Federer Stays Perfect At ATP Finals, Murray Gets A Win; Djokovic v Wawrinka Wednesday

by Staff | November 11th, 2014, 10:12 pm
  • 120 Comments

Six-time champion Roger Federer remained perfect at the 2014 ATP Finals today beating Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2. The victory was Federer’s 70th of his career and put him on the brink of qualifying for the semifinals.

“I think with my game, I have the capability of really making him feel uncomfortable, mixing it up,” said Federer following the match. “But it’s not always possible. He’s shown in the past when he gets the upper hand against any player from the baseline, he’s very difficult to beat. Today for some reason he couldn’t get it done. Maybe I was playing too well defence and offense, mixing up my serve good enough… It was really important to take advantage of the fact that I was feeling really good, and then maybe he was struggling a little bit today.

“There’s so much still at stake for me, wanting to beat a fellow rival and wanting to win the points that are at stake, go in with a clean sheet into the semis. I’m happy after two matches I’m standing here with two wins. It’s very positive.”


The 33-year-old Federer will face Andy Murray next on Thursday. The Scot stayed alive in the competition by beating Milos Raonic 6-3, 7-5.

“I obviously played better tonight,” said Murray. “I hit the ball a lot cleaner than I did on Sunday from the beginning of the match. So that was pleasing.”

Murray and Federer are tied 11-11 in their series, but Federer has won three of four at year-end event and both meetings this year.

“It will be obviously a very difficult match,” said Murray. “But it will be an exciting match. A good one to be part of. I hope I can play well. We’ve had some very good matches over the years. I hope on Thursday it will be the same.”

Tomorrow, Novak Djokovic will face Stan Wawrinka with a potential qualifying spot on the line. If Djokovic wins and Cilic gets a sets, the Serb earns a semifinal berth. If Wawrinka wins and Berdych takes a set, then Wawrinka earns the semi spot.

WEDNESDAY ATP FINALS SCHEDULE
AFTERNOON SESSION
DOUBLES A / 12:00 PM
B BRYAN/ M BRYAN VS J ROJER/H TECAU
SINGLES A / 02:00 PM
BERDYCH VS CILIC

EVENING SESSION
DOUBLES A / 06:00 PM
A PEYA/B SOARES VS L KUBOT/R LINDSTEDT
SINGLES A / 08:00 PM
DJOKOVIC VS WAWRINKA


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120 Comments for Federer Stays Perfect At ATP Finals, Murray Gets A Win; Djokovic v Wawrinka Wednesday

skeezer Says:

Feds new shoes….totally awesome

https://www.facebook.com/Federer/posts/10152833545794941

Hope Fed/Murray match is a “Cracker”.


Eric Says:

For the curious, Fed only has to win 5 games total (not even a full set) to guarantee beating out Nishikori on the tiebreakers.


Eric Says:

(I think.)


calmdownplease Says:

Oh Yeah, I forgot all about that Shanghai win of Muzz against Federer.
So there is a precedent after all :)
Took it right out of him however and it wasn’t London.


Giles Says:

Are those his new ballet shoes?


Polo Says:

Only you would know, Giles.


leo Says:

Giles, you make it sound like ballet is easy? Try it.


TennisVagabond.com Says:

All those who predicted an all-conquering Cilic after USO please go to the back of the line.


sienna Says:

yeah well bite me TV.com.
all of a sudden me thinks #18 could have been wrapped up.


Margot Says:

Just checked scores, looks like another blow out.


jane Says:

cilic really has been a surprising letdown, for me anyhow. considering his preceding record on indoor courts, his success at the us open, and even his defeats of berdych at both wimbledon and the us open this year, it’s surprising to see him lose like this.

did someone mention an injury? if so, that could explain the precipitous drop in form.


RZ Says:

@Jane, yes Cilic has a right arm injury which is why he had dropped out of Paris. It was said that he hasn’t fully recovered from it yet.


elina Says:

You guys, WTF is pathetic! No comparison to the slams where top players can adjust to conditions in early rounds.

Not one match has gone three sets! Only four of 14 sets with more than nine games with six breadsticks!

Some players complaining of poor lighting. Hard to have a tournament in a venue that is not a dedicated tennis site like the slams and masters events.

It is what it is but it does not show tennis in its most favourable light which is a shame.

Hopefully the weekend will be better.

Yawnfest.


Ben Pronin Says:

We’ve had disappointing slams in the past, too. It’s not the tournament’s fault that some of these guys just haven’t shown up with their best stuff. We’ve had some great, great matches from the WTF in past years. But I’d still rather see top guys route each other than top guys route some qualifiers.


