ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS- LIVE MATCH THREAD

[User 774433]

First topic message reminder :

WIll be updated each day with new schedule:
THE FINALE:

Evening: 8:00 PM Start
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (1) vs ROGER FEDERER (2)


Group standings:
Group A:
Djokovic- 3-0
Murray- 2-1
Berdych- 1-2
Tsonga- 0-3

Group B:
Federer- 2-0
Ferrer- 1-1
Del Potro- 1-1
Tipsarevic- 0-2

Semis:
Djokovic bt Del Potro
Federer bt Murray

[sirfredperry]

Is it just me or does Berdych look slow with poor footwork ?

[LuvSports!]

well at least he is back in it but bar that off game for djoko on serve he looks so easy out there, birdy isn't getting a sniff on the djoko serve,

[lags72]

I'll very surprised if anyone other than Djoko or Murray leaves London with the biggest pay cheque next Monday.

Some useful Christmas shopping money .....

[banbrotam]

Tsonga's two Berdych points away from going out

[sirfredperry]

Djoko thru in straight sets

[banbrotam]

And Berdych blows it

[sirfredperry]

I thought Rafa played the big points well, but Djoko seems equally good at it. Having said that, Berdbrain was a double break up in that tie break and should have won it.

[lags72]

Credit to Djoko for hanging tough in the TB, there were a couple of really good first serves from Berdy that came back with a lot of interest.

There's some serious additional cash on offer if you take the title with no RR defeats. So although today he only needed one set to go through he seemed in no mood to risk losing the match.

[banbrotam]

This means that Andy can get through if he wins one set - not the ideal scenario for someone who can be rubbish when there is not a great need to win

[The Special Juan]

Also, Marray and Freddie are on tonight. They top the group no matter what so can have a free swing tonight v Psycho and Indoor-Hat-Wearer.

[lags72]

This means that Andy can get through if he wins one set - not the ideal scenario for someone who can be rubbish when there is not a great need to win

True enough, but I think he'll put in a solid effort in front of a home crowd and his loss to Djoko means he cannot now pick up the 'undefeated champion' top prize anyway. That's an additional $830K (which I'm sure his girlfriend could have happily spent on shoes ...... ) making $1.7m in all

[The Special Juan]

I'm enjoying having Ross Hutchins as a commentator. It's good to hear someone who's currently playing the game talk about it and he seems to know about the players too.

[The Special Juan]

MarNie aren't playing well tonight. Hope they're just relaxed because they're through.

[FedsFan]

MarNie aren't playing well tonight. Hope they're just relaxed because they're through.

'MarNie' have been riding their luck as they very nearly lost their opener and were on a tightrope in the second tie too. I think semis at the most.

[CaledonianCraig]

Andy Murray takes the first set 6-2 and so qualifies for the semi-finals. I am pretty sure Andy will want to chalk up the win here. Indecisive stuff from Tsonga with Andy being solid enough.

[The Special Juan]

Low quality uninspiring tennis so far (I'm not being harsh, I'm being true).

@FedsFan, that might be true but no one put them away so they're here to stay, until Sunday at least.

[CaledonianCraig]

Low quality uninspiring tennis so far (I'm not being harsh, I'm being true).

Well it does take two players to make a match. Andy has been solid enough without being spectacular but hasn't needed to be.

[Guest]

agree Juan, Murray hit 5 winners in that first set, JWT 4.

slow courts

[CaledonianCraig]

agree Juan, Murray hit 5 winners in that first set, JWT 4.

slow courts

I have always felt Murray was better suited to faster courts myself.

[Guest]

I agree, his serve becomes a weapon, and the FH more decisive

[Danny_1982]

Murray is effective on slow AND fast courts. Unfortunately for the spectacle, Tsonga is being outplayed completely. He's not at the races. Not making for great viewing.

Loving the new challenge replay that Sky have got. Very cool.

[The Special Juan]

The real Tsonga has finally turned up. We have a match now. Errors have been cut down, the winners are flowing, his return of serve is "there" and we're being treated to some 'Tsonga Tennis'

[Danny_1982]

Yeah bit more entertaining now. Tsonga has even got a British crowd cheering for him!! It's like Rocky 4!

[laverfan]

The real Tsonga has finally turned up. We have a match now. Errors have been cut down, the winners are flowing, his return of serve is "there" and we're being treated to some 'Tsonga Tennis'

• If Djokovic beats Berdych in two sets and Tsonga beats Murray in three sets…
- Djokovic wins group, Murray qualifies second

OR

If Djokovic beats Berdych and Murray beats Tsonga…
- Djokovic wins group, Murray qualifies second


makes the results more academic methinks!

