An exciting and eventful week in Paris for the final Masters 1000 event of the season culminated with a wonderful finish, as David Ferrer, the world #5 caught in the shadows of the dominant top 4, won his first Masters crown and 18th title overall by defeating qualifier Jerzy Janowicz of Poland in straight sets.
A quick recap of the week:
Roger Federer withdrew from the event following his final loss in Basel to Juan Martin del Potro. As a result, he gave up the #1 ranking to Novak Djokovic, who will end the year on top. Speaking of the Australian Open champion, he was defeated by Sam Querrey in the 2nd round, ending a 10-match winning streak where he picked up titles in Beijing and Shanghai.
Andy Murray suffered the same fate as he was shockingly upset by Jerzy Janowicz, who saved a match point in the second set to win 6-2 in the third. For Murray, it was the third consecutive tournament in which he has held match point in a contest and lost. The first was to Milos Raonic in Tokyo, the second to Djokovic in the Shanghai final.
The biggest story of the week was Janowicz, the Polish 21 year-old. He defeated five straight top 20 players before losing to Ferrer in the final. They were Kohlschreiber, (19), Cilic (15), Murray (3), Tipsarevic (9), and Simon (20).
The Pole's play was outstanding all week, as he rained down bombing serves and groundstrokes. But he also showed a great sense of variety and touch, employing drop shots at will, and a rock-solid head and mental maturity. He became the first player in 12 years to reach a final in his Masters debut. He also jumps to #26 in the world after his star-in-the-making type performance. It is quite considerable when you realize that he started the year #221 in the world.
For the victor of the week, Ferrer, it is a tremendous achievement. At the age of 30 (old in tennis, supposedly), he has quietly put together his best year on tour. He has a tour-leading 71 wins and 7 titles. His attitude, effort, and consistency has paid great dividends and finally winning a Masters title is the icing on the cake to a fantastic year.
Mini World Tour Finals Preview:
The year-ending World Tour Finals starts on Monday, as the final eight do battle at the O2 Arena in London for the final title of the year. The participants are Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Ferrer, Berdych, del Potro, Tsonga, and Tipsarevic. The world #4 Nadal withdrew from the event, marking the third time he has been absent from the proceedings since 2005, when he was world #2.
Group A features Djokovic, Murray, Berdych, and Tsonga, while Group B features Federer, Ferrer, del Potro, and Tipsarevic. Federer certainly received a favourable draw, as he is 31-3 combined against his three round robin opponents.
My thoughts and predictions:
Federer should make the semifinals if he shows the same kind of form that has won him his past two World Tour Finals titles. Tipsarevic should be a straight-sets win, while Ferrer and Delpo should give much more difficult matches. Well, at least Delpo anyway. I have my suspicions that Ferrer will be very tired, both physically and emotionally after the past two weeks he has had, winning Valencia and Paris. He only has a day of rest after playing for two weeks straight before he faces the 2009 US Open champion, and he could be gassed. We shall see.
On the other side, it is much more open. Djokovic has been strong lately and he should be a force to be reckoned with unless fatigue overcomes him. It's hard to question where Murray's mind is right now after losing three matches he should have won recently. Nevertheless, he will have the full crowd support behind him, especially after what he accomplished at Wimbledon, the Olympics, and the US Open, where he won his first Slam and ended the ever-long drought for a British Grand Slam winner (76 years, I believe?). Berdych and Tsonga are two unknowns. They can both play lights out and they'll need to if they hope to make it out of the round robin stage. The Frenchman will take refuge in the fact that he had such a great week a year ago, making the final before losing to Federer in a very close match.
If I had to make a prediction now, it would go like this:
Federer goes 3-0
Del Potro goes 2-1
Ferrer goes 1-2
Tipsarevic goes 0-3
Murray goes 2-1
Berdych goes 2-1
Djokovic goes 2-1
Tsonga goes 0-3
The final would feature Federer and Murray in a blockbuster.
Regardless of the outcome, it has been an amazing season with so many terrific storylines. Let us hope that the year ends with a bang in London, preferably with Federer coming out the victor! (Yes, I know I am biased, sue me).
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Federer into Shanghai Semis
Roger Federer advanced to the semifinals of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Friday, defeating Croat Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-4 without too much trouble.
The World #1 broke in the first game of the match, but was broken back as the two split the first four games. It was no worry for Federer, however, as he broke at love at 3-2 and broke again at 5-3 to wrap up the set. He once again went up an early break in the second set and kept that break until 5-3, when he was broken, but then promptly broke back to take the set and the match.
Federer now faces US Open champion Andy Murray in the semifinals, whom he lost to two years ago in the Shanghai final. Roger will certainly be looking for revenge as he looks to get to yet another final in what has been an incredible 2012 season for him.
In the bottom half of the draw, Tomas Berdych beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Novak Djokovic took out Tommy Haas, who is back in the top 20 with this result I believe.
