Indian Wells and Miami 2018

First topic message reminder :

Can Fed complete a double sunshine double? It's asking a lot, but there are a host of big names missing this year, including Rafa.
Delpo could have a good chance, having taken the Acapulco title. Could one of the young guns make a mark? The likes of Shapovalov, Tiafoe, Tsitsipas and Fritz are coming through. There will be some interesting early matches at IW, as a lot of the big names who have managed to turn up are now comparatively lowly ranked (Nishi, Tsonga, Gasquet, Raonic).
   Fed needs to make the semis to keep his number one slot. You'd reckon he'd manage that, particularly if Delpo is not in his half of the draw.
   As for the women, I'm not sure if world number one Halep is going to be fit. Kerber could be a good bet.

Coric has many, many years ahead of him but opportunities to beat a reigning World No. 1 can still prove hard to come by during the course of a career.

This could be a rare chance for Coric, who is now very close .......

3-3 and Federer just saved a break point to go deuce on his serve.

Coric has just broken Federer to go 4-3 up with a break of serve.

Ok, now 4-3 to Coric with the break.

I’m ready to give the win to him now. Federer’s serve must be very dodgy today.

This is very tight
Coric's serve
40-30 Coric
40-40
A-40 Coric
40-40
40-A Federer
Break Federer

Back on serve 4-4 final set.

Suddenly it says 5-4 to Federer. So I guess that must have been a love hold to Federer.

This is some titanic battle by both players.  Whippersnapper Coric and Pensioner Federer.

And Federer breaks to take the match 5-7 6-4 6-4. Well done to both players - a proper battle with Coric being a break up in both the second and third sets.

Federer should have lost the match in second set. Coric

Well I sure called that one wrong.

Seemed a weird match - though clearly not a weird result.

Many, many young challengers have had an impressive start against the Fed ; only to find just how tough it can be to maintain the same high level long enough to see it through.

All said & done, he’s a tough nut to crack...... Even at 36.

Coric will have trouble getting to sleep tonight.

Federer continues to surprise. Last year I don't know how he came back from being a break down to Nadal in the final set in the AO2017 final. He just has a certain resilience and so far he is managing his pensioner body well.

I think Coric knows he has time on his side.  He put up a much better competition that fellow youngster Chung.  

In the final Federer will either have Del Potro or Raonic - not easy opponents with their potent serving.

How is it even possible to have your career best-ever start to a season - at an age when around 90% of tour players have retired .........

Only followed the match from the scores and your online posting. Sounds like a real struggle for Fed. Coric, if I read it right, was a break up in both the second and third sets. From there, you would have to think he should have won.

Federer is playing well enough, but his main competitors are all nursing injuries, which is the primary reason now, but maintaining his health is the biggest factor for his career statistics.

sirfredperry wrote:.......................... Coric, if I read it right, was a break up in both the second and third sets. From there, you would have to think he should have won.

He was indeed.

But I guess it’s easy for the likes of us armchair-viewers to underestimate the pressure that comes from realising just who it is that you’re about to beat ......

laverfan wrote:Federer is playing well enough, but his main competitors are all nursing injuries, which is the primary reason now, but maintaining his health is the biggest factor for his career statistics.

Injuries are part & parcel of the sport (any sport) laverfan. Always have been .....always will be.

When previous No. 1 Rafa was injury-free, he lost five times in a row to Federer.

EDIT : Murray suffered the same fate, btw. 0-5 in his last matches five matches vs Fed.

Federer's match with Coric lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Del Potro after 55 minutes is leading 6-2 4-3, with a break of serve in the second set.  It looks like Del Potro, an in-form player, will be Federer's opponent in the final.

@Lags72.. yes, injuries are part and parcel in any sport, and Tommy Haas retired yesterday at IW and became the TD. Amazing that he was #2, albeit briefly.

Unlikely that Federer will play the Clay season.

So Federer prevailed to win in 3 sets to reach the final where he'll play Del Potro. When was the last time Del Potro reached a Masters final? Good to have him back near the top of the game after his long road back from injury, especially given the number of high profile absentees at the moment. Looking forward to the final.

MrInvisible wrote: When was the last time Del Potro reached a Masters final?

Shanghai 2013, lost to Djokovic in three.

