Paris Masters: **Spoilers**

[moore than just a gun]

same old taylor

... well played roddick considering

 

[monologuist]

did Dent smash his racquet after double-faulting to lose the match? I thought I saw him holding a completely obliterated racquet when he went up to the net to shake hands, but it might have been my imagination.

 

[Babblelot]

Gonzo had better snap out of it...

3rd set TB v. Mathieu

 

[Babblelot]

Doh! Whatever chances he had of qualifying for the TMC just got dashed.

P-H.Mathieu 6 3 7
F. Gonzalez 3 6 6

 

[Babblelot]

Nalbandian, who has an outside chance at qualifying for TMC, is down a set to Haas.

 

[Babblelot]

Wha oh! Nalbandian's down an early break in the 2nd! 3-1 Haas

 

[gugafanatic]

Why could Haas not play like this at the start of the year. The game needs the likes of: Ferrero, Haas and Guga back to their best.

 

[Babblelot]

Haas is one of my favs, while Nalbandian has always been a mystery to me... anyway, it looks like Nalbandian got 1 break back, now 4-3 Haas in the 2nd.

 

[Babblelot]

T. Haas 6 6
D. Nalbandian 4 3

After a great year, Coria could be the only Argentine to qualify for TMC. Gaudio still has an outside chance.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

T. Haas 6 6
D. Nalbandian 4 3

After a great year, Coria could be the only Argentine to qualify for TMC. Gaudio still has an outside chance.

great result for Haas.

the match between Gaudio and Santoro was a very interesting contrast, but Santoro was tired after yesterday's late match.

several great smashes and BHs from Gaudio. moves great.
I'd be surprised for him to beat Ginepri on this surface though.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Dent- 0/11 bps, 8 of them in the final set. Not too good at breaking, but he sure can choke

that's a shame ... not flexible enough ... mentally and physically ...

 

[erik-the-red]

I hope Coria can eke out a qualifying spot for Shanghai.

 

[moore than just a gun]

c'mon gaston!... go deep indoors!

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Berdych Ferrero seems to be a dandy ...

 

[baseliner]

Dent and his BPs

Wow that 3rd set was something. I never got the impression that Dent was going to break. he squandered 8 BPs in the 3rd set alone including double break point at 4-4. Yet he did not seem too terribly upset when he let Roddick off the hook. When he double-faulted at match point he just shrugged his shoulders and went to the net. Didn't seem too upset. maybe why he hasn't won more.

 

[Matthew]

A dandy? What the hell does that mean?

Berdych is a winner of JCF in 3 close sets. Good win for him.

 

[@wright]

Dandy is slang for "good". Put in the context of Marius' sentence, I determine it to mean "good matchup".

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Wow that 3rd set was something. I never got the impression that Dent was going to break. he squandered 8 BPs in the 3rd set alone including double break point at 4-4. Yet he did not seem too terribly upset when he let Roddick off the hook. When he double-faulted at match point he just shrugged his shoulders and went to the net. Didn't seem too upset. maybe why he hasn't won more.

yes, kind of casual about everything. well, he won't improve like this while guys like Davydenko are working their behinds off.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

A dandy? What the hell does that mean?

Berdych is a winner of JCF in 3 close sets. Good win for him.

The win is outstanding, it really saves his year.

Next, there will be a Ginepri Berdych head-on crash.
I'll favor Ginepri as being more experienced, but the kid is good.

Dandy:

2 : something especially excellent in its class <a dandy -- good-natured, willing and awfully good at his job -- D.B.Putnam> <a little dandy of a tent -- New Yorker> <this novel is a dandy> -- not often in formal use

 

[Babblelot]

yes, kind of casual about everything.

Usually when things aren't going his way, he puts on one of the best baton-twirling exhibition this side of Barnum & Baily's Circus.

 

[Jonnyf]

well Roddick already breaking 2-0

 

[Jonnyf]

sorry 3-0 now

 

[Jonnyf]

5-0 Sorry please don't critisize Roddick if he can thrash Hrbaty like this you should see it

 

[hoosierbr]

Masters Cup (as of today):

In - Coria
Out - Gonzalez, Nalbandian, Puerta, Thomas Johansson

 

[Jonnyf]

He's playing brilliantly

 

[Jonnyf]

What do you mean i thought Coria was out of it no matter what

 

[8PAQ]

Wow! Andy wins 6-1 6-2! Very impressive. Just a few days ago I thought Ljubicic will win this title. Now, I am not so sure.

