ATP 1000: Miami

ferrer 5-2

Spanish Bagel for Melzer?

raattssss. Oh well come on haas!

noleisthebest wrote:Best thing about this half of the draw, they all know they can beat each other and have kind of a a once in a life opportunity to get to the final.

Absolutely. There is nothing sure to predict following matches. I am curious if Cilic can stay mentally focused with Murray. He has the game, but his concentration fluctuates terribly. Cilic actually did not win the match with Jo-Wi, but Jo-Wi lost it, unfortunately.

I knew that 1st set was too good to be true....I noticed that when Ferrer is losing to lower ranked players (which is very rare) he really shows the otherwise invisible side of himself, starts moaning and throwing weight around....sounds very familiar, doesn't it?

Simon-Haas starting, didn't know Haas leads 4:1 H2H.

Robbie calls Simon "poor man's Murray", how dares he!!!!!! ....

A-LEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!!

noleisthebest wrote:Simon-Haas starting, didn't know Haas leads 4:1 H2H.

Robbie calls Simon "poor man's Murray", how dares he!!!!!! ....

A-LEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!!

'
Of course what else is Simon. He has nothing to beat any opponent, just keeps playing the ball in with no pace to work with and hope that opponent will lose patience and miss. But Murray has changed some of his game now, but Simon?? He is still the same.

I saw the match. Very nicely done by Haas to steam roll Simon. Somin did well to avoid a , Haas nearly gave him that. But even a bread-stick wasn't so bad.

Good fun to watch a pusher being knocked out like that.

Haas

noleisthebest wrote:Simon-Haas starting, didn't know Haas leads 4:1 H2H.

Robbie calls Simon "poor man's Murray", how dares he!!!!!! ....

A-LEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!!

Well. He has a point. Simon did not choose to develop those big muscles Murray bought. All the running he does seems to be down to his natural fitness. He does look genuinely exhausted after a match despite not carrying the weight Murray does. He also hits flatter meaning he takes more risk for similar pace....even less pace as his arms like his body are pretty thin.

When they play against each other, it's always Simon getting tired quicker....how weird, despite Murray bulky frame.

Still.....I never liked watching Murray and I love watching Simon.

Simon's counter-punching game is a work of art for me as it is intelligent and very elegant, his on court presence suits his game which is pure.

Murray on the other hand, was always laboured, negative, growling, mixed-up and irritating.

For example last night, you could see Haas physically blowing Simon off-court.
They could have said that Haas is a poor man's Federer and that's how close I think Murray is to Simon - just two different worlds.

Comparing Simon to Murray to me was derogatory and Simon's game does not deserve any such "compliments"

Tonight, two exciting matches on the menu:

7 PM UK time
Murray- Cilic

1 AM
Gasquet-Berdych

ABM

noleisthebest wrote:Still.....I never liked watching Murray and I love watching Simon.

Simon's counter-punching game is a work of art for me as it is intelligent and very elegant, his on court presence suits his game which is pure.

Murray on the other hand, was always laboured, negative, growling, mixed-up and irritating. [/quote]

Thats a different and subjective thing. Murray draws lots of negative energy on court especially when he is losing. His movement is not smooth and looks laboured. His service motion, his ball toss, his hand movement.. I mean his overall presence on court isn't elegant and hence he isn't liked much as outside of GB.

Simon's wait-for-errors tennis is too dull for my liking. Its like watching my nails grow.

noleisthebest wrote:For example last night, you could see Haas physically blowing Simon off-court.

Haas doesn't try to blow anyone on physicality, Simon was the one who was looking to elongate the rallies because frankly what else can he do. Hass stayed with him and pounced at the right moment hitting a winner or an un-returnable. Simon might look blown off physically, but he didn't lose the match on physicality.

noleisthebest wrote: They could have said that Haas is a poor man's Federer and that's how close I think Murray is to Simon - just two different worlds.

