Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2017, Monaco, ATP Masters 1000

[kskate2]

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...

Until he wins a 500 or above tournament, nothing is a shoe-in. :nono

 

[mrzz]

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

Yes, big 5 = big 3 + Murray + Wawrinka

There is a very clear cut reason behind such a term, as they are the only active players with more than one major.

I reckon PCB as very hard competitor on clay. Giving Djokovic´s level, which is still a bit shaky, that´s the first match I had in mind regarding an upset.

 

[Puppet Master]

Murray on the verge of elimination. Ramos had break points at 4-4 in the third. Even a fully healthy Andy struggled in the first two rounds he played here last year. Paire was absolutely creaming him until the inevitable choke happened. Then he kicked it up a notch in the quarterfinals. So I am not really buying the elbow stuff now, come to think of it. There might have been an issue, but it seems to have healed nicely. Almost.

Minutes later, Murray is out of this tourney.

 

[Moxie]

Yes, big 5 = big 3 + Murray + Wawrinka

There is a very clear cut reason behind such a term, as they are the only active players with more than one major.

I reckon PCB as very hard competitor on clay. Giving Djokovic´s level, which is still a bit shaky, that´s the first match I had in mind regarding an upset.

Ramos-Viñolas got Murray, so you're part-way there.

 

[Carol]

Did someone say that Muzz went to have a tough match and to lose or just Nadal takes the attention and 'curiosity'? :nono

 

[isabelle]

disappointed but not surprised by Andy's fail, his elbow's still a factor, hope he can play healthy in Madrid

 

[Kieran]

Murray on the verge of elimination. Ramos had break points at 4-4 in the third. Even a fully healthy Andy struggled in the first two rounds he played here last year. Paire was absolutely creaming him until the inevitable choke happened. Then he kicked it up a notch in the quarterfinals. So I am not really buying the elbow stuff now, come to think of it. There might have been an issue, but it seems to have healed nicely. Almost.

Minutes later, Murray is out of this tourney.

I'm not too sure why you mentioned the elbow, as if he lied about it. Has he come out and blamed the elbow for defeat today?

What we know is, Rafa and Novak also struggled in this event. It's been a good tourney in that sense. But for Murray, he's at a stage where Lendl is gonna have to start earning his coin. It's becoming clear that Andy isn't a comfortable #1, and although he deserves his spot at the top, he's been lousy this year, even if he has a crook elbow. This is Lendl's task now, to help him cope with higher expectations, the target on his back, as Pete Sampras called it. Some players relish that attention, and others fold.

So far, Andy is folding like cheap hotel bed linen...

 

[isabelle]

bad result for Murray, before MC starts, he said his elbow was still a poblem, don't know if it's the reason why but...it's not glorious at all

 

[britbox]

Murray out? he was a break up in the decider when I last checked. He's got a ton of points to defend through the clay swing. Not a good omen.

 

[britbox]

Cuevas takes the first set v Stan.

 

[Puppet Master]

Murray on the verge of elimination. Ramos had break points at 4-4 in the third. Even a fully healthy Andy struggled in the first two rounds he played here last year. Paire was absolutely creaming him until the inevitable choke happened. Then he kicked it up a notch in the quarterfinals. So I am not really buying the elbow stuff now, come to think of it. There might have been an issue, but it seems to have healed nicely. Almost.

Minutes later, Murray is out of this tourney.

I'm not too sure why you mentioned the elbow, as if he lied about it. Has he come out and blamed the elbow for defeat today?

What we know is, Rafa and Novak also struggled in this event. It's been a good tourney in that sense. But for Murray, he's at a stage where Lendl is gonna have to start earning his coin. It's becoming clear that Andy isn't a comfortable #1, and although he deserves his spot at the top, he's been lousy this year, even if he has a crook elbow. This is Lendl's task now, to help him cope with higher expectations, the target on his back, as Pete Sampras called it. Some players relish that attention, and others fold.

So far, Andy is folding like cheap hotel bed linen...

I mentioned the elbow since there was speculation that he would sit out until Rome, possibly even sit out Rome, and would be severely unfit to compete at RG even if the elbow fully healed, if it played out that way.
To me he seemed healthy but completely out of it. He led 4-0 in the third for crying out loud. Serve was disastrous.

 

[herios]

Injured or not Andy played poorly all season long, like Novak. Things do change, you know

 

[isabelle]

Injured or not Andy played poorly all season long, like Novak. Things do change, you know

hope so, as an Andy's fan I'm disappointed and sad

 

[isabelle]

if it continues lile that, we'll have a Ramos / Cuevas final !!

 

[shawnbm]

Wow! The big guns have had their problems thus far on the clay

 

[mrzz]

Murray out? he was a break up in the decider when I last checked. He's got a ton of points to defend through the clay swing. Not a good omen.

In fact, he served at 4-0 in the third.

 

[kskate2]

Stanimal flames out in 2 uninspired sets. :cover

 

[kskate2]

McFly takes the opening TB. Thiem up a break in the 2nd 4-3

 

[britbox]

In fact, he served at 4-0 in the third.

I didn't watch it, just kept an eye on the scores - think he was 4-2 when I checked out. Any back story? Injury? Seems like a pretty poor capitulation on face value.

Zverev and Rafa warming up. This will be an interesting one.

 

[herios]

Injured or not Andy played poorly all season long, like Novak. Things do change, you know

hope so, as an Andy's fan I'm disappointed and sad

My point was that the two distant leaders from last year became tame and pedestrian