WORLD TOUR FINALS 2012, London

Yes not convinced of what I saw today and the great display we saw on Tuesday might be down to a good week of rest and an injured Tips.

However in Ferrer's favour he plays better and better. His has become a more skilful player by sending spinnier and more angled shot than in the past. It was obvious today to observe that a good cross court FH could quickly turn into a liability if the opponent was able to put his racquet on it cause it coudl then effortlessly "cross-court" it back with even more angle (Djokoka, Murray and Federer are also very good at that). All those shots were impossible with nat gut...or simply way too risky to attempt regularly.

It's so clear now why Federer lost so much power on his FH since 2007. He understood it was much better to put the ball back and "construct" the point than going for too many winners, especially with teh conds slowing down and players running faster.

I woudl really love to go back to nat string. I woudl not mind the slow courts even...just nat gut woudl make a huge difference. Tennis woudl be faster but riskier. No different from what you see from Llodra.

SR wrote:VJ pointed
out to me that Ferrer didn’t do anything remarkable for most of his early
career. Then all of a sudden at the tail end, he surges to top5! Some posters
believe his late rise is due to the current trend winning points from baseline
rallies rather that suits ferrer’s style. I dunno.

Yes. This is what I think...but as I keep saying the new strings gave him more and more depth and security on his shots. He probably moved to synth strings in the early 00s but you just develop how to use them better with teh years...no different than Federer who adopted them in 2002 I believe but changed his FH in 2007 and got better at it with more experience.

I am still very surprised he can run as much though but he is quite short, low gravity, bends his legs a lot so he is certainly physically designed to run but but I woudl not be surprised if he gets some "help" as well. NOt as obvious as others if you ask me.

Federer was under a lot of pressure and saved 9/10 BPs. Quite different from the WTF 2011 0/0 match.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Match-Facts-Pop-Up.aspx?t=605&y=2011&r=6&p=F324

Federer converted 2/4 BPs today compared to 3/8 in WTF 2011.

Fed won as expected, he is just too good for Ferrer. As rusty as he was today, still was good enough for Ferrer. But he really needs to up his level. atm he is playing really poor.

He probably will qualify for the semis, but whoever he meets there ( even if its Berdych), its not going to be easy.

Fed is tired. It's actually quite obvious. I however do not typically believe in "end of season" physical tiredness.....excpet for Ferrer of course who plays 3 tournament in succession.

SO I am a bit puzzled as to why Fed seems tired...maybe mentally/motivation then? Or he is simply one of the very few not having anything else but orange juice.

Tenez wrote:Fed is tired. It's actually quite obvious. I however do not typically believe in "end of season" physical tiredness.....excpet for Ferrer of course who plays 3 tournament in succession.

SO I am a bit puzzled as to why Fed seems tired...maybe mentally/motivation then? Or he is simply one of the very few not having anything else but orange juice.

I am sure he'll muster up his A form in the semis. He can't afford to play lazy against Murray, and although the court is not fast, he has played some super tennis at the O2.
I will be interesting to see him, I'd be very disappointed if he doesn't come pumped-up for that match, although, it wouldn't be the end of the world either.

I heard a rumor that he won W this year pre-Olympics only because no body was having anything else but orange juice.

SR wrote:

I heard a rumor that he won W this year pre-Olympics only because no body was having anything else but orange juice.

Do not believe every rumour you hear.

BTW, did you hear the rumour that Romney is the US president?

I have also heard Muster will try, yet again, to play RG as a wild card.

Gee, LF, thanks for the advice. What would I do without such kindness?

Bottom line for me is we are so lucky to be living in a free world. You believe in what you want and I believe in what I want. A deal?


BTW, who cares about Romney and Muster?

SR wrote:

I heard a rumor that he won W this year pre-Olympics only because no body was having anything else but orange juice.

Now you mention it it makes sense.

noleisthebest wrote:Why is there no wolf-whistling when Federer changes the shirt like there is when Nadal does it . One of the great mysteries of life....

From the atp site (http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/11/45/London-Finale-Thursday-Federer-Ferrer.aspx) here is the extract, seems they listened to you Nitb:

Both players lost just six point on serve through eight service games in the second set. Ferrer could not convert two break point chances in the opening game, as Federer produced an exquisite angled volley and lob volley to stay alive. At 5-6, Ferrer won four straight points from 0/30 to take the set to a tie-break. Federer, who received wolf-whistles for changing his shirt, returned refreshed and opened up a 4-2 lead in the tie-break. Well-placed serves moved Federer further ahead to 6-3. He snatched at a forehand on his first match point and Ferrer hit an unreturned serve on the second. But Federer soon celebrated his 14th straight win over Ferrer.

sphairistike wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Why is there no wolf-whistling when Federer changes the shirt like there is when Nadal does it . One of the great mysteries of life....

From the atp site (http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/11/45/London-Finale-Thursday-Federer-Ferrer.aspx) here is the extract, seems they listened to you Nitb:

Both players lost just six point on serve through eight service games in the second set. Ferrer could not convert two break point chances in the opening game, as Federer produced an exquisite angled volley and lob volley to stay alive. At 5-6, Ferrer won four straight points from 0/30 to take the set to a tie-break. Federer, who received wolf-whistles for changing his shirt, returned refreshed and opened up a 4-2 lead in the tie-break. Well-placed serves moved Federer further ahead to 6-3. He snatched at a forehand on his first match point and Ferrer hit an unreturned serve on the second. But Federer soon celebrated his 14th straight win over Ferrer.

