ATP 1000: Monte Carlo

There can rarely be a more beautiful sight when watching tennis: every time the camera pans out to the breath-takingly blue Mediterrenean glistening in the sun, it's just one endless sigh from this side of computer.

The blissful scene is contrasted with the saturated deep orange of clay and gracefully labouring movement of tennis players.
It is probably the only place where tennis ball, with its unnatural neon colour looks out of place, a bit plain, not pretty enough.
Ah, well.....

Sadly, with its loss of compulsory tournament status, Monte Carlo has not seen all top ten players for a few years now.

Still, the field is as strong, if not as beautiful, it can be: Djokovic, Murray, Nadal, Berdych, Del Potro, Tsonga, Gasquet, Raonic, Dimitrov, Dolgopolov and many other excellent players we missed seeing in the past few weeks....

The draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/410/mds.pdf

Order of play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/410/op.pdf

A few players already out: Tomic, Simon, Benneteau, Bellucci, Chardy, Seppi...

Djokovic, with the recovering ankle injury, still a big question mark for Wednesday. Official announcement to follow tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl9pK8VBG60

Absolutely fantastic day of tennis tomorrow with some sumptuous matches:

Paire-Gasquet
Tsonga-Davydenko
Tipsarevic-Dimitrov
Dolgopolov-Del Potro
Wawrinka-Istomin
and more!

I would like to add.
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) v [WC] John Isner (USA)
David Goffin (BEL) v [10] Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

luvsports! wrote:I would like to add.
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) v [WC] John Isner (USA)
David Goffin (BEL) v [10] Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

I was going to add those two, as well, but just couldn't bring myself to "promote" Isner...Wached him beat Berankis in Houston, what horrible, ugly tennis, he virtually and literally LOBBED him with his wide serves, it was sickening to watch.
Berankis took a set off him, but lost concentration briefly in the 3rd and was gone. He still played brilliant tennis and I look forward to seeing him again very much, hopefully in Madrid. Really exciting player.

I didn't get to see his match against Haas, he must've played great to beat him in 2 easy sets.

As for Goffin & Almagro....Almagro just gets on my nerves with being such colossal choker. So he's in my bad books, too.

Dimitrov Tipsarevic, Stan Istomin starting. Should be fun. Both already a break up.

dimi breaks back and leads 6-5!

stan a set up but a break down in the 2nd

I hope Dimi does not choke in the TB. Standing a bit too far behind the base line for my liking, but seems to be working for him, so who am I to complain....He should win this in straights.

Good fight and defending from Dimi in the TB. Tipsarevic pretty pathetic, average movement, definitely not adjusted to clay yet. Can't even remember if he actually can play on the surface....

A good tournament for him is making it to the last 16, he has only done something at the US.
People like him, monaco, isner, should not be top 10ers!

I saw Simon-Agut matches 13 breaks of serve in 2 sets??

Simon's after match interview:

"I was tired (in the first set)," admitted Simon. "Long rallies were killing me."

ha ha.. funy this is. If the long rallies kill him, why doesn't he do something about it by keeping it short. I never see an iota of attempt from him to finish points early. Ahh.. what else can a pusher do other that push...

Cilic-HB match was very interesting, good play from both. Tough loss for HB but he played a good match.

luvsports! wrote:A good tournament for him is making it to the last 16, he has only done something at the US.
People like him, monaco, isner, should not be top 10ers!

I think top 10 will look a bit different at the end of this year. Tbh, I'm sick and tired of seeing Ferrer so high up. Shame on Tsonga and Berd to let him be ahead of them.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:I saw Simon-Agut matches 13 breaks of serve in 2 sets??

Simon's after match interview:

"I was tired (in the first set)," admitted Simon. "Long rallies were killing me."

ha ha.. funy this is. If the long rallies kill him, why doesn't he do something about it by keeping it short. I never see an iota of attempt from him to finish points early. Ahh.. what else can a pusher do other that push...

Cilic-HB match was very interesting, good play from both. Tough loss for HB but he played a good match.

I don't remember Simon on clay from before but what I saw from him in DC against Argentina, his game does not translate well on clay and he's wasting his time on it.

noleisthebest wrote:

luvsports! wrote:A good tournament for him is making it to the last 16, he has only done something at the US.
People like him, monaco, isner, should not be top 10ers!

