Suddenly Basel looks like a slam competiton!

Andy Murray will be joining Djoker and Fed at Basel through a wild card. Djoko was practising with Federer which is bit surprising as they are not best of the friends.

During USO semifinal, Fed was pretty sure of beating DJoko, at one stage there was something going on in the crowd and Novak asked Fed that if he is okay to wait for few minutes and Fed arrogantly completely ignored him. Fed just wated Novak to get on with the game as he was having the momentum.

Murray is on a carrer high at the moment. My bet is on Murray to beat both of them if the draw works out like that.

Who do you think will win?

I've had the same thoughts as soon as I read the news last ight!
I can't wait for it to start, really, top three in-form hard-courters, that will be a treat, the next question is the draw, ehem, ehem.....I think Tsonga's in it as well, bring it on NOOOWWWW!!!!!!!

Fed hasn't played Murray for a while as they have not been in the same half of the draw. Could still happen again here but it would be nice to see a match between them again. Winner of that to win it. Not sure if Djoko is 100% and may be saving himself for yr-end champs.

Yeah agree with that. To me it seems Murray will nail it, he is high on confidence and the way he thrashed Nadal in the last final, I am sure he will not have much dificulty in winning this one as well.
2012 will be the year of Andy Murray.
I have started to sound like eraldeen

Brilliant - so it will definitely be Basel that is broadcast?

I am actually going with TMF for this - I think he will be well rested and he has his home crowd.

wow wrote:Yeah agree with that. To me it seems Murray will nail it, he is high on confidence and the way he thrashed Nadal in the last final, I am sure he will not have much dificulty in winning this one as well.
2012 will be the year of Andy Murray.
I have started to sound like eraldeen

I love your enthusiasm, Wow , but I'd love to see a Fed-Murray semi even more....I think Fed would make a bit of an effort there.

Glad to see that the mighty JMDP is missing the 5th slam, and will be concentrating his efforts on Paris, in order book himself a place at the WTF.

Three cheers for Potro. :hip hip:

I too wish that if he manages to make to London. We need a fit JMDP to make this field more competitive.

Brilliant! Three of the world's best competing in a 500 tournament, some other great names too (Fish and Berdych are there I think). Looks like a fantastic week of tennis to look forward to

See JMDP had a good result against Haas today too...

Basel will be interesting, for one thing to see how Nole has recovered from injury.

Yes, I am holding my breath to see how Nole is holding up physically.

Great to see JMDP had a good win (lovely Tommy Haas!). You mentioned Agassi's wrist injury on another thread lydian and how it reduced his power afterwards - I do wonder whether JMDP will ever a) be able or b) confident with that wrist enough to really murder the ball with that cross court forehand as he did USO 2009? If he can, then he is someone who could really shake everyone up this year.

Guess everyone now wants to beat the previous GOAT, Federer.

Good question TP. Guess time will tell, Agassi had such amazing talent he could still bring it to bear later in his career with slightly reduced power...and his better mental resolve helped harness whatever power he had for sure.

JMDP is a little different in that regard, you feel he needs the power to succeed otherwise other power players will overhaul him. Any loss would hurt him and so far his results have been ok but not at the level yet where he was pre-injury but they are getting better so there's hope he can return to former glory. Confidence/match fitness may still hold him back, or he takes a little off his shots - he may have even been advised to hit less hard to preserve his wrist?

But I do hope he's still able to play at the same level as pre-09 as he's such a good player when he's on form, and even if we look at this year he arguably gave Nole the biggest scare, before he met Federer, at FO before the rain came...he's the player no-one wants to face and is one guy we forget about when it comes down to how future slams may split. It would make for a much better field with a fully fit, able and confident Juan Martin in it.

Fingers crossed for him!

Agassi was a one off - what a showman and player - one of my absolute favourites too!

OMG that FO semi JMDP against TMF - I went out to hide because I couldn't bear it! Thought it was all so near, and yet so far away!

I think Nadal has gone into semi retirement after the drubbing he got from Murray at Tokyo open.

The future look very bleak for no weapons Nadal. After losing to Murray and Mayer, he must be thinking on how to come out of this rut.

Djoker is in Nadal's head wrote:I think Nadal has gone into semi retirement after the drubbing he got from Murray at Tokyo open.

The future look very bleak for no weapons Nadal. After beating to Murray and Mayer, he must be thinking on how to come out of this rut.

He is never more dangerous than when he looks down and out! I expect to see Rafa coming out guns blazing January 2012!

Typical, my hero has to be in form at the end of the year and not during the slams Come on Murray, give Novak a good thrashing!! (Is Nadal participating in Valencia then?)

Basel draw...

http://www.swissindoorsbasel.ch/Tableau-Single.219.0.html

Murray has tough opener against Hasse.
Djokovic has Malisse.
Federer has Starace.

young American Ryan Harrison lost out in qualifying rounds to Swiss Stephane Bohli. Another Swiss WC, Marco Chiudinelli beat Isotim, and yet another Swiss WC (can't remember this one's name!) has drawn Bernard Tomic in the qualifiers.

It's rather disappointing that two of the young hopefuls for the next generation are still having to routinely qualify for these events - it would be good to see some rapidly upwardly mobile progression from young guns!

time please wrote:and yet another Swiss WC (can't remember this one's name!) has drawn Bernard Tomic.

Michael Lammer.

Tomic is up a set 7-6(3) and serving @2-3.

Thanks laver! The easiest Swiss name of them all, apart from Roger and I can't remember it!

Young Tomic broken, but breaks straight back as Lammer serves for set. Now serving 4-5.

The tension is just toooo much, but sadly have to change for supper out If Tomic can't come through this, then I just despair of the younger generation

Tomic saved on mp at 30-40 4-5, but could not save the 15-40 5-6 MP. Lammer (#335) beats Tomic (#42).

time please wrote:If Tomic can't come through this, then I just despair of the younger generation

Sorry, TP. The younger generation (Tomic and Harrison specifically) are not ready yet.

laverfan wrote:Tomic saved on mp at 30-40 4-5, but could not save the 15-40 5-6 MP. Lammer (#335) beats Tomic (#42).

time please wrote:If Tomic can't come through this, then I just despair of the younger generation

Sorry, TP. The younger generation (Tomic and Harrison specifically) are not ready yet.

Surprise surprise. Where is Dimitrov or Raonic playing?

Djoker is in Nadal's head wrote:
Surprise surprise. Where is Dimitrov or Raonic playing?

They both played Stockholm.

Raonic is playing Valencia.

I do not see a schedule for Dimitrov on his website (after Stockholm).

Edit: Looks like Dimitrov plays the Hopman Cup next with Pironkova. - http://hopmancup.com/Teams-Schedule/Team-Lists

Raonic got to the semis last week (and was a set and break up in that match). He's on his way back and for me is the best of the younger generation...