Margot Says:

If Cilic was injured to the extent these scorelines are suggesting, surely he should’ve dropped out? Ferrer was splitting a gut trying to qualify and would’ve at least made the matches competitive. Tho I do remember one year when he didn’t win a match.
@elina
The matches at the WTF often are let downs. It’s almost as if WTF = WTF. Its got an end of term feel to it and some of the players just look knackered. It’s a pity they can’t nominate a sub!


elina Says:

Margot, I agree with you. It always has the feel of an afterthought. Like an all-star game put on as a big show but the players with few exception (Novak and Fed) simply are rarely at their best.

Also, being able to lose two matches possibly and still win the tournament plus all of the complicated calculations to determine who makes the semis is crazy!

For example, if Fed beats Murray and Raonic beats Kei, then we have three guys at 1-2 and you need a maths degree to figure out which one goes to the semis?

Just not my cup of tea. Better than no tennis at all but not the same excitement as the rest of the year.

As Ben says, sometimes some great matches but it seems to be the exception and not the norm.

I would much rather attend a Masters 1000 than this event as you only get to see one singles match per session and there are just too many damp squibs!

Rarely do we see the great matches slams provide or even masters. Ideally, at least the semis and finals should be best of five to justify the extra points but with the fumes that most of these guys seem to be running on, that could make matters even worse!


TennisVagabond.com Says:

You’ll all sing a different tune soon. Fed Murray is a guaranteed great match- I always find Murray plays his most aggressive game against Fed. Wawrinka/ Novak will be a slobberknocker, and then the knockout rounds will be great.


jane Says:

ben it’s true the slams can have boring routs in the early rounds, when a top player is playing someone ranked in the 100s who’s overwhelmed by the occasion. but you do get some real excellent early round matches sometimes too, just like some of the WTF matches over the years have been classics. it’s too easy to generalize.


elina Says:

1. If Murray beats Federer and Raonic beats Nishikori, Murray wins the group and Federer qualifies second
2. If Federer beats Murray in three sets and Raonic beats Nishikori in two sets, Federer wins the group and Murray qualifies second
3. If Murray beats Federer in two sets and Nishikori beats Raonic in three sets, Murray wins the group and Federer qualifies second
4. If Murray beats Federer in two sets and Nishikori beats Raonic in two sets, it will come down to the percentage of games won between Federer, Murray and Nishikori

Ah there you go…. it’s so simple when you break it down like that.

What?


SG1 Says:

Quite impressive that Fed is still so dominant. Must be an eye opener to the next generation that that at 33, Federer’s talent level and ability to execute is still well above theirs. You’d think a guy like Nishikori could bother Federer, especially at this point Fed’s career. Guess not. Love him, hate him or don’t give a damn about him, anyone worth their weight in salt has to marvel at how competitive this guy is. I doubt anyone has ever loved the game more. It’s only explanation.


RZ Says:

@Margot – the pay and prestige of the WTF are strong incentives, especially for a first time qualifier. I doubt Cilic would want to give up either.


El_Flaco Says:

Some people have a certain motivation to marginalize the tournament. It will make them feel better, but doesn’t change the tournament’s prestige in the eyes of the players.


sienna Says:

yes el_flaco
we all know why and for whom that is.

btw WTF is throughout its history regarded as a big one. all tennis greats have seen it as priority and everyone worth something has won it everyone, every single one ? allbutyouknowwho.


Giles Says:

YouKnowWho has been on the coffee again! Special coffee that is!


Ben Pronin Says:

I’ll never accept the round robin complaint. I don’t care how weird it is that a guy who’s 1-2 can win the event. I know I would hate it but I’m not even sure that’s ever happened.

This tournament happens once a year. The ATP tried having several round robin tournaments a few years back and it fell flat on its face. Tennis tournaments shouldn’t be round robin. But the WTF absolutely should be. How better to prove your worth and rank than by having to play not 1 or 2 or 3, but 5 top 8 players. Think about the slams. It’s so rare for the champ to play 3 top 10 guys. I think 2 top 10 guys is probably the average. Sometimes they only face 1 or none. On rare occassions, 3. But the WTF says you have to play AT LEAST 3. And to win? You have to play 5. Even if you go 2-1 in the group and win the event, how much shame is there really? That means you went 4-1 against 5 of the top 8 players in the world.

Seriously, every Masters event and Slam we’re all waiting for the Djokovic/Federer or Federer/Nadal or Djokovic/Nadal or Murray/Djokovic or whatever matchup, right? Every single touranment. And when a Cilic or a Wawrinka upset one of those guys, it’s “oh man, what a shame, everyone was really looking forward to another epic showdown.” The WTF pretty much guarntees these matches. When Federer and Murray are put in the same group, we don’t have to worry about them losing early, we know we’ll get the match we want.

