The Random Tennis News Thread

by The Special Juan Sat 04 May 2013, 7:17 pm

First topic message reminder :

There's not really a thread up for random tennis news that perhaps doesn't require it's own topic.

First of all, it's sad to hear of the death of Brad Drewett, Chief Executive of the ATP. I don't know if anyone's mentioned that and I've missed it.

Secondly, here's an interesting bit of tennis gossip about Evert and Connors: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/04/tennis-connors-evert-idUKL3N0DL05G20130504

by **JuliusHMarx** Mon 06 Oct 2014, 2:15 pm

Born Slippy wrote:Cilic out already in Shanghai. Good job he has that slam champion passage to the WTF as he could easily finish 9th the way things are going!

Is that still in place? He's not listed as having qualified for WTF, nor was Stan when he won the AO.

by HM Murdock Mon 06 Oct 2014, 2:54 pm

Novak has today launched an online shop where people can buy all his clothing and equipment.

All royalties go toward his foundation which helps children in Serbia.

He says: "As a father to be, I want my child to be proud of me not only because I can hit the fluffy yellow ball better than the other guy. I want my child to be proud of me for using my name and time to help promote good values. I want to be known as someone who wants to help children live fuller lives through quality education".

He's a nice guy, is Novak.

by Born Slippy Mon 06 Oct 2014, 3:22 pm

JuliusHMarx wrote:
Born Slippy wrote:Cilic out already in Shanghai. Good job he has that slam champion passage to the WTF as he could easily finish 9th the way things are going!

Is that still in place? He's not listed as having qualified for WTF, nor was Stan when he won the AO.

Yeah, someone quoted the rule earlier in the thread. I don't think they usually take it into account in terms of showing who has qualified though.

by temporary21 Mon 06 Oct 2014, 3:29 pm

I know that rules in place in the doubles since Paes and Stepanek got in automatically after winning the US. When was the last time that rule was used in singles? Ivanisevic maybe?

by LuvSports! Mon 06 Oct 2014, 3:42 pm

Julius - according to the official ATP rulebook (Section IV: World Championship B.1.b) a slam winner qualifies as long as he finishes in the top 20.
So really just 3 spots left.

by **JuliusHMarx** Mon 06 Oct 2014, 3:47 pm

I think the rule changed and it's now purely on the top 8 places - in singles at least.

Edit- only just saw your post LS

by The Special Juan Mon 06 Oct 2014, 6:52 pm

Nielsen and Marray made it when they won Wimbledon a couple of years ago and they were nowhere near the top 8.

by LuvSports! Mon 06 Oct 2014, 7:32 pm

Yes they were. Marray was 17th and Nielsen was 21st in the rankings which equates to 9th and 11th respectively with all the doubles pairings. But yes they were outside the top 8.

by The Special Juan Mon 06 Oct 2014, 8:56 pm

I must have been looking at the individual rankings.

by The Special Juan Tue 14 Oct 2014, 1:55 pm

We've got the Kremlin Cup this week plus ATP events in Vienna and Stockholm. All 3 are crucial for those competing to reach the WTFs, with Vienna having the weakest draw on paper. The big boys will be in action from tomorrow onwards as they have a bye in the first round

Also, whilst I've seen nothing official yet, it looks like Davydenko's getting a farewell ceremony in Russia this year.

by The Special Juan Tue 14 Oct 2014, 8:08 pm

Just looking at the Vienna draw, the most dangerous opponent Murray could face aside from Ferrer is Pospisil. It's looking like that'll be Murray's first match of the week. After that it's anyone's guess for the QF, Lopez or Rosol in the SF and Ferrer in the final. You'd fancy Murray to win that as the H2H is 6-2 on hard courts, but then again it was 6-1 last week Wink

In Russia it looks a bit more even with boring Milos & Ernie in the top half and Fognini and Cilic in the bottom half. Cilic's first match is against Evgeny Donskoy (remember him? Dan Evans probably ruined his career), after which he could play Robredo which is a nightmare for a big guy like him. Fognini will have to get past Kukushkin to have a shot at Youzhny or Monaco. Ernie has a nice route to the SF whereas boring Milos will need to beat RBA.

Finally, there's Stockholm. Berdych and Dimitrov are the big 2 in action there. Berdych has something of a cakewalk to the SF provided he doesn't play an inspired Dustin Brown. He'll probably play L. Mayer or the Dog there. Again, I'd fancy Dimitrov to waltz into the SF where he'll play Anderson or Verdasco. Fairly straightforward then?

Predictions:

Vienna - Murray d. Ferrer
Russia - Cilic d. Boring Milos
Stockholm - Dimitrov d. Berdych

by Born Slippy Tue 14 Oct 2014, 11:33 pm

Not a single break point in the Del Bonis v. Karlovic match (76 67 67). Pospisil also hit 27 aces in his match. Looks a quick court.

