2019 July Clay Season Will Be a Great One

Meles

Bionic Poster
I'm very pleased with hard courts in July the last few years with the Washington draws and Atlanta looks tasty in 2019 as well (The Isner Open will also have baby Isner(Opelka), FAA, Diego, the Demon, Tiafoe, Kecmanovic, Hurkacz-very nice IW/Miami swing, and grass fiend Humbert.) All players to watch for the upcoming US Open Series.

But, now we have some excellent clay fields incoming:
1. Thiem is attempting to vulture Kitzbuhel and Hamburg once again after two failed runs in recent years. In 2015 Thiem broke out in this part of the season winning UMAG and Gstaad back to back before Kohlschreiber stopped him in SF's at Kitzbuhel for this 3rd title in a row.
2. Ruud joins Thiem in those two fields (plus Bastad 1st week) and Ruud has had stellar clay stats in 2019 with high points won and even gave Federe a bit of a match at RG. The first Ruud v Thiem match may happen.
3. Garin won Houston and Munich taking down Zverev, plus another final in Sao Paulo. He jumps to Los Cabos on hard courts, but will play Bastad and Hamburg.
4. Peak Fognini (Monte Carlo) going to Los Cabos, but first UMAG and Hamburg (all 4 of these above clay talents will be in Hamburg)
5. The very new Davidovich Fokina (just turned 20) will be in Hamburg Qualifiers and maybe more (this guy is very bizarre with power groundies that complement a diabolical drop shot and lob game). Checkout Fokina playing Monfils at Estoril for a taste of the wizardry.
6. The week of Hamburg (a ATP 500). Gstaad will have Berrettini, Pella, Lajovic, & Sonego (so 4 interesting and newerer clay court players)
7. Struff, Djere (won Rio), Cecchinato, Cuevas, Gasquet, Jarry, Rublev, and Kohly round out a solid and interesting Hamburg field (what Thiem rolled through in 2015 was weak July clay era in comparison).
8. The first week of 2017 clay UMAG and Bastad have very interesting combinations of all of the above players.
9. Coric will only play UMAG, but perhaps a good result there will encourage him to wild card another July event plus perhaps the 2020 South American clay swing.:p

These are all new up and coming players for the most part with some like Pella probably hitting their clay peak. Quite interesting compared to the declining players populating the July clay seasons for years now with just a sprinkling of new talent. (Most players decline first on clay, so a best these are just old favorites with a known top level from past years.) This year is very, very different. Hamburg has been a travesty for years now and deserves a really good event after Madrid robbed it of Masters 1000 status. Many, many showdowns incoming that will influence the 2020 Spring Clay season.
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
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Clay season is still going at Wimbledon...
 

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
Players who don’t have it in them to fight with the big boys are going to play 250 and 500’s

Big Whoop ass news !!!
 
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Meles

Bionic Poster
@Meles I take it this is your way of unofficially announcing that you're giving up on Wimbledon now that it looks plausible that the entire quarter-final lineup will be 28 or more?
Actually I've been planning to post this thread for a few days now and went ahead and changed gears because two threads I posted in today were nuked, so just a waste of my time. My attacks on the grass season (and Wimbledon indirectly) might be a worse sacred cow then Federe (3 day ban hammer a couple years ago), so I'll just be over in Pro Match Results some. I'll probably comment more in the week after Wimbledon when thinks cool down here.

This thread is to generate interest in the normally sleep July Clay season which may be red hot this year.o_O As future RG champion in waiting Thiem is going to have a target on his back.:sneaky: Given his 2018 US Open run on the new courts I'm surprised to see him here for the early part of the 2019 US Open Series. I guess he wants these trophies in the cabinet, but the last few years Thiem has not looked motivated for the July clay season and has bombed out quickly. I'm Kyrgios to see if he does it again.:sneaky: Thiem should be on hard courts, but Vampiro knows best?:unsure:

An interesting tidbit on July is Tsits and Zedrot have nothing on the schedule until the mandatory Rogers Cup which is a great move on their part after overplaying so much.
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
Actually I've been planning to post this thread for a few days now and went ahead and changed gears because two threads I posted in today were nuked, so just a waste of my time. My attacks on the grass season (and Wimbledon indirectly) might be a worse sacred cow then Federe (3 day ban hammer a couple years ago), so I'll just be over in Pro Match Results some. I'll probably comment more in the week after Wimbledon when thinks cool down here.

