2015 250-500 Tournaments Thread

[temporary21]

First topic message reminder :

A thread intended for discussion of the smaller tournaments of the year. First up, its Doha.

[Haddie-nuff]

Has anyone ever noticed the record that Ferrer has against tall players with big serves... its quite amazing

[Haddie-nuff]

An example of H 2 H
He leads Isner by 5 - 2
             Karlovic 3 -1
             Raonic 4 - 0
             Berdych 8  -5
             Roddick 7 - 4

I have no doubt there are more but haven't checked

[Jahu]

Holy swiss milk, Fed on fire, 6:4 first set, and 2:0 up on second.

[kingraf]

Watching Raonic return serve, you'd think every court is like the 90s..

[kingraf]

What a return winner from Raonic. Commentators curse there

[Jahu]

Raonic kicks back, takes second on TB, Fed was up 2:0 on TB and lost it 2:7

[Mad for Chelsea]

Excellent tie-break from Raonic, who looks to have improved his BH a bit over the off-season (at least he's trusting the shot a bit more now).

Into a decider we go...

[Jahu]

Suddenly Roanic is the new hope of youngsters, compared to Dimi, Tomič, and some others.

Not many like his style, but I love his cool head and good behaviour on court, and he is learning a few more shots then just serving

[kingraf]

This is literally the best I've ever seen Raonic return

[Jahu]

Very much so, and Fed getting p1ssed off.

[kingraf]

Four games played in the third... thirty minutes gone... Messrs Nadal and Djokovic would be proud.

[kingraf]

Even if Milos wins here, you sort of see why he probably won't be challenging the big guys in slams. He's had to play out of skin to stay par, no chance he maintains that for a tennis weekend (SF and For)

[kingraf]

Ooh it's getting hot now...

[kingraf]

Red lining!!!! Raonic

[Jahu]

Oh what a set has this turned out, Fed missing break points, Raoninc not giving up.

TB again i guess.

[Jahu]

Milo BH, best of any player this year!!

[Jahu]

Yesssssss Fed takes it )

[LuvSports!]

1000 wins baby!!!! Brilliant what a man! Dare to dream for no18!

[Jahu]

Laver himself and Emerson on court to congrat the God almighty himself

[summerblues]

Lovely. I woke up at 4:4 in the third and only managed to catch the scores on my mobile but enjoyed it nonetheless.

That is now as many titles for Fed in 2015 as he had in all of 2013.

Good start to the year, but let's also remember this is a small tournament and most of the big boys will only get serious in Melbourne. After all, Hewitt won Brisbane last year.

[summerblues]

He's only a marginal favourite in my eyes, but favourite nevertheless.

Federer the AO favorite? Ahead of Nole?

Did you have Amri's cereal for breakfast?

[bogbrush]

If only the AO was played on this sparky surface and not on the blue dough I'd feel positive about the upcoming Slam.

Sadly, as we know, this is the place where rallies can go on forever and long match records are set.

[kingraf]

To be honest... Murdoch can flirt with Amri levels of downplaying after Novak has lost a match

[HM Murdock]

He's only a marginal favourite in my eyes, but favourite nevertheless.

Federer the AO favorite?  Ahead of Nole?

Did you have Amri's cereal for breakfast?

To be honest... Murdoch can flirt with Amri levels of downplaying after Novak has lost a match

I am never anything but a model of cold, rational logic!

But I do genuinely put Federer marginally ahead of Nole for AO.

I think a fit, relaxed, in-form Federer has a slight edge over Djokovic. He gets in his head.

I also don't expect Rafa to be at his best in time for AO, which means Federer may not have his usual 'Rafa problem'.

So, not much in it but Federer ahead for me.

[Haddie-nuff]

Well HM I said it before and Ill say it again..I REALLY REALLY do admire your optimism ... a huge difference from winning a tournament with no real opposition other than Dimi !!!! and Raonic over 3 sets and playing a GS in that heat over 5 for maybe two weeks against the world and his uncle !!!  and to quote BB



If only the AO was played on this sparky surface and not on the blue dough I'd feel positive about the upcoming Slam.

Sadly, as we know, this is the place where rallies can go on forever and long match records are set.




