Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2021, Monaco, ATP Masters 1000

[El Dude]

This is how it starts, cousin fans of the Big Three. Your guy starts losing more upsets to lesser players, even on home turf.

Anyhow, glad for Rublev - he's one of my favorites among the younger guys. He seems next in line to join the Masters club, past due really. If not MC, I do think he wins one this year.

 

[don_fabio]

It' always a pleasure to see Nadal lose on clay, just because it happens so rarely. Something suprising like this is good for tennis and the the match was fun from start to finish.

I do agree it means nothing for the RG, by the time FO starts we all know the outcome. Rafa was rusty today and Rublev did not stop playing since AO. Rublev is currently a top 3 player when considering form. He grew a lot in in a last year in terms the way he plays.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Me too

I don't give a damn about Tsitspus

 

[El Dude]

Is Tittiepuss the new Zverev?

 

[Moxie]

You have more admiration for Rafa's game than Courier..Jim had Rafa winning his last major 5yrs ago. And retired shortly afterwards

That was a common miscalculation, not just Courier.

 

[Moxie]

How many players have beaten Nadal on clay the first time they played him ?

Well, there was Gaston Gaudio in 2003. I'm having a hard time thinking of another. Rafa was definitely having a bad day, but Rublev was terrific. Even when he lost the 2nd set, he kept up the pace and the belief.

 

[Moxie]

There are good days .... and bad days for everyone.
Rublev deserved the win today, like Evans did yesterday.

And today. Who knew that Evans was going to turn into a clay monster? (LOL.) Actually, he changed his tactics to more aggressive and more HC after he dropped the first set, and got trickier than Goffin. I'm loving his run. Looks more like a lorry driver than a tennis player. They also said he comes from a family of squash players and started in squash, himself. That's why so much slice and such a good feel at net.

 

[Front242]

Well, there was Gaston Gaudio in 2003. I'm having a hard time thinking of another. Rafa was definitely having a bad day, but Rublev was terrific. Even when he lost the 2nd set, he kept up the pace and the belief.

When I saw Rublev play that crap game with the double fault and drop the 2nd set I thought he'd lose badly 6-2 or best case scenario 6-3 in the 3rd but he surprised me. He was excellent in set 3.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Well, there was Gaston Gaudio in 2003. I'm having a hard time thinking of another. Rafa was definitely having a bad day, but Rublev was terrific. Even when he lost the 2nd set, he kept up the pace and the belief.

I haven't seen Rafa's pressor but I never seen him play with such negative energy..it reminded of the day when he played against Soldering... something wasn't just was right with him ..he definitely wasn't playing with as he says so often " his calm". Give Andrey credit he played very well and deserve the victory..no worries. On to Barcelona.

 

[Moxie]

He was grunting like a stuck pig yesterday as well. They both were tbh but Djokovic does that a lot when he's getting bossed around the court. The errors were likely wind related but if he can't handle the wind he shouldn't eat so much broccoli

That is TOO funny, you rude old thing! Both Djokovic and Nadal had a load of UFE's in their losses, so that's uncharacteristic, and I agree it has no bearing on how RG will go. But I do think that Djokovic needs a plan B for windy days. He lets it bother him and he doesn't adjust. It's not like he can't play with topspin. Murray once got his ass kicked by Rafa in a final at IW on a terribly windy day, and when he played Berdych in a SF at the USO, he had made the adjustment. He won that match because he handled the wind better. And he beat Novak in the final that year (2012) for mostly the same reason.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

And today. Who knew that Evans was going to turn into a clay monster? (LOL.) Actually, he changed his tactics to more aggressive and more HC after he dropped the first set, and got trickier than Goffin. I'm loving his run. Looks more like a lorry driver than a tennis player. They also said he comes from a family of squash players and started in squash, himself. That's why so much slice and such a good feel at net.

Suprise packet to me is Ruud.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

That is TOO funny, you rude old thing! Both Djokovic and Nadal had a load of UFE's in their losses, so that's uncharacteristic, and I agree it has no bearing on how RG will go. But I do think that Djokovic needs a plan B for windy days. He lets it bother him and he doesn't adjust. It's not like he can't play with topspin. Murray once got his ass kicked by Rafa in a final at IW on a terribly windy day, and when he played Berdych in a SF at the USO, he had made the adjustment. He won that match because he handled the wind better. And he beat Novak in the final that year (2012) for mostly the same reason.

