2018 Tokyo - ATP 500

[Meles]

Goffin is gone

Tokyo, Japan ATP 500
Date: 10/1/2018 Original Cut Off: 49 Ranking Date: 8/20/2018
Direct Acceptances: 23 Wild Cards: 3 Qualifiers: 4 Special Exempts: 1

Main Draw
5 Anderson, Kevin (RSA)
7 Cilic, Marin (CRO)
10 Goffin, David (BEL)
13 Schwartzman, Diego (ARG)
15 Tsitsipas, Stefanos (GRE)
17 Pouille, Lucas (FRA)
21 Nishikori, Kei (JPN)
23 Chung, Hyeon (KOR)
24 Dzumhur, Damir (BIH)
25 Raonic, Milos (CAN)
26 Gasquet, Richard (FRA)
28 Shapovalov, Denis (CAN)
29 Mannarino, Adrian (FRA)
30 Kyrgios, Nick (AUS)
34 Johnson, Steve (USA)
39 Simon, Gilles (FRA)
42 Tiafoe, Frances (USA)
43 De Minaur, Alex (AUS)
44 Chardy, Jeremy (FRA)
47 Jarry, Nicolas (CHI)
48 Haase, Robin (NED)
49 Marterer, Maximilian (GER)
101 Wawrinka, Stan (SUI) (Acceptance based on year-end Top 30 list)

Alternates
50 Seppi, Andreas (ITA)
52 Struff, Jan-Lennard (GER)
53 Ebden, Matthew (AUS)
54 Millman, John (AUS)
55 Paire, Benoit (FRA)
56 Harrison, Ryan (USA) <-- Paire in, Harrison next
(Underlined players are out!)

Wildcards
Yuichi Sugita
Taro Daniel
Yoshohito Nishioka

One more wildcard in theory available to a top player. Probably Djokovic and maybe Thiem are only ones eligible (+Federer but he's not going there)

Qualifying is set:

 

[Meles]

I do like this field despite Beijing's top two trumping it (Delpo and Zverev). If Med makes it out of qualifying he's impressed lately and Nishioka might finally be getting going after a year off and long time finding his game. The other two Japanese qualifiers much more credible than what China will off up unless Thiem surprises.

 

[The Green Mile]

I want a Simon vs De Minaur match, please let it happen.

 

[Forehand_Slice]

Kyrgios choosing Tokyo, this time around. Lots of points to defend.
Likely out of the top 20.

 

[Sparlingo]

Shapo out sighting "personal reasons"

Edit: that was from a 2017 tweet, sorry

 

[stringertom]

Qualies draw guarantees a lefty to emerge with Gunnie vs Klizan winner facing in the 2R the winner of Bemelmans vs Klahn.

 

[Meles]

Shapo out sighting "personal reasons"

Edit: that was from a 2017 tweet, sorry

As in no visa to Japan.

 

[Meles]

 

[stringertom]

Japanese WCs are GOATing with straight set wins for both Watanuki and Uchiyama in 1R of qualies. WC Ito is up a break in the third over McDonald.

 

[Enceladus]

The most interesting 1st round match for me: Shapovalov-Chung. It is possible that sometime in the future we will see the final of the GS tournament in this composition.

 

[Red Rick]

The most interesting 1st round match for me: Shapovalov-Chung. It is possible that sometime in the future we will see the final of the GS tournament in this composition.

Both have sucked ass lately. Would be a rigged draw to get one of them in R2.

 

[Forehand_Slice]

I want a Simon vs De Minaur match, please let it happen.

Wish is granted.

 

[octobrina10]

The main draw:

 

[I Am Finnish]

Is that thiem?

 

[Meles]

Is that thiem?

Yes. No wonder he lost quickly last year.

 

[Meles]

Wish is granted.

LOL. Well @The Green Mile was asking for it.

 

[Meles]

Wow. This draw is just loaded with great matches save perhaps the top half's 2nd quarter where Schwartzman and Raonic seem to have a free ride, but really Johnson and Haase have been in great to good form recently.

The top half's top quarter is an absolute delight.
1/2014 R32 Sydney Hard Marin Cilic Jan-Lennard Struff 3-6 6-3 6-3 1.24 - 4.45
Chardy and Dzumhur are in pretty good form and Chardy 2-3 vs Cilic.
Wawrinka v Fritz winner versus Shapo v Chung winner make for just a loaded quarter.

Not a bad match in the bottom half and Simon v de Minaur a Greenie special.
And look at these stellar potential 2nd round matches:
Anderson v Tiafoe
Kyrgios v Gasquet
Nishikori v Jarry
Tsitsipas v de Minaur

In the top half 2nd round could also have Wawrinka vs Shapo/Chung winner

I pray the four top favorites don't make their seed as that is a LostGen plus KA special.

