ATP Masters 1000: Indian Wells

Kimmy!
What are you going to do with all that cash?
My best bet was putting a fiver on Fognini to beat Nadal, got £55 back

Well I'm hoping not to win anything

noleisthebest wrote:Rosol 3:3 in the third set!
There is something so endearing about him, can't explain it.

Go Rossy!

Actually I know what it is.
There is a DIY feel about him, he looks llike a guy who's just walked on the court from the street, and he plays with a crazy abandon.
But at the same time so totally unpretentious and properly humble.

Berdych trying to intimidate him with frowning etc...as if Rosol should bow down to him like Spaniards do to Nadal...

Break him now Tomas.

Come on !!

I'd love you to have those £80.....declining Simon beating peak Nadal....again!

NITB, your comment disappeared, but yes absolutely.

Tenez wrote:I'd love you to have those £80.....declining Simon beating peak Nadal....again!

Did Simon beat Nadal recently ?

Kim Jong-Un wrote:NITB, your comment disappeared, but yes absolutely.

Well, looks like your £80 is gone bye-bye....

noleisthebest wrote:

Kim Jong-Un wrote:NITB, your comment disappeared, but yes absolutely.

Well, looks like your £80 is gone bye-bye....

Super news

Fed's serve looks superb today.

...and FH...hitting it so cleanly, just awesome!

Aaaand BH...surviving toughest rallies now...with the occasional beauty of a winner.

How is sock playing?

As well as Fed is allowing him to. Fed very sharp, so you can imagine.
Mr Sock was good in the first set, but Fed's just too quick for him

Can the balls make a difference this year?
They certainly look easier to control in the evening...


Nadal:

"With a normal ball during day and night there is differences, but with that ball is completely dramatic how the things change," he said. During the day especially the ball is very, like you are touching a stone. There is no feeling.
But that's what we have today. We have that ball. I think ATP and fans deserve a better ball to have  a better show.
I think the players said what they have to say. Is not new. Something that happens since a while. I didn't understand very well, because the brand that is making that ball they say now is a new ball, but still bad and I don't understand why. Because if it's a new brand creating new ball, you can understand that they make not a bad ball. But the same brand five years ago had a great ball, very good ball. Is difficult to understand why today they are not able to do it."


Murray:

"I don't know if it's only the balls. I think it's probably a combination of a few things. You know, for me, the balls don't feel as lively … when I play at 9:30 in the morning or in the evening they don't feel as lively, but then during the day it's ridiculous how high they bounce and how quick they move through the air and jump off the court. They said they made some changes to the balls. I don't know how much of a difference they made.

noleisthebest wrote:Can the balls make a difference this year?
They certainly look easier to control in the evening...


Nadal:

"With a normal ball during day and night there is differences, but with that ball is completely dramatic how the things change," he said. During the day especially the ball is very, like you are touching a stone. There is no feeling.
But that's what we have today. We have that ball. I think ATP and fans deserve a better ball to have [a b]better show.[/b]
I think the players said what they have to say. Is not new. Something that happens since a while. I didn't understand very well, because the brand that is making that ball they say now is a new ball, but still bad and I don't understand why. Because if it's a new brand creating new ball, you can understand that they make not a bad ball. But the same brand five years ago had a great ball, very good ball. Is difficult to understand why today they are not able to do it."

He considers himself and his game being the "show". If the ball suits different players..then that's not "show" anymore as he is not part of it.

I know...the most selfish player ever!
Imagine if he was running The Show...

2 year rankings.... 1 minute between serves.....

Nole gets a w/o from Tomic (back injury).
He'll have a pair of fresh legs for Murray tomorrow, brilliant!

Too bad about Tomic.  He has been - finally - playing quite well and I was looking forward to his match against Nole.

So Nole gets two days off - Fognini effect could strike again.

He, he...Fognini effect...those were the days!

2011 Streak and that SF, the most dramatic match ever, it had everything ...so much emotion, drama and intensity: x,y,z factor, charisma ,all genuine...no need for any  PR-ing, solar eclipse had nothing on it!
I remember being completely caught up in Nole madness...what a year that was, right down to me being kicked out of Wimbledon final on my first ever visit there
I loved it all...

No, this does not come even close.
Murray?
The imposter on the big scene, not in a million years...when did he ever play a memorable match?

But, yes, shame about Tomic, he played very well this week, I enjoyed the display of his hands, quite something.
Not looking forward to tennis in Nole-Murray but want to see Murray beaten again...in a bye-bye good riddance kind of way...

It's so frustrating when a player pulls out at such an important stage.

The finalist of the bottom draw will be in a poor state in the final. 3 tough matches in a row.

Nadal playing after Federer, which may mean physically he has less time to recover for the semi. It's BO3, so not a big issue, but...

