2017 ATP World Tour Finals RR - PCB(1) vs Dimitrov (6)

[George Turner]

Let's get this one out the way quick.

PCB showed good fighting spirit against Thiem even though he's outgunned in every department on paper. He cannot now qualify so is unlikely to be quite so into this match. He may decide instead to just enjoy it which might at least allow him to play freely. Unlike Thiem Dimi is pretty natural indoors and PCB could struggle a fair bit in this one. He's got no weapons to harm Dimi with so will need to fight for every point and hope Dimi has one of his off days to do anything.

Dimi is on a roll after easy win over Goffin and should have no problems against PCB. If he returns well he'll constantly put PCB's below par serve under pressure and should be able to dictate the majority of the rallies. He can still be overtaken for top in this group so he'll want to put on a performance and avoid Fed in the semis. Expect him to do just that.

PCB won't be quite as bad as Goffin was but will still be well beaten by a different league of player.

Prediction; Dimi in 2, 6-2 6-4

 

[chjtennis]

PCB to push Dimi to 3 sets but Grigor prevails in the end.

 

[Red Rick]

Dimi better finish this in two. Sock is waiting and not fooling around.

 

[top10]

Let's get this one out the way quick.

PCB showed good fighting spirit against Thiem even though he's outgunned in every department on paper. He cannot now qualify so is unlikely to be quite so into this match. He may decide instead to just enjoy it which might at least allow him to play freely. Unlike Thiem Dimi is pretty natural indoors and PCB could struggle a fair bit in this one. He's got no weapons to harm Dimi with so will need to fight for every point and hope Dimi has one of his off days to do anything.

Dimi is on a roll after easy win over Goffin and should have no problems against PCB. If he returns well he'll constantly put PCB's below par serve under pressure and should be able to dictate the majority of the rallies. He can still be overtaken for top in this group so he'll want to put on a performance and avoid Fed in the semis. Expect him to do just that.

PCB won't be quite as bad as Goffin was but will still be well beaten by a different league of player.

Prediction; Dimi in 2, 6-2 6-4

Could you please explain the scenario where Dimitrov “can still be overtaken for top in this group”?

 

[watungga]

Could you please explain the scenario where Dimitrov “can still be overtaken for top in this group”?

A Dmitrov loss without a set win will put him 2W-1L and 4SW-3SL. (Now: 2-0 and 4-1)
A Thiem win in two sets of Goffin, will put him 2W-1L and 5SW-3SL. (Now: 1-1 and 3-3)

SW:SL = set win : set lost

 

[Meles]

Could you please explain the scenario where Dimitrov “can still be overtaken for top in this group”?

A Dmitrov loss without a set win will put him 2W-1L and 4SW-3SL. (Now: 2-0 and 4-1)
A Thiem win in two sets of Goffin, will put him 2W-1L and 5SW-3SL. (Now: 1-1 and 3-3)

SW:SL = set win : set lost

Because Dimitrov has beaten both Goffin and Thiem he is group leader under any scenario (sets don't come into it). If Thiem beats Goffin he is in also whether Dimitrov wins this match or not.

 

[Meles]

Let's get this one out the way quick.

PCB showed good fighting spirit against Thiem even though he's outgunned in every department on paper. He cannot now qualify so is unlikely to be quite so into this match. He may decide instead to just enjoy it which might at least allow him to play freely. Unlike Thiem Dimi is pretty natural indoors and PCB could struggle a fair bit in this one. He's got no weapons to harm Dimi with so will need to fight for every point and hope Dimi has one of his off days to do anything.

Dimi is on a roll after easy win over Goffin and should have no problems against PCB. If he returns well he'll constantly put PCB's below par serve under pressure and should be able to dictate the majority of the rallies. He can still be overtaken for top in this group so he'll want to put on a performance and avoid Fed in the semis. Expect him to do just that.

PCB won't be quite as bad as Goffin was but will still be well beaten by a different league of player.

Prediction; Dimi in 2, 6-2 6-4

Doing the other match thread.

 

[Meles]

Let's get this one out the way quick.

PCB showed good fighting spirit against Thiem even though he's outgunned in every department on paper. He cannot now qualify so is unlikely to be quite so into this match. He may decide instead to just enjoy it which might at least allow him to play freely. Unlike Thiem Dimi is pretty natural indoors and PCB could struggle a fair bit in this one. He's got no weapons to harm Dimi with so will need to fight for every point and hope Dimi has one of his off days to do anything.

Dimi is on a roll after easy win over Goffin and should have no problems against PCB. If he returns well he'll constantly put PCB's below par serve under pressure and should be able to dictate the majority of the rallies. He can still be overtaken for top in this group so he'll want to put on a performance and avoid Fed in the semis. Expect him to do just that.

PCB won't be quite as bad as Goffin was but will still be well beaten by a different league of player.

Prediction; Dimi in 2, 6-2 6-4

This match to me is a hard call given how well PCB played the last two sets of his match with Thiem. Dimitrov will want the 200 points for this win because he's got a great opportunity at WTF to lock up a top 4 seed for the Australian Open. For PCB 200 points is a lot of points to get for one match. Both will be exceptionally hungry. This is not a Big 4 player at the top of the game with little interest in a few points or some cash here or there in the grand scheme of things. The party also could be over for Dimitrov in the SF with Sock who has beaten him in their last three matches which brings us to the PCB vs Dimitrov head to head:
21/2017 R32 FO - RG Clay Pablo Carreno Busta Grigor Dimitrov 7-5 6-3 6-4 2.25 - 1.60
17/2016 R64 Madrid Masters Clay Pablo Carreno Busta Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(3) 6-3 2.25 - 1.62
45/2015 R64 Paris Masters I Hard Grigor Dimitrov Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 6-1 1.17 - 4.90
18/2014 R64 Madrid Masters Clay Grigor Dimitrov Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2 6-4
25/2010 QFQ Marburg Challenger Clay Grigor Dimitrov Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 6-1

Those early wins for Grigor look good, but they were against a much lower ranked player. You basically can wipe out the first two clay results given the last two. So we have the first round match in Paris between a 29th ranked Dimitrov and 69th ranked PCB. The oddsmakers strongly favor Dimitrov for this one, but his demolition of Goffin is very likely a paper tiger. Both of these players are very close given their result with Thiem and I think PCB's straight set dismissal of a Dimitrov in pretty good form at Roland Garros tipping the scales. PCB in 3 for me.

