Monte Carlo 1000 match thread

[lydian]

First topic message reminder :

Thread for the week to discuss the matches outside the 606Tour and Pick threads.

Mixture of R1 and R2 (?) matches today...

[13] S. Wawrinka vs D. Istomin - 1st Round - Apr 16, 9:30 AM
F. Verdasco vs M. Matosevic - 1st Round - Apr 16, 9:30 AM
A. Ramos vs R. Stepanek - 1st Round - Apr 16, 9:30 AM
[6] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Nikolay Davydenko - 2nd Round - Apr 16, 9:30 AM
[8] Janko Tipsarevic vs Grigor Dimitrov - 2nd Round - Apr 16, 9:30 AM
[7] Richard Gasquet vs Benoit Paire - 2nd Round - Apr 16, 11:00 AM
[WC] Benjamin Balleret vs Florian Mayer - 1st Round - Apr 16, 11:00 AM
[16] Philipp Kohlschreiber vs Pablo Andujar - 2nd Round - Apr 16, 11:00 AM
V. Hanescu vs M. Granollers - 1st Round - Apr 16, 11:30 AM
J. Huta Galung vs J. Melzer - 1st Round - Apr 16, 1:30 PM
K. Anderson vs J. Janowicz - 1st Round - Apr 16, 1:30 PM
[WC] G. Monfils vs A. Montanes - 1st Round - Apr 16, 1:30 PM
[10] N. Almagro vs D. Goffin - 1st Round - Apr 16, 2:00 PM
J. Isner vs E. Gulbis - 1st Round - Apr 16, 2:00 PM
[14] J. Monaco vs M. Klizan - 1st Round - Apr 16, 3:30 PM
[5] Juan Martin Del Potro vs Alexandr Dolgopolov - 2nd Round - Apr 16, 3:30 PM



http://www.atpworldtour.com/scores/schedule.aspx?year=2013&eventid=410

[summerblues]

[summerblues]

Nole needs to go back to his patient game. When he got to 5:0, he started to play like he thought he could blow Rafa off the court; it did get him to 15-40 in that game, but in a long run that will not work. He needs to be willing to grind out the points.

[summerblues]

Yes!

[break_in_the_fifth]

Just one more... come on.

[invisiblecoolers]

Vamous Rafa, he is not going down, he is winning this match.

[summerblues]

Good hold but it might be getting harder from here on.

[break_in_the_fifth]

I don't think it's ever been easy.

[Henman Bill]

I am in the US on a business trip Can't access my SKy account, and sports lemon the links are terrible (download speed in the hotel isn't helping). And US masters are never on regular TV. Sports bars are not open yet. Think I am going to give up and go out pretty soon, unless anyone's got any bright ideas...?

[lags72]

In virtually any other setting I would put my money on Novak right now.

But this is Rafa and Monte Carlo .........

[summerblues]

I don't think it's ever been easy.

Yes but still, at 5:0, 15-40 you could have said things were looking fairly smooth.

[summerblues]

I am in the US on a business trip Can't access my SKy account, and sports lemon the links are terrible (download speed in the hotel isn't helping). And US masters are never on regular TV. Sports bars are not open yet. Think I am going to give up and go out pretty soon, unless anyone's got any bright ideas...?

Can you access espn3 on the web?

[ChequeredJersey]

Nice of Djoko there

[summerblues]

Ah, game on, let's see what Nole is made of.

[invisiblecoolers]

Vamous Rafa, he is not going down, Rafa in 3.

[Jahu]

Rafa will get this match, but not before Djoko calls an MTO in third set.

[invisiblecoolers]

I guess Djoko's ankle i becoming an issue now

[break_in_the_fifth]

I don't think it's ever been easy.

Yes but still, at 5:0, 15-40 you could have said things were looking fairly smooth.

Well when you put it like that lol. I tuned in when Nadal started coming back.

[summerblues]

Nole

[ALPanorak]

Novak is using the Nadal-Fed tactic - i.e. attack the backhand relentlessly...and to good effect...

[summerblues]

Rafa nets even an overhead now; he never misses those.

