ATP 500, 250: Memphis, Marseille, Buenos Aires

We have reached a dead week in ATP calendar. The week where no "big" names are playing, and everyone wants to fast-forward to next Monday.
Well, we can't do that, can we.....

There are points to be won, and there are matches to be played. For those who care:

MEMPHIS indoor hard

"The U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships is played at the Racquet Club of Memphis, the only private club in the world to host a professional men’s and women’s combined indoor event. Beginning with Bjorn Borg's triumph in 1977, Memphis has counted nine year-end ATP World Tour No. 1s among its winners - including Americans Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick."

Players: Cilic, Isner, Raonic Querrey, Nishikori, Haas, Dolgopolov, Melzer, Verdasco, Blake, Harrison
Draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/402/mds.pdf
Order of Play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/402/op.pdf

MARSEILLE , indoor hard

"The Open 13 is one of five French tournaments on the ATP World Tour calendar, held on the Mediterranean coast in the city of Marseille. Former ATP player Jean-Francois Caujolle was a driving force in bringing a tour-level event to his hometown, and since the inaugural event in 1993, six Frenchmen have lifted the Marseille trophy – Guy Forget-1996; Fabrice Santoro-1999; Arnaud Clement-2006; Gilles Simon-2007; Jo-Wilfried Tsonga-2009 and Michael Llodra-2011."

Players: Berdych, Del Potro, Tsonga, Tipsarevic, Gasquet, Simon, Janoqicz, Klizan, Gubis, Benneteau, Rosol, Monfils, Davydenko, Paire, Strakhovski
Draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/496/mds.pdf
Order of Play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/496/op.pdf

BUENOS AIRES clay

"The Copa Claro is the third stop of the four-tournament Latin American swing, and is contested on clay at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, known as the "Cathedral of Argentinean tennis". An Argentine has reached the final in nine of the 11 editions of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament, with champions including Guillermo Coria, Gaston Gaudio, Juan Monaco and David Nalbandian."

Players: Ferrer, Almagro, Wawrinka, Bellucci, Zeballos, Fognini, Anduhar, Nalbandian
Draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/506/mds.pdf
Order of Play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/506/op.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KLvy9__xMg

isn't memphis a 500 event?

It is.

THat's intersting I thought that by winning San Jose, Rao woul dget closer to number 11...even taking the spot there as Almagro, currently number 11 lost the points of Sao Paolo. ...but the opposite happened. Alma stays there and Rao loses a spot to Simon! down to 14th now

Oh well.

luvsports! wrote:isn't memphis a 500 event?

Corrected, thanks!

Tenez wrote:It is.

THat's intersting I thought that by winning San Jose, Rao woul dget closer to number 11...even taking the spot there as Almagro, currently number 11 lost the points of Sao Paolo. ...but the opposite happened. Alma stays there and Rao loses a spot to Simon! down to 14th now

Oh well.

Well, he just defended the points from last year. Time to win something bigger than a 250 event and move up in style.
Nole, on the other hand, has a very healthy lead of over 3000 points over Rog atm, who lost quite a bit because of his early Rorrerdam exit

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Singles.aspx

Today in Marseille, JJ def. Rosol and Tomic def. Klizan in 3rd set tie-break.

Already some good matches on tomorrow:

Marseille (starting at 10 AM)
Paire Daverman
Llodra-Goffin
Gulbis-Nieminen
Strakhovski-Davydenko
Muller-Gasquet

Memphis
F. Mayer-Blake (he's still goin')
Istomin-Isner
Melzer-Sijsling

Start at 10am? That's harsh!

Well, it IS 11.00 Continental time!

Oh I see....that's a bit better.

Anyone got a link for Paire - Davverman?
Only seem to be able to find Davydenko Strakhovski

And Paire squeezes past and (after losing the first set tie-break) wins the second set tie-break!

ALLEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!!!!

And he lost. Why I take those losses so badly....

Just had a peek at other results, Gulbis, LLodra, Davy through and some fantastic matches tomorrow:
Gulbis-Berdych
Davydenko-Tsonga
Llodra-Del Potro
Tomic-Daverman (may Tomic trounce Daverman!!! )

Llodra is really good on this fast surface.

he beat dp on a slower court than this in paris with s and v, i wonder if he can do it again!

Berdych vs. Gulbis today, could be fun (if Gulbis wins), also looking forward to Llodra vs. Del Po, but we'll have to wait for tomorrow for that one...

So Tomic won pretty convincingly . Berdych escaped a close match

Yes....must be frustrating for Gulbis to have lost 2 very close matches against two top 10 in 2 weeks.

Saw a bit of Berd Gulbis. Glad Berd won, despite his size, more agile and sharper. Gulbis keeps his power too much on the base line but is not consistent enough with it, esp on his backhand.
Also made some ridiculous shot selection when he had a chance to break.
Just not sharp enough. Will probably do better on clay.

