The seeds are dropping like flies.... Soderling knocked out Davydenko, and Mahut(!) has just added to Ljubicic's horrible start to 2007. This added to Djokovic's exit on Monday...
I have Gasquet to win this tournament. Got him at 11/2 before it started, reckon he'll be a lot shorter now with all the carnage that has gone on. My bet this week was:
Gasquet to win Marseille J C Ferrero to win Brasil Open Murray to win San Jose Van Gerwen to win Masters of Darts
Four trebles and an acca, £5 altogether returns £2k for 4 winners. Thoughts anyone?
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Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience
RobC wrote: The seeds are dropping like flies.... Soderling knocked out Davydenko, and Mahut(!) has just added to Ljubicic's horrible start to 2007. This added to Djokovic's exit on Monday...
Yeah it's been a disappointing tourney from the fan's perspective.
I was amazed that Davydenko lost to Soderling. I watched the first set of that one and it had all the hallmarks of a routine undertaker win, Dayvdenko was just far too consistent, serving well and counter-punching effectively. Soderling was making loads of sloppy errors from the back and missing quite a few easy shots. Must have been quite a turnaround from then on !
Soderling seems like a guy to watch out for, I saw a bit of him in Doha earlier this year and he hammered Baghdatis 2 and 3 and should have beaten Ljubicic. He's got a very complete game, will surely be top 20 soon. I think his problem in the past has been stringing performances together in tournaments, which is probably why he's yet to make any kind of impact in a slam. He might be a dark horse to look out for in some of the big tournaments this year.
I'm not particularly surprised that Mahut beat Ljubicic. Ljubicic has looked pretty ropey whenever I've seen him this year (apart from the Doha final against Andy). Mahut's an aggressive serve-volleyer, really big first serve and has a cracking forehand aswell. I watched him against Federer in rd3 of Wimbledon last year and although Fed won in 3, it was quite close. The courts in Marseille are really fast, suit that style of play.
I think it's going to be Baghdatis' tournament now Hewitt's out.
john wrote: I have Gasquet to win this tournament. Got him at 11/2 before it started, reckon he'll be a lot shorter now with all the carnage that has gone on. My bet this week was:
Gasquet to win Marseille J C Ferrero to win Brasil Open Murray to win San Jose Van Gerwen to win Masters of Darts
Four trebles and an acca, £5 altogether returns £2k for 4 winners. Thoughts anyone?
Hmm, I reckon Baghdatis or Soderling will win. I saw Gasquet against Hernych on Wednesday, Hernych was dreadful so it was hard to judge Gasquet but I don't think he's playing well enough to beat either of those two
john wrote: I have Gasquet to win this tournament. Got him at 11/2 before it started, reckon he'll be a lot shorter now with all the carnage that has gone on. My bet this week was:
Gasquet to win Marseille J C Ferrero to win Brasil Open Murray to win San Jose Van Gerwen to win Masters of Darts
Four trebles and an acca, £5 altogether returns £2k for 4 winners. Thoughts anyone?
Hmm, I reckon Baghdatis or Soderling will win. I saw Gasquet against Hernych on Wednesday, Hernych was dreadful so it was hard to judge Gasquet but I don't think he's playing well enough to beat either of those two
Baggy in trouble here shed, serving to stay in match at 2-6 *4-5. If he loses here, and Gasquet beats Soderling, things look good for the GasMan. To be honest, I'm not super confident about Gasquet winning tonight. Soderling playing great, but don't you agree that Gasquet backhand is just a joy to watch.
As for Brasil, I'm getting a bit worried now. Rained off at moment and apparently rain forecast for 5 days straight!
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Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience
Well, Baghdatis eventually pulled through in 3 sets against Youzhny. Youhzny's been very unlucky this year, he's outplayed both Ljubicic and Baghdatis for a set but both have been able to dig deep and get back in it and Youzhny just hasn't been able to take his chances and close it out. Ljubicic beat him 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 in Doha, some match.
Gasquet got outplayed by Soderling as expected. I agree that the Gasquet backhand is one of the most aesthetically pleasing shots in the game (second only to Webley's serve) but do you agree that he lacks the consistency in results which he needs to go far in a slam and make the top 10 ? On his day Gasquet can beat anyone and he'll be a good top 20 player for years to come but I can't see him making top 10.
Baggy's now into the final, beat Nieminen in 3 sets and he faces France's Gilles Simon. Simon's been the real surprise package here, beat Hewitt and then Soderling in the semis !! Can't see him beating Baggy though. After a disappointing first few weeks to the season,, Baggy seems to have found his best form, great run in Zagreb and now here.
Looks like your prediction of Ferrero winning Brazil could come true. Can't see him losing to Saretta in the semis though either Canas/Chela will be tough in the final.
Have to say I was incredibly disappointed with Gasquet's performance against Soderling. I've always had a lot of faith in him that he would become a top 10 player at the least. However, I now doubt his mental strength, consistency and effort.
Ferrero plays Canas in the final tonight. Should be very interesting. Is this Canas's first tour final since his return?
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Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience
ultimateshedman wrote: Simon's been the real surprise package here. . . . Can't see him beating Baggy though. Just as well you didn't make any more offers to live in outbuildings. Simon is leading 6-4 4-1
ultimateshedman wrote: Simon's been the real surprise package here. . . . Can't see him beating Baggy though. Just as well you didn't make any more offers to live in outbuildings. Simon is leading 6-4 4-1
poor Baggy, struck by the shedman curse. He managed to pull it back to a tiebreak in the second but was unable to shake off the pull of a shedman predcition. We're going to have to start enlisting you for the rankings threads!
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. So that's all four top seeds gone (as well as Nadal, who never even turned up)
poor Baggy, struck by the shedman curse. He managed to pull it back to a tiebreak in the second but was unable to shake off the pull of a shedman predcition. We're going to have to start enlisting you for the rankings threads!
