Madrid Masters - Day 4 thread

[lydian]

Morning all, a fantastic line-up of tennis matches today as we start getting to the business end of the event:

1 N. Djokovic vs. S. Wawrinka May 10, 7:45 PM
On this quick surface could Stan be the man? His BH is a great spectacle and Nole hates Smurf-Clay but hard to see a win for the Swiss understudy.

3 R. Federer vs. 14 R. Gasquet May 10, 5:45 PM
You have to figure Reeshard will be his usual whipping boy for Roger...BUT just how stiff will the maestro be today?

7 J. Tipsarevic vs. 9 G. Simon May 10, 5:30 PM
Simon has been in good form of late so I'm going with him in 3 sets - probably the most competitive - but boring? - match today.

5 D. Ferrer vs. 11 N. Almagro May 10, 3:30 PM
Interesting match-up...Almagro will blow hot and cold but 'Daveeeeeed' will grind him down with metronomic consistency.

2 R. Nadal vs. 15 F. Verdasco May 10, 2:15 PM
Oh dear...Verdasco hates facing Nadal as it usually entails a trip or two to the bakery. Usual order for Rafa today - grass shoes or not.

10 J. del Potro vs. M. Cilic May 10, 1:30 PM
Battle of the serve & FHs...Cilic has looked good this week, I'm going for the surprise upset with Cilic-Bang today.

4 J. Tsonga vs. 16 A. Dolgopolov May 10, 12:00 PM
Should be a very entertaining match---from 2 entertaining players! I fancy Alexandr to have too much clay guile for Jo-Dubya today.

6 T. Berdych vs. 12 G. Monfils May 10, 12:00 PM
As usual, what side of the bed will Berdy get out of this morning? Monfils is bound to bring his gangly brand of entertaining tennis. Berdy to edge it.

Any views on the above matches welcome

[Haddie-nuff]

Nole-Stan.. True Nole doesn´t like the Smurf Turf but cannot see an upset from Stan
Roger v Reeechard.. true Roger may be a little stiff.. but he has shaken the rust off and a bit of WD40 he will be fine
Tipsy and Simon.. agree a boring match but I too give it to Gilles
Dabeeed and Nico.. should be a good match.. Nico can play some good stuff but against "the Ferret" I think he will be lucky to pull it off.. he could if he wasnt so prone to choking
Rafa and Nando... well what can one say.. poor old Nando he is doubtless on a hiding to nothing.. though give it to him if he is on form should be some interesting tennis.
Delpo-Cilic.. cant imagine it being awe inspiring but probably a tight match they both seem to have improved at the same time... battle of the giants.
JT and Dogo... this should be interesting.. I love watching Dolgopolov mix it up.. if he could only harness that talent a little more and rein it in a bit against Jo Boy I can see him winning.. probably three sets
Berdy v Montfils .. I can see a bit of scurrying on the old Smurf turf by Montfils..
I think he will be less inhibited by the slippery conditions myself... I think he will go for it personally a win possibly three sets though

[lags72]

You've set the scene really well lydian It really is a tasty line-up, perhaps one of the best of 2012 to date

I'm pretty much on the same wavelength as regards your predictions. Just a few thoughts of my own .....

- Stan can put on an impressive show when his 'A' game clicks, but even at his best he invariably falls just short against the big guys. So for me Djoker will just have too much

- Federer needs more recovery time as the years inevitably catch up with the old man. He should be more into his groove today (Raonic did a fine job in getting him thoroughly warmed-up after the long lay-off !!) and there will be FAR fewer missiles for him to dodge, and hence far fewer UE's. But let's not forget that it's 2-1 to Gasquet on clay ........

- Tipsy v Simon : can't say I've ever heard of too many folk fighting to get their hands on tickets to watch either of these two, but who knows .... it could be better than we might expect. I don't really know who will take it, 50/50 for me.

- Ferrer has been performing really well in 2012, as evidenced by his impressive 29-5 W/L record. He will win today - even if it involves the usual grinding tactic as per lydian's assessment

- "Can you hear the score Fernanado ?" "GSM Nadal" announces the umpire in accordance with standard practice

- Delpo to win this one IMO, and if he doesn't then the questions as to just when we can finally expect him to see him "back to his best" will inevitably grow louder .....

- Tsonga v Dolgopolov definitely one of the most interesting of the day and I'm struggling to call it myself. I like Dolgo a lot and his no-nonsense style and want to see him climb up the rankings. But JWT is an experienced campaigner who can (and has) beat even the big boys when his engine's running hot

- Can't say I really care too much who prevails in Berdy v Monfils, and I'd be surprised if either of them go on to make it through to the business end anyway

Let battle commence !

[prostaff85]

Wow, Berdych beat Monfils 6-1 6-1 !
In this form he could even challenge Nadal I guess...

[Haddie-nuff]

I am no good at this predicting malarky obviously

[lydian]

haha HN...not sure anyone would predict Gael taking 2 trips to the boulangerie so early today! Amazing...but that is what Berdy can do on fire...just a shame he can never harness if for long epriods.