 

[tykrum]

Usually when things aren't going his way, he puts on one of the best baton-twirling exhibition this side of Barnum & Baily's Circus.

Hicham Arazi does it best though. Maybe the circus is where he has gone; haven't seen him on tour in a while...

Great to see Roddick just went out and completely anihilated somebody decent. Hopefully that gives him some confidence to win this title and get some momentum into Shanghai.

 

[Jonnyf]

OMG Roddick played an absolute god

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Dent- 0/11 bps, 8 of them in the final set. Not too good at breaking, but he sure can choke

Things could be worse.

I am watching
Federer Blake, USO 2003
and in the 2nd set JMac commentates
Blake must've established a record by
defending 21 bps (Fed got 1 break, and was broken once too)

 

[Marius_Hancu]

now, isn't this a surprise, after 20 for Ginepri, in the first:

G. Gaudio 6 3
R. Ginepri 4 0 continues ...

on this surface, a defeat for Ginepri is not a good sign ...

 

[jhhachamp]

Wow if Ginepri loses that I will be very disappointed. I am pretty sure Davydenko has clinched a spot now and the last spot is still up for grabs. It looks like Ljubicic and Gaudio have the best shots, but I think Ferrer, Ginepri, and Robredostill mathematically have a shot. I really hope Ginepri comes back and knocks Gaudio out of the running. Ferrer and Robredo will almost surely be eliminated from contention tomorrow as they are playing Roddick and Ljubicic.

 

[hoosierbr]

What do you mean i thought Coria was out of it no matter what

Nope. He clinched w/Safin's withdrawl.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

G. Gaudio 6 6
R. Ginepri 4 1

poor results by Ginepri and esp Blake here.
I mean, losing to a claycourter (which has tennis class, mind you, still)
however, I think Ginepri will advance a bit in the rankings.

 

[@wright]

Ginepri just got beat like a dog...Sad, this surface should be much better for him than for Gaudio.

 

[VamosRafa]

Next, there will be a Ginepri Berdych head-on crash.
I'll favor Ginepri as being more experienced, but the kid is good.

Wonder how the kid'll do against Gaudio?

 

[Matthew]

Wonder how the kid'll do against Gaudio?

Hard to say, Berdych SHOULD be favored, but one would have said the same for Ginepri who got dominated. Plus Gaudio will be well rested with an easy win today, and Berdych had to dig deep in 3 sets.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Hard to say, Berdych SHOULD be favored, but one would have said the same for Ginepri who got dominated. Plus Gaudio will be well rested with an easy win today, and Berdych had to dig deep in 3 sets.

The only thing I can tell you, after this Ginepri result (OMG, you still can't bet on Ginepri:-[), is that Gaudio played very well yesterday with Santoro, and even Fed has problems with Santoro.

Very open match, Berdych Gaudio, to be sure.

 

[jhhachamp]

Damn, that sucks that Ginepri lost. Berdych better beat Gaudio tomorrow, I don't want to see him in the TMC. He has a decent shot to make the final, and if Roddick beats Ljubicic in the semis and Gaudio manages to make the finals he will be in. I really don't want to see Gaudio, Coria, AND Davydenko in the TMC.

 

[GRANITECHIEF]

Who thinks Roddick will beat Lubicic? I do not, even though i would really like for him to do it.

 

[DashaandSafin]

Who thinks Roddick will beat Lubicic? I do not, even though i would really like for him to do it.

*Raises Hand*
I do. Indoor should suit Roddick more. And if he played like he did today. He will win the title for sure.

As for Berdych beating Gaudio...i sure hope he does or else the TMC will be awfully boring...I mean Gaudio got absolutly crushed last year. I remeber commentators saying how he was only there to fool around and have fun. He got in by the one Slam and top 20 mark..which pissed off Mattress Mac becuase it pushed out his man Agassi. Could be one boring TMC.

 

[GRANITECHIEF]

*Raises Hand*
I do. Indoor should suit Roddick more. And if he played like he did today. He will win the title for sure.

As for Berdych beating Gaudio...i sure hope he does or else the TMC will be awfully boring...I mean Gaudio got absolutly crushed last year. I remeber commentators saying how he was only there to fool around and have fun. He got in by the one Slam and top 20 mark..which pissed off Mattress Mac becuase it pushed out his man Agassi. Could be one boring TMC.

