ATP250 Sofia Open General Discussion

Sofia Champion

  • Auger-Aliassime

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Struff

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Basilashvili

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Cilic

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Why No Dimitrough?

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    16
  • Poll closed .

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Very last open entry tournament of the year on the ATP Tour. NextGen talent dominate the top seeds with the two young Canadians Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime and Aussie de Minaur numbers #1-3. Veteran Struff grabbed #4 seed and a 1R bye with the youngsters. Nur-Sultan champion Millman and finalist Mannarino are also there and seeded.

Three teens made MD with the Italian Sinner leading the way in his return to action after retirement from Vienna due to a bad foot blister. Local WC Andreev (19) lost today and Czech WC Forejtek (19) add the teen mix to the draw.

MD play began Sunday with two matches. Albot, from border neighbor Moldova, won and will face #1 seed Shapo 2R. Millman advanced with an easy win over the teen Bulgarian Andreev.

Last week of the year...discuss, not disgust.
 
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James P

G.O.A.T.
Rooting for Jannik, 2nd rooting interest FAA to get the singles title monkey off his back.

I think Shapo or De Minaur will win, though.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Felix is coming off a doubles win in Paris, this isn't the strongest field. Would like to see FAA make a breakthrough.

@gogo Can Felix win his first tournament!?
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Rooting for Jannik, 2nd rooting interest FAA to get the singles title monkey off his back.

I think Shapo or De Minaur will win, though.
If Sinner and AdM meet I’ll be a Sinner! That is scissors cutting paper, every time. Jannik must be sharp 1R vs WTFucsovics to help get there.

EDIT: just checked voting in poll and ISWYDT!:love:
 

smalahove

Hall of Fame
After winning against Basilashvili today, it looked like Marc-Andrea Huesler blew him off at the net, or at least he didn't want to shake hands or touch rackets, he just had some sort of strange nod in his direction, that didn't really look like a "thank you for the match" nod. Anyone know what that was about?
 

romeo8880

G.O.A.T.
After winning against Basilashvili today, it looked like Marc-Andrea Huesler blew him off at the net, or at least he didn't want to shake hands or touch rackets, he just had some sort of strange nod in his direction, that didn't really look like a "thank you for the match" nod. Anyone know what that was about?

I would never touch rackets or shake hands. I’d say thanks for the win bud and give my opponent the finger:cool:
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
I would never touch rackets or shake hands. I’d say thanks for the win bud and give my opponent the finger:cool:

Maybe Djokovic should do something similar, stop the boob-throwing gestures and just give the finger to each section of the crowd? ;)
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
First three matches of the day have all featured LLs and the least competitive was Mannarino winning 7-5 in the third. One LL (Huesler) won a decisive 3rd set TB over BasilFawlty, who can’t get a win since his marriage troubles. His last win was 1R Dubai and the loosing streak is now at 9 (doesn’t include a qualie loss at Vienna). He did manage to break the streak of sets lost at 19.

Vince Spadea is starting to get excite about Basil.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Where would Basil be if this wasn't Covid Year? I bet he'd be down towards the bottom of the top 100.
His collapse is just as severe as that of Jacques Chaussette in late 2018 when his points for Paris/WTF dropped and he went from inside top 20 to outside top 100.
 

InvisibleSoul

Hall of Fame
Marin Cilic, who has been accused of match fixing in the past, looks to have thrown another one in the first round of Sofia. Twitter abuzz at the moment
Beats FAA last week, but loses to some random 19 year old ranked 399 this week. :unsure:

I'm surprised Cilic was only like a 6:1 favorite pre-match.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
The hour of sin snuck up on me while I napped late. I’m so happy Jannik was able to self-start down his sinful path. 6-2 with a closing break.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
6-2, 4-2 turns into having to save a BP with his first ace of the match to avoid going down 5-4 on Fucsovics’ serve. These mental lapses have to stop, Sinner boy!
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
6-2 6-4 with a closing break by the unrepentant Sinner. Please focus throughout the next match vs Huesler, Jannik!
 

SeeingDusk

Hall of Fame
Albot is servebotting hard. One would think shapo would have an easier time holding serve, but albot is holding to love or 15 every single game
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
It’s not a total Canadian pancake today; Vasek slurps enough maple syrup to fuel the minor upset of Not Tuff Enuff, 3&4.
 

Tennease

Legend
Millman vs Simon.... boring monotonous long rallies...

And when someone wants to hit a winner it's always unforced error shot...:sick:
 

smalahove

Hall of Fame
You can't really blame Millman though, as Simon's game is all about putting up the perfect bait for UEs.

Simon's focus is to neutralize every ball, with the least amount of risk weighed up against producing enough pace/spin/depth to lure the opponent to attack what in fact is a neutral ball.

If you analyze every ball Simon produces in rally, and objectively try to assess the best/smartest shot for the opponent, it is rarely anything other than a neutral one. You beat Simon by applying pressure in small increments, and waiting patiently for the opening, which more often than not, is a multi-shot-combo.
 
N

Nuclear Warhead Sinner

Guest
Jannik "keeping it 100." :-D

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stringertom

Bionic Poster
I just realized this tournament has its final on Saturday so Albot and Pospisil have a slight advantage by playing just three consecutive days. Everyone else played Wednesday and continue daily until they lose. Only AdM received a 1R bye.

Thursday QFs:

Daytime session (1200 Eastern European)

Radu Albot (MDA) vs (5) Adrian Mannarino (FRA)

Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs (3) Alex de Minaur (AUS)

Evening Session (1800 Eastern European)

(6) John Millman (AUS) vs Vasek Pospisil (CAN)

Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs Salvatore Caruso (ITA)
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Yo, Adrian! You just got Raduly Alboted on the side of your tête, 6-2 1-6. Is the Moldovan baguette a tasty loaf?

A bounce back now, up 3-1 in the third.
 
N

Nuclear Warhead Sinner

Guest
De Minaur is looking very aggressive and accurate. Jannik will have to raise it up a few notches if he wants to win this match.
 
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