ATP 500 Basel 2011

First topic message reminder :

After a long pre off-season season, a week of delicious tennis is upon us.

The field is studded with top hard-courters lead by The Best, the In-Hot-Form and the Goat, formerly known as the local ball-boy.

Also in Basel we have: Berdych, Wawrinka, Fish, Tispsarevic, Roddick, Ljubicic.

The tournament sounds great on paper, and it's a shame we are missing French players Tsonga and Monfils.

The big question has been answered: Federer falls in Murray's half (cooo, I must say that sounds weird...)

The draw:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/328/mds.pdf


Matches start tomorrow, with the "big" names probably starting on Tuesday, Nole's first match against Malisse starts at 17.30.

Order of play (the final) for Sunday, 6th of November

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/328/op.pdf


Provided he continues where he stopped in September form-wise, Nole should get through his half safely. The juicy question is: who will be on the other side of the net this time next week?

Ah, well.....Set 3...Nole does need all the practice he can get at this stage of injury comeback

Only watched since about 2-2 in this set, but Nole's returning looks a bit off, he's missing a lot of second serve returns, and not always when he's looking for winners either, which is unusual for him. He's also looking a step slower on court. Both of these of course are probably down to the longish break he's just had I'd have thought.

1:1 in sets. Third Djoko. 2:0.

3:0, For some reason, Nole doesn't look very happy, I hope he feels 100% , mind you, he does have that perfectionist streak....he had those moments even during The Streak.

Malisse chases a drop-shot and tumbles down terribly. I hope he finishes the match.

Ow! Malisse has just taken a heck of a tumble. Hope he is ok, there is a fair bit of blood on his knee area.

Big graze on the leg, his finger blleding badly, ouch, that must have burnt like hell...

ooo nasty, Malisse catches the umpire's chair and trips over it as he tries to chase down a drop shot.

Malisse is a heavy lad..

noleisthebest wrote:3:0, For some reason, Nole doesn't look very happy, I hope he feels 100% , mind you, he does have that perfectionist streak....he had those moments even during The Streak.

I think he's unhappy at letting a set slip on the back of a sloppy service game (two DFs I think). He's playing OK, maybe a bit better than that, and about where was expecting him to be at, i.e. looking short of match practise but too good for Malisse.

In slow motion all the weight was on the left hip, and from quite a bit of height for a tennis fall. He'll be sore tomorrow morning...

that must have hurt, but nothing seemed to twist or anything, so I think there'll just be some nasty bruises and burns.

No doubt that this ATP 500 hus turned into a slam. I have never seen so much interst in a 500 event.
Malisse do have a favourable h2h against Djoko and has troubled him in the past. The court too seems to be really fast for Djoko's liking. Nole is not playing like no. 1 here, probably because he does not have to in the first round.

wow wrote:No doubt that this ATP 500 hus turned into a slam. I have never seen so much interst in a 500 event.
Malisse do have a favourable h2h against Djoko and has troubled him in the past. The court too seems to be really fast for Djoko's liking. Nole is not playing like no. 1 here, probably because he does not have to in the first round.

or maybe because he's had a 6 week break.

Just comparing the 1st round of a 500 ATP event, to that embarrassment and shocker of WTA glam tournament last week

And the match goes on....I don't mind

noleisthebest wrote:Just comparing the 1st round of a 500 ATP event, to that embarrassment and shocker of WTA glam tournament last week

Kvitova and Stosur played well though.

Azarenka was the best. But watching her play I struggle to concentrate on tennis

Malisse hanging in there 6-5 to Djokovic.

I may have spoken too soon. Malisse serving 0-30.

Dang I wish my online feed would work so I am not subjected to football!!

It's all over. Djokovic wins! Can't wait for Murray tomorrow.

legendkillar wrote:Dang I wish my online feed would work so I am not subjected to football!!

Do you have the tennis picture and Valencia football commentary as well??

Well done Nole.......looked tight match by scoreline!

Looking forward to AM tomorrow

And finally, it's over 7:5 .
Nole gives the on-court interview, says he hasn't touched the ball for 4.5 weeks, (and it's truly impressive how he played with only 10 days of practice before the tournament).
He also said he's happy to be back on the court after the worst injury in his career, so I'm glad he's back with a win and that the shoulder seemed to have held well.

