ATP MASTERS 1000 Indian Wells: Let The Party Commence!

At last!

Tennis is back in town. And sleepless nights, and bags under the eyes in the mornings.

For a fortnight or so, we'll forget about fast courts and GOATs and watch some good tennis for a change.

Indian Wells first 1000 Masters event of the year, first "big" tournament after AO.

All players are there, fit and raring to go, the "come-backers": Davydenko, Querrey, Simon, the "newcomers": Tomic (I think he's already out), Raonic, Dolgopolov, and last , but not the least the "big" 4.

I'm sure you'll forgive me for focusing on the top 4 players, because at the moment, they all seem be pretty keen to win this tournament (which is not always the case when it comes to non-slam tournaments).

Nole, who loves slow hard-courts of IW, will want to continue where he stopped in Melbourne, and should he bump into Murray in the semis, show him who's the boss.

Nadal, match-free for nearly 6 weeks, must've worked on his game or serve in the meantime, 2012 is his make or break season in many ways, and it's usually this time of the year he gets going as a warm-up for clay season.

Federer, on a good winning streak since last autumn (lost only two matches, one to Nadal one to Djokovic), will want to get a good result and possibly close the points gap between him and Nadal, or at least keep Murray at bay.

Murray, with, I believe Lendl again by his side, must be hoping that this 2012 is his slam-break-through year: he has been working very hard for several years and generally improving his game and shots. His win over Novak in Dubai must have boosted his confidence immensely, still, he failed to capitalise on it and win Dubai, failing to Federer.
He has few points to defend in IW and Miami, and a great opportunity to move up the rankings.

The players have had a party last night, and all seem to be happy to be there and play.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv8T10SOE

Indian Wells has apparently continued to improve their facilities and make life nicer both for players and fans :

( http://blogs.tennis.com/thewrap/2012/03/nice-work-if-i-can-get-it.html )

In today's order of play, we have some interesting matches, and Novak and Murray out on central court.

Order of play for Friday, 16th of March:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2012/404/op.pdf



So, let's enjoy the return of tennis and may the Best win

Finally, last but not the least:

GO NOLEEEEE

Watching Bird Strakhovski at the moment....

Strak proves that playing s&V is not a thing of the past even on slow hard courts of IW....provided you've got the serve

Very nice game from Strak. Modern attacking player: both solid baseline as well as S&v game in one

Absolutely beautiful play from Strak!!!!!

Gorgeous volleying from Strak, come on Sergei!!

Plus, now my definitely second favourite SHB!

Crucial 11th game....a must win for Strak!!!! And he does it!!!!! Great game, Bird missing 2 break points, will serve to stay in the set.

Gasquet out, as well; knocked out by Ramos

And Strak wins the first set (in the tie-break)

Yes, what a refreshing talent. SVing on the 2nd serve!!!

Is IW playing fast this year or is it just the heat of the day?

The first round was played Thursday and Friday US time. Tomic went out in the first round.

Where is the live scoring window from the ATP site? You know the one that was available for years....pretty handy. Can't find it....is it gone?

http://www.protennislive.com/framesetperp.asp?lang=en&ref=www.atpworldtour.com

http://www.bnpparibasopen.com/Scores/Results.aspx
(click on live scores)

Tenez wrote:Yes, what a refreshing talent. SVing on the 2nd serve!!!

Is IW playing fast this year or is it just the heat of the day?

I don't know but the tennis is sumptuous! Strak really showing how one-dimensional Bird is.

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:Yes, what a refreshing talent. SVing on the 2nd serve!!!

Is IW playing fast this year or is it just the heat of the day?

I don't know but the tennis is sumptuous! Strak really showing how one-dimensional Bird is.

Yes and he is 26 so has been around....but clearly confidence is so important that he is probably reaching his peak now.....He reminds me Kholi physically.

Thanks NS.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:Yes, what a refreshing talent. SVing on the 2nd serve!!!

Is IW playing fast this year or is it just the heat of the day?

I don't know but the tennis is sumptuous! Strak really showing how one-dimensional Bird is.

Yes and he is 26 so has been around....but clearly confidence is so important that he is probably reaching his peak now.....He reminds me Kholi physically.

he looks a bit taller, just gives him that extra pop on the serve in order to attack, the game flows and comes to him so naturally, it's really beautiful.