I don’t know what you guys want. No season ending event? A bigger draw? Seriously, what will appease you?


sienna Says:

well there is some faith that WAWA is hitting his zone.
Berdych easily put aside te man who demasqué by Djoker.

anyway Cilic being injured would explaine why he lacked in US form.

about Cilic.
I stand by statement that his performance in 2nd week esp. semi/final was a level of play lightyears from current tennis level.
it was the ultimate powertennislevel.
blowing everything of the court.

but his drop in level of play is even more unreal.


skeezer Says:

This IS a special event. I am sure players like Cilic, Kei and Roanic are overjoyed they are there, qualified, and participating. They invite the top players in the world only. No others can play. The best are playing against the best. Some may complain that the players are burnt out or after a long season they are nursing injuries. So what? What about the guys that make it all the way through and win?
Get in better shape. Take care of your body better. Have a better schedule, and so on.


Polo Says:

A player can win this WTF tournament even if he gets beaten in the round robin by somebody who may not even get past the round robin portion. No wonder they call it WTF.


contador Says:

Ben nailed it. posted to perfection @ 2:08 pm

And, the doubles match going on right is interesting. @ jane – it’s julien sands playing and I am cheering him on ; )


Giles Says:

Well, for starters it would be great if these top 8 guys play like they belong in the top 8. So far I haven’t had the pleasure of watching any quality matches, quite a few have been whitewash jobs. I think the newbies are overwhelmed and far too nervous therefore not playing to their full potential. Understandable I suppose but they are not doing the spectators any favours who have paid a vast amount of money to watch this cr@p that’s been going on since Sunday. Maybe the quality will improve as the tourney progresses? Let’s wait and see.
So far no good!


Margot Says:

@Ben
I’d like it at the beginning of the year when they’re all fresh and ready to rock and roll.


sienna Says:

yes Polo you say this because it makes it easier to win. No?

so easy to win. try, try, try…fail fail fail etc etc….


sienna Says:

tagteam?
sackteam, dragqueen…..

fed be thinking “Do I have to do it all alone?”


Hippy Chick Says:

Im with Polo and its nothing to do with you Know Who not winning it,and Polos a Federer fan whos actually won the title six times,so your cant use that as a reason and say hes biased,i would love for Nadal to win the title because of its prestige,but i just dont care for this particular format,they use it football for the WCs etc,and whether or not a player has lost games or not before winning the title,is niether here nor there really,you could make the final and win even though you lost a match in getting there,yet the other guy on the other side never lost a match in getting there,also the fate can be taken out of your hands,depending on the results of the other players,IMO it would make it a fourtnightly tournament with the top 16 players,in a best of 5 set format,and straight knockouts,my two cents….


elina Says:

I can’t quite put my finger on it but maybe Ben says it best when he says “Tennis tournaments shouldn’t be round robin.”

From a purely selfish standpoint (as I’ve already said), yes, I do prefer it to no tennis even if it still feels somewhat artificial being indoors in the dark with all of the lights, bells and whistles. I don’t know.

However, based on the WTA type scores, maybe nothing would be better with a longer offseason as per other professional sports.

Could be that absence makes the heart grow fonder even with tennis!


Eric Says:

Ben, you totally nailed it. I get the complaints– the matches this year have, from the scorelines, not been the most competitive (I haven’t had time to watch them). Looks like Djokovic is halfway to another straightforward win. BUT, it’s not always that way, and even the idea of a 1-2 guy going on to win is GREAT – shows how deep the field is, how competitive it can be, how hard to get even a single win. We don’t always like to admit it, but even between the world no. 5 and world no. 55, it’s a competitive match. Flip that coin often enough and barring some egregious matchup issue, the no. 55 is going to win sets and matches. A fortiori for the top 8. The round robin stage can be annoying and confusing (it might be better if there were five guys in each group, so there wouldn’t usually be three-way ties at 2-1 or 1-2) but it’s a big reason the WTF is such a major tournament.


Polo Says:

Sienna, I have no idea what you were trying to say @2:44 pm. But I said what I said because I don’t like this tournament. I like Federer and happy that he’s won it a lot but when people use this argument to boost Federer over Nadal, I just roll my eyes. This is nowhere near the caliber and intensity of a major or a master’s event. You can lose and still come out the champion? WTF, if you like it, fine. But I don’t.


