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#Post#: 17553--------------------------------------------------
2014 ATP World Tour Finals (Nov 9-16) Novak Djokovic Champion!
By: masterclass Date: November 3, 2014, 5:17 am
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The ATP World Tour Finals starts Sunday Nov 9th with the
following players:
1. Novak Djokovic
2. Roger Federer
4. Stan Wawrinka
5. Kei Nishikori
6. Andy Murray
7. Thomas Berdych
8. Milos Raonic
9. Marin Cilic
1st alternate - David Ferrer
2nd alternate - Feliciano Lopez
(#3 Nadal withdrew due to surgery)
Official Groupings Draw:
[B][U]Group A[/U][/B]
Djokovic
Wawrinka
Berdych
Cilic
[B][U]Group B[/U][/B]
Federer
Nishikori
Murray
Raonic
Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 17563--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2014 ATP World Tour Finals (Nov 9-16) Group Draw out!
By: masterclass Date: November 3, 2014, 11:42 am
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Order of play for Sunday and Monday.
ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 09, 2014
CENTRE COURT start 12:00 noon
[4] J Benneteau (FRA) / E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs [6] M
Granollers (ESP) / M Lopez (ESP)
Not Before 2:00 pm
[4] K Nishikori (JPN) vs [5] A Murray (GBR)
Not Before 6:00 pm
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) vs [7] I Dodig (CRO) / M
Melo (BRA)
Not Before 8:00 pm
[2] R Federer (SUI) vs [7] M Raonic (CAN)
ORDER OF PLAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2014
CENTRE COURT start 12:00 pm
[3] A Peya (AUT) / B Soares (BRA) vs [5] J Rojer (NED) / H Tecau
(ROU)
Not Before 2:00 pm
[3] S Wawrinka (SUI) vs [6] T Berdych (CZE)
Not Before 6:00 pm
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [8] L Kubot (POL) / R
Lindstedt (SWE)
Not Before 8:00 pm
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [8] M Cilic (CRO)
Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 17569--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2014 ATP World Tour Finals (Nov 9-16) Group Draw out!
By: thetruth Date: November 3, 2014, 10:23 pm
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[quote author=masterclass link=topic=826.msg17563#msg17563
date=1415036560]
Order of play for Sunday and Monday.
ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 09, 2014
CENTRE COURT start 12:00 noon
[4] J Benneteau (FRA) / E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs [6] M
Granollers (ESP) / M Lopez (ESP)
Not Before 2:00 pm
[4] K Nishikori (JPN) vs [5] A Murray (GBR) Wow, this is too
tough to call. Andy isn't looking all the way back and Kei seems
tired after a long season. If I had to pick I'd go with Kei. Itt
wouldn't matter though, both results would be great.
Not Before 6:00 pm
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) vs [7] I Dodig (CRO) / M
Melo (BRA)
Not Before 8:00 pm
[2] R Federer (SUI) vs [7] M Raonic (CAN) Pretty sure Fed will
avenge this loss. He's probably still upset that he let that get
away.
ORDER OF PLAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2014
CENTRE COURT start 12:00 pm
[3] A Peya (AUT) / B Soares (BRA) vs [5] J Rojer (NED) / H Tecau
(ROU)
Not Before 2:00 pm
[3] S Wawrinka (SUI) vs [6] T Berdych (CZE) Hoping Berdy, Stan
seems to still be in mental fog. I guess the pressure has really
gotten to him and Tomas has been playing well.
Not Before 6:00 pm
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [8] L Kubot (POL) / R
Lindstedt (SWE)
Not Before 8:00 pm
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [8] M Cilic (CRO) Can't call this one
either. Will the USO Cilic show up, or will Nole prevail with
all that rest in his body? A doesn't matter match for me.
Respectfully,
masterclass
[/quote]
I hate doubles, LOL!
#Post#: 17643--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2014 ATP World Tour Finals (Nov 9-16) 1st Round concluded!
By: masterclass Date: November 11, 2014, 2:50 am
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The World Tour Finals elite players completed their first round
matches yesterday with no surprises other than the lopsided
scorelines.
