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

Dolgo has really improved greatly since getting himself a proper BH instead of that sliced one.

and novak breaks back need 2 watch this!!!

Watching the match ..at laaaast!!!! What happened in the 1st set?

NOle needed m y spirited presence....well, I' m back GO NOLEEE

Whats going on NITB?
Just got back home.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Whats going on NITB?
Just got back home.

Me too

Dolgopolov is a beautiful player though....these performances will give him motivation to make the top 8

noleisthebest wrote:Watching the match ..at laaaast!!!! What happened in the 1st set?

Djokovic was a bit off, particularly on the BH wing where he made a lot of unusual errors. Dolgo also played very well. Opposite story in this set, Novak a bit more solid and Dolgo spraying it around a bit more.

also I read somewhere that Djokovic's grandfather has just died so he's obviously not feeling 100% there.

Thats maaaaaa boy

Mad for Chelsea wrote:also I read somewhere that Djokovic's grandfather has just died so he's obviously not feeling 100% there.

Nooooo!Not his super granddad, NOle said his granddad taught him how to smile.

Simon very hot today!

what happened to Djoko? Didn't really have the opportunity to see the first set........

Super Nole...

Simon very hot today!

Indeed, it's rare that Tipsarevic is destroyed with a bagel And breadstick

Djokovic levels it up, Dolgopolov with 15 UEs in that set which in seven games is never going to get you very far.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Dolgopolov is a beautiful player though....these performances will give him motivation to make the top 8

He is. A bit of a headcase still, too fiery, which is great, just needs to learn to harness it and plough it into a steadier first serve.
His tennis is so aggressive it makes Fed look like a grinder

RAIN ... delay ...

yep, more rain I'm afraid. Not good news for Nadal (though his easier draw should mean two matches in one day won't be too much of a problem). Let's hope it's just a shower.

Nole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2P-KPYKvapk

noleisthebest wrote:

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Dolgopolov is a beautiful player though....these performances will give him motivation to make the top 8

He is. A bit of a headcase still, too fiery, which is great, just needs to learn to harness it and plough it into a steadier first serve.
His tennis is so aggressive it makes Fed look like a grinder

Love that description, paints a great picture !
I'm trying (in vain !) to build a mental image of Federer as a "grinder" ........ it's got me wondering whether anyone has ever played the game more quickly than Fed .......

The thing with Fed is that it goes very fast without him looking ever rushed or rushing.

Come on Dolgo kick his @ss over the sea.

Benneteau sadly breaking his elbow v Murray. He did try to continue...

Djoko being slightly lucky on his serve with 2 extremely deep shots on the line.

What's needed to shake Djoko off!!!! Must be so depressing for his opponents.

he broke his elbow?

ouch that's such a shame won't be back on court for a while then I guess, and he was playing the best tennis of his career too

Yes very sad for Ben. Hopefully, it's a thin line crack.

where did you hear it was broken Tenez? nothing on L'Equipe website...

Mad for Chelsea wrote:where did you hear it was broken Tenez? nothing on L'Equipe website...

The commentators on the forbidden links. I may have have misunderstood. BUt they mentioned Hospital, radio, break...

Djoko swearing like a mad dog. He's broken spiritually. Go Dolgooooo

there it is

Well done Nole

Nole, playing like a Champion, so proud of him

His serve was good at the end. Don't think it will be enough to get him to a final though?

Well toughed out by Nole after such very sad news. What exciting tennis from Dolgopolov as well - so aggressive and varied and what really brilliant defence from Novak to hold him off.

Loved the way that his coach seems to just enjoy wonderful play

Yes, Benetteau has a broken elbow and out for the French. Very sad.

http://fr.sports.yahoo.com/19042012/70/masters-monte-carlo-fracture-du-coude-pour-benneteau.html

This must be the worst draw a number one player has had ever...it's an utter disgrace.

Tenez wrote:Yes, Benetteau has a broken elbow and out for the French. Very sad.

http://fr.sports.yahoo.com/19042012/70/masters-monte-carlo-fracture-du-coude-pour-benneteau.html

oh, such a shame. I've always liked him, he's been away for some time like Mathieu, such a nice and meaty man's game he plays, and unlike Dolgopolov looks like a man, as well

Hope he comes back soon, if it's a hairline one should be back next week, just ask Nadal's doctor for an appointment....

noleisthebest wrote:This must be the worst draw a number one player has had ever...it's an utter disgrace.

You conspirationist!

Proportionally as tough as the other one is easy cheesy peasy. .

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:This must be the worst draw a number one player has had ever...it's an utter disgrace.

You conspirationist!

Proportionally as tough as the other one is easy cheesy peasy. .

I hope Kookoo's serve works for at least one set...

any chance Nole pulls out of tourny due to his grandfather passing?

Dolgo needs lot of improvements if he really wants to be a top player. Some as I see:

1. His 1st serve % is almost always very low. They completely disappear when he really needs them.
2. His return game is weak. He just doesn't put enough balls back in play.
3. He doesn't read the game as well as some of the top guys.
4. His shot selection at times is crazy.
5. He thinks the only way to hit a winner is from the baseline. He just doesn't follow up a wide one with a volley at nets. Instead goes back further and tries to wack it on the bounce.

