Mudabala Exhibition Tournament - Abu Dhabi - Dec 26th to Dec 28th 2013

[GameSetAndMath]

Back is not an issue. Just general sluggishness, that's all. See the report by
Guardian.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/26/andy-murray-loses-back-surgery-tsonga

I am not writing Murray off based on one loss after a long break. However, I am
not willing to write this loss off saying it is just an exo.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Murray wins in straight sets against Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4 in 66 minutes. Considering
that Wawrnka generally gives trouble to Murray, this is a good win.

So, Murray leaves Abu Dhabi with 1-1 record. He will get more match practice in
Doha and will be battle ready in Melbourne.

Typically Murray has done well in AO even though he has never won the title.
It will be interesting to see how he does this year.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Ferrer has defeated Nadal in Semifinals with a score line of 6-4, 6-4.
Novak has defeated Tsonga in Semifinals with a score line of 7-6, 6-3.

Novak plays Ferrer tomorrow for 250,000 dollars.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It is time to indulge in some conspiracy theory. Is it possible that both Murray
and Nadal lost so that they can avoid facing Djokovic before AO?

If it is a regular ATP tournament, I will not even give a small chance to
such conspiracy theory ideas. However, this is not a regular tournament
and an exo. Hence, I am indulging in it.

 

[DarthFed]

They'd both be foolish to try to avoid him. This is still an exhibition tournament when all is said and done. It'd be especially foolish for Murray. Any match practice is a positive, especially against the elite.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

They'd both be foolish to try to avoid him. This is still an exhibition tournament when all is said and done. It'd be especially foolish for Murray. Any match practice is a positive, especially against the elite.

I agree that it would be foolish of Murray to intentional lose as winning would have gotten
him more match practice (both in terms of number of matches, 3 instead of 2, and in terms of matches
with elite players).

On the other hand Nadal has already lost twice to Djokovic after USO and
probably did not want to increase Novak's confidence going into AO. Recall that Novak
is not playing anywhere else before AO.

If that is not the case, your theory of "Ferrer fading into irrelevance" is garbage.
On the contrary Ferrer may just be warming up.

It is amazing how many tourneys Ferrer plays. He played for seven consecutive
weeks to end 2013. He is playing in Mudabala and then in Doha and then in Auckland
before getting to Melbourne.

 

[Fiero425]

They'd both be foolish to try to avoid him. This is still an exhibition tournament when all is said and done. It'd be especially foolish for Murray. Any match practice is a positive, especially against the elite.

I agree that it would be foolish of Murray to intentional lose as winning would have gotten
him more match practice (both in terms of number of matches, 3 instead of 2, and in terms of matches
with elite players).

On the other hand Nadal has already lost twice to Djokovic after USO and
probably did not want to increase Novak's confidence going into AO. Recall that Novak
is not playing anywhere else before AO.

If that is not the case, your theory of "Ferrer fading into irrelevance" is garbage.
On the contrary Ferrer may just be warming up.

It is amazing how many tourneys Ferrer plays. He played for seven consecutive
weeks to end 2013. He is playing in Mudabala and then in Doha and then in Auckland
before getting to Melbourne.

Where has all the extra work really paid off for Ferrer? You can count on one hand the number of times he's beaten the top 4 players; esp. Nadal! :lolz: :snigger :laydownlaughing :nono :cry

 

[GameSetAndMath]

They'd both be foolish to try to avoid him. This is still an exhibition tournament when all is said and done. It'd be especially foolish for Murray. Any match practice is a positive, especially against the elite.

I agree that it would be foolish of Murray to intentional lose as winning would have gotten
him more match practice (both in terms of number of matches, 3 instead of 2, and in terms of matches
with elite players).

On the other hand Nadal has already lost twice to Djokovic after USO and
probably did not want to increase Novak's confidence going into AO. Recall that Novak
is not playing anywhere else before AO.

If that is not the case, your theory of "Ferrer fading into irrelevance" is garbage.
On the contrary Ferrer may just be warming up.

It is amazing how many tourneys Ferrer plays. He played for seven consecutive
weeks to end 2013. He is playing in Mudabala and then in Doha and then in Auckland
before getting to Melbourne.

Where has all the extra work really paid off for Ferrer? You can count on one hand the number of times he's beaten the top 4 players; esp. Nadal! :lolz: :snigger :laydownlaughing :nono :cry

FYI, Ferrer has won 5 matches against Nadal. That places him in #5 spot in number
of matches won against Nadal by other players. The four in front of him are Federer,
Djokovic, Murray and Davydenko.

Check facts before :laydownlaughing

 

[Fiero425]

They'd both be foolish to try to avoid him. This is still an exhibition tournament when all is said and done. It'd be especially foolish for Murray. Any match practice is a positive, especially against the elite.

I agree that it would be foolish of Murray to intentional lose as winning would have gotten
him more match practice (both in terms of number of matches, 3 instead of 2, and in terms of matches
with elite players).

On the other hand Nadal has already lost twice to Djokovic after USO and
probably did not want to increase Novak's confidence going into AO. Recall that Novak
is not playing anywhere else before AO.

If that is not the case, your theory of "Ferrer fading into irrelevance" is garbage.
On the contrary Ferrer may just be warming up.

