Tennis

[Facecloth]

Terribly sorry guys, but is it possible to get back to talking about the tennis?

Miami - the last hardcourt tournament before the swing onto the red dirt has just started up. Murray defending winners points from last year and has a pretty shitty draw (Djokovic's quarter), but at least he had fairly little trouble dealing with Ebden first up. Miami always seems to play a bit slower than most hardcourts so look for some of the claycourt specialists who have some pedigree on hard (Ferrer et al) to be good on this one. Probable Djoko-Nadal final I reckon (easy one to go for, but highly probable here).

No worries, I've got him on ignore now. Can't be doing with people who can't be bothered reading your whole post before responding to it.

Murray's going to have to expect a few of these tough draws after his ranking drop, but this is where he has to show his hunger. I've thought for a while the chasing pack of the top ten have been getting a bit nearer the big boys, so seeing Ferrer or someone pull out something special wouldn't be a huge shock, but you'd still probably go for a Nadal-Djokovic final like you said.

[leicsmac]

No worries, I've got him on ignore now. Can't be doing with people who can't be bothered reading your whole post before responding to it.

Murray's going to have to expect a few of these tough draws after his ranking drop, but this is where he has to show his hunger. I've thought for a while the chasing pack of the top ten have been getting a bit nearer the big boys, so seeing Ferrer or someone pull out something special wouldn't be a huge shock, but you'd still probably go for a Nadal-Djokovic final like you said.

 

Certainly agree on the hunger part - something's not quite right with his game and now would be an excellent place for him to sort that out. He's got pure profit coming up in the claycourt season (defending something like 200 points out of a possible 5000 over the three claycourt Masters and the French Open) so he could do with giving himself the best possible chance to have a tilt at that and look to get back in the top 4 by Wimbledon - he's only about 1000 points adrift of 3rd and everyone around him is defending far more points over the claycourt season.

 

That being said, I can still see him falling in the QF's to Djokovic here. That wouldn't put him out of the top 8, but it would leave him with more ground to make up on the red dirt.

[leicsmac]

Del Potro set to be sidelined for the rest of the season with a wrist injury.

 

Real shame his promising career has been blighted by so many of these.

[foxes_rule1978]

Best Murray looked since coming back, but still required treatment, hopefully his back isn't an issue and it is just precaution...

[leicsmac]

Best Murray looked since coming back, but still required treatment, hopefully his back isn't an issue and it is just precaution...

 

True and true. Here's hoping it is purely precautionary. 

 

He's a pretty good matchup against Tsonga, especially when the latter is not firing on all cylinders as was the case yesterday. Djokovic today will be a massive step up, but if he wants to gain enough ranking points to climb back to the top 4 (or even assault the top 2) he's got to be ready to beat Nole at these hardcourt Masters once again.

[Manwell Pablo]

True and true. Here's hoping it is purely precautionary. 

 

He's a pretty good matchup against Tsonga, especially when the latter is not firing on all cylinders as was the case yesterday. Djokovic today will be a massive step up, but if he wants to gain enough ranking points to climb back to the top 4 (or even assault the top 2) he's got to be ready to beat Nole at these hardcourt Masters once again.

 

What times he on, could be worth a watch. Good that he's getting some form back going into the Davis cup match next week, rather looking forward to that.

[leicsmac]

What times he on, could be worth a watch. Good that he's getting some form back going into the Davis cup match next week, rather looking forward to that.

 

About 7pm UK time, I believe, but don't quote me on that. The time will be on the ATP site though.

[kingfox]

Dolgopolov has come out of nowhere recently, a Final, two Semi Finals, & now in the Quarters of Miami. 

 

He has beaten Ferrer, Nadal, Raonic & Wawrinka in recent weeks, quality stuff.

[Manwell Pablo]

About 7pm UK time, I believe, but don't quote me on that. The time will be on the ATP site though.

 

1030am, so you were nearly right. 

[marko]

1030am, so you were nearly right. 

 

 

He's just about to come on court! 

Edited 26 March 2014 by marko

[Manwell Pablo]

 

He's just about to come on court! 

 

Yeah silly me thought I'd asked him what time the Davis cup game starts

[leicsmac]

Narrow loss...there was an incident where Djokovic put his racquet clearly over the net at 6-5 in the first set but won the point anyway, and the match turned on that point. Still, from what I've read it was a good all-round performance from Murray, and hopefully he can look to gain from the clay season (potential 4800 ranking points of improvement there given he's only defending 200) and get back into the top 4 in time for Wimbledon.

[Manwell Pablo]

Narrow loss...there was an incident where Djokovic put his racquet clearly over the net at 6-5 in the first set but won the point anyway, and the match turned on that point. Still, from what I've read it was a good all-round performance from Murray, and hopefully he can look to gain from the clay season (potential 4800 ranking points of improvement there given he's only defending 200) and get back into the top 4 in time for Wimbledon.

