ATP 1000: Monte Carlo (Daily Order Of Play)!

First topic message reminder :

Monte Carlo.... tennis is finally coming home!

After weeks of sleepless nights caused by travelless jetlag, tennis caravan is back to where it belongs and looks best: Europe!

Ahead are a few potentially historically huge months:

Novak Djokovic could be the first man after Rod Laver to hold all 4 slam titles.

He could also be the first man to achieve the Golden slam, if he wins the gold at the Olympics.

All grand dreams, very difficult to achieve, yet, for this grand dreamer, nothing is impossible

Back to Monte Carlo, and the first 1000 Masters even on clay:

Bar Federer's last minute wild-card change of mind, all the best players are in town:

*Legendary Rafael Nadal with his mind-boggling 7 straight tournament wins.
*Novak Djokovic with his mind-boggling 7 straight finals wins over Nadal
*Andy Murray , pressure free and hungry. Could surprise many.
*David Ferrer, the eternal bridesmaid...will give someone a great workout in the semi-final!
*Delpo? No Federer in the draw, may release the "old" smooth powerhouse.

and.....

everybody else except the Biggest clay question mark called Isner, who withdrew from the tournament needing rest and preparation for the remainder of the season.

Official website:

http://www.monte-carlorolexmasters.com/


The Draw:

http://www.monte-carlorolexmasters.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?Year=2012&Draw=ms

Easier to follow, PDF version of the draw:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2012/410/mds.pdf

Order of play for Wednesday, 17th of April (no PDF version yet):

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Scores/schedule.aspx?EventId=410&Year=2012&Seq=5

Set in the glorious scenery of glittering, breath-taking sparkling Medditeranean vista, I will be there daily in spirit sighing and dreaming....

For Monte Carlo with its vintage charm, class and timeless air of dolce vita is my favourite tournament (let's leave that heart-breaker called Wimbledon out of this conversation just this once!)

I have bought a large vintage poster of Monte Carlo recently, and it hangs framed behind my desk reminding me of those days when the world took its time....and nobody moaned that much ....and ladies wore dresses when they played....and looked and behaved like ladies ....

http://img2.photographersdirect.com/img/16398/wm/pd1802170.jpg

Now, let's get into the mood, shall we?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFabjc6mFk4


AND, last but not the least...

GO NOLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!1

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:This 99.99% figure is your own calculation, don't try to thrust your findings on others.

Firstly as I said above, please keep your finding as your own treasury, don't thrust it on others. Its your finding that running, retrieving and outlasting are easy. I nor anyone hasn't mentioned anything like that.

I thought this was a Tennis forum, where opinion is sought. Apologies, I must be wrong. I should realise that your muses are correct and mine wrong. I mean where is it my "finding that running etc are easy". But you're not surmising are you?

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote: You and Murray's teddy bear can celebrate it if you want to, everyone don't have to join in.

No-ones saying you have to!! What's your problem? I actually admire all the skills of the Tennis players with Murray, Fed's and Nole's (along with Tsonga, Wawrinka, Dolgo and Gasquet's) more than most. My beef is why people have to start making sarcastic comments when a commentator mentions how skilled Murray is - no other player gets this reaction (same commentator also said we need to keep our feet on the ground about yesterday's win)

Can you explain why? Is it the classic case of some not like all the media attention he gets and allowing that to influence their opinion about his game. Seems to be this, judged on this latest discussion. Commentator says something good about Murray. Almost at the blink of an eye, you can guarantee numerous negative comments (usually with "fanboy" within them). Ironically, those doing it don't realise how mentally weak they are to be influenced in such a manner

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:There are also some who have played tennis and think his skills are not good enough. Shall I bring out the names?

If you wish. What will the point be though? None would as be as abrasive those, who've barely got the grace to applaud a great performance when you see them. I don't think Del Potro is that skilful, but have often fully acknowledged him when he's played well

Mad for Chelsea wrote:trouble is, having watched Dolgo a fair amount over the last three years or so, I'm not convinced he'll ever really have that consistency: too much of a maverick IMO, which is why I see him constantly hovering around the 10-15 mark in the rankings, but never breaking into the top 5 (I'd love to be proved wrong though).

Tomic I see as ultimately being the higher ranked of the two, IF (decent-sized if) he can screw his head on.

yes, but what a maverick, utter treasure!

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Djokovic breaks first up, just finding his feet, Seppi with a couple of ordinary forehands, but Djokovic looks good already. I'm just not sure how Seppi is going to hurt Djokovic, he doesn't really have the weight of shot or the consistency to do so.

Nice bit of cat and mouse there with Seppi coming out on top, Djokovic with a slip but he's fine.

I expect Nole to clean up during this clay court season. Wouldn't be surprised to see him win every event

superb BH down the line from Djokovic, easy hold. I think if Seppi wins three games today he's done alright.

Nole looking good and ready

Seppi works his way to 30-0 but then makes three pretty awful error. A rally ensues, and we know what will happen there, Djokovic works the opening, and it's 4-0 already.

Seppi making a fight of that game, but just too many errors. Djokovic leads 5-0 and doesn't even look like breaking a sweat.

