Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2017, Monaco, ATP Masters 1000

[Busted]

Is there a poll for Zverev vs Nadal? Cuz...I'm gonna take the kid in 3...but only because I think it would be hilarious if Nadal loses on his beloved clay before he loses to Djokovic in the semis. He's sort of hinging his season on being able to win on clay after not getting a win on hard courts. What happens to his confidence if he can't win a clay Masters before the FO? I'm not counting Barcelona because that's a shoe-in. No offense to Nishikori and Thiem...

 

[mrzz]

My bold prediction for tomorrow is that at least three of the four big 5 members playing tomorrow will lose.

 

[El Dude]

Everything matters when evaluating a player. However, when you are looking for GOAT, I suppose peak dominance plays a greater role than mere career accomplishments. Suppose a player played for
30 years from 15 to 45 and won twenty GS during that period where the twenty were uniformly distributed like say one GS every 1.5 years and the player was never really dominant at any point of time, I would not call them GOAT.

I hear what you are saying and basically agree. In a way it is like comparing Rosewall and Laver. Rosewall won 23 majors (pro, amateur, and Open Era Slams) vs. Laver's 19. But Rosewall won them over a 20-year stretch in which he was never really the best player in the sport. He was always second fiddle to either Gonzales or Laver. Laver, on the other hand, won his 19 majors in a 10-year span, and was considered the best player in the sport for about a decade.

Or we can look at McEnroe vs. Agassi. Andre actually has one more Slam than Mac, but never had a peak era like Mac's in 1981-85. Mac is generally considered a greater player, which I agree with.

 

[lacatch]

I think people likes to dramatize too much. No one of the best players have played well their first match, let's go to give them a chance waiting for the next results
And about Zverev after to beat today the worst Feli that I've seen honesty I have not any doubt Rafa will kick his a£€

People love to dramatize, but Rafa truly played hideous tennis today. And Carol, Novak, Andy and god knows who else can play like handicapped for all I care. Rafa needs to focus on his game only. It was warm and sunny during the whole match and he struggled mightily.
What I noticed is that even the shots that were winners kinda looked like shanks. I don't think Nadal hit one clean winner that flew past Edmund because of the sheer pace.
That is a huuuuge problem. Remember, not so long ago, he was capable of hitting winners past Novak on clay without running him to death. Is it timing, is it confidence, is it the loss in power, I don't know. Half of his shots look like shanks sadly...
I need to watch him against Zverev. Knowing Zverev and his game though, I think he is overmatched here. Djokovic/Thiem match is where we should look.

Watching the replay the first set Rafa has played pretty well but later like he has showed us this year he started to play "like Verdasco" getting some trouble by himself and that's why he lost in the AO, Acapulco, IW and Miami, why? his head and I think it's time to restore it.

So Rafa lost ALL those matches because it's in his head, meaning that EVERY match was on HIS racket--and his losing had NOTHING to do with the play of his opponents? For the record, this is from someone who claimed for a few years that Rafa had only to tweak his serve and he'd be back to his winning ways. AND----Carol has gone on record SEVERAL TIMES recently stating that Kyrgios is "nothing special"---can't win 2 matches in a row against top players, etc. We'll see how that crystal ball pans out LOL.

 

[Carol]

It wouldn't be the first time that Rafa would lose in MC but I think it would be more hilarious if Novak after to lose vs Vesely last year he would lose again in his beloved "permanent residence"

 

[Carol]

People love to dramatize, but Rafa truly played hideous tennis today. And Carol, Novak, Andy and god knows who else can play like handicapped for all I care. Rafa needs to focus on his game only. It was warm and sunny during the whole match and he struggled mightily.
What I noticed is that even the shots that were winners kinda looked like shanks. I don't think Nadal hit one clean winner that flew past Edmund because of the sheer pace.
That is a huuuuge problem. Remember, not so long ago, he was capable of hitting winners past Novak on clay without running him to death. Is it timing, is it confidence, is it the loss in power, I don't know. Half of his shots look like shanks sadly...
I need to watch him against Zverev. Knowing Zverev and his game though, I think he is overmatched here. Djokovic/Thiem match is where we should look.

Watching the replay the first set Rafa has played pretty well but later like he has showed us this year he started to play "like Verdasco" getting some trouble by himself and that's why he lost in the AO, Acapulco, IW and Miami, why? his head and I think it's time to restore it.

So Rafa lost ALL those matches because it's in his head, meaning that EVERY match was on HIS racket--and his losing had NOTHING to do with the play of his opponents? For the record, this is from someone who claimed for a few years that Rafa had only to tweak his serve and he'd be back to his winning ways. AND----Carol has gone on record SEVERAL TIMES recently stating that Kyrgios is "nothing special"---can't win 2 matches in a row against top players, etc. We'll see how that crystal ball pans out LOL.

Kyrgios is very special, so special that a his 21 years old can't play in MC because he is too tired and needs some rest :laydownlaughing

 

[Carol]

Watching the replay I see that the FH and serve of Edmund are really good and Simon would love to have it at least once in his professional life

 

[Moxie]

My bold prediction for tomorrow is that at least three of the four big 5 members playing tomorrow will lose.

Big 5? Wawrinka? Care to elucidate? Rafa and Stan have the toughest competitors, I'd say.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For the record, he's wearing purple at the moment. So funny that everyone still feels that the Pink is his kryptonite.