It is amazing how many tourneys Ferrer plays. He played for seven consecutive
weeks to end 2013. He is playing in Mudabala and then in Doha and then in Auckland
before getting to Melbourne.

Where has all the extra work really paid off for Ferrer? You can count on one hand the number of times he's beaten the top 4 players; esp. Nadal! :lolz: :snigger :laydownlaughing :nono :cry

FYI, Ferrer has won 5 matches against Nadal. That places him in #5 spot in number
of matches won against Nadal by other players. The four in front of him are Federer,
Djokovic, Murray and Davydenko.

Check facts before :laydownlaughing

Where that was significant? lol! I remember Ferrer winning at AO one time over Nadal a few years ago; of course with injury later report! Don't talk to me like that again! I know what I'm talking about! uzzled Been part of tennis for over 40 years; playing, teaching, and winning tournaments in singles, doubles, & mixed!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Where that was significant? lol! I remember Ferrer winning at AO one time over Nadal a few years ago; of course with injury later report! Don't talk to me like that again! I know what I'm talking about! uzzled Been part of tennis for over 40 years; playing, teaching, and winning tournaments in singles, doubles, & mixed!

All five of Ferrer's victories over Nadal were significant ones.

1. USO 2007
2. AO 2011
3. Paris Masters ATP 1000 in 2013
4. WTF match
5. Stuttgart on Clay.

 

[Fiero425]

Where that was significant? lol! I remember Ferrer winning at AO one time over Nadal a few years ago; of course with injury later report! Don't talk to me like that again! I know what I'm talking about! uzzled Been part of tennis for over 40 years; playing, teaching, and winning tournaments in singles, doubles, & mixed!

All five of Ferrer's victories over Nadal were significant ones.

1. USO 2007
2. AO 2011
3. Paris Masters ATP 1000 in 2013
4. WTF match
5. Stuttgart on Clay.

As I was saying, where did it pay off? Fine, upset a top player, but going out in the next round or 2 makes it pointless or moot! :nono :clap

 

[Front242]

Tsonga's sporting a mighty fro at the moment too He looks to be in great form from what I saw. In the game today when he broke Djokovic to love to get back to 4-4 in set 1 he played some great shots.

 

[DarthFed]

They'd both be foolish to try to avoid him. This is still an exhibition tournament when all is said and done. It'd be especially foolish for Murray. Any match practice is a positive, especially against the elite.

I agree that it would be foolish of Murray to intentional lose as winning would have gotten
him more match practice (both in terms of number of matches, 3 instead of 2, and in terms of matches
with elite players).

On the other hand Nadal has already lost twice to Djokovic after USO and
probably did not want to increase Novak's confidence going into AO. Recall that Novak
is not playing anywhere else before AO.

If that is not the case, your theory of "Ferrer fading into irrelevance" is garbage.
On the contrary Ferrer may just be warming up.

It is amazing how many tourneys Ferrer plays. He played for seven consecutive
weeks to end 2013. He is playing in Mudabala and then in Doha and then in Auckland
before getting to Melbourne.

How is Ferrer relevant to this discussion? The fact that he just beat Rafa in an exhibition match? He will start slipping at some point and likely soon. I doubt he will ever have as good a year as 2013 in large part because he is probably not making another final at a GS.

Yes Ferrer is amazing. What he has been doing is almost difficult to believe...

 

[Fiero425]

Tsonga's sporting a mighty fro at the moment too He looks to be in great form from what I saw. In the game today when he broke Djokovic to love to get back to 4-4 in set 1 he played some great shots.

Mighty? What does that mean? :lolz: I expected it to be bouncing all over the place! I was born with more hair! :laydownlaughing

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It is not Christmas time for No1e.

In that case, Nole should get substantially less appearance fee.

 

[Front242]

Terrible time for Tsonga to serve a DF in the TB. After such an immense serving performance in set 1 he throws it away.

 

[herios]

Last day matches:

Nadal - Tsonga 7-6, 6-3
Djokovic - Ferrer 7-5, 6-2

Nole finished his preparation for the AO.

 

[Fiero425]

Last day matches:

Nadal - Tsonga 7-6, 6-3
Djokovic - Ferrer 7-5, 6-2

Nole finished his preparation for the AO.

I wonder why they didn't play this live on TCC rather than tape much later? Oh well! uzzled :nono The finals have really stunk of late since they haven't been able to get the top 4; Nadal missing last year, Federer this tourney!

 

[tennisville]

Last day matches:

Nadal - Tsonga 7-6, 6-3
Djokovic - Ferrer 7-5, 6-2

Nole finished his preparation for the AO.

I wonder why they didn't play this live on TCC rather than tape much later? Oh well! uzzled :nono The finals have really stunk of late since they haven't been able to get the top 4; Nadal missing last year, Federer this tourney!

what do you mean , last years final was awesome :nono I remember those awesome one handed backhands from Almagro which was a joy to watch

 

[Riotbeard]

It is not Christmas time for No1e.

That's right. Buddhists don't celebrate Christmas...

Usually you are better than this:huh:

I know, don't feed the trolls, but it was standing up there, on top of the net, looking to be smacked away...

And like Novak, that easy overhead of a setup managed to get botched

I hope everyone had a good holiday.