The Monte Carlo Thread

[HM Murdock]

Round 2 and no thread yet?

Djokovic has just mauled Montanes 6-1 6-0. Tsonga also through.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ferrer crushes Chardy to go through 6-3 6-0.

[laverfan]

Round 2 and no thread yet?

Apologies HMM. I was waiting for the Top dogs till tomorrow.

Djokovic has just mauled Montanes 6-1 6-0.  Tsonga also through.

Montanes was dismal, and he is not a bad clay player, but age is catching up with him.

Tsonga went walkabout second set, like Kohli in first and last set. An error fest.

[Silver]

Montanes has been in the top 100 for thirteen years on the trot, but after that match you'd certainly wonder how! Just a true off-day, I suppose.

Tsonga really seems to be struggling this year.

[invisiblecoolers]

Ferrer's crushing of Chardy is even more impressive.

[Henman Bill]

Who would we rank as the third favourite?

[laverfan]

If Ferrer has recovered from his injuries, he is probably my third favourite, HB.

[sirfredperry]

Anyone reckon Fed will have probs with Stepanek today? Rog was 2-0 down in final set against the Czech only a few weeks ago

[lags72]

Stepanek hasn't had much of a season so far, and realistically it can't be too long before he calls it a day.

That said, he can still pose a threat to anyone when things click. Apart from that previous match with Federer you mention, he has also pushed Rafa and Delpo the full distance in recent weeks.

For this MC opener, I'd say Fed will see Stepanek as a serious test - or at least as serious as any of the non-seeds.

[lags72]

Hmm......seems like Federer in no mood to hang around today. Job done in well under the hour.

Stepanek came into the match after despatching Karlo 6-1 6-2, only to end up on the wrong side of the very same scoreline himself.

Robredo drops opening set to Benneteau but a break up in the second.

[sirfredperry]

Well, my posing the question whether Fed would have probs with Stepanek suggests it was only a prob if giving three games away can be regarded as such

[laverfan]

Robredo bagels Benne in the second set.   

[Jahu]

Rafa broken 2:3 up for Gabashvili.

3:3 all now.

[HM Murdock]

Robredo bagels Benne in the second set.   

Third bagel of the second round and we're only about half way through it! Does anyone else think that seems a lot?

[laverfan]

The third set in Robredo v Benneteau was a breadstick.

[invisiblecoolers]

So finally Stan comes to the party his Post AO jitters I hope is gone.

[invisiblecoolers]

Ramos vs Dimitrov was poor mans version of Nadal vs Federer,, however the difference was Dimitrov was able to comeback from a set down to win it in 3.

[Jahu]

Raonic - Robredo 6:4 6:3

Tsonga - Foggy: 5:7 6:3 6:0

[HM Murdock]

Raonic - Robredo 6:4 6:3

Tsonga - Foggy: 5:7 6:3 6:0

Crazy amount of bagels and breadsticks this tournament.

[Jahu]

Fed broken by Rosol 1:2

Ferret kicking Dimi 6:4, 3:1

[Jahu]

Fed brakes back 4:4, Rosol in the zone today.

[Jahu]

Ferrer sends Dimi home 6:4 6:2

Fed takes the tight first set 6:4.

[Jahu]

Fed on fire, takes second 6:1

[sirfredperry]

Fed on fire, takes second 6:1

What happened early on? Rosol playing great or Fed a little slow off the blocks ? Thoughts on a Fed-JWT match up?

[Jahu]

Fed was ok in first set, nothing special, but Rosol was hitting hard, and Feds first serve was not firing, till about 4:4, then it was quick. Second set Fed much stronger, Rosol folded.

JWT was in good mood today, don't know what happened to Foggy in third, was ok first 2 games of third set, went away 10 min, it was already 5:0.

I don't think JWT can beat Fed, maybe can go on 3 sets.

[sirfredperry]

Ta, Jahu for the update. Watched a bit of JWT. He can play some terrific tennis at times but every so often can chuck in a horrible service game. Did it when breaking Foggy in first set today and then lost his own serve to love.

[Born Slippy]

Top 8 seeds all in the QF?

[HM Murdock]

Novak serves up another bagel!

OK, I know Montanes and Carreno Busta are not exactly world beaters but they are not mugs on clay.

Three sets played, only one game conceded so far.

Yikes.

[Jahu]

Djoko aiming for double bagel. Heartless git!

[Jahu]

Yeahhhhh Busta takes a game

[Jahu]

Berdy lost second set against Lopez: 6:4 3:6

[HM Murdock]

Another win for Novak for the loss of just one game.

I didn't see this match, so Busta may have been abject.

But, statistically, four sets against two adequate clay courters for the loss of just two games is pretty impressive.

[lags72]

I didn't see the Djoko/Busta match either but it must have been something of a reality check for the young guy.

