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.

3:0

Warning.....medical timeout approaching for Djoko and then he will quit.

7 games in a row.

Jahu wrote:Yeah usual Balkans conspiracy nitb?

Can you elaborate, please?

bogbrush wrote:7 games in a row.

noleisthebest wrote:

Jahu wrote:Yeah usual Balkans conspiracy nitb?

Can you elaborate, please?

Tipsy will usher him into the semis, no question.

Bog got it. Also Noah penny was a cheap hit from nitb

Bogbrush, bog in serbian means God

What? Is this a stitch up? Have there been deals done behind the scenes?
What is this freakish score?

4:1 Ferrer. Deals are never far away.

Djokovic turning into Nadull, taking his foot off the gas in tournaments that are not GS/played on clay etc.

No gas here man, his body is ruined and he wants this as much as anyone.

Jahu wrote:No gas here man, his body is ruined and he wants this as much as anyone.

Djokovic wants this win, like Scrooge wants to celebrate Christmas.

5:1, so Djoko:Tipsy 6:1, 6:0?

noleisthebest wrote:The price of following a player, having to watch his matches against Ferrer

Is this going to come back to haunt you NITB?
Wait, Ferrer still has time to bottle. Will someone give an analysis of what the heck is going on out there?

3:0

Warning.....medical timeout approaching for Djoko and then he will quit.

Tipsy on the line to Serbian High Command right now.

Well done Ferrer, Djoko gave this match away, and only he knows what calculations has he done with his team.

bogbrush wrote:Tipsy on the line to Serbian High Command right now.

That has been sorted before this match, ordered received soldier.

Well, at least some Federer fans are happy two nights in a row....

Sad for Nole, he didn't like that loss at all.

well that was an absolute thrashing, Ferrer played superbly so hats off to him. Djokovic in trouble in this group.

Ferrer through to the semis and guaranteed to top the group, did not see that one coming...

So Fed:Berdy or Djoko SF, and Ferrer;Tsonga?

noleisthebest wrote:Sad for Nole, he didn't like that loss at all.

I am certainly not convinced he cared!

nitb, you will have your night with Djoko:Tipsy, guaranteed the master or the puppet will win.

Could it be possible that Djoko thought it woudl be better to play Federer in Semi than in Final after a match v Tsong or Nadal?

Ferrer played as well as he was let to.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Sad for Nole, he didn't like that loss at all.

I am certainly not convinced he cared!

He probably didn't result wise but just hated the loss, it was all over his face at the net. Not a big deal.

Tenez wrote:Could it be possible that Djoko thought it woudl be better to play Federer in Semi than in Final after a match v Tsong or Nadal?

Ferrer played as well as he was let to.

TBH, I'm not convinced his heart's in it 100% (mainly due to the lack of peak form which he know he needs for the weekend). We'll see.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:well that was an absolute thrashing, Ferrer played superbly so hats off to him. Djokovic in trouble in this group.

Ferrer through to the semis and guaranteed to top the group, did not see that one coming...

Ferrer is through, but he is not yet guaranteed to top the group.
If Djokovic loses to Tipsarevic, and Berdych beats Ferrer, then Berdych would be top and Ferrer 2nd (based on H2H).

If Djokovic beats Tipsarevic, then Ferrer will top the group.

He seemed to care v Berdych. But looking at their handshake, there might be some history between those 2.

What an excuse? His heart is not in it, he came for the money in Paris, got thrashed in Basel, what else?

Don't think he's in need of any medical/emotional/financial excuses, he's done enough this year.

Now all we need to make the O2 a success is to have Fed bagel him in SF.

Maybe he put some wheat in his bottle!

Ferrer was my dark horse, he may be sensing a replay of 2007 - but he may need to avoid Fed in the SF for that; he'd be a tough SF opponent for Nadal should they qualify 1st and 2nd respectively.

I did not watch, but I can't believe that Djoko is 100%, and the qualifiers from his group have to play 3 matches in a row on Friday, Saturday, Sunday to win it.

On paper the cards are falling well for Federer, but he'd better not let his standard drop - colonel shanko usually puts in at least one appearance a tournament, and it better be tomorrow if at all.

What if Fed loses to Fish tomorrow and avoids Djoko in SF? And Nadal beats Tsonga? Possible?

zaron wrote:

Mad for Chelsea wrote:well that was an absolute thrashing, Ferrer played superbly so hats off to him. Djokovic in trouble in this group.

Ferrer through to the semis and guaranteed to top the group, did not see that one coming...

Ferrer is through, but he is not yet guaranteed to top the group.
If Djokovic loses to Tipsarevic, and Berdych beats Ferrer, then Berdych would be top and Ferrer 2nd (based on H2H).