I agree that nobody, not even Rafa, knows where he is at for this one.. but as for the rest ...

[HM Murdock]

I'm not sure why thinking the world #2 (who's made the SF or better in Australia for 11 years in a row) might be the marginal favourite for the next one is being met with such incredulity!

It's not really much of a limb I'm going out on, is it?

Haddie is right about one thing - can he last two weeks in the heat over 5? Maybe, maybe not. Novak's record is superlative at the AO, so...

The heat is what makes me downgrade Novak somewhat. He's really struggled in severe heat over the years. Although I would expect that both he and Federer will be mainly playing in the evening, so it might not be much of an issue.

But Federer looks cool, calm and collected at the moment whereas I think Novak may be just an impartial crowd away from a meltdown!

Early days yet though. We don't even know the draw yet!

[Haddie-nuff]

I'm not sure why thinking the world #2 (who's made the SF or better in Australia for 11 years in a row) might be the marginal favourite for the next one is being met with such incredulity!


11yrs in a row when he was not 33 yrs old ...oooooooo cmon !!!

He was taken to 3 sets in a minor tournament twice  and how many matches did he play.  ??

Ok HM I will be the first to eat humble pie if you are right...      

But dont hold your breath

[bogbrush]

Obviously he's a strong contender, anyone saying otherwise isn't paying attention.

Favourite? Not on this surface. Murrays position in the draw might have an impact.

[Haddie-nuff]

Obviously he's a strong contender, anyone saying otherwise isn't paying attention.

Favourite? Not on this surface. Murrays position in the draw might have an impact.

Well I have woken up BB EVERY player can be a strong contender in a GS.....Anyone saying otherwise is not paying attention !!!!

[Silver]

Sorry HM, I deleted my earlier post. Agreed on the heat with Novak, it's an interesting factor but when the business end of these tournaments come, it can be hard to tell. Has it been particularly hot at any of the last few AOs? I can't recall very well.

He was taken to 3 sets in a minor tournament twice  and how many matches did he play.  ??

a huge difference from winning a tournament with no real opposition other than Dimi !!!! and Raonic over 3 sets and playing a GS in that heat over 5 for maybe two weeks against the world and his uncle !!!

Wow. You really do hate him, don't you? Enough to have a mini-meltdown over a 250 tournament, anyway.

It was also a very decent field for a 250 - four top 10 players, same as at Doha. Unlikely to see that calibre field for the rest of the year.

[It Must Be Love]

He was taken to 3 sets in a minor tournament twice  and how many matches did he play.  ??

He was rusty against Millman, and managed to beat a red lining incredible Raonic in the final.

Absolutely superb stuff from Federer, he even managed to out-ace one of the biggest servers in the men's game.

His ground-game is looking good, his serve is looking great; Nadal his main rival looks in tatters- Federer has an absolutely incredible chance at this year's Australian Open.
Only Djokovic can stop him, if Djokovic brings his best tennis.

[Haddie-nuff]

Sorry HM, I deleted my earlier post. Agreed on the heat with Novak, it's an interesting factor but when the business end of these tournaments come, it can be hard to tell. Has it been particularly hot at any of the last few AOs? I can't recall very well.

He was taken to 3 sets in a minor tournament twice  and how many matches did he play.  ??

a huge difference from winning a tournament with no real opposition other than Dimi !!!! and Raonic over 3 sets and playing a GS in that heat over 5 for maybe two weeks against the world and his uncle !!!

Wow. You really do hate him, don't you? Enough to have a mini-meltdown over a 250 tournament, anyway.

It was also a very decent field for a 250 - four top 10 players, same as at Doha. Unlikely to see that calibre field for the rest of the year.

Where did you get that word HATE  from Silver... I thoroughly object to it as I HAVE NEVER EVER NOT EVER SAID I HATE FEDERER... sorry if I am being a realist and bring you down from your euphoria because he won his 1000 match good luck to him but that WAS NOT THE AO   i AM  saying that in a GS it has always been unpredictable.. God almighty you Fed fans really are the limit !!!!

[Haddie-nuff]

He was taken to 3 sets in a minor tournament twice  and how many matches did he play.  ??