They could have certainly. But that won't be a derogatory remark, would it. A poor man's Federer still be a great player.

noleisthebest wrote:Comparing Simon to Murray to me was derogatory and Simon's game does not deserve any such "compliments"

Well, its about opinions. If I have to pick between Murray and Simon to watch, I'm going with Murray. He is quite fun to watch the way he gets spanking himself on the forehead and kicking himself and cursing. I'm just hoping next time he pulls out some of his hair. Wouldn't that be fun.

noleisthebest wrote:Tonight, two exciting matches on the menu:

7 PM UK time
Murray- Cilic

1 AM
Gasquet-Berdych

ABM

Murray-Cilic... Could have been some some years back, but now its all for Murray's to take it. Cilic at best can win a set in a close TB.
Gasquet-Berdych - Should be a st. sets for Berdych. He is looking in great form.

Cilic-Murray playing day session, so there is hope for Marin to lead a set and 5:1 up and then choke it all away in style
He seems to be in good form, too, so you never know!

tennis time , come on Marin

Cooooo, what a start from Cilic....love 40 to start with on his serve....he may as well choke in the beginning, get it out of his system and get on with the rest of the match

25 shot rally of cc backhands....half of those down the middle, dear me....at least it's deuce!

He holds serve aaaaand has a break point!!!! Aaaand breaks!!!!! 2:0 Cilic....

And now for a bit of effervescence: Come on Cilic!!!!!!!!!!!!

As usual, commentators painful and pro-Murray. Trying to make him look like he is the best thing since sliced bread....Sickening. I'm pretty sure it's Goodall, he's even bullied Robbie into silence.
You'd think Murray is bageling Cilic, where in fact it's 3:1 for Cilic, who is also on serve....
I'd do a much better job

The amound of Murray's running is stupendous. He's wearing those knees out like ther's no tomorrow.
Not to mention the loudest ever c'mons on Cilic's UEs. The guy surely has only fans in Scotland. If they follow football, that is.

With this modern techonology, surely the time is ripe for having the stat of player's court coverage per set/match, just like we have serve percentages....

Sings of life still there from Cilic 3:5 down in the second and serving. Fitness doesn't seem to be an advantage in long rallies for Murray at this stage of the match.
Hope he holds serve now. Come on Marin

The umpire has the cheek to give Cilic time violation....serving at deuce, just having saving the 5th MP with a brilliant point sad....
And the agony is over.

Gasquet-Berdych next.

Cilic's errors killed him.

Gasquet's new found fitness should help.

Berdych Gasquet starting....never seen the pair play before. Interesting match-up.
Looks like it's very humid. both players already puffed out & sweating a lot .

noleisthebest wrote:The umpire has the cheek to give Cilic time violation....serving at deuce, just having saving the 5th MP with a brilliant point sad....
And the agony is over.

Gasquet-Berdych next.

Exactly, that was a sheer agony. I watched it here and then and thought about the biggest choker ever what a surprise that he won with Tsonga. Such a tall guy and he did so many key double-faults.t
Now, watching Berd and he looks really good and much better tennis from both so far than the first match. Berd's FH hitting is quite something.

Gasquet breaks!
I am amazed at how his BH holds against Berdych's FH. Reminds me a lot of Henin's.
His is not as graceful but is really special.

And Gasuet takes the first set with a double break! He is definitely hitting some fine form in Miami.
Berd seems to be rushed by Gasquet's tempo even though he is playing form the base line. I've never seen him hit that BH with such command.
Will be interesting to see how Berd responds.

noleisthebest wrote:Gasquet breaks!
I am amazed at how his BH holds against Berdych's FH. Reminds me a lot of Henin's.
His is not as graceful but is really special.

Gasquet looks really good. He moves well and the ball speed suits him well. Berdych with second serve will be in a trouble. Berd struggles against SHBH often, he does not like the variety from that wing.

Gasquet agility is too much for Berdych robotic game.....so far! With Gasquet you never know what's around the corner.

I would love to see Gasquet beat Murray in Wimbledon one day, I'll never forget how he managed to lose that match there in 2008....

Gasquet the aggressive, risk taking loser has turned into a winning retriever.

Tenez wrote:Gasquet agility is too much for Berdych robotic game.....so far! With Gasquet you never know what's around the corner.

Exactly, Berd looks like a bit of an obsolete kind of robot

paulcz wrote:

Tenez wrote:Gasquet agility is too much for Berdych robotic game.....so far! With Gasquet you never know what's around the corner.

Exactly, Berd looks like a bit of an obsolete kind of robot

Berdych can play better but he is having a bad night. In fact a bad week. He is in a way lucky to have gone through that far.

