ATP Masters Series- Cincinnati

[Drummond]

The tournament got underway yesterday and there were a few highlight matches. The gun that is Carlos Moya defeated David Nalbandian 7-6(4), 7-6(2). However he will now face Djokovic.

Juan Ignacio Chela defeated Tim Henman 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. And Nicolas Kiefer defeated Marat Safin 6-3, 7-6(1). Where to now Marat?

 

[Ricketts]

Is Roddick in the same half as Roger? With Nadal and Djokovic out he might make a final!

 

[gaelictiogar]

Roger is over the first two obstacles and is now gaining ranking points after failing in Cincy last year but once again and not for the first time this year, he looked some way of his best in playing Marcos.

However there is a Masters series event there to be won if he wants it.

 

[Ricketts]

Querry having his breakout tournament?

 

[stmookeyj]

Is Roddick in the same half as Roger? With Nadal and Djokovic out he might make a final!

He lost, so no final for him.

 

[Ricketts]

He lost, so no final for him.

Yep, blown a big opportunity.

 

[Total Power]

Roger is really looking vulnerable, he is commiting way too many unforced errors and his forehand which is his major weapon is actually letting him down this year.Even today vs baghdatis, he was looking vulnerable.

 

[gaelictiogar]

Roger is really looking vulnerable, he is commiting way too many unforced errors and his forehand which is his major weapon is actually letting him down this year.Even today vs baghdatis, he was looking vulnerable.

Correct. His unforced error count in so many big matches in recent months is shockingly high.

TBH I think he is showing signs of a kind of boredom. he is irritated by resistance and anyone who really digs in and competes against him can make him go for broke trying to win games and sets too quickly.

Of course he is still getting results others can only dream of. He is still the most effective player and at 26 is young enough to shake himself out of his lethargy and come back stronger than ever but i watch him a lot and since melbourne it simply isn't the same federer. Did hitting 10 Slams sate his appetite in some way? He'll win at Cincy and stock up his ranking points but is it papering over the cracks?

 

[Total Power]

Correct. His unforced error count in so many big matches in recent months is shockingly high.

TBH I think he is showing signs of a kind of boredom. he is irritated by resistance and anyone who really digs in and competes against him can make him go for broke trying to win games and sets too quickly.

Of course he is still getting results others can only dream of. He is still the most effective player and at 26 is young enough to shake himself out of his lethargy and come back stronger than ever but i watch him a lot and since melbourne it simply isn't the same federer. Did hitting 10 Slams sate his appetite in some way? He'll win at Cincy and stock up his ranking points but is it papering over the cracks?

I dont think he is going to win the US open this year.I mean surely nadal and djokovic will make the semis there

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Nadal won't make the semis this year, 2008 will be his breakout year on hardcourts. Don't take this personally TP, but I just feel he is a bit one dimensional on hardcourts and his serve needs improving ASAP. I actually recon someone like Andy Murray could shock a few people at the US Open (if fit) and Djokovic is my smokey to win it although I recon Djokovic is still a year a way at least.

 

[Total Power]

Nadal won't make the semis this year, 2008 will be his breakout year on hardcourts. Don't take this personally TP, but I just feel he is a bit one dimensional on hardcourts and his serve needs improving ASAP. I actually recon someone like Andy Murray could shock a few people at the US Open (if fit) and Djokovic is my smokey to win it although I recon Djokovic is still a year a way at least.

but he served pretty well on hardcourts earlier this year and he served extremely well on grass courts.I mean before the finals at wimbledon he was only broken 5 times in the entire tournament.Thats not too bad

 

[Ricketts]

Andy Murray won't be doing anything at the US Open, he is in all sorts of bad form.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

but he served pretty well on hardcourts earlier this year and he served extremely well on grass courts.I mean before the finals at wimbledon he was only broken 5 times in the entire tournament.Thats not too bad

There are just so many players that could beat him on hardcourts which as they are neutralise the top spin he gets on the ball as it is. Nadal's serve is relatively poor, not to mention he is playing injured! Grass is completely different, you know as well as I do that the grass is getting slower and slower and becoming more like a damn clay court! I have severe questions on Nadal's serve on a hardcourt as he is not getting enough "cheap points" on serve. 2008 may be his year, but he can prove me wrong, but he is no chance of making the semis this year. Quarter finals AT BEST.

