Madrid Masters Thread

[JuliusHMarx]

First topic message reminder :

Take it away Jahu.

[CaledonianCraig]

Berdych takes the first set and Dimitrov takes the first set on a tie-breaker against Wawrinka.

[Jahu]

OT: Get to polling stations people, do your duty, don't be lazy, my UK friends

[Jahu]

Stan breaks, 3:0 for Stan in second set.

[laverfan]

“My problem was I couldn't return his first serve,” said Federer, who won 18 of 85 first serve return points. “[It] was just a horrible performance on the return.

“As the match went on it got so bad that I just couldn't get into decent positions on the return, so it made it very difficult to get any sort of rhythm after that.

“But credit to him for serving well and keep doing what he was doing. But I'm very disappointed by that. That's what cost me the match, in my opinion.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/05/18/Madrid-Wednesday-Federer-Reaction.aspx

[temporary21]

Any reaction from Fed to the lines judges? He wasnt too happy in the second set

[Jahu]

You can see how poor spanish have become, just by seeing half empty stadiums, no more EU funds for fake agricultural projects, airports to nowhere, desalinations plants to water the cucumber tasting fake winter watermelons

Back to pitchforks & sickles, keep the tradition

Dimi wins Stan 7;6, 3:6, 6:3, nice play.
Berdy wins Tsonga 7:5, 6:2.

[CaledonianCraig]

Rafa in control against Bolelli and leads 6-2 4-1. He had a shakey start in the first couple or three games but thereafter has looked relatively untroubled. More confidence seeping back?

[CaledonianCraig]

Rafa through and looked as good as I have seen him this year. Kyrgios - yesterday's hero goes down in three sets to big John Isner and rumours abound that Gael Monfils is out of the Rome Masters.

[CaledonianCraig]

David Ferrer through beating Fernando Verdasco in three sets and currently Kei Nishikori has an early break against Bautista Agut leading 3-2.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray will be starting shortly against Granollers.

[CaledonianCraig]

Nishikori takes the first set 6-3.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray breaks to love and leads 3-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

Kei Nishikori beats Robert Bautista Agut 6-3 6-3. Tomorrow Nishikori plays Ferrer in the QF's. The rock meets the immovable object.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray breaks serve again and takes the first set 6-2 in just over half an hour.

[CaledonianCraig]

And an early break in the second set for Murray and he leads 6-2 2-0. Pretty good stuff so far.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Kei Nishikori beats Robert Bautista Agut 6-3 6-3. Tomorrow Nishikori plays Ferrer in the QF's. The rock meets the immovable object.

Should suit Kei to a tee based on previous battles, just is a little more dynamic and quicker.

[Jahu]

Ninja should go to the final, I hope.

[Josiah Maiestas]

How does Granollers beat Monfils but Fed can't?

[CaledonianCraig]

How does Granollers beat Monfils but Fed can't?

Because he played better in the match?

[banbrotam]

Is it me or is Andy's serve looking oceans better?

[banbrotam]

How does Granollers beat Monfils but Fed can't?

Fed's beatable by any skilful player who has a good couple of hours

[CaledonianCraig]

Is it me or is Andy's serve looking oceans better?

It does. It may just be a purple patch he is going through though so we will have to wait and see.

[CaledonianCraig]

Andy Murray feasts on another bagel winning 6-2 6-0. Into the quarters he goes and will play either Leonardo Mayer or Milos Raonic tomorrow.

[banbrotam]

Very impressive performance. Suddenly, we're seeing a confidence on the dirt we've not seen before

Of course this doesn't mean he's going to be touching Novak or Rafa, but if the draw is good another RG semi cannot be ruled out or perhaps better

Important thing is that he's beating all the lesser players, like he used to do

Wimby and beyond looks good!!

[Mad for Chelsea]

Is it me or is Andy's serve looking oceans better?

It does. It may just be a purple patch he is going through though so we will have to wait and see.

I agree. The service action looks much smoother, and he seems to have got his big serve out wide to the ad court back (which has been missing recently). Wonder if it could be a sign of Jonas's influence?

Very good performance from Murray, albeit against a fried opponent. Absolutely destroyed the second serve. Minimal energy expended, and after last night's late late show, that was exactly what the doctor ordered. Should be fine for the rest of the tournament now...

[Jermaine2015]

Very impressive performance. Suddenly, we're seeing a confidence on the dirt we've not seen before

Of course this doesn't mean he's going to be touching Novak or Rafa, but if the draw is good another RG semi cannot be ruled out or perhaps better

Important thing is that he's beating all the lesser players, like he used to do

Wimby and beyond looks good!!

If Djokovic and Nadal are in the same half in Paris, Murray would be favorite to make the final. That said I don't think he can win the title.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Murray not sounding particularly impressed with the scheduling: "If you want the best players playing their best tennis, then don't schedule matches for three o'clock in the morning" said in his typically dry tone.

[CaledonianCraig]

Is it me or is Andy's serve looking oceans better?

It does. It may just be a purple patch he is going through though so we will have to wait and see.