Daniel Says:

Matches are indeed one sided. Colic was injured so he gets a “pass”. Even so just the fact that we have guarantee Fed x Murray and most likelly Fed x Djoko or another Djoko x Murray worths it all. If the other underachieved this guys fir sure will delivered when the time comes. Semis and finals


Daniel Says:

Djokovoc in sublime form. impecable tennis so far losimg only 5 games. He broke Wawrinka to love 3 times I think.


sienna Says:

if you lose aan match and still be able to win tournement. it must be easy.

Have you never heard of world cup soccer?
you can become worldchampion after losing aan match in groupestage.

it is not uncommon to possibly 90% of all sports to have a setup like that.

even the americanos here no about best seven series. You can lose to win next day.


Daniel Says:

Polo, but this is your opinion and this tourney is more important than a master series where you can win without facing a top 10, not the case here.

If we use the same old argument: ask the players what they will prefer and I bet it’s this event (rigt after Slams) above any Masters. Unless maybe if is a “home masters”. This is big guys tennis. Some can undermine this tournament all you want due to personal boas but this is second big only to Slams and all the players knows it. you have 9 Masters per season and only 1 WTF (Masterc Cup, season ed, whatever). This is way nore dificult and prestige to win just below Slams.


Giles Says:

Another quality whitewash! The spectators should ask for a refund! Lol


Wog Boy Says:

What a FHDTL to bagel Stan, fitting end to this match. Nole’s return game and tactic win him this match but I didn’t even expect stright set victory nevertheless bagel. Does this result gives Berdych chances in a case Cilic beats Stan?


Margot Says:

Lol for a brief moment there I thought we were going to have a tennis match…..Felt sorry for Beefy he looked increasingly bothered, bewildered, outmanoevered and out-foxed.
Nole was in amazing form, his movement and his ROS were extraordinary. I think he simply intimidated Beefy who could do nothing against this kind of play.


Polo Says:

Daniel, of course, a player would prefer to play at the WTF rather than any masters. At the WTF, show up, play and lose 1-1 (even 0-0) and you still get over $140,000. How much do you get losing first round in a masters? If you’re lucky to face and beat one who’s even more injured, you get another $140,000. No wonder, nobody backs out of the WTF even when nursing an injury. Well, except Nadal.


Jeez Says:

Now Both Murray & Berdych are in similar situations with both their 1st round victors losing poorly[Kei:3-6,2-6;Stan:3-6,0-6] in their 2nd round mathes!!!

One might presume Murray over Berdych,but U never know for sure??


Giles Says:

Money is not everything, health comes first , no? Polo?


RZ Says:

What happened to Wawa? I last saw the score as 2-2, then saw that Djokovic basically ran off with the match. I guess Djoker didn’t take too kindly to being broken in the first game.


Hippy Chick Says:

I thought this was going to be the match of the tournament,Novak still looks like the man to beat,but i agree with elina in that the matches have been a bit of a dissapointment so far,but as she also points out,some tennis is better than no tennis,maybe the best will be saved till last….


Jeez Says:

@Giles
BASEL ala Roger Brenwald
All righty!!!


Wog Boy Says:

“If Cilic was injured to the extent these scorelines are suggesting, surely he should’ve dropped out?”

Agree and I don’t buy injury exuse. I am just watching now Berdych/Cilic and he was simply outplayed same as in the match against Nole. No sign of injury and Goran’s pi$$ed off face (like against Nole), and Cilic’s one too, tells everything, Cilic wasn’t mentaly prepared for WTF and pulling out of Paris was more likely to rest for London and prepare better.
Was he injured in all those matches he lost after USO, no he was outplayed same as he was here in London.


RZ Says:

@Hippy Chick – I thought it would be at least the best match of the round robins. Maybe Stan just needs to go 5 sets against Djoker for it to be a good match.


mat4 Says:

I really do not understand all those comments about the WTF. Two years ago, we had a magnificient round robin tournament, with a lot of three setters, and very tight scores.

This year, we have three new players, and a few good players known for their mental frailty: Wawrinka is able to play the best and the worst, Berdych belongs to the same group of player, Cilic, too, not to mention that he plays his first WTF. Raonic was also very nervous — but let’s not forget that he played against Federer and Murray.

It all can happen, and it happens in lots of tournaments.

But to say that there’s more intensity in any MS1000… There’s more money, points and prestige at stake here than at any MS1000. And the level of opposition is also tremendous (at least three, at most five top eight players): if you don’t play your best, not only you can lose, but you can be humiliated…


Giles Says:

https://twitter.com/bob120813/status/532644123267063808
Lol Wawawewo. You weren’t very dependable today!


skeezer Says:

Face it, most of the whining about WTF is from the “you know who” fan base. It gets old every year, same group, same whining.

