Federer, Djokovic, Roddick in Loaded Basel Field; ATP Previews

roddick vs querrey. tough for roddick. roddick has not done very well against his fellow country men.

federer vs dolgo should be hot too, as in djoko vs ernie..no-one knows which ernie will turn up.

does anybody know why ernie pulled out of vienna? i hope he is recovered with whatever was bothering him!

October 30th, 2010 at 5:27 pm

Lots of tennis to watch next week! Hope i can fit in some viewing of both tournaments. Good fields at both means some fun matches, no doubt.

October 30th, 2010 at 6:41 pm

i wonder why wawrinka is not playing basel..at home. hmmm! could it be because he feels he has a better chance in valencia? interesting!

October 30th, 2010 at 6:46 pm

Looking forward to it..relying on the wta for tennis fillnhas been dull.

Still reeling from fsu choking away their lead Thursday and Miami heat losing to celtics.

Hope Ernie wins Basel, uh yeah right, and ferrer wins Valencia. Not holding my breath for either.

October 30th, 2010 at 7:09 pm

Kimmi –

It’s quite obvious that Ernie pulled out once he saw that he’d be facing the Moo-man on the other side of the net! He did not want the dubious honor of being the first guy to go down to Tommy Moo in an ATP match –

And ironically, Moo-man went down instead to the now-hot-handed Andreas Haider-Mauer who will be playing for the title in a matter of hours.

Go figger! To paraphrase, sometimes you gotta beat the Moo to be the Man!

October 30th, 2010 at 9:57 pm

the moo-man! what a nick name! i think ernie has too much respect to himself than to run scared of someone who has not played on the tour for over 10 years.

impressed with Andreas Haider-Mauer though, great run in vienna..lets see if he can go all the way tomorrow.

October 30th, 2010 at 10:16 pm

Ljubicic vs Monfils interesting final

October 30th, 2010 at 10:49 pm

Retirement date in mind for Clijsters: Olympics

Reported on October 30, 2010

In an interview with the Guardian, Kim Clijsters says she is actively planning to stop following the London Olympics and then try for a second child.

“[W]e do want to have more children… I’d like to try and keep the tennis going until the Olympics in London, at which point Jada will be obligated to go to school,” said Clijsters. “So that’s when I’ll probably be calling it quits and just focus on the family.

“Together with a friend of mine, I’ve bought a tennis club in Belgium — actually the club where I practice at in Bree,” she added. “We’re going through the process of rebuilding it, so when I retire from tennis, that’s something that will interest me very much.”

October 30th, 2010 at 10:58 pm

I hadn’t read that before sar. what a loss that is going to be too. After deciding to come back on tour, and then to leave again in 2 years time. However, she has achieved so much on her return – who would have thought that she would have won the USO last year on her maiden return!

I wonder who the ‘new tennis stars’ coming through the women’s game are/will be over the next 12 months. It seems to be picking up with the russian players –

Azarenko will be a force to be reckoned with next year I think.

October 31st, 2010 at 4:25 am

What a loaded field at Basel. Should make for well contested matches throughout the week.

I didnt realise that dolgopolov beat bagdhatis in beijing last month.

He is a great player. Should be a fantastic match. This 21 year old will be bounding about the court like a puppy and will be feeling confident since his win over marcos.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis/top-stories/Federer-looks-to-recapture-Basel-title/articleshow/6844614.cms

I don’t think federer will underestimate him, though if I recall this year, dolgo played well against rafa in madrid this year, 4 and 3, so obviously isn’t going to be fazed by the top players.

October 31st, 2010 at 4:44 am

Here is a more indepth analysis of the top and bottom half of the draw at basel. Full read, click on the link below.

Top Half:

If there’s one match that I’ve been waiting to see all season, it’s been a clash between Roger Federer vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov. The young Ukrainian is one of the most talented players on the circuit, and remains the youngest player inside the top 100. Possessing exquisite timing and balance off the ground, Dolgopolov will be tested by the artful grace of Federer from the get go.

