ATP M1000 Monte Carlo 2024

Who wins?

  • Total voters
    47
  • Poll closed .
socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
socallefty said:
I have it. Every time I’ve gotten a cold or flu virus since (happened 3 times in 2 years), it takes me at least two months to get rid of my cough and slight sore throat long after the original virus is cured along with other symptoms. When I exercise and get a bit breathless, I get coughing fits during this period. There is a heat regulation issue where the body gets heated up further as soon as I get slightly hot from the exercise and so I have to avoid playing in the hot sun also. So basically I can’t play singles for 2 months every time I catch any respiratory virus due to bad coughing fits (and the over-heating issue) after a couple of long points that make me breathless. I can play doubles though. When I actually got COVID in mid-2022, I had many of the typical COVID symptoms persist for 2.5 months also even though I tested negative in two weeks.

Djokovic has been sick a couple of times in the Spring according to reports in the last three years and had slumps at Dubai/early clay season while he took a long time to recover. He also looked exhausted from heat in some tournaments on the sidelines. This year, he got sick in Australia and did poorly at IW, skipped Miami and still looks low energy. I can’t help but wonder if he has the same problem I do.

I am hoping that it fades over time for me as there doesn’t seem to be a solution that doctors can provide although they seem to understand the WBC mechanism in the blood that makes it happen with the body’s immune system still active after a virus is gone. Very frustrating though as I travel a lot and it is impossible to not catch some virus however fit you are. I think Djokovic will never be open about it because of his well-known carelessness about COVID and anti-vaccine stance. If I didn‘t suffer from it, I would view it as poetic justice also.
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I am convinced that Djokovic has lung and over-heating issues just like me still from his respiratory virus in January and that is the cause of his bad form and low energy. He looks breathless uncharacteristically after many long points today bending over to recover his breath and was putting ice packs on his head during changeovers even though it is not that hot. I think he wasn’t in shape to play last month, but is getting better but likely not at more than 80% in terms of normal lung capacity and heat regulation. I think he will lose in MC in either the semi or final, but hopefully keeps getting better and is healthy by Rome/Paris.
 
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socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
It is one of the TTW memes to underrate Ruud who has been one of the best players on tour for a couple of years already. Djokovic fans hated him for rolling over to Nadal in the FO final and Nadal fans hate him for losing twice in two other Slam finals.

His FH and movement are truly elite while he has a good serve and return. His spinny BH is not great for fast courts, but is highly effective on clay. He is also mentally composed and wins the matches he is supposed to win always particularly on clay. Along with Nadal, Alcaraz, Djokovic and Tsitsipas, he has been a top 5 player on clay already for a few years and it is no surprise he has made two RG finals. But don’t forget he has been to a USO and Turin final also.

Whenever I see players live in Indian Wells, Ruud has always looked like a top 5 talent for a couple of years. With Nadal fading away and Sinner ascending, Ruud will still have a good chance to make it to the semis of all the clay tournaments. Whether he has the mental confidence to beat Djokovic, Alcaraz or Sinner in a Slam final remains to be seen, but it is not a surprise that he makes big finals. When you have one of the biggest FHs on tour and are one of the fastest players with really good footwork, it goes a long way to beat the guys you are supposed to beat efficiently.
 
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Tshooter

Tshooter

G.O.A.T.
socallefty said:
I am convinced that Djokovic has lung issues still from his respiratory virus in January and that is the cause of his bad form and low energy since. He looks breathless uncharacteristically after many long points today and was bending over to recover his breath. I think he wasn’t in shape to play last month, but is getting better but likely not at more than 80% in terms of normal lung capacity. I think he will lose in MC in either the semi or final, but hopefully keeps getting better and is healthy by Rome/Paris.
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Thank you for the diagnosis. :giggle:
 
junior74

junior74

Talk Tennis Guru
socallefty said:
It is one of the TTW memes to underrate Ruud who has been one of the best players on tour for a couple of years already. Djokovic fans hated him for rolling over to Nadal in the FO final and Nadal fans hate him for losing to Djokovic twice in two Slam finals.

His FH and movement are truly elite while he has a good serve and return. His spinny BH is not great for fast courts, but is highly effective on clay. He is also mentally composed and wins the matches he is supposed to win always particularly on clay. Along with Nadal, Alcaraz, Djokovic and Tsitsipas, he has been a top 5 player on clay already for a few years and it is no surprise he has made two RG finals. But don’t forget he has been to a USO and Turin final also.

Whenever I see players live in Indian Wells, Ruud has always looked like a top 5 talent for a couple of years. With Nadal fading away and Sinner ascending, Ruud will still have a good chance to make it to the semis of all the clay tournaments. Whether he has the mental confidence to beat Djokovic, Alcaraz or Sinner in a Slam final remains to be seen, but it is not a surprise that he makes big finals. When you have one of the biggest FHs on tour and are one of the fastest players with really good footwork, it goes a long way to beat the guys you are supposed to beat efficiently.
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He met Nadal and Djokovic in RG finals... Doesn't get much tougher than that.

Had the chance of a lifetime against young Alcaraz. SP to go up 2-1. I doubt he gets closer than that.
 
alexio

alexio

G.O.A.T.
funnily enough, just looked up at odds for the winner of rg, and meddy stands higher than casper, meddy 12x, casper 17
 
Vincent-C

Vincent-C

Hall of Fame
Maybe I'm way off, but I think Ruud's going to give Djok a spot of trouble in the semis.
 