[ALPanorak]

Nadal is really upping the revs on the forehand now & can dominate these rallies if he keeps this up - two BPs at 5-5 for Nadal...

[summerblues]

Well well.

[Henman Bill]

Summerblues, thanks for the tip, I am watching on ESPN now. The quality is not very good, but it's at least watchable, and better than the others I was trying. Is this only available in the US?

[summerblues]

Summerblues, thanks for the tip, I am watching on ESPN now. The quality is not very good, but it's at least watchable, and better than the others I was trying. Is this only available in the US?

I believe so, and even then not with every internet provider (at least it used not be). The quality will depend on your internet connection speed; for good speeds it should actually be pretty good quality.

[summerblues]

Oh my; there is more to Nole than meets the eye.

[CaledonianCraig]

Should Djoko win here what does it tell us? Is Nadal's last stronghold (clay) about to be breached? Is it more of Nadal still finding his way back to fitness?

I know I never expected this and I am sure it will be a blow to Rafa's confidence.

[summerblues]

Two more points. Nole.

[summerblues]

One......

[summerblues]

hooorraaayyyy!!! This was good.

For the first time in 10 years, MC final gives a happy start to my day

[ALPanorak]

GSM Djokovic

But what a strange end... Nadal broke to go 6-5 up and then just gave up a litany of errors (mostly unforced) and Novak coasted to the title. Really weird and sudden lack of intensity and focus it seemed, but fair enough Djokovic played the better and more consistent throughout the match.

[invisiblecoolers]

Wow, amazing play by Djoko, one more of Nadal's forte is broken to pieces, I hope I get my wishes Nadal-Djoko FO quarters

[break_in_the_fifth]

Great win for Novak, wish my internet connection was better so I could enjoy the match more. 8 consecutive years is an amazing achievement, maybe the most amazing for a player who has won so much.

[Henman Bill]

Two more points. Nole.

Are you being a Djokovic fan or a Nadal hater?

[Henman Bill]

I think you're right about the quality. At once stage the quality suddenly changed to very good and then it fronze instantly because my internet connection speed couldn't handle it. Actually, hotels, even good ones, could do better with this.

[summerblues]

Should Djoko win here what does it tell us? Is Nadal's last stronghold (clay) about to be breached? Is it more of Nadal still finding his way back to fitness?

I know I never expected this and I am sure it will be a blow to Rafa's confidence.

I always expected this.

I think it will depend on what you think in general about this match up. I am of the school of thought that holds that last year's Nole's losses were mainly due to Nole's underperformance. I think when he plays to his potential, he will win more often than not. And what makes it even worse for Rafa, I think both Nole and Rafa know this too.

But there are those who think the match-up is more finely poised and last year Rafa more or less found the answers to Nole's game. I think if you are in this camp, you will tend to view this as just another match in their seesaw battle for supremacy. In that case, I suspect you will be far more inclined to think that Rafa may yet find ways to turn it around - especially with his clay court pedigree.

[Henman Bill]

Great win for Djokovic.

Certainly a blow for Rafa, and you could see it in his face, however the great IW win should make this easier to take.

Courts weren't as slow as I expected (haven't watched much in earlier years, but expected it to be slower on reputation). People were hitting winners and often looked fairly mid pace. Except for players like Murray who have a talent for making any court look slow.

[break_in_the_fifth]

I think I'm in the same position as summerblues on this one. I've never been a Novak fan in particular though I think I've acknowledged the good things about him and am warming to him more. I just prefer him way more to Nadal.

[HM Murdock]

Woo hoo! Blooming marvellous!

Incredible result because, as a top tennis pundit told us, Rafa "stole" Novak's momentum at Indian Wells...

[LuvSports!]

'...hate is a strong word but i really really really dont like you'

[summerblues]

I think you're right about the quality. At once stage the quality suddenly changed to very good and then it fronze instantly because my internet connection speed couldn't handle it. Actually, hotels, even good ones, could do better with this.

The video tells you what it thinks of the quality of the connection. There is a "video quality" indicator at the bottom that goes from one to five. I find that when it reaches 4 or better, the quality is fine.