He was rusty against Millman, and managed to beat a red lining incredible Raonic in the final.

Absolutely superb stuff from Federer, he even managed to out-ace one of the biggest servers in the men's game.

His ground-game is looking good, his serve is looking great; Nadal his main rival looks in tatters- Federer has an absolutely incredible chance at this year's Australian Open.
Only Djokovic can stop him, if Djokovic brings his best tennis.

We will see

[Silver]

Where did you get that word HATE  from Silver... I thoroughly object to it as I HAVE NEVER EVER NOT EVER SAID I HATE FEDERER... sorry if I am being a realist and bring you down from your euphoria because he won his 1000 match good luck to him but that WAS NOT THE AO   i AM  saying that in a GS it has always been unpredictable.. God almighty you Fed fans really are the limit !!!!

Ok Haddie.

[Haddie-nuff]

[bogbrush]

Obviously he's a strong contender, anyone saying otherwise isn't paying attention.

Favourite? Not on this surface. Murrays position in the draw might have an impact.

Well I have woken up BB EVERY player can be a strong contender in a GS.....Anyone saying otherwise is not paying attention !!!!

No, they really aren't. Out of the 128 about 120 travel with no hope whatsoever.

[Haddie-nuff]

Obviously he's a strong contender, anyone saying otherwise isn't paying attention.

Favourite? Not on this surface. Murrays position in the draw might have an impact.

Well I have woken up BB EVERY player can be a strong contender in a GS.....Anyone saying otherwise is not paying attention !!!!

No, they really aren't. Out of the 128 about 120 travel with no hope whatsoever.

He struggled against a WC IT HAPPENS BB... wake up..

[bogbrush]

Nonsense, he shook rust off after a long lay off and we're talking about contending to win 7 5-set matches, not one 3-setter.

[Haddie-nuff]

Nonsense, he shook rust off after a long lay off and we're talking about contending to win 7 5-set matches, not one 3-setter.

Is it cold up there

[bogbrush]

?

[HM Murdock]

His ground-game is looking good, his serve is looking great; Nadal his main rival looks in tatters- Federer has an absolutely incredible chance at this year's Australian Open.
Only Djokovic can stop him, if Djokovic brings his best tennis.

I wouldn't go as far as saying Nadal is in tatters but this is pretty much how I see it.

Australia isn't RG where there is always a clear favourite. 4-5 players have a realistic chance of winning. Of that group, I currently think Federer might have the best chance.

BB is right about Murray though. His form and where he falls in the draw could have a big impact on the chances of both Djokovic and Federer. He could be a very tough QF indeed.

[Haddie-nuff]

His ground-game is looking good, his serve is looking great; Nadal his main rival looks in tatters- Federer has an absolutely incredible chance at this year's Australian Open.
Only Djokovic can stop him, if Djokovic brings his best tennis



What a master of overstatement !!!!! "in tatters" no less  What planet are you on

[Silver]

The return of Delpo! He won his first match back against Stakhovsky, and plays Fognini next...that'll be a tester for his wrist. Let's hope that any post-match pain is par for the course and not untoward.

Tomic won today as well and looked like a man on a mission. Amazing how much better he seems to be in Oz than everywhere else.

[temporary21]

Ok so Rotterdam and Dubai are incoming. Heres the place for discussion.

[Born Slippy]

Muller beats Dimitrov relatively easily (who was lucky to beat PHM in R1). Would have thought Grigor should be doing better on a fast indoor court.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray overcame the now customary dip in his game to beat Vasek Pospisil in straight sets 6-3 7-5 to reach the quarters in Rotterdam and so at least protect his points won last year. Next up - Gilles Simon.

[Born Slippy]

Textbook Murray - breaks to lead 3-2 in the second. Promptly drops serve to love and then goes 5-3 down. Wins the last 4 games. He's nothing if not entertaining.

[CaledonianCraig]

His mindset should be this:- I am top seed and favourite for the title. Win the title and I move up to No.3 in the rankings.

He really has to set these kind of goals.

[Born Slippy]

Murray making a lot of weak unforced errors so far. Simon breaks to love and then holds from 15-40. 2-0.

[Guest]

Murray?

Anyone watching?

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