2015 Sony Ericsson Open Thread.

[RedmanWasHere]

All discussion points go in this thread.

A bit early for this but a few tweets from Jarmila Gajdosova triggered my want to start this.
She's pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami as her body and health's not up to scratch for it.

I don't know how to properly embed things from Twitter as some of my previous efforts have failed.

My first Tennis thread BTW.

 

[Big Tezza]

I'm expecting this to be a Novak-Andy final, with Djokovic taking the US hardcourt double like he did last year. Nadal and Berdych in Murray's half, with Nishikori and Raonic in Djokovic's.

Tomic, if he plays, is on a collision course with Berdych for round 3.

Kokkinakis has Berlocq first up, which is definitely winnable, but then runs into Wawrinka in round 2.

 

[pepsi]

Fed skipping Miami. The draws are out.

http://m.atpworldtour.com/Mobile/Scores/Event-Draws.aspx?EventId=0403&Year=2015

Indian Wells was so slow and Miami will probably be similar. Why USA gets 2 1000 tournaments in a row that both go for 2 weeks confused me. At least one of them should be reduced to 1 week.

In fact one of the USA 1000 MS tournaments should lose it's status and be reduced to a 500 point tournament and a grass MS 1000 should be created.

 

[Big Tezza]

I would love for there to be a grass MS 1000. I'm hoping that the extended grass court season this year is the first step towards one being put into the calendar.

 

[pepsi]

I would love for there to be a grass MS 1000. I'm hoping that the extended grass court season this year is the first step towards one being put into the calendar.

That the ATP tour moved so far away from grass courts is a blight on the sport. Totally ignored its history and went to far in homogenising the game. I agree with your sentiments, let's hope it happens in the future.

 

[Hudu Gurusingha]

I would love for there to be a grass MS 1000. I'm hoping that the extended grass court season this year is the first step towards one being put into the calendar.

That will upset some.

 

[JamisonRun40]

I don't think it would upset Nadal, in fact he would relish it. I think he would be more upset if they downgraded a clay event.

 

[matt_897]

As much as I think Indian Wells has slowed down a lot and Miami may as well be freaking clay, these events are well attended and well run and deserve their 2 week s spots and aren't going anywhere.

 

[vaughany]

TV coverage?

 

[pepsi]

TV coverage?

I'd imagine it would start on ESPN from Saturday or Sunday. I'll check.

 

[Amazing Bombers]

It might drag a bit but looking forward to seeing the return of Tsonga, Delpo and to a lesser extent Lleyton. Pospisil Del Potro will be a good first round to watch with the winner to face Dimitrov.
Nick's out of Miami hopefully injuries don't play too big a role in his career.
In the women's Vadisova has a good chance to win a match against Babos , then a possible 2nd rounder against Halep.


Aussies-

Hewitt Bellucci
Groth Zverev
Kokkinakis Berlocq
Matosevic Nieminen
Duckworth Dzumhur
Tomic[25] Bye- plays Istomin/ Krajicek 2nd round

Women's

Dellacqua [32] Bye- Plays Hantuchova/Bencic 2nd round
Stosur [23] Bye- Plays Parmentier/Bertens

 

[RedmanWasHere]

It might drag a bit but looking forward to seeing the return of Tsonga, Delpo and to a lesser extent Lleyton. Pospisil Del Potro will be a good first round to watch with the winner to face Dimitrov.
Nick's out of Miami hopefully injuries don't play too big a role in his career.
In the women's Vadisova has a good chance to win a match against Babos , then a possible 2nd rounder against Halep.


Aussies-

Hewitt Bellucci
Groth Zverev
Kokkinakis Berlocq
Matosevic Nieminen
Duckworth Dzumhur
Tomic[25] Bye- plays Istomin/ Krajicek 2nd round

Women's

Dellacqua [32] Bye- Plays Hantuchova/Bencic 2nd round
Stosur [23] Bye- Plays Parmentier/Bertens

Bolded are who I reckon will win against the Aussies.

R.e Groth vs Zverev, is it Alexander or Mischa?

 

[Amazing Bombers]

Bolded are who I reckon will win against the Aussies.

R.e Groth vs Zverev, is it Alexander or Mischa?

Alexander.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Alexander.

Then Groth to win in straight sets.

 

[Amazing Bombers]

Duckworth won in 3 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 will play Verdasco next. He's up to 83 in the world now. Kokkinakis went down 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to Berlocq and Marinko lost meekly in straights against Jarko Neminen 6-3 6-3.

 

[Chris_2593]

Surprised to see Lleyton here.

 

[Amazing Bombers]

Gavrilova beat Sharapova in straights 7-6(4) 6-3. She's up to 86 in the world now, not a bad year so far after winning the AO wildcard playoff in December.
Been a good week for the teenagers in Miami with Coric, Zverev, Rublev and Chung all through to the 2nd round.

 

[Hudu Gurusingha]

Groth lost surprise surprise

 

[Amazing Bombers]

Delpo lost as well hopefully he keeps playing so he can get back to some good form.

 

[bato]

Serena was injured just a few days ago, was she not?

 

[matt_897]

Surprised to see Lleyton here.

Yeah, was surprised too but guess thought may as well because he had direct entry and isn't too far from the Bahamas, probably lost to one of the players he could actually win but he lost out very closely.

Not a great week for the Aussies, although impressed with Duckworth winning a round and taking a set off Verdasco, secured that top 100 spot for a little bit now. Matosevic awful form contiunes, he'll be playing challengers very soon and Groth the same, thought the DC tie might destroy Groth and it looks like it has.

Stosur lost to Venus in two tight sets. I'm ok with that but her lame year contiunes.

 

[Big Tezza]

Good to see Tsonga back, even if he only scraped over the line against Smyczek. He has Monfils next, which should be a fun match.

Bernie has Berdych overnight and I'm not expecting a great deal, but you never know.

Lisicki and Ivanovic should also be a nice match, although Ana has been struggling a bit, and had a tough time against Falconi.

 

[Hudu Gurusingha]

What a joke this hasnt been televised until tomorrow morning

 

[vaughany]

What a joke this hasnt been televised until tomorrow morning

Yeah pretty poor considering we have something like 8 sport channels to choose from to televise it on

 

[pepsi]

Tomic won the opening set 7-6. Was up a break, then Berdych got it back. Tomic also saved a set point at 4-5, played a great tiebreak.