If this was the other way round, with Federer playing after Nadal, I'm almost certain either Tenez/NITB would be calling conspiracy and talking about how rigged the ATP is in Nadal's favour etc.

That's the issue with claiming conspiracy on 50:50 decisions, you're convinced it's a conspiracy 50% of the time.

True.

Kim Jong-Un wrote:Nadal playing after Federer, which may mean physically he has less time to recover for the semi. It's BO3, so not a big issue, but...

If this was the other way round, with Federer playing after Nadal, I'm almost certain either Tenez/NITB would be calling conspiracy and talking about how rigged the ATP is in Nadal's favour etc.

That's the issue with claiming conspiracy on 50:50 decisions, you're convinced it's a conspiracy 50% of the time.

Absolute non sense AGAIN. I did check, like you obviously, and the matches follow each others so there is very little advantage.

We have never made a fuss when the matches are played right after each others. We have however raised the problem when there 4 hours or more between the matches and as far as i remember made the point essentially in teh semi. Something they do in many TMS1000 including madrid where Nadal always plays first.

luvsports! wrote:True.

Not true at all!

Tenez wrote:

luvsports! wrote:True.

Not true at all!

Well the guy who is middle aged SHOULD get the extra 1 hour rest compared to the guy in his physical prime of 20's!

Given the entire tournament conditions were designed to help Nadal win which even most Nadal fans can recognize, I hardly think it unfair to give Fed the first match.

truffin1 wrote:

Tenez wrote:

luvsports! wrote:True.

Not true at all!

Well the guy who is middle aged SHOULD get the extra 1 hour rest compared to the guy in his physical prime of 20's!

Given the entire tournament conditions were designed to help Nadal win which even most Nadal fans can recognize, I hardly think it unfair to give Fed the first match.

I kind of agree though in theory age should not intervene.

But I bet that the 2 oclock slot for Nadal was picked up as it's probably the hottest (highest bounce) and worst sun position for a tall right hander.

As I said many times, probably nothing is left to chance with the guy who meticulously places his water bottles under his chair. As we know, it;s not the placemement of those bottles which is important, it's the extra seconds it gives him and extra seconds his opponent is left wondering .

I noticed recently that in that Miami 05 final, the famous last one where Nadal plays within 20s, that Nadal back then was also crossing the net at change of end without waiting for his opponent. Since, he has been waiting by the net his opponent crosses first......just to grasp those extra resting secs.

It dawns on me that not being sure how the referees would cope with the 35+ sec between points that Nadal orchestrated a whole protocol to grasp secs there and then if all could not be taken between points. And this is why we ended up with matches taking  systematically 40% extra time than other matches where Nadal was not involved.

I pointed recently than in Dubai 06 Nadal takes very often a 40s break between points....unbelievable when one thinks about it....in retrospect......and Kim dares calling us "conspirationists"? ......Or is it him being gullible and credulous when it comes to Rafa. Did not he believe in Nadal's OCD? ......... .

Tenez wrote:
We have never made a fuss when the matches are played right after each others.

Hah ! Oh really...

Federer is playing so well, Berdych doesn't know what to do...completely outplayed.

bagel hehe

Nadal and Raonic look like a pair of idiots jumping in the tunnel...can't they just stand or walk with some athletic dignity...

I was right once again.....a 2pm start woudl be worst time for Rao's serving.

Tenez wrote:I was right once again.....a 2pm start woudl be worst time for Rao's serving.

Oh for crying out loud

Kim Jong-Un wrote:

Tenez wrote:I was right once again.....a 2pm start woudl be worst time for Rao's serving.

Oh for crying out loud

Gullible Kim....Do you really think that when facing a server like Rao those things are overlooked?

Have you noticed how the sun doesn't affect Nadal's serve on either side?

I have never seen Rafa stand so far back on return!

Nadal...a picture of declining...belting the ball twice as hard as 10 years ago.

luvsports! wrote:I have never seen Rafa stand so far back on return!

It absolutely ridiculous.....just shows how much slow conds are important for him.

noleisthebest wrote:Nadal...a picture of declining...belting the ball twice as hard as 10 years ago.

I thought you were not watching!

Nadal trying to return early.....

6m behind the baseline! That's like half the court!

luvsports! wrote:6m behind the baseline! That's like half the court!

....for half the talent.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Nadal...a picture of declining...belting the ball twice as hard as 10 years ago.

I thought you were not watching!

Nadal is....how do you say....."pumped up"?

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Nadal...a picture of declining...belting the ball twice as hard as 10 years ago.

I thought you were not watching!

Life is too short.

Good resolve from Rao to get out of these games. Free game here, just swing!

Blew it there Raonic.

Rao lost his serve against the sun...and struggled much more on his serve against the sun.....he will start the TB....against the sun .

yeah blew that first SP. Like everybody else did in their first encounters v Nadal.

Raonic needs all 1st serves here.