I like the idea of blue clay, it might look extremely odd at first but we’ll get used to it. Remember how all hard courts were green? When they show it now it looks prehistoric. Now the bright green and purple looks awesomely clear and crisp. Change is good. Give the blue some time.
Bad news for DY, he lost again today to his fellow slumper Troicki in three sets. Two wins on the year for Young.
Ryan Harrison got revenge on the man who saved MP and beat him on grandstand at US Open two years ago, Sergei Stakhovsky. Harrison won two tiebreaks vs. the Ukrainian. Can Harrison avenge Tsonga in the second round? Tsonga beat Harry in Davis Cup this year.
Some very good first round match-ups – Nalbandian vs. Raonic, with the winner to meet Federer. Tomic vs. Stepanek will be fun. Isner and Munich champ Del Potro could clash in the third round.
Bad news for Bogie, he lost again first round, this time to Kevin Anderson. Rough year for Bogomolov after his astonishing 2011 where he cracked the top 50.
Monfils is in the draw but Roddick and Fish are not.
Fed and Djokovic are slotted to meet in the semi.
Might they try black or pink clay next?
Dan Markowitz · May 7, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Amazing that Bogie has had such a nothing year after breaking out last year. Same can be said on a lesser level by Sweeting. Don’t like Isner’s chances against Del Po, but I’m open to persuasion.
Blue clay seems strange. I’ve gotta think it has a psychological effect making balls play faster. How did DYoung and Harry get into a Masters event with their rankings? What’s the break off in a Masters?
Mitch · May 8, 2012 at 2:21 am
Harrison got a wildcard. Isn’t DY top 50ish?
Dan Markowitz · May 8, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Are you kidding? DY top 50! Well, you’re right, I just checked, he’s No. 50. How skewed is the ranking system. Bogie is No. 42 and DY is 50 and between the two of them, they’ve won 9 matches combined, with Bogie winning the lion’s share of 7 matches. DY is No. 50 right now like Mardy Fish is No. 9, just ain’t accurate. I mean, how can a guy who’s 2-9 on the year be ranked No. 50?
How about Raonic beating Nalbandian? Raonic has really distanced himself from the other young guns like Harry, Tomic and Dmitrov. The others are showing themselves to be paper lions as far as their chances to win a slam while Raonic is stepping up.
I’m waiting to write about the Djokovic-Daniel-Gimeno-whatever match for tennis.com, but I’ve just been thinking, who are my favorite players to watch outside of the Big 4. Actually, Murray would never be on one of my favorite player to watch list.
And here they are (this was formed in terms of a player’s presence, flair, talent, unusual personality and style of play):
Dolgopolov
Stepanek
Raonic
Tsonga
Monfils
(honorable mention–Gasquet, Blake, Dustin Brown and Fish)
Anyone on your list I didn’t mention?
Dan Markowitz · May 8, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Oh yeah, on my honorable mention list, too, Tommy Haas and Feliciano Lopez, got to go with one-handed backhanders.
Steve · May 8, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Now Dan is a Haas fan. That was quick.
Scoop Malinowski · May 8, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Dolgopolov (free tennis, plays with total freedom), Lopez (unique style, lefty, good fighter), Monfils (always fun), Rochus (what a fighter, a featherweight who goes to war with heavyweights), Benoit Paire (a lil crazy but has a flowing way of playing), Isner (Just how high can he climb?), Paes/Stepanek (colorful and fighters too), Raonic (I want to see him reach #1), Harrison (smart player, tremendous fighter), Nishikori (sticking with him since seeing him win his first ATP title in Delray), Tomic (creative), Dimitrov (in some ways he is as aesthetically pleasing as Federer).
Dan Markowitz · May 8, 2012 at 5:32 pm
I like watching Haas play, and was impressed by the way he played in Munich. Look, he’s been a great player, he’s a bit surly, but that makes him interesting to watch. He’s a perfectionist and I actually saw him serve n volley against Bag-man on clay which is rare.
Scoop Malinowski · May 8, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Wasn’t Haas once #2 in the world? Think about that. Also I’m adding Brian Baker to one of my favorite players to watch.
loreley · May 8, 2012 at 6:20 pm
That Madrid tournament sucks.
You asked why ppl attend the small clay tournaments in Europe. I guess it has to do with tradition. You can watch great players very close without too much effort.
200 – 300 ppl were there to watch Gulbis vs. Malisse. Maybe 50 of them could get a place to sit.
http://loreley.twoday.net/STORIES/97009406/
Dustin Brown is such a cool guy:
http://loreley.twoday.net/STORIES/97010196/
There are more pictures & reports from Munich on my blog, but I want to spam.
Djoker is struggling like hell in Madrid right now. Said it’s impossible to play. He is slipping on that crappy surface.
Mitch · May 8, 2012 at 6:47 pm
I’m looking over the stats of Raonic’s win over Nalbandian – very impressive. Raonic only lost 6 points on serve and didn’t face a single break point.
Steve · May 8, 2012 at 6:54 pm
“Paes/Stepanek (colorful and fighters too)” HA! Colorful as in colorful language and hand gestures.
Dan Markowitz · May 8, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Paes and Stepanek playing doubles are one of tennis’ best entertainment features. And I’m usually not much of a doubles fan.