As a Thiem supporter the race for the top 5 on clay is very important (top 4 seeding without Fed). Djokovic could easily jump back into the top 5, so unfortunately I have to cheer against Grigor for this win lest he go on a WTF points spree.

 

[tennisaddict]

Fed may play clay events and troll Thiem to get hard draws against Rafa in the QF.

And 3R/4R are going to be difficult for 5-8 ranked players since they have to face Delpo / Djok.

@Meles Thiem will move out of top 10 before we know it.

 

[Meles]

Fed may play clay events and troll Thiem to get hard draws against Rafa in the QF.

And 3R/4R are going to be difficult for 5-8 ranked players since they have to face Delpo / Djok.

@Meles Thiem will move out of top 10 before we know it.

An injured Thiem for clay season would do the trick. Bring Fed onto clay lol. Thiem will have a chance of being 4 outright as Djokovic's ascension by clay season far from assured as he may keep drawing Fedal early. Thiem would definitely like the Zedbot at 3 and on the other half of the draw. Fed coming in gives Thiem a 50/50 shot of being on the other side of the draw from Naderev, the real threats on clay.

Good point on 5-8 at Auz (though I have my doubts that Djoko will be in the 9-12 group and Delpo not the best on those courts, no?) Maybe Goffin thinks he can win WTF because that's the only way he escapes that fate. Dimitrov is going to be scrapping for points all the more. Cilic appears to have already passed into the jaws of death.

That is great news to hear that he'll likely have a horrible draw at Auz and unable to knock Thiem from the top.

 

[ArcspacE]

Dimi better finish this in two. Sock is waiting and not fooling around.

This - along with crucial 200 points and some pessos for pocket change

 

[cc0509]

Who on earth would watch this match and a better question is, why?

 

[ArcspacE]

Who on earth would watch this match and a better question is, why?

Log off, troll boy

Time for school

 

[Forehand_Slice]

Dimitrov to bust Busta in 2, 63 64

 

[Russeljones]

Grigor to tank beautifully.

 

[tennis_pro]

If Dimitrov loses the 1st set he'll tank the 2nd. If he wins the first he'll want to finish it off fast.

So I predict 2 sets either way, probably Dimitrov.

 

[Steve0904]

Will be interesting to see if Dimitrov keeps up this form. I think he'll win this one.

 

[SeeingDusk]

Expecting something like a 6-4 6-1 routine by Grigi. Nvm. Expecting a 6-0 6-0.

 

[ArcspacE]

Dimitrov in Fedr 2006 mode already - 9 points at the start

Young GOAT

 

[MasterZeb]

This guy is very talented

 

[ArcspacE]

Grigor to tank beautifully.

Dream on, joker

 

[ArcspacE]

PCB finally wins a point after 11 consecutive ones for Grigor and 7 minutes of play - 3:0 up

BRUTAL so far

 

[MasterZeb]

Dimitrov has been the best player of the tournament so far imo. Player of the tournament would go to sock though

 

[MasterZeb]

Federer vs Carreno Busta

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Dimigoat

 

[ArcspacE]

I just hope Griggs hasn’t peaked to soon

 

[albertobra]

Who woke up the beast inside Dimi?

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Who woke up the beast inside Dimi?

Sorcerer Danny V.

 

[albertobra]

4-0 and I have not seen one UE from Dimi, pretty impressive, and he did power with no lose.

 

[ArcspacE]

This version of Grigor would give Fed a proper game

Dare we believe

 

[VolleyHelena]

16 Minutes 5-0

 

[MasterZeb]

 

[MasterZeb]

Dimigoat

How was your trip to the o2

 

[stringertom]

Who woke up the beast inside Dimi?

Payback time for RG 3R and Madrid'16 1R.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Possible bagel here?

Is he just in insane form now or something?

 

[George Turner]

The comeback starts now!

 

[Poisoned Slice]

How was your trip to the o2

I enjoyed myself. I'll be looking to get away for longer next year, touch wood. We were wondering about what to get for dinner then bloody Nando's had to be spotted. lol Maybe a bit too tired by the time tennis started, walking about all day after the early start. Great fun.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Barry Cowan repeating Peter Fleming's joke. boooo

 

[ArcspacE]

What was PCB complaining to Dimi about at the changeover?

 

[jwjh]

 

[MasterZeb]

Scorcher

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Just tuning in...This is interesting.

 

[ArcspacE]

The comeback starts now!

Dream on, clown boy

 

[Poisoned Slice]

''He's toying with him''

Cheers, Sherlock.

 

[ArcspacE]

At least PCB gets to collect a few bucks toward his holiday fund

Dimitrov is literally destroying him

 

[jwjh]

That's just mean.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[ArcspacE]

Fake MTO wont save you, Pablo

Just retire, mate

 

[Sambuccashake]

 

[jwjh]

Trainer out for PCB coz of the Dimigod-induced fall.