ATP Masters 1000: Madrid

by noleisthebest Sat May 03, 2014 9:49 am

Already a memorable tennis 2014 is about to get into 5th gear, Madrid is here and we are all excited!

Stan Wawrinka, now leading in ARP race, has won his first slam in AO, giving hope to his fellow players and delight the fans of single backhand.
Federer has had an excellent start to the season, following Djokovic closely, keeping his Davis Cup dream alive and playing well with the new racquet.
Murray has split with Lendl and looks a bit lost in the space and time. The coming weeks will give us a better idea about where he is and whether he has lost motivation.
A host of young players are continuing to improve in the rankings and win tournaments: Dimitrov, Dolgpoolov and Nishikori are looking promising.
Nadal, the King of Clay is finding his throne becoming less comfortable by the week: he has started losing not only to Nole, but to players he had impeccable H2H against in the past: Wawrinka, Dolgopolov, Ferrer, Almagro...
His number one spot is under threat in Madrid - should he lose before QF and Nole win the tournament.
Djokovic, after the big injury scare in Monte Carlo is back. I sincerely hope he is 100% and can continue to play at the very high level he has shown post AO.

The Draw is out:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2014/1536/mds.pdf
Daily Order of Play:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2014/1536/op.pdf

ATP Masters 1000: Madrid Matador

OLE!!!

To get us in the mood....

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wDAHl54V0CU

by noleisthebest Sat May 03, 2014 9:55 am

Del Potro, Gasquet and Mondils out of the tournament with injury.

Some good matches already in qualifying stages:

Llodra-Tomic
Benneteau-Harrison
Sijsling-Mannarino

by noleisthebest Sat May 03, 2014 11:12 am

I have just realised that none of the players that have beaten Nadal this year are in his half of the draw: Stan, Nishikori, Dolgopolov, Almagro, Nole.
If that's not a rigged draw I don't know what is...

by Tenez Sat May 03, 2014 8:55 pm

noleisthebest wrote:I have just realised that none of the players that have beaten Nadal this year are in his half of the draw: Stan, Nishikori, Dolgopolov, Almagro, Nole.
If that's not a rigged draw I don't know what is...

Yes I had the same thought yesterday.

by noleisthebest Sun May 04, 2014 1:08 am

As I suspected it, Nole may not be playing in Madrid as he has delayed his trip there.
Same with Federer.
Both supposed to arrive on Monday. Nole to see his doctor in Monte Carlo for another check-up today.
Doesn't sound good. Sad

http://www.marca.com/2014/05/03/tenis/1399138846.html

by gallery play Sun May 04, 2014 12:39 pm

Tenez wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:I have just realised that none of the players that have beaten Nadal this year are in his half of the draw: Stan, Nishikori, Dolgopolov, Almagro, Nole.
If that's not a rigged draw I don't know what is...

Yes I had the same thought yesterday.

Rafa has stated very often how a passionate fan he is of Real Madrid so that certainly adds on his popularity there and explains why he gets draws like this. It also explains the Catalans supported Almagro over Nadal in Barcelona: it's impossible for Catalans to have much respect for someone who supports anything whatsoever from Madrid. Funny, because his uncle Miguel "the beast" was a longtime player for Barca.

They still must feel ashamed about the blue clay..

by Polly 81 Sun May 04, 2014 3:26 pm

Yeah, seems you were right NITB about him maybe not playing. Djokovic has withdrawn:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/05/19/Madrid-Sunday-Djokovic-Withdraws.aspx

Sad

by noleisthebest Sun May 04, 2014 5:01 pm

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! Wah

by noleisthebest Sun May 04, 2014 5:10 pm

I am so disappointed, but knew it wasn't going to happen and that he couldn't recover in time. It was too good to be true.
I doubt he'll play in Rome.
Monte Carlo was a very bad mistake and he made the same one last year playing on a bad ankle, which can explain his poor RG.
He should recover properly, take a a couple of months off and return for American hard court season in August.
He will now need a miracle to win RG.

I am glad he isn't playing Madrid, one of the worst tournaments, they should scrap it completely and turn it into a 1000 Masters tournament on grass.

The only thing that annoys me now, Nadal is going to feel suddenly energised without Nole in the draw.

GO ROGEEEEEEEEEEEER!!!!!!!!!!!

