ATP 250: Montpellier, Zagreb, Vina Del Mar

It's hard to imagine that it's only been one week since AO final!

Still, we have already had the first round of Davis Cup taking off in style, making the Melbourne sunshine look like a distant blue dream now.

So, first week of February and three 250 tournaments coming up in France, Croatia and Chile.
Time for tier 2 and 3 players to earn some points and money and yes...for Rafael Nadal to emerge from his "retirement".

Here we go then.....

Open Sud de France, Montpellier, indoor hard

"Montpellier, one of the fastest-growing cities in France over the past 25 years, hosted its first ATP World Tour 250 tennis tournament in late October of 2010. The indoor hard court event, which had relocated from Lyon, was then played in 2012 in a multi-purpose venue called the ARENA, which has a total capacity of 14,000 and seating for 7,500 during the tournament."

Nice field of players: Paire, Berdych, Tipsarevic, Gasquet, Bennetteau, Simon, Davydenko, Troicki, Monfils, Strakhovski, Nieminen, HP Mathieu.
Draw: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/375/mds.pdf
Order of Play: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/375/op.pdf

PBZ Zagreb, indoor hard

"The PBZ Zagreb Indoors is the first European stop on the ATP World Tour calendar. Croatians have enjoyed success in their capital city, beginning with Ivan Ljubicic's triumph at the inaugural event in 2006. He went on to runner-up efforts the following two years. Marin Cilic maintained Croatia's final streak as he won back-to-back titles in 2009-10, while Ivan Dodig lifted his first title in 2011. Russia's Mikhail Youzhny ended the Croatian run when he defeated Slovakia's Lukas Lacko in the 2012 final."

Players: Cilic, Seppi, Youzhny, Melzer, Klizan, Baghdatis, Dimitrov, Dodig, Karlovic, Lacko, Rosol, Petzschner
Draw: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/2276/mds.pdf
Order of Play: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/2276/op.pdf

VTR Open, Vina del Mar, clay

"The VTR Open returned to Viña del Mar in 2012, after a brief stint in Santiago. It is the first clay-court tournament of the ATP World Tour season and also the opening leg of the four-tournament swing through Latin America, aptly coined the "Golden Swing" in honour of top Chileans and Olympic Gold medalists Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu. Gonzalez is a four-time champion."



Players: Nadal, Monaco, Chardy, Andujar, Ramos, Robredo, Giraldo, Lorenzi, Berlocq, Rufin
Draw: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/505/mds.pdf
Order of Play: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/505/op.pdf

Contrary to my original understanding, Nadal is not playing only doubles, but singles, as well. he is on course to play an in-form Chardy in the semis (3rd match).


So here we are: all over the globe again, tennis is here to stay and play whether you're ready or not


And a song just to keep the circulation going in this rather disorientating February....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8jm7M2DM1U

nadal and monaco won the first set in their doubles encounter 6-3 and the next big hope for chile, 16 year old christian garin, won his first atp match in straight sets and will meet chardy in the next round! go on son!

Forget about Nadal and his brave little return in doubles!

Paire bagelled Maceiras today.
Also in Montp. Stakhovski bt HP Mathieu

Tomorrow, starting at 11 GMT
Davydenko playing Nieminen
Ungur Bennetteau
Schepper-Llodra
Paire-Darcis

In Zagreb:
Yozhny-Sisjling
Lacko-Cippola

In Chile:
Ruffin-Monaco
and yes, the day seems to have arrived: Kneedal is playing Delbonis

Nieminen bt Davydenko, and yesterday in Zagreb Karlovic bt Dimitrov....
Bennetteau and Troicki thorugh.

There is a 16 year old wild card in Chile, Garin (looks like a 20 year old) making his name known at the moment.
Can't remember last time I heard of a 16 year old win a match in an ATP tournament....hope he's good!

noleisthebest wrote:
There is a 16 year old wild card in Chile, Garin (looks like a 20 year old) making his name known at the moment.
Can't remember last time I heard of a 16 year old win a match in an ATP tournament....hope he's good!

Idol growing up was Nadal…I'll pass.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:
There is a 16 year old wild card in Chile, Garin (looks like a 20 year old) making his name known at the moment.
Can't remember last time I heard of a 16 year old win a match in an ATP tournament....hope he's good!

Idol growing up was Nadal…I'll pass.

Oh! Why am I now surprised...

