ATP 1000: Indian Wells

So no one watched the Djoko/Tsonga match? I did not. Looks like Tsonga could not run ....as I envisaged this is why I wanted Rao to win yesterday.



Another very intereting interview from Roger.

Q. Last night Rafa said that the strategy that he has always used against you, it was always going to be very difficult to apply tonight because of the condition of his knee. Did you notice something different compared to the other time you played together?
ROGER FEDERER: Tonight? He played totally different than the last few times I played against him.
No, it was the same thing. Yeah.

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Rafa trying to make us believe he has other options than moonballing.


Q. Kind of related to that, when you came in here, there was a lot of talk about him being tentative, or were you surprised just how well he was moving out there?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, he's not going to come back if he's not well. He's not going to come back half broken. I expected him to tear through the clay. I expected him to be tough here, which he shows to be.
No question, you know, he's a bit careful at times, you know, his movement. That's totally normal. Hasn't played for some time on hard court. I don't know if it's careful or if it's just getting used to it again.
But we're talking about slow clay courts. He can return from way back in the court. It's not like on a hard court where you have to react super fast. And even that would be no problem for him, otherwise he wouldn't have come back on tour.
So I don't understand the talk in the first place after the three tournaments he played on clay.

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Courts designed for Rafa.....but maybe not for his knees....though I guess his knees were fine.

Murray missing his first 4 attacking FHs. Murray is not used to attacking and it shows. He is trying though at least. He is better on the BH side though.

Not the greatest spectacle but it is still interesting, mainly because they haven't played in 4years!

I think it's quite a good match. Problem is that Delpo's shots don't look that powerful on those slow courts.

O-leeee, o-le o-le o-le Del-pooo, Del-pooo!

Dear me!!!!
Just saw Delpo counterpunch Murray ON HIS OWN SERVE...and lose the point....of course!

43 shots of pure rubbish.....shame on both players for such gutless display.

I am so surprised Delpo chooses to go for those long rallies...I guess he has no choice with such slow courts.

I am surprised such a tall player has such an average serve. This is why I believe Rao has considerably more talent than Delpo.

I jsut remembered I read somewhere recently that apparenltyDelpo is beginning to feel pain in his wrist again...so maybe that's he's off his usual bashing whoooooa style . Shame.

Have there been any time violation warnings yet, or has Nadal already sorted it all out with Ellison at least for this tournament.

noleisthebest wrote:I jsut remembered I read somewhere recently that apparenltyDelpo is beginning to feel pain in his wrist again...so maybe that's he's off his usual bashing whoooooa style . Shame.

That woudl explain it. His FH is certainly not as impressive as in the past. It certainly doesn't hurt Murray.

Murray's in his moaning mode, security guards sat on the steps, aparently...what a surprise!
Next thing he'll moan about Del Potro being on the other side of the net

Delpo is great to watch when he gets going, come on Delpo!!!!!!!!

The Yank commentating is unbearably horrible....I just can't understand how these people get the job!

Honestly it cannot be worse than Castle. He is such a joke. He sells players strengths like a tie salesman.

I wish Del Potro stopped his challenge antics ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!

Tenez wrote:Honestly it cannot be worse than Castle. He is such a joke. He sells players strengths like a tie salesman.

Believe me it can, at least Castle doesn't have the yank accent he is blabbing right through the point telling you the most obvious things aaaand cheering for Murray! Even poor Robbie that's with him stopped commentating just to give us a break....

I know then but they can talk sense at times. Castle is simply a OOOHHrr magnifffiicent, sublime and all that crap for a 20 shot pushing rally.

I quite like Cowen actually. Says stupid things too.

I don't know who this is (and I don't want to know either) just turned the volume off...

That was a much better Delpo in the second set (though I only saw the end of 1st)

Delpo had BPs in that 1st set while Murray has yet to get one.

I still think Andy might win this one.....hopefully not.

Interesting how they both won one slam and that was USO. I can't see them win another one, altough Delpo, despite less success in terms of titles won looks a better potential.
Delpo's movement's been very sluggish tonight. Great hold, keep going Delpo!!!!!

Yes they had long rallies so they are actually both getting sluggish.

this is the stage of the match where Murray should run out of his attacking juice and Delpo must capitalise on it, not let him breathe in the next few games....not let Murray off the hook by pushing back his average, easily despatchable short balls....
And finally gets hold of one and ....breaks!!!!!

Yes exactly what I was thinking at the beginning of the match (not 3rd set). Murray does get tired quickly and loses some of his timing often after a set or 2.

He was very lucky at that USO that Djoko was even more tired...though Murray contributed in his tiring,.

Yank just uses the wealth of his expertise to inform us (after the camera shows hawkeye ball out on the entire screen) that Delpo has just lost one challenge....

Tenez wrote:Yes exactly what I was thinking at the beginning of the match (not 3rd set). Murray does get tired quickly and loses some of his timing often after a set or 2.

He was very lucky at that USO that Djoko was even more tired...though Murray contributed in his tiring,.

... and a little bit of scheduling...doesn't matter....

Come on Delpo PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!!!!!!

Ouah....2 breaks up. Funny cause one of the Sky "pundit" was saying he was 100% sure Murray woudl win the 3rd.

still no order of play for tomorrow...

Yank keeps telling us for the zillionth time that Murray and Delpo are great friends.
This time he adds a bit of wisdom to it: often those who were not friends in juniors, become friends as seniors...as a result of maturing

Love Delpo and his always happy fanatical fans

So neither Castle and Cowan noticed that Murray was not 100%. He coudl not serve properly since the end of that frst set (beg of 2nd). This is why the score is so one sided in those last 2 sets.

