ATP 250: Brisbane, Chennai, Doha

It's hard to believe it, but the 2013 ATP season is starting tomorrow!

Three 250 tournaments are opening the new season: Brisbane, Chennai and Doha.

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

"World class tennis returned to Brisbane in 2009 after a 14-year absence,
with the state capital of Queensland hosting the combined men's and
women's event in the opening week of the season. Australian tennis
legends gathered at the inaugural Brisbane International for the
official opening of the $82 million tennis center, featuring a centre
court named after local hero Pat Rafter."

Decent field featuring defending champion Andy Murray, Raonic, Simon, Dolgopolov, Nishikori, Melzer, Hewitt, Istomin, Klizan, Benneteau, Stepanek, Dimitrov, Niemenen, Harrison.

The Draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/339/mds.pdf
Order Of Play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/339/op.pdf

AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN

"The Aircel Chennai Open, India’s only ATP World Tour stop, is one of three tournaments held in the opening week of the season. The ATP World Tour 250 event, first held in 1996, has built a strong legacy for being a “Springboard of Champions”, with former winners including Grand Slam champions Pat Rafter and Carlos Moya."

Players competing: Berdych, Tipsarevic, Cilic, Wawrinka, Paire , Haase, Lu, Strakhovski

The Draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/891/mds.pdf
Order Of Play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/891/op.pdf

QUATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

"Many of the world's best tennis players open their season campaigns at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, one of two ATP World Tour events held in the Middle East. Three-time Doha champion Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal helped kick off the 2012 ATP World Tour in style by playing tennis at sunset in the spectacular Katara amphitheatre in Doha, surrounded by more than 4,000 burning Roman candles"

Players: Ferrer, Gasquet, Kohlschreiber, Youzhny, Chardy, Troicki, Lopez, Davydenko, Rosol

The Draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/451/mds.pdf
Order Of Play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/451/op.pdf


A song, a song!.....My kindgdom for a song!.....ok, I'll do one for all three tournaments :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxQZQ86jJHg

Is Roger not playing anything this year before the AO? In the past, he would play at least Kooyong exho. When was the last time he started the season at the AO? Maybe he figures his South American tour counts as tennis and he needs more rest.

I do not expect much of this week's tournaments. The top stars play just to warm up, I do not think an early loss would indicate anything. One player that maybe is worth watching is Raonic. He is not high enough in the rankings to be able to write off small tournaments as irrelevant so should give it a good go. But I have to admit I am not a huge fan of his, so there is limited excitement in it for me.

he has 250 points to defend from chennai but hes playing in brisbane this time

I am not quite sold on him. He has big serve and can play some decent shots but his overall game does not even compare to your average top 10-15 player. I sort of see him as a somewhat (but not much) better version of Isner. I would be happy to be proven wrong, because we desperately need someone to break through.

Oh, people have noticed ATP 250 thread

There should be some good matches at the end of next week, I want to see Raonic and Dolgopolov, but also Simon, Paire, Strakhovski, Stan and Dimitrov, I hope they worked hard in the off-season.

summerblues wrote:Is Roger not playing anything this year before the AO? In the past, he would play at least Kooyong exho. When was the last time he started the season at the AO? Maybe he figures his South American tour counts as tennis and he needs more rest.

That's a good question and I haven't even noticed he wasn't playing anywhere...He must be counting his samba-tour as some kind of a prep, I still can't recover from laughing at Abu Dhabi bosses who deemed Federer "not attractive" enough to have at their tournament this year....

noleisthebest wrote:

summerblues wrote:Is Roger not playing anything this year before the AO? In the past, he would play at least Kooyong exho. When was the last time he started the season at the AO? Maybe he figures his South American tour counts as tennis and he needs more rest.

That's a good question and I haven't even noticed he wasn't playing anywhere...He must be counting his samba-tour as some kind of a prep, I still can't recover from laughing at Abu Dhabi bosses who deemed Federer "not attractive" enough to have at their tournament this year....

It is clear that Roger just needs to practise much more to get there next year

noleisthebest wrote:I still can't recover from laughing at Abu Dhabi bosses who deemed Federer "not attractive" enough to have at their tournament this year....

Not very convincing, is it? I wonder whether it was them who ditched Roger or vice versa. My guess is that his relaionship with IMG has gone quite sour and this may be related, but would not be surprised if it was more his decision than theirs.

paulcz wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

summerblues wrote:Is Roger not playing anything this year before the AO? In the past, he would play at least Kooyong exho. When was the last time he started the season at the AO? Maybe he figures his South American tour counts as tennis and he needs more rest.

That's a good question and I haven't even noticed he wasn't playing anywhere...He must be counting his samba-tour as some kind of a prep, I still can't recover from laughing at Abu Dhabi bosses who deemed Federer "not attractive" enough to have at their tournament this year....

It is clear that Roger just needs to practise much more to get there next year

Yeah, win at least two slams.....the biggest joke was that that same tournament got all in a huff (or was it Dubai ) about Murray pulling out last minute and said they were never going to have him back again....and now he is the "future" of tennis everyone is desperate to see....