Just tuned in to see Nadal.

really weird to see outdoor clay in February. The court looks so small, players risking running into linesmen all the time.
Nadal's opponent looks like a weekend club type of player.
Nadal making NO noises, which is good.
He looks so far from his old self. Any top 10 player would eat him for breakfast at the moment.
Very poor shot length. When he goes for the line, it's always out, he def does not look either match fit, happy or good in any way. Backhand worse than ever. Amazingly weak and destroyable!

And even in that state beating this buffoon of a player across the net

And Nadal wins his first post-retirement match....pretty, pretty rusty and not nice to see indeed. Can't wait to see Chardy play him on Saturday.

I wish I had watched it. I woudl not be surprised if the buffon was actually paid to lose.

Some interesting matches tomorrow:

Monpel.

Llodra-Tipsarevic
Gasquet-Monfils
Ito-Strakhovski
Hanescu-Bennetteau

Zagreb

Klizan-Haase
Petzschner-Seppi
Cilic-Zemlja
Cippola-Rosol

VTR
Chardy-Garin

Tenez wrote:I wish I had watched it. I woudl not be surprised if the buffon was actually paid to lose.

Here's something to go with your espresso this morning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5iEZ-XiYkC0

things moving on....

In France:
Strakhovski d. Ito in 3
Simon d. Brugues-Davi in 2
Llodra d Tipsarevic in 2
Gasquet d. Monf in 3
Hajek d. Troicki (ret)


Some very nice matches tomorrow there:
Hajek vs Llodra
Nieminene vs Strakhovski
Simon vs Paire
Gasquet vs Bennetteau

In Croatia:

Cilic d. Zemlja in 2
Dodig d. Karlovic in 3
Melzer d. Daverman in 3
Petzschner d Marcan in 2
Kavcic d Baghdatis in 3
Rosol d Cippola in 3
Haase d Klizan in 3

Tomorrow's matches there:

Rosol vs Melzer
Haase vs Petzschner
Youzhny vs Dodig
Cilic vs Kavcic

In Chile:

Traver, Ramos, Zebalos, Lorenzi thorugh.

Tomorrow:

Berlocq vs Rufin
Nadal vs Gimeno-Traver
Ramos-Zeballos
Lorenzi vs Chardy/Garin

Chardy Garin one set all at the moment, Chardy trying to consolidate the break (which he does!, 2;0)
Tuning in to see what this 16 yer old WC is all about!

good...will try to have a look too.

do you have a link out there?

have got one. He is a bit of a moonballer.

Nope. Not impressed. he stands way too far back and relies on the topspin and power too much for my liking.

Tenez wrote:have got one. He is a bit of a moonballer.

Looks really weird...for a 16 year old, still, better than Nadal, at least he goes for the ball...I imagine this is what Bellucci looked like at 16.

Chardy, on the other hand, that was one lovely CC backhand slice winner towards the end of the set

BTW, when is rotla going to announce results of our AO prediction game?


We owe it at least to the winner, if not to the runner up

Simon Paire playing in Montpeille what a treat

Paire won first set.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/#ooid=MyZXg2OTpZTLdYxpTNVrVOOq-Skm2SiU
Look ...what I was saying....even his opponents are happy Nadal is back....bar Davy I guess....

On another note....stunned by how much weight Gonzo put in since his retirement.

And he is serving for the match

Tenez wrote:http://www.atpworldtour.com/#ooid=MyZXg2OTpZTLdYxpTNVrVOOq-Skm2SiU
Look ...what I was saying....even his opponents are happy Nadal is back....bar Davy I guess....

On another note....stunned by how much weight Gonzo put in since his retirement.

I noticed that, too ....

Ouch! Paire choked badly while serving for the match.

Tenez wrote:Ouch! Paire choked badly while serving for the match.

I know!
Still, he's one of those players I can watch any time, even choking, so unconventional, interesting and refreshing! And quite creative which is unique to him atm.

Tenez wrote:http://www.atpworldtour.com/#ooid=MyZXg2OTpZTLdYxpTNVrVOOq-Skm2SiU
Look ...what I was saying....even his opponents are happy Nadal is back....bar Davy I guess....

On another note....stunned by how much weight Gonzo put in since his retirement.

You got me worried for a second there, but after seeing the clip, it's only the Spaniards and Gonzo, just because he went to play in Chile, so the world now knows there is a tournament there as well.

I don't think anyone is really happy with him back, except his fans, which is understandable.

