2013 ATP Masters 1000: Monte Carlo

[matt_897]

We are now in the beautiful Monte Carlo for the first clay Masters 1000 event of the season. This event is played in an amazing location overlooking the sea:


Considering this event isn't mandatory, there is quite a good field here ready to start their preparation for Roland Garros with Federer (rest) and Ferrer (thigh) the only ones missing. Nadal is out to win his 9th Monte Carlo title in a row and he has shown over the hard courts that still has the game. He is clearly the mean to beat. Djokovic is the world no.1 and will certainly looking to be playing some of the tennis that beat Nadal on the clay in 2011. Andy Murray is improving on the clay each year but it's still his weakest surface. No reason why he can't play well on it and the title in Miami will give him a lot of confidence, he has the bad draw of Nadal in his half. Berdych is the no.4 seed and has played some solid tennis lately. But again the big 3 is who to watch out for this week.

Two aussies are here (pretty unusual actually). Tomic gets to face Dolgopolov again (how these players with similar style but wacky styles keep facing each other) and who knows will win that. hopefully he can do well, Del Potro is waiting in the second round and that should be a loss. Matosevic has got Verdasco and honestly I give Marinko a chance, Verdasco has all over the shop this season so if Marinko can play his solid game and serve well, I give him a shot. Nadal is waiting in the next round...

Tomic's match is on tonight, but there will be no coverage tonight just for a heads up.

TV Coverage: ESPN all week generally starting 6.30pm each night so a good timezone for us. The final is 10pm Sunday night (usually is anyway)

Draw: http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?Year=2013&EventId=410&Draw=ms

My tip would have to be Nadal.

 

[Chris_2593]

Cant see Tomic beating Dolgopolov. Hopfully puts in a good effore. Also playing doubles with Raonic. Awesome team. Marinko can beat Verdasco. Would love to see the match up with Nadal as he is yet to play one of the big guys is he?

Gone for a Nadal/Del Potro final.

 

[Chris_2593]

Another first round another loss for Tomic 6-2 6-4. Dolgopolov now has a 5-1 record against Tomic the only time Tomic won was the 5 set match at the AO last year.

 

[matt_897]

It's amazing they have played 6 matches already. Was hoping for a better performance tbh

 

[gcsportsfan12]

Tomic better start winning and picking up points if he's to finish top 10 this year

 

[Chris_2593]

Tonights OOP

Ivan Dodig Vs Benoit Paire
Roberto Bautista Agut Vs (11) Gilles Simon
(12) Milos Raonic Vs Jullien Benneteau
(9) Marin Cilic Vs Horacio Zeballos.

No stand out matches but im looking foward to the Dodig/Paire and Raonic/Benneteau. Marinko will play tomorrow. Coverage begins at 6:30PM on ESPN.

 

[Chris_2593]

Man watching Paire/Dodig before. Paire has all the right shots to be a very very good player if he just controlled his temper and didnt hit so many errors.

Meanwhile Simon has gone back to sucking. Down 6-3 4-2 to Batuista-Agut. Simon is defending semi final points from last year so he will slide down the rankings abit if he is to lose.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Man watching Paire/Dodig before. Paire has all the right shots to be a very very good player if he just controlled his temper and didnt hit so many errors.

Paire could be top ten if he wasn't so insistent on hitting a winner off of every ball. Plays very similarly to me, actually.

Needs a change of coach imo.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Paire could be top ten if he wasn't so insistent on hitting a winner off of every ball. Plays very similarly to me, actually.

Needs a change of coach imo.

Didn't Paire recently have a massive argument with Llodra? Unfortunately don't think it was on a televised court.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Didn't Paire recently have a massive argument with Llodra? Unfortunately don't think it was on a televised court.

Wouldn't surprise me, they're both pretty big personalities from what I've heard.

EDIT: Yep.
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/03/llodra-paire-engage-miami-spat/46859/#.UWzd62DPPzY

Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Benoit Paire get into a major spat during their first-round match in Miami, which was won by Llodra, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
The AFP and L'Equipe both reported that after Paire was complaining to the chair umpire about a line call, Llodra told him not to “act like a little sh--. "
The 38th-ranked Paire then told Llodra not to speak to him like that or treat him like a dog, to which Llodra allegedly responded: "Shut up. I'm eight years older than you; you owe me respect."
After Llodra rallied to win the first set, he said Paire lost his concentration. "I knew that if I won the first set, he was flipping out,” Llodra said.
Paire, who beat Llodra in their lone prior meeting in the Montpellier semifinals last month, refused to shake hands after the match, and told L'Equipe: "Mika did everything to destabilize me while I was dominating the game quietly. He clearly and deliberately insulted me. I won’t talk to him anymore."

 

[matt_897]

Matosevic just about to play his match with Verdasco, very curious to see hwo this goes, will actually shape mye xpectationsfor him this clays eason. ESPn aren't showing it though, watching it via tennistv.

 

[Chris_2593]

Matosevic just about to play his match with Verdasco, very curious to see hwo this goes, will actually shape mye xpectationsfor him this clays eason. ESPn aren't showing it though, watching it via tennistv.

Let us know how Marinko goes. currently enjoying Tipsarevic/Dimitrov match. Hopfully Dmitrov can get up.

 

[Chris_2593]

Nice turnaround from Marinko down 2-5 won the set 7-5.

 

[Selective Retention]

Hard to fathom how guys like Melzer and Verdasco have dropped off so fast like they have the last 12-18 months.

They are getting older and have had niggles but they haven't been completely cut down by multiple long term injuries like Hewitt has over the last few years.

 

[Chris_2593]

Marinko wins 7-5 6-3.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Good stuff from Marinko, I completely forgot about this match argh. What's the general consensus though regarding Verdasco? Is he done?
Anyway, Nadal's next unfortunately.

 

[gcsportsfan12]

Dimitrov beat Tipsarevic. Seems as if Grigor is progressing nicely (especially compared to someone like Tomic).

 

[Chris_2593]

Marinko plays Nadal second on centre court so i think ESPN will show that.

 

[Chris_2593]

Nieminen just beat Raonic 7-6 in the third. Like both players but happy to see Nieminen go through. Now on ESPN Matosevic Vs Nadal. Go Marinko.

 

[matt_897]

If you want to watch someone get violated on a tennis court. Marinko is right now against nadal. Sweet jesus, this start....

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

So we're all in agreement that they should just hand the RG title to Rafa and save everyone else the preparation, right?

 

[matt_897]

So we're all in agreement that they should just hand the RG title to Rafa and save everyone else the preparation, right?

Basically all matches should be played apart from Rafa'a. His match are automatically counted as wins.

I gave Marinko a round of appluse after winning that service game, brutal stuff

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Unfortunately Marinko gave back the break he got in the second, Nadal getting back in control, 3-2 up on serve. Didn't watch the first set, sounds like it wasn't pretty though. Marinko surely could win a couple of rounds at RG provided he gets a nice draw of course!

 

[matt_897]

6-1, 6-2 in the end. Good week for Marinko anyway, now to build on from this.

An out of form youzhny taking the first set off a partly injured Djokovic, hmmm.....

 

[Selective Retention]

Tomic and Raonic makes for an odd doubles pairing, even more so on clay.

They've won two games though. Beat the high ranked poles tonight.