In the meantime, get well soon Nole! Rose

by noleisthebest Sun May 04, 2014 8:33 pm

Interesting news post Nole's withdrawal: he is being replaced by a lucky loser - HP Mathieu!
That quarter is packed with talent: Fognini, Gulbis, Dolgopolov all there!

by summerblues Sun May 04, 2014 9:52 pm

noleisthebest wrote:He should recover properly, take a a couple of months off and return for American hard court season in August.
He will now need a miracle to win RG.

This sounds just like Amri. Do you also think he is the 8th favorite for RG (or 9th, depending on Almagro's form)?

by summerblues Sun May 04, 2014 9:57 pm

This opens up a nice chance for Stan to go deep. If he takes it and reaches the final here, I will be quite impressed. I never expected him to take Monte Carlo, and making a final here would show pretty good consistency. I would be willing to forgive him his post-AO hard court results as a hangover from his AO win - after all those two US hard court tournaments are not a good prep for anything.

by noleisthebest Mon May 05, 2014 8:44 am

summerblues wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:He should recover properly, take a a couple of months off and return for American hard court season in August.
He will now need a miracle to win RG.
This sounds just like Amri. Do you also think he is the 8th favorite for RG (or 9th, depending on Almagro's form)?

From Monte Carlo thread:

noleisthebest wrote:I don't actually think he has a wrist injury at all. The forearm muscle that connects elbow with the wrist carries a lot of nerves into the fingers, esp the thumb and index finger, affecting the grip and causing pain in the wrist (and hand as well).
That's why he said there will be no surgery, nothing torn like with Delpo, tendons are fine there.

I wouldn't have had a clue about this had I not experienced it myself.
I think he overused he forearm muscle trying/practising a new serve, esp the sliced wide ones so useful for clay.
At that stage, i.e. before this tournament he will not have experienced hand and wrist pain, but since he played the matches and that muscle was especially overused last night in the 3 setter against GG Lopez who was making Nole stretch a lot on his BH defensive side with his angled shots, that was it...the wrist, unbandaged just couldn't support that weakend forearm muscle any more.
That's why his entire forearm was strapped, not just the wrist.
The initial horror pain he will have felt in the 2nd set today will go away with total rest pretty soon, max 1-2 weeks even without any extra help. But the muscle and the tendon in the elbow if it's gone into that one will take much longer, even if he plays RG, he won't make it to the final.
Unless a miracle happens.

noleisthebest wrote:It's one of those times where I hate to have been right on every point, right down to Nole earning the injury overdoing his practice.
Really sad he couldn't find the way out to retire. This injury can last for ages. Only complete rest with adequate physiotherapy helps.
Mine went away after 2 months, but I still have to wear a strap as prevention, if I don't - I really feel it and I am a rec!!!!
Having said all this, I refused to take any medication, Nole's recovery will be maximal and sped up with all the latest medical help money can buy...but I cannot kid myself ... this one is a worry, a long-term one

" I just rest now. I cannot play tennis for some time. How long, I don't know. It's really not in my hands anymore. I'm going to rest and see when it can heal 100 percent, then I will be back on the court.

Well, the good thing is I don't need to have a surgery. I don't have any rupture or something like that. I'm going to go see doctors tonight and then tomorrow again have another MRI (scan), see if anything changed in this seven days since I had the last one.

I heard so many things in last 10 days. Trust me, it's complicated.

Long match, long rallies, heavy balls, definitely did not help the state of my arm. Since last night it was as it is now.
The pain was there every single day from 10 days ago. At some stages it was very painful. I didn't want to pull out (against Federer) because then people start talking different things about me and my withdraws and so forth. That was the main reason.

At the end of the first set, every shot was painful.

It happened in two days. Obviously I practiced a lot. Maybe I started a bit too strong. The transition from hard court to clay, different balls, have probably taken its toll."

by noleisthebest Mon May 05, 2014 8:55 am

Match of the day:

Simon-Paire
Thiem-Tursunov

by noleisthebest Mon May 05, 2014 11:58 am

Managed to see the last game of Nishi- Dodig, Nishi looking very good.
On schedule to meet Stan in QF, should be a great match!

by Tenez Mon May 05, 2014 1:51 pm

Do we know if Fed's playing?

by noleisthebest Mon May 05, 2014 4:49 pm

If he is, he should arrive in Madrid today.
I know Stan and Nadal are scheduled to play on Wednesday, and there is still no order of play out for tomorrow.
Madrid website is useless.

by truffin1 Mon May 05, 2014 5:22 pm

There is a report out that Fed is practicing on one of the courts and going to give a press conference soon. It's a fan report, but assuming it's true-- he's there!