 

One problem, he's not great on clay.

[leicsmac]

One problem, he's not great on clay.

 

I'm looking at it from the point of view that he can't do much worse than last season - like I said, 200 ranking points out of a possible 5000 from the three claycourt Masters and the French Open. So unless this season is a total, total blowout too (which I can't see happening as he will at least be showing up to Paris this time) he's going to make points, and the blokes around him are going to be defending more than he is.

[leicsmac]

Murray not messing round regarding a new coach this time round - he's found one and he's going to announce who it is tomorrow.

 

Smart money is on Cahill or Wilander, I think.

 

Edit: Hahaha...stitches up the media with another April Fool. Brilliant! But in all seriousness, I hope he names someone soon.

Edited 1 April 2014 by leicsmac

[foxes_rule1978]

Murray not messing round regarding a new coach this time round - he's found one and he's going to announce who it is tomorrow.

Smart money is on Cahill or Wilander, I think.

Edit: Hahaha...stitches up the media with another April Fool. Brilliant! But in all seriousness, I hope he names someone soon.

Got me too that one

[Facecloth]

Murray not messing round regarding a new coach this time round - he's found one and he's going to announce who it is tomorrow.

Smart money is on Cahill or Wilander, I think.

Edit: Hahaha...stitches up the media with another April Fool. Brilliant! But in all seriousness, I hope he names someone soon.

Didn't he actually go on SSN the other year and name Ross Hutchins as his new coach? And people say he's got no personality!

[Manwell Pablo]

Underway in Italy. 1-0 after Ward losses to Fognini, bemused as to why Evan's didn't get the nod but there we are, Murray should get us back on track (if he doesn't we're forked) and the big one is the doubles tomorrow.

[leicsmac]

Underway in Italy. 1-0 after Ward losses to Fognini, bemused as to why Evan's didn't get the nod but there we are, Murray should get us back on track (if he doesn't we're forked) and the big one is the doubles tomorrow.

To be fair I think Evans would have gotten tonked like Ward there. Fognini is no slouch and clay is his favorite surface. Might stand more of a chance againstSeppi on Sunday, and Ward does have better pedigree on clay than Evans.

In all likelihood it's going be up to Murray and the dubs, though, as is often the case.

[Manwell Pablo]

To be fair I think Evans would have gotten tonked like Ward there. Fognini is no slouch and clay is his favorite surface. Might stand more of a chance againstSeppi on Sunday, and Ward does have better pedigree on clay than Evans.

In all likelihood it's going be up to Murray and the dubs, though, as is often the case.

 

this went well.

 

French open anyone? Heather Watson looked back to her best I think. 

 

Should be going through the motions for Murray later, although he's not made a semi final all year (told you mac)

Edited 27 May 2014 by Manwell Pablo

[kingfox]

Wawrinka, Nishikori & Dimitrov already out.

 

Watson did look good, but she has Halep next, can't see her winning that.

[martyn]

Nishikori was never going to do anything here considering his travails in Rome. Anyone can lose to Karlovic but for only 1 set to go to a tie-break; that's pathetic by Dimitrov, especially on clay.

 

Nice to see Jerzy snap his 8 match losing streak against the Dominican danger, Vincent Estrella Burgos...

Edited 27 May 2014 by martyn

[leicsmac]

this went well.

 

French open anyone? Heather Watson looked back to her best I think. 

 

Should be going through the motions for Murray later, although he's not made a semi final all year (told you mac)

 

If he'd taken care of business vs Nadal in Rome that would have been the other way round. 

 

Every match a banana skin for Murray on clay here, though with Wawrinka out he's probably the favourite in his quarter to make the semis. But, like I said, could easily fall apart in R1/2 too. I've given up expecting consistency from the guy, especially on this surface.

 

Nadal - Djoko final again.

[Manwell Pablo]

If he'd taken care of business vs Nadal in Rome that would have been the other way round. 

 

Every match a banana skin for Murray on clay here, though with Wawrinka out he's probably the favourite in his quarter to make the semis. But, like I said, could easily fall apart in R1/2 too. I've given up expecting consistency from the guy, especially on this surface.

 

Nadal - Djoko final again.

 

Haha, not even then good a win it would of been, one swallow doesn't make a summer.

 

Although Warwinka bombimg out has opened the last four door slightly.

[leicsmac]

Haha, not even then good a win it would of been, one swallow doesn't make a summer.

 

Although Warwinka bombimg out has opened the last four door slightly.

 

I dunno, taking out Nadal and actually making the semis of a clay Masters would have been progress. 

 

As it is, I just hope this new coach (whoever it may be) can knock a bit of consistency into him as he's lost his way with it.