Shanghai Thread

by The Special Juan Mon 08 Oct 2012, 11:38 am

First topic message reminder :

Draw here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Shanghai_Rolex_Masters_%E2%80%93_Singles

Is it just me or is the court painfully slow?

by **laverfan** Wed 10 Oct 2012, 1:37 pm

First set 6-3 for Federer. Cool

by The Special Juan Wed 10 Oct 2012, 1:44 pm

Lu serves up a contender for worst hit shot of the year.

by CAS Wed 10 Oct 2012, 2:01 pm

what do we all reckon on the court speed? Quick at Cincy or Madrid? I'm thinking in-between Miami and Cincy

by lydian Wed 10 Oct 2012, 2:04 pm

Yep...its medium-slight fast DecoTurf.

Not surprised Turbot won, and Baggy is a quality player...always a joy to watch him play...he should be top10 really. Really. But he doesnt put the work in. Still his talent outshines Raonic.

by **laverfan** Wed 10 Oct 2012, 2:32 pm

Federer (best player on the planet - Koenig) beats Lu 6-3, 7-5. Good second set except the two DFs for BPs.

by The Special Juan Wed 10 Oct 2012, 8:24 pm

Very random question but what's the name of the umpire who was commentating on the Djokovic/Dimitrov match today? He also commentated on Murray v Baghdatis at Wimbledon.

by The Special Juan Wed 10 Oct 2012, 8:31 pm

Never mind, found him. Steve Ul(l)rich.

by lags72 Wed 10 Oct 2012, 9:11 pm

TSJ - I'd like to think he was officiating as opposed to 'commentating'

(unless he's got himself a little job on the side..... Cool

)

by The Special Juan Wed 10 Oct 2012, 9:44 pm

That's a real blooper I've made there. I was after him because of his voice and therefore "commentating" popped into my head.

by The Special Juan Thu 11 Oct 2012, 9:37 am

The net is broken in the Djokovic/Lopez match.

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 9:53 am

TSJ, of course the net was made locally. Whistle

by The Special Juan Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:12 am

Josiah Maiestas wrote:TSJ, of course the net was made locally.

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:12 am

You watching Stepanek/Isner match TSJ? What a cheater Radek is.

by carrieg4 Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:13 am

Stepanek throwing a hissy fit Shanghai Thread - Page 3 3559488474

by carrieg4 Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:13 am

Josiah Maiestas wrote:You watching Stepanek/Isner match TSJ? What a cheater Radek is.

It's not working thankfully.

by The Special Juan Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:15 am

Josiah Maiestas wrote:You watching Stepanek/Isner match TSJ? What a cheater Radek is.

I am. I'm with Mo and I'm not sure what Stepanek is moaning about.

by The Special Juan Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:16 am

Imagine it was in France!! The crowd would be baying for blood.

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:26 am

what happened? missed the incident...

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:27 am

True. Radek always has a lot to say when the umpire spots his gamesmanship. Maybe its just the way Czech players are taught, Lendl, Berdych and him.

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:33 am

Mad for Chelsea wrote:what happened? missed the incident...

He returned the serve knowing the serve was clearly inside the line, but he miss hit and Isner had an easy smash to put away so he puts his racquet to challenge the serve which he knew was in to get the point replayed. Wasted 5 minutes arguing.

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:34 am

Josiah Maiestas wrote:
Mad for Chelsea wrote:what happened? missed the incident...
He returned the serve knowing the serve was clearly inside the line, but he miss hit and Isner had an easy smash to put away so he puts his racquet to challenge the serve which he knew was in to get the point replayed. Wasted 5 minutes arguing.

was the serve initially called out though? surely if so then Stepanek has a point...

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:40 am

Mad for Chelsea wrote:
Josiah Maiestas wrote:
Mad for Chelsea wrote:what happened? missed the incident...
He returned the serve knowing the serve was clearly inside the line, but he miss hit and Isner had an easy smash to put away so he puts his racquet to challenge the serve which he knew was in to get the point replayed. Wasted 5 minutes arguing.

was the serve initially called out though? surely if so then Stepanek has a point...

No, he and the umpire knew the ball was clearly in so he wanted to challenge before Isner hit an easy winner, lose the challenge and have the point played again. He returned it knowing it was in, just wanted to not see Isner hit the winner.