Scoop Malinowski · May 8, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Loreley do you live in Munich? Nice site you have can’t read it but it looks good with lots of photos. The tourney looks small and intimate, a traditional setting, kind of like Newport. I think we are going to hear a lot of players griping about the blue clay )
Scoop Malinowski · May 8, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Raonic vs. Federer next. Can you say upset?
loreley · May 9, 2012 at 6:54 am
Yes, I live in Munich.
5 600 seats on Center Court. Just that they put Gulbis vs. Malisse on the smallest court for their first round match.
Also Dustin Brown wasn’t on Center Court till he made it to play Baghdatis. A big mistake, because ppl love him. He even had to play qualifying. Last year they gave him a wild card.
The weather was fantastic this year. About 40 000 spectators.
They have a strong sponsor. 😉
loreley · May 9, 2012 at 7:07 am
Raonic can upset anyone with his serve.
Nalbandian made the semis in Belgrade. I guess he had not enough time to practise on that surface. It’s also tough for him to play two good weeks in a row. I expected him to lose against Raonic.
Many players who played last week lost already. Lopez, Baghdatis, Kohlschreiber, Nalbandian.
Scoop Malinowski · May 9, 2012 at 11:39 am
Thanks for the info about the Munich event Loreley, I really like the photos, I bet Amanda L. would like to see the ones with Gulbis. I see Gulbis is playing a Challenger again in Italy and eked out a three set win over a player I never heard of before. Dustin Brown is a very entertaining player to watch. I see he still sports the colored shoelaces. He is still hanging in there in singles and doubles, getting some positive results here and there.
Scoop Malinowski · May 9, 2012 at 11:41 am
Loreley I can see Raonic putting it all together and recording a shock win in a major, like how Isner beat Federer in Davis Cup and Djokovic in IW, I think Raonic is going to knock off one of the big three soon, very soon.
Steve · May 9, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Dolgo with a nice win. Djoker says there’s no grip on the blue clay. Wondering if it’s faster or slower.
Will Kolay the obscure test Nadal?
Scoop Malinowski · May 9, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Nadal will make it to the weekend, for sure. Was stunned to see Isner lose to Cilic 6767. Robby Koenig says Stan The Man is looking really good on the dirt. Step and Paes are playing together this week. Djokovic was kind of complaining about slipping in Monte Carlo too wasn’t he? Maybe he needs a new shoe.
loreley · May 9, 2012 at 2:16 pm
@Scoop
I’m in contact with Amanda. Gulbis fans stick together 😉
Our hero had a tough battle against a good clay court player from France. These guys play always as if it were their last match in life.
I was even watching it on stream. Lots of ppl in the stands. Actually more than in Madrid. 😉
It’s difficult to predict what happens next in tennis. Djokovic seems a bit off. Murray seems a bit worn. Federer aging. There might be soon a gap for a new guy.
Part of Gulbis’ problems is that he was unlucky that he had to play this guys in their prime. Now it’s going to change slowly. Not only Federer is getting older. Top-100 is still packed with veterans who are relaxed enough to beat anyone on a good day.
I think it was also a problem for Murray. He might be mentally worn of this many years of trying. In contrast, Raonic arrived in the right moment.
Steve · May 9, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Gulbis fans might enjoy the game of Cilic. Similar game but a notch better.
loreley · May 9, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Cilic’s serve motion is making me sick. I literally can’t watch him. Nice guy though. I know I’m picky.
I like Federer a lot. 😉
Steve · May 9, 2012 at 3:22 pm
I hear ya.
Scoop Malinowski · May 9, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Good analysis Loreley, you are an astute observer. And agree, it is captivating to see the effort of some of these unknown players fighting to survive. I saw it at the Sarasota Challenger from many players, Paolo Lorenzi, Nick Monroe, and some of the doubles players too. Nothing better than seeing such effort from any athlete, whether ranked #1 or 1001.
Steve · May 10, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Playing Raonic, Isner and Dr.Ivo doesn’t look fun.
I hope Gasquet vs. Fed is interesting. Dolgo/Tsonga is shaping up well.
Mitch · May 10, 2012 at 5:00 pm
What a horrible loss for Nadal. I hope he doesn’t blame it on knee pain.
Steve · May 10, 2012 at 5:13 pm
Monfils may feel worse….
I wonder if Verdasco endorses the blue clay. Dolgo, Gasquet, Delpo, Birdman, Fed, Djoker –amazing line-up still in it.
Scoop Malinowski · May 10, 2012 at 5:16 pm
He can’t Mitch, that would not be well received by tennis fans. Gotta give credit to the winner.
Scoop Malinowski · May 10, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Dolgo-Delpo is gonna be fun. Can’t believe Rafa lost to an opponent he has owned, though Verdasco has come very close recently. If ever a pigeon deserved to get a win like this it’s Verdasco. Tremendous effort.
Thomas Tung · May 10, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Nadal came to shake Fernando’s hand with this kind of bemused/confused/surprised look on his face, like he couldn’t believe what had happened. Neither could I 🙂
One vote for Wawrinka here. His game isn’t the prettiest but boy does he have a nice backhand! And he seems to be a lot more mentally solid than in the past; too bad the field has just been getting better as well …
Steve · May 10, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Ferrer is 9 and 0 against Almagro.