Madrid Masters 1000 match thread

[lydian]

First topic message reminder :

Just somewhere to drop random comments on the matches outside the draw and picking threads.

Youhnzy got a good win over Fognini today winning in 3rd set TB.
Wawrinka continuing his good form with a win over Popsicle.
Paire and Monaco have also won.

However, THE match today has to be Djokovic vs Dimitrov at around 7pm UK time.
Can Grigor take heart from recent matches to keep pushing on?
Can he pose a serious challenge to Djokovic on lung-busting clay?
The faster altitude should help Grigor who has a fast serve and flashing groundstrokes.

[invisiblecoolers]

To be fair to Rog, Lydian. He just saw Nadal go 27-2 having been out for sevenmonths.

What I find more interesting is that there was a thread on how light the tour is because Nadal is rampaging through these guys.. Suddenly Federer is 13-5 for the season, Djokovic knocked out by Dimi, and now everyone jumps on that train.

Well there is a big age difference, I don't think Nadal is capable of doing the same thing when he is approaching 32, i.e take like 7-8 weeks off and turn up for a masters and reach the finals.

[invisiblecoolers]

yeah Madrid being played at alititude has often thrown up a few odd results (last year's blue clay of course as well). Don't think Murray will lose to Simon though, Murray's won their last ten meetings only dropping two sets.

Simon's game has gone down drastically, If this Murray lose to this Simon he could rather call of the rest of the year's clay season, anything less than 6-3 6-3 is a disappointment for me, 3 games each set to Simon coz Murray loves to relax at the mid match.

[invisiblecoolers]

Interesting battle between Tommy and David, 1set a piece now and 30-30 on Tommy's serve, I guess Tommy will pull this upset.

[lydian]

Really intelligent play by Haas...serving wide to keep the points short as Ferrer gives him put away chances on return. No need to guess who the better tennis is coming from...but you just know Ferrer is going to grind this out to the wire.

[invisiblecoolers]

Really intelligent play by Haas...serving wide to keep the points short as Ferrer gives him put away chances on return. No need to guess who the better tennis is coming from...but you just know Ferrer is going to grind this out to the wire.

I fancied Tommy to coz the upset, but I don't think Ferrer will go down that ease and he is down 2-3, give a fight Ferrer, I want the match to be decided on tiebreaker.

[invisiblecoolers]

Ferrer breaks back to make it 4-4, very interesting game so far.

[lydian]

Shame...Haas out.

[LuvSports!]

from game points at 4-3 haas loses 6-4

[invisiblecoolers]

Shame...Haas out.

Yup, but a very high quality match thou, so far match of the tournament.

[invisiblecoolers]

from game points at 4-3 haas loses 6-4

from game points 4-2, Ferrer serves to make 4-3, then breaks for 4-4 , then serves for 5-4 and then breaks for the match to 6-4, so 4 games in a row for Ferrer.

[laverfan]

Stan needs a drop shot.

[The Special Juan]

Come on Stan, fight, or it will be one of the worst days for the Swiss for tennis in history with all 3 players playing losing!!

[Henman Bill]

Stan needs a drop shot.

He listened to you! Showed Dimitrov, who had just missed one, how to do it!

[LuvSports!]

mind has gone blank, who is the 3rd?

[The Special Juan]

Some random Swiss lady playing in an ITF tournament somewhere.

[The Special Juan]

Ok, here's a question, if the ATP introduce football-like shirts (with the names on the back), would you a) accept it and b) buy one?

[Cogen]

Everyone been enjoying all the single-handed backhands on display today?

Dimitrov and Wawrinka trading single-handers at the moment. Seems to be losing out for the most part though, with the single-handers of Federer, Haas, and Youzhny all losing.

[The Special Juan]

Murray v Simon on clay isn't the most watchable match ever. No wonder the crowd have left.

[invisiblecoolers]

Everyone been enjoying all the single-handed backhands on display today? ;-)

Dimitrov and Wawrinka trading single-handers at the moment. Seems to be losing out for the most part though, with the single-handers of Federer, Haas, and Youzhny all losing.

Atleast one single hander will survive today

[Henman Bill]

Enjoyed Dimitrov and Warwinka for a short while but annoyed that they cut to the Murray match as early as the coin toss, at least wait until that less interesting match has actually started.

Hard to watch tennis on a UK channel on a day Murray's playing, dominated by Murray to far too great an extent. I prefer the days when he's not playing. Would much rather watch a closer match like Warwinka-Dimitrov than watch Murray play someone he's beaten 10 times in a row.

