ATP 1000 Paris Bercy 2011

Here we are again...the last tournament of the year, the second indoor 1000 event, Paris Bercy 2011.


And just like in Shanghai, it seems it won't be complete with the best players around: as things stand Djokovic Murray and Federer are all playing, but few will be surprised to see Djokovic pull out in the light of Saturday's injury.

Nadal and Del Potro are also not playing, still, a strong field with Tsonga, Monfils etc promising good fun for tennis fans.


Assuming we have now only Federer and Murray left in the draw as number 1 and 2 seeds**, and that Murray doesn't have any "freak" night injuries, we still have plenty to look forward to in terms of tennis, especially as the surface of Paris Bercy seems to have been made faster*, giving us some really good matches and all-court tennis last year.
* ouch! the surface is back to "slow". According to Andy Murray.
** double ouch! Novak IS playing

The draw:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/352/mds.pdf


Order of play for the final, Sunday, 13th of November 2011:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/352/op.pdf

With only a few spots left for World Tour Masters year end event in London, it will be interesting to see how things unfold.

AT first I thought it was a bad thing for Federer to be on Murray's side if Djoko pulled out cause it woudl unbalance the draw and would tire Fed for the final shoudl he pass Murray. But I actually it;s better for him to play Murray in teh semi than play him more tired in the final.

However, I woudl not be surprised if Federer were to pull early of Paris to to concentrate on WTF. Trying to play 10 macthes in 14 days takes its toll for the old man and he'd rather be fresh for London. Losing to French Gasquet makes his loss more acceptable for the crowd and TD. Remember him losing to Benetteau a couple of years ago?

Let's see.

Tenez wrote:AT first I thought it was a bad thing for Federer to be on Murray's side if Djoko pulled out cause it woudl unbalance the draw and would tire Fed for the final shoudl he pass Murray. But I actually it;s better for him to play Murray in teh semi than play him more tired in the final.

However, I woudl not be surprised if Federer were to pull early of Paris to to concentrate on WTF. Trying to play 10 macthes in 14 days takes its toll for the old man and he'd rather be fresh for London. Losing to French Gasquet makes his loss more acceptable for the crowd and TD. Remember him losing to Benetteau a couple of years ago?

Let's see.

Yeah....I think Nole would also be very popular if he gave Fognini a walkover Deja vu alright!

noleisthebest wrote:
Yeah....I think Nole would also be very popular if he gave Fognini a walkover Deja vu alright!

But I am not sure Foginin would be too happy to have a w.o. from Fdjoko as it may disrupt his rhythm and chance of progression further in the draw.

You mean the anti-rhythm

Hey, is it possible that they both give each other a w/o for the same match?

That would be interesting...

Tenez wrote:That would be interesting...

stg like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTzXEg_TQsc

Anybody watched the Benneteau vs Raonic match? Saw bursts of it here and there and the young Canadian back with a mighty serve and good one two game - he just looks a little cumbersome around the court imo. Benneteau served beautifully as well all match, but I was rooting for the younger player to come through.

Any news on Djokovic's participation yet?

time please wrote:Anybody watched the Benneteau vs Raonic match? Saw bursts of it here and there and the young Canadian back with a mighty serve and good one two game - he just looks a little cumbersome around the court imo. Benneteau served beautifully as well all match, but I was rooting for the younger player to come through.

Any news on Djokovic's participation yet?

nothing.If it's tendonitis (which I think it is), then he can either play with painkillers (that's if they are allowed those), or rest.
the thing is, when he was in pain against Nishikori he was trying to stretch the shoulder, so , actually, it can't be tendonitis. so the answer to your question is

It's a b*gger NITB, but I actually wish he would really just let this season go now and rest up.

Need him back firing on all cylinders for the defence of AO!

Order of play out for tomorrow, none of the top 3 are playing!!! (ok, Fed played a final yesterday), Nole's iffy , but why not Andy Murray? Surely, he must've "recovered" from the mysterious nocturnal injury

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/352/op.pdf

hey NITB, Murray seems to have recovered as he played (and won) doubles today. The reason he's not playing until wednesday is simple, his possible R2 opponent is Granollers who won Valencia on Sunday so they've pushed back his R1 match to tomorrow (which is only fair).

Thank for posting this NITB - great to have a thread for the latest tournament

Mad for Chelsea wrote:hey NITB, Murray seems to have recovered as he played (and won) doubles today. The reason he's not playing until wednesday is simple, his possible R2 opponent is Granollers who won Valencia on Sunday so they've pushed back his R1 match to tomorrow (which is only fair).

ah, well....there's always an excuse...

carrieg4 wrote:Thank for posting this NITB - great to have a thread for the latest tournament

no probs, it's not a big deal, no previews and predictions, but, it gives the others a chance to contribute in that area, the weird thing about this tournament, you can't even predict as we don't know even in the number one seed is playing or not....

It is a strange one - I hope Nole recovers soon. If he doesn't play then the likely semi final on the other side will definitely be bigger news than the final.

all a bit strange this tournament as you say NITB. Couple of somewhat surprising results today as Benneteau beat Raonic (in what was a bit of a serve fest, with one break of serve in three sets), and Mahut ran out a comfortable winner against Ferrero.

I must say I don't remember ever seeing such drama and suspense over a player taking part in a tournament or not.
I think we're going to see Nole play tomorrow night

My gut feeling has proved me right again!!!!
Nole scheduled to play Dodig 3rd match of the day, after Murray's. Go Noleeeee!!!

