Stokcholm QF
Benoit Paire defeats Raonic 76 63
Ferrer d. Verdasco WO
Gulbis d. Janowicz in three sets
Dimitrov d. Kenny De Schepper 64 62
Kremlin Cup SF
Gasquet vs. Dr. Ivo
Seppi vs. Kukushkin
Vienna Austria SF
Haas def. Rosol 76 in the third set
Tsonga vs. Haase
In other news, Nadal has pulled out of Basel Indoors because of “fatigue.”
No tags
Andrew Miller · October 19, 2013 at 11:49 am
Haase, a name we haven’t seen in a while. Good to see him back. I’d like a Haas-Haase final, w Haas winning.
Ferrer to await Dimitrov-Paire. FWIW this is Dimitrov’s chance to win his 1st ATP title.
Gasquet should win the Kremlin Cup.
Doogie · October 19, 2013 at 12:15 pm
The race to London is very interesting this year (esp because Fed is in it too)
Gasquet can make some points this week.
5 players for two spots:
Waw
Fed
Tsonga
Gasquet
Raonic.
I want to see the two Swiss players to come through and hopefully not Raonic (who pulled out surprisingly for Basel).
So we can delete the Canuck from this list.
Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2013 at 1:22 pm
What’s the problem with Raonic? Is it some kind of injury?
Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2013 at 1:23 pm
A Haas vs. Haase final would have to be some kind of first or record. Did Alberto Martin ever play Todd Martin in an ATP final? 🙂
Harold · October 19, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Ferrer vs Dimitrov tom.
Gasquet vs Kukushkin
Haas vs Haase(announcers nightmare)
Gulbis took the first set from Ferrer in their semi
Doogie · October 19, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Forgot that Murray already withdrew – so one more spot open.
Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2013 at 8:04 pm
FGH to win finals tomorrow. I heard Simona Halep is in a final today, going for her fourth title of the year. That’s a big year for the young Romanian.
Gaurang · October 19, 2013 at 10:32 pm
This year there is no gap between Basel and Paris and WTF.
(I think earlier there used to be a gap between Paris and WTF?? Atleast a couple of years there was a week’s gap.)
There’s no point playing 3 weeks in a row and mess up WTF which has far more points.
Nadal did the sensible thing, esp since he would get 150 points automatically from Vina Del Mar if he does not play.
Djokovic should have chosen to play Basel/Valencia instead — just so that he can get enough points to try to come #1 for year end
Dan Markowitz · October 20, 2013 at 5:41 am
A few fairly big stories have emerged this week. Ferrer is into his 7th final of 2013. If you had told me that the Spaniard would be playing better than Federer at this stage in their careers, I would’ve said you’re crazy. But little Ferrero is the more solid player now and fights better.
Gulbis is just not Top 10 material. He played great in the first set against Ferrer and then folded. The forehand is a problem even as it can be lethal early in matches, but most debilitative is his mindset. The guy just is psycho and cannot let go when he thinks he’s been wronged by a bad call. And Gulbis plays worse when he’s mad.
And how about Jonas Bjorkman at 41 reaching the doubles final with his partner, fellow Swede, Robert Lindstedt. They’re playing their first real good duo of the event, Quereshi and Rojer, but Bjorkman is pulling a little Johnnie Mac, except Mac I believe was 47 when he won at San Jose with Bjorkman as his partner I believe.
Dan Markowitz · October 20, 2013 at 7:03 am
Halep reminds me of Evonne Goolagong a lot in the way she moves and the easy power she has on her shots. Amazing she lost in first round of two slams this year and the second round of Wimbledon, all to very good players, though. I like watching her play.
Scoop Malinowski · October 20, 2013 at 8:35 am
Gulbis probably feels he just can’t beat Ferrer, so he looks for any way out. Ferrer is a tough matchup for him the guy just doesn’t miss. WOnder how Federer vs. Ferrer right now would play out. That would be interesting.
Harold · October 20, 2013 at 8:45 am
Last year at the year End Masters, there was no Nadal, so that was a bit of a let down. Tipsy who wasn’t playing well by years end was meat for his opponents.
Not a big fan of round robin format, usually the 3rd match has very little consequence for the semi’s draw.
There was a hell of a lot more energy back in the day when it was held at MSG. Maybe it was the mix of players, but the building would be into it, every match, except maybe the early afternoon match.
This year, no Murray, wonder what the crowds will be like
Scoop Malinowski · October 20, 2013 at 9:50 am
It also hurts the event when the number one ranking is already solidified like it has been in recent years. The event is so much more exciting when there’s an actual “race” to be number one. That way all the matches are consequential. Last year and in recent years the majority of the matches really don’t matter, they have an air of being almost like exhibitions. Hope somehow Djokovic can somehow make it a race this year. Nadal/Fed skipped Miami this year but that didn’t lessen the tournament at all, for me, anyway. Though it did certainly affect attendance.