I realize it is Purple.still,let Rafa wear Green and Red at RG his most successful colours

 

[lacatch]

This from someone who supports a player who has taken far more time off the tour than any other top player by far!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Talking of Verdasco, what happened to him? Why is he not in MC? Too low ranking or injury?

 

[britbox]

Results from the Monte Carlo Masters Men's Singles Round 2 matches on Wednesday

Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) beat 8-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 4-6 6-3 6-2
Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) beat 12-Roberto Bautista (Spain) 6-3 7-6(3)
4-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Kyle Edmund (Britain) 6-0 5-7 6-3
11-Lucas Pouille (France) beat Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 6-2 6-4
1-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 7-5 7-5
5-Marin Cilic (Croatia) beat Jeremy Chardy (France) 6-3 6-0
15-Albert Ramos (Spain) beat Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 6-2 6-2
14-Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 6-0 6-4
9-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Tommy Haas (Germany) 3-6 6-1 6-4
13-Pablo Carreno (Spain) beat Karen Khachanov (Russia) 6-4 6-4
3-Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat Jiri Vesely (Czech Republic) 6-2 4-6 6-2
6-Dominic Thiem (Austria) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 6-3 6-2

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

Grigor Dimitrov's fast start to the season fading fast after going out to Struff.

 

[Kieran]

Rafa v Sasha is gonna be the sofa match today, bag of crisps in hand, make sure the dog is walked, make sure your missus knows where the fridge is, ice cold beer and maybe ice cold ice cubes if things get tetchy and hot and swarming with mosquitoes in the tight third set. I like Sasha, I think the kid has cojones and he's in a hurry, and he's no respecter of reputations. That's a brand that sells in my home. Rafa will need to be sharp to stop him.

I'm going with Rafa in two tight sets, a shove-fest, a grueling duel in the sun, a VAMOS joy to behold...

 

[Fiero425]

Rafa v Sasha is gonna be the sofa match today, bag of crisps in hand, make sure the dog is walked, make sure your missus knows where the fridge is, ice cold beer and maybe ice cold ice cubes if things get tetchy and hot and swarming with mosquitoes in the tight third set. I like Sasha, I think the kid has cojones and he's in a hurry, and he's no respecter of reputations. That's a brand that sells in my home. Rafa will need to be sharp to stop him.

I'm going with Rafa in two tight sets, a shove-fest, a grueling duel in the sun, a VAMOS joy to behold...

All true, but I can still see that choke job from a couple years ago in Canada! What was Sasha 2 pts from the match? He's tough, has learned a lot, won a tourney or 2, but it's still a 80/20 prop due to Rafa just being Rafa! uzzled - - Nole

 

[Kieran]

Rafa v Sasha is gonna be the sofa match today, bag of crisps in hand, make sure the dog is walked, make sure your missus knows where the fridge is, ice cold beer and maybe ice cold ice cubes if things get tetchy and hot and swarming with mosquitoes in the tight third set. I like Sasha, I think the kid has cojones and he's in a hurry, and he's no respecter of reputations. That's a brand that sells in my home. Rafa will need to be sharp to stop him.

I'm going with Rafa in two tight sets, a shove-fest, a grueling duel in the sun, a VAMOS joy to behold...

All true, but I can still see that choke job from a couple years ago in Canada! What was Sasha 2 pts from the match? He's tough & has learned a lot, won a tourney or 2, but it's still a 50=50 prop due to Rafa just being Rafa! uzzled

In fairness, if Rafa was "just being Rafa", then it would be more 70-30, or 80-20 in his favour, than a 50-50 prop, but because Rafa is so unRafa for a few seasons now, age dragging him down by the ankle, and fear creeping into his games, every time he sets foot on court he's vulnerable, and therefore it's more like 50-50...

 

[Fiero425]

Rafa v Sasha is gonna be the sofa match today, bag of crisps in hand, make sure the dog is walked, make sure your missus knows where the fridge is, ice cold beer and maybe ice cold ice cubes if things get tetchy and hot and swarming with mosquitoes in the tight third set. I like Sasha, I think the kid has cojones and he's in a hurry, and he's no respecter of reputations. That's a brand that sells in my home. Rafa will need to be sharp to stop him.

I'm going with Rafa in two tight sets, a shove-fest, a grueling duel in the sun, a VAMOS joy to behold...

All true, but I can still see that choke job from a couple years ago in Canada! What was Sasha 2 pts from the match? He's tough & has learned a lot, won a tourney or 2, but it's still a 50=50 prop due to Rafa just being Rafa! uzzled

In fairness, if Rafa was "just being Rafa", then it would be more 70-30, or 80-20 in his favour, than a 50-50 prop, but because Rafa is so unRafa for a few seasons now, age dragging him down by the ankle, and fear creeping into his games, every time he sets foot on court he's vulnerable, and therefore it's more like 50-50...

I agree and changed it; you posted just ahead of my correction! Thanks; agreed! It's more like 80/20!

 

[mcekovic]

Current state of predictions (Nadal is advancing - I've added tournament bias as additional feature neuron and it is picked as valid feature by neural network training session on historical data):
1-st Fav.

Novak Djokovic 28.7%
2-nd Fav.

Andy Murray 21.6%
3-rd Fav.

Rafael Nadal 18.1%
Full forecast link.