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:43 am

hold on, if the serve was called in and Stepanek challenged wrongly, then he'd lose the point anyway? if however the serve was called out and Stepanek returned it, then the point should have been replayed...

by The Special Juan Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:50 am

Mad for Chelsea wrote:hold on, if the serve was called in and Stepanek challenged wrongly, then he'd lose the point anyway? if however the serve was called out and Stepanek returned it, then the point should have been replayed...

I think Stepanek then claimed that he hadn't challenged and wanted the point replayed or something.

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:51 am

MFC he wouldn't have lost the point, his return shot was high and landed in close to the net, about to be hit for a winner he challenge the serve before Isner had chance to finish the point. Serve was called good. If the umpire gave in to Stepanek and allowed him to challenge a point that he returned knowing its good, would be against the spirit of the game. Anyway, made himself look an idiot.

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 10:51 am

The Special Juan wrote:
Mad for Chelsea wrote:hold on, if the serve was called in and Stepanek challenged wrongly, then he'd lose the point anyway? if however the serve was called out and Stepanek returned it, then the point should have been replayed...

I think Stepanek then claimed that he hadn't challenged and wanted the point replayed or something.

right, gotcha, very poor indeed, in fact bordering on cheating...

by bogbrush Thu 11 Oct 2012, 11:01 am

Josiah Maiestas wrote:
Mad for Chelsea wrote:
Josiah Maiestas wrote:
Mad for Chelsea wrote:what happened? missed the incident...
He returned the serve knowing the serve was clearly inside the line, but he miss hit and Isner had an easy smash to put away so he puts his racquet to challenge the serve which he knew was in to get the point replayed. Wasted 5 minutes arguing.

was the serve initially called out though? surely if so then Stepanek has a point...
No, he and the umpire knew the ball was clearly in so he wanted to challenge before Isner hit an easy winner, lose the challenge and have the point played again. He returned it knowing it was in, just wanted to not see Isner hit the winner.

But he loses the point in that situation. If you stop the play to call a shot out and you're wrong you lose the point.

I don't understand what the controversy is.

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 11:02 am

bogbrush wrote:
Josiah Maiestas wrote:
Mad for Chelsea wrote:
Josiah Maiestas wrote:
Mad for Chelsea wrote:what happened? missed the incident...
He returned the serve knowing the serve was clearly inside the line, but he miss hit and Isner had an easy smash to put away so he puts his racquet to challenge the serve which he knew was in to get the point replayed. Wasted 5 minutes arguing.

was the serve initially called out though? surely if so then Stepanek has a point...
No, he and the umpire knew the ball was clearly in so he wanted to challenge before Isner hit an easy winner, lose the challenge and have the point played again. He returned it knowing it was in, just wanted to not see Isner hit the winner.
But he loses the point in that situation. If you stop the play to call a shot out and you're wrong you lose the point.

I don't understand what the controversy is.

explained above: I gather Stepanek made a move to challenge (at which point the ump. stopped play) before making out he didn't do anything...

by The Special Juan Thu 11 Oct 2012, 11:03 am

And there's karma....

The thing about Stepanek-gate was that it wasn't even a big point. It was 15-15 or something on Isner's serve at 5-3 when Stepanek would be serving for the set in the next game anyway.

by CaledonianCraig Thu 11 Oct 2012, 11:37 am

It really was all pretty stupid and got out of control. The match was held up for five minutes by Stepanek peeved about what I don't know. I have watched the replay and the umpiire was spot on in thinking Radek was challenging.

First set to Andy Murray 6-2 as I type against Dolgopolov.

by lydian Thu 11 Oct 2012, 11:39 am

Murray far too steady for the mercurial likes of Dolgo

by CaledonianCraig Thu 11 Oct 2012, 12:14 pm

Andy Murray through in business-like fashion winning 6-2 6-2. Next up for Andy a quarter-final match against Radek Stepanek.

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 12:52 pm

So Stepanek said he didn't challenge? Wow thats even worse than what I thought he did. Yeah Bogbrush, I thought Stepanek said he DID challenge it, when it sounds like he denied it. chin

Even more obvious than Justine Henin.

