ATP 250: Sydney, Auckland

Week two in 2013 calendar, brings us a week closer to the first slam of the year. Understandably, both tournaments are close to home: Sydney and Auckland.

Apia International Sydney

"The Apia International Sydney has a rich history, dating back to 1885 when colonial officials used it as a means to select the Davis Cup team. Today, Sydney welcomes the world's best men's and women's players in the week prior the Australian Open. Lleyton Hewitt thrilled hometown fans as he won titles in four straight tournament appearances, from 2000-01 and 2004-05."

Players: Isner, Simon, Monfils, Sepi, Verdasco, Mayer, Tomic, Istomin, Stepanek, Lopez, Dimitrov, Benneteau

The Draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/338/mds.pdf
Order of Play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/338/op.pdf

Heiniken Open (aka Auckland )

"The Heineken Open is the biggest men’s professional sporting event in New Zealand, held in Auckland since 1956. Played in the week prior to the Australian Open, the ATP World Tour 250 event is a crucial stop in preparation for the year's first Grand Slam tournament. David Ferrer won the Auckland title in 2011, and went on to reach the Melbourne semi-finals."

Players: Ferrer, Kohlschreiber, Haas, JJ-Janowicz, Melzer, Klizan, Goffin, Paire, Bellucci, Rosol

The Draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/301/mds.pdf
Order of Play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/301/op.pdf




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG3fou1E6os

Matches of interest in Auckland:

Becker - Rosol (approx 1AM UK time)
JJ - Baker (6 AM)

For those who have Spanish tennis running through their veins, in Sydney:
Grannolers - Ebden
Anduhar - Bennetteau

Just had a sneaky peek at Auckland hoping to get a glimpse of JJ, but alas it's, Goffin against Bellucci.
Goffin, still looking 12, missing some sitters to close the first set, Bellucci, shovelling his forehand like he's loading sand in the cement mixer...I'm off to bed

In Sydney last night:
Bennetteau bt Anduhar in 3
Granollers bt Ebden (3)
Istomin bt Duckworth
Mayer bt Sousa

Auckand:
Bellucci bt Goffin (don't ask how, goffin had a set point in the first set )
Malisse bt Klizan (in3)
Becker bt Rosol
Rochus bt Ramos
and Baker is beating JJ in the third, COME ON JJ!!!!!!

JJ - Baker 6:4, 6:7 currently 2:5, Baker serving for the match.

Come on JJ!!!!!!

And he gets one break back (to love) 3:5!
Keep going JJ!!!

And he hold serve (at love as well!) 4:5! Come on JJ, one more break!!!!

JJ just saves 3 match points, What a heart!!!!!!
And he saves the 7th one...c'mooooon!
and doesn't save the 8th one, nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Oh that was an electric few games I just saw....I don't what happened in the third set for JJ to get to 1:5 0;40 down , but he fought back so nicely, such a shame he lost
He is out and Bellucci is thorugh, it's a crime!

Today's matches:

Sydney
Niemenen-Phau
Tomic-Matosevic
Dimitrov-Fognini
Lopez-Chardy
Harrison-Agut (we now know who)
GGLopez-Stepanek

Auckland
Lu-Paire (last match of the day, so should be watchable in the mUK in the morning)
Becker-Monfils
Falla-Zemlja
Haase-Sijsling

And here is the news from what happened in tennis while we were sleeping:
In Sydney:
Harrison bt Agut by retirement (last week's Chennai finalist)
Anderson bt Bedene in 3 (new name, apparently talented, lost to Tispasrevic in 3 in Chennai semis)
Fognini demolishes Dimitrov 6:3 6:1
Tomic bt Matosevic
Stepanek bt GG Lopez in 2
Lopez bt Chardy in 3 very tight sets
Millman bt Robredo in 2
Nieminend bt Phau

In Auckland:

Lu grinds out Paire in 3
Sijsling bt Haase in 3
Jones bt Melzer in 2
Lacko bt Lorenzi
Fala bt Zemlja etc etc etc.....

damn it dimi!

luvsports! wrote:damn it dimi!

It could be Maria's fault

http://www.tennis.com/lifestyle/2013/01/sharapova-dimitrov-linked-again/45899/#.UOv7qLal3Y0

noleisthebest"]And here is the news from what happened in tennis while we were sleeping:
Fognini demolishes Dimitrov 6:3 6:1

Dimitrov has been one of the most overhyped kids on planet Earth. What is he 21 or 22 and he does not even have one ATP title. He has a nice style to watch but he has been unable to string important wins together. These young kids need to get it together already!

