ATP World Tour Finals 2011, London Calling

First topic message reminder :

Here we go again!

Final tournament for the best 8 of 2011: Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Federer, Ferrer, Berdych, Tsonga, Fish.


Some call it the 5th slam, some see it as an exhibiton, as for me, it presents as a super opportunity to expereience some more tennis thrill before the Christmas off-season, to see, hopefully some good matches and the legends of the game, LIVE!!!!

This time last year, the weather was awful, tube drivers were striking, 606v2 didn't exist, I had a near-death experience, and Nole managed to put TWO lenses in one eye and was considered by most to be a one slam wonder....


Haven't things changed in the meantime ?

So, I'm taking this last opportunity of 2011 to:

1) watch tennis in GMT time-zone and not have to wear massive bags under my eyes every morning
2) see a civilized scenario of 2 matches a day (must say a perfect portion!)
3) enjoy seeing those matches in the packed O2 arena every day for every match


And because one never knows what another day may bring, who may or may not be in London this time next year, because above all we all love tennis, let's enjoy the last stop of this 2011 quirky, cosy tennis ride, let the WTF commence


Order of play for Sunday, 18th of November 2011:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Finals/2011.aspx


P.S.

There will be a few people form this forum going to O2 next week. Please find a bit of time to give us your first-hand impressions and perhaps photos and personal anecdotes.

God willing, I'll be there on Sunday and Monday evening sessions.

bogbrush wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

bogbrush wrote:JWT plays pretty brainless tennis a lot of the time.

that's a bit harsh BB, he's the anti-grinder and we are all too used to it these days that anyone different looks a bit of a brainless basher.

I stand by it, but I like watching it.

Monfils is the epitome of brainless.

BB - all I said was that I had "heard" he had a stomach pull, which seemed to fit with lower serve power. However, his play is getting better so either the report was wrong, or he's ran it off somehow.

No Tenez, at the crunch moments, the better player comes through...if you're telling me Tsonga is tired after 2 sets of tennis I'm not buying it.

I 'd like to know from Lydian, how a pale, slow Nadal feeling unwell gets better and fitter after 2 sets in teh legs?

As I said from the very beginning, Nadal played well from the word go and once again...I was right.

lydian wrote:BB - all I said was that I had "heard" he had a stomach pull, which seemed to fit with lower serve power. However, his play is getting better so either the report was wrong, or he's ran it off somehow.

No Tenez, at the crunch moments, the better player comes through...if you're telling me Tsonga is tired after 2 sets of tennis I'm not buying it.

"Run off" a stomach injury? That's a new one!

Looks like he's been 100% all the time. Just needed JWT to slow down.

Monfils is the epitome of brainless.

He's in the wrong sport, he would suit basketball more with his stature and jumping ability. Tsonga is also in the wrong sport, should be in the UFC.

lydian wrote:BB - all I said was that I had "heard" he had a stomach pull, which seemed to fit with lower serve power. However, his play is getting better so either the report was wrong, or he's ran it off somehow.

No Tenez, at the crunch moments, the better player comes through...if you're telling me Tsonga is tired after 2 sets of tennis I'm not buying it.

Well he's not reaching anything now. Looks a step off to me.

Fatigue in two sets, in which there have hardly been any long rallies ?

Get outta here

lydian wrote:BB - all I said was that I had "heard" he had a stomach pull, which seemed to fit with lower serve power. However, his play is getting better so either the report was wrong, or he's ran it off somehow.

No Tenez, at the crunch moments, the better player comes through...if you're telling me Tsonga is tired after 2 sets of tennis I'm not buying it.

His tiredness is more mental than physical at the moment, it's a lot more mentally taxing to attack than counter-punch.
He lacks in the mental department, as he needs to pull himself together....fast!

bogbrush wrote:

lydian wrote:BB - all I said was that I had "heard" he had a stomach pull, which seemed to fit with lower serve power. However, his play is getting better so either the report was wrong, or he's ran it off somehow.

No Tenez, at the crunch moments, the better player comes through...if you're telling me Tsonga is tired after 2 sets of tennis I'm not buying it.

Well he's not reaching anything now. Looks weary to me.

Exactly but Lydian thinks a player can be explosive and pull winners as easily at the beginning of a match than at the end.

Tennis is very much like Biathlon, especially for the attacking players. PLease understand that once and for all.

I wonder if Tsonga will use his smarts in this third set and prevent this becoming a lungbuster. Liking the change of pace on the serve and the aggressive net play.

I'm not buying that Tsonga is some finely tuned ballet dancer who's wilting after 2 sets. He seems fine this game...

Superb by Tsonga. Taking control of the point there. Fantastic.

Great game from Tsonga!

All Tsonga needs is to maintain his focus here. Nadal has struggled with the kick serve.

lydian wrote:I'm not buying that Tsonga is some finely tuned ballet dancer who's wilting after 2 sets. He seems fine this game...