The wind on Chartier blows up and down the court and around when it is windy....players do have to adjust.It is not as bad on Lenglen.

 

[Moxie]

That's the thing, Chatrier is a huge court and much slower and Nadal's topspin is far more effective there. He's had bad run ups before RG and still won it so this means nothing for Nadal and likewise for Djokovic either but it'll do wonders for the confidence of Evans and Rublev.

Chartrier is huge, and that gives Rafa lots of room to work, but I don't think it's slower. I thought MC, and maybe Rome, are the closest to RG.

 

[Moxie]

Suprise packet to me is Ruud.

I was rather shocked that he beat Schwartzman, and he has run through a pretty good murders row, but he has been trending and he has chops on clay. I think he's less surprising than Dan Evans to be still in the draw.

 

[Moxie]

This is how it starts, cousin fans of the Big Three. Your guy starts losing more upsets to lesser players, even on home turf.

Anyhow, glad for Rublev - he's one of my favorites among the younger guys. He seems next in line to join the Masters club, past due really. If not MC, I do think he wins one this year.

It kind of has started, and Rublev isn't that "lessor." There is that slow attrition, more bad days, but I like to think that it also has to do with Rublev being an up-and-comer, too. Djokovic and Nadal both came in less than match fit, and they are in their early-mid 30s, so upsets start to happen. But with Rublev, Tsitsipas and Ruud still in, that says good things for the future. Not to knock Evans, but he is a bit of an outlier in the group.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Chartrier is huge, and that gives Rafa lots of room to work, but I don't think it's slower. I thought MC, and maybe Rome, are the closest to RG.

Of course that goes without saying it gives Rafa room to move,I was talking how bad the wind is......MC is the closest surface to RG,Rome is the fastest true clay court in the clay season....I am not talking about that blue HC Madrid surface which has high altitude.Ugh.
That is why it pleases me when Rafa wins at MC to start off the clay season

 

[Front242]

Chartrier is huge, and that gives Rafa lots of room to work, but I don't think it's slower. I thought MC, and maybe Rome, are the closest to RG.

I thought the Monte Carlo court looked pretty fast from what I watched but maybe the wind is giving that impression. Always found Chatrier a bit slower and more high bouncing but maybe it's changing. The court speeds are never the same each year. Lenglen is definitely faster than Chatrier anyway.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I thought the Monte Carlo court looked pretty fast from what I watched but maybe the wind is giving that impression. Always found Chatrier a bit slower and more high bouncing but maybe it's changing. The court speeds are never the same each year. Lenglen is definitely faster than Chatrier anyway.

It also depends on the weather,yes the wind can give the impression that it is fast,now at MC.MC has always been a 'medium pace surface"
Chatrier does have a high bouncing surface more so if it is hot and sunny
Lenglen has always been the fastest surface at RG.,actually for fans it is a great stadium to watch the players,compared to Chatrier.

 

[Moxie]

I thought the Monte Carlo court looked pretty fast from what I watched but maybe the wind is giving that impression. Always found Chatrier a bit slower and more high bouncing but maybe it's changing. The court speeds are never the same each year. Lenglen is definitely faster than Chatrier anyway.

The players and the experts say that Lenglen is slower, because the way it is built it tends to retain moisture.

intresting read on rafa and chatrier court dimensions

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/tennis/how-one-court-at-roland-garros-helps-rafael-nadal-dominate-french-open/2015/05/30/c65a61d2-070d-11e5-bc72-f3e16bf50bb6_story.html?postshare=6441433134084140 PARIS – Nine - time French Open champion Rafael Nadal is the King of Clay for many...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

MC is on the sea, so the air is always going to be humid, and therefore the courts rather slow. However, with the cold this year, and the wind, they may have played quicker.

 

[Moxie]

It also depends on the weather,yes the wind can give the impression that it is fast,now at MC.MC has always been a 'medium pace surface"
Chatrier does have a high bouncing surface more so if it is hot and sunny
Lenglen has always been the fastest surface at RG.,actually for fans it is a great stadium to watch the players,compared to Chatrier.

Funny, I just posted a link that Lenglen retains moisture and therefore plays slower. Who ever knows? But you have been there.