2008 ATP Tennis Spring Hard Court Season

M

MikeUT00

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Dubai started this week, where most of the big guns are resuming their schedules. Tennis Channel Open is also going on.

Dubai:
Federer got ousted in the first round against Andy Murray 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-4.

Since Roger won the tournament last year, he stands to lose 300 rankings points. Rafa is only defending 75 points. At the start of the tournament, Rafa was only down 400 points to Roger. Rafa needs to earn more than 175 points to overtake the #1 position on tour. Given that a loss in the semis would only produce 135 points, Rafa would need to get to the final to overtake #1. A Finals loss is worth 210 points, while a tournament victory is worth 300 points.

In my opinion, this is the only early tournament where Roger's ranking is in danger. He loses a lot of points going from winner to 1st round loss. But coming up is Indian Wells and Miami and he tanked both last year, so he isn't defending many points. Meanwhile, Rafa will be defending a win at Indian Wells and a QF at Miami. Djokovic isn't a factor for #1 just quite yet, though he will be defending a finals loss at Indian Wells and a win at Miami. Novak actually has the most to lose during those tournaments. Once clay season begins, Rafa stands to lose the most if he doesn't defend.

So I say again, this is the only tournament where I see Roger possibly losing his ranking ... at least until the summer. It will take Rafa reaching the final or winning it. Certainly makes Dubai a bit more interesting this year.
 
i remember when the dubai tournament first started and I always got free tickets to that, havent been to it in about 10 years, so i doubt they still have them
 
Dubai:
(2) Nadal, (3) Djokovic, (6) Roddick, (8) Berdych all advanced to the Round of 16.
 
Dubai is into the quarters with some exciting matchups ...

Murray vs. (5) Davydenko
(4) Ferrer vs. Lopez
Andreev vs. (3) Djokovic
(6) Roddick vs. (2) Nadal

tomorrow should be a good day. On hards, Roddick should be favored over Rafa. The winner of that against Novak in the semis should be great.
 
Lopez def (4) Ferrer 4 and 3.
(5) Davy def Murray 7-5, 6-4

Rafa and Roddick are on serve right now. Rafa is serving in the 1st at 4-5.
 
So far the level of play had been good. Roddick takes the first set 7-6 (5).
 
Roddick wins the 2nd set 6-2. Very good win for him. Rafa wasn't moving that great in the 2nd, but by no means was he playing terrible. Roddick just played better on his best surface. Good win.

So after this tournament, Roger will go down to 6030, while Rafa will stay at 5930 since he earned the same Dubai points as last year. Roger's lead is down to a mere 100 points. Like I said above, though, it shouldn't get any closer than this right now. Indian Wells and Miami will give Roger opportunities to gain points, while Rafa will be defending a lot of points. Nonetheless, things are shaping up for a great spring/summer!
 
Mike, I applaud you for not referring to Roddick as "Andycakes". Thanks
wink.gif
 
fk, no problem. I call 'em like I see 'em. Andy got a big win today and deserves respect for it. It was his first win over a Top 2 player in 4 years. Dubai isn't exactly a major, but still. He served very well today and was legit. When he chokes is when he gets the "cakes" added. Today, he didn't choke.

Really looking forward to Roddick/Djokovic tomorrow morning. Novak zoomed through Andreev 2 and 1. If Andy serves like he did today, it could be a great match ... even if only a best 2 of 3.
 
Andy looked good this morning. Once again he served very well and beat Djokovic 7-6 (5), 6-3 ... virtually the same score as he beat Rafa yesterday. Another big win as Novak has recently been playing some great tennis. Andy now plays in the final against Feliciano Lopez, who beat Davy 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
 
Congrats to Roddick for showing up legit and winning Dubai, knocking out Rafa and Djokovic in the process. He beat Lopez 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-2 in the final. Good win for him.

Indian Wells, a Masters Series event, coming up next in a couple of weeks. Hard court where Rafa is defending champ.
 
Wow, huge win. Djokovic has been playing some of the best tennis on tour the last half year. He is arguably the #2 player in the world right now as well. For Andy to beat Rafa and then Djokovic back to back is amazing for him.
 
So made a bit of a mistake in the post above. I don't know what I was thinking. For some reason I was looking at Dubai as a Masters event. Silly me. Anyway, as of today, the rankings are as follows ...

