Dubai Championship ATP 500

[isabelle]

Djokovic / Pospisil
Golubev / Q
Zverev / Q
Lopez / Q

Berdych / Chardy
Bolelli / Q
Stakhovsky / Rosol
Istomin / Gulbis

----------------------------------------

Goffin / Baghdatis
Kohlshreiber / Jaziri
Mac Gee / Sousa
Muller / Murray

Bautista Agut / Thiem
Seppi / Gasquet
Garcia Lopez / Verdasco
Youhzny / Federer

 

[Great Hands]

I'm looking forward to this. Roger, Novak and Andy all playing, and the faster courts which is fun.

 

[Great Hands]

Murray has a tough first round against Muller, who's been playing very well recently. That serve is tough to deal with.

Possible rematch for Roger with his AO conquerer Seppi in QF. If that happens, I don't think history will repeat itself.

Roger should make the final here at least. Even if his SF was against Murray, which it very well may not be, Roger is big favourite against Murray on these courts.

Can't see anyone stopping Novak before the final. Looks like another Roger-Novak Dubai tussle in the offing. That would be fun to watch.

 

[Billie]

Nole is pairing with a young Serbian player Laslo Djere, who is also trying to qualify for the main singles draw, but they have 4 seeds Bopanna and Nestor in the first round, so I think this will be a quick showing for the Serbian pair.:cry

 

[Front242]

Good chance Muller beats Murray as all it takes is one crap service game from Murray which he tends to do often and that 2nd serve is a huge liability. Muller can hold serve in his sleep even against the best of them and Djokovic's AO win over him wasn't easy. He gives you no rhythm and has a huge lefty serve and very good at s&v.

 

[Billie]

Sand storm in Dubai, extreme measures for practice time:lolz:

https://www.facebook.com/djokovic.official/photos/a.170100739709452.50510.161367337249459/895754613810724/?type=1&theater

 

[Great Hands]

Good chance Muller beats Murray as all it takes is one crap service game from Murray which he tends to do often and that 2nd serve is a huge liability. Muller can hold serve in his sleep even against the best of them and Djokovic's AO win over him wasn't easy. He gives you no rhythm and has a huge lefty serve and very good at s&v.

Yes, an upset could be on the cards there. Worst possible opponent Murray could have got in the first round.

 

[Billie]

I think Andy is going to take care of Muller.

 

[Front242]

Probably but him losing wouldn't be a surprise is all people are saying. Muller's been pretty good since his return from injury. His movement isn't great but he holds serve so comfortably even against the best returners like Novak that it's never an easy match unless he happens to have a bad serving performance.

 

[Billie]

Probably but him losing wouldn't be a surprise is all people are saying. Muller's been pretty good since his return from injury. His movement isn't great but he holds serve so comfortably even against the best returners like Novak that it's never an easy match unless he happens to have a bad serving performance.

After what we've seen in the last few years, I thought it was understood that anything can happen on any given day and even the biggest of favourites can lose.

 

[I.Haychew]

Cakewalk draw phor my main man Dr. Youzhny.

 

[herios]

!!Top 2 seeds in the qualifying draw, Jurgen Melzer and Borna Coric have been upset and did not make the main draw.
The surprise is more who they lost to:
Melzer to Serbian Laslo Djere, I heard the first time of him when Billie posted the other day that he will partner Nole in doubles;
Coric lost to Fabrice Martin (Fra), a 28 y old ranked 349 and who was never higher ranked than 228.
The 4 players who qualified: Pouille, Martin, Ilhan and Ward.

 

[Billie]

Cakewalk draw phor my main man Dr. Youzhny.

I am sure you thought the same about Fabio's chances against Rafa on clay.

But yeah, tennis gods were cruel to good Dr.:cry

 

[Billie]

!!Top 2 seeds in the qualifying draw, Jurgen Melzer and Borna Coric have been upset and did not make the main draw.
The surprise is more who they lost to:
Melzer to Serbian Laslo Djere, I heard the first time of him when Billie posted the other day that he will partner Nole in doubles;
Coric lost to Fabrice Martin (Fra), a 28 y old ranked 349 and who was never higher ranked than 228.
The 4 players who qualified: Pouille, Martin, Ilhan and Ward.

It is so hard for these young players to break through. It was Laslo's biggest win of his career, but he lost in the next round of qualifying to a lesser known player (also in 3 tough sets). He was briefly #1 junior in the world a couple of years ago. There are a couple of other good Serbian youngsters, but it will be hard for them as well as the game is too physical. :nono

 

[Front242]

^ After Ilija Bozoljac's great match against Federer at Wimbledon 2010 I hoped we may have another late bloomer there but it seems it was a once off performance as he's done nothing since and is basically only ever on the challenger circuit. He plays well in DC matches though.

 

[Billie]

^ After Ilija Bozoljac's great match against Federer at Wimbledon 2010 I hoped we may have another late bloomer there but it seems it was a once off performance as he's done nothing since and is basically only ever on the challenger circuit. He plays well in DC matches though.

Yeah, he is not young anymore at all. Some people are not born for great things. Ilija got married, had a daughter, he tries to do the best he can without actually sacrificing too much. Then you get to play challenges.

Think about it, they are just like us: some people are so motivated and want to go places....some are satisfied with nice, easy life without too much excitement or effort.

 

[Front242]

^ After Ilija Bozoljac's great match against Federer at Wimbledon 2010 I hoped we may have another late bloomer there but it seems it was a once off performance as he's done nothing since and is basically only ever on the challenger circuit. He plays well in DC matches though.

Yeah, he is not young anymore at all. Some people are not born for great things. Ilija got married, had a daughter, he tries to do the best he can without actually sacrificing too much. Then you get to play challenges.

Think about it, they are just like us: some people are so motivated and want to go places....some are satisfied with nice, easy life without too much excitement or effort.

It's a shame though 'cos even last year he was still playing well. Check these decent highlights.

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WF_fOUssDYQ[/video]

 

[Front242]

^ Bozoljac actually plays a 2 handed forehand. Crazy.

 

[Billie]

^ Bozoljac actually plays a 2 handed forehand. Crazy.

:laydownlaughing who does that, really?? I can't think of any other active player.uzzled

 

[Front242]

^ Bozoljac actually plays a 2 handed forehand. Crazy.

:laydownlaughing who does that, really?? I can't think of any other active player.uzzled

Gotta be one but I can't think of any right now although one that comes to mind as a recently retired player who did was Fabrice Santoro who was still playing at a decent level at IPTL and you could see his 2 handed forehand in all its glory there