Delpo invariably causes trouble for Fed, even though the head-to-head record suggests not.
   Could be that Fed has had his dodgy match in the semi - he didn't play that well in his opening match either - and will play much better today. He'll certainly need to, as only something approaching his best will be enough to beat delpo.
   A win today, and Fed could be top for quite a few weeks, regardless of Miami. A defeat, and he'll need some wins in Miami to stay numero uno.

Good that we have a lineup worthy of a Masters Final

Was amazed to find that this would be a first-ever 1000 title for JMDP.

Fed - as in any match these days - has to be favourite. BUT only marginally so. Here’s hoping for a proper battle.

The fact that delpo has yet to win a 1,000-pointer shows just how dominant the Big Four have been at this level. Think I'm right in saying that at one stage Djoko was the youngest winner of a 1,000 tourney for a number of successive years.
   The bad news for the others is that they cannot expect to have so many of the Big Four (plus Stan the Man and Nishi) out of action for much longer.

sirfredperry wrote:Delpo invariably causes trouble for Fed, even though the head-to-head record suggests not.

Berdych is the other 'flat' power hitter, who causes trouble for Federer. If Federer does not get into a FH power contest, and uses slices and drop shots, he has a better chance. The other factor is the wind and court conditions. If it is calm, Federer may have better odds of winning.

laverfan wrote:

sirfredperry wrote:Delpo invariably causes trouble for Fed, even though the head-to-head record suggests not.

Berdych is the other 'flat' power hitter, who causes trouble for Federer. If Federer does not get into a FH power contest, and uses slices and drop shots, he has a better chance. The other factor is the wind and court conditions. If it is calm, Federer may have better odds of winning.

Berdych certainly has caused problems for Federer in the past. But not very recently. In fact it’s now a full five years since he last scored a win - and in their last nine meetings he has managed to take a total of just two sets from Roger.

The much-rejuvenated and fully fit Delpo is more of a fearsome opponent. And perhaps (?) Federer might even be a little fatigued by what was a fairly brutal, intense, clash v Coric yesterday.

lags72 wrote:The much-rejuvenated and fully fit Delpo is more of a fearsome opponent.

Raonic vs Del Potro showed Delpo's weakness. Raonic was feeding Delpo's FH consistently, but Federer had better length vs Coric. Delpo has a weak BH even now, which can be exploited to create room for BH DTL/FH CC and follow-up volley. Let us see what happens.

Federer also needs to shave to be a shade faster.

That looks like some good analysis there Laverfan. I guess the tennis players and their coaches know all about the particular strengths and weaknesses of their opponents in helping them determine the tactics they need to follow.

Federer loses the first set 6-4 and its 6-5 in the second set on serve, with Del Potro to serve to take the set into a tie-breaker.

And Del Potro holds to love and has the tie-breaker to win the match.

The stats indicate a very close match with the weakness being on Federer's second serve.

7-7 in the tie break

And Del Potro reaches 8 points in the tie-breaker to not take the second set which is won by Federer 10 points to 8.  So all square one set all.  
Final set.

4-6 7-6

5-5 final set

6-6 final set tie breaker.

4-0 Del Potro final set tie-breaker
5-0 Del Potro
5-1 Del Potro

Looks like Del Potro has this.

Congrats Delpo, long overdue masters 1000 title for the hugely likable Argentine.

Del Potro blows Federer away in the final set tie-breaker 7-2. Two successive titles for Del Potro as he establishes himself as one of the front-runners for the 2018 season. Federer, Nadal, Del Potro.

Congratulations, Del Potro. Welcome to the Masters Club.

Well done to Del Potro, and I am reminded of his performance at Indian Wells 2013.

He was the best player in the tournament, he beat Murray and Djokovic in QF/SF at a point when, at that exact moment in time, they were the best two outdoor hard court players on tour. Neither Murray nor Djokovic played badly against Del Potro, but he just got through two hard fought matches very well.

Meanwhile, on the other half of the draw, Nadal got through straight set easy matches against Berdych and Federer. Federer played badly. Rafa also benefited from a walkover earlier in the tournament.

In the final, Del Potro was a set and a break up against Nadal but just could not get over the line and tired out leaving Nadal to turn the match and win the title really on the basis of having survived the easier half of the draw.

I've thought Del Potro has richly deserved to win a masters title ever since that day and it was fitting that he was able to do it at Indian Wells.

