Masters Series Monte-Carlo : 4/21 - 4/27 ; Monte-Carlo, Monaco

[yellowball]

At the Fed result. I bet Dallas had a few heart attacks. 

And a big at the score in the Ancic/Nadal match. Come on Rafa, give him a few games. This man's recovering from mono.

   Nadal is a really nice guy, but he ain't nice enough to give Ancic anything he doesn't have to... he's been there himself!

I looooooooooooove watching Rafa play. Ancic is playing much better in this second set, getting a bit of a line on Rafa. We'll see where it goes, 3 2 Rafa right now, but who knows, Fed was surprised in the 2nd set.

I can't help it, I just enjoy clay. I understand all the reasons not to, but I do! 

[Victor]

4-3 Nadal Now, Ancic is pumping himself up to make it a match. Rafa will get it when he wants anyway.

[BGT]

At the Fed result. I bet Dallas had a few heart attacks. 

And a big at the score in the Ancic/Nadal match. Come on Rafa, give him a few games. This man's recovering from mono.

   Nadal is a really nice guy, but he ain't nice enough to give Ancic anything he doesn't have to... he's been there himself!

I looooooooooooove watching Rafa play. Ancic is playing much better in this second set, getting a bit of a line on Rafa. We'll see where it goes, 3 2 Rafa right now, but who knows, Fed was surprised in the 2nd set.

I can't help it, I just enjoy clay. I understand all the reasons not to, but I do! 

Well, it's good that Rafa has broken and will serve for the match. The faster he gets off court, the faster I can see my Richie!!

[Dallas]

Hey gang... I just came back from the hospital after suffering a stoke watching Roger play this morning! (just a joke!!!)


Seriously... I'm taking it one match at a time!  If Roger survived this morning ...he basically can survive anythingi and everything from now on in this tournament is just gravy since he should have been out.  So I'm relaxed now.

But for all practical purposes, everyone - and I mean everyone from Roger to Djokovic to Murray to Nalbandian to whomever... is playing for 2nd place behind Nadal. 

[BGT]

Did anybody see that backhand winner from Richard 30-30 with Vliegen serving 1-2? I worship this man!

[kittens25]

I really  even more now at those who honestly thought I was going overboard on the serious problems Federer is showing in his tennis this entire year so far.

[NoleDjoke]

just got back. wad did i miss? lousy game from fed? wad's the final score? sounded like quite a comeback though.. how was hidalgo playing though? was fed too good or hidalgo choked his way out? at this rate, it'll be interesting to watch how monfils will play vs fed.

darn. missed the ancic vs nadal match as well. i like ancic. how did he play? i know he's up against nadal so din expect him to win.. but hope he went down honorably still..

YEA! Novak playing Murray tmr. Can't wait!!   

[partie_noire]

That's great kittens, we've heard you saying that about 53 times.

[Alex]

I didn't see Federer today, but I read some comments on MTF, and apparently he was horrible (60 UE), but he still managed to win. It looks like Higaldo choked in the third set (he was 5:1, 2 MP, just unbelievable he wasn't able to close the match with being 2 breaks up). Dallas must be relieved. Congrats to his fans. 

[kittens25]

He has been playing horrible tennis this entire year.   That is what some people are still too clueless to get for some bizarre reason.   Todays match was his typical level of late. 

[euroka1]

Did anybody see that backhand winner from Richard 30-30 with Vliegen serving 1-2? I worship this man!

Good stuff, BGT. We agree on this one  . I hope he keeps up the good work.

[Dallas]

That's great kittens, we've heard you saying that about 53 times.

Only 53?

And just to continue.  I don't think there is a post on this board who will agree that Roger has been playing dominating tennis.  We get that... but what's the point in ranking him through the coals over and over and over and over and... well, you get my point.   The point is no one will play fantastic tennis the entire year throughout their entire career.  You're going to have some ups and downs... do be it.  We don't need someone telling us this in every post.

I'm proud of the fact that in spite of Roger not playing his best today, he found a way to win - whether it was from the choking of the other player or from some good shots.  He found a way to win and will give himself another opportunity to improve.  Heck, there have been several instances in which the top players were down match point and found a way to win.  That's what they do best. 

OK...rant over... Now back to tennis!

[Chris1987]

Rafa was sensational from first to last point today, only thing that can beat him is the claycourt schedule right now for me. Gasquet played a good match vs Vliegen but one of our commentators summed up Vliegen's performance and effort perfectly- pathetic!! Ferrero came through vs Nieminen well and I'd like to see him give Rafa a tough match- but I can't see it. Comfortable win for Nalbandian and 2 retirements today with Monaco having a hand injury vs Almagro and Youzhny pulling out with a neck injury vs Andreev.

[Dallas]

Rafa was sensational from first to last point today, only thing that can beat him is the claycourt schedule right now for me. Gasquet played a good match vs Vliegen but one of our commentators summed up Vliegen's performance and effort perfectly- pathetic!! Ferrero came through vs Nieminen well and I'd like to see him give Rafa a tough match- but I can't see it. Comfortable win for Nalbandian and 2 retirements today with Monaco having a hand injury vs Almagro and Youzhny pulling out with a neck injury vs Andreev.