[JuliusHMarx]

haha HN...not sure anyone would predict Gael taking 2 trips to the boulangerie so early today! Amazing...but that is what Berdy can do on fire...just a shame he can never harness if for long epriods.

Did someone mention Boo lingerie? Where's Boo?

[reckoner]

haha HN...not sure anyone would predict Gael taking 2 trips to the boulangerie so early today! Amazing...but that is what Berdy can do on fire...just a shame he can never harness if for long epriods.

Did someone mention Boo lingerie? Where's Boo?

This thread is heading in a wan direction...

[JuliusHMarx]

haha HN...not sure anyone would predict Gael taking 2 trips to the boulangerie so early today! Amazing...but that is what Berdy can do on fire...just a shame he can never harness if for long epriods.

Did someone mention Boo lingerie? Where's Boo?

This thread is heading in a wan direction...

Maybe we need a New Edition...

[reckoner]

Entirely your prerogative!

[reckoner]

I messed up that was a solo effort from BB I think

[Haddie-nuff]

Thank you Dolgopolov I was running out of eggs !!!

[lydian]

Is that a Bobby Brown song reckoner?

Good call Haddie, was a close one though! Didnt see the match but looks like it would have been a good one.

[lydian]

Hey up....Verdasco isnt reading the script! 2-0 up...

(if could ever hold it together this court suits his huge serve and FH though)

[reckoner]

Is that a Bobby Brown song reckoner?

Good call Haddie, was a close one though! Didnt see the match but looks like it would have been a good one.

cough, I'm ashamed to say yes it is...

[Haddie-nuff]

Yes Lydian it was close... but a good match.
They both played well.. but Dolgo is improving all the time imo

[lydian]

lol....and as they say in tennis, "Two can play that game"!

[Haddie-nuff]

And did lol !!!

[lydian]

Love to watch Dolgo play Haddie, he's like a box of frogs at times but with maturity will come better shot selection and refinement - almost becoming a solid top 10er at this rate. Hope his blood condition doesnt hold him back too much at the majors.

I see Verdasco clearly shocked himself, read the script and promptly dropped his serve. At least he's avoided the boo-lingerie (lol JHM) visit this set.

[JuliusHMarx]

Verdasco should quit while he's...errr...level.

[lydian]

haha JHM

Verdasco has now had the temerity to take 3 games off Rafa in a set...this is virtually unheard of. Rafa must be in a state of shock, nay panic!

But as Vitus said, no-one takes Verdasco to the breadshop 18 times on the trot.

[Haddie-nuff]

Dolgo for me is so refreshing... Im sure that the shot he selects sometimes is the one that immediately comes to mind .. I dont think he knows what he will do till he hits the ball. He is master at confusing his oponent and not letting them settle into any kind of rhythm... like Tomic but better. My only criticism of him is that sometimes I wish he would rally a little longer instead of going for the big shot and making an UE But he has such a variety in his game he is fascinating to watch.. His serve is good and mostly reliable.. he can return well and his court coverage is great. He Im sure will win a big one one day. I was unaware he had a health problem though.

Forehando Fernando exasperates me at times... he could have and should have been brilliant in his earlier days if he hadn´t spent most of his time chasing the girls ...He is sticking to the script at the moment but Rafa seems to be taking a long time to settle.

[lydian]

Hey haddie, I was over there at the weekend. Saturday was a little dull, Sunday better but Monday was blazing hot! I think summer has arrived over there!

Yes dolgo is good fun to watch, but his shot selection I think makes his matches harder than they need to be sometimes...and as you say he needs a little more patience, but still he;s young. Yes he has a similar condition to that Sampras had....can lead to fatigue in long matches, and poorer recovery between them.

Verdasco is a complete conundrum. He had the game to do alot of damage on tour....a 140mph serve and THAT forehand as you mention. But he can still cause problems when his game clicks, although against Nadal after AO'09 he mentally unravels. But who knows, today he may be able to harness it all together for once...and this surface must be to his liking with the flat hitting power he has.

[lydian]

I see its not a case of "Cilic-Bang" on the other court so far...JMDP 3-1 up

[Haddie-nuff]

Its blazing hot today Lydian...Summer has definitely arrived.

Has anyone told Rafa he is supposed to be on court playing Verdasco this afternoon cos I ent too sure who that bloke is out there in a peach shirt.
!!!!!

[JuliusHMarx]

Forehando Fernando exasperates me at times... he could have and should have been brilliant in his earlier days if he hadn´t spent most of his time chasing the girls

Verdasco impresses me - he could be brilliant at tennis but instead he chases the girls. Cool!

Is the current scoreline evidence that it's clay Jim, but not as we know it. (It's worse than that, it's blue Jim!)