This is a very helpful title for his career and legacy which otherwise has leaned too much on the US Open title. I mean, before today what was his second biggest individual title? I have no idea.

If it wasn't for that US Open title, his career would have seemed rather sad with so many defeats in the latter stages of masters (including once the WTF) and Olympics.

Fed had two MPs at 5-4, 40-15 in that final set! (and another MP later in that game). Still, he could have lost in straight sets and he could have lost to Coric. Fed has had MPs in matches and lost before now (twice last year alone), but I can't recall his having had CHAMPIONSHIP points and losing. Could be wrong about that.
   I make it Fed needs to get through three matches at Miami to keep his number one. At last delpo has got his ranking up to the kind of position he ought to be in. As long as he stays fit he could go very high this year.

Well done to Del Potro. A much deserved Masters 1000 title in a career blighted by wrist injuries. Has the game to beat any of the other top players and doesn't get overawed by who is at the other end of the court from him.

You wonder just what sort of career delpo would have had but for injuries. As it is, he can STILL have a stellar time of it. He's younger than any of the Big Four, after all.

sirfredperry wrote:Fed had two MPs at 5-4, 40-15 in that final set! (and another MP later in that game). Still, he could have lost in straight sets and he could have lost to Coric. Fed has had MPs in matches and lost before now (twice last year alone), but I can't recall his having had CHAMPIONSHIP points and losing. Could be wrong about that.

The best one I can recall is Nadal v Federer 2006 Rome final.

I hope Del Potro takes plenty of time off as he needs it. It seems to me that his wrist injuries come from over use of the wrist possibly (I could be wrong). In which case, he needs to play a light schedule for the rest of his career. But maybe he knows better. Missing Miami would be a smart move, he probably isn't due to play there for some days but even so. Alternative is just play for the match practice but don't hit the ball so hard.

Not sure what Federer's plans are. I'd guess he'll play the French Open this year. I'd actually like to see him play Monte Carlo and Rome this year because those are the masters he's never won, and the other big players are not at their best, or playing at all right now, could be an opportunity to get a Monte Carlo title. Although I would be very surprised of course if he does play it.

L-Fan/HB. Forgot about that Rome final. Good one to spot. Don't think Fed will bother with the clay-court season for a second year running. He's already over 3,000 points to the good this year, irrespective of Miami. He'll save himself for Wimbledon.

Caught one of the interviews Delpo did post match. He was asked about winning majors again and he merely said if it happens he'll take otherwise he's got no regrets for his career. It seems like Delpo has accepted what could've been and it dwelling on it. It's the correct mentality

Many congratulations to Del Potro. A great achievement to be able to get back to wiining a Masters event when his career look to be over a year or so ago. Here is hoping it is a prelude to bigger things for him.

The main draw for Miami is out. Fed has avoided delpo and Djoko who are both in the bottom half. Delpo might have to play both Nishi and Djok early on!Rog could have Verdasco in his second match and Berdych in his third.
   Serena has drawn....Osaka, who has just won IW!

Huge congrats to Delpo

A massive achievement, given all that he has been through these past years.

He might have been playing the oldest guy in the Top 100. But that guy also just happens to be the World Number One too.

I think last year Federer's Australian Open win was a surprise and as he planned out his season after that, his target would have been to win one more major.

This season is a bit different. Federer is the no 1 (for today anyway), has been playing well for over a year, and also his other major rivals are even more injured etc than this time last year.

I think he should at the very least play the French Open to keep the calendar year grand slam dream alive. It is a long shot, but unlike last year, it isn't completely over the top to suggest it.

Having said that, there are some signs in the last two tournaments he may be playing a fraction worse than last year, but these are fine margins. At the very least he should play the French Open and roll the dice and who knows?

Of course, now there is an extra rest week before Wimbledon as well.

Anyway, Federer already has the (men's) Wimbledon record now, a second French would be more special.

Some good news for British tennis, both Cameron Norrie and Liam Broady have won through two rounds of qualifying to make it to the main draw at Miami. Cameron Norrie (aged 22) was expected to make it (based on ranking), but Liam Broady (aged 24) must have played a bit above his ranking to make it.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/scores/current/miami/403/draws?matchType=qualifierSingles
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/scores/current/miami/403/draws?matchType=singles