World #4 Stan Wawrinka, aka Stanimal, or Stan the Man, returned
to London in fine style and form against #7 Tomas Berdych. That
may have been a surprise to many considering Stan's play of
late, but no surprise to those who have been watching the
Australian Open champion practice hard recently in preparation
for the Finals in London and the Davis Cup Finals in France.
HTML http://www4.slikomat.com/13/1110/rri-103939.jpg
Wawrinka totally dismantled Berdych, 6-1, 6-1, the notorious
double bread sticks, putting in a true Stanimal performance. No
part of his game was missing, from service to his backhand to
his volleys. He was on fire from the start and Berdych seemed a
punch drunk shadow of himself.
In two sets of tennis, the powerful Czech did not make a single
winner from his forehand or backhand side. It's true that the O2
courts are slowish, but a man of Berdych's stature and strength
should be able to find a few winners. That is testimony to the
strength of Wawrinka's defense. Time and time again, he returned
the Berdych serve and ground strokes, patient, calculating,
mixing up pace, and waiting for the right moment to strike. It
was clay court point construction on the sandy hard courts of
London's O2 arena.
Stan's play was brilliant and fully deserved the dominating
scoreline. Tomas' play was unimaginative, under par, and shell
shocked. He was a beaten man in more ways than one when he left
the court. After the match, he said:
"I'm in the worst possible situation that I can ever be," he
gloomily said. "I'm going to face Marin or Novak first, in the
end playing both of them, and the only chance to qualify is to
beat them, it's almost mission impossible."
Now one ask to ask, even if true, what kind of attitude is this
from any player, much less a top 10 player? I expect him to say
something like,
'I didn't play well today. I have some tough matches coming and
I have to fight hard to play my best tennis. I can beat these
players if I can bring my best tennis.'
I would rather see alternate David Ferrer out there making the
big effort than Berdych sadly in despair. Berdych needs a strong
coach who can attempt to get his mentality and attitude
straight. Rumors are that it might happen. We'll see.
HTML http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae217/minor9thphotos/berdychwalksoff.jpg
In the evening match, Wimbledon champion and world #1 Novak
Djokovic soundly beat US Open champion #9 Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-1.
Novak played very well, and definitely retained his winning
Paris form, but Cilic looked nowhere near his US Open form. He
was very rusty, serving under 50% most of the match, and serves
he did get in were solidly returned by Nole. He couldn't match
Nole in the baseline battles either, and had a difficult time
trying to hit winners, as many sailed beyond the lines.
Marin's dull play wasn't unexpected. Marin had seen little play
nursing an arm injury, his last match being an ATP 250 win in
Moscow about a month before. If he is not hurt, I expect to see
some improvement in his next match, especially as he'll play the
aforementioned disconsolate Berdych, but he is not showing form
enough to proceed to the knockout phase of this tournament.
Novak served fairly well, was razor-sharp from the back of the
court, defending and returning well, and was hitting deep to the
lines. He'll be tough to beat here in these conditions.
The Serbian Slayer and Stanimal are unquestionably the picks to
advance to the semifinals from Group A. They play each other
next in what should be an exciting match to determine the top
player in Group A. Novak will be seeking to avenge his QF
Australian Open defeat to Stan, which was the last time they
played each other. Stan will be looking to affirm his return to
form and help his friend and countryman Roger Federer retain his
slim hopes for the Year End #1 ranking at the same time.
HTML http://www.allsportsnews.co.uk/scripts/thumbfixe.php?width=765&height=440&imagename=/medias_upload/actualites/Photo11907.jpghttp://i.ytimg.com/vi/i6S_Cu--nTg/0.jpg
The second round begins today with the winners of group B's
round 1 playing. It will be #2 Roger Federer vs. #5 Kei
Nishikori in the afternoon, and the losers, #8 Milos Raonic
against #6 Andy Murray in the evening session. One hopes to see
some better battles than yesterday.
Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 17662--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2014 ATP World Tour Finals (Nov 9-16) 1st Round concluded!
By: Clay Death Date: November 12, 2014, 1:07 pm
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Hey folks how about Berdych removing Cilic from the facilities.
Great win for Andy also. He is still in the hunt.