Both semis should be highly competitive. Djokovic obviously has the edge over Berdych, but I think Fed has the advantage over Murray. He will be hungry and focused and will want to end Murray's undefeated streak in Shanghai, which sits at 13-0. Plus, winning this match and then the title would set him up to have a better chance at keeping the #1 ranking, if it's even possible at all.
This will be a defining match for Roger. If he is able to win this title, especially having beaten Murray and Djokovic back-to-back (even Berdych would be good), then he will have firmly put his foot down in the race for the #1. Should he win, I can't see him giving it up easily unless it's mathematically impossible to keep it.
Seeing Djokovic vs Federer in the final would be a treat, since they are the #1 and #2. They also had an amazing two-set match in Shanghai two years ago, and if they could replicate that magic, we would be in for an absolute gem of a match.
Have a good match, Roger!
The World #1 broke in the first game of the match, but was broken back as the two split the first four games. It was no worry for Federer, however, as he broke at love at 3-2 and broke again at 5-3 to wrap up the set. He once again went up an early break in the second set and kept that break until 5-3, when he was broken, but then promptly broke back to take the set and the match.
Federer now faces US Open champion Andy Murray in the semifinals, whom he lost to two years ago in the Shanghai final. Roger will certainly be looking for revenge as he looks to get to yet another final in what has been an incredible 2012 season for him.
In the bottom half of the draw, Tomas Berdych beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Novak Djokovic took out Tommy Haas, who is back in the top 20 with this result I believe.
Both semis should be highly competitive. Djokovic obviously has the edge over Berdych, but I think Fed has the advantage over Murray. He will be hungry and focused and will want to end Murray's undefeated streak in Shanghai, which sits at 13-0. Plus, winning this match and then the title would set him up to have a better chance at keeping the #1 ranking, if it's even possible at all.
This will be a defining match for Roger. If he is able to win this title, especially having beaten Murray and Djokovic back-to-back (even Berdych would be good), then he will have firmly put his foot down in the race for the #1. Should he win, I can't see him giving it up easily unless it's mathematically impossible to keep it.
Seeing Djokovic vs Federer in the final would be a treat, since they are the #1 and #2. They also had an amazing two-set match in Shanghai two years ago, and if they could replicate that magic, we would be in for an absolute gem of a match.
Have a good match, Roger!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Federer clinches 300 weeks at #1
Roger Federer guaranteed himself getting to 300 weeks as the World #1 by defeating Stan Wawrinka 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-0 in a tight match that could have gone either way.
The leader of Grand Slam titles had a sluggish start, and his friend and countryman Wawrinka took full advantage and played some splendid tennis to take the first set. Roger looked like he was in control of the second after going up a break, but then lost it right away. The set went to a tiebreak after Fed saved a break point at 4-4. He took an early lead in the tiebreak and didn't look back, wrapping up a very close second set that he probably should not have won.
In the third set, it was obvious Wawrinka had nothing left after fighting tooth and nail to come so close to winning the match, and the nosedive in quality of his play enabled Fed to pick his game up and go to the bakery, closing it out decisively, 6-0.
My thoughts:
The match reminded me a lot of the match Roger played against Igor Andreev in the first round of the 2010 Australian Open, Fed's 16th Slam. In that match, he was down early and avoided huge danger in the third set before winning it and then closing out the fourth set 6-0.
I hope the Great Swiss can gain confidence from this win, much like he did from winning in similar fashion against Nikolay Davydenko in Rotterdam in February (which feels like ages ago now). Next up in the quarterfinals is Marin Cilic, who got by Fernando Verdasco in three sets. The Croat is dangerous but unpredictable, and Fed should be able to win comfortably if he plays his game.
Getting to 300 weeks at #1 is just an amazing achievement. That mark is only 12 weeks shy of six full years with that #1 ranking, which, if you really think about it, is out of this world. Roger should be proud of what he has done this year in getting back the #1 and breaking this mark. I don't see anybody in the near future ever being able to accomplish it.
-----
In other action on the day, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray both cruised into the quarters with wins over Lopez and Dolgopolov. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Tomas Berdych both advanced, but the #6 seed Janko Tipsarevic was upset by Tommy Haas 62 61 and John Isner was taken out by Radek Stepanek in three.
The quarterfinal matches are as follows: Federer vs Cilic, Djokovic vs Haas, Murray vs Stepanek, and Tsonga vs Berdych. Watch out for Djokovic vs Haas; the two had an amazing clash in Toronto earlier in the year and it would be great to see the same kind of tennis being played here in Shanghai.
Until tomorrow,
Kyle.
The leader of Grand Slam titles had a sluggish start, and his friend and countryman Wawrinka took full advantage and played some splendid tennis to take the first set. Roger looked like he was in control of the second after going up a break, but then lost it right away. The set went to a tiebreak after Fed saved a break point at 4-4. He took an early lead in the tiebreak and didn't look back, wrapping up a very close second set that he probably should not have won.
