Doha 2012

by Tenez Thu 05 Jan 2012, 2:51 pm

First topic message reminder :

Federer seems in trouble. He lost his serve 10 times (or so) versus Seppi, managed to win the first set and was a point of being 0/4 down.

I have only seen a few points but the first impression is that he refuses to rally and goes for broke. Injury or else?

by sirfredperry Fri 06 Jan 2012, 2:14 pm

May be Djoko was the sensible one by not playing before the AO. Difficult to know what's best. I reckon if you're going to play it's best to play Auckland or Brisbane as it's the same continent and it should be warmer.
A bit of real sun on Fed's back and he should be fine. Besides, injuries can concentrate the mind. Look how well Murray did in a slam last year when he was concerned about an injury.

by Positively 4th Street Fri 06 Jan 2012, 2:18 pm

Tenez wrote:The extra time he takes is 10 seconds per point if first serve, another 7 to 10 sec if second serve, ridiculously more if it's a let. It's just absurd and the extra shots per rallies are close to negligeable. at the very most you can add 4 sec per points for longer rallies, not 20s as the stats show.

Some are always ready to excuse the unexcusable. That's the problem and why he dares taking this extra time. He knows that in the crowd some are willing to see him win even if it involves cheating.

I am not excusing anything, just don't like to see conclusions drawn from a flawed premise. You have a valid point, but the comparison used is not right.

I still maintain, as alluded to by others, that if it bothered the players that much, or that they felt cheated then they would clearly come out and vent their spleen about it. If they truly thought they had been robbed of a victory, or, worse still, a slam win then it would take the patience of Job to stay quiet.

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 2:25 pm

Jahu wrote:Edberg looking younger than many active players, nice to see him in action.

Agreed. When you look at retired players most look overweight and much older. Edberg looks almost unchanged.

Good on him. The arching of his back on the serve however is gone. As stiff as me I guess.

by LuvSports! Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:08 pm

allez monfils! 6-3 first set Very Happy

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:09 pm

I have never seen Monfils playing that well.

He was belting winners from all over the place.

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:10 pm

BTW, who won between Edberg and Tsonga? Wink

by LuvSports! Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:16 pm

ahhh rafa breaks at the first attempt in 2nd set 2-0

by time please Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:26 pm

Jo was looking good in the exho - weight wise I mean, looks to have shed a few pounds and looks lean and mean (in a smiley Jo sort of way)

Lovely to see Edberg play - and I wasn't stressed in this 'semi' at all!

by Jahu Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:39 pm

Monfils breaks back 4:3, superb play by the french.

by LuvSports! Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:39 pm

monfils breaks back hugggeeee hitting Very Happy

by LuvSports! Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:46 pm

wow haha eventualllllly holds phew

by Jahu Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:49 pm

Amazing tennis from Monfils, breaks Nadal for 5:4, now serving for the match

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:51 pm

Yes I have never seen Monfils play that well. He is so different from the player we know. I am not surprised he took a set of Djoko in that exho.

by Jahu Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:53 pm

His forehand is leathal, I guess feels good bashing Nadal.

by LuvSports! Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:56 pm

WHAT A POINTTTTT MATCH POINT WOOWWW

by Jahu Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:57 pm

All done. Well done Monfils, he would of beaten any one tonight. What a point for match point.

by LuvSports! Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:57 pm

ALLLEZZZZ MONFILSSSS WHAT A PERFORMANCE! SLIDERMAN!

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:59 pm

What an amazing rally to get to MP!!!

It made the Djoko v Rafa rallies of teh USO look amateurish in comparison.

2012 is going to be tough for those phyiscal players!

by time please Fri 06 Jan 2012, 4:59 pm

Allez Monfils indeed - who would have thunk it! clap

All French final (just to state the blindingly obvious!)

by Jahu Fri 06 Jan 2012, 5:00 pm

Great to not see Top 4 in this final tomorrow.

by barrystar Fri 06 Jan 2012, 5:00 pm

Last time Monfils beat Nadal at Doha was 2009. A good sign for Rafa?

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 5:01 pm

The thing Nadal didn't play badly.

But once again, isn;t it strange how the crowd again ends up on Nadal's opponent's side cause they feel they see the risk taker trying to put away a very sticky retriever.

by prostaff85 Fri 06 Jan 2012, 5:03 pm

Monfils is one of those rare players that can beat the superstars even when they're playing rather well.

by time please Fri 06 Jan 2012, 5:05 pm

Jahu wrote:Great to not see Top 4 in this final tomorrow.

It is refreshing to see some different finals I agree Jahu - it would be really fascinating if the top four were challenged a little more often in 2012 - not that I wish any of them ill, it would just be great to see some other challengers coming through now - seems a long time coming.