Being its an 8 man field, there is no way this could work as a tournament with the normal format. In fact, I would like to see it smaller, say the best four man RR. Take the best 4(Rafa,Fed,Murray, Nole) and make them play each other, then the best remaining 2 play for it all. 5 set format.


Giles Says:

5.33 pm
Absolutely daft! So what else is new? LMAO


calmdownplease Says:

The main problems with the WTF are in my view (off the top of my head)

a. Tired Players
b. Inexperienced players
c. Novak Djokovic being just way too good
d. No Nadal
e. Murray still shakey.

I’m sure there’s many more but really it has been a bit s**t, you’ve got to admit it.


Ben Pronin Says:

a. There’s nothing anyone can do about this. Having the event in the beginning of the year seems anticlimactic. This is the year-end finals where the best of this year get to compete against each other. But let’s say it was in the beginning of the year. When? Before Australian Open? Then they’re tired for the Australian. After? Then they’re tired for some other thing. Maybe everyone will be tired by the time the US Open rolls around. It’s not the event, it’s just the way the tour works.

b. Irrelevant. Inexperienced how? It’s best of 3, indoors. Everyone’s been playing best of 3 and indoors the last few months. Cilic is too inexperienced for WTF but not to win the US Open? And Nishikori, too? Nishikori beat Murray for the first time in 4 tries. How did the inexperience factor in there? Raonic? Is it really inexperience or the fact that he’s played Murray and Federer so far, two guys who simply match up well against him and are better players.

c. This is a problem?

d. Agreed, the groups would’ve been better with him.

e. Not really a general problem…

The ATP did itself no favors by making the acronym of this event WTF because ever since then everyone’s been acting like this is the dumbest thing ever. Remember when it was still the Masters Cup? Remember when Murray made his debut in 2008 and played an epic match against Federer in the round robin stage?

This is clearly an outlier of a year. Normally we seen tons of 3 setters or close 2 setters.


calmdownplease Says:

Cilic may be slightly injured (and Nishi too), so you may be correct about b.
As for c I have no problem with it (being a secondary fan) but it seems the conditions REALLY suit Novak this year.
I think Margot’s suggestion about having the WTF after the December break (say instead of the crappy sheik exho tournament in the middle east, but not next year per se)carries water.
And how can you say e is not really a problem while blab about the Fed Muzz match in 08?
Its highly important that Murray delivers something in this tournament.
Even if he loses (which i know you would want).


Sirius Says:

In 2010, Spain won the world cup despite losing to switzerland. WTF?!?

You can lose a match and still win the World Cup! WTF!?!

I get it. Football world cup is also a pointless tournament


Wog Boy Says:

I think CDP was having us on, no?


Ben Pronin Says:

Really? You’re saying that the tournament is dependent on Murray’s performance? What if he hadn’t made the cut? Would it then be that an undeserving Murray missing from the event is a loss?

The problem isn’t Murray, it’s pretty much everyone. So far only Federer and Djokovic have shown up to play. Everyone else has more or less suffered a blowout loss. But if we had a bunch of competitive matches from the guys in group A and between Nishikori and Federer, then Murray’s performance wouldn’t matter to anyone but his fans. Right now he’s kinda the third best player in the event.


calmdownplease Says:

What do you mean?
I pretty much tell it like it is.
From my perspective of course.
Oh yeah I meant THE MAIN PROBLEMS WITH THE WTF THIS YEAR.


calmdownplease Says:

You can easily reverse that & say that Novak’s performances only matter to his fans & so on.
It’s important that they all show why they are the best players in the world, no?
Federer’s great matches against Nishi or Raonic won’t a tournament make, I’m sorry but that is how we non Fed fans see that too.
The more good matches the better esp if you are a neutral, or you just want to see some good tennis and some kind of dramatic build up.


calmdownplease Says:

And I didn’t say everything depended on Murray playing well, I said it was an important element.
He might still do it of course ;)


Wog Boy Says:

In 2008 Nole lost to Tsonga in RR and beat Davydenko to win WTF in Shanghai, Federer won only one match that year and it was against Roddick replacment (pulled out after one match) Stepanek. OK, I know, Federer had a back problems:)


Wog Boy Says:

CDP, I am pretty sure you will have few Nole fans cheering Andy tonight, I don’t know if that helps?