Some interesting matches tomorrow:
Marseille
Tipsarevic - Tursunov
Simon - Agut
Llodra-Del Potro (5.30 UK time)
Benneteau- Janowicz

Memphis
Hewitt-Istomin
Blake-Raonic/Sock
Young/Nishikori
Clic/Sijsling

Buenos Aires
(order of play not out yet)

Dolgopolov seems to be doing well against Phau.

and finally order of play for Buenos Aires...tons of anonymous names with just these two matches of any interest:
Nalbandian_Ferrer
Wawrinka-Traver

How on earth did Nalby lost that set from 3/0 up double break?...v Nadal that is!

In Memphis last night, Jack Sock knocks out Raonic in 3 sets.
That was his first win of the year after rolling out his ankle in AO.

I expect Delpo to lose to Llodra today after collecting his guest appearance fee. He just won Rotterdam and will want to rest before Dubai.

I am checking the odds....

3.4 for Llodra....not that good so I am probably not the only one with that thought.

Tursunov dispatched Tipsarevic in style. Haven't seen him for ages, although I'm pretty sure I caught a glimpse of him on one of the smaller courts last Wimbledon.
Amazing how some players disappear, you forget about them and they just turn up and start winning again.

Yes I noticed but I doubt Tsip is on top form.

I've never seen Delpo play Llodra, should be really interesting.

Seeing how easily Llodra wins points with S&V-ing, against Delpo makes you wonder why others don't do it more. It's not rocket science.
I can imagine Almagro do it.

noleisthebest wrote:Seeing how easily Llodra wins points with S&V-ing, against Delpo makes you wonder why others don't do it more. It's not rocket science.

"not Rocket science"???? It;s genius...you either have the nat skills or you don't. The saying "genius resides in simplicity" applies there....Well great talent for sure.

The reason they don't do it is

1 - They can't (it requires talent, not legs and lungs)

2 - Surfaces too slow

3 - New strings make it suicidal nowadays to SV.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Seeing how easily Llodra wins points with S&V-ing, against Delpo makes you wonder why others don't do it more. It's not rocket science.

"not Rocket science"???? It;s genius...you either have the nat skills or you don't. The saying "genius resides in simplicity" applies there....Well great talent for sure.

The reason they don't do it is

1 - They can't (it requires talent, not legs and lungs)

2 - Surfaces too slow

3 - New strings make it suicidal nowadays to SV.

Gotcha!

As predicted Delpo woudl be happy to have a rest. He might win the second set to justify his guest fee but he won win tonight.

Great set of tennis from LLodra. Very stylish!
I'm surprised he hasn't done that well in Wimbledon.

noleisthebest wrote:Great set of tennis from LLodra. Very stylish!
I'm surprised he hasn't done that well in Wimbledon.

Well Wimbledon has balloon balls. Remember it's easier to hold your serve at teh FO nowadays. Anyhow I think the main issue is to deliver over 3 sets. Llodra is a 1990s player....just a better version.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Great set of tennis from LLodra. Very stylish!
I'm surprised he hasn't done that well in Wimbledon.

Well Wimbledon has balloon balls. Remember it's easier to hold your serve at teh FO nowadays. Anyhow I think the main issue is to deliver over 3 sets. Llodra is a 1990s player....just a better version.

Just checked his best Wimbledon result was R4 in 2011. Guess who beat him in straights

Llodra must be having time of his life playing like this.....

And Delpo wins in 3....

Tomorrow in Marseille, starting at 1 PM:
Tursunov-Muller
Tomic-Tsonga
Berdych/JJ/Benneteau
Simon-Del Potro

Buenos Aires
Fognini-Nalbandian/Ferrer
Ramos-Traver/Wawrinka

For those who can find a stream, Nalbandian Ferrer start at 10.30 PM

Ouah....surprised Delpo wanted to win that one.

I only watched until mid second set, so don't know what happened, but it looks close. JJ on his way to beating Benneteau.
Really annoying there are no links for this match. Tennistv only showing Sijsling Cilic.
I'd force those who make the choices to actually sit and watch those matches

Latest from Dubai, Maradona is going to coach Del Potro

"Next week I’ll be the one training del Potro myself. I will ask Franc Davin to step aside and Diego will train del Potro.”

Tursunov seems to be on a roll, beats Muller in 3
Tomic - Tsonga next, that should be a good one!

Wow, Tomic and Tsonga already playing third set, I'd better have a look!

I am watching too. Looks close but the stats that says it all is

BP conversion. Tomic 1/1 ......Tsonga 1/9!!!!!

Tie-break, brilliant!

Doesn't Tomic look stupid with that "tough" two thin shaved lines haircut

tsonga saves a match point!

I cant believe I'm sayin' it, but the crowd could be a bit more passionate