In around 18 months Busta has shot up from the mid 700's to a ranking of 62, so he's clearly not without talent. Plus, as a Spaniard he will have learnt his tennis on clay.

But after doing so well on the challenger circuit, I guess he's now in little doubt as to how much further up the scale is a player like Novak ........

[HM Murdock]

In the same way that you know Rafa can crush a crush a right handed SHBH,  Novak is ruthless against a players who lack variety in angle and weight of shot.

That's why even Rafa can get soundly beaten when he plays without confidence and why Federer, even at 32, is able to cause Novak difficulty.

[laverfan]

Fognini was treaty and inconsistent against all his opponents and played 3-setters in all his matches.

JwT can beat Federer, Federer was slow of the blocks against Rosol with BH not working. I am surprised by a 6-1 second set in Rosol v Federer.

Ferrer v Nadal should be fun.

Raonic may take a set of Wawrinka, but unlikely that he wins the match.

[lags72]

laverfan - far, far better players have been on the wrong end of a 6-1 set v Federer, so I'm not entirely sure why you should be so surprised at Rosol's name being added to an already long list !

Yes, of course JWT can beat Fed, and indeed these are just the sort of matches Jo should be winning if he is to step up to the next level.

As for Ferrer v Nadal .....well it might be fun ; but equally it could be extremely dull (exhibit A : RG Final 2013)

[invisiblecoolers]

I have given up on Ferrer beating Nadal on clay after that FO humiliation.

Stan on the other hand has motored slowly and steadily with awesome performance if he can overcome Raonic's big serves then Rafa -Stan could be a treat.

Fed- Tsonga is tricky both struggling in general but getting back to form, its very difficult to say who start favorite even giving Fed's records on clay.

Nole- Berdych if happens would be a good match up on clay, but Nole should win it hands down.

[Johnyjeep]

laverfan - far, far better players have been on the wrong end of a 6-1 set v Federer, so I'm not entirely sure why you should be so surprised at Rosol's name being added to an already long list !

Yes, of course JWT can beat Fed, and indeed these are just the sort of matches Jo should be winning if he is to step up to the next level.

As for Ferrer v Nadal .....well it might be fun ; but equally it could be extremely dull (exhibit A : RG Final 2013)

Didn't Ferrer have his moments in that final though that he didn't take? I might be thinking of another match. I know it was straight sets but I seem to recall some tight moments.

[invisiblecoolers]

laverfan - far, far better players have been on the wrong end of a 6-1 set v Federer, so I'm not entirely sure why you should be so surprised at Rosol's name being added to an already long list !

Yes, of course JWT can beat Fed, and indeed these are just the sort of matches Jo should be winning if he is to step up to the next level.

As for Ferrer v Nadal .....well it might be fun ; but equally it could be extremely dull (exhibit A : RG Final 2013)

Didn't Ferrer have his moments in that final though that he didn't take? I might be thinking of another match. I know it was straight sets but I seem to recall some tight moments.

Those tight moments came on Rome and Madrid Masters where Ferrer won the 1st set and led by a break too in the 2nd in of them I guess only to squander the lead and lose, I don't think so such moments happened in the finals of FO.

[Henman Bill]

What he said
"That is going to be a very tough match," Nadal, the eight-times French Open champion, said. "David is a tough, tough player on any surface but here on clay, [he is] always a big challenge. I play a lot of matches against him, very tough ones."

[Henman Bill]

What he means
"David is somewhat better than the mugs I usually play against," Nadal, the eight-times French Open champion, said. "I'll need to make sure I try a bit and don't daydream too excessively during the match just to be on the safe side. If I break my leg during the match or play the worst clay match of my life he might have a chance."

[Jahu]

Stan takes first set in tight TB, Raonic had 2 serves on 5:4 up and lost it.

[lags72]

Good win for Stan  

[Jahu]

Nadal broken, 0:2, then brakes back in the third game lasting more then 15 minutes.

1:2 Nadal to serve.

[Born Slippy]

Only saw a few points of Stan's match. First game of the second set and Milos was 40-0 up. The next 5 points were backhand return winner, forehand return winner, angled forehand winner, forehand return winner and then Milos missed a forehand on BP. Very impressive from Stan.

[lags72]

Can only follow Nadal/Ferrer by livescores, and I see that Daveed has just taken the opening set TB in convincing fashion 7-1. Marathon set lasting 90 mins   

Anyone watching, and if so thoughts please as to which way this might go .....?

[Jahu]

3:1 Ferrer, Nadal serving.

Ferret kicking @ss

[lags72]

Ferrer now 4-2 in second. He just (!!) has to hold serve - and nerve - and the match is his.

BUT if it goes to a third, then Rafa is favourite to come through as usual ......

[Jahu]

Ferrer 5:2 serving for the match.

[Jahu]

Nadal takes a break back, 3:5

5:4, Ferrer to serve for the match again.

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