I wish they'd unglue themselves from that base-line and moved into the court a bit....the net doesn't bite, does it

I didn't realise they played in IW last week (according to Robbie and Goodall)!

Berd seems to have lost his confidence on FH, hitting it safely and well away from the corners & lines which he was doing well in all his previous matches recently.

Tenez wrote:

paulcz wrote:

Tenez wrote:Gasquet agility is too much for Berdych robotic game.....so far! With Gasquet you never know what's around the corner.

Exactly, Berd looks like a bit of an obsolete kind of robot

Berdych can play better but he is having a bad night. In fact a bad week. He is in a way lucky to have gone through that far.

Berd looks a bit heavier and he does not play with ease. Gasquet catches even heavy FH, so that Berd is frustrated. Berd's serve fluctuates a lot and fortunately for him he managed to awaken in previous matches in right moments.

noleisthebest wrote:Berd seems to have lost his confidence on FH, hitting it safely and well away from the corners & lines which he was doing well in all his previous matches recently.

Exactly, he is frustrated that his FH are not winners.

I must say I am impressed with how focused and no-nonsense Gasquet is tonight.
Miami at night is his scene

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/usopen/6115999/US-Open-Richard-Gasquet-puts-Cocaine-Kiss-saga-behind-him.html

Yes Paul. Glad Gasquet won though tonight. He played terrible last week v Berdych and did himself justic a bit tonight.

Murray will be a tough cooky though tomorrow. The final obviously.

Well...Berd does not look too bothered with the loss, he's had a very good few weeks.

Let's hope Gasquet can do a bit more of the same this time tomorrow

noleisthebest wrote:I must say I am impressed with how focused and no-nonsense Gasquet is tonight.
Miami at night is his scene

Yes he seems so much more mature than a few months ago. I am sure this is Grosjean's influence.

That was quite quick with Berd. Gasquet played very well. I can not see how Berd will run on clay with such a weight. The robot will need some lighter parts to an exchange

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:I must say I am impressed with how focused and no-nonsense Gasquet is tonight.
Miami at night is his scene

Yes he seems so much more mature than a few months ago. I am sure this is Grosjean's influence.

It's about time....Let's hope it lasts!

Berdych in second set was abysmal, with errors. BH DTLs from Gasquet with pace were a delight.

Couldn't see either of the 2 men's mstches. Watching Serena-Radwanska match andwhat a sorry state it looks for women's tennis where a #1 can dominated so much against a #4 player.

A double bagel on cards.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Couldn't see either of the 2 men's mstches. Watching Serena-Radwanska match andwhat a sorry state it looks for women's tennis where a #1 can dominated so much against a #4 player.

A double bagel on cards.

Yes. That's sad and teh reason I lost interest years ago.

SF day in Miami:

7pm UK time

Haas-Ferrer

11pm

Gasquet-Murray


To an all SBH final tomorrow

Here's to our wives and girlfriends .... may they never meet!

Looking at Haas, his game looks great. He is at his best at his 34. If he had 22 as Dimi, then I would say this guy will reign in tennis for some years. IMO Dimi is made of from different mental material, but surely he is going to up at ranking and his chances will come as well.

Lendl on Dimitrov a few days ago:

"If you train for five-hour matches, it gives you a lot of confidence. Take Grigor Dimitrov, who has played some great tennis against Andy and against Novak Djokovic this year," Lendl told the Daily Telegraph. "That guy comes out so hot, but we know, and so does Novak, he can’t sustain it. If he could he would be No. 1 in the world.

"It’s incredible effort that guy is putting in, incredible level. The first set between Andy and Dimitrov in Brisbane in January was the best tennis I have seen this year. If you can last at your level and he drops then all of a sudden you are the better player. That’s what the training is for.”

This is what we love to hear:

"He has all the shots of tennis: Serving well, returning incredible, running well,” Gasquet told reporters. “He's one of the best attackers in the world. He can do everything on the tennis court. He's very clever. He's an unbelievable player, but I know his game. …

“I'm more confident in my strokes. I can go and try a lot of things because I have nothing to lose, and I can be very dangerous. For sure, I know I can win against Andy. He's the favorite. But I know his game. I know how he plays. I play so many times against him. We did great matches in the past.”

ALLEZ RICHARD!!!!!!!!!!!!