ATP 500/250: Rotterdam, San Hose, Sao Paolo

Sad case that I am, I can't bring myself and turn the stream off

That ball was not out, it skidded off the line. Did anyone expect the umpire to give Alund the break point?

Alund switches between tragic (choking when being in the postion to break Nadal) and good enough to hold serve....
Nadal ready for the taking, but these Latinos are scared to touch him....

Nadal's rate of improving which was in evindence in Chile has stopped in Brazil. He's reverted to about 3rd round of Chile atm. Serving terrible.

The king of gamesmanship goes and changes his racquet while Alund waits on serve.

But the trick doesn't work and it's 5:4. Can Alund spice up this dull match and break

.....no, he can't.

But thankfully, he gets another chance....having secured at least a tie-break, maybe he will manage to return with that forehand ONCE!!!!

After all those forehands THAT misery of a drop-shot.....

C'mon T, get from behind that sofa, it's tie-break time

I don't know who's worse...it's become comical!

5:2 and on the serve. Please don't choke now Alund, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!!!

Well done!!!!
I knew there was going to be some drama in all that 2rd rate tennis.....third set here we come

noleisthebest wrote:C'mon T, get from behind that sofa, it's tie-break time

I really did not expect him to win that TB...even though he plays twice as well as Nadal.

The thing is there are lots of good claycourters in SA but they cannot afford to travel and make a name for themselves....having said that Nadal is still playing poorly.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:C'mon T, get from behind that sofa, it's tie-break time

I really did not expect him to win that TB...even though he plays twice as well as Nadal.

The thing is there are lots of good claycourters in SA but they cannot afford to travel and make a name for themselves....having said that Nadal is still playing poorly.

Can you imagine him play in Rotterdam with this level?

No and I think even on European clay he will struggle.

The frenzy of some of those women in the crowd at Nadal breaking Almud is disturbing

Tenez wrote:No and I think even on European clay he will struggle.

Can't wait

btw, why are they playing on indoor clay, everyone in the crowd seems to be wearing summer clothes....

And serving for the match at 5:1, Nadal finds "confidence" and starts going for the lines....Nalby in the final tomorrow.
Anything but a straight sets demolition from Nalby would be a surprise.

Well despite not playing well he won...in 3...outlasting again his opponent.

Yes, he certainly didn't seem to have forgotten his backhand demolition tactics....what an ugly win.

Tomorrow's finals:

Rotterdam (1.30 UK time)
Del Potro - Benneteau

Sao Paolo
Nalbandian - Nadal

San Hose
Haas - Raonic/Querrey

Raonic -Querrey.....anyone?

Two giants, booming serves, blasting the ball from the base-line....very much cold, soulless tennis.

Raonic takes the first set. Looks and plays like his old, early day self. But then again, he's not playing any very top players. Amazing what confidence can do...

I think he is going to be very tough to beat....in particular on clay where his serve is going to be real tough to return....and grass of course if they make it fast.

Looks like san jose plays fast but I guess it os down to those 2 guys.

The serve IS scary, but when it doesn't work, his game falls apart, that's the problem with Raonic.

Well he was injured at the AO....so tough to judge him on this...and he is only 22....just made it....so I think this year will see him settling well into the top 10...I'd say even top 5.

Tenez wrote:Well he was injured at the AO....so tough to judge him on this...and he is only 22....just made it....so I think this year will see him settling well into the top 10...I'd say even top 5.

I reckon top 10 max.
In 5 years' time more realistic for top 5 slams...He needs to start beating top 10 regularly to start with. From memory he only managed to beat Murray once. (was in in Madrid?)

He played really well last night, though. Would be definitely interesting to watch this season. Tomic, Dimitrov, even Gulbis, they all seem to have worked hard in the off-season and want their slice of pie.

Tenez wrote:Well he was injured at the AO....so tough to judge him on this...and he is only 22....just made it....so I think this year will see him settling well into the top 10...I'd say even top 5.

Rao's game is pretty determined for grass and fast hc. I see him winning Wimbledon in a couple of years. He has improved his approach and his game, looks very promissing. These tall guys will always struggle with movements and injuries. He can go to the top 8/10 this year, but players as Berdych, Feru, Delpo have better BL game and better stamina. Therefore I do not see his enter into Club of top 5 as probable this year, but a bit later.

It would be very nice to see Nalby to take the win in Sao Paulo with Morybundus. I am curious about Morybundus's legs and David can play drop shots very nicely. It does not matter if some rackets are smashed David, come on!

Just tuned in, Delpo given time violation, good!

Can Ben break back and stay alive in the first set, 2 BPs c'moooon!

After saving a few set points, Ben turns the tables, and now Delpo serving for the right to play the tie0break. In the changeover, moaning to Llayani about the time-violation warning....he's one of the worst offenders, needs just to shut up and get on with it.

And tie-break it is!

Bandanas should be banned.

Delpo takes the first set with a convincing tie-break.

dp wins despite wasting 4 mp's!