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 5:14 pm

And a French winner guaranteed!

by Mad for Chelsea Fri 06 Jan 2012, 6:04 pm

Monfils would be a very good player if he played like that all the time (and by that I mean not just sitting five yards behind the baseline waiting for the error). Unfortunately that's one of only three matches I've seen Monfils play with that attacking mindset, so I'm not holding my breath...

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 6:22 pm

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Monfils would be a very good player if he played like that all the time (and by that I mean not just sitting five yards behind the baseline waiting for the error). Unfortunately that's one of only three matches I've seen Monfils play with that attacking mindset, so I'm not holding my breath...

That's where Nadal can coem handy. By himself standing far back, it allows typical retrievers like Monfils and Andy to turn into attacking players on the day.

by time please Fri 06 Jan 2012, 6:42 pm

I wish I had watched.....just followed the scores on the web. Monfils is an exasperating player I find - he can be brilliant, but he can just play completely horribly or so recklessly that it is a wonder he has not injured himself very badly.

Still when he is on, he is very entertaining to watch.

Does anyone have a brave predicition for tomorrow's final?

by **JuliusHMarx** Fri 06 Jan 2012, 6:47 pm

time please wrote:Does anyone have a brave predicition for tomorrow's final?

Yes, the two will come to blows after a perceived insult regarding Monfils anatomical short-comings. But they'll make up and have a picnic after the first set, then get married in a civil ceremony in the Maldives.
Predictions don't come much braver than that.

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 6:49 pm

time please wrote:Does anyone have a brave predicition for tomorrow's final?

My money would be on Tsonga. He can turn Monfils back to a retriever.

by time please Fri 06 Jan 2012, 6:52 pm

JuliusHMarx wrote:
time please wrote:Does anyone have a brave predicition for tomorrow's final?

Yes, the two will come to blows after a perceived insult regarding Monfils anatomical short-comings. But they'll make up and have a picnic after the first set, then get married in a civil ceremony in the Maldives.
Predictions don't come much braver than that.

Can I have some of whatever you're smoking Julius? Laugh

It's going to be one of those weekends and I reckon I'm worth it!

Tenez - didn't see match, but I'm going for Tsonga too

by legendkillar Fri 06 Jan 2012, 6:54 pm

Tenez, least you won't be leaving the forum for another year Wink

by Tenez Fri 06 Jan 2012, 6:55 pm

legendkillar wrote:Tenez, least you won't be leaving the forum for another year

Never in doubt mate! Wink

What Monfils beat, Federer would have beaten! Hug

by legendkillar Fri 06 Jan 2012, 6:58 pm

Tenez wrote:
legendkillar wrote:Tenez, least you won't be leaving the forum for another year

Never in doubt mate!

What Monfils beat, Federer would have beaten!

Though with both 'injured' I wonder who would've shaken hands at the net first? Wink

by invisiblecoolers Fri 06 Jan 2012, 7:12 pm

well i did feel both Fed and Rafa will not make the finals when T and A where squaring off for the Fedal finals, yea money is on Tsonga, Monfils played superb but he never maintains that for the next match of the tournament, I remember the match he bet Fed from match points down was stunning performance and he followed it up with a nonsensical performance in the final.

Tats Monfils for you.

by **laverfan** Fri 06 Jan 2012, 7:29 pm

JHM... Maldives or Melbourne? Wink

Would vote for Tsonga for tomorrow.

by legendkillar Fri 06 Jan 2012, 7:33 pm

I will go for Monfils as no-one else is Very Happy

by Tenez Sat 07 Jan 2012, 4:32 pm

Anyone watching? it's ridiculously slow. When you have 2 big athletes like that it simply not worthh it to go for winners.

by LuvSports! Sat 07 Jan 2012, 4:37 pm

monfillsss blowssss it Sad

by hawkeye Sat 07 Jan 2012, 4:39 pm

I am glad Federer has headed off to a sunnier climate. I don't think that damp cold weather would be good for his back.

by Tenez Sat 07 Jan 2012, 6:01 pm

As predicted, Tsonga turned Monfils back into a retriever. Monfils produced great shots v Rafa cause the pace of Rafa shots allowed him more time to aim and pull winners. But against Tsonga, Monfils could not attack as safely as the ball was coming back at a faster pace.

Tsonga did to Monfils what Federer does to Tsonga and all players: Rush them enough to take them out of their comfort zone.

by Guest Sat 07 Jan 2012, 11:23 pm

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wins the 2012 Qatar ExxonMobil Open tournament.

So ExxonMobil the American multinational oil and gas corporation, famed for its pollution of the Arctic coastline, the Newtown creek in New York, and shady environmental record, and for funding anti-climate change organisations and lobbyists, has been bank-rolling this tournament.

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