With their points from last year dropping, whoever makes it further in this tournament between Stan and Fed will be at #3 next Monday!

Fed to play Simon either tomorrow or Wednesday. Simon said at his presser- "I'm going to ask Mirka to push a little harder so I don't have to play Roger!" lol

by Tenez Mon May 05, 2014 6:02 pm

truffin1 wrote:
With their points from last year dropping, whoever makes it further in this tournament between Stan and Fed will be at #3 next Monday!
l

Yes but since Fed has the Rome final to defend, he might not be number 3 for long.

by noleisthebest Mon May 05, 2014 6:56 pm

Wow, some absolutely superb matches tomorrow!!!!!! Magic

Gulbis -JJ
Fognini- Dolgopolov
Thiem- Wawrinka
Sijsling-Haas
Golubev-Almagro...

That's 6 SBHs!!!!! diva

That means Fed's playing on Wednesday.

by truffin1 Mon May 05, 2014 7:11 pm

Tenez wrote:
truffin1 wrote:
With their points from last year dropping, whoever makes it further in this tournament between Stan and Fed will be at #3 next Monday!
l
Yes but since Fed has the Rome final to defend, he might not be number 3 for long.

Exactly- the situation will revert in rome where Stan does not have much to defend.. and good chance Fed doesn't play Rome. My guess is that RG will be where one seperates from the other in ranking- then advantage will swing to Federer for grass..

More reports of Fed in Madrid so it looks like he's good to go!

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 9:47 am

Nadal has been adopted Son of Madrid. On receiving the honour he said:

"I believe in respect for my opponents, humility, discipline, hard work and enthusiasm. Those are some of the values I believe and that is how I understand not only sports but life as well."

Words....don't speak quite as loud as actions do they?

http://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/news/223848-rafael-nadal-named-adopted-son-of-madrid

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 10:39 am

JJ-Gulbis aka The Prince and the Pauper have started, JJ already up with a break, serving some real bombs!

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 11:21 am

Tie-break!
JJ can really hit dropshots well...from both wings and any part of the court!

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 11:28 am

JJ is playing his game really well: good serves, excellent, pacy , accurate CC shots, mixed up with superb drop-shots, but Gulbis has more of it by going down the line at the first opportunity.
And that is making all he difference in this otherwise very close match.

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 11:38 am

noleisthebest wrote:As I suspected it, Nole may not be playing in Madrid as he has delayed his trip there.
Same with Federer.
Both supposed to arrive on Monday. Nole to see his doctor in Monte Carlo for another check-up today.
Doesn't sound good.

http://www.marca.com/2014/05/03/tenis/1399138846.html

It's been just confirmed Federer has officially withdrawn from the tournament Sad

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 11:47 am

Sijsling beats Haas from a set down. Caught the last game, s&v-ed all the way, nice BH.

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 11:47 am

noleisthebest wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:As I suspected it, Nole may not be playing in Madrid as he has delayed his trip there.
Same with Federer.
Both supposed to arrive on Monday. Nole to see his doctor in Monte Carlo for another check-up today.
Doesn't sound good.

http://www.marca.com/2014/05/03/tenis/1399138846.html

It's been just confirmed Federer has officially withdrawn from the tournament

Happy with that actually. I think he is tired and his mind is somewhere else I am sure. If that can make him fresher for the FO...that's good!

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 11:52 am

I am glad Madrid is looking B grade right now. I never liked that tournament.
I suppose the only thing that could salvage it is Nadal not winning it.

ALLEZ Stan and everyone else!!!!! diva

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 1:42 pm

Good close rallies from Gobulev/Almagro....Gobulez just winning the TB of the second set after saving 2MPs.

Can't watch the 3rd unfortunately.

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 2:27 pm

From what I read, Federer won't be playing Rome either...and the FO is not even certain.

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 2:42 pm

Golubev not surviving his 11th MP! going down in 3 hard sets....but coudl have been 2 easy ones too....so not too sure what to draw from it...except that he is a bit inconsistent.

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 2:52 pm

Tenez wrote:From what I read, Federer won't be playing Rome either...and the FO is not even certain.

What/where did you read?
Would be really disappointing if he missed RG.

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 2:58 pm

Tenez wrote:Golubev not surviving his 11th MP! going down in 3 hard sets....but coudl have been 2 easy ones too....so not too sure what to draw from it...except that he is a bit inconsistent.

Just got back from the gym and saw the scores....looked really close!
I would have preferred Golub to have won this one....
Did you know that Golub(ev) means pigeon?
Medved(ev) means bear.

