ATP 500/250: Barcelona, Bucharest

by noleisthebest Sun Apr 19, 2015 8:24 pm

Week two of European clay season: Barcelona and Bucharest.

I can still remember last year's finals...(I think!) Nishi and Dimi winning, Dimi's mum with bleached hair and too much make-up going crazy in the crowd...the year before that Rosol (who Dimi beat last year) had won his first title there a week after his father died...

Barcelona draw:

ATP 500/250: Barcelona, Bucharest Mds

Order of Play
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2015/425/op.pdf

ATP 500/250: Barcelona, Bucharest Start

Bucharest Draw:

ATP 500/250: Barcelona, Bucharest Mds

Order of Play
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2015/773/op.pdf

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OsVULiVVxBA

by noleisthebest Mon Apr 20, 2015 8:52 am

Match of the Day:

Stakhovsky-Coric

by Autumnleaf Mon Apr 20, 2015 11:40 am

Strong field for Barcelona. Won't be easy for Kei to defend his title.

I'm surprised they got marketable players in Bucharest, because on the adverts in the city itself, I couldn't recognize any. Could be because the pictures were too bad Big Grin

or they used local players.

by noleisthebest Mon Apr 20, 2015 4:34 pm

noleisthebest wrote:Match of the Day:

Stakhovsky-Coric

Just saw the end of the match, 3rd set went to TB...slow, ugly, messy tennis with Coric winning...

by noleisthebest Mon Apr 20, 2015 11:14 pm

Match of the Day:
Rublev-Verdasco

A junior from my club played Rublev a few years ago in Orange ball and lost to him in 3rd set TB, he described him as extremely aggressive.

by noleisthebest Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:31 am

In Barcelona:

Schwarzman-Vesely
&
Golubev-Bolleli

by noleisthebest Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:35 pm

Match of the Day:

Nadal-Almagro
Fognini-Rublev
&
Karlovic-Coric

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 2:20 pm

King of clay time....

Hilarious scene of King jumping at the net and Almugro attempting to do splits and simultaneously touch the ground with his nose, waving his racquet all at the same time...
Llayani struggling to keep a straight face. Laugh

by Tenez Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:00 pm

Nadal looks like someone tired and bored to play his 1D game.

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:01 pm

Great point from Almagro to save the break point.

by AceofDeath Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:05 pm

Kyrgios only has the grass in mind. Well done to Ymer reaching I think his best result in ATP 500?

Looking like Kneedal will get revenge on Almagro like he got on Ferrer from 2014 sleepy

by AceofDeath Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:08 pm

Bludgeon his BH please Nico

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:08 pm

I saw the score, very disappointing...

If he can't win a TB with that serve against a "nobody"...

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:11 pm

Tenez wrote:Nadal looks like someone tired and bored to play his 1D game.

I never thought of that...but so true!

It's not just the 1D but all that physicality, negative thinking in waiting for the opponent to work for your win... "treatments"...

by AceofDeath Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:17 pm

Typical Almagro falling apart. Lol the man in the crowd... cringing headhurts

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:44 pm

Yes, that was pathetic!!!!

The worst was Nadal completely ignoring it all.
Serves the saddo right...

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:48 pm

I saw a bit of Coric-Karlovic.
The most fixed match I've ever.

Sad that betting mafia has its claws in this far up the tree...

by Tenez Wed Apr 22, 2015 5:17 pm

What makes yuo think Karlo/Coric was fixed?

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 5:22 pm

The way first set went...

Karlovic was barely moving, just looked really sloppy and uninterested but not in an injured way.

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:36 pm

No stream for Rublev-Fognini...so annoying!!! Angry

1 set all, 1set went to Rub.

by Tenez Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:39 pm

Yes I was follwing the score....he was a set and a break up even...before losing 5 games in a row. He doesn't seem very fit at all.

by Tenez Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:40 pm

They were showing a replay of Rublev v Verdy and Verdy was not very warm at the net shaking hands...I think he was upset that Rublev had cramped and blew it up.

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:41 pm

Tenez wrote:Yes I was follwing the score....he was a set and a break up even...before losing 5 games in a row. He doesn't seem very fit at all.

Such a shame...

He would've been brilliant 10 years ago...only when you see him do I realise how odd the others are, like a different species.

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:43 pm

Tenez wrote:They were showing a replay of Rublev v Verdy and Verdy was not very warm at the net shaking hands...I think he was upset that Rublev had cramped and blew it up.

That's poor from him, glad the skinny kid taught him a lesson, it must have been a huge blow to his ego in front of the home crowd.

