Good job Wardy stuck around - I had assumed he was already in Texas!
L64: (LL) James Ward WR 160 v Feliciano López (ESP) WR 37 (CH 15 in 2012)
H2H 1-0 - Wardy won 6-3 5-4 ret. at Eastbourne in 2010 - that match where Floppy pulled out as James was about to serve for the match, not having the grace even to just stand there and let James put 4 serves past him to serve out a big win in front of a home crowd.
3rd on Stadium 1, so maybe about 21.00 GMT.
No points if he loses but a big payday (I think) - hopefully he won't lose anyway!
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Wardy has made some nice money in the last few weeks, mainly by luck - WC in Dubai, LL in Indian Wells. He will get a WC for Wimbledon and probably Queens as well.
That should take him well past 100k prize money for year.
Got to have sympathy with JMDP. He is a huge talent that keeps getting knocked back. WR 4 after the Aussie Open, that's him now already going to be down to WR 8 after Indian Wells even before other players start adding more significant points.
Dare i say it... us brits getting a bit lucky with these LL spots, first Evo, now this!
Not sure it is that lucky in points terms - a LL spot in R1 might have got him a slightly easier match. However, he's already sure of 18 points here (8 for qualifying + 10 for a first match loss) and would get 53 (the 8 he already has + 45) in total if he can win this evening.
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
And in further news from the already slightly falling apart Djokovic half of the draw, Berdych has lost in 3 sets to Bautista Agut.
So Andy will now overtake Tomas as well as stay ahead of JMDP.
Re getting to WR 4, he needs to reach the final here to get ahead of Ferrer ( though Ferrer must be a real doubt for Miami ) and is "in running" 260 points ahead of Federer.
He could still theoretically catch Wawrinka for WR 3 if he won the title here, but not if Wawrinka reaches the QF.