Like I said in an earlier thread, I think every one else is playing for 2nd place behind Rafa on this stuff.  He was born to play on clay and from his first match, you can see how dominate he was and will be hard to beat in any tournament this year on clay.  I know his fans are so happy to be in this time of the year.

[Chris1987]

Wednesday, 23 April / Mercredi 23 Avril

Singles Second Round / Simples - Deuxieme Tour
[1] R Federer (SUI) d [Q] R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 61 36 76(1)
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d [WC] M Ancic (CRO) 60 63
[4] N Davydenko (RUS) d [Q] S Bolelli (ITA) 62 76(5)
[5] D Ferrer (ESP) d [WC] M Safin (RUS) 62 63
[6] D Nalbandian (ARG) d [Q] O Rochus (BEL) 64 63
[7] R Gasquet (FRA) d K Vliegen (BEL) 61 62
I Andreev (RUS) d [8] M Youzhny (RUS) 63 ret. (neck)
N Almagro (ESP) d [11] J Monaco (ARG) 62 30 ret. (right hand)
[12] T Robredo (ESP) d R Soderling (SWE) 64 76(3)
[13] JC Ferrero (ESP) d J Nieminen (FIN) 63 63
G Monfils (FRA) d [15] I Karlovic (CRO) 76(8) 61
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) d N Kiefer (GER) 62 64
J Tipsarevic (SRB) d [Q] N Lapentti (ECU) 57 76(5) 64
S Querrey (USA) d A Seppi (ITA) 61 75

Doubles Second Round / Doubles Deuxieme Tour
[2] J Erlich (ISR) / A Ram (ISR) d P Hanley (AUS) / L Paes (IND) 46 63 10-3
[5] S Aspelin (SWE) / J Knowle (AUT) d N Djokovic (SRB) / R Stepanek (CZE) 62 76(3)
[8] J Bjorkman (SWE) / K Ullyett (ZIM) d M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) 67(7) 75 10-7
F Cermak (CZE) / P Kohlschreiber (GER) d L Dlouhy (CZE) / P Vizner (CZE) 57 64 10-5

[Chris1987]

Rafa was sensational from first to last point today, only thing that can beat him is the claycourt schedule right now for me. Gasquet played a good match vs Vliegen but one of our commentators summed up Vliegen's performance and effort perfectly- pathetic!! Ferrero came through vs Nieminen well and I'd like to see him give Rafa a tough match- but I can't see it. Comfortable win for Nalbandian and 2 retirements today with Monaco having a hand injury vs Almagro and Youzhny pulling out with a neck injury vs Andreev.

Like I said in an earlier thread, I think every one else is playing for 2nd place behind Rafa on this stuff.  He was born to play on clay and from his first match, you can see how dominate he was and will be hard to beat in any tournament this year on clay.  I know his fans are so happy to be in this time of the year.

Most definitely, the runner up can be extremely happy at the end of this tournament thats for sure. The only way Rafa will be beaten on clay this year is with an injury, or over playing this claycourt season- where we may see him slip up on his 4th week in Hamburg.

[Dallas]

Matches for tomorrow:

COURT CENTRAL start 10:00 am
[5] D Ferrer (ESP) vs J Tipsarevic (SRB)
[13] J Ferrero (ESP) vs [2] R Nadal (ESP)
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs G Monfils (FRA)
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [14] A Murray (GBR)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [WC] J Benneteau (FRA) / N Mahut (FRA)

COURT DES PRINCES start 10:00 am
I Andreev (RUS) vs N Almagro (ESP)
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [4] N Davydenko (RUS)
[12] T Robredo (ESP) or R Soderling (SWE) vs [6] D Nalbandian (ARG)
S Querrey (USA) vs [Q] K Vliegen (BEL) or [7] R Gasquet (FRA)
F Cermak (CZE) / P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs R Nadal (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP)

COURT 2 start 1:00 pm
J Coetzee (RSA) / W Moodie (RSA) vs [7] A Clement (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA)
[8] J Bjorkman (SWE) / K Ullyett (ZIM) or M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) vs P Hanley (AUS) / L Paes (IND) or [2] J Erlich (ISR) / A Ram (ISR)

[Chris1987]

Final result of the day sees Tommy Robredo defeat Robin Soderling 6/4, 7/6(3) and next faces David Nalbandian.

[Murrayfan11]

Final result of the day sees Tommy Robredo defeat Robin Soderling 6/4, 7/6(3) and next faces David Nalbandian.

Well done Tommy, point for me on Pick 'Ems. Good to see I could be back home for the Murray-Djokovic match.

[Chris1987]

Final result of the day sees Tommy Robredo defeat Robin Soderling 6/4, 7/6(3) and next faces David Nalbandian.

Well done Tommy, point for me on Pick 'Ems. Good to see I could be back home for the Murray-Djokovic match.

Yeah Tommy helped me with that one, just let down by Seppi who was taken out by Querrey! I'm currently off work pretty ill so I'll be able to see all 4 of those fantastic matchups on the Court Central tomorrow, should be a great day!