Polo Says:

The main problem with the WTF is that I don’t really care for it. It does not generate the same excitement as open tournaments where each round gets progressively more exciting. It’s like a good dinner where there is an appetizer, a main course then finally that sweet decadent dessert. WTF is like a meal where all the dishes are the same. It’s not for me. Worse when they are served way undercooked. Like this one.


calmdownplease Says:

Federer will have more than back problems to worry about if he gets to the final this year ;)


calmdownplease Says:

`CDP, I am pretty sure you will have few Nole fans cheering Andy tonight, I don’t know if that helps?

And I often root for (and defend Novak) when he plays too.
Do you think if he beats Fed that is somehow an easier situation for Novak to contend with?
Don’t be so sure lol.


Polo Says:

Whose wife was it who said that after the US Open, the tennis season is over? That’s one wise lady.


Wog Boy Says:

No, not at all eaisier, but Nole will get one thing out of his way, battle for #1. If Andy wins, Nole wins year end #1.


Wog Boy Says:

^^for CDP


calmdownplease Says:

Understood.
But I would worry about THAT at all
hehe
We all know who is rightfully numero uno this year.


calmdownplease Says:

Would’NT
Would not
Jeez
you get the picture lol


mat4 Says:

A site with highlights and whole matches from the WTF, for those who didn’t manage to see them:

http://www.tennishdhighlights.com/atp-masters/world-tour-finals/


contador Says:

When there is only 8 players, it matters a lot for all of them to play well. I don’t doubt that they all wanted to. I’m sure Berdych, Cilic, Raonic ….none of them intended to stink in their first round matches.

Any tournament, any time of year is subject to be plagued with injuries. The misfortunes of Cilic and Nishikori and whoever is injured certainly isn’t any more apt to happen now than at any other time during the year. Look at Nishikori: He is injured at the end of a run up to practically any masters or GS, unfortunately.

Murray. If anything he has been playing better this fall than the rest of 2014, but he had to work extra hard to qualify for the World Tour Final….something he obviously wanted to do. It is prestigious for the players, no matter whatever the passionate internet tifosi think. The top players at both WTA and ATP get rewarded handsomely for, well, being the top players.

Watch Murray beat Federer tomorrow or at least make it 3 tight sets – then Murray goes on to win the title. That should improve the mood around here.

And if anyone should be complaining about the tournament this year it’s me….I love the underdogs, journeymen, qualifiers and early main draw rounds. Lots of competitive matches take place on those more humble stages of a tournament, imo, of course.

But once a year, let the best 8 of the season have their show. And the Round Robin Format fits well for a once a year showcase.


mat4 Says:

the WTF revisited:

Courtney NGuyen published some stats about the WTF on si.com. This year is an exception.

I think that the ATP destroyed a part of the charm of the Tour making tournaments mandatory. That way it also made the slams so important, and the WChamp, whatever its name was, less relevant that it should be.


elina Says:

Murray matches up well against Raonic? Andy was 1-3 head to head against Milos so I don’t agree.

The rest of the year a loss means you are out until the next tournament. That inherently makes each match more exciting.

I’d rather see a Top 20 player field with Top 12 getting a first round bye. 1st round best of three with the remaining rounds best of five. This would mean an extra four matches.

1st round best of three would be like a qualifying round and remaining best of five would make it more like a slam.

And please, have it somewhere warm, outside and on a real (permanent) tennis court.

On a side note, Roger and Novak are playing incredible tennis but with no opposition so far, it is simply not that fun to watch unless one of them is your absolute favourite. Two of the best the sport have ever seen.

I just want to see some great, well fought matches. The WTF is supposed to showcase the sport but is failing miserably as it stands.


calmdownplease Says:

`Murray matches up well against Raonic? Andy was 1-3 head to head against Milos so I don’t agree..`

He just beat him in straight sets, so why even go there?
Did you actually see how Andy beat Raonic at the US Open?!
Clearly not.

`And please, have it somewhere warm, outside and on a real (permanent) tennis court..`

And on clay perhaps?

;)


Wog Boy Says:

We have four outdoor GS on three surfaces, eight outdoor masters on two surfaces (grass one needed), if indoor is legitimate tennis competition, as it is, what is wrong of having one indoor masters and one indoor WTF, bit of diversity is always wellcome, no?
I hope it stays in London for another few years, great Arena, full house, nice fans (though a bit proFederer:) nice distance from all other continents, what else do we need?


Daniel Says:

Agree Wig Boy, the venue is awesome and place is middle earth.

Of course we culd have it traveeling the world for the benefit of the sport but with the grown in Asia swing (Shangai masters) and some more ATP 500 in south america the tour is good as it is. Next year with the extra week between RG and Wimbeldon and Halle and Basel becoming ATP 500 it’s almost perfect. Maybe they will eventually make one pf this tourneys a grass Master’s.

