Valencia Open, ATP 250

[britbox]

Location: Valencia, Spain
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: 604,000 Euros
Last Winner (2014): Andy Murray (not defending)

Seeds:
1. Ferrer,  2. Lopez, 3. Tomic, 4. Fognini, 5. Paire, 6. Garcia-Lopez, 7. Bautista-Agut, 8. Chardy

 

[isabelle]

Chardy lost, Sousa won

 

[Billie]

I get to answer my own question about Bedene when I saw that he (with the British flag beside his name) beat Chardy here.  That is a surprise to me.  And Daniel Brands beat Kyrgios!  Pretty Sousa also won, that is a surprise as well, pleasant I might add.

 

[Moxie]

^ Have to agree with you, Billie, on Sousa.  Very pretty, and nice game, too.   ;-)  And I'm in the camp that isn't sorry to see Kyrgios get beat.  Tomorrow has some potentially good/interesting match-ups.  Steve Johnson and Feli Lopez are pretty evenly matched, I'd say, given how Stevie is playing.  Also, Sousa v. Paire.  Bautista Agut plays the young gun Rublev, so it'll be interesting to check him out.

 

[Billie]

Yeah, those are all interesting matches Moxie.   I would love to see Sousa vs Paire, I think that Benoit should win, if he plays close to what he can.

 

 

[Moxie]

Yeah, those are all interesting matches Moxie. I would love to see Sousa vs Paire, I think that Benoit should win, if he plays close to what he can.

I agree with Paire on paper, but both have had career years in 2015.  Both have reasons to fight hard for this one.  It will be a "handsome" match, in any case.  haha

 

[herios]

A good win by the young Russian WC Rublev over Grannolers.  Let's see what he can do next.

 

[britbox]

A good win by the young Russian WC Rublev over Grannolers. Let’s see what he can do next.

Yeah, Moxie mentioned him in the promising youngsters thread:

http://discuss.tennis/forums/topic/favourite-juniors/

 

[herios]

herios wrote:
A good win by the young Russian WC Rublev over Grannolers. Let’s see what he can do next.

Yeah, Moxie mentioned him in the promising youngsters thread: http://discuss.tennis/forums/topic/favourite-juniors/

He is very young, just turned 18 this fall, so he is younger than any of the top 100 teenagers, and the Russian federation already using him in DC.

 

[britbox]

britbox wrote:
<blockquote>
herios wrote:
A good win by the young Russian WC Rublev over Grannolers. Let’s see what he can do next.

Yeah, Moxie mentioned him in the promising youngsters thread: http://discuss.tennis/forums/topic/favourite-juniors/</blockquote>
He is very young, just turned 18 this fall, so he is younger than any of the top 100 teenagers, and the Russian federation already using him in DC.

Worth keeping an eye out for... he's on my radar now!

 

[Moxie]

For tomorrow's matches:

Brands(Q) v. Pospisil - I should think Brands runs out of luck.

Cuevas v. Sousa - Sousa has the hot hand.

Bautista-Agut v. Zverev - I think the Spaniard will survive the Fabio-Slayer.

Garcia-Lopez v. Steve Johnson - This should be a big fight.  I'm going to pull for my US-compatriot here.  He's very on-form at the moment.

I know people who are veterans to the various forums think I'm very pro-Spain, but I think this could be an all-North America final.  I'd love to see Stevie win it.

 

[Billie]

I am bad at this but I'll do it any way:  Brands, Sousa, Bautista Agut and Garcia-Lopez.  I am giving the 2 Spaniards home court advantage.

 

 

[Moxie]

I am bad at this but I’ll do it any way: Brands, Sousa, Bautista Agut and Garcia-Lopez. I am giving the 2 Spaniards home court advantage.

OK, we split our predictions.  Let's see.  I'll buy you an ice-cream if you're right.   

 

[herios]

I like both Garcia-Lopez and Johnson. Garcia Lopez is playing as well as ever at 31 and Johnson is having a breakthrough on hos own.

I always thought, ever since I started to follow Johnson, that he will develop in his 26-30 years, due to his late start of the pro-career, going to college first. He is 25, but he will keep developing like a 21y old, so he is far from maturing as a player.

This is good for the American tennis, because his improvement is mirroring Jack Sock's so they go up in tandem.  Both Sock and Johnson will be moving into the top 20 sooner or later.  GG Loppez is having a great year as well, so anything could happen in that match.

 

[Billie]

Billie wrote:
I am bad at this but I’ll do it any way: Brands, Sousa, Bautista Agut and Garcia-Lopez. I am giving the 2 Spaniards home court advantage.

OK, we split our predictions. Let’s see. I’ll buy you an ice-cream if you’re right.

Ha...I am probably not going to be right.  I took Brands because one of my friends likes him so what is the logic in that?  LOL  But he is having a nice tournament so who knows. ;-)

 

 

[Moxie]

Moxie wrote:
<blockquote>
Billie wrote:
I am bad at this but I’ll do it any way: Brands, Sousa, Bautista Agut and Garcia-Lopez. I am giving the 2 Spaniards home court advantage.

OK, we split our predictions. Let’s see. I’ll buy you an ice-cream if you’re right.

</blockquote>
Ha…I am probably not going to be right. I took Brands because one of my friends likes him so what is the logic in that? LOL But he is having a nice tournament so who knows.

Aw, go with the gut, or bet with your friend.  All good.  That's what we do, most of the time, right?  It's not like we have a scouting report on all of them at any given moment.

 

[isabelle]

I wonder who'll win Valencia, I have no idea

 

[herios]

Very good performance by Stevie Johnson, he defeats Garcia-Lopez in straights and keeps the momentum going.

Vasek and Joao Sousa also won.

 

[Moxie]

I like both Garcia-Lopez and Johnson. Garcia Lopez is playing as well as ever at 31 and Johnson is having a breakthrough on hos own. I always thought, ever since I started to follow Johnson, that he will develop in his 26-30 years, due to his late start of the pro-career, going to college first. He is 25, but he will keep developing like a 21y old, so he is far from maturing as a player. This is good for the American tennis, because his improvement is mirroring Jack Sock’s so they go up in tandem. Both Sock and Johnson will be moving into the top 20 sooner or later. GG Loppez is having a great year as well, so anything could happen in that match.

You make a good point about Johnson developing late.  I heard today that he was something like 70-0 during his college career.  He got GGL in straights today, which was a bit of a surprise.  Didn't see the match.  Anyway, like you, I like both of those guys...late-bloomers, both.

 

[Billie]

Billie wrote:
I am bad at this but I’ll do it any way: Brands, Sousa, Bautista Agut and Garcia-Lopez. I am giving the 2 Spaniards home court advantage.

OK, we split our predictions. Let’s see. I’ll buy you an ice-cream if you’re right.

I'd set my mind on a really big ice-cream, but I knew it.    I am happy for Vasek, naturally.  I am hoping for Sousa to get to the final, but this is a good opportunity for all 4 players to shine tomorrow so really any result is possible.