I am going for finals as follows:

Ferrer d. Murray
Raonic d. Cilic
Berdych d. Anderson

by The Special Juan Wed 15 Oct 2014, 4:23 pm

If the court is as fast as the stats suggest then Karlovic is a threat to this title. Then again, surely all Murray has to do is serve well and he'll be there or thereabouts.

by CaledonianCraig Thu 16 Oct 2014, 4:32 pm

Raonic has lost in the 2nd Round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow against Richard Berankis. It offers a boost to Murray's hopes of overhauling the big Canadian in the race to London.

by CaledonianCraig Thu 16 Oct 2014, 4:36 pm

Nikolay Davydenko has announced his retirement from tennis at the age of 33.

by Haddie-nuff Thu 16 Oct 2014, 7:39 pm

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-29360950

by CaledonianCraig Thu 16 Oct 2014, 7:41 pm

Haddie-nuff wrote:http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-29360950

Oooops second pic down, Roger has a spare tyre around his stomach. Shocked

by The Special Juan Thu 16 Oct 2014, 10:49 pm

Murray now plays the man on tour with my favourite name.

by The Special Juan Fri 17 Oct 2014, 5:08 pm

Murray takes the first set 6-2 v Struff. There's absolutely no atmosphere here at all and the challenge system is very slow.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 17 Oct 2014, 6:35 pm

Andy Murray wins 6-2 7-5 and is through to the semis. He will now pull level with Rain I can in the race for London.

by The Special Juan Fri 17 Oct 2014, 6:51 pm

I was disappointed with Struff. He made over 30 UEs which, in a match of that length, says everything.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 17 Oct 2014, 6:55 pm

Murray plays Viktor Troicki in the semi-final tomorrow.

by Mad for Chelsea Fri 17 Oct 2014, 7:15 pm

Troicki's the one who thinks it's OK not to give blood samples when selected for random testing, right? Please destroy him Andy...

Thought Murray went OK today but no more, Struff not up to much, played an absolutely shocking service game at 3-1 in the second when he finally got a foothold in the match, 3-4 UEs and gifted the break straight back to love. Court is very quick indeed.

by temporary21 Fri 17 Oct 2014, 7:22 pm

Isnt ferrer playing Karlovic?

by temporary21 Fri 17 Oct 2014, 7:28 pm

Oh Ferrers a set and break up. A match for the connoisseurs I see

by CaledonianCraig Fri 17 Oct 2014, 7:40 pm

A win for Ferrer today (as looks likely) and he will enter the top eight in the race for London.

by The Special Juan Fri 17 Oct 2014, 7:40 pm

Kohli might be the man this week. I think he'll get the title if Murray doesn't. Totally forgot he was playing there until today!!

by CaledonianCraig Sat 18 Oct 2014, 7:43 am

Very odd. Murray has overtaken Ferrer in race top London for now as according to the ATP website it says Ferrer can only add to his points total this week if he reaches the final. Why is that?

by sirfredperry Sat 18 Oct 2014, 8:15 am

CaledonianCraig wrote:Very odd. Murray has overtaken Ferrer in race top London for now as according to the ATP website it says Ferrer can only add to his points total this week if he reaches the final. Why is that?

Players can only put forward their best results from , I think, five other tournaments to go with the 13 mandatory ones (the Slams plus the nine Masters). Ferrer has effectively "used up" a lot of his "other" points so needs a particularly good showing in Vienna to make progress.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 18 Oct 2014, 8:23 am

Cheers for that sir Fred.

by Born Slippy Sat 18 Oct 2014, 9:20 am

sirfredperry wrote:
CaledonianCraig wrote:Very odd. Murray has overtaken Ferrer in race top London for now as according to the ATP website it says Ferrer can only add to his points total this week if he reaches the final. Why is that?

Players can only put forward their best results from , I think, five other tournaments to go with the 13 mandatory ones (the Slams plus the nine Masters). Ferrer has effectively "used up" a lot of his "other" points so needs a particularly good showing in Vienna to make progress.

It's 12 + 6 (as MC is not a mandatory).