Looks like a Federer-Murray and Djokovic-Ferrer SF.

PS: May be a bit hasty. The other side is not clear till tomorrow.

[The Special Juan]

Think Murray's on holiday mentally. Probably suffering from 1st Major Syndrome.

[The Special Juan]

The real Tsonga has finally turned up. We have a match now. Errors have been cut down, the winners are flowing, his return of serve is "there" and we're being treated to some 'Tsonga Tennis'

• If Djokovic beats Berdych in two sets and Tsonga beats Murray in three sets…
- Djokovic wins group, Murray qualifies second

OR

If Djokovic beats Berdych and Murray beats Tsonga…
- Djokovic wins group, Murray qualifies second


makes the results more academic methinks!

Looks like a Federer-Murray and Djokovic-Ferrer SF.

Yeah definitely academic. No pressure on Jo now so why not go out and have a swing.

[laverfan]

Yeah definitely academic. No pressure on Jo now so why not go out and have a swing.

It would be nice to see the 2011 WTF finalist (Tsonga) make a statement with a win.

The Group B is not very clear yet, so my apologies for that.

[The Special Juan]

Yeah definitely academic. No pressure on Jo now so why not go out and have a swing.

It would be nice to see the 2011 WTF finalist (Tsonga) make a statement with a win.

The Group B is not very clear yet, so my apologies for that.

No worries, I know what you mean

Disappointed with Tsonga's performance tonight, especially in the 1st set. Hope RR can help him out.

[laverfan]

Jinxed poor Tsonga.

[banbrotam]

Disappointed with Tsonga's performance tonight, especially in the 1st set.

Me too. But it is typical Jo. 30 minutes of great Tennis against the Top 4, but he can't keep it up

[laverfan]

Hope RR can help him out.

R&R = Rest and Resuscitation (or Recreation, as you please).

RR = Roger Rasheed

I guess he needs both.

[laverfan]

Berdych was much more disappointing today then Tsonga.

How did he lose the TB to Djokovic from being 5-1, and 6-3 up to 8-6?

[CaledonianCraig]

Disappointed with Tsonga's performance tonight, especially in the 1st set.

but he can't keep it up

Oo'er missus.

[banbrotam]

Berdych was much more disappointing today then Tsonga.

How did he lose the TB to Djokovic from being 5-1, and 6-3 up to 8-6?

Not certain of that Laverfan. I think both put in 30 minutes of rank dopey Tennis, which is incredibly frustrating given the talents they have

Those who state only a new breed can Tinkywinky the bubble of the Top 4 - were proved 100% correct today and yesterday

[The Special Juan]

Disappointed with Tsonga's performance tonight, especially in the 1st set.

Me too. But it is typical Jo. 30 minutes of great Tennis against the Top 4, but he can't keep it up

When he plays at his best he's awesome to watch but he just can't do it consistently. I think v Federer at Wimbledon last year is one of the few matches I can think of where he played great tennis for 3/5 sets, and even then he was 2 sets down before it began.

Crowd were a bit flat too which probably kept Jo's flair down. Still, hopefully something RR can sort out.

[Guest]

Disappointed with Tsonga's performance tonight, especially in the 1st set.

Me too. But it is typical Jo. 30 minutes of great Tennis against the Top 4, but he can't keep it up

When he plays at his best he's awesome to watch but he just can't do it consistently. I think v Federer at Wimbledon last year is one of the few matches I can think of where he played great tennis for 3/5 sets, and even then he was 2 sets down before it began.

Crowd were a bit flat too which probably kept Jo's flair down. Still, hopefully something RR can sort out.

AUS 2008 against Nadal

3 sets of brilliant shotmaking, to this day I have not seen anything more destructive (bar Fed AUS 2007), makes the Rosol performance look tame in comparison. If you haven't seen it, watch it all, it's a treat.

[laverfan]

Not certain of that Laverfan. I think both put in 30 minutes of rank dopey Tennis, which is incredibly frustrating given the talents they have

The first set was a disappointment. Berdych is capable of good Tennis on an indoor HC, but was playing more like Simon.

Those who state only a new breed can Tinkywinky the bubble of the Top 4 - were proved 100% correct today and yesterday

The Ferrer-Federer match was a good contest as was Murray-Djokovic. Looking forward to Federer-Del Potro tomorrow.

[laverfan]

AUS 2008 against Nadal

3 sets of brilliant shotmaking, to this day I have not seen anything more destructive (bar Fed AUS 2007), makes the Rosol performance look tame in comparison. If you haven't seen it, watch it all, it's a treat.