#Post#: 17686--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2014 ATP World Tour Finals (Nov 9-16) 1st Round concluded!
By: masterclass Date: November 14, 2014, 7:36 am
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Well, here we are Friday at the World Tour Finals, in the final
rounds of the round robin part of the format. This will decide
who goes through from Group A to the single elimination portion
of the tournament. Novak Djokovic is the big favorite against
Tomas Berdych who said he would like to win 3 or 4 games. Stan
Wawrinka is a lukewarm favorite against winless Marin Cilic. I
wonder if Feli Lopez will come in for Cilic as David Ferrer did
for the winless Milos Raonic? David didn't win against Kei, but
he made perhaps the most interesting match of the tournament
winning the first set and making it a 3 set match, though the
last was a runaway, 6-1, by the Japanese.
A Novak Djokovic win against Berdych will make him the year end
#1, and he would face Kei Nishikori in the semis. Stan will try
to cement his status as world #4 for the start of the season,
and he would have to face undefeated Roger Federer in the semis.
---------
Maybe Mr. Andy Murray, OBE would have done better not to qualify
after his brutal defeat at the hands of Roger Federer at O2 last
night, but that's in hindsight.
Afterwards, Great Britain's Andy Murray said he has never
experienced a defeat like his 6-0 6-1 hammering by Roger Federer
at the ATP World Tour Finals. In less than 20 minutes he was
down 5-0 and staring the end of his participation in the season
ending finals in the face.
The 27 year old Murray was beaten in only 56 minutes by the 33
year old Swiss world number two, ending his season in rather
ignominious fashion.
The Scot said: "It has not really happened to me before like
that where winning games has been an issue. "I've had tough
losses and heavy defeats but nothing quite like that."
He added: "It's very frustrating, when I'm trying my best. I've
never been in that position before in my whole career.
"Maybe I need to make some changes to my game, but that's the
one good thing - I have time now to do that."
The defeat is the worst since he lost by the same scoreline to
Novak Djokovic in Miami in 2007. "I was a bit injured then,"
said the Scot. "There was nothing wrong with me at all this
evening."
As for Roger, maybe his coach Stefan Edberg, a six-time slam
champion sums it up like this:
He said it was the best he had seen the Swiss play this year "by
far".
"I don't think he can play much better to be honest - and I've
seen a lot of tennis over the years," said Edberg.
"It's just one of those performances where everything goes your
way, so it was enjoyable. He's in good form."
The worst that can be said about Federer's game last night was
that he only put 38-39 % of his first serves in play, but then
he won 100% of them. Everything else was clicking, a strong
second serve, and a full array of ground strokes, drop shots,
volleys, and lobs that made Murray look like he was on a string
and Federer the marionette master.
Asked about his thoughts on giving Murray a double bagel when
Murray served at 0-6, 0-5, Federer, who now leads Murray 12-11
in the H2H said, “At the end I was happy I didn’t win the second
to last game...".. “Yeah, it’s uncomfortable. I don’t know. I
don’t like it."
For many Murray fans, it had to be a heart rending performance
by their hero and very tough to swallow. I think he needs to
decide if he wants it badly enough. After winning Wimbledon in
2013, and having back surgery in the fall, one could understand
a drop in his motivation. I think the Lendl release happened
because Lendl wanted Murray to work harder and go on to do more,
while Murray didn't want to be pushed and just wanted someone to
listen to his physical and emotional needs, and so Mauresmo was
hired. That strategy is plainly not going to work if he wants
more and greater success in tennis. As he gets older, he'll need
to work even harder to achieve that. So the question is does he
want it badly enough, or is he satisfied with what he has done?
There is nothing wrong with achieving one's dream and enjoying
it, instead of going back to the proverbial grindstone, so it's
up to him.
---------
On a slow surface where it is difficult to find winners, it is
difficult to come back once behind, which is why I think the
scorelines have been so one-sided. A player has to walk a fine
line between control and aggression. Passive play has been
punished, as has risky play. Purposeful point construction is
key. Federer has succeeded at controlled aggression, much like
Novak this week, but in a different way using his variety of
skill shots, a solid defense, and solid second serve placement,
whereas Novak has used a combination of his remarkable
athleticism and steady strong ground strokes from just inside
the baseline.