6. He needs to have patience at times.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Dolgo needs lot of improvements if he really wants to be a top player. Some as I see:

1. His 1st serve % is almost always very low. They completely disappear when he really needs them.
2. His return game is weak. He just doesn't put enough balls back in play.
3. He doesn't read the game as well as some of the top guys.
4. His shot selection at times is crazy.
5. He thinks the only way to hit a winner is from the baseline. He just doesn't follow up a wide one with a volley at nets. Instead goes back further and tries to wack it on the bounce.

6. He needs to have patience at times.

That's tough for someone who was very close to beating the number one in the world!

I think tennis is crazy nowadays. Almost each of Dolgo's shots would have been winners a few years ago. Nowadays, everything comes back....with a vengence, it's really weird.

I agree about your point not following up at the net but again this is such a tricky thing nowadays cause anything short and it's a garanteed passing shot.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Dolgo needs lot of improvements if he really wants to be a top player. Some as I see:

1. His 1st serve % is almost always very low. They completely disappear when he really needs them.
2. His return game is weak. He just doesn't put enough balls back in play.
3. He doesn't read the game as well as some of the top guys.
4. His shot selection at times is crazy.
5. He thinks the only way to hit a winner is from the baseline. He just doesn't follow up a wide one with a volley at nets. Instead goes back further and tries to wack it on the bounce.

6. He needs to have patience at times.

spot on. You forgot the main one: he needs to get a decent ATP haircut.

noleisthebest wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Dolgo needs lot of improvements if he really wants to be a top player. Some as I see:

1. His 1st serve % is almost always very low. They completely disappear when he really needs them.
2. His return game is weak. He just doesn't put enough balls back in play.
3. He doesn't read the game as well as some of the top guys.
4. His shot selection at times is crazy.
5. He thinks the only way to hit a winner is from the baseline. He just doesn't follow up a wide one with a volley at nets. Instead goes back further and tries to wack it on the bounce.

6. He needs to have patience at times.

spot on. You forgot the main one: he needs to get a decent ATP haircut.

He was talking about Dolgo...not Djoko.

TRuffin wrote:any chance Nole pulls out of tourny due to his grandfather passing?

TRuffin - I'd be very surprised if that happens

Everyone's different of course, but I'd say it's more common for pro athletes to carry on and focus on their "job", their philosophy being that a) it helps takes their mind off the bereavement and b) it can strengthen motivation, with the chance to dedicate a trophy (if they can make it) to the memory of the lost relative.

lags72 wrote:

TRuffin wrote:any chance Nole pulls out of tourny due to his grandfather passing?

TRuffin - I'd be very surprised if that happens

Everyone's different of course, but I'd say it's more common for pro athletes to carry on and focus on their "job", their philosophy being that a) it helps takes their mind off the bereavement and b) it can strengthen motivation, with the chance to dedicate a trophy (if they can make it) to the memory of the lost relative.

i think your right- I doubt he would have fought so hard today if he planned on pulling out... but you never know how or when grief hits you.

he could even use it as inspiration, ie Favre's 1st fball game the day after his father passed and he played the game of his life.

bl**dy hell, Nadal is huge - bottom and torso look as if he has really packed on the kilos since Miami. Left bicep is quite frightening:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2131777/Monte-Carlo-Masters-Rafael-Nadal-Novak-Djokovic-win-second-round.html

With the weight that he is carrying and the power shots taken when he is well back on his heels - quite frankly imvho the knees are not a problem or I am a chinaman!

Hasse-Bellucci is going good. It took a while for Bellucci to get up for this match.... but looks like its too late. Hasse playing well.

Tenez wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Dolgo needs lot of improvements if he really wants to be a top player. Some as I see:

1. His 1st serve % is almost always very low. They completely disappear when he really needs them.
2. His return game is weak. He just doesn't put enough balls back in play.
3. He doesn't read the game as well as some of the top guys.
4. His shot selection at times is crazy.
5. He thinks the only way to hit a winner is from the baseline. He just doesn't follow up a wide one with a volley at nets. Instead goes back further and tries to wack it on the bounce.

6. He needs to have patience at times.

That's tough for someone who was very close to beating the number one in the world!

I think tennis is crazy nowadays. Almost each of Dolgo's shots would have been winners a few years ago. Nowadays, everything comes back....with a vengence, it's really weird.

I agree about your point not following up at the net but again this is such a tricky thing nowadays cause anything short and it's a garanteed passing shot.

I didn't mean to criticize Dolgo for this match, it was a very brave effort. But how many times we see a talented lower ranked player playing well but just not able to close it out against top guys. Playing well is one thing, winning is another.

Coming to the net is risky. The strings and racquets these days allow players to hit winners from 4m behind the baseline. Unless the volley is perfect its very likely to get passed. But unless one has ability to keep rallying like Nadal, Murray and Djo, there is no other option.