ATP 500/250: Barcelona, Bucharest

I don't understand Almagro and the way he is playing...does he really need to be THAT 1D?

Isn't that so typical of all attacking players v Rafa on clay. They are better than Nadal by a healthy margin....for 4 games or a set....but soon enough, after a couple of long rallies, once that edge is gone....They are doomed. Alma, like Fed and many others.

Nico's tennis is so much better...but so much more fragile on those gruelling surfaces...faced with an infatigable player.

Difficult to comment on a match like that. Nadal scrapping right and left until Almagro makes an UE.

What else to add?

Tenez wrote:Difficult to comment on a match like that. Nadal scrapping right and left until Almagro makes an UE.

What else to add?

....this....?

And that's that!
Almagro receives probably the ugliest ever runner-up "trophy".
The nice, slightly over the top, one in Nadal's hands must be dreading being bitten for the 8th year in a row now...

So we have the winners this week:

first title for over the moon Rosol:

"I wanted to dedicate this trophy to someone, so I found the energy. I felt somebody was helping me from up top. It’s not just about me. My family has always supported me and my tennis. I felt match after match, my dream was coming true.
It could not be better this week. I came here from a full two weeks of practice. I didn't know what to expect of myself. So I’m pretty satisfied with this result… I will remember this week. It was very emotional for me and is something special. I found a way to beat some good players and succeed.”

and the 8th one in a row in Barcelona for Nadal. Looks like Novak will need to book that torunament next year

Great job done by Lukas Rosol. I did not see his final in Bucharest, but IMO his mind has changed recently and now it is only question if he can continuer playing with an improved focus and mentality.
There are some reasons for his improvements. I think the main reason was his both matches won in Kazachastan, which was his first match in DC he played as the first Czech player and his confidence greatly increased.

The second reason was that he and his new girl (tv moderator) some weeks declassified their relationship, which was covered up for some months.

As was publicised his father passed away about some days ago and although they were not in contact (parents did not live together), his mind was in a new state and he played learned from his DC matches. These were the first ones, which I saw he played on the base of tactics given by the coach and not so stubborn bashing regardless on the match progress.

Let's see how he is going on. He can do some really good results, but his consistency only depends on his concentration and open mind.

Poor Lukas, I didn't know his father died last week.

I hope it goes well with the new girl, too

Just saw this photo and it got me worried a bit

PS
No prizes for guessing why....

noleisthebest wrote:Poor Lukas, I didn't know his father died last week.

I hope it goes well with the new girl, too

How often I have noticed in sport a great performance by an athlete right after a close family death.

Yes, it's interesting how external circumstances affect you on the court; athletes are supposed to be used to perseverance which ought to spread to emotional level, too.

With Barcelona out of the way and only two Masters events ahead of us, the permutations for #4 and #5 ranking for RG seeding got a bit simpler. If I got it right, this is how it works:

1. If Rafa wins both Madrid and Rome
1a. if Ferrer makes one final, Ferrer will be #4
1b. if Ferrer makes one SF, and at least QF in the other one, Ferrer will be #4
1c. otherwise, Rafa will be #4

2. If Rafa wins one, and reaches the final in the other
2a. if Ferrer makes at least one QF, Ferrer will be #4
2b. if Ferrer reaches at least R16 in both tournaments, Ferrer will be #4
2c. otherwise, Rafa will be #4

3. If Rafa does anything less than a win and a final, Ferrer will remain #4

So, it is still a bit complicated. My take on it is that Rafa almost certainly needs to win both in Madrid and in Rome. However, if he does that, I would then give him better than even money odds to reach #4.

Of course, in theory it is not just #4 and #5 between these two guys that is in play. For example, in theory David could overtake Federer or Rafa could drop below #5.

Tenez wrote:Isn't that so typical of all attacking players v Rafa on clay. They are better than Nadal by a healthy margin....for 4 games or a set....but soon enough, after a couple of long rallies, once that edge is gone....They are doomed. Alma, like Fed and many others.

A winning strategy, nothing less. Nico even won a set here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06CdClj1zj4 and then just faded.

Tenez wrote:Nico's tennis is so much better...but so much more fragile on those gruelling surfaces...faced with an infatigable player.

Yes, 21 finals, and 12 titles, all on Clay - that gruelling surface - http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Nicolas-Almagro.aspx?t=tf

summerblues wrote:
So, it is still a bit complicated. My take on it is that Rafa almost certainly needs to win both in Madrid and in Rome. However, if he does that, I would then give him better than even money odds to reach #4.

Of course, in theory it is not just #4 and #5 between these two guys that is in play. For example, in theory David could overtake Federer or Rafa could drop below #5.

I still can't help being surprised at how much a part of tennis world has been competing in expressing their concern over the huge injustice of Nadal being ranked 5 and potentially knocked out in QF at RG.

It all started with Forget, carried on with McEnroe and the latest trumpeter - who else but The Uncle:

"Rafa has won seven titles in Paris and he lost his ranking because he has spent seven months off the courts. This would not happen if the rankings were made up of the results over two years. It’s not logical that Juan Martin del Potro was injured for one year and fell to No. 700 and had to start again. That is not good for tennis or for the show."

Why is not good for tennis or the show that Nadal does not play the final or wins RG?
If he is that good, won't he be able to potentially beat Murray, Federer and Novak enroute to winning the title?

I hope rankings don't get fiddled with for Nadal's sake, and I am pretty sure it won't happen. Otherwise, a dangerous precedent is being made.

Well on his performance alone since his comeback, I understand clearly the argument to seed him higher than 5th. I certainly was one who woudl think he woudl struggle winning much on his return...even on clay. But he is as fit and as powerful as ever so since his game does not require much tuning (all about power), it did not take him long to make up for lost time.

I still think that he won't be as authoritative as in teh past on clay and for that we need to see him against players with "similar, modern" stamina: Delpo, Djoko, Murray.

Like Almagro showed yesterday, there is not point being twice as good as Nadal on clay if you are only going to be that good for 3 games.

Rome and Madrid should be interesting.

My point is that there is an argument to seed Nadal higher on clay...but clearly no higher than Djoko.