Federer’s opposition in this half apart from facing Dolgopolov will feature the likes of Janko Tipsarevic, Melzer, Roddick, Sam Querrey, and David Nalbandian.

Tipsarevic has had a banner year, while Melzer remains hot on the heels of a singles position in London. Roddick has been cleared by doctors to resume his fight towards the World Tour finale, but America’s top ranked player will have to get by good friend Querrey in the first round.

Nalbandian, who has troubled Federer in the past, remains capable of a monumental upset, but could very easily lose to Marin Cilic in the second round.

Don’t get me started on Cilic, who has been the single biggest disappointment of the 2010 season.

Look for some imminent fireworks between Federer and Dolgopolov before the second-round, but I wouldn’t count out a hungry Roddick to make a determined charge to the semifinals.

However, Federer has reached the finals or better in his native event on six occasions, and that record should prove to be worthy as the week moves on.

We can all hope for a Federer-Nalbandian semifinal tussle on Saturday, but I’ll stay with the Swiss master to make his seventh final in Basel.

Pick: Federer

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/505729-atp-swiss-indoors-basel-draw-preview-and-analysis

October 31st, 2010 at 4:57 am

ah great mantch in vienna. the lucky loser andreas haider-mauer almost won the match in the second set tie breaker, melzer came back to take the tie breaker. we go to third set!

October 31st, 2010 at 10:41 am

Hi kimmi: wet and cold Sunday in UK AND clocks went back, means Winter has arrived. Thank goodness for tennis :)
Go other kim today and Monfils, yes?
Loved your nickname, jane ;)

October 31st, 2010 at 10:49 am

mrgot – so you had your clocks back, now things makes sense. i was wondering this morning why the matches are late to start.

we have our clocks back next weekend i think.

yes, go kim…wozniacki has been playing well..tough match for kim today.

melzer fighting back in this match. 3 break point now

October 31st, 2010 at 11:14 am

ah melzer breaks..the lucky loser party is almost over..

October 31st, 2010 at 11:15 am

congrats to melzer. he was able to defend his title. congrats to andreas haider-mauer for a great run too..beating some good players on the way.

in st.petersburg. kukushkin (ranked 88) beats youzhny in straight sets…surpring results there.

October 31st, 2010 at 11:39 am

Now kimmi, do you think our Monfils will have a game plan? Nah, me neither…..:( BTW I love his serve action, probably someone’s gonna tell me that its technically pants but I just that wee jump he does, is so cute :)

October 31st, 2010 at 11:53 am

Monfils’ hair looks great today. (I just don’t like it when he puts those extensions /dreadlocks in, like he had in Tokyo.)

October 31st, 2010 at 11:55 am

Long rallies might work for Gael, as he’ll last longer than Ljuby. But if Ivan starts to come in to finish off points, that may hurt Monfils as he likes to play far back. 3 aces to finish that game is a nice solid start.

October 31st, 2010 at 12:00 pm

hi jane: is it way past your bedtime? BTW did u get my latest film comments re French film?

October 31st, 2010 at 12:02 pm

Hi margot, 9:00 am, but on weekends I do like to lounge about. :) Monfils is playing surprisingly well, taking full advantage when Ljub comes in with great passers!

Can you remind me on the French film again? I think I read it but don’t remember and would like to note it down in my “films to see” file, which, yes, I really have on my desktop (blushes…)

October 31st, 2010 at 12:07 pm

jane: fabulous play from Monfils to break Lubi. has he had a personality transplant, suddenly he looks calm and serious! He is fine at the net when he does come, he’s so quick and lovely touch. Should do it more often.
Film is Jean Becker, English translation “Conversations with my Gardner.” Life enhancing.

October 31st, 2010 at 12:12 pm

They’re playing really boisterous music at this tourney, ACDC, Blur, and they have that “da da da da da da doo doo doo dooo – OLE!” cheer (like at the FO) going on – a lively atmosphere. Crowd so far very sporting.

October 31st, 2010 at 12:12 pm

Thanks: one needs those sorts of life enhancing films late in November when it’ dreary.