Good!

Realising tennis season is finishing on Monday, I've just tuned in to see Delpo Tipsarevic only to find out that the first has already gone , and Tips has been bagelled
the thing that annoys me is, if he's not fit to play, why didn't he give the chance to Gasquet.
He received the same privilege from Murray last year.
I wouldn't be surprised if he retired before the match ends.

Does anyone believe in Tsonga's win today?

Nope. But I do believe in Berdych's win....thanks to DJoko trying to mess things up for Murray.

Tenez wrote:Nope. But I do believe in Berdych's win....thanks to DJoko trying to mess things up for Murray.

I'll have to Czech that scenario

There is no Czech-mate scenario for Nole, the closest one is:

8) If T. BERDYCH defeats N. DJOKOVIC in 2 sets and A. MURRAY defeats J.
TSONGA in 3 sets, then T. BERDYCH wins the group and N. DJOKOVIC
qualifies 2nd.

in which case he is depending on Tsonga, and I think he'll leave it to that...

am I missing a safe scenario, how can Nole knocka out Murray without depending on Tsonga?

Good one. What this tournament is telling us is that the ATP ranking is pretty accurate.

I suspected Tsonga to be a whipping boy of the group as soon as I saw the draws. I think he'd've had more chance had he been in group B instead of Tipsarevic.
The groups are quite unbalanced, but it won't matter come Sunday.

I don't know if it's just me, but WTF has never been so predictable!

Wow, haven't seen Djoko played with such absolute command. What a bully!

B looks rather intimidated. Hopes he rises up to the challenge.

Berdych is so disappointing. The FHs errors on BPs were ridiculous.

Henman is a really good commentator defining the players' strengthes and weaknesses very well.

Also very balanced in his judgement.

Berdych hasn't got quick hands. He can hit a soft ball hard but he can't hit a pacy ball in. When it does there is too much luck involved.

Tenez wrote:Henman is a really good commentator defining the players' strengthes and weaknesses very well.

Also very balanced in his judgement.

I do
live-streaming, no commentaries.

Yes, I like Henman. Someone told me the other
day some idiot asked how he feels being never a part of the wtf. That’s such a
cruel and stupid question. I feel so sorry for Henman.

First set almost done. Djoko hardly broke a set.

Henman said that Djoko is so athletic that he can play aggressive even using big margins. This is how Nadal and Murray are aggressive too and that can be done by hitting hard and spinny. Djoko has better length than the other 2 on his FH while Murray has better length on teh BH side.

When it
clicks his baseline hits are incredibly accurate, powerful and consistent. He got broken
changing pattern playing closer to the net.
Looks like after the break B's emboldened a bit.

what happened to djoko? errors creeping in.

what a shot bird!

5-1 down to 8-6 tie break win bird blew it

Nole looking as I'd like him to look

Tenez wrote:Berdych hasn't got quick hands. He can hit a soft ball hard but he can't hit a pacy ball in. When it does there is too much luck involved.

yes, that sums him up nicely. Still, I like watching his bullets fly low over the net.

I hope Tsonga finds something somewhere inside him to leave O2 with his head high tonight. He really needs it.

A boring match which can be summed up as one player spraying the ball everywhere while the other brought the very few in back.

Tenez wrote:A boring match which can be summed up as one player spraying the ball everywhere while the other brought the very few in back.

Oh Teeeeeeeeeee!











O.K.
it was a bit boring

Congrats Nole for finishing first of group A

Perfect score in terms of matches, not so in terms of sets

I am beginning to get excited now, as it's looking quite possible that Nole will play in the final.
And, yes, I'll be there


Fed is not going to tank against Delpo is he?

sphairistike wrote:Congrats Nole for finishing first of group A

Perfect score in terms of matches, not so in terms of sets

Well, let's see if the peRFect One gives you the peRFect sets score.....

Good match from Novak,cant believe how Berdych blew the tie break

noleisthebest wrote:I am beginning to get excited now, as it's looking quite possible that Nole will play in the final.
And, yes, I'll be there


Fed is not going to tank against Delpo is he?

Well, of course not, he'll beat Del Po in straight sets (maybe one TB) and get peRFect score in both matches and sets and go through as first of his group.

Would be good to see a Federer-Nole final!

Yes, I'd love to see that final, it really would be cherry on the top for such a wonderful year they both had.

Come on Jo!!!!!! It's only Murray on the other side....

Live, Murray's backside looks wider or almost as wide as his shoulders. Looks a bit funny. I'm really curios to know what on earth he did to pile on all that muscle mass, as legs are not easy to build muscles on.

Very poor from Tsonga...quite shocking actually

Tsonga is playing with zero confidence. It's not nice to watch.

Wow!
Tsonga remembers that he is capable of S&Volleying....too late...

Murray's defense is ridiculously good at times.

What a point and Tsonga wins the crazy rally, I would've died if Murray made that ball.....Tsonga breaks back C'mon Jo, hold serve now!

Third set would be really interesting as both players must be spent physically.

Tsonga goes wild, at laaaaast