Week 44: ATP Masters 1000 - Paris (Indoor Hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Week 44: ATP Masters 1000 - Paris (Indoor Hard)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Andy's body language looked to me as though he had entered "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here".

Even the Spanish commentators were saying from quite early on that his mind seemed to be on the WTF.

steven · Tennis legend

Seems a bit crazy though if being world no. 1 is his next goal - the way the draw is working out here, 1000 points were going to be far easier to get in Paris than 1500 will be in London!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

steven wrote:
Seems a bit crazy though if being world no. 1 is his next goal - the way the draw is working out here, 1000 points were going to be far easier to get in Paris than 1500 will be in London!

Couldn't agree more. That is why it is all the more frustrating.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I think Andy went into the match wanting to win it. However it was such a struggle in the second set, I think when he lost it he went into a bit of indecision - is it worth flogging myself to death here to win this match, and maybe injuring myself just before the WTF like last year? I also noticed even in the first set he was flexing his back muscles as if either his back hurt or he was worried it was going to hurt! Before he could make up his mind what to do he was down two breaks, and realistically, against a huge server in a good streak, that wasn't really feasible.

Jan · Hall of fame

Only just home to see the result. Silly boy - do hope he's not injured. Certainly a missed opportunity there.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Delpo out now too, to Llodra.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

And the Canuck Wunderkind, Raonic, beaten in straight sets by that nasty Mr Querrey. C'mon, JWT...

Ratty · County player

The Paris indoor Masters has been the "League Cup" of the ATP circuit for several years.

The numbers don't lie - of the 8 tournaments from 2005-2012, 6 of the winners have NOT been the Big 4. In all of the other Masters Series tournaments, they have won at least 6 of the 8.

I can't really see the point of any sporting event where the leading participants don't try very hard.

And let me answer the question WHY the top players don't bother - MONEY!!!!

(Some, er, highlights of the ATP Masters prize fund: Turning Up - $130,000; Each Round Robin win - $130,000; SF Win - $410,000; etc ...)

indiana · Tennis legend

Berdych now out to Simon. Well, they might get an all French final hmm

Might satisfy some locals, but otherwise its proving an unmitigated disaster, being the week before the WTF, as so many folk suggested it might. Reminds me a bit of those daft round robin tennis tournaments when so many said in advance this isn't going to work.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 2nd of November 2012 04:00:37 PM

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

And, if you are not quite as cynical as Ratty, there is also honour: people remember who has won WTF/YEC: no easy matches, playing against only the top 8 in the world. Who remembers who won Paris?

Well apart from Henman, because it was the only Masters title he won, and Federer last year because he was on a mission to accrue points to regain #1 - he even missed the Asian swing entirely to save himself for the indoor tournaments.

Miriambee · Futures level

Janowicz beat Tipsy too!

Funny if he wins the whole thing!

indiana · Tennis legend

Tsonga, the probable biggest French draw, falls to Fererr.

SFs : Simon vs Janowicz and Ferrer vs Llodra or Querrey.

Miriambee · Futures level

LLodra, beat Querrey in straights.

Ratty · County player

The semi-finalists are ranked 5, 18, 64 & 104. It's surely the worst line-up for a major tournament in recent memory. And yet - like the Badminton round-robin farce at the Olympics - it's so completely predictable to anyone who gives a minute's thought. Who are the idiots who run this show?

Other examples - why do they have back-to-backs like Indian Wells/Miami, Madrid/Rome & Canada/Cincinatti - where year after year those who do well in the first go out early in the second? Why is there only 2 weeks between Roland Garros & Wimbledon? Why is the Australian Open in the hottest part of the year?

It's MADNESS!

(But whatever, fair play to David Ferrer - he may not be the most exciting player, but at least if you watch one of his matches you can be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that he'll give his all.)