great analysis general masterclass.
lot at stake here in terms of trying to get some momentum going for RG.
nadal needs some matches. he should have gone to estoril.
Federer will also try to start stringing some wins together as he eyes a prize at Wimbledon. he is playing good enough to make a run there.
nole might play it safe here if the wrist is not 100%. it is also a chance for andy murray to find out where his game stands at the moment.
Looks like Nole arrived late and now he's going through some tests to see if he's good to play. I suspect a pull out at the last minute. Or maybe he'll play a couple of matches and then tank or retire.
Both Harrison and Tomic are already out but looks like Tomic fought hard to win but couldn't make it, so a good effort there. Harrison is not all that good on clay anyway.
And here we go guys. Nole withdraws from Madrid.
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World No. 2 Novak Djokovic has been forced to withdraw from the Mutua Madrid Open, having suffered a recurrence of the right arm injury that afflicted him three weeks ago in Monte-Carlo.
“I am very sorry for the Madrid tournament and all the Spanish fans to have to pull out of the Mutua Madrid Open,” said Djokovic on Sunday. “I did everything possible in order to play in Madrid, which is one of the biggest events of the year, but unfortunately my right arm injury has flared up again.
“Now I will take some time to recover and heal my injury, hoping I will be ready for Rome. I look forward to returning to Madrid next year.”
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/05/19/Madrid-Sunday-Djokovic-Withdraws.aspx
^Expected...
Don't expect to see Nole in Rome either unless you see him practicing hard on the courts between now and then. As far as I know he hasn't practiced since Monte Carlo. He was vacationing in Greece a few days ago. It wouldn't surprise me to see him take advantage of this respite to get married soon.
ATP rules need changing. Lucky losers shouldn't inherit a bye, replacing a top seed. They are lucky enough to get into the main draw, inheriting a bye is just too much.
They should change the rule to make them play a first round match with another qualifier. Or at least switch places with the top winning qualifier.
Too much incentive to tank in the final qualifying round.
Respectfully,
masterclass
I don't think Nole will be there in Rome either. I do feel he's being extremely careful and aiming strictly for RG. The clay season is very long and drains players especially if they take part in each tournament and this season ends with two almost back to back Slams - RG and Wimbledon. Even Nadal seems to be conserving as much energy as possible. I do feel it's now coming down to Slams only for these top players. Nole hasn't won anything other than AO since 2011 and this year, he didn't even get that. Federer clearly wants another Slam to make sure Nadal doesn't come anywhere near him. Nadal is very keen on matching Sampras' record and Murray obviously wants to defend Wimbledon. That leaves the remaining Slams up for grab for any of these players and they all look desperate and hungry. And they are definitely far more focused on that.
I don't think Nole will be there in Rome either. I do feel he's being extremely careful and aiming strictly for RG. The clay season is very long and drains players especially if they take part in each tournament and this season ends with two almost back to back Slams - RG and Wimbledon. Even Nadal seems to be conserving as much energy as possible. I do feel it's now coming down to Slams only for these top players. Nole hasn't won anything other than AO since 2011 and this year, he didn't even get that. Federer clearly wants another Slam to make sure Nadal doesn't come anywhere near him. Nadal is very keen on matching Sampras' record and Murray obviously wants to defend Wimbledon. That leaves the remaining Slams up for grab for any of these players and they all look desperate and hungry. And they are definitely far more focused on that.
Good stuff, Emma.
Enjoyable read.
Thank you, TT. I think the top players are feeling a bit threatened by some of the other players especially lately as well. Wawrinka, Nishikori, Dimitrov, Dolgopolov, Gulbis...to name a few and look how this year has already panned out so far. Who would have thought Wawrinka was going to win AO followed by Monte Carlo? And then Nishi comes along and takes Barcelona. So I am sure they feel it isn't going to be easy to win any Slam from this point on. Because not only you will have to battle the three other major contenders but you also have some other rising to the top who are perfectly capable of posing enormous danger. So obviously the Slams are the main target now for any of these players and conserving energy is the only thing they need since there's not much to improve when it comes to their respective game.
Has Paire retired against Simon? I take it he's injured himself or maybe already had one to begin with? Anyway, don't think that's good news for Federer since the last meeting with Simon didn't go too well for him at RG. If Simon stays fresh he can do some damages here. I am sure the loss hurt the last time. He'd have to be extremely eager and motivated though.
Verdasco, Nishi, Tsonga, Isner etc. are all winners today.
Looks like Almagro and Golubev are set to play tomorrow which means Andy will play on Wednesday. And I guess both Nadal and Federer are set to play on that day as well.
Well and dandy, herc. Very much looking forward to Andy's match on Wednesday to say the least.
Lopez won the 1st set against Delbonis.
lopez got it done in 3 today emma. he took the decider pretty easily. 6-2.
Yes, he did. Hewitt is trying to win the 2nd in the meantime.
And he gets it. 1 set all vs Giraldo.