I think top 10 will look a bit different at the end of this year. Tbh, I'm sick and tired of seeing Ferrer so high up. Shame on Tsonga and Berd to let him be ahead of them.

Absolutely. But at the moment he is even above Nadal and perhaps could be even seeded higher than him. He did well for his limited ability. But his absolute inability to even put up a good match against the top-4 makes it so frustrating. He has occupied the place far too long.

noleisthebest wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:I saw Simon-Agut matches 13 breaks of serve in 2 sets??

Simon's after match interview:

"I was tired (in the first set)," admitted Simon. "Long rallies were killing me."

ha ha.. funy this is. If the long rallies kill him, why doesn't he do something about it by keeping it short. I never see an iota of attempt from him to finish points early. Ahh.. what else can a pusher do other that push...

Cilic-HB match was very interesting, good play from both. Tough loss for HB but he played a good match.

I don't remember Simon on clay from before but what I saw from him in DC against Argentina, his game does not translate well on clay and he's wasting his time on it.

he got to the semi's here last year and gave nadal a decent contest.

he does vs murray

noleisthebest wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:I saw Simon-Agut matches 13 breaks of serve in 2 sets??

Simon's after match interview:

"I was tired (in the first set)," admitted Simon. "Long rallies were killing me."

ha ha.. funy this is. If the long rallies kill him, why doesn't he do something about it by keeping it short. I never see an iota of attempt from him to finish points early. Ahh.. what else can a pusher do other that push...

Cilic-HB match was very interesting, good play from both. Tough loss for HB but he played a good match.

I don't remember Simon on clay from before but what I saw from him in DC against Argentina, his game does not translate well on clay and he's wasting his time on it.

Here it is for you. Simon at his absolute best on clay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8iunyDh4ms

luvsports! wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:I saw Simon-Agut matches 13 breaks of serve in 2 sets??

Simon's after match interview:

"I was tired (in the first set)," admitted Simon. "Long rallies were killing me."

ha ha.. funy this is. If the long rallies kill him, why doesn't he do something about it by keeping it short. I never see an iota of attempt from him to finish points early. Ahh.. what else can a pusher do other that push...

Cilic-HB match was very interesting, good play from both. Tough loss for HB but he played a good match.

I don't remember Simon on clay from before but what I saw from him in DC against Argentina, his game does not translate well on clay and he's wasting his time on it.

he got to the semi's here last year and gave nadal a decent contest.

Now that you've mentioned it, I remember it vaguely....something definitely not right wit him recently, just happened to coincide with clay season probably.

simon has actually won 5 of his 10 tournaments on clay courts

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:I saw Simon-Agut matches 13 breaks of serve in 2 sets??

Simon's after match interview:

"I was tired (in the first set)," admitted Simon. "Long rallies were killing me."

ha ha.. funy this is. If the long rallies kill him, why doesn't he do something about it by keeping it short. I never see an iota of attempt from him to finish points early. Ahh.. what else can a pusher do other that push...

Cilic-HB match was very interesting, good play from both. Tough loss for HB but he played a good match.

I don't remember Simon on clay from before but what I saw from him in DC against Argentina, his game does not translate well on clay and he's wasting his time on it.

Here it is for you. Simon at his absolute best on clay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8iunyDh4ms

he,he thanks, rotla I haven't seen that match but it immediately reminded me another one of the two (was it in AO this year?) loved it!!!! So, there must be a history between Monfils and Simon the way they play each other like that: picnic style....paid by the hour, as Paul said!

I can' t quite make my mind up whether Dimi is playing really well or Tipsarevic too badly...probably stg in between!

Nice thing about Dimi, you can see he is really enjoying himself on the court today, Tipsarevic: almost under duress, just a day in the office.

7:6 6:1 Bravo Dimi!!!
Should clear the next round and then Nadal!

Paire Gasquet next

GO DIMI!!!!

Monte Carlo glowing in the sunshine, Gasquet and Paire on the court: one of the most exciting SBHs vs definitely the most elegant DBH in the game....and both playing with flair, esp Paire.....who happens to have been voted the most handsome player on tour with which I shall not disagree

I still love nalby's BH.

luvsports! wrote:I still love nalby's BH.