 

[Total Power]

There are just so many players that could beat him on hardcourts which as they are neutralise the top spin he gets on the ball as it is. Nadal's serve is relatively poor, not to mention he is playing injured! Grass is completely different, you know as well as I do that the grass is getting slower and slower and becoming more like a damn clay court! I have severe questions on Nadal's serve on a hardcourt as he is not getting enough "cheap points" on serve. 2008 may be his year, but he can prove me wrong, but he is no chance of making the semis this year. Quarter finals AT BEST.

i disagree, at the australian open he lost to gonzo who was virtually unbeatable. Last week against Nole, he was not fully fit, 28 unforced errors is the proof that his footwork was not upto the mark.The only guys who can beat him on hardcourts are Nole and federer anyway.I cant see anyone else doing it.Gonzalez can but it depends on which gonzo turns up.Other threats to him are flat groundstrokers like Blake and Youzhny.I cannot see anyone else beating him to be honest.

Anyway, Dancevic was on a role before he was stopped by Rafa.In the 3rd set again Dancevic, rafa got 100% first serves in and served 8 aces and 6 unreturnable serves out of 23 consecutive first serves.

I am not saying that he is a great server, ofcourse he is not, but when his serve is on it can be weapon due to the bounce and angle he generates.US open is going to be a big opportunity for him, because the Plexi Pave surface helps topspin.I disagree that Nadal has a great advantage on grass.Mate you can ask any guy on tour, topspin means zilch on grass.The ball doesnt bounce at all, no matter how much topsin you put on it.However plexi pave surface is different.Its the same surface that made rafa beat the likes of Nole and Roddick earlier at Indian Wells.

Anyway, obviously he has a long way to go on his serve, but with federer on the decline and nole not quite ready to win a slam, this is rafas biggest chance IMO

 

[gaelictiogar]

The fact is the jury is out on Nadal on hard courts. He is vulnerable to any decent player and his injury pull out is symptomatic of a man who relies so much on 100% effort to cover up failings in his game.

I'm notr knocking him. He is a worthy contender and is a fine player but several players are better equipped to make the break through at Flushing Meadows and for all his struggles Federer remains by a mile the most likely winner since when all is said and done is is simply the best player.

 

[gaelictiogar]

Excellent semi final. To be fair to him Lleyton is playing the best tennis he has played in years. he looks a genuine top 5 player at the moment.

Federer played well when attacking and hopefully is playing himself into form. Beating Hewitt means more than it has done for a while.

 

[Total Power]

The fact is the jury is out on Nadal on hard courts. He is vulnerable to any decent player and his injury pull out is symptomatic of a man who relies so much on 100% effort to cover up failings in his game.

I'm notr knocking him. He is a worthy contender and is a fine player but several players are better equipped to make the break through at Flushing Meadows and for all his struggles Federer remains by a mile the most likely winner since when all is said and done is is simply the best player.

what? did you notice he has his tape below his knee to prevent the same injury from aggravating? you think he pulled out cause he was losing to monaco? how many guys have beaten him this year other than federer and novak?? on all surfaces??

 

[gaelictiogar]

I'm not saying he pulled out because he was losing. I'm saying that because he relies so much on 110% effort he is putting his body under great strain and will be injury prone and increasingly so as he ages and gets miles on the clock. He is at 100% far more than he would need to be were he more talented and less reliant on his massive capacity for work and retrieval.

That said well done to the Meister on his 14th masters series title. A timely ranking points boost for him and a confidence boost prior to Flushing Meadows. Only 3 behind Agassi's masters series record now as he continues to close in on every record in the book.

 

[Drummond]

LOL Blake. Does anyone actually respect his tennis ability? Looks all flashy when he's beating up on lower ranked opponents, but constantly gives up against those superior to him.

 

[Scruff83]

LOL Blake. Does anyone actually respect his tennis ability? Looks all flashy when he's beating up on lower ranked opponents, but constantly gives up against those superior to him.

I respect him, he didnt get to #6 or whatever through luck. I can see where your coming from though. Dont think he'll ever win a grand slam.