GO Seppi GO

Jahu wrote:GO Seppi GO

...and Seppi goes....down the pan....Nole breaks

He's better looking than Djoko, so eat your heart out

Jahu wrote:He's better looking than Djoko, so eat your heart out

not better, but def good looking....

I don't expect taste form a Djoko fan.

p.s. now don't turn this into a personal attack you against me, as it happens usually...

Commentators announcing Davy's just become a dad (girl!) Congratulations

P.S.
now he'll have to delay his retirement for 2022...

OT: Does any one remember Petr Korda? His daughter Jessica won the womans Golf championship in Australia a few weeks ago. Nice jump from tennis daddy.

Nole in straights

Would love to se a Nole Fognini in the quarters

Benneteau through, as well.

Nadal Niemenen & Berdych Cilic next

Decent performance by Seppi in the end, just could not win enough points off his own serve to really
threaten the king. Dolgopolov will get his teeth into Djokovic's heart round 3

Tipsarevic is sprinting past Monty, too. Impressive.

let the moonball commence.....

Here we go - Mr. Dodgy knees who's had only 4 days practice on clay since pulling out of Miami starting a very important tournament for him.

Rafa looking sharp.

BTW, Wooffie is in Monte Carlo this year AGAIN!!!! I am GREEN with envy

Can't see Nieminen holding serve too much today.

GO Nieminen GO, kick some spanish tapas.

Fairly comfy start for Nads by the looks of it.

I'm not watching - is Nadal playing an unusual game for him, concentrating on his own serve now he's got the break and not going for every shot on Nieminen's serve, or is the latter serving very well?

I don't think it's a case of Rafa concentrating on his own serve, more a case of Nieminen playing some pretty good stuff. Nadal hasn't quite settled either yet, quite a few mishits.

Thanks, I see Nadal's now forced a deuce. Anyway, Nieminen hasn't layed a glove on Nadal's serve yet and he's running out of time this set. Looks like it will be a straightforward win.

Never banked on Jarkko winning 4 gamesin a set. Keep it up, Jark.

Andujar breaks big Stan

Berdych goes from 5-1 up to 5-6 down

Berdych

clutch from Nadal! at 15-30 down he makes the first serves, and finishes off with three forehand winners off the next shot

C'mon Bird!

Wawrinka's game is much better, dominated Andujar throughout.

Kukushkin v Nadal 3rd round, of course its standard.

Nieminen breaks Nadal

That didnt last and Nadal breaks right back for the match

Wooffie will be happy

that wasn't bad from Nadal, a bit rusty at first but improved as the game went on. Certainly should make the final on that showing...

Mad for Chelsea wrote:that wasn't bad from Nadal, a bit rusty at first but improved as the game went on. Certainly should make the final on that showing...

He would make the final serving under arm not as if there are clay players with any sort of strong mentality these days.
Stat:

https://2img.net/h/oi39.tinypic.com/347u0dw.png

Well spotted JM about Bellu v Ferrer. Looks like he is about to create the upset.

Bellucci loves the clay im happily surprised he's controlled Ferrer so effectively

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

Mad for Chelsea wrote:that wasn't bad from Nadal, a bit rusty at first but improved as the game went on. Certainly should make the final on that showing...

He would make the final serving under arm not as if there are clay players with any sort of strong mentality these days.
Stat:

[url=https://2img.net/h/oi39.tinypic.com/347u0dw.png

https://2img.net/h/oi39.tinypic.com/347u0dw.png[/quote[/url]]

the death of tennis...

Bellucci played some excellent stuff at IW (albeit on HC of course ) last month against Fed, and looked extremely hacked off with himself for missing out on what he must have felt was a golden opportunity that day ......

Lags

Bellucci loves playing the big players, can lose to some average players though but on his day is easily top 20.

He didn't give Ferrer a single break point, really rare!

He has Haase in next round, should be a win to the QF where he should meet Djoker

ORDER OF PLAY OUT FOR TOMORROW:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Scores/schedule.aspx?EventId=410&Year=2012&Seq=6

Court Central

Murray Benneteau (should be a good one as Ben appears to be on form)
Verdasco Tsonga (brutal bludgeoning at its worst vs powerful flair)
Djokovic Dolgopolov (match of the day IMO)
Kukushkin Nadal (instead of getting tougher, Nadal's opponents get easier as the tournament progresses)

Court Des Princes

Nishikori Berdych (could be tricky for Bird)
Tipsarevic Simon (Simon in two very tight sets, should be a great one as well)
Haase Bellucci (3 sets of crazy hitting)
Almagro Wawrinka (lefty SBH vs a righty SBH, mmmm)

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Lags

Bellucci loves playing the big players, can lose to some average players though but on his day is easily top 20.

............................................................................................................................

JM - I can't claim to know a lot about Bellucci's game, but what you say certainly makes sense. His performance at IW was a good example of just how he well he is capable of playing. It was only Federer's battle hardened seen-it-all-before, done-it-all-before experience that saw him through that day.

nitb - nice, pithy preview of tomorrow's match-ups. Neatly described

anyone watching?