This thread is to generate interest in the normally sleep July Clay season which may be red hot this year.o_O As future RG champion in waiting Thiem is going to have a target on his back.:sneaky: Given his 2018 US Open run on the new courts I'm surprised to see him here for the early part of the 2019 US Open Series. I guess he wants these trophies in the cabinet, but the last few years Thiem has not looked motivated for the July clay season and has bombed out quickly. I'm Kyrgios to see if he does it again.:sneaky: Thiem should be on hard courts, but Vampiro knows best?:unsure:

An interesting tidbit on July is Tsits and Zedrot have nothing on the schedule until the mandatory Rogers Cup which is a great move on their part after overplaying so much.
I would rather see Thiem skip these clay tourneys and focus on winning the big summer USO series events rather than these.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Players who don’t have it in them to fight with the big boys are going to play 250 and 500’s

Big Whoop ass news !!!
Wrong again TA;). Most will be direct entry for Rogers Cup because they are near top 40:
1. Djokovic N. 10595 -1820
2. Nadal R. 7315 -630
3. Federer R. 6350 -270
4. Thiem D. 4685 +90
5. Zverev A. 4325 -80
6. Tsitsipas S. 3945 -270
7. Nishikori K. 3770 -270
8. +1 Khachanov K. 2890 -90
9. +1 Fognini F. 2695 -90
10. +3 Medvedev D. 2625
11. -3 Anderson K. 2500 -1110
12. -1 Del Potro J. 2380 -360
13. +1 Coric B. 2195 -10
14. -2 Isner J. 2040 -675
15. +1 Basilashvili N. 1995 +35
16. +2 Cilic M. 1940
17. +5 Bautista Agut R. 1780 +180
18. -1 Raonic M. 1765 -180
19. +4 Goffin D. 1725 +215
20. -1 Wawrinka S. 1715
21. Auger-Aliassime F. 1712 +58
22. -2 Berrettini M. 1710 +45
23. -8 Monfils G. 1705 -280
24. Schwartzman D. 1530 +45
25. +1 Pella G. 1520 +90
26. +2 Pouille L. 1385 +45
27. +5 Paire B. 1381 +103
28. -1 Shapovalov D. 1355 -35
29. +2 Fritz T. 1320
30. -5 Simon G. 1310 -135
31. +4 Djere L. 1290 +35
32. -3 De Minaur A. 1285 -45
33. -3 Edmund K. 1280 -45
34. +3 Verdasco F. 1270 +35
35. -2 Struff J. 1265
36. Lajovic D. 1251
37. -3 Garin C. 1233 -26
38. +1 Herbert P. 1108 -35
39. +4 Kyrgios N. 1085 +40
40. +1 Cecchinato M. 1085
41. -3 Tiafoe F. 1080 -80
42. -2 Albot R. 1046 -80
43. +1 Thompson J. 1037
44. +1 Cuevas P. 1032 +29
45. +3 Hurkacz H. 1023 +64
46. +20 Humbert U. 988

I'm not sure, but it looks like Wimby results will count for direct entry at Rogers Cup. Ruud and Fokina won't have direct entry plus a few others like Jarry, but the rest of the July clay field will be at the Masters level events in US Open Series further cementing their rise in the rankings. Players like Kohly, Gasquet, and Querrey, are fighting to get back to that status. Dimitrov will be cowering in Los Cabos in July, but he's on the outside looking in on the Masters events after a poor grass season.;)
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
I would rather see Thiem skip these clay tourneys and focus on winning the big summer USO series events rather than these.
I agree 100%. I'm hoping Massu has him doing this with good reason.

I'd rather see Washington on his schedule. But I must say if Thiem does have a good July clay season it will give him lots of momentum for the Masters 1000 events. Thiem has won Acapulco and done well at IW after Latin American Clay swing. He even won Stuttgart against Lamerer right after his 2016 RG run to the SFs. Thiem as top 8 seed will have a bye at these events which will make it a little easier.

I'm also not opposed to successful vulturing for Thiem as he's 4 in the rankings and if he can do betterer post RG he might retain top 4 status for next years clay season which is a big, big deal (no potential QFs with big 3 at RG or anywhere for that matterer).
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
I agree 100%. I'm hoping Massu has him doing this with good reason.

I'd rather see Washington on his schedule. But I must say if Thiem does have a good July clay season it will give him lots of momentum for the Masters 1000 events. Thiem has won Acapulco and done well at IW after Latin American Clay swing. He even won Stuttgart against Lamerer right after his 2016 RG run to the SFs. Thiem as top 8 seed will have a bye at these events which will make it a little easier.