If Djokovic beats Tipsarevic, then Ferrer will top the group.

good point, Ferrer is through. Interestingly if Berdych beats Ferrer in straight sets Djokovic would be out. Let the conspiracy theories commence...

Very possible that nadal and djokovic could go out early, would be a real shame for the event. Djokovic just did not look interested tonight. After the season he has had, hard to complain too much. I think nadal will try and save himself for Davis cup and djokovic has burnt out. Must be so hard to just keep winning and pick yourself up each and every week. Bet they can't wait for a break and a few beers! Who could blame them. Hats off to ferrer, he played great and deserves his place, so consistent each year.

Federers tournament to lose with the others out of form. Tournament very disappointing so far

I did not watch, but I can't believe that Djoko is 100%, and the qualifiers from his group have to play 3 matches in a row on Friday, Saturday, Sunday to win it.

I watched from about midway through the first set, and I have to say that I thought Djokovic was pretty much at 100% fitness. He just didn't play well enough, and Ferrer barely gave him anything in the second set. It was a bit disappointing that Djokovic didn't try to change things up much at all; he just kept plugging away from the back of the court and eventually made an error.

Novak just looks like he is out of gas completely atm - a bit like Rafa too (taking nothing away from TMF or the gallant Ferrer!) They are like two heavyweight boxers who have succeeded in rendering the other one punch drunk at the end of the season.

Boris not impressed with Novak's effort during second set - he wasn't very impressed with Murray pulling out with a sore muscle in groin either!!! Quite entertaining watching Annabel, Marcus and Rusedski trying to head him off for the last few days.

I'm not sure how Nole doesn't care about this - he's just put qualification into Berdys hands.

I think he definitely cares - he is just spent, mentally and physically atm. He needs a good holiday now.

Some of those UEs just looked as if his brain was fried with fatigue!

Tenez wrote:He seemed to care v Berdych. But looking at their handshake, there might be some history between those 2.

Quite a bit...I don't think Berdych is among the most popular guys in the locker room.

why NITB? Berdych and Tipsarevic seemed quite friendly, and I think Janko spoke warmly of him before the match.

Do tell.............(plumps up cushions comfortably and prepares for gossip!)

Federer at The Emirates tonight (with Thierry Henry) eating a burger. Obviously not too bothered about tomorrow.

Since we're talking now gibberish and Djoko has too look good and be loved in locker room, i think with Berdy it's something to do with their gf.

[quote="time please"]why NITB? Berdych and Tipsarevic seemed quite friendly, and I think Janko spoke warmly of him before the match.

Do tell.............(plumps up cushions comfortably and prepares for gossip!)[/quote

Sorry, but I'd rather not...no point if you haven't noticed it yourself by now....

Calder106 wrote:Federer at The Emirates tonight (with Thierry Henry) eating a burger. Obviously not too bothered about tomorrow.

You ARE joking!?

Djoko, it started last year with DC, it ended this year with DC.

time please wrote:why NITB? Berdych and Tipsarevic seemed quite friendly, and I think Janko spoke warmly of him before the match.

Do tell.............(plumps up cushions comfortably and prepares for gossip!)

Rumour has that when Tomas and Novak played a match that during a rally Novak cried out "oh yuk birdsh!t on the court" and Tomas thought Novak was insulting him and Novak said he didn't and that a bird did sh!t on the court. Tomas didn't believe him hence the heat between the two.

I actually think the Berdy match took alot mentally out of Nole, this on top of a long tough (but successful) year. Both he and Nadal have pushed each other to limits...both look pretty spent. Time for a break.

Nole is a very intricate, complex, delicate person, yet he is phenomenally resilient and impregnable at the same time.
Very live mind and spirit, as well.
Oh, am I beginning to write an article on Nole...
No, I've just been to Tennis.com and heard some beautiful jazz. That guy Steve Tignor can really pull the strings of my heart

So, the buzz in Serbia is that Djoko has gone awol since he stopped seeing Dr. Igor Četojević, acupuncturist with special skills and master of SCIO.

The SCIO is the most advanced bio-resonant medical therapy device in the world today. This highly sensitive, computerized biofeedback device gathers bio-energetic data from the client, sort and prioritize it and then tests the client’s own energetic reactivity to a wide range of health issues. In this way it provides the practitioner with a far more accurate picture of the client’s health and allows him/her to offer precise wellness advice.

http://docigor.org/

Add to this the egg chamber, and it seems that these lab tests have ruined Djoko.

lydian wrote: Both he and Nadal have pushed each other to limits...both look pretty spent. Time for a break.

I am not sure how a match finished 2 and a half months ago can still weight in the legs of those players. Federer also played all slams nearly as far as those 2 plus he played 10 more matches than them roughly in teh last month.

To me fatigue, be it physical or mental, is not the reason to explain the poor display of the top 2.