Indian Wells

[Front242]

^ And leading on from that, sure he wants to keep good rankings before the slams and that's understandable but what's the point in keeping your ranking high to get better draws if you bow out early in the slams anyway due to overplaying with an injury.

 

[herios]

Don't know why they haven't released the full draw yet, though I suspect they're trying to drive us to their social media. They seem to be leaking it by bits. Anyway, Rafa drew Murray in his quarter, so we'll likely see that one, and Fed/Stan in his half. That's all exciting. TBH, I'm still waiting for DP to withdraw.

If he was going to withdraw, he would have. He did not.
Probably he wants to see how he feels. He says sometimes it hurts more, sometimes less.
The top 16 get a bye in R1, therefore we will see how he deals with the first few rounds.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

And Delpo is playing.. what is he thinking smh

That guy clearly hasn't a whole lot of grey matter. He's likely thinking if I stay off a long time to heal my wrist I'll lose a ton of points and these next 2 events give the opportunity to earn a lot of points. By playing and getting a miserable few points he'll only damage his healing more in the long term. To be honest I don't think he'll ever be like he was before the wrist injuries to both wrists. It's a shame but playing on as he's doing now is dense and yet it's also catch 22, 'cos this sort of pain will likely only come back the minute he has a taxing match no matter how long he takes off playing.

And if he continues playing through pain like this he can't possibly expect to beat the top guys since having the pain in his left wrist means he's relegated to slicing and weak backhands with no chance of executing DTL backhands. Without that shot he hasn't a prayer against the elite players.

Quick reminder. He got to the final last year hitting 90% slice backhands. I watched him routine Davy in straights last year hitting around two or three double handers the entire match. The man has guile to go along with his brute power.

There is a big difference. At that time his opponents were not knowing that (slicing
on the backhand side) was his only option. Now, everybody knows. So, he cannot
find his way to finals.

While I am not his doctor, he would be better off not playing if doing so would
hurt him in the long run.

 

[herios]

Other potential 4R: Rafa gets Fabio, Roger gets Tommy Haas

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Other potential 4R: Rafa gets Fabio, Roger gets Tommy Haas

That means Haas is playing. There was some doubt over that too.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Here is the full draw.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2014/404/mds.pdf

Djokovic gets the easiest path to finals.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

There is a rematch of Gulbis vs. Grigor in 3rd round

Also, Dog gets another crack at Golden Retriever in another 3rd rd match up.

Milos vs. JJ is anoter interesting match in 3rd rd.

 

[Front242]

Tommy Haas playing again :nono While I love watching him play when he's injury free and in the form of the last 2 years, he's only just quit a tournament with a shoulder injury. Is he seriously going to be ok enough to play here?! Why on earth he played a mickey mouse tournament last week is beyond me. Coming into this tournament injury free would've been a lot more intelligent.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

While I like both Rafa vs. Andy QF and Fed vs. Stan QF, I wish these two QFs were
in two different halves.

 

[herios]

Here is the full draw.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2014/404/mds.pdf

Djokovic gets the easiest path to finals.

Nole got Cilic though hidden in his bracket. (assuming Marin gets past Robredo)

 

[Moxie]

Here is the full draw.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2014/404/mds.pdf

Djokovic gets the easiest path to finals.

Nole got Cilic though hidden in his bracket. (assuming Marin gets past Robredo)

True, and Cilic is trending a bit, and Dodig possibly before, but still it's the quarter with the fewest land mines. And if the seeding hold, and JMDP's wrist gets him that far, that's Novak's QF.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Here is the full draw.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2014/404/mds.pdf

Djokovic gets the easiest path to finals.

Nole got Cilic though hidden in his bracket. (assuming Marin gets past Robredo)

Cilic and Berdych are the only two that could give some issues to Novak.
The top half is stacked in comparison with lot of good players and current
in form players.

Bottom half has JMDP who has one hand, Tsonga who is not in form etc.

 

[Moxie]

Nadal has Dolgopolov and Fognini in his segment, both trending well, but I'm not too worried. Murray has JJ and Raonic, but both should be rusty from injury lay-offs. Also in that segment, Delbonis, off a win, and and Andujar off a great match (albeit loss) v. Rafa. (However, both of those on clay.)

 

[calitennis127]

Federer couldn't have asked for an easier draw to the semis.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Federer couldn't have asked for an easier draw to the semis.

There is Nishikori in his segment who has beaten him last spring and who has
recently won a title and is in form. However, I think Fed will win against him
this time.

 

[Moxie]

Federer couldn't have asked for an easier draw to the semis.

There is Nishikori in his segment who has beaten him last spring and who has
recently won a title and is in form. However, I think Fed will win against him
this time.

Plus, he gets either Anderson or Wawrinka, and both are also on good form.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

And Delpo is playing.. what is he thinking smh

That guy clearly hasn't a whole lot of grey matter. He's likely thinking if I stay off a long time to heal my wrist I'll lose a ton of points and these next 2 events give the opportunity to earn a lot of points. By playing and getting a miserable few points he'll only damage his healing more in the long term. To be honest I don't think he'll ever be like he was before the wrist injuries to both wrists. It's a shame but playing on as he's doing now is dense and yet it's also catch 22, 'cos this sort of pain will likely only come back the minute he has a taxing match no matter how long he takes off playing.

And if he continues playing through pain like this he can't possibly expect to beat the top guys since having the pain in his left wrist means he's relegated to slicing and weak backhands with no chance of executing DTL backhands. Without that shot he hasn't a prayer against the elite players.

Quick reminder. He got to the final last year hitting 90% slice backhands. I watched him routine Davy in straights last year hitting around two or three double handers the entire match. The man has guile to go along with his brute power.

There is a big difference. At that time his opponents were not knowing that (slicing
on the backhand side) was his only option. Now, everybody knows. So, he cannot
find his way to finals.

While I am not his doctor, he would be better off not playing if doing so would
hurt him in the long run.

I think he is frustrated beyond belief because he has taken rest periods, and seen doctors, and done the rehab with no results.

 

[Moxie]

Watching the replay of last year's final on TC. I was on a road trip when they played it last year.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Watching the replay of last year's final on TC. I was on a road trip when they played it last year.

..other wise known as the "Rafa Miracle"!

 

[Moxie]

Watching the replay of last year's final on TC. I was on a road trip when they played it last year.

..other wise known as the "Rafa Miracle"!

It's an exciting match. Rafa was up 3-0 in the first, (lest it be forgotten.) A few changes of momentum.