Anyway, you know season's dead when you go to ATP site to check the results and livescore board is not even running....

weren't basel a bit miffed that he pulled out in '11

luvsports! wrote:weren't basel a bit miffed that he pulled out in '11

A popular chap, indeed....

Lukas The Great Rosol seems to have got the measure of the Spaniards!
he beat Anduharm the 8th seed in Doha in straight sets today

In Chennai, Paire beats Cippola Strakhovski also through beating a qualifier.

In Brisbaine, Istomin demolishes Klizan, Goffin the babyface beats the local boy Ebden, Biredi beats Harrison, and Dimitrov edges Baker.

It's also good to notice that Monfils is back from the dead, playing in Doha. He recorded a very convincing win against an anonymous player.
Good to have him back and I hope he continues where he left.

Djokovic playing Tomic in Hopman Cup at the moment. 3 all in the first set.
Also in Brisbane, Dolgo playing Niemenen.
Links for watching:

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.frombar.tv%2F&ei=wgfkUKb_MsW70QWrjIHIAQ&usg=AFQjCNGpvqY5_fEjBo6UVPRxlRo7STz5Ow&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.d2k

After a year of being rightfully called Tomic the tank engine, Tomic finally looking motivated and his old self again.
Finally, not wearing that silly bandana any more, he even looks like a tennis player now.
His slices working very well from the base line, forehand very patchy though and in need of some serious drilling sessions.
Still 4 all.


Tomic breaks and is serving for the set.

And Tomic takes the first set with some good, aggressive play & accurate serving.

Watch for Nole to come back firing on all cylinders now.

Tomic wins the 1st set.

Despite being 20 years old (and 2 months), Tomic apparently still the youngest player in the top 200, amazing!

noleisthebest wrote:And Tomic takes the first set with some good, aggressive play & accurate serving.

Watch for Nole to come back firing on all cylinders now.

I suspect another version of the story. Djokovic comeback? yes. Firing all cylinders? Maybe No.

He perhaps will try to beat Tomic the way he beat Bellucci in Madrid 2011.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:And Tomic takes the first set with some good, aggressive play & accurate serving.

Watch for Nole to come back firing on all cylinders now.

I suspect another version of the story. Djokovic comeback? yes. Firing all cylinders? Maybe No.

He perhaps will try to beat Tomic the way he beat Bellucci in Madrid 2011.

Why Bellucci?

noleisthebest wrote:Despite being 20 years old (and 2 months), Tomic apparently still the youngest player in the top 200, amazing!

This tennis era belongs to the "freaks" of nature. Its almost impossible for young players in their late teens to have the stamina/fitness/strength to beat the top guys who are in thier mid 20s. For a young player, its only possible for him to out hit and win. But the courts are slow these days and retrieving/returning is easier. Outlasting is impossible for the young body. Bar Nadal who to me looked miraculous for someone as young as he was.

Tomic is definitely a watchable version of Murray. If only he had the same team and dedication behind him...

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Despite being 20 years old (and 2 months), Tomic apparently still the youngest player in the top 200, amazing!

This tennis era belongs to the "freaks" of nature. Its almost impossible for young players in their late teens to have the stamina/fitness/strength to beat the top guys who are in thier mid 20s. For a young player, its only possible for him to out hit and win. But the courts are slow these days and retrieving/returning is easier. Outlasting is impossible for the young body. Bar Nadal who to me looked miraculous for someone as young as he was.

I don't know...It's all about talent in the end. Nole's stamina was pretty bad compared to now when he was 19 and playing Fed in that 2007 USO final.
When the right talent comes, he'll cut through the draw like knife though butter, a bit like JJ in Bercy.

Bellucci is just a basher with no plan B, once you tame his forehand, he doesn't know what do to.

noleisthebest wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:And Tomic takes the first set with some good, aggressive play & accurate serving.

Watch for Nole to come back firing on all cylinders now.

I suspect another version of the story. Djokovic comeback? yes. Firing all cylinders? Maybe No.

He perhaps will try to beat Tomic the way he beat Bellucci in Madrid 2011.

Why Bellucci?

Perhaps you don't remember the match or might not have seen it. It was a very good one. Bellucci was all over, hitting shots and aces. But he got burnt by the end of 2nd set and had nothing left literally by the end of 2 games in the 3rd. Stamina plays a huge role in today's tennis.

noleisthebest wrote:Tomic is definitely a watchable version of Murray. If only he had the same team and dedication behind him...

Apparently he has also stopped those endless slicing which was so much part of him last year. But its mainly Murray-esq game.

I do remember it very well. He was on fire.
Why did he get burned by2nd set, a young man should be able to play at least 3 sets full on.
It's not like he was taking the ball early and rushing the net, he was just bashing it with all his might, just like Murray does with his forehand and then got puffed out...serves him right for being all brawn and no brains.

Tomic has got some really nice easy power on his forehand.

Novak saving 10/11 BPs. Serving his way out of trouble just like Fed used to. But Tomic still manages to break in the end and is now serving for the match .