Andrew Miller · October 20, 2013 at 9:56 am
Doogie may be right about U.S. mens players being allergic to foreign soil – Jack Sock (#97) lost in the Basel qualies to Tob. Kamke (#85)…6-0 and 6-4. A know a lot of people are in Sock’s corner but this is a poor result on a surface (indoors) that suites his huge serve. No offense to Kamke, but Sock shouldn’t be handing out breakfast to anyone. Kudla for the moment is faring better.
For me Kudla is more in the tradition of Richey Reneberg like players: solid all around players with few weaknesses whose games (not necessarily mindsets) can hold up under pressure. He’s not a counterpuncher or scrambler by nature but in the big leagues he’s forced to be one until he gets a few chances here and there.
Andrew Miller · October 20, 2013 at 10:24 am
Thus far, veterans keeping the future out.
Gasquet holds on in 3 to beat Kukushkin. He needed it.
Haas holds off Haase in 3 sets.
Ferrer wins 1st set on Dimitrov. Dimitrov either shows he can handle top 10 players or he doesnt. If he doesn’t make a match of this, it is probably time to let go of the illusion that he’s ready for the big time when his results suggest “Kournikova” in terms of winning titles (even in a year that’s arguably his best).
Dan markowitz · October 20, 2013 at 12:20 pm
Good looking, but not on Kornikova level. No Dimitrov is clearly not going to be a big time player. His ship has sailed. So has Tomic’s, Nishikori’s and Raonic’s. Obviousy, Harry’s ship has capsized. Gulbis and Paire never really had slam expectations and they probably won’t get them either. Even though Jerzy is a knucklehead. I think he’s still the only player with Raonic who might stand out above the rest and win a few slams. Sock, forget about it. He’ll have some nice wins, but he can’t play three set matches against good players. How’s he going to at 5 sets against very good players?
Gaurang · October 20, 2013 at 12:41 pm
(From mobile) I think Raonic has the best future among the young ones, obviously. He has already proven himself: got into top 10. When he won San Jose at rank 84, that time I was sure he was going to be top 10. I think he will eventually get into top 5 when the big four start aging.
Del potro will reach rank #1 atleast for a little while, is my another prediction. 🙂
Among the other young ones, I think Christian Harrison, Kyrgios, and buchanov are top 20 players. Haven’t seen others.
Andrew Miller · October 20, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Dimitrov avoids the Kournikova curse, knocks off Ferrer in three sets to win his first ATP title. Maybe this fuels Dimitrov as the best of his generation (Raonic’s the best performer, Tomic’s the most talented, Harrison’s got the most heart, but Dimitrov is the best player). Raonic clearly the standout – we can’t in all seriousness say “Dimitrov is better” – the scoreboard says otherwise that Raonic is the top player in his generation. But, like Djokovic’s rise, Dimitrov has something to say now by beating Ferrer in a high stakes match.
Been in the discussion for a while:
Raonic: 5 ATP titles, 2 titles in 2013.
Tomic: 1 ATP title (January 2013).
Dimitrov: 1 ATP title (October 2013).
Harrison: 0 ATP titles.
Lesser knowns:
Donskoy, E.: 0 titles, age 23.
Pella, Guido: 0 titles, age 23.
Goffin, David: 0 titles, age 23.
Vesely, Jiri: 0 titles, age 20.
Carreno Busta, Paolo, 0 titles, age 22.
Delbonis, Federico, 0 titles, age 23.
Sousa, Joao, 1 title, age 24.
Pospisil, Vasek, 0 titles, age 23.
(I am intentionally leaving out Sock, Kudla and all other young U.S. players. They can’t be included until they start making it through qualifying – I think it will happen but we’ll cross that bridge later).
Gaurang · October 20, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Sock could be top 20 but remains to be seen whether he can work hard and be disciplined. The chance of it happening is low though
Andrew Miller · October 20, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Gaurang’s right about Sock’s potential and his problems. He looks like a top 100 player, which is what he is. His upside – a huge serve, nice forehand production and, surprisingly, very solid strategy and ability in-match (you’d be surprised! He knows what to do!).
His backhand is very bad. It just is a bad shot – he didn’t learn it properly. Spadea’s comments on U.S. players come to life again: without better fundamentals they can’t withstand the
Andrew Miller · October 20, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Gaurang’s right about Sock. Who knows what happens. I think the interesting thing is that Sock and Kudla both leapfrogged Harrison. They spend most of their time on the challengers, while Harrison’s getting smacked around in qualifying for big tournaments (Sock and Kudla too, but Harrison’s trying for every one and limiting his time on the challenger circuit). Do you build confidence by “picking on players your own ranking level” (the Roddick/gilbert/Stefanki model: first you prove you can consistently beat the players you are supposed to beat) or do you throw yourself into the pit (the Harrison model, where you go against the best competition you can and go for a big risk/big return setup)?