Murray's 6th best "other" result is currently worth 20 points. Ferrer's is worth 150 points. Hence, Murray has gained 70 points so far by making the SF, Ferrer has gained nothing.

by LuvSports! Sat 18 Oct 2014, 11:00 am

That's why Nishi had to reach the semi's in Tokyo to make any points I believe.

by The Special Juan Sat 18 Oct 2014, 1:21 pm

Troicki's got nice volleys, unlike other Serb players Wink

(As I say that he hits the easiest volley ever into the net.)

by CaledonianCraig Sat 18 Oct 2014, 2:35 pm

Marin Cilic is now confirmed as the fifth player to have qualified for the World Tour Finals. Andy Murray, meanwhile, is through to the final in Vienna beating Viktor Troicki 6-4 6-3. He is now certain to move above Raonic in the race to London.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 18 Oct 2014, 4:29 pm

Ferrer locked at one set all with Kohlschreiber in his semi final of the Vienna Open.

by Born Slippy Sat 18 Oct 2014, 5:24 pm

Ferrer mentally too strong for Kohli. Ferrer v Murray in the Vienna final.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 18 Oct 2014, 5:25 pm

Ferrer wins 6-3 2-6 7-6 and will face Murray in the final tomorrow.

by The Special Juan Sat 18 Oct 2014, 5:48 pm

I really thought Kohli would win that one, but I think I'd rather Murray played Ferrer in the final.

by sirfredperry Sat 18 Oct 2014, 5:51 pm

Ferrer was out there for around two and a half hours so that may help Murray who really needs a win tomorrow. Dimitrov probably needs to beat Berdych to stay in it, bar some Paris heroics.

by summerblues Sat 18 Oct 2014, 6:02 pm

Out of the five contenders in action this week, Raonic is the only one to fail to make the final. I had expected a couple of more of them would stumble somewhere along the way.

by temporary21 Sat 18 Oct 2014, 6:57 pm

OK heres a quick question for everyone. Realistically, assuming noone pulls out of the 02 how far will Murray need to get in Paris to make it? Im going semis with Ferrer making quarters and Raonic going earlier

by The Special Juan Sat 18 Oct 2014, 7:03 pm

temporary21 wrote:OK heres a quick question for everyone. Realistically, assuming noone pulls out of the 02 how far will Murray need to get in Paris to make it? Im going semis with Ferrer making quarters and Raonic going earlier

I think we'll need to wait and see what happens next week in the 500s beforehand. My gut says he'll need to get farther than Ferrer.

by summerblues Sat 18 Oct 2014, 7:04 pm

A lot will depend on how they are all doing in Basel and Valencia next week, but at this point my best guess is that QF might well be enough.

by The Special Juan Sun 19 Oct 2014, 1:01 pm

I don't know how this one is going to go. The bookies have Murray as a massive favourite (with poor old Ferrer at 5/2) but Ferrer won the last match convincingly on a zippy court. I wonder if fatigue might just slide this in Murray's favour.

by lags72 Sun 19 Oct 2014, 1:11 pm

Yep, it's a tricky one to call.

Yesterday's SF's were very different. I didn't particularly enjoy watching Andy's match (it was the sort of match where I wouldn't have been too happy if I had paid big money to watch live.....) BUT in all fairness to him he did a professional job against a tricky & under-rated opponent. By contrast I found Ferrer/Kohlschreiber to be very entertaining.

Here's hoping for a quality Final Wink

by CaledonianCraig Sun 19 Oct 2014, 1:20 pm

James Ward loses in the final qualifying round for Valencia going down 6-3 6-2 to Albert Ramos.

by CaledonianCraig Sun 19 Oct 2014, 2:53 pm

Cilic wins the Kremlin Cup beating Bautista Agut in straight sets.

by LuvSports! Sun 19 Oct 2014, 5:49 pm

Soderling is alive! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObzYcsgCcL4

by Mad for Chelsea Sun 19 Oct 2014, 10:11 pm

Berdych has a bit of a cakewalk in Valencia doesn't he? Bit of a gap between the three top seeds and the rest in that tournament (maybe Simon could be a threat if he carries his form from Shanghai).

Basel has a few interesting subplots. With doubts over Nadal's fitness, it's a chance for Raonic to get some much-needed points in, but he has Goffin in his QF. Will be interesting to see if Goffin can carry his hot form into a tournament with a stronger field: his run has been impressive, but has only really Tsonga on it as a name. If he can take Raonic down here and reach the semi or even final (with the question mark over Rafa) that would really confirm the progress for me.

by YvonneT Sun 19 Oct 2014, 10:51 pm

There so often seems to be fields of very different quality in the weeks when there are 2 ATP500 tournaments (e.g. Dubai > Acapulco, Beijing > Tokyo..) Basel usually has a stronger field than Valencia and still does this year, but the distribution is odd:
Basel seeds are 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 13, 28, 30
Valencia seeds are 5, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Assuming that most of the players ranked between 18 and 28 have chosen to play this week, that means that they are lurking unseeded in the Valencia draw. So for the contenders in the Race to London, who all bar Raonic come straight from finals this week, Basel might have been a better option to get a couple of more straightforward matches early on.

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