Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2017, Monaco, ATP Masters 1000

[Moxie]

Horrible volley from the Frenchman, but good grit from both. I'm glad Nole won as it should give him a confidence boost and tennis needs him back in the mix. Now let's see what Sir andy and Rafael do.

Personally, I'd have been perfectly fine to see him go out. He was far from his best, but Simon is no closer.

 

[Kieran]

I thought Novak did very well there, to hang in there in the final set. Gilles made a few mistakes, but really, Novak showed great composure and played well to get the break back at 4-5...

 

[Haelfix]

I thought Novak looked awful. He has always been one of the tours most consistent hitters, and he was missing shots that we almost never see. Yes Simon makes everyone overhit (or underhit), but Novak was taking a lot of pace off his ground strokes just to stay in rallies, and you could tell he wasn't confident going down the line even with the slowed down gameplan.

He was quite passive as well, and didn't generate much with his movement, instead allowing Simons slow pace balls to reach him deep behind the baseline.

It just looked nothing like the dominant player we've seen the past few years. He needs to improve a lot, in a hurry if he wants to stay in this.

 

[Busted]

Jo played last week an exhibition with Ljubicic and lost. I was sure that he will be eliminated quickly.

Huh? Jo-Willie lost an XO to Fed's COACH? :laydownlaughing Well...Roger did say that Ljubicic still played really well. Seriously...Jo-Willie's another one of those almost-weres that just needs to pack it in and call it a day. He can take a seat next to Berdych, Monfils, Isner and Gasquet. I'd add Cilic to the list but at least he does have the 1 Slam.

 

[kskate2]

I thought Novak looked awful. He has always been one of the tours most consistent hitters, and he was missing shots that we almost never see. Yes Simon makes everyone overhit (or underhit), but Novak was taking a lot of pace off his ground strokes just to stay in rallies, and you could tell he wasn't confident going down the line even with the slowed down gameplan.

He was quite passive as well, and didn't generate much with his movement, instead allowing Simons slow pace balls to reach him deep behind the baseline.

It just looked nothing like the dominant player we've seen the past few years. He needs to improve a lot, in a hurry if he wants to stay in this.

This. I'll also add he didn't really take authority and win the 4-5 game. It was more he kept the ball in play and allowed a tight Simon to unravel. The fact that he wasn't aggressive in that game speaks to his mindset the whole match.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Another clay aficionado Almagro gone in the opener, but at least to a seeded player, Goffin.
Whatever happened to Almagro. I know he had some foot injury. But, that was more than an year ago. He should make some noise in clay or is he heading towards retirement?

 

[Kieran]

Another clay aficionado Almagro gone in the opener, but at least to a seeded player, Goffin.
Whatever happened to Almagro. I know he had some foot injury. But, that was more than an year ago. He should make some noise in clay or is he heading towards retirement?

Players like Almagro just vanish...

 

[britbox]

Results from the Monte Carlo Masters Men's Singles matches on Tuesday

Round 2
10-David Goffin (Belgium) beat Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 7-5 6-1
16-Pablo Cuevas (Uruguay) beat Joao Sousa (Portugal) 6-3 6-3
2-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Gilles Simon (France) 6-3 3-6 7-5
Adrian Mannarino (France) beat 7-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 6-7(3) 6-2 6-3

Round 1
Jeremy Chardy (France) beat Borna Coric (Croatia) 7-6(3) 3-6 6-3
Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Daniil Medvedev (Russia) 7-6(6) 7-5
Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert (France) 3-6 6-2 6-1
Jiri Vesely (Czech Republic) beat Mischa Zverev (Germany) 7-6(3) 6-3
Karen Khachanov (Russia) beat Nicolas Mahut (France) 6-2 6-4
Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Benoit Paire (France) 6-2 6-3
Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) beat Marcel Granollers (Spain) 6-2 6-4
Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) beat Casper Ruud (Norway) 6-4 6-4
11-Lucas Pouille (France) beat Ryan Harrison (U.S.) 6-2 6-4
Robin Haase (Netherlands) beat Damir Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 6-3 6-2
Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) beat Tommy Robredo (Spain) 6-2 6-2

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

Great to see Tommy Haas advancing.

 

[Carol]

i think tomorrow Rafa , Muzz and Stan have a tough matches

 

[Carol]

I 've always liked the game of Monfils, Tsonga and Simon but they never have got any big title, my question is what's wrong with them?

 

[Moxie]

i think tomorrow Rafa , Muzz and Stan have a tough matches

Murray has Gilles Muller, which could be a tough return, and Stan has Vesely, who is a up-and comer. I don't see Rafa having trouble with Kyle Edmund. Berdych v. Haas could be interesting. Likewise Chardy v. Cilic...two players who can be excellent, or terrible.

 

[Moxie]

I 've always like the game of Monfils, Tsonga and Simon but they never have got any big title, my question is what's wrong with them?

Simon: Too light-weight for the heavy weights. Monfils and Tsonga: A lot of injuries and distractions. Not mentally tough enough. You're probably asking the question that the French Tennis Federation has been asking itself for a decade. France has a lot of excellent players, but they fall short of greatness. Why? They coincide with an era of far more superior players. In the late 90s, wouldn't Jo-Will have won a Major?

 

[Carol]

Simon: Too light-weight for the heavy weights. Monfils and Tsonga: A lot of injuries and distractions. Not mentally tough enough. You're probably asking the question that the French Tennis Federation has been asking itself for a decade. France has a lot of excellent players, but they fall short of greatness. Why? They coincide with an era of far more superior players. In the late 90s, wouldn't Jo-Will have won a Major?

Yep, France has excellent players but that's why surprise me that all of them have had very good times but at the end not very good results . But certainly it's true that they are playing in an era where they have got tougher opponents

 

[kskate2]

Stan complicates his match w/ an unnecessary 3rd set but comes through it easily. Meanwhile Tommy is giving Berd fits. 4-4 in the decider.

 

[mrzz]

Just watched the first game of Murray x Muller. 3 double faults and an ugly UFE. Sure as hell I´ll be back to work.

 

[Kieran]

I think they're all feeling their way back in again. Novak yesterday, Stan today. Players are vulnerable but they'll get stronger as the tourney progresses. I'm worried about Berdych. He has a gorgeous dame who's driven crazy with insane passion by his utter consistency. "Oooh Tommy, you're so.....predictable....gasp!" But now he's down to #12 in the world and a QF won't get him back to his bunk bed slot as world #8.

Real signs of decline, eh?

 

[isabelle]

Stan, Birdie, Thiem, Cilic, Sir Andy all won

 

[isabelle]

Zverev / Manacor's bull should be good, can't wait