Question for Novak fans, is he playing any pre AO tournament next year? Tried to find hos schedule but couldn’t.


calmdownplease Says:

A WTF in Sydney perhaps?

And a `bit proFederer`?!

I really do hope that the basel type trashy Fed fans do not show up & darken the WTF’s doors tomorrow.
As they did last year against poor old Muzz.
Whose fans are so respectful of other players (for the most part).
Everyone was so embarrassed about it!
So vulgar & common.
Anyway, 2015 is apparently the last year in London.


calmdownplease Says:

^^I mean in 2012


Wog Boy Says:

Daniel, from what I read, yes, Nole should play Doha but he didn’t confirme it, not yet.

Well, Sydney certainly has facilities and capabilities to organise WTF, but the distance at that time of the year is the problem. After Asia swing players are moving to Europe and then to fly back on the other side of the planet, not really handy, but I would be delighted if it happens.


calmdownplease Says:

`Of course we culd have it traveeling the world for the benefit of the sport`

Or we could have you travelling the world in a circus perhaps?
Daniel might need a new antipsychotic regimen.
I fear it’s all unraveling again!


calmdownplease Says:

`but the distance at that time of the year is the problem`

But if we had it the 2 weeks before the New Year (with Paris as an optional) it would be quite perfect.
Of course that’s not going to happen.


elina Says:

No, not on clay necessarily. You have me mistaken. Could be clay, grass or hardcourt. Just put it outside.

Yes Murray is a far better player than Raonic agreed overall but saying he matches up well when he was 1-3 entering the WTF is just wrong.

Like saying Nadal matches up well against Davydenko even though he’s a much better player.

And the only places in the world that aren’t “a bit pro-Federer” are Spain (and only when Rafa is involved) and Serbia so I don’t think London is any worse than 99% of the rest of the world as far as that goes.


skeezer Says:

Re; 8:23 post
That was low life stuff. Really? C’mon.
And everyone? Lol.


Wog Boy Says:

That is correct, closer to the January most of the players are already somewhere around Australia or should I say, in vicinity of Australia, but it is not going to happen.


Daniel Says:

That’s why they have the middle east swing close to AO, as most flights to Australia stop there, unless you are leaving South America through pacific.


Daniel Says:

CDP,

Mocking my writing won’t bother me as long as you don’t ofend africans or any other minorities. There is other places for that.


calmdownplease Says:

`That was low life stuff. Really? C’mon.`

EXCUSE ME!?

The Fed fans at that match (like basel recently0 were the


calmdownplease Says:

`That was low life stuff. Really? C’mon.`

EXCUSE ME!?

The Fed fans at that match (like Basel recently) were the `low life stuff` in my opinion!
Anyhoo, I’ll make my usual disclaimer (although I would have thought it was obvious by now)
I’m not meaning all Fed fans just some,
and more than a few.
Let’s see how they behave tomorrow.


Wog Boy Says:

elima, Federer played only once in Serbia and that was last minute decesion, I guess he wanted to make sure Nole didn’t change his mind.
One question, what makes you thinking that you can talk on behalf of the rest of the world. I can tell you that no country in eastern/southern Europe will cheer Federer on expence of their own player as some other countries do, including London fans, so it is not only Serbia, trust me.


calmdownplease Says:

ooopps it posted without me finishing apologies.


Wog Boy Says:

^^should say “elina”


calmdownplease Says:

@Daniel

Oh gawd
my next disclaimer….
Not ALL African prostitutes have bad English.
Just more than a few.
Apologies to the ones with perfect English.
I could have said Albanian or anywhere you know…


jane Says:

contador, i buy your argument and agree: let them have their show indeed.


calmdownplease Says:

^^Howzabout CANADA for the WTF?
We could have a moose walk round the court to get things started.
Sounds pretty cool to moi.


Daniel Says:

Actually today in Stan X Djoko match they were constantly showing some big guys in the audience cheering Wawa. Didn’t know if they were from some other swiss team but they were pretty vivid fans.


Wog Boy Says:

It could be SA rugby team, if I am not mistaken.


TennisVagabond.com Says:

Polo, thank you, I’ll let Mrs Vagabond know.


TennisVagabond.com Says:

I don’t think even the players get this upset and passionate about tennis. Chill out everyone. Its a game.


skeezer Says:

@TV
Yes. Chill. WTF is coveted by the ATP players. WTF? Even Rafa is there, just to watch, WTF?
WTF rules!