Tsonga could do no wrong on that day. But AO 2010 against Federer was a bad one. Hence BanBrotam's lack of consistency observation.

[The Special Juan]

Disappointed with Tsonga's performance tonight, especially in the 1st set.

Me too. But it is typical Jo. 30 minutes of great Tennis against the Top 4, but he can't keep it up

When he plays at his best he's awesome to watch but he just can't do it consistently. I think v Federer at Wimbledon last year is one of the few matches I can think of where he played great tennis for 3/5 sets, and even then he was 2 sets down before it began.

Crowd were a bit flat too which probably kept Jo's flair down. Still, hopefully something RR can sort out.

AUS 2008 against Nadal

3 sets of brilliant shotmaking, to this day I have not seen anything more destructive (bar Fed AUS 2007), makes the Rosol performance look tame in comparison. If you haven't seen it, watch it all, it's a treat.

I'll look it up Never actually saw the match but I heard a lot about it. Cheers

[The Special Juan]

Ah just watched it. If anything, Tsonga's game looks like it has regressed!!

[banbrotam]

I just don't see where Jo goes. If you tinker with his natural game then he's not as effective. If you don't then he's too lose in these big matches

Love him to win a major and wouldn't be surprised if he did - but wouldn't bet on it either

[bogbrush]

He's never been a serious threat and I don't believe has a sufficiently developed game to have ever been more than a flashy, 'shock' player.

Has zero chance of winning a Slam, even if in faster conditions. On slow he may as well not turn up.

[FedsFan]

He's never been a serious threat and I don't believe has a sufficiently developed game to have ever been more than a flashy, 'shock' player.

Has zero chance of winning a Slam, even if in faster conditions. On slow he may as well not turn up.

I agree. I watched the AO semi of 08 and he had a great game with a lot of variation hence the scoreline. You would have thought after last year when he did really well on tour he had arrived but this year has been a complete flop. Apart from Wimbledon he hasnt done much and he choked vs Djoko in Paris too. He seems to be worse under Rasheed than when he was coachless last year. Bit like Federer under Higueras in 08.

Any thoughts on todays action? If i were Federer I would not get into a long match with JMDP due to the semis tomorrow. Finishing second means Djoko tomorrow and I would expect a night semi. Finish first means Murray and im sure he will be given a day match so that Murray has maximum recovery time for the final on Monday. Roger between a rock and hard place!

[The Special Juan]

I'll be cheering on DelPo as I normally do when he's playing but I think Federer will win. Is there a court that suits him better than an indoor slow hard court?

[The Special Juan]

Paes has such an awful serve.

[lags72]

I'm not quite so sure about a Federer win TSJ

- If Fed racks up UE's with the same regularity as he did against Ferrer (along with similar below-par serving) then Delpo can definitely repeat his Basel victory. That alone has given him renewed confidence.

- If both play reasonably well then it could be tight, I sense more TB's

- If Fed brings his indoor A game, then yes... he does he win today

[The Special Juan]

Paes has such an awful serve.

And he hits a 115mph ace

[bogbrush]

I'll be cheering on DelPo as I normally do when he's playing but I think Federer will win. Is there a court that suits him better than an indoor slow hard court?

An indoor fast court but one doesn't exist Or an outdoor fast court like Dubai or Cincinnatti.

Just any fast court

[The Special Juan]

I'm not quite so sure about a Federer win TSJ

- If Fed racks up UE's with the same regularity as he did against Ferrer (along with similar below-par serving) then Delpo can definitely repeat his Basel victory. That alone has given him renewed confidence.

- If both play reasonably well then it could be tight, I sense more TB's

- If Fed brings his indoor A game, then yes... he does he win today

I see what you mean but I don't think Fed will play as badly as he did against Ferrer. I do think it will be close though; there's normally a tiebreaker between those 2. Old cliche of the first set being important might be appropriate today.

Interestingly, if DelPo wins in straight sets he wins the group and Federer is second.

[Guest]

Listening to Sue Barker really drives me crazy. Just blabbering like a senile fool.

Creating new narratives in her own head.

They were discussing the W final and Barker comes out with the usual crap about the roof being decisive. According to her Murray was dominating the match until the roof came on at the start of the 'second set'.

No Barker, just NO.

The roof came on at the start of the third set when it was 1-1, and Roger was leading 2-1 in games. The momentum had already swung by then and Roger was starting to domnate the exchanges. If anything the rain delay gave Murray a chance to re-group. Who knows what would have happened if the roof hadn't come on, but to present it as if Federer was saved by the roof is just another stupid myth.

In fact the first two sets were basically even, no one player was dominating. However the momentum was clearly with Federer when the roof came on.

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