But glad Delpo won!!!

It was Petchey saying he was certain Murray was going to win taht 3rd set.

Tenez wrote:It was Petchey saying he was certain Murray was going to win taht 3rd set.

and to think that he may land Draper's job.....it would be good to appy for it if it goes public, just for a laugh

Semis start at 7PM UK time tomorrow:

Nadal-Berdych
followed by
Djokovic-Del Potro

Djokovic Berd in the final I reckon.

Tenez wrote:So neither Castle and Cowan noticed that Murray was not 100%. He coudl not serve properly since the end of that frst set (beg of 2nd). This is why the score is so one sided in those last 2 sets.

what do you think was wrong with him, back?

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:So neither Castle and Cowan noticed that Murray was not 100%. He coudl not serve properly since the end of that frst set (beg of 2nd). This is why the score is so one sided in those last 2 sets.

what do you think was wrong with him, back?

I am not sure. Back or cramping like he often does. He took a break at the end of the first set and then was not the same after that. We do not know why he took a break...maybe bathroom...maybe physical but he certainly was not the same on his serve in teh last 2 sets.

I think he easily loses focus as his energy runs out, but generally manages to get himself together against weaker opponents.
To me it's still a novelty to see him attack, and just when I am about to get used to it in a match he usually collapses...

noleisthebest wrote:To me it's still a novelty to see him attack, and just when I am about to get used to it in a match he usually collapses...

Well certainly trying to attack doesn;t help. That's the problem nowadays is that attackers simply do not win.

But anyway his serving went really down after that 1st set and I don;t think it's directly linked to his focus. Something physical may have taken his focus...he is good at regrouping...but today he could not.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:To me it's still a novelty to see him attack, and just when I am about to get used to it in a match he usually collapses...

Well certainly trying to attack doesn;t help. That's the problem nowadays is that attackers simply do not win.

But anyway his serving went really down after that 1st set and I don;t think it's directly linked to his focus. Something physical may have taken his focus...he is good at regrouping...but today he could not.

When it's spelt out like that it's sounds so baaad

Murray is unable to attack consistently and constantly, unlike Federer. Del Potro was also at an advantage with the slower courts giving him more time to line up shots. The FH to the corners were really effective. Murray stopped using the DS and CC BH and used his FH more for attack.

laverfan wrote:Murray is unable to attack consistently and constantly, unlike Federer.

Well very true. You may have noticed that no-one else can and in fact not even Federer can win attacking nowadays...unless he is having an out of this world day.

I have alsways said that what separates the talented ones than the rest is the success rate at attacking. They can all pull winners but can they pull enough of them to win a match against the more consistent players? Murray certainly often fails in that department. He started the match by trying to pull 4 FH winners and the 4 of them turned into UEs.

that Del Potro was also at an advantage with the slower courts giving him more time to line up shots. The FH to the corners were really effective. Murray stopped using the DS and CC BH and used his FH more for attack.

I actually thought Delpo's shots were not that pacy and hurting Murray. Delpo won a lot (if not most) of the long rallies. Clips showed that he was concerned about his wrist and the combination of that plus slow courts forced longer rallies...which is so bizarre from such big guys. I agree that in theory the slow court could have also helped him....if that had allowed him to hurt Murray with his shots but frankly it hardly did. On clay Delpo will be deadly if he plays consistently cause there Murray and other movers won't be able to move as well.

Murray seems to have been fine last night, just had "tired" legs:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yu7iz9Lgw4

I don't think delpo played lights out tennis 2bh, murray made a lot of errors and DP was just more consistent and served well.
But he needs to go for it more against djoko, really let loose!

noleisthebest wrote:Murray seems to have been fine last night, just had "tired" legs:

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yu7iz9Lgw4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yu7iz9Lgw4[/quote[/url]]

Well I said back or cramping. Difficult to say but the fact is he was not the same and I agree with LS that Delpo did not play particularly well. Just very surprised that he decided to rally with Murray and keep the ball in court....and it paid off.

I was more than surprised by the "rallying" Delpo...of all the people...I bet even Murray was taken aback.
Delpo played so well last WTF in London and I thought he was going to have a great 2013, but his wrist must be bothering him, why else would he be rallying like that in hot weather?
such a shame...although I have always said that he bashes that ball too hard, so no surprise the wrist gave up the ghost. Maybe change the motion or way he hits it could help.

I hope it's nothing serious.


I did notice Mutray stretch his quads in the second set, but it was a bit early for cramping, wasn't it, esp as he didn't run that much in the first set.

The thing to watch tonight is Nadal's forehand. I noticed he hits it a bit flatter now but adds more pace to it, a bit like Murray's CC, was very efecive against Fed. I don't remember him play like that before.

BUt a flatter FH from Nadal woudl benefit his opponents....unless he can hit like Federer or Delpo but that I very much doubt. We always try to assess the new weapons of players but their weapons has always been that physique and stamina. As soon as they start attacking they play on the territory of those who have done it since a young age and are therefore much better at it.

However Nadal certainly might not want to run as much.

In the past he would say: "why trying to pull a winner now if it's only 65% when 5 shots down the line it coudl be 80%....plus I am tiring my opponent and will have more chance of beating him as teh match extends."

Nowadays it's more like "let's use those 65% chance and pull the trigger now as my knee might hurt soon."

As mentioned I have not watched Nadal recently so cannot say but I cannot see him win attaking.

He wasn't attacking, just sending the ball cross-court over the net lower than usual and with quite a bit of precision. Fed didn't even bother chasing most/any of those down.
I can't' believe I'm sayin this, but I'm really looking forward to his match against Berdych.


I wonder who Blue Clay will be supporting