Week 7 - ATP 250 - Marseille, France - Indoor Hard

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: Week 7 - ATP 250 - Marseille, France - Indoor Hard

paulisi · Tennis legend

They finitely served at 6*-5 in the tie break....

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, they actually had 4 set points in the TB.

After a mini break each in the TB, they got a second to go *4-3, won their two serves to go 6-3* ( 3 SPs ), lost the two returns to go *6-5 and then didn't make their one SP on serve so *6-6. Then 7-6* (SP), 7-7*, *7-8 (MP), 7-9.

Serve was very dominant, Junaid and Shamasdin's a bit more so, with just the one break in the match, but so close to getting it to a MTB.

emma · Strong Club Player

only saw the tiebreak but that was very aggressive play. think I may stick with watching the scores instead of mens doubles in future. you really need nerves of steel.

well done to Ken and Neal though for their effort this week.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

On a completely different note, as you know my opinions of internet connectivity in France are not very high to say the least. Whilst at the tournament, their Wifi was a joke - even with the players login and password. It simply didn't exist on court 1 and everywhere else it was very poor. You would literally log in to go to a web page, and as soon as you clicked to go to a different page you had to log in again. People were having to go through the login process 20-30 times per day. It meant that my onsite reporting was severely limited and I usually had to go back to the hotel to type anything.

The only plus that has come out of this is that for the rest of my life, I will never ever forget how to spell the word "Joueur" in French.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
On a completely different note, as you know my opinions of internet connectivity in France are not very high to say the least. Whilst at the tournament, their Wifi was a joke - even with the players login and password. It simply didn't exist on court 1 and everywhere else it was very poor. You would literally log in to go to a web page, and as soon as you clicked to go to a different page you had to log in again. People were having to go through the login process 20-30 times per day. It meant that my onsite reporting was severely limited and I usually had to go back to the hotel to type anything.

The only plus that has come out of this is that for the rest of my life, I will never ever forget how to spell the word "Joueur" in French.

The Wifi was shocking in Budapest as well, basically impossible once there was more than 50 people trying to use it, and trying to send a picture with a tweet.......well, in fact my phone managed to delete a photo I'd taken of JoKo after her win against Liechtenstein whilst trying to tweet it, SO FRUSTRATING. The only option really is to take out a data-roaming package out, if you can be BOTHERED and of course to fork out the cash.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Massive shame for the Skups, I blame their major cheerleader for making an early exit... ONLY JOKING. But in all seriousness they are so close in all these matches, and these are the sorts of matches they would win everytime if they were winning matches on a regular basis. I'm sure there are a few doubts which pop into their minds when it comes to the big points, but sport can turn very quickly and I would expect that it some some stage they will get back on a winning run.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:
Massive shame for the Skups, I blame their major cheerleader for making an early exit... ONLY JOKING.

Sadly, I was thinking the same thing cry

philwrig · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
Overall, during my visit to Marseille, I got to see 9 different GB players in 10 matches (5 wins, 5 losses) and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I have to say that ALL the players are extremely approachable and made me feel very welcome.

I am not sure how much they chat with spectators at home events when they have so many other GB players and support teams around them. I think that when playing in the overseas tournaments, they actually appreciate having someone new/different to speak to. I remember several years ago when I went to watch Jack Carpenter a couple of times, and he commented that when away from home for a few weeks with perhaps just one other traveling companion, it was great just to hear a different English voice for once. Maybe that is one of the reasons why they are so willing to chat.

Having said that, they all seem such genuinely decent people, I am pretty sure they would chat with anyone, at any time, regardless of where they are.

PS. 30 mins to Skupskis on Court 1 in their QF. I have withdrawal symptoms already. I want to go back.

I agree the guys are generally all very approachable and chatty. Talking about JC I remember him once saying Phil how are you ? and I hadn't even spoken to him before ! I think they massively appreciate the interest and support.

And if someone is prepared to travel through the night for 10 hours to watch lower ranked Brits playing abroad, I for one would be like wow this guy is a hero.

Btw was Mark Taylor there accompanying Dan and Alex, their coach from Nottingham ?

emma · Strong Club Player

do men actually enjoy watching these matches where its predominately power play?

I find it very difficult to watch anything like that and find it even harder to understand how anyone can sit at a boxing match or cage fight watching such brutality. it was mentioned on another thread that mens doubles earn far more than womens doubles yet I for one would much rather watch the women.

I know that some matches have artistry but the tiebreak I saw was very aggressive.

emma · Strong Club Player

p.s. nerves of steel was not a slur on you Bob :) I just don't understand that mentality.

and yes travelling 10 hours is heroic.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

emma wrote:

p.s. nerves of steel was not a slur on you Bob :) I just don't understand that mentality.

and yes travelling 10 hours is heroic.

No offense taken Emma. I have to confess that my excitement at these matches is probably more patriotic than aesthetic. Have been fortunate enough to get to know many of the players personally, I get emotionally wrapped up in their success or otherwise because I so want them to succeed. When I watch doubles matches that don't involve the Brits, the excitement is simply not there - at least nowhere near to the same level. In truth though, I could say the same about singles.

Interestingly enough, I sat with Josh M (and others) during Colin and Jonny's win where they saved 3 MPs. Afterwards, he commented to Jonny, - "How do you guys go through that day after day". Nerves of steel seems a very appropriate phrase in my book. Sadly, my nerves are made of much softer stuff and get badly frayed at such times.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Thursday 19th of February 2015 03:37:17 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Interesting. I'm not in general a power play fan, but can enjpy and appreciate top class, and yes generally powerful, men's doubles. Though in amongst it you can get some quite exquisite net play, as shown recently by Jonny Marray for one, and wonderful reactions.

I am guessing, Emma, that you prefer modern men's singles play with the current top 4 and in general often slower courts compared to the boom boom days of say Becker and Sampras? I know I do, I rather like rallies.

indiana · Tennis legend

Out of interest and at a complete tangent, Bob, have you ever discused with the doubles guys the now not so new scoring system in doubles.

Personally, I am OK with MTBs and can see how they can help scheduling and actually then sometimes give them better placements.

BUT, I thoroughly dislike no-ad. Next point the winner for either I prefer to have no place in games, sets or matches. The too and fro between one trying to win and the other to save can be a great joust. And particularly in men's doubles the number of games that get to deuce must be relatively small so it can't save a huge amount of time ( certainly as compared to the MTBs ) and denies us the 'proper' way to settle a game from deuce.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Out of interest and at a complete tangent, Bob, have you ever discused with the doubles guys the now not so new scoring system in doubles.

Personally, I am OK with MTBs and can see how they can help scheduling and actually then sometimes give them better placements.

BUT, I thoroughly dislike no-ad. Next point the winner for either I prefer to have no place in games, sets or matches. The too and fro between one trying to win and the other to save can be a great joust. And particularly in men's doubles the number of games that get to deuce must be relatively small so it can't save a huge amount of time ( certainly as compared to the MTBs ) and denies us the 'proper' way to settle a game from deuce.

Sorry. Not something that has come up in conversation. Nearest I got to that was last year when discussing with Colin (obviously playing with Ross at the time) what factors do they take into consideration, when it gets to "killer" deuce, as to who takes the returns. He said, "That's easy. I take them".