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S

Sakura

New User
socallefty said:
It is one of the TTW memes to underrate Ruud who has been one of the best players on tour for a couple of years already. Djokovic fans hated him for rolling over to Nadal in the FO final and Nadal fans hate him for losing twice in two other Slam finals.

His FH and movement are truly elite while he has a good serve and return. His spinny BH is not great for fast courts, but is highly effective on clay. He is also mentally composed and wins the matches he is supposed to win always particularly on clay. Along with Nadal, Alcaraz, Djokovic and Tsitsipas, he has been a top 5 player on clay already for a few years and it is no surprise he has made two RG finals. But don’t forget he has been to a USO and Turin final also.

Whenever I see players live in Indian Wells, Ruud has always looked like a top 5 talent for a couple of years. With Nadal fading away and Sinner ascending, Ruud will still have a good chance to make it to the semis of all the clay tournaments. Whether he has the mental confidence to beat Djokovic, Alcaraz or Sinner in a Slam final remains to be seen, but it is not a surprise that he makes big finals. When you have one of the biggest FHs on tour and are one of the fastest players with really good footwork, it goes a long way to beat the guys you are supposed to beat efficiently.
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It’s nice to read positive comments about Rudd,who I think is a very fine player indeeed,and also a thoroughly likeable and decent person.
 
junior74

junior74

Talk Tennis Guru
Vincent-C said:
Maybe I'm way off, but I think Ruud's going to give Djok a spot of trouble in the semis.
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Not with such a low 1st serve percentage (in the 50s). He needs the first serve to be able to hit FH on the second shot. Even more so than ever against Novak.
 
Terenigma

Terenigma

G.O.A.T.
Didn't get a chance to watch any tennis today but watched the highlights and watching Rune vs Sinner. You just see the flashes of brilliance from Rune and I still wonder what kind of player he could be if he could play like that every match. He is a really good player and today, contest the best player on the tour and then you go back a tournament and remember he lost 6-1 6-1 in Miami. What is up with that?!
 
Tennisfan339

Tennisfan339

Professional
Why did so many people vote for Alcaraz in the poll? 1) He never won a MATCH in Monte-Carlo. 2) His last 4 results on clay include 3 early upsets against mugs : 3rd round against Jarry in Rio, 1st round against Monteiro in Bueno-Aires, Semifinal in RG against Djokovic and 2nd round in Rome against Maroszan.
 
socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Rune can bang with anybody, but his problem is that he can’t keep his intensity high and focus narrow across entire matches for entire tournaments. I don’t know yet if he will learn this skill over time.
 
socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Djokovic_is_the_best#1 said:
I don’t think Djokovic is ready to face Sinner yet so it might not be a bad thing if Ruud beats him.
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Will Djokovic be tempted to tank the 2nd set if he loses the 1st set against Ruud because in the back of his mind he doesn’t want to lose against Sinner while not being 100%? His behavior today where he was breathless after long points and putting ice bags on his head during changeovers doesn’t inspire confidence that he is 100% healthy. Bet the mortgage money on Casper:)
 
nolefam_2024

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
socallefty said:
Will Djokovic be tempted to tank the 2nd set if he loses the 1st set against Ruud because in the back of his mind he doesn’t want to lose against Sinner while not being 100%? His behavior today where he was breathless after long points and putting ice bags on his head during changeovers doesn’t inspire confidence that he is 100% healthy. Bet the mortgage money on Casper:)
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If I were in his position, I would 100% tank if I lose a set tomorrow.
 
Djokovic_is_the_best#1

Djokovic_is_the_best#1

Bionic Poster
socallefty said:
Will Djokovic be tempted to tank the 2nd set if he loses the 1st set against Ruud because in the back of his mind he doesn’t want to lose against Sinner while not being 100%? His behavior today where he was breathless after long points and putting ice bags on his head during changeovers doesn’t inspire confidence that he is 100% healthy. Bet the mortgage money on Casper:)
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H2H is 4-3 with Sinner. Needs to try to protect it ;)
 
T

tennisfan223

New User
Surprised there wasn't much discussion here on the rune-sinner match. Result was pretty expected, but Holger put up more of a fight than I thought he would considering he played 2 matches with a 1 hour gap the day before, then had around a 12 hour gap between this match and the dimitrov one. He could do good in Rome if he is rested up unlike over here, we shall see.
 
T

tennisfan223

New User
Also forgot he saved match points.
I think this match also holger one of 5 (?) people who took a set of sinner this year, the others being alcaraz, djokovic, medvedev, and Griekspoor. I don't think it matters much though, as its only been 4 months into the year.
 
socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Sounds like Casper is the forgotten man in the semis - the ‘friendly ghost’ doesn’t even seem visible to most posters. I hope he pulls a couple of surprises this weekend.
 
BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Sakura said:
It’s nice to read positive comments about Rudd,who I think is a very fine player indeeed,and also a thoroughly likeable and decent person.
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Very handsome too.

casper-ruud-wearing-a-black-hoodie-98k1fc37gsqvev8f.webp
 
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