Mutua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

[Moxie]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Draw ceremony at 2pm Madrid time tomorrow, so 8am EDT, 5am PDT. Don't forget the Draw Challenge!

 

[Moxie]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

I'm re-watching last year's final. Rafa completely dominating Stan. I suppose this year could be different.

 

[lacatch]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Please get Moxie the smelling salts---she took El Dude's description of Rafa's game as entering the "plateau" stage of his career with realism and grace

 

[herios]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

I'm re-watching last year's final. Rafa completely dominating Stan. I suppose this year could be different.

Stan has improved gradually over the last 12 months. It was a step by step process.
Madrid was just a few weeks after he teamed up with Norman.
Although as a result, for him it was a very good one in comparison with his past, in the final indeed, he was not able to do much.
It will be very interesting to see if his form continues, because this is his first big point maker event he has to defend. He may lose his 3rd raking position, if he fails to make the final and Roger does, but Roger also will be under pressure the following week, when he defends his final in Rome.
So lots of things could happen in the next few weeks.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

^Well , a lot happened in the last month that was not "realistic" . If similar stuff happened and Nole won this thing, he is numero uno again. I am still not willing to bet against Rafa on clay though. I think this is where he picks it up and makes his run towards RG.

Even if "similar" stuff happened, Novak will not be #1 after Madrid. RN lost in QF in the
last two tournaments. He needs to lose before QF in order for Novak to stand a chance.
So, RF needs to lose either his 1st or 2nd match at Madrid.

Anyway, I get your point. I am just being technical, just to give you hard time.

 

[Moxie]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Please get Moxie the smelling salts---she took El Dude's description of Rafa's game as entering the "plateau" stage of his career with realism and grace

Realism doesn't require smelling salts, friend.

 

[Moxie]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

I'm re-watching last year's final. Rafa completely dominating Stan. I suppose this year could be different.

Stan has improved gradually over the last 12 months. It was a step by step process.
Madrid was just a few weeks after he teamed up with Norman.
Although as a result, for him it was a very good one in comparison with his past, in the final indeed, he was not able to do much.
It will be very interesting to see if his form continues, because this is his first big point maker event he has to defend. He may lose his 3rd raking position, if he fails to make the final and Roger does, but Roger also will be under pressure the following week, when he defends his final in Rome.
So lots of things could happen in the next few weeks.

There was a game at 4-2, or something, in the first set, when Stan did everything he could do to Nadal, which presages his better form against him. Should they meet again, and it could well be in the clay season, I expect it will be much more complicated. At this point last year, however, Nadal was still the force of nature on clay, and Stan was finding his way.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

The draw is out. Projected QF Match ups are given below.

Nadal vs. Berdych
Federer vs. Murray
-------------------------------
Wawrinka vs. Raonic
Novak vs. Ferrer.

Here is the complete draw

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Not seeing too many land mines for Nadal . Maybe Dimitrov. Roger has a couple of clay courters like Verdasco and Busta. Tsonga and Murray is in Roger's quarter as well. Stan has Nishikori and Raonic.
Nole has the fabulous one and the Dog.

Balanced I guess.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Best 1st round match: Dog vs. Fog.

.........Not just because it rhymes.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Fed can possibly take revenge against Robredo in R16 match. But, Robredo wouldn't
probably make it there.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

wouldn't mind seeing murray vs Federer though, on clay it's a fairly rare event..unless I'm missing matches in my head.

 

[Front242]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Sorry that this is in no way related to this thread but it wasn't worth starting a thread over. Guy I used work with told me Patrick Rafter died. I was away from home all day and my phone screen is too crap for internet so I was just like wtf and checked at home and he seems to be alive and well. Seems to just be a moron text and Rafter is A-OK. Some clowns out there. Where's the humour in texts like that?!

 

[Front242]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Murray v Federer on clay would sure be interesting. Lets hope it happens.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Murray v Federer on clay would sure be interesting. Lets hope it happens.

Murray plays Almagro (most probably) before that. Do you think he will get
past the conqueror of clay warriror in the first place?

 

[Front242]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Murray v Federer on clay would sure be interesting. Lets hope it happens.

Murray plays Almagro (most probably) before that. Do you think he will get
past the conqueror of clay warriror in the first place?

Didn't know he played him first. Quite a tall order so in that case. Tank to preserve the winning h2h with Fed

 

[GameSetAndMath]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Djokovic definitely has the toughest draw and here is a likely path for him.

R32 - Cilic
R16 - winner of Dog/Fog
QF - Little Beast
SF - The Man
F - Dirt Devil

 

[Moxie]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Djokovic definitely has the toughest draw and here is a likely path for him.

R32 - Cilic
R16 - winner of Dog/Fog
QF - Little Beast
SF - The Man
F - Dirt Devil

I thought the same when I looked at the draw. (If not Dog/Fog, it'll be Gulbis.) And Murray, considering he's had a lay-off will probably get a confident Almagro, then potentially Tsonga. That's no way to ease into your clay season. He'll have to hit the dirt on form.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Djokovic definitely has the toughest draw and here is a likely path for him.

R32 - Cilic
R16 - winner of Dog/Fog
QF - Little Beast
SF - The Man
F - Dirt Devil

That is pretty nasty. He might lose early and get some extra time off for his wrist.

 

[Kieran]

RE: Matua Madrid Open ATP1000 02-11 May 2014

Djokovic definitely has the toughest draw and here is a likely path for him.

R32 - Cilic
R16 - winner of Dog/Fog
QF - Little Beast
SF - The Man
F - Dirt Devil

It's not actually tough, though, is it? I mean, in real terms. The only way this is tough is if his wrist is still sore and so he plays at about 60-70%...