ATP 500: Basel, Valencia

Fed time

Classic S&V from the word go from Fed, what a statement.

Istomin doesn't know what's hit him. 
So far, his serve keeping him in the match. The balls are ridiculously bouncy!

I don't know why Fed stopped charging forward...he got broken and now serving at 2:5.

And while I was typing, he must have won his service game under one minute...5:3.

6:3.

Quick set, but I still expect Fed to take the match.

So....tomorrow we have:

Goffin-Raonic
Federer-baby(Fed)
Nadal-a child (Coric is still not an adult officially)

Murray-Kev(in Anderson)
Chardy-Busta ( bust him Jeremy!)

Fed-Istomin highlights, I like how the camera angle captured Federer's artistry and speed of play:



There is another clip of today's higlights on ATP website that shows how bouncy the court was.

Watching that clip, it looks like it's going to be difficult to get past nadal on that very slow high bouncing court.

Tenez wrote:Watching that clip, it looks like it's going to be difficult to get past nadal on that very slow high bouncing court.

Nadal is all over the place at the moment, he lost to Lopez last week.

Lopez would have no chance on this court.
It looks worse than Indian Wells.

The lights are out in Basel for the 3rd time this week. This time at 5:4 for Goffin.
The conspirationist in me is going wild!

....and it worked!
After the power-cut break, from being a break up, Goffin loses the first set in the TB. 

I have been watching Raonic's draws this year and they are looking rather photo-shopped...

ALLEZ GOFF!!!!

Goffin breaks! Now serve it out this time! He could have won this in straights.

He probably would've had his momentum not been interrupted by the "power-cut"...

Still, one set all.
Good to see Goff back where he belongs!

Well 2bh he was at break point when the lights went out, but with the way he's playing he may have got of if it.

ALLLEZZZZ GOFFIN!

Excellent win for Goff, he is now ranked 25.

Quick Hands fell The Tree!

Is there any way of finding out how much Nike contribute as a sponsor to individual tournaments?
Also, what their relationship is with ATP board members is.

Why is there a delay with Nadal-Coric?

So, tomorrow we have Murray-Ferrer for the third week in a row, again directly fighting for the WTF spot.
So far, 1:1.
Last week, Ferrer had a draining QF match, this time Murray had to slug it past Kev in 3.
Come London, and they'll both have nothing left in the tank...

Looks like The Show is ready to roll!

Come on kiddo, time to show the world what you're made of

Coric looks just like Nole's baby brother Djordje!
He says he is better at table tennis than "big" tennis, that sounds promising!

He,he, Coric not only looks like Nole, he plays like him, too!
Great start - 3:0

The slow court probably suits him even more than Nadal as he has all the time in the world to deal with Nadal's grinding.

Basel's TR should hang his head his heed in shame, this court is an insult to Swiss players.

Nadal is beginning to hate the court, as the bounce seems to be high even for him: he completely mistimes and shanks a wild BH return
 
4:0!

Actually, Coric plays more like Murray, 3m behind the baseline, counterpunching in a very energy efficient way.
5:0!

5-0
What's wrong with NAdal? I've seriously never seen him play this bad.
On this level he never would have won a single match on clay.

Coric doesn't look like a promising player. I even can see him lose here.

And El Kid chokes serving for the set...I think he's beginning to lose focus. Let's see if he can serve it out second time of asking and then have a nappy change.

I am sure better tennis is played at Challengers tournaments.

First set Coric!

Stunning match this, Nadal really on top form.

That was one embarrassing tank from Nadal.
Can't complain, though

Pure tank. 

Perfect example why the Fed/Nadal H2H shouldn't be given as much weight as some want it to be.  Once again- Nadal denies Fed a chance to play him when he's less than in peak form, less than the perfect court for Nadal (as much as the TD tried).   Fed showed up 4 times last year to take on Nadal, fought like hell against Stan to win and meet Nadal at Indian Wells when Fed was clearly in great pain and movement compromised.   Fed showed up all those times over the years in the miserable slowed down high bouncing courts and clay to face Nadal, while Nadal picked and chose his spots.  The only reason Fed was able to get Nadal on some indoor courts a few times was because of the WTF format.   

No doubt Nadal is a tough matchup for Fed anywhere and a miserable matchup for him in certain conditions, but there is so much more to the reasons for the H2H to be where it's at.

this is exactly the kind of player nadal will be without the drugs
this is him cycling down and this is the kind of player he truly is

How many times has Fed played Nadal while injured you reckon ?
Was he injured in Dubai 2006

Veejay wrote:this is exactly the kind of player nadal will be without the drugs
this is him cycling down and this is the kind of player he truly is

Yes he cycled up for the US Open you see

Nadal haters ecstatic over Nadal with appendicitis losing in the QF of a ATP500 tournament

Forget about Nadal for the time being, Kimmy, and enjoy some REAL tennis.
Is this the first Fed-Dimi match?
I don't remember them playing,

Forget about Nadal for the time being, Kimmy, just sit back, relaaaax and enjoy some REAL tennis.
Is this the first Fed-Dimi match?
I don't remember them playing.

Last year Basel ?

You're right!

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=F324&oId=D875

I have no memory of it at all.

Interesting to see Dimi bring out his attacking self against Fed.
No scrambling from him so far.

Lovely, fast tennis from Fed.
Dimi's 2nd serve pretty weak. So far his 1st serve has been keeping him in.

What's annoying about this court, you have to produce a miracle shot if you want to win a point from the baseline.

Kim Jong-Un wrote:Nadal haters ecstatic over Nadal with appendicitis losing in the QF of a ATP500 tournament  

He's lost in every non clay tournament above a 250 series all year.. this is nothing new- appendicitis or not.

truffin1 wrote:

Kim Jong-Un wrote:Nadal haters ecstatic over Nadal with appendicitis losing in the QF of a ATP500 tournament  

He's lost in every non clay tournament above a 250 series all year.. this is nothing new- appendicitis or not.

He hasn't played many tournaments at all all year; but regardless of that it was clear he wasn't at his best today.

Got my Rolex box tickets to see Fed and Dimi at MSG in March!

1st set TB - Fed.

It really is so good to watch him play healthy and confident.
I wish he was 20 again.

truffin1 wrote:Got my Rolex box tickets to see Fed and Dimi at MSG in March!

Yes, use every opportunity you can, time is running out.
I'll try to see as much of him as I can in O2.

Some phenomenal BHs from Fed!