And Delpo da Beast takes the title with an ace followed through with a roar!
Great form from Delpo all week, totally deserved win, played fantastic from both wings
What to say of dear old Ben
He played his heart out and his legs off in this match, gave absolutely everything: fought till the last moment, but just couldn't cope with Delpo's power and couldn't match him on the backhand side.

It will be his 8th titleless final, but a win over Federer should be a consolation of some kind
I hope he takes this great run of form into the rest of the season and that he finally crowns all those efforts with a tournament win

On tennistv, Ararenka playing Serena, the new number one, in Doha final.
Azarenka a break up and serving in the first set (2:1)

Nadal - Nalbandian starting in half an hour.

How on Earth can Serena grip the racquet properly with those huge fingernails!!!!

Good win for Delpo and another loss for Benn. Does anyone know what is the record no. of consecutive losses in finals before winning any ATP tournament ?

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:Well he was injured at the AO....so tough to judge him on this...and he is only 22....just made it....so I think this year will see him settling well into the top 10...I'd say even top 5.

I reckon top 10 max.
In 5 years' time more realistic for top 5 slams...He needs to start beating top 10 regularly to start with. From memory he only managed to beat Murray once. (was in in Madrid?)

He played really well last night, though. Would be definitely interesting to watch this season. Tomic, Dimitrov, even Gulbis, they all seem to have worked hard in the off-season and want their slice of pie.

He beat Murray twice. Once on clay once on hard. The thing is his margins for improvement are much better than than the top 4 for now. So I think you will be surprised by his rise to the top.

paulcz wrote:Rao's game is pretty determined for grass and fast hc. I see him winning Wimbledon in a couple of years. He has improved his approach and his game, looks very promissing. These tall guys will always struggle with movements and injuries. He can go to the top 8/10 this year, but players as Berdych, Feru, Delpo have better BL game and better stamina. Therefore I do not see his enter into Club of top 5 as probable this year, but a bit later.

Well he actually has the type of game to hurt on clay. He can turn clay into a grass court. They can hot through the slow pace, it takes them a good day or a confident patch and those guys are so hard to beat when mouvement is not ideal (grass and clay). Delpo, Soderling, Berdych are very dangerous on clay but to me Rao has more potential. Even when tennis was played with nat gut, you had guys like Verkerk? (can't remember his name/spelling) who coudl balst most clay courters of the court. He was disappointing last year when he lost at the French v Monaco...but he is learning fast.

He needs to start making at least QFs and SFs in big tournaments in order to break into top 5.
He plays alright on all these satellite in-between main tournaments small American hard-court events, but needs to translate that consistency over to 1000 events. That's the problem of all "young" players.
Not to mention slams, where everyone really plays their best.

I don't mind if he has a major break-through, but am not as optimistic as you, at least not in the time-scale you suggest.

Could he Berdych & Tsonga at the moment?

Nadal is really losing his hair on top. Might be just his genetics...or very possibly steroids.....Murray is also losing his fast for a young man.

After a lot of ups and downs, first leading 5:1 in the tie-break, then saving a set point, Azarenka finally nails it!
She is strong as a bull!

Time to shift to Brazil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf94Tt2cO0A

Tenez wrote:Nadal is really losing his hair on top. Might be just his genetics...or very possibly steroids.....Murray is also losing his fast for a young man.

We know who isn't

VAMOS DAVIIIIIIIIIIID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't decide who's more pathetic Nadal or Nalbandian...so I'm switching over to Serena Azarenka, will come back to this later....

Tenez wrote:

paulcz wrote:Rao's game is pretty determined for grass and fast hc. I see him winning Wimbledon in a couple of years. He has improved his approach and his game, looks very promissing. These tall guys will always struggle with movements and injuries. He can go to the top 8/10 this year, but players as Berdych, Feru, Delpo have better BL game and better stamina. Therefore I do not see his enter into Club of top 5 as probable this year, but a bit later.

Well he actually has the type of game to hurt on clay. He can turn clay into a grass court. They can hot through the slow pace, it takes them a good day or a confident patch and those guys are so hard to beat when mouvement is not ideal (grass and clay). Delpo, Soderling, Berdych are very dangerous on clay but to me Rao has more potential. Even when tennis was played with nat gut, you had guys like Verkerk? (can't remember his name/spelling) who coudl balst most clay courters of the court. He was disappointing last year when he lost at the French v Monaco...but he is learning fast.

Quite agree, Rao looks the best from youngsters and his approach is much better than Tomic´s, although he is still two years younger. In regard to their height both of them will struggle with movement and stamina. I tend to think that players higher 195cm are too tall for the present top tennis or rather to stay on the very top. They are able to get into TOP10 faster with their great serve, but a final step to get to TOP5 is still something. The player´s height is just a prerequite whether they can get and stay on the top.
Today clay tennis is so tough, that I can not imagine anybody to blast top 6 players by heavy strokes or attacking game. I do not think that players > 195cm can win RG with Nole/Murray/Morry. To play winners for 4/5 sets for these towers is hardly feasible. Even Fed has not been able to do.