Margot Says:

a) WTF at the beginning of the year would be a tremendous wham bam to start the year.
b)It’s very expensive compared to Wimbledon/Queens/RG. At W you pay £90 and can see 4+ matches. If one is a blow out you can wander off and see another. At O2 you can pay £90 and see a blow out and a short doubles.
c) Fed fans at O2 for the Andy v Fed match 2012 cheered Andy’s double faults and his errors and barracked his serve. They far outnumbered other fans. It was the year Andy won Wimbledon and it was horrid. They did the same when Nole played Stan. Oh and the cow bells….
I was there.


Jeez Says:

@Margot
Murray won the Olympics + US Open in 2012,not the Wimbledon which he won in 2013…??


jane Says:

it’s too cold here cdp; we live in igloos, dontcha ya know eh?


jane Says:

daniel, i heard the same as wog boy that nole might play doha, which is probably a good idea.

margot, a friend went last year and she said lots of swiss fans make the short trip to london; she too mentioned the cow bells, lol!


Giles Says:

No doubt the fed cult will be in full force at the O2 today cow ells and all! Lol
Come on Andy!!!


Margot Says:

@jeez
Sorry meant Olympics. Even more reason for him not to be booed as he came on court, I’d a thought.


elina Says:

Wog Boy, just going from all the tennis I’ve watched (a lot BTW).

To be fair, I haven’t seen any matches of Fed playing in eastern or southern Europe (other than Spain).

Can you cite any examples where the crowd has been pro Fed’s opponent??? Extremely rare!

Even Giles Simon recently pleaded in the media for the French fans to not cheer for Fed over their own in DC championship. Only one player has this universal support where such a plea is warranted.


Hippy Chick Says:

Personally i like the idea of the end of season champions with it been only the top players in attendance,its the whole RR bloody format i dont care for,change that and i would enjoy it alot more,and its nothing to do with Nadal not winning it either,it just gets irritating sometimes to be put in some pigeon hole over and over again,ie Rafa fan doesnt care for it because her guys never won it,if Nadal were to win it i would be happy for him,but i still wouldnt care for the format….


sienna Says:

Murray is part of history.

would he be glad to have qualified for WTF?


Wog Boy Says:

“To be fair, I haven’t seen any matches of Fed playing in eastern or southern Europe (other than Spain).”

Then why did you drag Serbia in your conversation when Federer never played one single tournament in Serbia, just for a sake of dragging it in?

FYI, if he is to play overthere, unless he plays local guy, they would most likely cheer Federer, simply because he is institution, and that was my point. If he is to play Nadal in Serbia I would give advantage to Nadal, simply because mediteranian temperament is much closer to us than Swiss one. Andy doesn’t have really home crowd, every match I watched in London between Andy and Roger crowd were pro Federer, everyone but Olympic but then he was fighting for gold for GB.
If Federer is to play Dimitrov in Sofia, Baghdatis in Athens, Berdych in Prague, any Russian in Moscow, JJ in Poland he wouldn’t have 5% people cheering against local boy, that was my point and I feel said for Andy.
Last but not least, Roger was greeted with outmost respect by fans when he played DC match in Serbia, even nobody knew if he is coming or not, when he flew in Belgrade airport he had a sort of cap (hood) and somebody made remark “this one looks like a Federer”, and he he answered “yes, because I am Federer”, same moment everybody left Stan and started to chase Roger for the signiture.


Wog Boy Says:

^^”feel sad” and not “said”


elina Says:

Wog Boy! Mew to yew tew! purrrrrrr!

Federer is the crowd favourite everywhere I’ve seen him play except at the 2012 Wimbledon final, Olympics Gold Medal, in Spain when he plays Rafa and in Serbia the one time he played a Serbian in DC. Credit to them for supporting their home players,

That’s six whole matches. OK admitttedly only real actual matches. They are the rare exceptions.

To your credit however, I am sure that there are perhaps countless imaginary matches where theoretical home crowds are heartily cheering their own vs Fed.

But back to reality.

No other player I’ve watched is close in terms of this level of universal support even when he plays a home player.

This is a compliment to Federer the living legend.

Come on now Wog Boy, as for my “talking for the rest of the world”, a bit overly melodramatic, don’t you think?


Wog Boy Says:

^^ no I don’t think so, it is a bit arrogant talking about people and parts of the world that you don’t really know.
Federer is not crowd favorite against the local boy in the parts of the world I mentioned and I know that part of the world very well, fact. He is no God, though some of his fans obviously do believe so.


elina Says:

So I express my opinion on a tennis forum about tennis crowds massively supporting Federer based on matches I’ve seen Roger play.

You decide to attack my personality on a tennis forum based on matches you haven’t seen.

And I’m the arrogant one.

Whatever you say Wog Boy.Have a good one!

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