[Haddie-nuff]

I said he COULD have Julius

Well certainly its not to Rafa´s liking thats for sure.
Verdasco was brought up on the hard courts of Madrid so I would say he looks more at home than Rafa does. It seems that as the week is progressing and it is as I say extremely hot here now that the court is getting harder.
Rafa looks unsure of his footing at the back of the court

[JuliusHMarx]

At school I had a pottery teacher called Mr. Clay - FACT!

[Haddie-nuff]

Fact
In my first job I worked with a Mr Long A Mr Short and a Mr. Shorter
truth!!!

[Haddie-nuff]

Well Rafa it seems that your friend Nando is trying to tell you something..

[JuliusHMarx]

At my tennis club there is a Mr Serve and Mr Volley
(OK, that one I just made up)

[Guest]

Is Tenez in the media ring for Sky???

They keep badgering about the time between points. Nadal taking 40 seconds???

[bogbrush]

About time too.

I think once this started being discussed it would get a foothold, and now it has.

[Guest]

They have been on it since the back end of the US hardcourt season last year. It seems to get swept under the carpet. I know Fleming in the past has been annoyed with it being discussed and not much change for him to elaborate on.

[bogbrush]

How long was Federer/Raonic for 4-6, 7-5, 7-6? 2hrs 13m, I checked.

Nadal/Verdasco now up to 1hr 20 for 6-3, 1-1.

[Guest]

Though didn't someone pass out in the crowd? I know there was a massive interval at 4-2 in the first.

[JuliusHMarx]

Though didn't someone pass out in the crowd?

It turned out they'd just fallen asleep.
(Joke!)

[Guest]

80 points played in 85 minutes.

Seems a lot of frustration from the commentators.

[lags72]

Classic time-wasting tactics from Rafa from all that I'm hearing. But of course ultimately, highly effective - as so often in the past.

I wouldn't put so much as £1 on Verdasco now taking the match.

[Haddie-nuff]

Classic time-wasting tactics from Rafa from all that I'm hearing. But of course ultimately, highly effective - as so often in the past.

I wouldn't put so much as £1 on Verdasco now taking the match.

I would not in any way defend Rafa for the time wasting... but hey Verdasco is doing a bit of his own methinks !!!

[lags72]

Well if he wishes to do so there's no shortage of expert tuition readily available to him in that department on the other side of the net. A chance to learn from the Master !

[lydian]

Saw Federer complete a service game in 1 min 12 secs last night!

Yeah its almost 2hrs now for 2 sets and they're not even TBs (1 set all).
115 points in 120 mins.

Anyway, HN I think you have a good point...Verdasco is a hardcourt player (hence he strong match with Nadal at AO09) and is clearly doing better here than normal against Nadal on clay. The clay will just get harder and harder all week as the temp is meant to climb and climb until Sunday. Surely a big server is going to win the title this week? (and I include Federer in that group).

[lydian]

Cilic has been banged out of the tournament...62 64.

[Guest]

Verdasco has taken the urine pardon my french.

Made me laugh when the umpire told the crowd to be quiet when in fact Verdasco couldn't be bothered with the ball toss!

[Haddie-nuff]

True lags.. and I would not dispute that for one moment.. I dont like it any more than anyone else. But once you apply those rules they have to be adhered to by ALL players. Rafa´s time wasting is obvious made so by the fact that all the Nadal bashers will make sure you are aware of it and so everyone is tuned in to watching and timing him. But there are other players out there who are much more subtle than Rafa... no I wont string of names but there are various ways of time wasting even challenging a call when they know full well its a correct call.
I would like him to stop but only the powers that be can do anything about it.
So until they do I just wish everyone would stop whinging about it.

[Guest]

Both players taking 35 seconds between points.

I think it is conclusive enough that Nadal is not the only culprit.

[Haddie-nuff]

LK absolutely

[Guest]

The match in general has been bizarre.

Verdasco has had Rafa on the ropes and has done some bizarre things. The 2 minute delay before the next game in the second set. Just now asking when new balls are due when they are only 3 games old. The time wasting, he has taken it to a whole new level of ridicule. Seems like Nando wants to get a tan as well as play a match of tennis.

Not seen Nadal so unsettled on clay. Maybe the blue stuff is messing with his mind

[lydian]

Not watching the match - are the crowd rooting for Verdasco seen as he is the literally local boy?

Sounds a bizarre match. Verdasco will ultimately commit hari-kari and fold...he always does.

[lags72]

Saw Federer complete a service game in 1 min 12 secs last night!

What a lazy slouch he can be at times. Have often seen him wrap up a service game in 58 secs flat.

Guess we have to make allowances given how rusty he must have been after the 5 week lay-off .......

H-n : fair points. It really is up to the powers that be to stop it, as you say. On the very rare occasions that an opponent does protest to the Umpire (understandably a tricky thing to do, given how much it can end up unsettling the 'complainant' rather than Rafa himself) then action is taken. But that's all the more shameful because it just highlights the fact that the Umpire isn't doing his job properly to start with.

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