Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, Monaco, ATP Masters 1000

[Bert]

Thiem trying to break Nadal's serve

 

[britbox]

Last 16 Results Round Up

(2) Andy Murray bt (16) Benoit Paire 2/6 7/5 7/5
(3) Roger Federer bt (14) Roberto Bautista Agut 6/2 6/4
(4) Stan Wawrinka bt (15) Gilles Simon 6/1 6/2
(5) Rafael Nadal bt (12) Dominic Thiem 7/5 6/3
(8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bt Lucas Pouille 6/4 6/4
(10) Milos Raonic bt Damir Dzumhur 6/3 4/6 7/6(5)
Marcel Granollers bt (11) David Goffin 7/6(1) 6/4
(13) Gael Monfils bt Jiri Vesely 6/1 6/2

 

[britbox]

Nadal/Interview: (5) Rafael Nadal bt (12) Dominic Thiem 7/5 6/3

 

[britbox]

Thursday Highlights - Monte Carlo

 

[Bert]

Someone should say Tennis TV that Monte-Carlo is not in France... French flag everywhere in this video, there are wars that start for less than that

 

[Moxie]

Someone should say Tennis TV that Monte-Carlo is not in France... French flag everywhere in this video, there are wars that start for less than that

Actually, I believe they technically play it on French soil. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in France. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo_Country_Club

 

[Bert]

Actually, I believe they technically play it on French soil. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in France. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo_Country_Club

Thanks Moxie ! I am calling back my lawyers to stop legal actions. They are safe for this time

 

[Moxie]

Thanks Moxie ! I am calling back my lawyers to stop legal actions. They are safe for this time

Europe is a funny ol' place, and space is tight, particularly in Monaco. The borders are a little squishy. It's like when France played Switzerland in DC in 2014, and all of the French players officially actually resided in Switzerland. Though now that I look at the clip, they did have to make such a fine point of it by wiping screen with the French flag. It's still the Monte Carlo Masters.

 

[Bert]

Europe is a funny ol' place, and space is tight, particularly in Monaco. The borders are a little squishy. It's like when France played Switzerland in DC in 2014, and all of the French players officially actually resided in Switzerland.

Residing in Switzerland is just a way to escape French taxes... Noah, Forget started this trend.

 

[Moxie]

Residing in Switzerland is just a way to escape French taxes... Noah, Forget started this trend.

Oh, I get why, and see my edited above. Tennis TV does take it a bit too far with the French flag, and I take your point.

 

[Moxie]

OK, BB has yet to put up the official, but tomorrow's line-up for QFs:

Raonic v. Murray
Nadal v. Wawrinka
Federer v. Tsonga
Monfils v. Granollers

I expect most will think that Nadal/Wawrinka should be the match of the day. With Djokovic out, either has a good shot at the title, and both have won it. (One more than the other, I will, of course be compelled to add. ) Wawrinka started the tourney kinda rough, but he dismantled Simon today. Nadal had a tricky day with a righty one-hander with good clay chops, but got it done in straights. He'll have the veteran version of same tomorrow. Should be very tight. They both will know they have a decent path thereafter to the finals, if not even the title.

The way Murray is looking, the Raonic match is also difficult to game. I'm tempted to think Milos will go through, as he's been very sharp of late. Roger's looking sharp, but Jo-Wil can trouble him. Granollers would be one of the Luckiest Losers in a long time if he beats Le Monf, but Gael has been pretty committed and contained, of late.

 

[Bert]

Oh, I get why, and see my edited above. Tennis TV does take it a bit too far with the French flag, and I take your point.

I am a bit uncomfortable with that to be honest : having had all your young years supported by French federation (coach, training, accomodations, etc...), wanting to play for French team in Davis Cup, Olympics, but volontary moving to another country for taxes purposes. There is a pb here IMO... or maybe I am not earning enough money to understand

 

[Carol]

Thiem trying to break Nadal's serve

 

[Moxie]

I am a bit uncomfortable with that to be honest : having had all your young years supported by French federation (coach, training, accomodations, etc...), wanting to play for French team in Davis Cup, Olympics, but volontary moving to another country for taxes purposes. There is a pb here IMO... or maybe I am not earning enough money to understand

"PB?" "Public benefit?" If that's what you're saying, you're asking the resident "lefty" of these boards, so I am with you. There's every indication that the French government supports it's tennis, as does the Spanish one. It seems rather wrong to tax shelter away from the government (and citizens) who paid for the training that got you to top-tier earnings in the first place. Meaning that your biggest tennis money doesn't pay for young players in your country to come up through the same system you benefitted from.

 

[Bert]

"PB?" "Public benefit?" If that's what you're saying, you're asking the resident "lefty" of these boards, so I am with you. There's every indication that the French government supports it's tennis, as does the Spanish one. It seems rather wrong to tax shelter away from the government (and citizens) who paid for the training that got you to top-tier earnings in the first place. Meaning that your biggest tennis money doesn't pay for young players in your country to come up through the same system you benefitted from.

Yes we are on the same line Moxie. By pb, I meant problem but you got my point. The funny thing is that there was an official meeting with parlement people and Forget, Noah to discuss the issue few years ago. Noah, Forget explaining that tennis player career is short and they have to maximise their earnings because taxes are too heavy. I found it funny, when you see that someone like Tsonga won 17m$ in his career having played 10+ years, even if you consider 2/3 of that money goes in taxes, fees for travels, coach, physio, etc... it is still more than the majority of people will earn in their whole life.

Let's go back to tennis talks now

 

[Billie]

Those are some fine quarterfinal matches for tomorrow. I might get lucky and see a bit of Nadal vs Wawrinka match, hopefully.

 

[Bert]

I missed the match but it was really quick. Murray won 6/2 6/0. Raonic called the doctor yesterday at the end of his match, seems to struggle with his fitness since the start of the season.

 

[Bert]

4-1 Nadal and Wawrinka will need a new racquet

 

[Federberg]

I'm not able to watch the match at work as my darn iPad is low on power. Is Rafa playing well or is Stanimal having a mare?

 

[Bert]

Wawrinka clearly not in a good day. Apparently there is a restaurant at the top of the stands and this is very noisy. The umpire made few announcements to tell them to be quiet, Wawrinka complained few times, he lost a bit of focus IMO due to that.