1 of 1- funches
- Member
Offline - Registered: 12/07/2012
- Posts: 251
Madrid
Nice to see the blue courts gone.
It looks like Gasquet is back into another one of his funks after a solid run the last year or so. He lost to Gimeno-Traver today and did not win a point in the last two games from 4-4 in the third set. While watching Gasquet in the last month, it is clear that although he is a supreme shotmaker, his talent was overrated from the start for one simple reason--he doesn't move great. Compared to the big four, it's not even close, which is one of the reasons he plays so far back in the court, giving him more time to reach balls.
Never mind the head issues, which cleary have held him back, too. He was never going to win a slam with his relative lack of speed around the court.
I have a feeling Isner will get to the quarters here. He has to beat three nondescript Spaniards to get there, already having gotten by the first, and the altitude in Madrid makes his serve impossible to handle.
Last edited by funches (5/07/2013 11:18 am)
- Forehand_lob
- Administrator
Offline
- Registered: 10/30/2012
- Posts: 334
Re: Madrid
Gimeno-Traver played pretty well in Madrid last year, I believe, extending Djokovic (I think?) to three sets.
And speaking of Djokovic, what to make of his going out to Dimitrov? A hiccup (I get the feeling that, of the top players, only Federer really likes how Madrid plays, blue clay or no) or a case of one of the younger generation finally rising up?
Also on the younger generation, I thought Verdasco was going to lose against Raonic after failing to convert several break points at 5-5 in the third set. But he went on to win the tiebreak. Raonic loses a lot of points on his serve (at least, against Verdasco he did), which makes me think that tiebreaks aren't the "sure thing" for him that they are for other big servers.
- funches
- Member
Offline
- Registered: 12/07/2012
- Posts: 251
Re: Madrid
I don't think that was normal for Raonic, but you're right, he lost a lot of points on serve in the tiebreak and in his last few service games.
Speaking of tiebreaks, I heard one of the most incredible stats ever today during the Haase-Tsonga match. After losing 7-6, 7-6, Haase has dropped 17 consecutive tiebreaks, an all-time record on the ATP tour.
EDIT: looking at his match results, I count 15 in a row dating back to Rome in 2012, when he won a tiebreak over Stakhovsky in the first round of qualifying. So he's gone exactly a year without winning one.
Last edited by funches (5/09/2013 1:17 am)
- •
Thread Starter- Forehand_lob
- Administrator
Offline
- Registered: 10/30/2012
- Posts: 334
Re: Madrid
Well, maybe Federer didn't like how Madrid played this year.
That is an amazing stat. I guess Haase needs to practice tiebreaks.
After a brief attempt at looking like she was going to make a match of it, Sharapova is back on serve in the second set. Looks like Serena's going to get another red clay title!