Monfils facing a break back point but serves a plum. He’s on song so far, and yep, very (strangely) focused. He almost always plays well in France. Oh deuce again.

October 31st, 2010 at 12:16 pm

Know who I’d want on my side in a bar room brawl but on a tennis court Monfils, on song, is pure joy ;)

October 31st, 2010 at 12:19 pm

Now crowd is dancing to Michael Jackson, where’s skeezer? :) 5-2, Ljub serving to stay in set one. 15 all.

October 31st, 2010 at 12:20 pm

margot, Monfils wow! Why doesn’t he play like this more often? He’s won 3 of the 4 slams as a junior, but since turning pro rather disappointing in his inconsistency, though he shows flashes of brilliance like today. Just a great first set from him; he’s a solid returner.

October 31st, 2010 at 12:24 pm

Making it look eeeezy! Kimmi hope u r enjoying this! Wonder how other kim is doing, is it on now?

October 31st, 2010 at 12:24 pm

morgot – i am watching kim and wozniacki. too many matches to juggle around..go kim..go la monf

October 31st, 2010 at 12:28 pm

the other kim is looking good at the mo. but i can’t relax till the fat lady sings.

wozniacki can be dangerous

October 31st, 2010 at 12:29 pm

oh no! kim is wobbling

October 31st, 2010 at 12:33 pm

wozniacki breaks back..horrible game by kim

how is la monf doing?

October 31st, 2010 at 12:34 pm

omg la monf got the firs set 6-2..great. keep going. dont do a kim pls.

October 31st, 2010 at 12:35 pm

kimmi: 2 many good matches-yes :) and what will we do next week? :(

October 31st, 2010 at 12:37 pm

wozniacki making a come back..

October 31st, 2010 at 12:52 pm

wozniacki takes the second set..hope kim can still fight in this match

October 31st, 2010 at 12:59 pm

this on-court coaching is ridiculous. wozniacki seem to need it i guess

October 31st, 2010 at 1:13 pm

Oh kimmi: And in Monpellier Lubi takes second set :(

October 31st, 2010 at 1:17 pm

Well, Monfils seems to have things back on track in the 3rd set, as does Kim, who I can’t believe lost that 4-1 lead in the second set. But Kim can do those sorts of walkabouts sometimes.

October 31st, 2010 at 1:24 pm

fingers crossed to both kim and la monf…c’moooooooooooon!

October 31st, 2010 at 1:25 pm

easy gave for caro to hold..c’mon kim serve it out

October 31st, 2010 at 1:28 pm

lost the first point..not good

October 31st, 2010 at 1:29 pm

0-30 hmmm c’mon kim

October 31st, 2010 at 1:29 pm

15-40

October 31st, 2010 at 1:30 pm

duece..phew! c’mon kim

October 31st, 2010 at 1:31 pm

adv woz

duece….nerve racking game. c’moon kim

championship point kim..

October 31st, 2010 at 1:33 pm

double fault. can’t believe it

October 31st, 2010 at 1:34 pm

another match point

October 31st, 2010 at 1:34 pm

game set match kim..great match from both. but kim is the winner. yay!

October 31st, 2010 at 1:35 pm

Game, set, match La Monf! He played well in the end, just a mid-match slump. Congrats on his 3rd (I think?) ATP title. Nice that he wins at home, even jumps into his box for hugs etc. Sweet. : )

October 31st, 2010 at 1:41 pm

Yay Kim!
Yay Monfils!
A good day’s tennis!
jane, kimmi : catch you soon, nearly bedtime here in UK, but have a nice day u 2!
skeeze: there’s a picture of Gimmelstob on tennistalk. Well, knock me down with a feather but from the way u guys were talking, I thought he’d be at least 195 ;)

October 31st, 2010 at 1:44 pm

Ps jane, yeh, I thought that was kinda nice too!

October 31st, 2010 at 1:46 pm

thanks margot and jane. congrats to la monf too. he is playing very well this end of the year. final in tokyo and a win in montpollier.

next he goes to valencia. good luck in valencia la monf.

October 31st, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Good run of form for Ljub too. He’s really been on a roll these past few weeks, as you mentioned previously Kimmi. But so nice to see Gael win one.