WELCOME BACK NOLEEEEEEEEE and for all his fans on this forum a big slice of and or all on NOLEISTHEBEST

noleisthebest wrote:And finally, it's over 7:5 .
Nole gives the on-court interview, says he hasn't touched the ball for 4.5 weeks, and it's truly impressive how he played with only 10 days of practice before the tournament.
He also said he's happy to be back on the court after the worst injury in his career, so I'm glad he's back with a win and that the shoulder seemed to have held well.

WELCOME BACK NOLEEEEEEEEE

Thanks NITB - really grateful you are relating bits of interview. Thank goodness he feels shoulder held well - I was v worried for him after US. Off for lovely long glass of wine now......b****ger work!

Schedule of play out for tomorrow. Murray 2nd on centre court,NB 3PM.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/328/op.pdf

time please wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:And finally, it's over 7:5 .
Nole gives the on-court interview, says he hasn't touched the ball for 4.5 weeks, and it's truly impressive how he played with only 10 days of practice before the tournament.
He also said he's happy to be back on the court after the worst injury in his career, so I'm glad he's back with a win and that the shoulder seemed to have held well.

WELCOME BACK NOLEEEEEEEEE

Thanks NITB - really grateful you are relating bits of interview. Thank goodness he feels shoulder held well - I was v worried for him after US. Off for lovely long glass of wine now......b****ger work!

I'll join you, it's time to toast, after all it does seem to have been a nasty muscle injury, thankfully not ligaments or tendons, but musle tears can take a bit of time to heal, esp if they have been deep. The worst bit is i they don't heal properly. Nole looked good in that regard.

carrieg4 wrote:

legendkillar wrote:Dang I wish my online feed would work so I am not subjected to football!!

Do you have the tennis picture and Valencia football commentary as well??

I didn't even get a picture!!

legendkillar wrote:

carrieg4 wrote:

legendkillar wrote:Dang I wish my online feed would work so I am not subjected to football!!

Do you have the tennis picture and Valencia football commentary as well??

I didn't even get a picture!!

Ouch!

Just seen the picture of Djokovic walking on to court in his Joker mask - i missed the first few minutes

Very funny picture - I'm not sure I am allowed to post it but it is on the ATP world tour account on twitter.

What a crap few days it has been for LK!!!

Poor LK, sounds like you need a

Thanks carrieg4

carrieg4 wrote:Very funny picture

Indeed thanks for the heads-up re: twitter

Well done Nole ... Hmmm sounds like a good title for a new thread.

Anyway good to hear that Nole is back playing competitively again. I think he would be advised not to overdo it on his first tournament back. There's the WTF to aim for as well as, in less than 11 weeks time, an Australian Open to defend.

Saw it from second set, Djoko in second set didn't look like he wanted to be there, third so so. If he and Fed don't step it up, can't see them going to SF.

Oh and Djoko shrieks quiet some when hitting the ball, good little puppy.

Here are some pics, mainly for nitb:







Tomorrow is a busy day, with Andy at 4pm, Fed at 6pm , Roddick at 8pm local time.

BTW, Llondra and Ljubicic are slogging it in the 2nd set, does anyone remember this incident:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/4389625.stm

noleisthebest wrote:BTW, Llondra and Ljubicic are slogging it in the 2nd set, does anyone remember this incident:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/4389625.stm

Yep, I can't watch him play without thinking about it.

Thanks for the photos....did you have that apple cake at Manor?

I think Djoker gave the second set away to give a false sense of hope to Nadal fans

None left, only some nasty cinnamon cake and a superb Nespreso.

Jahu wrote:None left, only some nasty cinnamon cake and a superb Nespreso.

you need to get there for breakfast!!!!used to be my highlight on Saturday mornings...I do miss Die Berge...spectacular, breathtaking countrysade...I'd finish the sentence in style but don't want too incur the wrath of the mods

Nishikori playing well against Berdych.

laverfan wrote:Nishikori playing well against Berdych.

I saw the score 10 mins ago thought Berdy was steamrolling him...wow the 3rd set now, I'll tune in

Good, old Looby has put the past behind him...no skeletons in the cupboard to bother him...

Nishikori up a break in the third.

laverfan wrote:Nishikori up a break in the third.

... and consolidates the break.

0-30 Nishikori up.

Berdych looks so one-dimensional at the moment....