I do hope Chardy beats him tomorrow (I expect he wins his QF match tonight first). That would send the right message to the rest.

Tie-break. Brillian backhand CC return from Paire earns him a mini-break and sends Simon into his rage

And Paire wins Great backhand and serve today. So lovely to see his mum jump with joy!

Playing LLodra in the semis tomorrow, should be lots of fun

Gasquet - Benneteau next (6 PM) winner to play Nieminen who beat Strakhovski in 3 earlier today.

T, if you are watching the on court interview, why was the crowd booing Paire there briefly at the end?

In Zagreb:
Melzer bt Rosol in 2 sets, Haase bt Petzschner in 3 (third set bagel)
Youzhny bagelling Dodig in the 2nd set (4:0 atm)

And he makes it....versus an under par Simon.
I really think Rafa is needed. His losses for some are even better than his wins for others. Djoko v Murray don't quite do it for me.

Tenez wrote:And he makes it....versus an under par Simon.
I really think Rafa is needed. His losses for some are even better than his wins for others. Djoko v Murray don't quite do it for me.

I don't think they do it for anyone...probably the worst match combination among top 10 players. Even Tipsarevic v Ferrer looks more interesting!

Well Nadal's LH bicep is as big as ever. He certainly goes for more more nowadays but that also produces more UEs.
I really don't see him come back cause his mouvement actually seems affected.

Tenez wrote:Well Nadal's LH bicep is as big as ever. He certainly goes for more more nowadays but that also produces more UEs.
I really don't see him come back cause his mouvement actually seems affected.

I was telling you that all last week, but you were convincing me he didn't look big....
What do you make out of his movement? It looks a bit odd and different, like a machine that needs oiling badly.

He certainly doesn't look as free as in the past. He goes for more as I said and that is most likely due to the fact he knows he can't move too much. If his knee is hurting I cannot see how he can get back to the top.
This Travor-gomenez looks like young Lendl so much.

I only saw the "highlights" of today's match, but saw a couple of games of the one yesterday, and he looked so tentative with running esp forward, he let a few drop-shots he would normally chase down.
For me, it's weird to see that moon-balling forehand again, it really gives me the creeps. Like a mince meat machine: grinds meat, bone everything!
Providing Chardy beats Lorenzi tonight, after that he must not let Nadal off the hook tomorrow, tennis world expects !

So, the SF pairs for tomorrow:

In Montpellier:
Llodra-Paire
Nieminen-Gasquet

In Zagreb:
Melzer-Haase
Cilic-Youzhni

In VDM:
Nadal-Chardy
Zeballos-

And Chardy it is for Nadal tomorrow, beating Lorenzi 6:2 6:3.
Hopefully the stream will show the match with a better camera position, not hung from a balcony in a block of flats outside the stadium like in Chardy-Lorenzi match just now.

Llodra up a break against Paire who is having munchies already!
Apparently Llodra hasn't been broken all week.

Allez Benoit!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paire can play some really beautiful shots....such fun to watch

And Llodra takes the first set. Just a bit sharper and crispier than Paire at the moment. Doesn't give you much time to think.

And he does it!!!!!!!
Paire beats Llodra in 3 and is waiting Gasquet/Nieminen in the final tomorrow!!!

Llodra woudl be number 2 or 3 in the world if all were playing with Nat gut. No kidding.

what are your thoughts on paire tenez?

He has got great shots but his mobility is nowadays a problem...thouh extremely good for someone of his size. I was really surprised to hear he was that tall cause he certainly looks very agile for such a big frame. However his mind will be his main problem to achieve big. His tennis is too risky to deliver big results in today's conds.

Tomorrow's finals:

Monpellier
Paire-Gasquet (go Paire for the first title!!!!!!!)

Zagreb
Melzer-Cilic

VDR
Zeballos/Berlocq-Chardy/Nadal

Well we know for sure that the winner of VDR will not be Zeballos. He was nervous to close the match to get to the final so I can imagine the stress he'll feel tomorrow v Nadal or Chardy.
Allez Chardy....this is most likely the final.

And Zeballos it is, at last in the end....the second semi-final starting 10.00 PM local time (!!!!) UK 1 AM.

I doubt it is 10pm local.....there is at least 5h difference...isn't it? ...if not 6.

Ouah...I got that wrong obviously. I thought it was west of Boston and therefore with a 5h time difference minimum but it's actually pretty much in line with Boston ....still surprised that being on the same longitude...it has 2 hours difference with easter US.