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 12:53 pm

lydian wrote:Murray far too steady for the mercurial likes of Dolgo

Dolgo's serve was less than pleasant as usual. The big thing stopping him from to getting top 10 is that unorthodox serve.

by **laverfan** Thu 11 Oct 2012, 12:56 pm

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Dolgo's serve was less than pleasant as usual. The big thing stopping him from to getting top 10 is that unorthodox serve.

Does he require the services of one Mr. Todd Martin? Laugh

by CaledonianCraig Thu 11 Oct 2012, 12:59 pm

For me JM Dolgopolov just hits far too many unforced errors. He needs to cut down on them as they don't help his game at all and surely just pressurises his serve even more.

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 1:02 pm

Murray seems to have done a good job of returning the Dolgopolov first serve, which is normally pretty hard to read (due to the unorthodox action). I wonder if Dolgopolov needs a change of direction in his game as CC says: maybe become a bit less flamboyant and more steady (though without losing the flair which makes him a dangerous player): not an easy balance to obtain...

Murray looked fine from what I saw (first six games or so): good numbers on serve (slightly surprising he dropped serve with those in fact), looks in good shape.

by lydian Thu 11 Oct 2012, 1:03 pm

Dolgo's a bit too "flash Harry" still with his shots.
That serve is probably "un-doable" by now...very hard to change an action he's had for 15 yrs. But he can improve what he has - perhaps truncate the action a bit like some players have done...so he starts the serve in a Roddick like way without all the prior swinging stuff - after all they all hit the actual ball in the same approximate way (throwing ball action).

Not surprised Stepanek took out Isner...he's still a very tricky customer and someone none of the current top players like to face as he gives them no rhythm.

by lydian Thu 11 Oct 2012, 1:45 pm

Stan not reading the National Law script.

Takes 1st set 6-4 Shocked

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 1:45 pm

Stan takes the first set against Fed: really good set of tennis by Wawrinka, hitting 10 winners (Fed hit just two Shocked

)

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 2:04 pm

a remarkably poor game from Federer there: makes a casual half-volley into the net, and then missed a couple of poor shots straight from the return to gift the break back...

Is he actually feeling the pressure of that 300?

by **laverfan** Thu 11 Oct 2012, 2:04 pm

Stan gets his break back. I think he wins it. Djokovic should get his #1 back.

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 2:09 pm

good umpiring from Mo there: giving Wawrinka the point after a late, (very marginally) incorrect OUT call from a Wawrinka serve which Federer doesn't return.

To be fair to Federer, as soon as Layani made the call he walked straight over to the other side without protest, good stuff all around clap

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 2:23 pm

laverfan wrote:Stan gets his break back. I think he wins it. Djokovic should get his #1 back.

He should but if he doesn't have a good AO in Jan it won't matter too much. Ah well Stan is playing very aggressive and punishing Federer today. Good to see and more indication that Stan doesn't LET other people beat him.

by Mad for Chelsea Thu 11 Oct 2012, 2:41 pm

to a TB we go...

by CaledonianCraig Thu 11 Oct 2012, 2:44 pm

A must win tie break for Wawrinka. Should Fed win it I'd expect him to steamroller the third set. Fed with the mini-break at 4-3.

by Josiah Maiestas Thu 11 Oct 2012, 2:49 pm

Poor Verdasco Sad

How many points will Cilic need to get 8th?

by CaledonianCraig Thu 11 Oct 2012, 2:49 pm

And Fed hangs tough to take the tie break 7-4. Match over? I'd be highly surprised if Fed doesn't come through now. Credit to Stan who is playing some really good stuff but just hasn't taken his chances whereas Fed has.

by barrystar Thu 11 Oct 2012, 2:54 pm

CaledonianCraig wrote:And Fed hangs tough to take the tie break 7-4. Match over? I'd be highly surprised if Fed doesn't come through now. Credit to Stan who is playing some really good stuff but just hasn't taken his chances whereas Fed has.

Fed is seizing the momentum now - just broken Stan to 0 in the 1st game of the final set.

by CaledonianCraig Thu 11 Oct 2012, 3:03 pm

Stan going into meltdown. Do I sense a bakery product coming up?

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