Federer 6330
Nadal 5980
Djokovic 5130

The 350 points that seperate Roger and Rafa is the closest it has been ever. It's the closet Roger has been to #2 since 2004, when he took over #1. Right now, things look decent for Roger because he tanked last year at Indian Wells and Miami and therefore has very little points to defend. Rafa is defending a win at Indian Wells and a QF at Miami. Djokovic isn't quite a factor yet, but he is defending a runnerup at Indian Wells and a win at Miami. He actually has the most points to lose over the next two Masters events. I expect Roger to gain a few points over the next two, and then clay season is all about Rafa. Rafa won't have a chance to catch Roger at Indian Wells, but he might at Miami. Again, things are shaping up for a great season. I expect the rest of the spring to go much like last year. Wimbledon will probably be where any of the three will have a chance to grab #1.
 
Right now on Tennis Channel, Roger is about to play Sampras in the last of their exhibitions. Live from Madison Square Garden ...
 
For anyone interested, Roger won 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6) in 2:26. Pete looked slow and nervous in the 1st set. He settled in, though, and made a match of it. The 3rd set actually had some decent tennis. I don't put much stock in this match because it is an exhibition. However, I really hope Roger was just toying with Pete. After Melbourne and Dubai and now a "close" match against Pete, he hasn't exactly been Roger-like this season, supposed mono notwithstanding.
 
Indian Wells draw is out. Rafa and Djokovic are both in the bottom half of the draw. Roger really lucked out. Rafa does have Tsonga in his quarter. He hasn't nearly be playing as well as he did in Melbourne. Should be a good match.

If the seeds hold up, the quarters will look like ...

(1) Federer vs. (6) Roddick
(4) Davydenko vs. (7) Nalbandian
(3) Djokovic vs. (5) Ferrer
(2) Nadal vs. (8) Gasquet
 
Andycakes loses his first match in Indian Wells to Tommy Haas 4 and 4. First big seed to go down.
 
Badass freakin' match today. Rafa and Tsonga went at it at Indian Wells. No doubt this match felt like a major. Both were totally on their game. After trading breakers, Tsonga finally got a break in the 3rd and was served for the match at 5-3 in the final set. But Rafa went to another gear. He broke back, held, and then broke Tsonga again. Served it out to avenge the loss in Melbourne. Rafa won 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3), 7-5. Badass match.

If Tsonga keeps this up, he is going to have a great year.
 
You're right, some good potential matchups coming up.

Rafa/Blake should be a great match tonight. Blake is the only top player to hold a head-to-head advantage over Rafa. It's actually 3-0, though the most recent of those wins was two years ago in '06. Should be a good match. The rest of the quarters look like ...

(1) Federer vs. Haas
Fish vs. (7) Nalbandian
(3) Djokovic vs. Wawrinka
(2) Nadal vs. (9) Blake
 
(2) Rafael Nadal vs. (9) James Blake coming on right now on FSN.
 
Big win for Rafa. First win over Blake and it happens on hards. Rafa pulls it out 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. He's gaining more confidence on hards. Next match is going to be killer! Djokovic played like crap, but got lucky that Wawrinka was even more crappy. Novak won 7-6 (5), 6-2. Even though he has moved through in straights, Djokovic hasn't looked that great. Rafa has won some tough matches against quality competition. Hope he won't have a letdown in the semis. Rematch of last year's final where Rafa beat Novak 6-2, 7-5. Obviously, though, Novak has become a better player since then. If they are both on, could be great!

Roger plays Haas and Nalbandian plays Fish in the top half quaters. Glad to see Tommy playing well again.
 
Fish beat (7) Nalbandian 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4). Haas withdrew due to a sinus infection, so Roger had a walkover. So today's semis are ...

(1) Federer vs. Fish
(2) Nadal vs. (3) Djokovic

play begins at 3:00 p.m. central
 
Djokovic in straight sets over Rafa....6-3, 6-2.

Should be a great final. The #1 and #2 players in the world IMO. Will be a tough one for Roger though...he isn't playing his best tennis and Djokovic is playing very well.

Edited to correct spelling error.
 
Not so fast my friend. Mardy takes out Roger in straight sets to earn finals date with Novak. He's beaten some good players so I give him a good shot to win.
 
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