I'm also not opposed to successful vulturing for Thiem as he's 4 in the rankings and if he can do betterer post RG he might retain top 4 status for next years clay season which is a big, big deal (no potential QFs with big 3 at RG or anywhere for that matterer).
True, but I honestly think he has a real shot at USO if he can find a groove, and I don't think he does that by playing clay when he could be on hard.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Said nobody ever.
It usually leaves me bored, but this July is tasty indeed.:D

Its possible someone will wildcard as well in July (though I'd bet Tsits and Zverev would play Washington that way and not more euro clay.) If Djoko or Nadal get bounced early at Wimbledon they could decide to play especially if they feel their form needs it. More for hard courts, Anderson, Medvedev, and Khachanov especially might elect to add Atlanta (all playing Washington). Nadal in Hamburg as well would be amazing.o_O Cilic, Raonic, and Goffin might add Atlanta. Would be amazing if Wawa showed up in Hamburg, but Washington more sensible for him especially if he's harboring hopes of qualifying for WTF.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
True, but I honestly think he has a real shot at USO if he can find a groove, and I don't think he does that by playing clay when he could be on hard.
Thiem needs match play a bit like Wawrinka to get his motor purring. Rogers Cup and Cincy are more than enough preparation for US Open. Kitzbuhel is the scary one, but it is in Austria so Thiem may just show and tank like he's done the last few years.:eek: Vampiro knows best.;)

Did you seem Thiem play Querrey at Wimbledon the first two sets? Believe it or not his level was rather impressive until he lost his mind at the end of the 2nd after failing to break Querrey one to many times.:sneaky:
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
Thiem needs match play a bit like Wawrinka to get his motor purring. Rogers Cup and Cincy are more than enough preparation for US Open. Kitzbuhel is the scary one, but it is in Austria so Thiem may just show and tank like he's done the last few years.:eek: Vampiro knows best.;)

Did you seem Thiem play Querrey at Wimbledon the first two sets? Believe it or not his level was rather impressive until he lost his mind at the end of the 2nd after failing to break Querrey one to many times.:sneaky:
Thiem needs match play a bit like Wawrinka to get his motor purring. Rogers Cup and Cincy are more than enough preparation for US Open. Kitzbuhel is the scary one, but it is in Austria so Thiem may just show and tank like he's done the last few years.:eek: Vampiro knows best.;)

Did you seem Thiem play Querrey at Wimbledon the first two sets? Believe it or not his level was rather impressive until he lost his mind at the end of the 2nd after failing to break Querrey one to many times.:sneaky:
I did, he could not stand ROS against a guy like that. I think he just go Fed up with it.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Good shout, #nextgen will be rusty after Wimbledon. Time to get some much needed match practice ;)
Most of NextGen are actually going to be over at Atlanta/Washington which is the correct move for those players. July clay is some budding NextGen clay specialists like Ruud and Fokina, but mainly a new crop of clay courters with some proven players like Garin.

Of course you are right, players trying to build their rankings can't take the whole month of July off like the Big 3. If you're outside top 8, you want those byes and a ticket to WTF. Top 32 gets you seeding at majors. Top 16 at Masters 1000.

I think 20 slots of final 64 were youngerer at Wimby this year and maybe 8 slots in Round 32. They got some very good practice.;) Now Zedrot and Tsits are a different story and they appear to begging off like Big 3 until Rogers Cup.:whistle:
 

NatF

Bionic Poster
Most of NextGen are actually going to be over at Atlanta/Washington which is the correct move for those players. July clay is some budding NextGen clay specialists like Ruud and Fokina, but mainly a new crop of clay courters with some proven players like Garin.

Of course you are right, players trying to build their rankings can't take the whole month of July off like the Big 3. If you're outside top 8, you want those byes and a ticket to WTF. Top 32 gets you seeding at majors. Top 16 at Masters 1000.