BlueClay wrote:

noleisthebest"]And here is the news from what happened in tennis while we were sleeping:
Fognini demolishes Dimitrov 6:3 6:1

Dimitrov has been one of the most overhyped kids on planet Earth. What is he 21 or 22 and he does not even have one ATP title. He has a nice style to watch but he has been unable to string important wins together. These young kids need to get it together already!

True. But we have to love & treasure him for his SBH

Aaaand things finally start to look a bit more interesting match-wise this week:

Sydney (which has been having over 45-50 degrees temperatures today)
Nieminein-Simon
Mayer-Tomic
Verdasco-Harrison
Isner-Harrison
Granollers-Fognini
Benneteau-Stepanek
Millman-Seppi

Auckland
Rochus-Querrey
Falla-Kohlschreiber
Monfils-Jones
Ferrer-Lu (the battle of ultimate grinders!)
Haas-Sijsling
Lacko-Bellucci...

And here's what happened with the matches above:

Sydney
Tomic bt Mayer
Harrison bt Isner (in straights, no tie-breaks)
Istomin bt Verdasco The Heart-breaker, also in straights
Granollers bt Fognini
Anderson bt Lopez
Benneteau bt Stepanek

Auckland
Haas bt Sijsling
Ferrer bt Lu (in 3, like the battle of prime grinders promised to)
Monfils bt Jones (I just hope he's coping all right with the heat and sweating )
Querrey bt Rochus
Lacko bt Bellucci
Kohlschreiber bt Falla ........

great so the two guys who beat the talented youngsters lose in the next round

Well, Oz Open draw coming out tomorrow, I think, so I hope the youngsters get a kind draw, it would be good to see at least one of them in the second week.
Raonic, Tomic, Janowicz, Dimitrov, Dolgopolov, Harrison....who will it be?

we still counting dolgo as a youngster? hes 24!

i see people born in 1990 as youngsters now maybe nishikori whos end of 89

luvsports! wrote:we still counting dolgo as a youngster? hes 24!

i see people born in 1990 as youngsters now maybe nishikori whos end of 89

Yes he's a bit on the veteran side of youngsters....I suppose he started later than others, hard to place him in any group, just a magician for me really together with Paire, just love watching them play.
JJ is very exciting, too, he really plays with tons of heart.

Rao is the one I see going furtherst this AO. Dimi could be a close second though I heard Tomic got "fitter" again...so certainly one to watch too.

Tomic certainly looked good when he beat Novak in Abu Dhabi. His usual self, didn't notice anything different, except played his forehand with more risk and pace, his serving was good, too.

when was that?

Just two weeks ago, I think, the one Nadal was meant to play and pulled out last minute.

Actually , what am I saying it was last week in Hopman cup

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/9776257/Novak-Djokovic-suffers-surprise-defeat-to-Bernard-Tomic-at-Hopman-Cup-in-Perth.html

Interesting...I saw part of the Wimbledon tomic/djoko match in 2011 and already then Tomic turned out to be quite a match for your man.

Tenez wrote:Interesting...I saw part of the Wimbledon tomic/djoko match in 2011 and already then Tomic turned out to be quite a match for your man.

yes, he know just how to mess up his footwork by slowing play , still Novak can handle him when he needs to.

from your guy paire nitb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dref0pO_O48

tweener!!

luvsports! wrote:from your guy paire nitb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dref0pO_O48

tweener!!

He is special, isn't he

Tomorrow's matches:

Sydney
Harrison-Benneteau
Istomin-Anderson
Tomic-Nieminen
Granollers-Seppi

Auckland
Malisse-Kohlschreiber
Levine-Querrey
Ferrer-Lacko
Monfils-Haas

i want a harrison tomic final

and a i dont care who wins in auckland outside monfils or haas

I'd prefer the Istomin-Benenteau one.

i just want the youngsters to come through!

Lacko is probably one the most talented actually.

Tenez, just the person i wanted to talk to about this. i recently was in a heated debate with murray fans and rafa fans about nalbandian being a lot more talented than them.

People shouldn;'t get confused with a "nice backhand" and "talent", was one
particular comment that made me just sigh.
Their arguments genuinely were the top 4 are the fittest and the most talented, can do things the rest can't etc.

Why is it that they believe just because you are at the top of the game you have to be the most talented?

If a brilliant athlete came along i think he would probably make a rise up the rankings perhaps quicker than somebody more talented, thoughts?

luvsports! wrote:
If a brilliant athlete came along i think he would probably make a rise up the rankings perhaps quicker than somebody more talented, thoughts?

Today it's easier than ever to do that.
Can you imagine Granollers play like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HzPuG5HWGmI
or Roswall playing like this in AO 2013 final?

luvsports! wrote:Tenez, just the person i wanted to talk to about this. i recently was in a heated debate with murray fans and rafa fans about nalbandian being a lot more talented than them.