 

[The Green Mile]

LOL. Well @The Green Mile was asking for it.

What's more is that there is the potential first meeting between Stefanos and Gilles in R2. What a time to be alive.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Yes. No wonder he lost quickly last year.

He looks cute lol

 

[Meles]

He looks cute lol

I'm waiting for Thiem Red Bull commercials where he sprouts wings.

 

[Sparlingo]

I'm going to continue picking Shapo to win until I'm right and look like a genius.

 

[Mainad]

I'm going to continue picking Shapo to win until I'm right and look like a genius.

But what if you're never right?

 

[Sparlingo]

But what if you're never right?

I'm used to not looking like a genius.

 

[tennisaddict]

Wow. This draw is just loaded with great matches save perhaps the top half's 2nd quarter where Schwartzman and Raonic seem to have a free ride, but really Johnson and Haase have been in great to good form recently.

The top half's top quarter is an absolute delight.
1/2014 R32 Sydney Hard Marin Cilic Jan-Lennard Struff 3-6 6-3 6-3 1.24 - 4.45
Chardy and Dzumhur are in pretty good form and Chardy 2-3 vs Cilic.
Wawrinka v Fritz winner versus Shapo v Chung winner make for just a loaded quarter.

Not a bad match in the bottom half and Simon v de Minaur a Greenie special.
And look at these stellar potential 2nd round matches:
Anderson v Tiafoe
Kyrgios v Gasquet
Nishikori v Jarry
Tsitsipas v de Minaur

In the top half 2nd round could also have Wawrinka vs Shapo/Chung winner

I pray the four top favorites don't make their seed as that is a LostGen plus KA special.

SF : Anderson vs Nishikori and Cilic vs Raonic

 

[Meles]

SF : Anderson vs Nishikori and Cilic vs Raonic

Game on.

 

[NuBas]

Chung has a weird ROS stance. Base is very wide.

 

[Max G.]

Chung has a weird ROS stance. Base is very wide.

I think wide ROS base is pretty normal nowadays, isn't it? Or is Chung even more extreme than most? Doesn't seem that much more.

 

[NuBas]

I think wide ROS base is pretty normal nowadays, isn't it? Or is Chung even more extreme than most? Doesn't seem that much more.

Its a little extreme in my opinion. If you are watching the match you can see. Wide base is normal of course but his looks oddly wide.

 

[Meles]

Where is @prairiegirl as Shapo serves out the set?

 

[Meles]

@Red Rick in for a rude awakening as Watanuki taking Haase to the woodshed 4-1

 

[Meles]

Really, really enjoy Shapo's ground game today; surprisingly game and consistent ground game versus Chung. If the serve hangs together for a couple more matches this could be a turning point with the new serve motion.

 

[NuBas]

Really, really enjoy Shapo's ground game today; surprisingly game and consistent ground game versus Chung. If the serve hangs together for a couple more matches this could be a turning point with the new serve motion.

Somehow he will lose this match

 

[Meles]

Outrageous jump Shapo backhand

 

[Meles]

Somehow he will lose this match

Its the same pattern and I'm just watching earlier so the serve will collapse in the 2nd and Shapo fans will be throwing their computers out the window.

 

[Meles]

Watanuki fans out of control on the adjoining court.

 

[Meles]

Boomsky Shapo forehand gets ad

 

[Meles]

@prairiegirl special ace for the hold. 2 all in 2nd for Shapo

 

[Meles]

Really dislike Colin Fleming commentary.

 

[ewiewp]

strictly stat-wise, chung is playing top-notch but it's just one break point diff so far.

 

[Max G.]

Shapo struggling in the second. Still on serve, but Shapo's having to grind out every service game, faced break points already and lot of deuces, and Chung's only lost 2 points on serve in 4 service games.

 

[Meles]

Boisterous Watanuki partisans satisfied with 2-0 lead. Wat serving 2-1 now.

 

[Meles]

strictly stat-wise, chung is playing top-notch but it's just one break point diff so far.

Untouchable on serve in 2nd so far.

 

[Meles]

Haase watches bh winner go by and serves 1-4

 

[Meles]

Haase rushes bh pass, but clips line for 4 all

 

[Meles]

Watanuki lays the forehand wood to Haase for 5-4

 

[Meles]

Watanuki chokes BH into bottom of net for 6 all, cross court and lame. Rhythmic clapping ...

 

[NuBas]

Mugurza grunting becoming really annoying, its bad gamesmanship.

 

[Meles]

Big Wata FH for 7-6

 

[Max G.]

Shapo and Chung at 1 set all.

 

[Meles]

Mugurza grunting becoming really annoying, its bad gamesmanship.

Can be heard all the way from China