Well, at least I'm in time to see the end of Dolgo- Fognini, 3 sets, that must have been a cracking match so far!
All the talent is in the bottom half of the draw...

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 3:03 pm

Dolgo serving for the match.
I think it's absolutely criminal that two player's of Fognini's and Dolgopolov's calibre gave been drawn to play a first round match!!!!!

The two are worthy of any tournament's final, especially on clay.

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 3:07 pm

Dolgo takes the match, Fognini not happy about stg (surprise, surprise Laugh

) demands to speak to Llayani in the locker room.

Did anyone see the incident?

Such a shame Fognini had to end the tournament in the first round, he has played so well this season...well, at least is back home in Bella Italia next week!

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 3:54 pm

Federer managed to change law in his local village and have anyone taking photos near his house fined 4000 CHF...money surely talks.

http://www.blick.ch/sport/tennis/federer-igelt-sich-ein-id2100851.html

by truffin1 Tue May 06, 2014 4:24 pm

Exciting times ahead
06.05.2014 | Off Court
I’ve decided to withdraw from Madrid to be with my wife Mirka during these next few exciting weeks for our family. I apologize to my fans and hope to be back in Madrid next year. I’ll be training near my home, and am excited to rejoin the Tour soon!

I don't like the "next few exciting weeks part" in the sense that it reads that he's planning on staying with them the whole time, but I guess in his world, that doesn't necessarily mean they don't all travel and be together to RG............ Rome looks very doubtful now though.44

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 4:33 pm

noleisthebest wrote:
Tenez wrote:From what I read, Federer won't be playing Rome either...and the FO is not even certain.

What/where did you read?
Would be really disappointing if he missed RG.

Yahoo.fr/Eurosport (Yahoo Sport).

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 4:35 pm

noleisthebest wrote:
Tenez wrote:Golubev not surviving his 11th MP! going down in 3 hard sets....but coudl have been 2 easy ones too....so not too sure what to draw from it...except that he is a bit inconsistent.

Just got back from the gym and saw the scores....looked really close!
I would have preferred Golub to have won this one....
Did you know that Golub(ev) means pigeon?
Medved(ev) means bear.

Well, at least I'm in time to see the end of Dolgo- Fognini, 3 sets, that must have been a cracking match so far!
All the talent is in the bottom half of the draw...

No...did not know...funny...and what Does Putin mean? I know in French! (Putin = slang for prostitute).

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 4:39 pm

noleisthebest wrote:Federer managed to change law in his local village and have anyone taking photos near his house fined 4000 CHF...money surely talks.

http://www.blick.ch/sport/tennis/federer-igelt-sich-ein-id2100851.html

Entitled to privacy me thinks. Having paprazzi waiting for intrusive photos is a pain. I lived 3 doors away from Liam Gallagher and it was a pain....for him.

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 4:41 pm

truffin1 wrote:Federer's statement:

©

Exciting times ahead
06.05.2014 | Off Court
I’ve decided to withdraw from Madrid to be with my wife Mirka during these next few exciting weeks for our family. I apologize to my fans and hope to be back in Madrid next year. I’ll be training near my home, and am excited to rejoin the Tour soon!

I don't like the "next few exciting weeks part" in the sense that it reads that he's planning on staying with them the whole time, but I guess in his world, that doesn't necessarily mean they don't all travel and be together to RG............ Rome looks very doubtful now though.44

This is exactly what I read ...in French. Yes Rome is clearly going to be missed...but I doubt he will miss the FO.

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 5:12 pm

Tenez wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:
Did you know that Golub(ev) means pigeon?
Medved(ev) means bear.
No...did not know...funny...and what Does Putin mean? I know in French! (Putin = slang for prostitute).

Ouch!

"Put" means - road
I don't mind old Vlad...plenty of character!
Which politician isn't a putin these days, anyway....

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 5:21 pm

Tenez wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:Federer managed to change law in his local village and have anyone taking photos near his house fined 4000 CHF...money surely talks.

http://www.blick.ch/sport/tennis/federer-igelt-sich-ein-id2100851.html
Entitled to privacy me thinks. Having paprazzi waiting for intrusive photos is a pain. I lived 3 doors away from Liam Gallagher and it was a pain....for him.

Yes, but Switzerland IS the land of privacy!
I had to pay a fine of 200CHF for throwing "private" rubbish (junk mail from American Express with my name on it) into a "public" bin at the bus stop....
Yes, they go through rubbish and send people fines like that!
I found out it happened to every single expat there, that's the Swiss "welcome" for you...Heidi postcard land imge it is only for tourists.