I agree. The service action looks much smoother, and he seems to have got his big serve out wide to the ad court back (which has been missing recently). Wonder if it could be a sign of Jonas's influence?

Very good performance from Murray, albeit against a fried opponent. Absolutely destroyed the second serve. Minimal energy expended, and after last night's late late show, that was exactly what the doctor ordered. Should be fine for the rest of the tournament now...

Yes I agree. It may be input from Jonas (hope so) and time will tell. Indeed Granollers was fried and troubled by a right ankle which looked to be strapped up. Still a professional job done by Andy.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray not sounding particularly impressed with the scheduling: "If you want the best players playing their best tennis, then don't schedule matches for three o'clock in the morning" said in his typically dry tone.

You can understand why he is disgruntled but I can't really see how it could have been avoided. It was just a truly bizarre day where so many of the matches on the show courts were long matches with many going three hours plus. It was almost freakish the amount of matches that went the distance.

[CaledonianCraig]

Milos Raonic looks set for a QF match against Murray tomorrow. He leads Mayer 6-4 2-0.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Murray not sounding particularly impressed with the scheduling: "If you want the best players playing their best tennis, then don't schedule matches for three o'clock in the morning" said in his typically dry tone.

You can understand why he is disgruntled but I can't really see how it could have been avoided. It was just a truly bizarre day where so many of the matches on the show courts were long matches with many going three hours plus. It was almost freakish the amount of matches that went the distance.

I suppose the solution would have been - once it was clear they were running very very late - to switch the Murray match to another court. Could probably have finished a good two hours earlier in that case.

[LuvSports!]

Kei Nishikori beats Robert Bautista Agut 6-3 6-3. Tomorrow Nishikori plays Ferrer in the QF's. The rock meets the immovable object.

If Kei is a "rock", I would say he's a pretty jazzy one at that. Good skimming material, maybe an 8 or 9er!

[Jahu]

Raonic 6:4, 4:1, he will serve off Andy I think too, court is quite fast for big servers.

[Born Slippy]

Odd set of QFs for a clay court Masters:

Berdych v Isner - got to go with Berdych. Impressive form this year and 5-2 h2h including two easy wins on clay at RG. Berdy in 2.

Nadal v Dimi - should be easy for Rafa. 2 set win.

Ferrer v Nishikori - tough to call. Kei looked like he had the beating of Ferrer in 2014. However, Ferrer turned it around with a win last time out on the clay of Acapulco. Kei has looked a serious RG contender in recent weeks though. I think his attacking skills will see him through in 2.

Raonic v Murray - Raonic won their only previous clay court match. Murray has won win over a top 10 player on clay in his career. Well though Andy has been playing, Raonic starts as narrow favourite in my view. Milos in 3.

[laverfan]

Ferrer v Nishikori - tough to call. Kei looked like he had the beating of Ferrer in 2014. However, Ferrer turned it around with a win last time out on the clay of Acapulco. Kei has looked a serious RG contender in recent weeks though. I think his attacking skills will see him through in 2.

Acapulco is HC, not Clay anymore. Nishikori leaked 40+ errors. Ferrer is a different animal on Clay compared to HC. Before Nishikori is anointed as an RG contender, let us see how far he can get here.  It may be three rather than two sets.

I like the new confident Murray (after Munich).

[summerblues]

If Djokovic and Nadal are in the same half in Paris, Murray would be favorite to make the final.

Not if he is also in that same half.

[laverfan]

Kvitova lets Williams (S) back in.

[Jahu]

Kvitova wins 6:2, 6:3, so good

[Jahu]

Come on Dimi, crush him.

[Jahu]

Don't be scared Dimi, learn from Kyrgios, don't care who is on the other side of the net, just smash it.

[Jahu]

Nadal gets broken and gets a time violation too

What a BP by Dimi.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wow racquet destroyed by Dimitrov.

[CaledonianCraig]

I am pretty sure Rafa will win here in the end. As I said the other day I think he is now looking better than he has at any point so far this year. Dimitrov doing well to hang in there though.

[CaledonianCraig]

As I thought, Rafa had too much for Dimitrov and won in straight sets. Certainly getting back to playing at a decent level now but more importantly with each win the confidence and self-belief will be dripping back into him.

[Jahu]

No Rafa did not have too much for Dimi, as shown on first 3 games of second set, where Dimi was too good for Rafa.

Dimi just lost it in his mind, unsure of himself for no apparent reason.

Rafa was average at best, nothing special, Kohli would of beaten this Rafa in 2 sets today.

[Haddie-nuff]

As I thought, Rafa had too much for Dimitrov and won in straight sets. Certainly getting back to playing at a decent level now but more importantly with each win the confidence and self-belief will be dripping back into him.

[It Must Be Love]

Kohli would of beaten this Rafa in 2 sets today.

lol

[Jahu]

Come on Isner, blow him of the court

[Jahu]

Isner 4:1 up, go baby go.

[CaledonianCraig]

Impressive thus far by Isner. I am awaiting a Berdy fightback though.

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