Did you see the Nadal Lubicic final in Madrid? Or how about the Blake Lubicic match. Indoor is clearly the best surface for Luby.

That did suck that Gaudio pushed Agassi out of the Masters Cup last year. They shoulda played a match for the spot. I think we know what woulda happened.

I don't think a Master Cup featuring Fed, Roddick, Nadal, Hewitt, and maybe Luby will be boring. After they are done beating up on all the clay courters, there should be some close matches (Nadal not considered just a clay courter anymore with Hardcourt and Indoor master series titles).

 

[DashaandSafin]

Did you see the Nadal Lubicic final in Madrid? Or how about the Blake Lubicic match. Indoor is clearly the best surface for Luby.

That did suck that Gaudio pushed Agassi out of the Masters Cup last year. They shoulda played a match for the spot. I think we know what woulda happened.

I don't think a Master Cup featuring Fed, Roddick, Nadal, Hewitt, and maybe Luby will be boring. After they are done beating up on all the clay courters, there should be some close matches (Nadal not considered just a clay courter anymore with Hardcourt and Indoor master series titles).

Unfortuantly i dont have TC or i would have watched it...i heard it was just like Miami, only Nadal was Federer and Ljubicic was Nadal. Still Andy on indoor is still pretty good and i would like to see the matchup. As for the Masters...i exaggerated. It is worth watching but i just dont feel like seeing Federer beat up on Gaudio or Davekenyo 2 and 1

 

[alienhamster]

Too bad Roddick and Ljubicic aren't on opposite sides of the draw. And dernit, Gaudio should have to play Ljubicic in the semis--winner gets a spot in the Cup. Ah well, at least there are some interesting match-ups tomorrow (though honestly, I can never seem to get too excited about Davydenko).

 

[InTheFlesh_not]

Unfortuantly i dont have TC or i would have watched it...i heard it was just like Miami, only Nadal was Federer and Ljubicic was Nadal. Still Andy on indoor is still pretty good and i would like to see the matchup. As for the Masters...i exaggerated. It is worth watching but i just dont feel like seeing Federer beat up on Gaudio or Davekenyo 2 and 1

Feel the same way. I would trade Nalbandian, Johansson and Ginepri for Coria, Gaudio & Davydenko on fast hard courts any day. Even Ferrero would be more of a competitor at TMC. But sadly they all didn't play well enough in Paris.
Find it extremely unfair that Gaudio will get to participate in the Masters Cup solely on the strength of his 5 3rd-tier clay court tournament wins. He has'nt played well at the Slams, he has'nt had any real success at the AMS events not even at the clay events where he lost to Nadal, Ferrer and C. Rochus rather miserably. And then there people like Resudski and Henman who could have gathered as many points if there were more indoor/grass/fast hardcourt tournies.
Same goes for Davydenko who has'nt really done too well after the clay season. Certainly not played as well as a top-10er.
I give Coria respect for playing consistently on all surfaces atleast in the Slams.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

ARod played very well yesterday with Hrbaty. For a change, control and good movement. I wasn't bothered by the lack of topspin BHs, like others. He sliced very well, according to plan. Hrbaty was dumbfounded.

And ARod was relaxed. Let's hope he continues like that. But Ljubicic will want his scalp.

 

[@wright]

Slicing is a smart play against a flat hitter like Hrbaty. Was DH wearing the shirt with the holes in the back?

 

[Rabbit]

I was very impressed with Roddick's play. He stayed back, didn't over play his backhand, knocked the hell out of his forehand, and worked the court very well. Likewise, when drawn into net, he seemed genuinely pleased when things went his way. I wish he would adopt more of a Connors-like approach, letting his approach shot set up a knock off volley.

In any event, I don't think he could have played the Dominator any better.

Nope, Hrbaty has given up on the fashion faux paux.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Robredo must have upset Ivan during the 2nd set

T. Robredo 6 6 1
I. Ljubicic 7 3 6

Probably ARod next. Could be a great match.

 

[Babblelot]

Robredo must have upset Ivan during the 2nd set

T. Robredo 6 6 1
I. Ljubicic 7 3 6

Probably ARod next. Could be a great match.

If I'm not mistaken (and I may be), Ljubicic claims the final spot in TMC with his win today providing no one else pulls out.

TMC qualifiers
1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Roddick
4. Hewitt
5. Agassi
6. Coria
7. Davydenko
8. Ljubicic (favorite)* Edit per rhubarb
Gaudio and Ferrer still alive