October 31st, 2010 at 1:53 pm

Night margot, catch ya later. See you too Kimmi – lots of tennis next week. Woot!

October 31st, 2010 at 1:55 pm

I watched the match ladies, and was enjoying reading your conversation.

It was a really close one. I think when Caroline took the second set she was definitely steam rolling kim, but then it just switched almost immediately.

Can someone tell me why it is that serena will go into the Australian open as World No. 4?

I thought she had a protected ranking after her foot injury?

Obviously not. So Caroline goes in as No.1 and holds it for at least 13 weeks, then zonerava as no.2, kim as no.3 and serena no. 4.

October 31st, 2010 at 1:59 pm

madmax – i dont even understand this protect ranking thing. maybe it works if a player is out for more that a year?

i remember when nalby came back his ranking has fallen to 103 (i think?). same as delpo, when he left he was ranked 5 but when he came back he was around 40 i think.

they were both allowed direct entrance to major tournament though but their ranking was not “protected” as you put it.

sharapova ranking plummeted too after her shoulder injury!

October 31st, 2010 at 3:35 pm

Margot,

I don’t got there ( TT ) but for you I did just to see Gimmelstob, lol :-)

October 31st, 2010 at 3:46 pm

Kimmi, like you say “protected ranking” helps player get direct entry to tournaments, it doesn’t preserve the actual ranking.

October 31st, 2010 at 3:46 pm

thanks RFfan. that makes sense

October 31st, 2010 at 3:50 pm

Congrats to Kim, Monfils, the no-name guy who won st. petes, and meltzer.

Excited for some great matches next week. Getting in my minnie mouse costume to score some candy.

October 31st, 2010 at 4:19 pm

Kimmi thansk for that – I just read about the protected ranking rule though – on a tennis questions site, that it protects a player for ‘6 months on tour’ – which is why I dont understand why serena doesn’t have a protected ranking.

May be Sean or Ben know some more?

October 31st, 2010 at 5:11 pm

You can get a protected ranking when you are injured for MORE than six months.

Q. What is a protected ranking and who is eligible?

A. A player may petition the CEO for an Entry Protection when he is physically injured and does not compete in any tennis event for a minimum period of six months. The written petition must be received within six months of his last tournament.

The Entry Protection shall be a position in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, as determined by the player’s average South African Airways ATP Rankings position during the first three months of his injury. The Entry Protection shall be for entry into the main draw or qualifying competition or for special exempt consideration. The Entry Protection shall not be used for seeding purposes, Lucky Loser consideration or for entry into the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The Entry Protection shall be in effect for either the first nine tournaments that the player competes in using the Entry Protection (excluding wild cards and entries as a Direct Acceptance with his current position in the South African Airways ATP Rankings) or for the period up to nine months beginning with the first tennis event that the player competes in, whichever occurs first.

October 31st, 2010 at 7:38 pm

thanks eric. that clears a lot. the way i understand, this is in a way same as RFfaN post above.

If a players comes back after injury and his ranking is still high enough to be seeded or get a direct entry then he wouldn’t need this special ranking. the protected ranking system becomes significant when a player’s ranking is low enough not to get a direct entry. good example is nalbandian.

“The Entry Protection shall be a position in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, as determined by the player’s average South African Airways ATP Rankings position during the first three months of his injury”

when nalbandian came back (ranked 103??)they used protected ranking system to give him direct entry into ATP1000s, ATP500s and ATP250s. he was probably good enough to get a drect entry into a grand slam.

“The Entry Protection shall not be used for seeding purposes”

that was the reason he wasnt seeded.

madmax – if WTA has the same system..then serena will not need protected ranking imo. she will be back at the AO seeded 4th and everyone will be happy..

October 31st, 2010 at 8:38 pm

tough luck first matches in basel for dolgo and gulbis :/

no hope of gulbis getting by nole. (EG will slip another place or two) better luck in paris, ernie! however, i have a feeling this season ended and the holiday started for gulbis a few weeks ago.

federer v dolgo has possibilities. but dolgo was disappointing in st. petersburg. i thought he’d go deeper. so, not really expecting much. though it could be a fun match-up.

