Djokovic def. Nieminen
QF: F3 somehow finds a way to beat Gasquet
QF: Nadal def. Dimitrov
QF: Wawrinka def. Tsonga

SF: F3 advances to the final via a walkover from Djokovic (has to save the ankle for more important events)
SF: Wawrinka def. Nadal for the win of his life.

Final: F3 def. Wawrinka because of a huge letdown by Wawrinka.

Sound good to you? Sounds great to me!

You may not be that far off. However, I still think Rafa get his 9th, no matter how you game the QFs, and SFs.

 

[tented]

So someone finally did it: Matesovic kicked over Rafa's water bottles at 2-5 against in the 2nd. Maybe he shouldn't have waited so long:

http://tennis.si.com/2013/04/17/rafael-nadal-monte-carlo-masters-water-bottles/

(You won't see the actual 'crime,' but you will see it give Rafa a laugh.)

That's a hoot Moxie! Farther down the page, there's another video of Rafa playing Seppi and in that one Nadal actually pauses mid-celebration to fix the water bottles he inadvertently knocked over, then goes back to fist pumping!!! What a riot.

I didn't want to over Rafa the post by mentioning the second video, but it is a hoot!

I'll do it:

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbkfzKCaQ9U[/video]

[At some point we should begin a funny-videos thread, like we had on the old, old site.]

 

[Andrew William]

That funny-videos thread idea is a definite winner, Tented!

Anyhow, the tennis has been a treat today. I've been really impressed with Dimitrov. His game is just really easy on the eyes. He reminds me of a young Federer in so many ways. Nobody should be surprised about Stan, he's proved himself many times over on clay. That backhand of his rates pretty high on my list and his serve has plenty of pop. I think the mental game has let him down more so than anything else. Not to take anything away from Wawrinka, but Andy did look pretty crummy out there. Looking forward to tomorrow's action. Night gang.

 

[kskate2]

Jo and Stan split sets. On serve in the 3rd 1-1

 

[Mastoor]

What do you people think who is going to win the title if today No1e loses to Nieminen and Kneedal loses to Dimitrov?

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This event is really takes a toll on me. Novak coming in injured and Verdasco in a dismal form, then Jarkko kicking out Milos and JMDP back to back. I had better days

At least No1e is still in play and hopefully his ankle will get better.

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6-1, 6-2 Stan crushes the Scot. Andy drops out of #2 with this loss.

I think he was on #2 temporarily anyway. His plan was to move to #1 though.

 

[tennisville]

Wow Dimitrov finally showing . I wondered when his game will go up but taking a set from Rafa on MC is stuff of legend . This could signal the arrival if he beats Rafa today

 

[Riotbeard]

Madness! Dimitrov takes the second with two breaks!

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So strange that Nadal so regularly has to go to the bathroom after loosing a set.

 

[kskate2]

Wow Dimitrov finally showing . I wondered when his game will go up but taking a set from Rafa on MC is stuff of legend . This could signal the arrival if he beats Rafa today

We'll see how his nerve holds up. He choked against Nole and Andy earlier on HC.

 

[herios]

Madness! Dimitrov takes the second with two breaks!

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So strange that Nadal so regularly has to go to the bathroom after loosing a set.

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Not strange at all. It is just a tactic to disrupt his opponent's rhythm.

 

[Riotbeard]

I know this is still a tender nadal (who is not playing his best since his return), but Dimitrov has been quite impressive.

 

[kskate2]

Madness! Dimitrov takes the second with two breaks!

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So strange that Nadal so regularly has to go to the bathroom after loosing a set.

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Not strange at all. It is just a tactic to disrupt his opponent's rhythm.

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Maybe he wasn't expecting to be on court that long. Now has to play another set. I'd want to drain my bladder too.

 

[tennisville]

Cmon Grigor