People shouldn;'t get confused with a "nice backhand" and "talent", was one
particular comment that made me just sigh.
Their arguments genuinely were the top 4 are the fittest and the most talented, can do things the rest can't etc.

Why is it that they believe just because you are at the top of the game you have to be the most talented?

If a brilliant athlete came along i think he would probably make a rise up the rankings perhaps quicker than somebody more talented, thoughts?

You are perfectly right there. Especially since the strength of the top (and physical) player is actually to blunt the talent of the less physical players. One might say that this is a talent in itself...except that in 2013 we know that physical prowess are strongly "assisted" and not innate like a proper talent should be.

If a brilliant athlete came along i think he would probably make a rise up the rankings perhaps quicker than somebody more talented, thoughts?

Yes. Nadal and before Hewitt were perfect example of players succeeding earlier in their career thanks to better fitness. Djoko and Murray had to catch up with science.

What happens LS is that fans typically can't distinguish talent from physique and in most cases cannot see the strong link between physique and mental strength...Talent is probably the most prized an atribute an athlete can have, from a fan's perspective and this is why those fans want to see talent even if their players is simply a ball pusher with big legs and lungs.

I did start one thread which has been (cough! cough!) slightly unnoticed

https://ourtennisforum.forumotion.co.uk/t220-tennis-talent-myth-or-fact

People esp hot fans get very sensitive when it comes to "talent" and comparing it to others.
More talent- more enjoyment when playing, well, it should be.
Everything else is a bonus.
Pros- talent is just a small component. Tennis career looks more like a 20 year business project these days

noleisthebest wrote:

luvsports! wrote:
If a brilliant athlete came along i think he would probably make a rise up the rankings perhaps quicker than somebody more talented, thoughts?

Today it's easier than ever to do that.
Can you imagine Granollers play like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HzPuG5HWGmI
or Roswall playing like this in AO 2013 final?

I just noticed that my BH is better than Athur Ashe's!

noleisthebest wrote:Pros- talent is just a small component.

Except for Roger Federer...it's still everything in his game.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Pros- talent is just a small component.

Except for Roger Federer...it's still everything in his game.

Are sure his height, build and fitness have nothing to do with his success?
And don't forget Mirka!

...and Lindt balls

In case anyone wondered what Del Potro, Berdych, Hewitt and Raonic were doing these days.....

"MELBOURNE, Australia: Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt beat big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (4) at the Kooyong Classic on Wednesday, advancing to a semifinal against Tomas Berdych.

The 31-year-old Hewitt is preparing for his 17th Australian Open . He won two years ago at Kooyong, an invitational warm-up event for the first major of the season.

Berdych had a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Croatia's Ivan Dodig, a late replacement for injured Kei Nishikori.

Also, 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3) to set up a semifinal against Marcos Baghdatis, who was leading Janko Tipsarevic 6-1, 1-0 when the Serbian retired with a wrist injury."

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Pros- talent is just a small component.

Except for Roger Federer...it's still everything in his game.

Are sure his height, build and fitness have nothing to do with his success?
And don't forget Mirka!

Everything is him helps his talent...but you have millions of players built like him...only one Federer.

Are you sure ?

always good to learn from ya guys .

i was just surprised that knowledgeable posters like LK, CC, Mad for chelsea etc just dismissed nalbandian, obvs they are murray fans but i thought it was plain to see if you look at some of their matches where murray only wins through after being run ragged, its all on nalbo's racket.

Emancipator was the only one who agreed with me and i think perhaps bogbrush might as well.

Tenez wrote:

I just noticed that my BH is better than Athur Ashe's!

Maybe they should name one of the courts in you club after you

luvsports! wrote:always good to learn from ya guys .

i was just surprised that knowledgeable posters like LK, CC, Mad for chelsea etc just dismissed nalbandian, obvs they are murray fans but i thought it was plain to see if you look at some of their matches where murray only wins through after being run ragged, its all on nalbo's racket.

Emancipator was the only one who agreed with me and i think perhaps bogbrush might as well.

I am not surprised. Talent is a difficult parameter to measure so it leaves room for debate. To mix things up they try to make us say that we jude talent through beauty of a shot. That's wrong. Talentin tennis is the ease to win point and that is of course linked with the ease to generate powerful and accurate shot. Someone standing close to teh BL for instance can generate easy power....we all can do that but none of us can do it consistently...and in fact very few can. This is what Laver observed in Federer. The only who can keep close to the BL...and as you say Nalby is another who can....but his mind certainly gets fragile under pressure....Talent to be successful needs more mental strength than the physical games of D, M and N.

You are not learning from us...you know already!

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:

I just noticed that my BH is better than Athur Ashe's!

Maybe they should name one of the courts in you club after you

Good idea! I'll raise this at the next committee meeting!



Night all....