I think 20 slots of final 64 were youngerer at Wimby this year and maybe 8 slots in Round 32. They got some very good practice.;) Now Zedrot and Tsits are a different story and they appear to begging off like Big 3 until Rogers Cup.:whistle:

We disagree on a lot of things mate but I respect your optimism. Maybe I'll even check out the post Wimby clay swing this year :unsure:
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
I did, he could not stand ROS against a guy like that. I think he just go Fed up with it.
Glad you saw. Thiem definitely went into his completely ******** Angry Austrian mode with the screaming/whining at the end of the 2nd. When you have known flighty players like Fiasco (Rome) and Querrey this is beyond stupid as your just feeding them confidence. Just hold your cool and both would have cracked like clockwork.:sneaky: If Querrey somehow wins Wimby Thiem should get all the credit.;)
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
We disagree on a lot of things mate but I respect your optimism. Maybe I'll even check out the post Wimby clay swing this year :unsure:
Check the tournament threads when the draws come out. We may get some tasty encounters with Ruud floating around with a lowish ranking. Ruud actually kept his head above water in his one grass match with Isner, losing 11-9 in 3rd set tiebreaker. Ruud's first return is quite bad so this was a surprise. He also took out Berrettini at RG decisively in 4 sets which looks a bit betterer given the damage Matteo has done on serve on both clay and grass (won two events unbroken for 2nd behind ****** at 4 for all time.o_O) Ruud is still quite young and the stats say he's ready for a Thiem 2015 type coming out before too long. I've been waiting a long time on Ruud and I'm ready for some clay destruction.:sneaky:

This years US Open Series will really set the table for WTF qualification so July is just an unusually interesting month to see who is ready to make a move. Even Fognini would be hysterical at WTF given the fits he's given Nadal and some others off clay.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
For Bastad next week Fokina:love: has a wild card plus Ymers (Swedish). Younger Ymer had surprising RG so will be interesting to watch:
22 / 2019 FO - RG
R64 Clay Alexander Zverev Mikael Ymer 6-1 6-3 7-6(3) (qualified and gave Zedrot a little bit of a scare)

Bastad lineup:
Elias Ymer
Mikael Ymer
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Main Draw (bolded are the new and interesting making Bastad very tasty:p):
1 VERDASCO, Fernando ESP 27 (beat Thiem in Rome plus Wimby run)
2 BERRETTINI, Matteo ITA 31
3 GARIN, Cristian CHI 37
4 GASQUET, Richard FRA 39

5 CHARDY, Jeremy FRA 41
6 CUEVAS, Pablo URU 47
7 DZUMHUR, Damir BIH 52
8 MUNAR, Jaume ESP 53
9 JARRY, Nicolas CHI 58
10 RUUD, Casper NOR 63

11 SOUSA, Joao POR 70
12 SONEGO, Lorenzo ITA 74
13 DELBONIS, Federico ARG 75
14 CARBALLES BAENA, Roberto ESP 76
15 LONDERO, Juan Ignacio ARG 78
16 GULBIS, Ernests LAT 79

17 KOVALIK, Jozef SVK 85PR
18 DELLIEN, Hugo BOL 86
19 RAMOS-VINOLAS, Albert ESP 87
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Any chance zvrv plays Hamburg with Washington not willing to pay the fee.
He's had the itchy finger with the wild card trigger all year so it is possible though I hope he and Tsits just rest up for Rogers Cup as they've both been playing at rates beyond Thiem.:eek:
27 / 2019 Wimbledon
R128 Grass Thomas Fabbiano Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-7(8) 6-3 H2H
25 / 2019 Queen's
QF Grass Felix Auger Aliassime Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5 6-2 H2H
24 / 2019 's-Hertogenbosch
R16 Grass Nicolas Jarry Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 3-6 6-4 H2H
22 / 2019 FO - RG
R16 Clay Stan Wawrinka Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4 3-6 8-6 H2H
20 / 2019 Rome Masters
SF Clay Rafael Nadal Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 6-4 H2H
19 / 2019 Madrid Masters
F Clay Novak Djokovic Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 6-4 H2H
SF Clay Stefanos Tsitsipas Rafael Nadal 6-4 2-6 6-3 H2H
18 / 2019 Estoril
F Clay Stefanos Tsitsipas Pablo Cuevas 6-3 7-6(4) H2H
SF Clay Stefanos Tsitsipas David Goffin 3-6 6-4 6-4 H2H
17 / 2019 Barcelona
R16 Clay Jan-Lennard Struff Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 3-6 6-2 H2H
16 / 2019 Monte Carlo Masters
R16 Clay Daniil Medvedev Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 1-6 6-4 H2H

Tsits better than Zedrot who also played the week before RG, otherwise every week for both save the week before Wimbledon since Monte Carlo.o_O

Note: This transplanted from another thread
 
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