He was probably already seeing himself beating Nadal again... Laugh

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:44 pm

I would really love to see Rublev play Nadal tomorrow, even if he can last only one set, just to see how he handles Nadal's ball.

by Tenez Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:45 pm

noleisthebest wrote:
Tenez wrote:Yes I was follwing the score....he was a set and a break up even...before losing 5 games in a row. He doesn't seem very fit at all.

Such a shame...

He would've been brilliant 10 years ago...only when you see him do I realise how odd the others are, like a different species.

They certainly have "muted" over the last 20 years.

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:51 pm

He'll be a great player once he fills out a bit.
It will be interesting to see him on grass.

by Tenez Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:39 pm

Will he fill up? not sure. He might not want to go that route. But he will get fitter ...and better regardless.

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 8:52 pm

Fill out implies putting weight/muscle on naturally, not artificial pumping up.

Transition from a boy to a man kind of thing.

by noleisthebest Wed Apr 22, 2015 8:58 pm

So...another early Earnie exit...this time inflicted by Paire, which I don't mind, still...shame...it's strange without him, because he loses in first rounds we never get to see him any more.

Match of the Day has to be Fognini-Nadal.

I'd love Fabio to repeat his Rio delight, but can't see it happening...only Nole can now beat Nadal on clay...

by luvsports! Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:07 pm

I think Nishi can.

by noleisthebest Thu Apr 23, 2015 7:21 am

Nishi has been a bit dodgy this year...we'll have to wait and see.

by noleisthebest Thu Apr 23, 2015 7:25 am

There seems to be another 18-year old on the horizon: Ymer.
He beat Kyrgios in 3rd se TB yesterday and plays Ferrer today.

Ferrer's thoughts on both:

"Kyrgios is physically tough and dangerous. He hits the ball with a lot of strength and power, has a great service and even if he is better on hard courts, is still very dangerous on clay. I guess the most important thing is that he’s young and has nothing to lose."

Ymer is talented a brilliant future ahead."

by Tenez Thu Apr 23, 2015 9:41 am

Ah! Looking forward to it.

by luvsports! Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:39 am

noleisthebest wrote:Nishi has been a bit dodgy this year...we'll have to wait and see.

Looking good in Barca so far.

by Tenez Thu Apr 23, 2015 12:57 pm

Carlos referring the match "before" Nadal's. Nadal clearly has its way! I have never seen Carlos referring Nadal's match since Nadal mentioned he did not want him to referee his matches. It is annoying that the ATP is consenting to the bullying of one of their employee.

by Tenez Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:04 pm

Yes a good player this Ymer despite a being 5/0 down. He doesn't seen to have a killer shot yet but he moves well and hit hard. Ferrer does everything a bit better but the score is not quite a reflexion of the difference in level.

by Tenez Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:10 pm

Servind against the sun allows Ymer to break back one against Ferrer,

by Tenez Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:14 pm

53......he has bloody talent!...but as importantly he is mentally solid.

by Tenez Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:20 pm

The advantage those youngsters have is that they are training young versus very solid guys...so they will become even more solid or have the shots to destroy this solidity.

by Tenez Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:45 pm

Bizarre Ferrer losing 6 of the last 7 game.

by noleisthebest Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:47 pm

Just tuned in, the score looks interesting!
What's the early verdict on Ymer?

by noleisthebest Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:53 pm

He's got a good build for a young player, looks explosive, can't gauge how tall he is, but very nice movement and good ball-striking technique.

Serve not bad either...

Actually, reminds me of young Nole but with more pace.

by Tenez Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:53 pm

Very good. A top 20 already it seems....Unless ferrer makes him look better than he is.

by noleisthebest Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:58 pm

No tattos, weird haircuts and piercings, silly bandananas...I like him!

A bit far behind the baseline on Ferrer's serve...

I want to see a third set!!!

by noleisthebest Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:59 pm

Where is he from?

by noleisthebest Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:00 pm

He looks amazing for an 18 year old...this new young wave can really hit the ball well!

by luvsports! Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:01 pm

He's just turned 19 and he's 6'.

by noleisthebest Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:06 pm

At 19 he's already has a big headstart on Raonic and Dimi.

More natural than both of them.

Super groundstrokes, just needs match playing experience.

Didn't see much variety, BH slice could've helped him save some energy vs Ferrer, I feel he emptied his tank trying to outhit the wall.

by luvsports! Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:11 pm

Dimi did take rafa to 3 sets at Rotterdam aged 17.

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	31