No one has advocated Plan C, which is that these guys move to Spain/France, pick up some tricks and train there. That’s the Murray model – live in Spain, train there, put your game up against good practice, then emerge as a contender.
Dan Markowitz · October 20, 2013 at 3:00 pm
kind of shocked, although impressed Dimitrov beat Ferrer. To me, when I watch Raonic play, I think he’s too slow. Love his serve, return has gotten better, but he’s just not a guy who moves real well or volleys real well.
But I’m still sticking with Jerzy and Raonic as the big two. Jerzy might have too much Gulbis in him, though, where he’s always breaking down and getting upset. Sock, I think, is just too affable a guy and he doesn’t look like there’s something burning inside him too win.
You look at all past American champions from Connors and McEnroe to Sampras, Agassi and Courier, and they all had a bit of the dick or a lot of the dick and obnoxiousness in them. Everyone one of them with the exception of Courier (who’s lightened up a lot, but he was a total dick when he was younger and about as in love with himself as any man can be), had some kind of stigma, whether it was McEnroe’s fury about looking like a girl when he was a teen to Connors being brought up to play by his mom to Sampras being a little rich kid from Palos Verdes to Agassi being a bit of a drag queen and having a lunatic as his father. Even Roddick, who’s a nice affable guy, but also a dick, had that kind of pugnaciousness about him. Chang, of course, was little and Chinese and his mother tucked his shirt in during junior matches.
You need this kind of pathos in your early life to make it big as a tennis player. I think Sock is just too much of a good ol Midwestern boy who doesn’t know how to really battle.
gustarhymes · October 20, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Dimitrov’s win can potentially catapult him in the next 3 years to win a major. He has the talent. Raonic had hip surgery and not likely to last. Tomic is not a contender and has a terrible groundstrokes though has court sense. Del Potro can be interim number one just like Dimitrov after. Then krygios or Christian Garin or Gianni ? from Italy I suspect. Not sure if any young players from Espana? Amazing how so far it is tougher for young juniors.
Sock is the only American with upside or talent and weapons. Needs better coaching. Stefanki?
Andrew Miller · October 20, 2013 at 4:48 pm
The Paris Masters in a week will give some idea of where Dimitrov’s at – if he can put himself in position to play top 10 players he now knows he can win.
Andrew Miller · October 20, 2013 at 5:04 pm
Here’s something interesting. Carreno Busta is the youngest of Spain’s many top 100 players (just turned 22) and has won, I kid you not, something like 7 straight futures and four challenger events THIS YEAR, going from #654 in the world to…#66. He’s also above 500 for the year on the ATP (showing how hard it is).
This is a guy that deserved some attention. While players like Kudla were featured in the Wall Street Journal, so were players like Carreno Busta for being, essentially and I am not kidding, the Nadal of the challengers.
Scoop Malinowski · October 20, 2013 at 8:23 pm
Wow, impressed and surprised to see Dimitrov beat Ferrer. Then again Ferrer has had some weird losses this year, losing to Bogie and some others. Hope this sparks something in Dimitrov. Didn’t see the match, did he play amazing tennis? Or was Ferrer not Ferrer?
Scoop Malinowski · October 20, 2013 at 8:24 pm
Dr G, Italian kid’s name is Quinzi
Scoop Malinowski · October 20, 2013 at 10:36 pm
The three title winners today were all one handed backhands. Could this day be a turning point in tennis history? 🙂
Gaurang · October 21, 2013 at 4:19 am
Well Dimotrov is certainly very talented. He should get to top 10 within 6 months. Dont know after that since climbing into the top 4-5 is extremely difficult. (Del Potro replacing Federer as a permanent Big Four member).
Note that Dimitrov also won against Djokovic in Madrid on clay this year — and took a 6-2 set off Nadal at Monte Carlo. This kid can definitely play.
Andrew Miller · October 21, 2013 at 9:59 am
True about Dimitrov – 1 title is “a breakthrough” but says little about Dimitrov as a contender. He has a great game – it would be fun to see him up there.
For Spain’s P. Carreno, he reminds me of JC Ferrero with a less lethal game. JCF looked like a combination of Chang and Agassi in the pre-Nadal 2003 era. I remember thinking that he was going to win a bunch of slams. Shows how quickly fortunes in tennis can change. One day you are beating Federer every time. Next day you are staring at your fifth straight loss to him.
Scoop Malinowski · October 21, 2013 at 11:20 am
Is that right Andrew, JCF was beating Fed then suddenly lost the blueprint and lost five in a row to Fed? Sounds similar to Hewitt who lost fifteen in a row to Federer after being neck and neck with him. Roger could hit that sixth gear and just leave em inthe dust.