[The Special Juan]

If clay hurts you that much then just skip the clay court season

[Henman Bill]

Only person who mentioned something negative about clay "Murray v Simon on clay isn't the most watchable match ever" was yourself, so I assume you are talking to yourself there.

[kingraf]

Simon!!!

[The Special Juan]

Only person who mentioned something negative about clay "Murray v Simon on clay isn't the most watchable match ever" was yourself, so I assume you are talking to yourself there.

I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to myself talking to Murray, if you know what I mean?

[LuvSports!]

allez simon!

gutted that stan and dimi are playing each other now! Both had a good shot at going far in this tourney

[The Special Juan]

Booo!!! Ban the French!

[invisiblecoolers]

Well Stan the man stepped it up and DImi didn't live to his level and hence an easy 3rd set for Stan.

Well played Stan.

[The Special Juan]

Geez Simon is like.... an object that soaks up water made of foam.

[CaledonianCraig]

Just wonder what has happened to Murray on clay? Now I know people will have the right to say he is rubbish on clay but I'd say that wasn't the case. In 2011 he has some very good performances and runs on clay and did reach the semis at RG as well so obviously no mug. Tonight is exasperating viewing though and looks like he will be on his way out to Simon unless he can break out of this monotony.

[The Special Juan]

Nah he's just rubbish on clay and had one good clay court season. Who did he really play at the FO that year? Prodon, Bolelli, Berrer, Troicki and Chela.

[Cogen]

I don't understand why Murray is hitting his forehand like such a wimp. He's putting loads of topspin on the ball, but it has no pace! It is like he's trying to imitate Nadal's forehand on clay and failing miserably.

Just stick with the new improved forehand which has served you so well on the hardcourt recently, Andy!

Disaster match...

[CaledonianCraig]

Nah he's just rubbish on clay and had one good clay court season. Who did he really play at the FO that year? Prodon, Bolelli, Berrer, Troicki and Chela.

Fair enough if that is your view point but isn't that a contradiction in terms? I cannot see how you can be rubbish on clay and take Nadal to three sets at Monte Carlo and be competitive in Rome that year and sorry but if you are rubbish on clay no matter who you draw you don't get anywhere near the semis at RG. Granted he has been rubbish tonight thus far.

[ryan86]

Agh, I thought about putting Simon in my Picks, but decided to be safe and pick people like Federer and Haas instead.

[Henman Bill]

Murray could still win it yet

[The Special Juan]

I think its become a mental thing CC. Sure he'll have good matches and runs in tournaments but he's probably not even in the top 15 clay court players on tour just now.

[Chydremion]

Anyone knows when Murray and Simon are going to finish their warm-up?

[CaledonianCraig]

I think its become a mental thing CC. Sure he'll have good matches and runs in tournaments but he's probably not even in the top 15 clay court players on tour just now.

Yes I would go with that. Murray is very much a confidence player. When he has the confidence he plays all the better for it. On clay (especially this year so far) there has been no real confidence-boosting wins for him - in fact quite the opposite in that there have been confidence destroying defeats.

[Cogen]

He actually started hitting the ball in that game...

Hopefully its not too late though...

[The Special Juan]

Shut up Gilles

[ryan86]

I don't think I've seen Bernardes may a wrong call in the two matches I've watched with him this week.

[The Special Juan]

Bernardes? I could have sworn his name was "Bananas"...

[Cogen]

Fiiiiiiinally... 2 out of 13 break points taken by Andy. So below par.

Can't afford a dip at the start of the final set because Simon will keep on going and going like he always does.

[LuvSports!]

bugger

[ryan86]

Simon and Murray both unhappy.

Mmm, court too wet?

[The Special Juan]

Troicki!!!

[Danny_1982]

What the hell was all that about? Saturating a clay court before the final set.

WTF???

[CaledonianCraig]

What the hell was all that about? Saturating a clay court before the final set.

WTF???

According to pundits - in preparation for Rafa who likes it soft. (The clay that is).

[ryan86]

Especially after midnight.

Simon seems to be imploding slightly.

[CAS]

Rafa is becoming a bit like Roger, will win every tournament unless Novak stops him like Roger would unless Rafa stopped him (pretty much) even in 2011 that was the case. This trophy is Nadal's already in my mind

[The Special Juan]

OH THAT'S THE BEST SHOT EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sponsored content]