CAMELOT FANTASIES

And Dr. Ivo did indeed play lights out for 3 sets and has upset the young #11 seed Grigor Dimitrov. 
Grigor slipped up and got broken a game in each of the 1st and 2nd sets, one mini-break in the final set tiebreaker, and that's all it took.

Karlovic was extremely solid on serve and also played some nice volleys and shots from the baseline.
One of the best matches I've seen from 35 years young Dr. Ivo.

Andreas Seppi has come through against strong clay courter Santiago Giraldo.  Seppi bringing his Davis Cup form in this match, and Giraldo was a bit disappointing.

As well as the demise of #3 Stan Wawrinka to a very solid GGL, #30 Pospisil went out yesterday to Gabashvili as predicted.

Paris is definitely upset city this week.  The rest of round 1 should be finished today unless rain comes.

Still to come,  #7 Andrew Murray, OBE, vs. Andrey Golubev.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Yes, almost unbelievable General.  He does have a cannon for a serve. Doesn't hurt to be serving from the clouds either.

Memo to young Dynamitrov: Psst.  You can't win if you can't break.  You need to return better.  Read it better, and when you get the chance, stop taking big cuts at a Karlovic serve.  Short backswings and/or block it back with accuracy.  It will go back fast enough, and if it's to the right location, Karlovic doesn't move well enough to track it down.

Example:



Respectfully,
masterclass

Yes sir. 

And that footage was of course from their 2009 Wimbledon clash, and their 2012 Australian Open match, both of those won in straight sets by Federer.  Of course, Federer most recently beat him this year in Miami, also in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(4), extending his advantage over him to 11 wins and 1 defeat (Cincinnati 2008). 

But Karlovic is certainly not easy.  You really have to be focused, and try to zero in on reading his serve, or he'll just flatten you.

I think Dimitrov just needs more experience with servers like Karlovic, to know what to try and when, and it might also help if Karlovic isn't in the zone... 22 aces on clay today.  88% first serves won, 66% second serves won, 0 breaks, too good.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Spartan Stan was 4-2 going into that match against GGL. he ran right over GGL in their last meeting in straights.


no telling what really happened. some say it was pressure and I am just wondering if he has lingering back issues.

that said, we have to give some credit to GGL. he did play a masterful match. it was controlled aggression and he kept his focus and his intensity for the full match.

GGL has been playing some pretty good tennis as of late.

Quote from: masterclass on May 27, 2014, 02:12:01 pm

Yes, almost unbelievable General.  He does have a cannon for a serve. Doesn't hurt to be serving from the clouds either.

Memo to young Dynamitrov: Psst.  You can't win if you can't break.  You need to return better.  Read it better, and when you get the chance, stop taking big cuts at a Karlovic serve.  Short backswings and/or block it back with accuracy.  It will go back fast enough, and if it's to the right location, Karlovic doesn't move well enough to track it down.

Example:



Respectfully,
masterclass

wow. what incredible returning general masterclass. those days roger was quicker than the quickest cats on the planet.


and he just knew when to take a cut and when to slice it back.

The Big Four know how to stay in the moment, recognize that a serve machine is on the other side, and wait patiently for their chances. Dmitrov still has to learn how to do this.

Ok.  So now for the 2nd Round - or Round of 64  if you prefer.

Here is the list of matches, and those I see as likely or possible upsets.  Make your own predictions without fear, nothing is certain here.

Top Half
(1) Rafael nadal vs Dominic Thiem - This Thiem can play very well and be a danger, or be nervous and be gone. Rafa must and probably will be ready.

Axel Michon vs (19) Kevin Anderson

(32)Andreas Seppi vs Juan Monaco - Monaco is a good clay courter when playing well, and if Seppi is off, then this upset can happen. But Seppi looked good against Giraldo, and got it done quickly, so I doubt this happens.

Simone Bolelli vs (5) David Ferrer 

Donald Young vs (26) Feliciano Lopez

(23) Gael Monfils vs Jan Lennard Atruff  - Monfils is almost always a possible upset candidate, but I think he'll move on here.

Thomaz Bellucci vs (14) Fabio Fognini

(12) Richard Gasquet vs Carlos Berlocq - I think this can happen. Berlocq took down a fair Hewitt in 4. and Gasquet is just returning from injury, only having to put away a poor Tomic.  Berlocq to win in my upset pick of the day.

Pablo Cuevas vs (24) Fernando Verdasco - Curiously, Cuevas won their only previous match, but in 2008. A possibility, but not likely

(28) Philipp Kohlschreiber vs Denis Istomin - They split their only 2 previous clay matches this year. Not quite likely, but certainly very possible

Marinko Matosevic vs (7) Andy Murray

---------------------------------------------------------
Bottom Half

(6) Tomas Berdych vs Alexander Nedovyeseov

Benoit Paire vs (27) Roberto bautista agut

(17) Tommy Robredo vs Kenny De Schepper - The tall De Shepper will have to overpower Robredo to have a possibility of an upset.

Mikhail Kukushkin vs (10) John Isner - Kukushkin is not a bad player, so John mustn't slip up here.

(15) Mikhail Youzhny vs Radek Stepanek

Facundo Bagnis vs (18) Ernests Gulbis - Bagnis just had a monster of a match to beat Benneteau. If he can recover, he might have his chances against Gulbis, if Gulbis implodes, otherwise, no.

(31) Dmitry Tursunov vs Sam Querrey - 2-2 H2h all on hard. Should be a close match, Tursunov is a slightly better clutch player and should take it, but Querrey is certainly a possibility here.

Diego Schwartzman vs (4) Roger Federer - Diminutive 21 year old, all of 140 lbs, first time playing Roger.  Time for school lessons.

( Milos Raonic vs Jiri Veseley

Alejandro Gonzalez vs (29) Gilles Simon

(20) Alexandr Dolgopolov vs Marcel Granollers - If Marcel can keep it close, he is a threat if the match goes longer.

(13) Jo Wilfried Tsonga vs Jurgen Melzer - When Melzer is on, he can beat good players.  Jo has to watch himself here.

Jarko Nieminen vs (22) Jerzy Janowicz - Janowicz has not been good lately, just won his first match in the last 9. Nieminen is a steady journeyman.  If Jerzy can't play calmly and smart, he won't win.

(25) Marin Cilic vs Tobias Kamke

Jeremey Chardy vs (2) Novak Djokovic - Nole has never dropped a set in 8 matches with Chardy.  Don't see that changing here, unless Novak is extremely generous.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Well now the RG Women's draw is in shambles.  #1 Serena follows #2 Li Na off the premises. She was knocked out and convincingly, by an amazing 20 year old Spaniard (born in Venezuela, Spanish father) named Garbiñe Muguruz known as Gabby, 6-2, 6-2. She'll now play 19 year old Slovakian Anna Schmiedlova, who beat the other Williams, Venus today.  Gabby is 182 cm (6' 0"), and hits the ball hard and with accuracy.  She played very solid and strong,  put a lot of pressure on Williams, and Williams couldn't find the court today.

Respectfully,
masterclass

folks Tsonga can go far at RG.