In the third set, it was obvious Wawrinka had nothing left after fighting tooth and nail to come so close to winning the match, and the nosedive in quality of his play enabled Fed to pick his game up and go to the bakery, closing it out decisively, 6-0.
My thoughts:
The match reminded me a lot of the match Roger played against Igor Andreev in the first round of the 2010 Australian Open, Fed's 16th Slam. In that match, he was down early and avoided huge danger in the third set before winning it and then closing out the fourth set 6-0.
I hope the Great Swiss can gain confidence from this win, much like he did from winning in similar fashion against Nikolay Davydenko in Rotterdam in February (which feels like ages ago now). Next up in the quarterfinals is Marin Cilic, who got by Fernando Verdasco in three sets. The Croat is dangerous but unpredictable, and Fed should be able to win comfortably if he plays his game.
Getting to 300 weeks at #1 is just an amazing achievement. That mark is only 12 weeks shy of six full years with that #1 ranking, which, if you really think about it, is out of this world. Roger should be proud of what he has done this year in getting back the #1 and breaking this mark. I don't see anybody in the near future ever being able to accomplish it.
-----
In other action on the day, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray both cruised into the quarters with wins over Lopez and Dolgopolov. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Tomas Berdych both advanced, but the #6 seed Janko Tipsarevic was upset by Tommy Haas 62 61 and John Isner was taken out by Radek Stepanek in three.
The quarterfinal matches are as follows: Federer vs Cilic, Djokovic vs Haas, Murray vs Stepanek, and Tsonga vs Berdych. Watch out for Djokovic vs Haas; the two had an amazing clash in Toronto earlier in the year and it would be great to see the same kind of tennis being played here in Shanghai.
Until tomorrow,
Kyle.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Federer Wins Shanghai Opener
Back in action for the first time since helping Switzerland get back in the Davis Cup World Group a few weeks ago, Roger Federer picked up his 62nd win of the 2012 season with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Yen-Tsun Lu of Chinese Taipei.
Federer and Lu had met once before, in the first round of Wimbledon in 2009. Roger won in straight sets that day, but it was a highly competitive match featuring great tennis. This match was no different, as Fed got the job done in one hour and twenty minutes.
Federer got the break in the sixth game and did not look back, wrapping up the first set without much difficulty. The second set was more competitive as Lu raised his level, but Roger got the decisive break at 5-5 and held at love to take the match.
For it being his first match back in a few weeks, Federer did very well against a tricky opponent. He hit 22 winners to 23 unforced errors, but was never caused too much trouble to really worry him. He only served at 54% but won 93% of his first serve points and 69% of his second serve points. Overall, it was about as much as you could expect from a return match.
Elsewhere in the draw, Novak Djokovic easily beat "Baby Fed" Grigor Dimitrov, and US Open champion Andy Murray didn't even have to play, getting through by way of a walkover. He would have taken on Florian Mayer.
The two Tokyo finalists from last week, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori, were both eliminated by Marcos Baghdatis and Sam Querrey respectively. Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon were also upset.
Federer takes on his friend and countryman Stan Wawrinka in the 3rd round. If he wins, he will guarantee holding the #1 ranking past this week, and thus, past the 300-week barrier, which is a huge accomplishment.
Novak Djokovic will take on the lefty Feliciano Lopez, whereas Murray takes on Alexandr Dolgopolov. Also watch for Querrey vs Berdych and Tipsarevic vs Haas - both should be quality matches.
Federer and Lu had met once before, in the first round of Wimbledon in 2009. Roger won in straight sets that day, but it was a highly competitive match featuring great tennis. This match was no different, as Fed got the job done in one hour and twenty minutes.
Federer got the break in the sixth game and did not look back, wrapping up the first set without much difficulty. The second set was more competitive as Lu raised his level, but Roger got the decisive break at 5-5 and held at love to take the match.
For it being his first match back in a few weeks, Federer did very well against a tricky opponent. He hit 22 winners to 23 unforced errors, but was never caused too much trouble to really worry him. He only served at 54% but won 93% of his first serve points and 69% of his second serve points. Overall, it was about as much as you could expect from a return match.
Elsewhere in the draw, Novak Djokovic easily beat "Baby Fed" Grigor Dimitrov, and US Open champion Andy Murray didn't even have to play, getting through by way of a walkover. He would have taken on Florian Mayer.
The two Tokyo finalists from last week, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori, were both eliminated by Marcos Baghdatis and Sam Querrey respectively. Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon were also upset.
Federer takes on his friend and countryman Stan Wawrinka in the 3rd round. If he wins, he will guarantee holding the #1 ranking past this week, and thus, past the 300-week barrier, which is a huge accomplishment.
Novak Djokovic will take on the lefty Feliciano Lopez, whereas Murray takes on Alexandr Dolgopolov. Also watch for Querrey vs Berdych and Tipsarevic vs Haas - both should be quality matches.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)