And the stamina king does not beat poor youngster with his fitness....6:4 6:4. Nole paid the price for playing lazy tennis today.
Tomic

how was novak playing nitb? taking it easy? or going for it but was out of sorts?

luvsports! wrote:how was novak playing nitb? taking it easy? or going for it but was out of sorts?

He played lazy tennis. Didn't take Tomic seriously who was painting the lines with his forehand a lot of times. Utterly deserved to win.
I suppose still recovering from jetlag.

still beat seppi comfortably enough

luvsports! wrote:still beat seppi comfortably enough

I haven't seen that match so can't comment. Novak's footwork was slow and Tomic did well to slow the game down with is slices.
There a few very dodgy line calls, Novak usually doesn't miss all his challenges in one match.

Ana should win her single match and then it will be down to doubles. I know Novak wants this cup so I'd be surprised if they don't win it.

As expected, Ana wins her singles match and the doubles with Nole , Oz is out

In Brisbane, Dolgopolov beats Niemenen, Simon edges out Falla in 2 tie-break setting up a match with Baghdatis tomorrow.

In Doha, (and i cannot believe this!) Lorenzi bagelled Rosol and won in straights.
Davy wins the Russian duel and knocks Youzhny out.
Monfils a set up against Kohlschreiber.

In Chennai, plenty of anonyous name still in the draw.

noleisthebest wrote:In Doha, (and i cannot believe this!) Lorenzi bagelled Rosol and won in straights.

That nothing player Lorenzi?? These losses to such waste players is doing a lot of damage to the Rosol's legacy.

there has been a lot of unrest and complaints over enforcing the new time limit rule e.g. monfils and lopez, interesting.

It is making the ball boys and girls work harder!

luvsports! wrote:there has been a lot of unrest and complaints over enforcing the new time limit rule e.g. monfils and lopez, interesting.

It is making the ball boys and girls work harder!

What happened & who is complaining?

they are strictly being told to adhere to the 20 or 25 second rule (whatever it is) and if they go over this umpires give a fault i think.

I said that monfils and lopez were complaining.
monfils even went as far as toweling down every point and not caring if he was penalized.

good rule!

Brilliant!
I can't stand this toweling down palaver. Shame it's not going to be enforced in slams.

true dat!

ye massive shame, maybe thats why nadal stayed away a bit longer

The longer the better...

Some interesting results happened overnight:

In Brisbane
Dimitrov beat Raonic in straights (6:3 6:4)
Istomin beat Hewitt in front of the Oz crowd (7:5 7:5)
Melzer edges Goffin 6:4 7:6
Gasquet beat Zemlja (only just) 6:7 6:4 7:6

In Doha
Monfils (despite sweating more as he is black) managed to beat Kohlschreiber in 3 sets 6:2 4:6 6:2 - not bad bearing in mind the long injury break

In Chennai
Tipsarevic and Wawrinka thorugh.

noleisthebest wrote:Some interesting results happened overnight:

In Brisbane
Dimitrov beat Raonic in straights (6:3 6:4)

Interesting. I reiterate what I said in 2012...2013 will be the year of the new generation. They are going to shake things at the very top.

My hope lies in JJ alone.
Interesting he is nowhere to be seen at the moment, I hope he hasn't already retired


....although that win from Dimitrov looks very promising.

It will certainly be interesting to see how he fares from now....But for me it's not how hard you hit the ball that matters, when faced versus the more talented players (as opposed to the retrievers type), it's how you handle pace. Like Rosol, JJ hits hard but can he handle pace himself? Hammering a slow topspin a la Nadal or Murray can be easy for them but can they keep the ball in court when rushed left and right?

Tonight in Brisbane:

Baghdatis - Simon
Nishikori-Dolgpolov
Istomin-Murray (if he gets past "Millman")
Dimitrov-Melzer

In Chennai:
Berdych - Davverman
Cilic-Strakhovski
Paire-Sela

Tenez wrote:It will certainly be interesting to see how he fares from now....But for me it's not how hard you hit the ball that matters, when faced versus the more talented players (as opposed to the retrievers type), it's how you handle pace. Like Rosol, JJ hits hard but can he handle pace himself? Hammering a slow topspin a la Nadal or Murray can be easy for them but can they keep the ball in court when rushed left and right?

Good point.
In Bercy, though JJ beat Murray, coming back from a set down, and Murray usually handles big servers well. He also beat Simon who was on good form at the time.
He played well against Ferrer, the ultimate grinder, but I think ran out of steam as it was his 7th match in 7 days, as he had to qualify.
I think he can handle pace better then both Raonic and Isner a bit like Querrey in that way: a tall man but now showing it at all the way he plays.
Of course the ultimate challenge would be to play Federer and The Wall
I thought he played quite fast himself, esp on his forehand which was amazing.
I really hope he picks up where he left of in November and has a kind draw in Melbourne!

One of the ultimate quotes from JJ during his dream run in Bercy (after beating Murray):

"It doesn't matter if I sleep. I don't eat. Right now I'm playing best tennis of my life."