You'd expect Bird to able to dictate play easily on these courts, but no chance. Doing well just to hold serve. It would be tragic for him to win this match.

And as his match confidence rises, he goes for even more spectacular shots....just lovely! I hope he doesn't go too lovely and squanders the match

And he does just that....chokes away his service game, struggling to find 1st serve Break back is a must!!!!

How's Kubot going with Roddick, is the agony over?

Bird finding his feet and game...not good for Strak...who gets to deuce with a spectacular running forehand down the line....

noleisthebest wrote:
he looks a bit taller, just gives him that extra pop on the serve in order to attack, the game flows and comes to him so naturally, it's really beautiful.

You are right. And his drop shots are out of this world....but gets broken.....

The conditions look languid to me: a fluffy ball on a sticky court. Definitely not a court to slide on.

BTW: Kubot is S&V'ing too, but not good enough. Rod breaks at the start of the third set

gallery play wrote:The conditions look languid to me: a fluffy ball on a sticky court. Definitely not a court to slide on.

BTW: Kubot is S&V'ing too, but not good enough. Rod breaks at the start of the third set

I can't believe Kubot is S&Ving! I was so looking to Roddick being knocked out

And Kubot breaks back. THis match is a drag

And 3rd set it is!

Berdych's legs are like tree trunks....and he gets the 2set....but pretty close.

interesting one is Stak, I remember watching a couple of his matches a few years ago, and he's always had great touch in and around the net, but mentally he tended to lose it very quickly when he missed a few shots (there was also an unsavoury incident when he retired against Murray having been 3-5 0-30 down in the third set with an ankle injury which he'd picked up at the end of the first set). If he's found some mental strength then he should go quite a way up the rankings IMO.

lousy game from Stak at the start of the third though, this could be an ugly set of tennis to watch

how fast is the court guys? im not watching at the moment but was wondering.

So almost 2,5 hours of play, it's it's very hot and dry and it's 2-2 in the third set, we're looking at 2 big servers but guess what: together they hit 9 aces...IW is slooooowwwww

Y I Man wrote:how fast is the court guys? im not watching at the moment but was wondering.

reasonable. slower than Dubai, but not the slow treacle that you had in Paris last year either. Medium I'd call it.

I've lost the picture, all I can see is somebody on the ground being massaged, looks like Roddick

And finally back at Bird Strak match, Strak got broken NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

A bit slower than O2, I'd say

Stak throwing away more BPs....needs to work on th mind...but with such a risky game, it's not going to be easy.

Tenez wrote:Stak throwing away more BPs....needs to work on th mind...but with such a risky game, it's not going to be easy.

Yes. Complete lack of focus. Just as I was wondering why he isn't up there in the rankings.

A moustached fat woman Nadal fan in the crowd, there is hope!

noleisthebest wrote:A moustached fat woman Nadal fan in the crowd, there is hope!

LOL

Can Strak break?

no. but Berdych can choke.

Krupa's got a nice big shade thrower behind him

THAT was a sizzling backhand passing shot from Strak

Poor Stark. Played his heart out and all he gets is a small hotel bill....

Berdych holds on, Stak just couldn't take his chances (0/7 from BPs). Berdy knows he desperately needs to improve on that though...

Nole time

(still sad for Strak )

Allez Golubev! Another SHBH!

Tenez wrote:Allez Golubev! Another SHBH!

Golub is a joke compared to magic Strak

I think Golu is pretty good actualy.

Amzing the difference the camera angle makes on the pace impression. Certainly looks much slower once flattened out.

The courts are playing slow as expected. IW and Miami are probably the 2 slowest HC's on tour. However the weather can affect the pace.

I like Golubev's game. On a faster court he would be a real handful. Unfortunately it's quite easy to stay in the point and wait for him to make an error.

emancipator wrote:The courts are playing slow as expected. IW and Miami are probably the 2 slowest HC's on tour. However the weather can affect the pace.

I like Golubev's game. On a faster court he would be a real handful. Unfortunately it's quite easy to stay in the point and wait for him to make an error.

you old wum, you.....