ATP World Tour Finals 2011, London Calling

First topic message reminder :

Here we go again!

Final tournament for the best 8 of 2011: Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Federer, Ferrer, Berdych, Tsonga, Fish.


Some call it the 5th slam, some see it as an exhibiton, as for me, it presents as a super opportunity to expereience some more tennis thrill before the Christmas off-season, to see, hopefully some good matches and the legends of the game, LIVE!!!!

This time last year, the weather was awful, tube drivers were striking, 606v2 didn't exist, I had a near-death experience, and Nole managed to put TWO lenses in one eye and was considered by most to be a one slam wonder....


Haven't things changed in the meantime ?

So, I'm taking this last opportunity of 2011 to:

1) watch tennis in GMT time-zone and not have to wear massive bags under my eyes every morning
2) see a civilized scenario of 2 matches a day (must say a perfect portion!)
3) enjoy seeing those matches in the packed O2 arena every day for every match


And because one never knows what another day may bring, who may or may not be in London this time next year, because above all we all love tennis, let's enjoy the last stop of this 2011 quirky, cosy tennis ride, let the WTF commence


Order of play for Sunday, 18th of November 2011:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Finals/2011.aspx


P.S.

There will be a few people form this forum going to O2 next week. Please find a bit of time to give us your first-hand impressions and perhaps photos and personal anecdotes.

God willing, I'll be there on Sunday and Monday evening sessions.

Must be the lunch with Djoko they had....

TB time

Crazy game, Fish struggles these 2 last games, than this one takes it like a joke. 6:6.

first mini-break to Nadal, Fish FH into the net

Fish playing silly now. 4:1

big second serve, 4-2

What a winner from Fish, 4:3

i cant call it. Mardy hits winners or Mardy hits UEs. Nadal is just passive

Fish is finished. 27 UE. Matchpoint for Nadal.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Nadal had to play a decent returner tonight?

Finished. Good match, ruined by TB. Well done Nadal, probably his worst match of the year.

oooooooooooh he loses on a horrible UE

so Nadal much like Federer dodges a serious bullet in his first match. Fish has only himself to blame, the FH let him down big time...

Fish will regret this, he scored most of the proper points but he choked when it mattered

Nadal stomach problems it seems.

Nadal always has some kind of problem; he's never been 100% fit in his entire career.

Fish stuffed it colossally!
Definitely let Nadal off the hook...

I would not be surprised if Fish was still playing with 100% natural gut. His shots haven't got the power one would expect from a guy of this size and he does a few UEs ineherent to natural strings. But on the other hand he gets a better feel for his volleys.

How did Nadal win that? Horrendous display.

Two matches, both were of rubbish standards, I was disappointed by Fed- Tsonga match but Nadal- Fish was even more horrible, hope Monday matches excite the crowd and fans.

I think the court is terrible. They are playing on sand paper with bad bounces and all players are struggling with it. Also, there have little chance to get used to it.

The one who should have done better is Nadal cause he takes the ball latest.

Why pick on Nadal, Tenez? Stupid question I know. After all you are forever saying how untalented Rafael Nadal is so why expect more from him. Going by common logiic you should have been expecting more from Federer considering how you see him as the God of tennis talents so of one placed so high surely he should be expected (more than anyone else) to be best prepared to adapt to different court conditions.

He said "cause he takes the ball latest".

Based on the first day I see Tsonga and Federer going forward from this group.

But surely, as tenez sees Federer as a tennis God more is expected of gods? After all Nadal is not rated by him so why expect so much more from him. Whereas Fed is everything and more to tenez so should he not expect more from him regardless of the surface as greatest of all time player surely he can adapt to all surfaces effortlessly?

CaledonianCraig wrote:But surely, as tenez sees Federer as a tennis God more is expected of gods? After all Nadal is not rated by him so why expect so much more from him. Whereas Fed is everything and more to tenez so should he not expect more from him regardless of the surface as greatest of all time player surely he can adapt to all surfaces effortlessly?

Glad I haven't picked on Andy yet!

I am stating a pure fact that is all. You don't have Nadal in your top ten most talented players at the moment so your expectations for him should be considerably lower than the likes of Federer who is perceived as a tennis God. Now as both won their matches yesterday I cannot see why the need to have a dig at Nadal yet Fed the God is excused. Sorry but if you continue to put players on a ten foot pedestal then people expect more from him than players you don't rate.

Oh I see - You got angry cause I did not put Andy in my top 10 of most talented either.

I am not sure what you are on about! I don;t deny that Nadal won 10 slams so he woudl be in my top 10, even top 1 when it comes to other factors. I expected those other factors to make him a clear favourite v Fish on surfaces likes that. However he clearly was physically (his major factor) under par yesterday.

I find your argument about putting Federer in a 10ft pedestal a bit ridiculous. As if I was the only one who do so and as if we shoudl not when it comes to tennis.

But once again, you are on a crusade versus posters whereas I am expressing views on tennis players. You keep doing this basic mistake. This forum is about discussing tennis matters not having a go at its members.

Who is angry? Not me. I have put my opinion across in a calm manner and where am I attacking posters? Also how can you expect more from a rusty Nadal than Federer on the back of two tournament wins. Fed is widely seen as the greatest so surely we should come to expect the greatest from him - not more from a rusty Nadal.

players out, warming up.

Ugly outfit from Murray. It looks like the 1982 European flag!

Is Fedal match tomorrow afternoon or evening?

Murray eventually breaks at the fourth time of asking, but it's not particularly inspiring yet is it, And I agree with you Tenez, WHAT is Murray wearing?

Murray makes four UEs to gift it straight back. Rubbish match again...

Come on, Muzza.

The fitter Murray gets, the worse his FH!

What time is the Fedal match?

emancipator - it's an evening one (according to the 02 marketing email I got a few hours ago ...!)

of course it would help Murray if he actually hit the ball in the court...

Thx Lags, excellento.

woooooooooooooooow

vat a vorhand from Muzza

Murray starting to find his range in that game, despite some great hustling from Ferrer.

not so good in that one though, three poor errors and a decent point from Ferrer, who leads 4-3

Ferrer looks kinda juicy.

I wonder what he's been drinking

better hold from Murray with a couple of decent forehands and an ace.

What Ferrer wouldn't give for some depth on his FH.

Ferrer holds on, Murray still unable to find his rhythm.

Not a good match so far. Murray's serve a total mess. Momentarily it looked like his forehand was The Real Deal but then straight back to the loopy semi-moonballing.

this is dreadful from Murray, seems to really be struggling with his movement...

awful, awful set from Murray, dunno what the problem is but he needs to find a solution quickly.

6:4 Ferrer.

Andy first serve: 37%, Ferrer 56%.

Andy having medical in court.