“no name” is kukushkin, kimberly. and he moves up 30 places to 58 :O… yay kazakhstan! ( he got a win at the expense of a very done and over cooked looking youzhny.) kazakhstan could use the lift. their astana cycling team plagued by doping problems – contador’s ex team.

i was surprised andreas haider-mauer didn’t beat melzer. ahm was serving for match and choked- 3 DF’s. melzer sort of got lucky to win, the way he was moving. still not in the top 100, ahm moves up 42 places. that lucky loser was on fire!

will also be interesting to see how verdasco plays this week in valencia. he’s still on my “no pick” list along with davy and cilic.

very happy for le monfs and cljisters wins!

and …i see dimitrov is in a challenger in germany with ahm and some other tough competition. grigor only moved 2 spots to 112 but that’s going the right direction. go grigor !

http://atp-turnier.de/content/englisch_hauptfeld_einzel.php

October 31st, 2010 at 10:39 pm

Eric,

thanks for that information. very thorough, very helpful.

you too kimmi – and I agree with you –

brilliant for federer at basel. some great comments about his play today and the fact that he was playing what was described as ‘sizzling tennis’.

November 1st, 2010 at 5:44 pm

just watched the basel match between fed and dolgopolov, who played really well, tv guys were saying that although dolgopolov is ranked 48, that they expect his 2011 season to be a strong one and how well he had done to come through challengers at the start of the year.

Looks like at 15:15 in the final game, dolgopolov turned an ankle when he ran for a return shot from fed, there was no slide on court, so his ankle just ‘stuck’. Here’s the link of set two. You’ll have to fast forward to 5:2 15:15 to see what happened.

Dolgo is a great player for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4wIOpZNTdc

November 1st, 2010 at 6:40 pm

contador – hi ya!

very true on your last week matches summary. The lucky loser was unlucky this time. believe it or not i was pulling for him. I like great stories and he did one in vienna.

sounds like you watched quite a bit of those matches..why didn’t you comment at tennis-x during the matches…oh well!

poor dolgo..looks like federer was just too much for him. not that i wanted dolgo to win but a close match would have probably been good for him…you know, hanging with the big boys.

Congrats to the fed. need to look for the highlights. too bad dolgo could not finish the match..but great perfomance from the fed anyways.

November 1st, 2010 at 7:41 pm

Congrats to Fed da King of the court.

RAFA FANS UNITE!

Here is a article for the Rafa fans since Fed is taking the limelight of late as Rafa is getting some well earned rest……enjoy! You don’t have to say thank you, and I don’t want you to. The article speaks for itself.
Maybe this link will travel over to TT :).
BTW the site is a good one if you play the game.
or otherwise…

http://www.tennisone.com/newsletter/template/11.1.10.newsletter.html

And another BTW, the “Annus Mirabilis” is not what us “language deficient morons” think it is, it means “Wonderful Year”…….

November 1st, 2010 at 7:57 pm

All Rafa rans, don’t forget to vote for Rafa as the fan favorite on the atp site!

Contador-good to hear from you, missed your witty comments!!!!! Getting ready for Paris?

Kimmi-I too was rooting for the lucky loser but alas, not so lucky on that day.

Congrats to Mr. No Name Kukushkin????? Always nice to see someone new get an opportunity.

COntador-as to Ernies early Holiday, unfortunately I am in complete agreement.

November 1st, 2010 at 8:07 pm

ah hot sauce wins a match..go verdasco! few more point to qualify to london.

November 1st, 2010 at 8:08 pm

tennis-tv is showing basel from monday but valencia till next thursday. i wonder why? there both atp500, why show one and not the other?

kimberly – looking forward to our final bracket challenge for this year. lets kick contador butt, she cant win again! :))

November 1st, 2010 at 8:51 pm

Kimmi—lol….looking forward to it as well. The goodnews is I can’t possibly do any worse than shaing hai.

November 1st, 2010 at 9:11 pm