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.

[Mad for Chelsea]

cracking match that, both players playing at a very high level, Kohlschreiber's first serve percentage must have been very very high. Credit for Murray for hanging on, and finding two wonderful passing shots in the final TB.

First clay title for Murray, I actually think he's a little underrated on clay: not as good as grass or HC of course, but you could actually make a decent case for him being the 5th best player in the world on the surface, based on RG results. Certainly you'd have him in the top 10, but given he tends to only play the Masters and RG, it's perhaps not surprising that this was his first clay court final...

You'd have surely got very good odds on Murray's first title of 2015 being on the red dirt?

[CaledonianCraig]

A great result that for Andy and vindicates his decision to play in Munich. I'd sooner see him bolster confidence, winning his first title on clay and getting plenty of match practice in than going to a bigger clay tournament and losing early doors. Lets hope it is a perfect build-up for the bigger tournaments that lie ahead.

[laverfan]

Murray wins it. Congrats to him on his first clay title  about time!

These two are both screwed for Munich now. Especially Kohli.

You mean for Madrid, right?

Good to see Murray have a clay title. Better for confidence at the MS1000s.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray wins it. Congrats to him on his first clay title  about time!

These two are both screwed for Munich now. Especially Kohli.

Good to see Murray have a clay title. Better for confidence at the MS1000s.

I agree laverfan.

[temporary21]

Good wins for Fed and Murray in this round of smaller tournies. Its not as much for Fed, a quick exit or the title would not make THAT much impact on his form for RG, he knows how to peak, a good ambassador week for Istanbul too. For a man with no previous title though, Murrays win should really help him believe a bit more on the filthy red stuff, wouldnt be surprised if he bombed Madrid though.

[Silver]

Murray wins it. Congrats to him on his first clay title  about time!

These two are both screwed for Munich now. Especially Kohli.

You mean for Madrid, right?

Good to see Murray have a clay title. Better for confidence at the MS1000s.

I do indeed, nice catch

I really hope neither of them are too affected by fatigue. Let's hope Murray is able to play on Wednesday. Poor old Kohli has no choice but to play Falla in R1 tomorrow!

[Jahu]

So anything less then a F for Andy at Madrid, would be not so good then.

Hope he gets motivated now to beat that accidental No:1, and hope he does it at RG too

[Calder106]

Would have thought Andy would be ok as long as he doesn't injure himself getting out of the lederhosen he had to put on during the presentation ceremony At least if he plays Kohli he should be the fresher of the two. However with Monfils possibly waiting in round 3 I think he has a difficult task to progress far in this tournament.

[Jahu]

Sure, but it will be a nice mix up without Djoko, with a few out of top 8 maybe in SF.

Weird Andy has just has 1 clay title now, his style of play, movement and power, plus he has been in Spain as a teen to train, should of made him quite good on clay, why that has not happened is a story in itself.

[It Must Be Love]

Murray is playing well on clay, like he did in 2011 and for times last year.

Federer won Istanbul but still looked a bit flat, I'm not sure why. Maybe the Masters 1000 in Madrid which he's won before will give him some motivation and enlight a spark.

[banbrotam]

Right we've had Murray's first Clay Court title.

Can we now have the first clay court match of Murray and Fed please

[banbrotam]

Murray is playing well on clay, like he did in 2011 and for times last year.

Federer won Istanbul but still looked a bit flat, I'm not sure why. Maybe the Masters 1000 in Madrid which he's won before will give him some motivation and enlight a spark.

Isn't Madrid a bit faster than other dirt events? If so, that'll help Fed

[Silver]

Right we've had Murray's first Clay Court title.

Can we now have the first clay court match of Murray and Fed please

It'd be great to see them finally play one. Time is running out for it to happen, as odd as it sounds to say that.

[Jahu]

Maybe not, since Fed and Nadal will be soon relegated as King's of ATP 250's, I'm sure they will meet Andy on these warm up events.

The future's bright – the future's Orange (clay) (any one remember this?

[socal1976]

Hats off to Murray, I think he is a bit underrated on clay as MFC says. He is prone to the big upset because I think the clay makes his second serve which can slow down a big meatball to hit. But he has had some good performances on clay like the 2011 Rome match against Djoko in the semi where Murray had match points against an in form Djoko.

Lets give it up for Richie G the winner in estoril over Kyrgios and who won a real exciting match against Nicky Almagro in the semis. He played really well and of course his backhand was ridiculous this week. At one point after a sparkling cross court pass on the dead run with his backy Kyrgios was heard by the microphone saying that Gasquet had God's backhand while he shook his head incredulously. Good learning experience from Kyrgios.

[banbrotam]

Given the intensity of the next few weeks (two Masters and a Slam in five weeks) I'm surprised,  but pleased, to see both the overworked Murray and the brittle Nishikori at Washington

I think Murray argues, he'd have been training just as hard in Miami - but hope he's enough in the tank for the main dishes, which of course run well into September

Nice field (except Isner!!) with a couple of teenagers

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/scores/current/washington/418/draws

[HM Murdock]

Zverev beats Anderson in Washington.

This comes after beating Monaco and Bellucci on clay last month at Bastad.

Still only 18, he seems to have some real potential. From the little I've seen of him, he still seems quite raw and has a tendency toward some quite obscene moonballs but he is capable of hitting a good flat shot too.

He's 6'6" but doesn't 'look' tall because he is well proportioned and moves economically.

I'll be watching with interest.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray bombs out to Gabashvili in Washington. Quite frankly I cannot say I am surprised as it follows a pattern of apathy Andy seems to have for the lesser tournies.

[HM Murdock]

Murray bombs out to Gabashvili in Washington. Quite frankly I cannot say I am surprised as it follows a pattern of apathy Andy seems to have for the lesser tournies.

He said he felt exhausted, which I find quite believable.

He's gone from Queens into Wimbledon into Davis Cup and then onto Washington in a completely different time zone.

I'm surprised he entered Washington really.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray bombs out to Gabashvili in Washington. Quite frankly I cannot say I am surprised as it follows a pattern of apathy Andy seems to have for the lesser tournies.

He said he felt exhausted, which I find quite believable.

He's gone from Queens into Wimbledon into Davis Cup and then onto Washington in a completely different time zone.

I'm surprised he entered Washington really.

Yes I was surprised too. He's had a heavier than most workload of late and I always get the impression that Andy has apathy to these tournies when all is going pretty well at Masters and Slam level so it is a puzzle as to why he bothered entering.

[temporary21]

Mhm. Rather glad he did. He needs a rest and I think he should take Rogers note and skip the Canada masters his form is fine he needs to be fit for the U.S.

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