Of course hi slegs can run for another 3 hours if needed...but the sharpness of his shots goes down considerably. Unlike Nadal, his shots requires much more timing. He goes for lines...like in that set points he lost. This is exactly what Nadal was banking on.

C'mon Lydian...you know your tennis, don;t you?

Cunning as a fox is Tsonga. His serve in the first game of the third set was around 115mph. 2 Booming serves there at nearly 140mph.

Mmm, Tsonga looks dead on his feet right now

Yeah he's looking really 'unsharp' now tenez...geez.

Wow. That was some return on the body serve. Nadal for me has the best body serve on the tour. Must leave the returners cursing it though.

Big big hold there by Rafa. He needs read to the Tsonga serve better.

lydian wrote:Yeah he's looking really 'unsharp' now tenez...geez.

I must admit I'm pleasantly surprised by Tsonga's focus recovery. Nothing works like a bit of experience, that Wimbledon semi must've done something permanent for him. He has grown and matured as a player in the last year.

Will Nadal resort to moonballing?

On a side note, David Ferrer, yes well played, but you cost me £850 you barsterd!!!

JWT IS clearly feeling it; he's trying to shorten every point now.

Is Tsonga the best volleyer of the tour? If he wins this match it's because of his net play.

Nadal is out, he doesn't have the confidence this season. We'll see if he's over his decline in March-April-May, obviously..

I think Tsonga is playing really smartly actually considering he has no coach. He is lucky to have as much talent though.

His concentration is definitely better than before nitb
Nadal leaking more and more FH errors.
JWT playing high level around the net, good to see.

Tenez wrote:I think Tsonga is playing really smartly actually considering he has no coach. He is lucky to have as much talent though.

Very much agree with that.

gallery play wrote:Is Tsonga the best volleyer of the tour? If he wins this match it's because of his net play.

He is extremely good indeed. But like Nadal in that department he is helped by his power which is essential in the manoeuvring of the racquet at high speed and for touch as well.

That's done it.

More 'great' FHs from Nadal...and its good night Vienna.
Amazing how well JWT playing considering he's lost all energy and explosiveness.

lydian wrote:More 'great' FHs from Nadal...and its good night Vienna.
Amazing how well JWT playing considering he's lost all energy and explosiveness.

Well you can't blame Nadal for missing that easy FH on BP.

Indeed not Tenez, he's been missing FHs all night.

With this loss nadal has lost 14 this year, 2 more than federer.
If Fed goes on to win this then it will be 61-12 for him and it reads 66-14 for Nadal. Fed should be in a good position to make a charge on no. 2 position at the beginning of 2012.

Well done Tsonga. I think it is going to be fed-tsonga final.

Nadal's so quick around the court!

Like I said, trying to shorten all the points and throwing in 2 dfs this game.

Make that 3.

Yep, he refuses to rally at all.

What an awful game from Tsonga. 3 DF's

wow wrote:With this loss nadal has lost 14 this year, 2 more than federer.
If Fed goes on to win this then it will be 61-12 for him and it reads 66-14 for Nadal. Fed should be in a good position to make a charge on no. 2 position at the beginning of 2012.

Well done Tsonga. I think it is going to be fed-tsonga final.

The match is still going - Unless ATP live scores WAAAY behind.

lydian wrote:Indeed not Tenez, he's been missing FHs all night.

I know. He is trying to take the ball earlier and he also has to handle a pacy ball, even if not on that occasion.

Jo's weak spot exposed; his nerves

Maybe he'll do better on Rafa's serve

Nadal's FH is a walking liability...

carrieg4 wrote:

wow wrote:With this loss nadal has lost 14 this year, 2 more than federer.
If Fed goes on to win this then it will be 61-12 for him and it reads 66-14 for Nadal. Fed should be in a good position to make a charge on no. 2 position at the beginning of 2012.

Well done Tsonga. I think it is going to be fed-tsonga final.

The match is still going - Unless ATP live scores WAAAY behind.

It's a foregone coclusion. Tsonga was celeberating thanksgiving

wow wrote:

carrieg4 wrote:

wow wrote:With this loss nadal has lost 14 this year, 2 more than federer.
If Fed goes on to win this then it will be 61-12 for him and it reads 66-14 for Nadal. Fed should be in a good position to make a charge on no. 2 position at the beginning of 2012.

Well done Tsonga. I think it is going to be fed-tsonga final.

The match is still going - Unless ATP live scores WAAAY behind.

It's a foregone coclusion. Tsonga was celeberating thanksgiving

It looks like it now!

Great result for Tsonga. Looking more and more impressive. I think with the current game he has, he could dislodge Murray out of the top 4 next season.

And the chavishly charming XXX-factor Tsonga pirouette is on

legendkillar wrote:Great result for Tsonga. Looking more and more impressive. I think with the current game he has, he could dislodge Murray out of the top 4 next season.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Becker says it right "Nadal's FH completely broke down"...completely abject by his standards. To think it was that close given his form was amazing...anyway well done JWT!

An early flight for clay court king. The wait begins for the advent of clay season which might bring few coveted titles for world no. 2.