I rang the council to complain and have the fine waved, as I didn't have a clue about this "law", and they said I just needed to say send them a letter explaining it and I'd be fine.
Fine I was not but fineD!
A week later, I got the same fine letter reminder. When I rang to see why they sent me the fine again after I did as they had asked (sent the letter) these were their words:
"If I hadn't been STUPID and said the litter was mine and I threw it into a public bin...then they could not prosecute me."

That's just one of many examples.

So this law change Federer managed to pull off is a really big deal. That's why it made it to the paper there, the ordinary Swiss did not like it at all.

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 5:30 pm

What a shame if Fed misses even Rome, let alone RG...
I suppose the rest will do him good.

I saw this clip today and felt the lump in the throat as I saw that majestic point from Fed. I can't get over how elegant every move of his is, what a gift!
It's going to be tough when he retires.
A minute of silence when that happens, indeed.

Loved Gonzo's FH, and Seles's fierce groundstrokes, too.

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 5:33 pm

noleisthebest wrote:
Tenez wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:
Did you know that Golub(ev) means pigeon?
Medved(ev) means bear.
No...did not know...funny...and what Does Putin mean? I know in French! (Putin = slang for prostitute).
Ouch!
"Put" means - road
I don't mind old Vlad...plenty of character!
Which politician isn't a putin these days, anyway....

Very true....I like him too for the simple reason that unlike our other heads of states in EU, it seems his main concern is his people first...

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 5:45 pm

noleisthebest wrote:
Tenez wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:Federer managed to change law in his local village and have anyone taking photos near his house fined 4000 CHF...money surely talks.

http://www.blick.ch/sport/tennis/federer-igelt-sich-ein-id2100851.html
Entitled to privacy me thinks. Having paprazzi waiting for intrusive photos is a pain. I lived 3 doors away from Liam Gallagher and it was a pain....for him.

Yes, but Switzerland IS the land of privacy!
I had to pay a fine of 200CHF for throwing "private" rubbish (junk mail from American Express with my name on it) into a "public" bin at the bus stop....
Yes, they go through rubbish and send people fines like that!
I found out it happened to every single expat there, that's the Swiss "welcome" for you...Heidi postcard land imge it is only for tourists.

I rang the council to complain and have the fine waved, as I didn't have a clue about this "law", and they said I just needed to say send them a letter explaining it and I'd be fine.
Fine I was not but fineD!
A week later, I got the same fine letter reminder. When I rang to see why they sent me the fine again after I did as they had asked (sent the letter) these were their words:
"If I hadn't been STUPID and said the litter was mine and I threw it into a public bin...then they could not prosecute me."

That's just one of many examples.

So this law change Federer managed to pull off is a really big deal. That's why it made it to the paper there, the ordinary Swiss did not like it at all.

They are terrible. Anyone having to take the plane from Chamonix (France) to Geneva have to pay the yearly road tax for what 50km at most?!!!! A robbery! Discusting. When you take the motorway in france you only pay for the section travelled on it...and free outside the motorway.

by Tenez Tue May 06, 2014 5:51 pm

noleisthebest wrote:What a shame if Fed misses even Rome, let alone RG...
I suppose the rest will do him good.

I saw this clip today and felt the lump in the throat as I saw that majestic point from Fed. I can't get over how elegant every move of his is, what a gift!
It's going to be tough when he retires.
A minute of silence when that happens, indeed.

Loved Gonzo's FH, and Seles's fierce groundstrokes, too.

So the 8 times winner has not had a single of his shots selected! Laugh

I am convinced that had Nalby played that year Nadal instead of Federer he woudl have won. He played amazing tennis until he got injured pushed by Federer.

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 5:54 pm

Yes, Switzerland is a very, very strange place. Amazing what they managed to do during/after WWII, was one of the poorest countries in Europe before that.
Breathtaking countryside, though...

by noleisthebest Tue May 06, 2014 6:01 pm

Tenez wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/v/tAZaHJsPIVI
So the 8 times winner has not had a single of his shots selected!
I am convinced that had Nalby played that year Nadal instead of Federer he woudl have won. He played amazing tennis until he got injured pushed by Federer.

I thought the same! Cool

Federer "stuffed" Nole in the 2011 SF, as well. I am convinced Nole would have annihilated Nadal had he not run into an inspired Federer.
That match had so much poise and history in it!
It's still too emotional for me to rewatch it.

by Sponsored content

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30