The impossible 8 in a row

The feat of winning for 8 years in a row has never been achieved at any tournament by any male or female player in any era.

Most achieved was 7 years in a row by Court, Sears, Gonzales, Rosewall and Nadal.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_non-Grand_Slam_tennis_statistics_and_records

Looks like Nadal has history against him to win MC for 8 years in a row. Has never been achieved.

It says Nadal is THE ONLY player to win it 7 cons. times for a single tournament

"The only player to win seven consecutive titles at a single tournament in the Open Era: Monte Carlo 2005–2011."

But I agree. Cant see Nadal getting past Djoker if they meet in the finals. Maybe Berdych can do some damage

I do see Rafa making it eight.

I think it's his incredible record here that will give him the edge + extra confidence needed against Djoker. I'd say the odds are 60/40 in his favour for this one.

But Berdy could conceivably upset Novak before that .......

Djokovic, with his recent personal travails, may be an easy target for Berdych. Berdych is playing well. To beat Djokovic and Nadal is a tall order, but perhaps he wants the MC clay title too.

Just testing

With me apparently banned from sending pms but not posts, I am now completely confused at what the rules are.

At least I can't be told off for saying publicly what I should have done privately. Maybe I should pm someone? Oh wait...

There is nothing wrong with your pm's BB, but just to confirm with all that is happening at the moment, advertising other sites (including forums) is against our site rules, and other members have been given a permanent ban due to it.

Gav, please let's take some heat out of everything. I didn't advertise, I regretfully (check the pm) mentioned to a mod what I was up to, on a PRIVATE message. Hardly advertising. And admin says I can't pm.

I have checked the admin system and there is nothing wrong with your pm facility.

I cant see Berdy getting past Djoko...it requires Berdy to have to focus the whole match, point in, point out and thats something he's not that good at (similar to Murray really)...it all hinges on whether Djoko gives him an easy(ier) ride or not.

After the play acting at Miami, I very much hope that Novak beats Nadal but I wouldn't bet against the latter retaining his crown here particularly as Novak is, understandably, up and down on the concentration front.

Yes TP can't be easy for Nole after his loss but then he has the mind of a champion and may try to use the loss as motivation, I.e. do it for his grandad?

Is it going to be 8 MCs in a row or 8 straight losses to Novak in finals?

Whatever the answer I certainly see this as the biggest match since the Australian Open in prestige and importance.

I disagree Henman Bill, I think the two US masters on hardcourt are both bigger and just as prestigious.

I think this match is more imporant than the two US Masters finals just because of who the protagonists are and what it may mean for the clay court season ahead, so I am with HB on that one.

Haven't seen much of the action this week, and none of Nadal, so difficult to form an opinion. Djokovic has become the master of winning in adverse circumsances though, and has been relentless in his pursuit of Nadal's titles. I give him the edge, but hope I am wrong both as a Nadal fan and because I think it will make for a more interesting few months if this rivalry can have a bit more uncertainty to it once again.

Djokovic in 2.

It is shame that they seem to be having so much problem with the court surface at one end - apparently there is little to be done about it without digging up the court because it is the foundation layers that are giving way. The court was having to be raked in one corner every few games yesterday and apparently Murray had been too worried about the risk of injury to pursue some balls landing in this region.

I think this may have been the bit that caused Benneteau's falls and injuries, but not sure.

time please wrote:It is shame that they seem to be having so much problem with the court surface at one end - apparently there is little to be done about it without digging up the court because it is the foundation layers that are giving way. The court was having to be raked in one corner every few games yesterday and apparently Murray had been too worried about the risk of injury to pursue some balls landing in this region.

I think this may have been the bit that caused Benneteau's falls and injuries, but not sure.

This can't be the reason for Murray's loss though, right? I mean they do change ends after all.

Anyway if this is true, it is disgraceful that players should have to worry about safety at such a prestigious event. They should have taken the time to sort the court out before allowing play - poor Benneteau!

It's horrible what happened to Benneteau, and in exactly the same place where Monaco fell too. No wonder the other players are wary of that area - the damage to Julien is significant, not so much his ankle as his wrist and elbow where he's likely torn ligaments which is a disaster with so much tennis coming up the next few weeks. Clay courts are vulnerable to cracking as often the top clay layer isn't that thick...looks like MC have some head scratching to do...and their reputation to uphold as well!

I didn't know Monaco fell there too - awful.

Yep reckoner, Benneteau has fractured his right elbow...complete nightmare injury. Monaco has torn ankle ligaments...all in the same place.
MC is one of the slowest clay courts...partly as they put on a huge amount of top dressing...this makes the court very slippy and the clay seems to be cracking this year too,..maybe this year excessive dressing is abrading the court. The issue here may be that clumps of excessive dressing are coming together to form chunks of clay under compression which makes the players fall over on long slides or far outstretched reaches for the ball. The wind present for much of the week might be clumping it together too. Not good preparation by MC and they're potentially endangering careers if they're guilty of excessive dressing.

Thanks for the info. Lydian. Looks like "Monte Carlo" have prepared a mine field of a clay court. Perhaps heads should roll.

It's a monarchy, so it could happen!

reckoner wrote:It's a monarchy, so it could happen!

That's a good one

Aside: Money rules I suppose, Billionnaires, Aristocracy, Royalty. It's about time the Guillotine was introduced to this remnant of feudalism. Liberté, égalité, fraternité anyone?