Order of play for tomorrow:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/352/op.pdf

Brilliant line up (Ferrer) Murray, Djokovic, Federer, followed by Monfils...wow, what a feast,and thats's just the central court. I'm staying put tomorrow

noleisthebest wrote:I must say I don't remember ever seeing such drama and suspense over a player taking part in a tournament or not.
I think we're going to see Nole play tomorrow night

Thought I saw more of a drama late last week about a player not playing in a tournament.

Calder106 wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:I must say I don't remember ever seeing such drama and suspense over a player taking part in a tournament or not.
I think we're going to see Nole play tomorrow night

Thought I saw more of a drama late last week about a player not playing in a tournament.

You're right!
I mean these players are providing so much drama, whether they are playing or not, I say, ATP should reward them the special "to play or not to play" drama bonus

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:
Yeah....I think Nole would also be very popular if he gave Fognini a walkover Deja vu alright!

But I am not sure Foginin would be too happy to have a w.o. from Fdjoko as it may disrupt his rhythm and chance of progression further in the draw.

100% proven fact; that's what it does.

bogbrush wrote:

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:
Yeah....I think Nole would also be very popular if he gave Fognini a walkover Deja vu alright!

But I am not sure Foginin would be too happy to have a w.o. from Fdjoko as it may disrupt his rhythm and chance of progression further in the draw.

100% proven fact; that's what it does.

Further evidence: Fognini lost to Dodig today and gave Nole ANOTHER de facto w/o. I mean, what more do you need to be fully convinced...plus it's all happening in Paris !!!!

Roger on after Nole

http://www.fft.fr/bnp-paribas-masters/infos/programme-du-jour

lots of Frenchmen tomorrow!

Finally time to watch some tennis

Murray's legs look bigger than ever...Chardy serving to stay in the match....he stays in the match, Murray's turn to close the affair.

Murray's nan's in the crowd , too , way to go Nan

GSM Murray

NOLE tiiiiiiimeeee

solid rather than spectacular from Murray, Chardy with 35 UEs (and 20 winners) which is way too many. In contrast Murray made just 9 (and 16 winners). Very solid numbers on serve, in particular behind the second serve winning 77% of points. Didn't face a BP all game either.

Confident start, and a decent warm-up after a couple weeks break. Next round will be tougher.

Nole's ball striking looks so good on that base-line

Nole's playing very we, takes the first set 6:4. Great firing from both wings, no concern over the actual tennis bit, he should be OK for London rust-wise, the shoulder needs to rest next week, though.

GSM Nole...and a very pleased Noleisthebest

Well done Djoko for that win. Looks like TMF is going to get his day's work done in less than 1hr.

so that is Nico out of the running now he really hasn't had a good end to the season tis a shame

Time for Mannasero to get rid of the picture of Federer hanging above his bed. He's so nervous against Federer. And nervous players are easy to rush
A decent player though, like the French usually are.

so the top 4 seeds all through in two straightforward sets. Very much warm up matches for them, but there's some intriguing matches tomorrow.

Federer-Gasquet, Murray-Roddick and Djokovic-Troicki. Looks pretty good to me

Mad for Chelsea wrote:so the top 4 seeds all through in two straightforward sets. Very much warm up matches for them, but there's some intriguing matches tomorrow.

Federer-Gasquet, Murray-Roddick and Djokovic-Troicki. Looks pretty good to me

Not bad for the end of the season....

I have missed all the tennis and I blame my stinking day job!!!

I should pull a sickie tomorrow with that line up!

legendkillar wrote:I have missed all the tennis and I blame my stinking day job!!!

I should pull a sickie tomorrow with that line up!

Poor legend.....I'll watch twice as intently for you tomorrow and I hope Andy thrashes Andy , one bagel at least

Order of play out for tomorrow:
Murray, Djokovic, Tsonga, Fish, Federer, BRING IT ON !

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2011/352/op.pdf

cracking day

there goes my chance of getting any meaningful work done

find it a bit odd that say Lopez-Isner is scheduled for the night session, but hey, that's just nit-picking.

Good to see TMF, Novak and Andy safely through in style.

Match of the day tomorrow has to be Federer vs Gasquet - I'm going to be torn! Not so much that I won't be rooting for TMF, but I love Reeshard too!

Upsets of the day:

Troicki beating Djoko
Dolgo beating Ferrer

Worth putting a fiver there. But it seems I am not the only who thinks that Djoko might decide to give his friend a match as the bookers gives as much chance to troicki to beat Djoko as Dolgo to beat Ferrer.

Tenez wrote:Upsets of the day:

Troicki beating Djoko
Dolgo beating Ferrer

Worth putting a fiver there. But it seems I am not the only who thinks that Djoko might decide to give his friend a match as the bookers gives as much chance to troicki to beat Djoko as Dolgo to beat Ferrer.

It looks obvious, but I don't think it actually is.

I think Seppi could be worth a punt against Tsonga. Tsonga looked unconvincing against Garcia-Lopez.

First set to Andy Murray 6-2 in Paris. He has had the trainer out but has looked good that aside.

Can you keep me posted CC as I have no feed at work

Andy Murray gets an early break at the start of the second set to lead 1-0. A win here and he has defended his points won in Paris last year.