Rogers Cup, Montreal, Canada, ATP Masters

[Busted]

Roger moves on 6-2, 6-1.

Nishikori\Monfils in 1st set tie-breaker...but...who'll get injured and quit first? Can we take a poll?

 

[Moxie]

Speaking of injury, they say on TC that Murray has pulled out of Cincy, citing same hip issue.

 

[Moxie]

Wow, how did Monfils pull that off?

 

[Moxie]

Shapalov has defeated Juan Martin, who really hasn't come back to full strength. It's hard to think he will, really. But you never know.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Good job again from Shapo...he is starting to become a player, slowly but surely. He has a long way to go though...rafa will remind him that I am sure.

As for JDMP...Anyone that can hit consistently to his backhand and maybe follow it to the net every now and then will bother him.

I still maintain that if after the first unsuccessful surgery him and his team concentrated on building him a single hander, it would not be worse than what his double hander is today. He had , what, 4-5 years to build it and it is not like he would have been starting from scratch. He already had a slice and I bet you anything he has been hitting serviceable single handers in training for years. Most players do. And vice versa. Players have built themselves brand new serves, forehands in less amount of time than what Delpo had...

Anyways, all the best to JDMP. I like the guy and I wish things were different for him.

 

[herios]

Good job again from Shapo...he is starting to become a player, slowly but surely. He has a long way to go though...rafa will remind him that I am sure.

As for JDMP...Anyone that can hit consistently to his backhand and maybe follow it to the net every now and then will bother him.

I still maintain that if after the first unsuccessful surgery him and his team concentrated on building him a single hander, it would not be worse than what his double hander is today. He had , what, 4-5 years to build it and it is not like he would have been starting from scratch. He already had a slice and I bet you anything he has been hitting serviceable single handers in training for years. Most players do. And vice versa. Players have built themselves brand new serves, forehands in less amount of time than what Delpo had...

Anyways, all the best to JDMP. I like the guy and I wish things were different for him.

No question Shapo played well, but Juan Martin did not. What was up with those many DF?

 

[herios]

Grisha through in 3 sets over Misha Zverev

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa will definitely win against Coric and also against Shap. Milos is not firing in full cylinders as well. So, #1 should be within reach for Rafa.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Oh, boy, looks like Rafa is schooling Boric. It is 5-0 now and getting to baked goods territory!

Not watching as I am still stuck at work.

 

[Moxie]

Haven't been able to pay much attention, but Gasquet's back seemed an issue, then Sasha had his foot attended to. Now in a TB in the 3rd. Anyone have insight?

 

[Moxie]

Nice hands on Zverev for the MP!

 

[Moxie]

Each had MPs. Great win for Sasha!

 

[Moxie]

Roger moves on 6-2, 6-1.

And Rafa mirrors it, 6-1, 6-2, though over a more formidable opponent.

 

[El Dude]

I think that's the first time that "Borna Coric" and "formidable" have been paired.

Anyhow, I agree that Thiem is a bit overrated by some - those who see him as a future elite. I've been saying for awhile that he's more in the same category as "second tier" types like Tsonga and Berdych, but will have better chances to win Slams because of the fact he'll still be in his prime when the Big Four are gone.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa has a tough road.

2nd R - Borna Coric (a guy with a winning record against Rafa although most of the wins are when Rafa was compromised).
3rd R - JMDP (has beaten Rafa even when Rafa was not compromised)
QF - Milos (with local crowd behind him)
SF - Sasha (with momentum)
F - RF (need I say anything)

It's true that Rafa's draw is much tougher. But it probably just got a bit softer. Raonic just lost the first set to Mannarino. And Sasha's got a bad foot, and took 3 sets to beat Gasquet, with his bad back.

The "need I say anything" vis-a-vis the potential Fedal final is a bit before time, no? 12 years of being Rafa's toy-boy and suddenly you're so confident? I'd be more cautious than that. However, there's a long way to go, yet.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Milos is dealing with a left wrist injury but how is it making his serve, forehand and slice backhand suck is beyond me...A set and a half and still no ace...4 Dfs.

 

[Moxie]

I think that's the first time that "Borna Coric" and "formidable" have been paired.

Anyhow, I agree that Thiem is a bit overrated by some - those who see him as a future elite. I've been saying for awhile that he's more in the same category as "second tier" types like Tsonga and Berdych, but will have better chances to win Slams because of the fact he'll still be in his prime when the Big Four are gone.

Ask @JesuslookslikeBorg, who has been championing Coric for years. Certainly more complicated than Peter Polansky, especially given their history.

I basically agree with you on Thiem. I think he's a solid player, with lots of upside. He just over-plays. He's not going to change the tennis world, as Sasha Zverev or Nick Kyrgios might, but he's a type to take his chances, especially, as you imply, that his best could come in a transition period.

 

[Moxie]

Cheong wins the first set over Goffin.

 

[El Dude]

Ask @JesuslookslikeBorg, who has been championing Coric for years. Certainly more complicated than Peter Polansky, especially given their history.

I basically agree with you on Thiem. I think he's a solid player, with lots of upside. He just over-plays. He's not going to change the tennis world, as Sasha Zverev or Nick Kyrgios might, but he's a type to take his chances, especially, as you imply, that his best could come in a transition period.

Yeah, I was mostly kidding about Coric - and agree he is more formidable than Polansky. Coric has been stagnant for about two years now, with little to no sign of improvement. That said, I do think he'll take a step forward at some point, but will probably be no better than something like David Goffin. I suppose there's a slim chance that, in a best-case scenario, he turns into David Ferrer. Nothing to be ashamed of. But I still see a #15-30 type as being more likely.

Well said on Thiem. When I've seen him play, he looks like he still has another level he can reach, if he's more consistent. But given that he's almost 24, I'm not sure this is going to change.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Nadal's #1 is pretty much guaranteed .
I almost want Farquaad to win his first and probably only match against Roger but probably will not happen.
Milos was uber disappointing.