ATP Monte-Carlo Masters: the Final

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I missed the first set of Nadal vs Gasquet but saw the 2nd and Richard played well, just unfortunate for him he came up against the best. It's just wonderful watching Rafa on clay

He always looks so comfortable out there.
Richard is a frustrating player to watch.. talented, superb b/h but so irratic .
Breaks Rafa and then gives away his next serve. Rafa played better in the first set IMO he let Richard back in the match in the 2nd set .,. but hey what the heck.

How often have we seen Rafa get broken, then he just breaks right back. It's almost like he becomes a little complacent, then he gets broken and it's a wake up call. Just a thought, don't quote me

Well, at least the spectators got their monies worth, and like you say Haddie, what the heck

COME ON ANDY

Murray has looked impressive today. He's batted Simon aside with not too much trouble.

Murray doing much better on clay than on hard?

Green wrote:Murray doing much better on clay than on hard?

Good innit ?

And weird...

All matches today finished after two sets... also weird.

Green wrote:And weird...

All matches today finished after two sets... also weird.

Well if you were footloose in Monte Carlo wouldn´t you want to get it over quick Much more interesting things to do than play tennis

Like spend ludicrous amounts of money for basic commodities.

I believe I once bought toilet paper in Monaco for about €5.

Murray faces Fred Gil next in theoretically the easiest QF. Gil's on a run mind, he's beaten Monfils and Youzhny.

I believe I once bought toilet paper in Monaco for about €5

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I could comment on that... but there again perhaps not :run2:

Haddie-nuff wrote:I believe I once bought toilet paper in Monaco for about €5

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I could comment on that... but there again perhaps not :run2:

It wasn't even triple quilted andrex.

Never mind. It is expensive though over there; I assume the only reason the likes of Nadal and Federer don't retire at the age of 20 is because they lose all their money paying for toothpaste in Monte Carlo.

Well done!

Quarter finals today ... bring it on!!

Vamos Rafa!! and good luck to Andy !!!!!!!

I really hope Andy makes it to the semis and plays Rafa tough. It looks like it is going to be Fed-Ferrer and Andy v Rafa Semis, should be very tough but it is looking more like another Fedal final, which is great. Can't see anything but Rafa winning and winning convincingly.

Dont jinx it socal.. you said Almagro in the semis (remember what I said) and look what happenerd...

Yes, you are right Haddie, can't believe Almagro went out. Don't worry Haddie, Rafa is taking this tournament. And can't wait for today's matches. As long as he is healthy I favor him over the field. Would really like to see him and Andy win out to the semis, that could be the most interesting match of the tournament, and very indicative of whether Andy is back or not.

Andy and Rafa - REALLY want that semi-final !!!!

Yes, yummy, it is great that Andy has started to get his groove back on the clay of all surfaces. I always felt that Andy with his speed and guile could be a great clay court player, but in the past he always seemed to underperform.

Haddie: "Dont jinx it socal.. you said Almagro in the semis..."

Socal: "Yes, you are right Haddie, can't believe Almagro went out. Don't worry Haddie, Rafa is taking this tournament."
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Wow, Socal really trying to jinx Nadal!

Anyone watching Fed against Melzer? Just caught the tail end of the first set to see Melzer take it

Commentator just reminded me that Melzer made semis of RG last year so obviously he's pretty handy on clay.

And this match started with Melzer taking the MTO after only one game!

Yeah, Cats, but Melzer should have lost in RG QF! Remember Djokovic then? (That was a very traumatic experience for me! )

And now a break for Melzer in the 2nd

Federer is pretty terrible today, TBH.

Federer has been broken in the second set... if his goal is to be No.1. again he can forget it on this performance... he wont live with Nole and Rafa.. rubbish is the word that comes to mind., Its very windy out there and he seems to be letting it get to him. U:E´s by the bucket load

Upset on the cards! Melzer leads Federer by a set and a break! He's playing some stunning stuff too...

Big hold for Melzer that!

Blimey, this is getting tense!

another crucial hold for Melzer, he's now just one game away...

Brilliant Melzer ... come on

Melzer wins! Very well played!

Now that is a surprise. Impressive stuff.

Well done Melzer. He looked almost Rafa like out there at times.

And now it's Rafa time

(We need an <applause> smiley mods..).

WELL PLAYED Melzer...he looks good on clay

Rafa breaks. Ljubicic a bit of a mixed bag so far, some nice points, but some pretty awful misses (as that volley on break point)

this is much more one-sided than I expected...

I agree I saw Looby as a potential banana skin.. but he seems shell shocked

Looby turned up the heat in that last game.. too little too late.. Great defending by Rafa

all over, and you know what that means?

Murray-time

Rafa Bit of a wobble at the end but I never doubted for a minute

Yes cats I think he lost concentration he found it easier than he thought and he was mentally walking to the locker room me thinks :run1:

Murray breaks! Keeps the ball nice and long and Gil provides the errors.

This is very good from Murray so far. He's added some heavy topspin to his forehand and is dictating play nicely from the back of the court. He breaks again for 4-1.

Murray takes the first set 6-2, though he had to fend off a couple of break points in that last service game...

Keep it going Andy!

His hair looks silly when the wind picks up

Aaaaaaaaaaand Murray breaks! similar to his first break in set 1, keeps the ball deep and waits for the errors.

Murray wins it, yee haa..... 6-2 6-1.

Roll on Rafa, I wish I could see these matches somewhere, anyone ?

hey Jubba,

you can stream them pretty easily off the internet. A couple of good sites are
livescorehunter.com or myp2p.eu

Cricket practice tomorrow means I'll probably miss the semi-final

Still, enjoying watching him back in good form again

Jubba
This is a good one
http://www.fromsportcom.com/

I think Rafa is going to have a tough semi against Murray the way Andy is striking the ball off the ground. He looked incredible today, albeit against a weak opponent who really couldn't hurt him.

And Melzer, wow! Jurgen Melzer the reincarnation of Henri Leconte, he can hit any shot and also miss any shot, but today he was making everything. He hit more winners than errors on a horribly windy day with a slow clay court. Melzer deserved the victory, and well it was another one of those days for Fed. The tour is catching up with him and now he isn't just getting beat by Rafa and Nole, not a good sign.