I think the winner of this tournament will be the one who can
walk that line of controlled aggression, not panic into riskier
play, and make the fewest errors with excellent placement, but
at the same time not be complacent and willing to step into the
court and control it. But first, the final round robins have to
be played today, and the semifinals tomorrow. We will see what
happens.
Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 17719--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2014 ATP World Tour Finals (Nov 9-16) Novak Djokovic Champio
n!
By: masterclass Date: November 17, 2014, 1:11 pm
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Unfortunately, the World Tour Finals ended on a decidedly
anti-climatic note as Roger Federer was forced to withdraw in
the finals against Novak Djokovic due to a back injury incurred
during the deciding set tiebreaker against Wawrinka some 18
hours earlier. His team tried to get him ready with painkillers,
massage, and who knows what other treatment, and trying to warm
out of it the next day, but it had stiffened up too much to
compete. Roger is the second top player that Stanimal has
injured in the back this year with his aggressive heavy ground
strokes, the other being Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.
Federer had come into the match unbeaten to the final with a 3-2
H2H against Novak this year and was hoping to add another title
to his record 6 at the event. Nole was also unbeaten to the
final hoping to extend his indoor 31 match unbeaten streak, and
win his 3rd straight Masters Cup. The day before featured the
only 3 set matches of the tournament in the semifinals. First
Kei Nishikori extended Djokovic to 3 sets, with a well played
second set, but faded and Nole won the decider with a bagel.
But the match of the tournament was the Saturday evening
semifinal match, Wawrinka vs. Federer, with Stan handily taking
the first set, then Roger the second, and the third went to a
deciding set tiebreaker with Federer saving 4 match points
before defeating Stan in the hard fought battle. One never
quite knows when Stanimal will show up, as earlier in the
tournament he played poorly against Novak Djokovic after looking
quite good against Berdych, but he showed up in Australian Open
form Saturday night and it was a real drama filled match as he
battered the ball all over the court and looked to be the better
player most of the match. But as Federer has done a few times
this year, he hung in there, battled back, and won it with a
last ditch effort, even though he wasn't bending at the very
end.
Unfortunately for Federer and the Swiss, the effort by the Swiss
Davis Cup teammates in that match might not have only cost
Federer a chance for a title, but might cost them their best
chance at a Davis Cup win this year in the final if Federer
cannot mend in time.
Congratulations to Novak and team for a great tournament and
year as he also clinched Year End #1.
Commiserations to Roger and his team. He was also undefeated in
the tournament, but withdrew in the final (it counts as neither
a win or a loss in the record totals). Good luck to him in a
speedy recovery. Doctors are reportedly pessimistic at the
moment, but sometimes back spasms can come around after two or
three days of rest and treatment. Unfortunately for him, he
also needs to get on the clay in Lille and practice if he wants
to play in the Davis Cup final. I myself can't see how he'll be
able to play.
Well into his 34th year, he has played the most of any player on
tour this year with 83 matches, winning 72 and losing 11, making
11 finals with 5 wins, 5 losses and giving a walkover, his best
year in terms of finals and match win percentage since 2007.
It's unfortunate for him he had to get hurt right at the end,
but others also struggled this year and missed out on more
chances.
Let's hope 2015 is a healthy year for the players and full of
exciting tennis.
Have very happy holidays! Take care.
Respectfully,
masterclass
#Post#: 17734--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2014 ATP World Tour Finals (Nov 9-16) Novak Djokovic Champio
n!
By: Emma Date: November 18, 2014, 1:20 pm
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And the winner is....Novak Djokovic! Very well deserved.
Congrats Nole!
[img]
HTML http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/156/871/hi-res-6de65bd8631261fc3970930cf4ff7952_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75[/img]
#Post#: 18224--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2014 ATP World Tour Finals (Nov 9-16) Novak Djokovic Champio
n!
By: Clay Death Date: February 1, 2015, 2:50 pm
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he is the man at the top emma.
rest of the tour has no answers to him at the moment.
they are just not willing to work as hard as nole.
nole has said repeatedly that he is just going to outwork them
all and he is doing it.
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