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.

trainer on for Murray

C´mon Muzza. Let the tennis do the talking

This does not look great - the tournament has not caught light yet this year. Let's hope Murray's alright. If it were to turn out that both him and Djoko are seriously under par that would be a disaster.

Each year so far at the O2 there's been a great story.

2009 was Del boy and Soderling ripping it up from the off and an inspired Davydenko, who's seldom boring to watch.

2010 was Fed's rejuvenation and a huge performance from Nadal

2011 is only 2.5 matches in out of 15, but it does not look like the year's showpiece so far.

Murray in lots of trouble here. The upside is that he is facing a guy who hasn't got the greatest head to head against him on indoor surfaces.

unbelievable miss from Ferrer with Murray stranded at the net, and it's a break first up for Murray. Doesn't look happy still but he's fighting for all he's worth, COME ON ANDY!

Jahu wrote:6:4 Ferrer.

Andy first serve: 37%, Ferrer 56%.

Andy having medical in court.

That first serve percentage is woeful. Murray has lows that are just that much lower than the other top 4, even on a rotten day the other three would not produce a percentage like that. Frustrating as his serve can be a real weapon.

better from Murray that, timing a little better in that game and he consolidates for 2-0.

Funny watching them both, with absolutely no power in FH or BH. Ferrer gifting the third game 40:0 to 40:40 hitting the net constantly.

This top 8 tournament should be played in January after 2 months rest, yesterday and todays games look like a retired seniors tennis.

Murray broken back 2;2.

and on cue, Murray comes up with a poor service game, he needs to make Ferrer work a lot harder.

Ferrer out-aceing Murray, not something you'd expect to see. Wonder what the problem with Murray's leg was, it seems to be effecting the more "dynamic" movements (push-off and small steps to adjust to the ball) rather than the actual running part.

Finally a superb winner from Murray.

three net chords in one game?!?! that's just taking the urine

Crowd less than cheerful for Andy...

Murray nearly looses his serve again. 3:3

gutsy hold in the end from Murray, now can he pressure the Ferrer serve?

Murray breaks 4:3, going for a 3 setter

Suddenly Murray found a non patt-a-cake forehand and it won him the point to set up a break. I hope he realises that he needs a few more of them.

there again, twice in two points got too close to the ball

What an awful wide forehand on game point - Muzza's got to consolidate.

Now he's facing a break point, then he aces for the deuce and then looses three points in a row with DF. Ferrer breaks back 4;4.

well he tossed that away, the injury is obviously affecting him but he HAS to make Ferrer work harder than that

Murray is crazy if he's going to lose this. I saw them live last year and it was
6 2 6 2 to Murray.

Murray can't seem to be running, playing silly net shots, beeing lobbed and left asleep. Go on boy!!!! 5:4 F

he's injured BITF, groin apparently.

Crowd have been really short-changed for this match, and there seem to be tickets available for every match.

well Murray battles through to stay alive, but it's a close-run thing.

So is it a fair assumption that if he loses he will pull out and then the next poor bugger has no chance to qualify. Ludicrous in my eyes.

If he's injured he should of rested and get ready for AO.

good thing I caught him last year; he was great.

This far this tournament has looked like more of a provincial satellite tournment than the masters.

6:5 F

That backhand of Murray's into the net - it wasn't going to be much use to him even if it made it over.

legendkillar wrote:So is it a fair assumption that if he loses he will pull out and then the next poor bugger has no chance to qualify. Ludicrous in my eyes.

well TBH the next "poor bugger" would have had a better chance had he qualified by right, but I get what you're saying. Not sure Murray will pull out yet, probably see how he responds to treatment.

nice backhand from Murray for 30 15

Murray looks like he's really struggling to get his feet in the right place to hit - he's getting himself there or thereabouts, but too many of his errors seem to come from sub-optimal positioning.

Well done Ferrer, super play in last game. Murray should go home and rest his injury, no point playing here. Very sad.

there it is

this tournament has been a real shambles so far

Go Ferrer!

Well played Ferrer. I guess he'll be in the semis.

There is no cure for Mental Midgetitis...

wonder if we'll see Andy in action again this year

Ferrer is most certainly not the kind of player you want to be facing when injured...

Well done Ferrer, Murray may have been below par, but he did what needed to be done.

Ferrer was my 'dark horse' of the finals - he's got a few toes in the SF now.

Assuming Murray is not going to recover from that injury, Federer will re-take No. 3 if he makes the final.

Andrew Castle saying it's a good thing Djokovic is injured....1ST CLASS MORON

noleisthebest wrote:Andrew Castle saying it's a good thing Djokovic is injured....1ST CLASS MORON

Absolutely agree with you. Celebrating an injury for another player's sake. There should be a petition to make Castle go.

He also said "The crowd are a bit flat now that Murray has lost"... who is he trying to kid?

laverfan wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Andrew Castle saying it's a good thing Djokovic is injured....1ST CLASS MORON

Absolutely agree with you. Celebrating an injury for another player's sake. There should be a petition to make Castle go.

It depends upon how he said it. If he's saying that it may play to Murray's advantage that (if?) Djoko is injured that's a statement of fact, if he's saying, "thank heavens Djoko's injured because Murray still has a chance" he's a tool.

He was just wumming and clearly it's worked on you NITB.

barrystar wrote:

laverfan wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Andrew Castle saying it's a good thing Djokovic is injured....1ST CLASS MORON

Absolutely agree with you. Celebrating an injury for another player's sake. There should be a petition to make Castle go.

It depends upon how he said it. If he's saying that it may play to Murray's advantage that (if?) Djoko is injured that's a statement of fact, if he's saying, "thank heavens Djoko's injured because Murray still has a chance" he's a tool.

That's exactly how he said it...

Ferrer is a sort of Spanish version of Tim Henman, except he's not as entertaining to watch. He's not going to put bums on seats this tournament.

Ferrer doesnt have any big shots... didn't people say Murray only loses to those with "big" shots?!