Nalby gets on my nerves for some reason. Esp after that loss against Nadal in Brasil. Zero respect.

Be-no-it!!!!!!! Gasquet owns him mentally - completely!
Why oh why.....

noleisthebest wrote:

luvsports! wrote:I still love nalby's BH.

Nalby gets on my nerves for some reason. Esp after that loss against Nadal in Brasil. Zero respect.

Nalby should focus on doubles, I have sore eyes to see him running. But still I like his personality and tennis skill.

BREAKING NEWS: Nole playing Monte Carlo

Weather was too good to stay and watch tennis today, so missed davydenko Tsonga (Tsona won in straights.
Just tuned into Dolgopolov Del Potro now, Dolgo completely destroying Delpo, 6:1 in the first set, when Dolgo is on fire, it's a fest for all tennis lovers

yup!

Dolgo's forehand

Dolgo has so much class and finesse in his game, he makes Delpo look so basic and raw (which he is, anyway) with all that loud bashing....Wouldn't it be brilliant to have Dolgo in top 10?

I can't believe Dolgo is taking Delpo's 2nd serve almost 1m inside the baseline, doesn't say a tot about Delpo's serving...what a waste of height! and of course, Dolgo breaks!

Classic Dolgo loses focus and eventually the 2nd set. Can't complain, it's an interesting match (so long as Dolgo wins )

noleisthebest wrote:I can't believe Dolgo is taking Delpo's 2nd serve almost 1m inside the baseline, doesn't say a tot about Delpo's serving...what a waste of height! and of course, Dolgo breaks!

Delpo's serve is quite ordinary for someone his size. Heck, its not too much better than what little Ferrer or Tipsarvic can serve.

Yes, he looks he can't be bothered to improve it....


Gulbis Isner starting.

luvsports! wrote:I still love nalby's BH.

Nalbandian's DHBH is the most elegent double handed shot in tennis. He sure didn't make the most of his skills, but even for the now-n-then when he hist those they are a thing of beauty.

Paire.. nitb sure didn't watch his match against Dodig.

No, I didn't see Paire beat Dodig, did you, what was it like?

Delpo serves an ace and goes for the towel...

Dolgo's main problem is he plays his tennis like driving Ferrari exclusively in the 5th gear....and of course he can't keep it up the whole match!!!!!
Somebody needs to tell him it's ok to use the brakes and drop a bit of speed but not take foot off the gas completely.

Come on Dolgo, BREAK!!!!!!!

No break
Well, that was a classic Dolgo ride: great while it lasted

Isner wins the first set against Gulbis (yuk!)

Order of play out for tomorrow:

Berdych-Granollers Raonic-Nieminen
Matosevic-Nadal Cilic-Anderson
Djokovic-Youzhny Melzer-Goffin/Almagro
Vasselin-Murray Wawrinka-Montanes etc......


Funny, but with all the "big names" playing tomorrow, not nearly as much to look forward to like today....

Niemenen Raonic looking interesting, third set tie-break and Rao on his way out...C'mon Milos!
And Milos recovers the double break and back into it now, on serve 2:3....and then manages a DOUBLE FAULT!!!! .....and if that's not enough, sends an overhead ....OUT 2:5...2:6, 4 MPs for Jarrko....and it's over!

Shame for Raonic....Nieminen looked very solid in the few points I managed to see.

Berd dispatches Granollers in straights.
Nadal Matosevic next.

Matosevic is a Croatian Aussie like Tomic and from memory has strong built so should be able to keep up with Nadal. Matosevic beat Verdasco in the first round. Let's hope he can do some damage against one more, this time the eternally injured Spaniard.

go stan! http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/04/16/Norman-To-Coach-Wawrinka-On-Trial.aspx

Matosevic off to a flying start 0:4
Serves him right for wearing that bandana like a Ninja turtle....

I think Serena would've given Nadal a better challenge than Matosevic today....
Nadal wins the first set 6:1, losing only 9 points in the whole set, and he isn't playing anything special...more like Matosevic is totally tragic!
The only upside is Nole-Youzhny will start sooner....