[YvonneT]

But what a strange end... Nadal broke to go 6-5 up and then just gave up a litany of errors (mostly unforced) and Novak coasted to the title. Really weird and sudden lack of intensity and focus it seemed, but fair enough Djokovic played the better and more consistent throughout the match.

Isn't that the mental side of the game though...difficult to convert when feeling stressed about the significance of the match. Maybe...or maybe not, of course. I like this result as it make the rest of the clay season more interesting.
Very difficult for Rafa to get back to the top 4 before Roland Garros now though - he needs to rely on Ferrer dropping points.

[summerblues]

Two more points. Nole.

Are you being a Djokovic fan or a Nadal hater?

I do not like the word "hater" but definitely the latter. I really dislike Rafa's game. Not a huge fan of Novak either but between the two it is no contest for me.

[lags72]

Impressive stuff from Djokovic.

I'm sure we'll hear some Rafa-was-below-his-best talk (and perhaps he wasn't) but the fact remains that he had comfortably won three titles in 2013 and then four rounds here before eventually coming up against Novak.

The fortress is finally breached ; a loss that surely will test the nerves & confidence next time they meet ...

[CaledonianCraig]

A win over Rafa on clay is gold dust especially in Monte Carlo and for Novak to do it in straight sets is a real eye-opener. How does that set things up now for the clay court season? It will certainly put doubts in Rafa's mind and boosted Novak's confidence as Roland Garros nears.

[Henman Bill]

Probably Djokovic deserved to win. Would have been harsh after winning the first set 6-0 almost to have lost if 6-7 5-7 or something. I'm off out, catch you all some other time.

[Cogen]

Well well well... That pretty much confirms Nadal will not be in the top 4 seeds for the French Open, barring an injury or terrible patch of form for Ferrer.

[JuliusHMarx]

Woo hoo! Blooming marvellous!

Incredible result because, as a top tennis pundit told us, Rafa "stole" Novak's momentum at Indian Wells...

Ouch. And wasn't there another top tennis pundit who said playing MC was a big mistake for Djoko.

In any case, I'm in agreement that when Djoko plays it his best he will beat Rafa regardless, even on clay, and they both know it. But it would only take a slight dip in form, for whatever reason, for Rafa to prevail.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Nadal might need Fed to take care of Djokovic again at the French. I still think he's capable.

[Guest]

Should Djoko win here what does it tell us? Is Nadal's last stronghold (clay) about to be breached? Is it more of Nadal still finding his way back to fitness?

I know I never expected this and I am sure it will be a blow to Rafa's confidence.

I always expected this.

I think it will depend on what you think in general about this match up. I am of the school of thought that holds that last year's Nole's losses were mainly due to Nole's underperformance. I think when he plays to his potential, he will win more often than not. And what makes it even worse for Rafa, I think both Nole and Rafa know this too.

But there are those who think the match-up is more finely poised and last year Rafa more or less found the answers to Nole's game. I think if you are in this camp, you will tend to view this as just another match in their seesaw battle for supremacy. In that case, I suspect you will be far more inclined to think that Rafa may yet find ways to turn it around - especially with his clay court pedigree.

I'm firmly in this camp. I think Djokovic is flat out the better player at this stage in their respective careers and unlike with Federer, Rafa doesn't have a matchup advantage to see him through. I also though Rafa clawed some ground back last year because of underperformance from Novak not because he, Rafa, had found some solutions. That was just wishful thinking on the part of his fans. Rafa played the same way against Novak in 2012 as he did in 2011, as he did today. The match is on Novak's racquet.

This H2H will only get worse for Nadal particularly once the HC's kick in. Novak has now won 11 of the last 15 across all surfaces starting from 2009. He's basically dominated Rafa at the latter's very peak years. No excuses.

Should make for an interesting RG.



emancipator - may the serve be with you.

[The Special Juan]

And that was Novak one-legged..... I really enjoyed that match, especially the first set where Nadal was playing well but Novak was hitting wonder shots left and right (but not down the centre!!). Rome and Madrid are huge because if Novak beats Nadal in either/both of those then it's going to be a very interesting FO.

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