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.

yes but when you're injured Ferrer's an absolute nightmare to play and that's what happened today unfortunately.

A very disappointing result for Andy Murray. I can't judge the performance as I was working and never saw the match but in any case he will now find it ultra-tough to qualify for the semis now.

He lost to a one player who can't really hurt him on this surface..

So surely he will do vice versa and beat 2 players that he shouldn't beat on this surf...

I like your logic JM, but can't see it. His only hope is Djokovic may not be 100%, and berdy could have a melt-down, but unless that hip/groin responds to treatment quickly I'm struggling to see how it can happen.

The way this event is going I can see Federer going in on Tuesday thinking he could beat Nadal and set up a chance to be in the semis with Tsonga, Ferrer and Berdy.

You could say the same for Nadal I guess, but I think Fed will beat Fish whereas I reckon J-W will take Nadal.

So all 3 phsyical players are physically impaired, yet they talk about how they need to get fitter and stronger as we just heard in Murray's interview before this match.

What about improving the feel for the ball and hit flatter FHs and BHs, saving those legs of 20+ shot rallies?

I guess they have a point that on those surfaces a good FH and BH don't really help.

CaledonianCraig wrote:A very disappointing result for Andy Murray. I can't judge the performance as I was working and never saw the match but in any case he will now find it ultra-tough to qualify for the semis now.

He waa doing OK CC until he sustained a groin injury - Unfortunately he wasn't able to move

properly after that >

He waa doing OK CC until he sustained a groin injury - Unfortunately he wasn't able to move

properly after that >

Andy Murray's pampering PR team - ladies and gents.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

He waa doing OK CC until he sustained a groin injury - Unfortunately he wasn't able to move

properly after that >

Andy Murray's pampering PR team everybody.

I don't understand that sentence JM

Off to O2 now, "see" you there

Enjoy NITB. Maybe with some luck we will have a good match tonight at last!.

A break, a veritable break! Berdy has it in the bag. This I´ll be over in less than an hour

berdych playing very well so far.

Evening gents.

Btw, Go Berdych Go!!!!!! 4:0

4-0 Berdy.

NITB must be pulling her hair out.

Hahahaha

The Nadal-slayer is being slayed at the moment.

A good drop-shot from Djoko.

Djokovic has hardly anything on his serves, playing too defensive also on return. Dunno how he wins tonite..

Yeah and he's static hitting his BH, kind of stuck or saving his back muscles.

There's one break back, don't think he gets back in this set though.

From top 4, probably only Fed in Semis.

But we have just seen a good reminder of what Djoko's game is.

1 point on Berdych's serve had a long rally with impressive retrieving that blunt Berdych for the rest of the game surrendering one break to Djoko.

Every service game from him is poor..

No conviction, energy, blasting..

Now Rusedski applauding Djokovic for delay of serve.

Crazy bias.

His serve doesn't seem to be hampered by the shoulder.

He's regularly serving in the 120's.

It's his ground game that is being bullied by the Berd.

Rusedski is such an annoying, cheesy, big mouth. I hate his jaw and grin.

Berdy giving away this game, and set it looks.

oh dear, the Berd's feathers are ruffled.

Finaly first serve in.

The miss of the tournament from Berdy.

Djoko crying for the net call, Rusedsky siding with Djoko. 5:2

Nole will win the WTF.

era, don't ruin the thread with silly predictions.

6:3.

3 winners compared to 10 for his lesser opponent, really?

Clearly a weak era mug..

eraldeen wrote:Nole will win the WTF.

It won't surprise me despite the loss of this set.

But once again we see how those slow courts favours the big hitters.

Novak starting to take control, Berdy must hold here.

Berdy broken. 2:0 Djoko. We're in for the third set here.

Just wearing him down now. Start of the 2nd set and a player is wilting.

Berdych is doomed!

bogbrush wrote:Just wearing him down now. Start of the 2nd set and a player is wilting.

Exactly. Game over.

Exactly. Game over.

You act like Berdych has never played long matches before...

This is Berdy's biggest problem,

when it gets tight, his first serve goes missing.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

Exactly. Game over.

You act like Berdych has never played long matches before...

He can play long matches but his FH is losing precision as the match goes on.

Didn't Djokovic crush Berdych in last years WTF?

Not as if he can only beat him playing defensively.

Berdy defeating himself.

Please someone in the crowd throw a stone in Rusedski's box and tell him to stop using the word "absolute shocker" so often. We're not shocked absolutely with anything here.

Jahu wrote:Berdy defeating himself.

Please someone in the crowd throw a stone in Rusedski's box and tell him to stop using the word "absolute shocker" so often. We're not shocked absolutely with anything here.

Except his commentary.

Djoko is an amazing returner.

Berdy needs this game to wrap up this match. 40;40