Category Archives: ATP Tour
Of Curses and Inspiration
Nice, Second Round It is apparently the best kept secret in professional men’s tennis that the Open de Nice Côte d’Azur is cursed. This is the only reasonable explanation for why otherwise astute professional men’s tennis players keep turning up, … Continue reading
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Psychic Wreckage
Rome Masters, Final (2) Nadal d. (1) Djokovic, 7/5 6/3 Patchily arrayed beneath threatening skies, a modest crowd greeted the players as they entered Court Centrale for the Rome Masters final, although what it lacked in biomass it made up … Continue reading
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Intrepid Naturalists
Rome Masters, Semifinals (1) Djokovic d. (3) Federer, 6/2 7/6 Until he stepped up to serve for tonight’s second semifinal at the Rome Masters, Novak Djokovic had dropped just one point on his first serve. It was an impressive stat … Continue reading
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The Drama Category
Rome Masters, Third Round Seppi d. Wawrinka, 6/7 7/6 7/6 The question of why Rome is my favourite Masters tournament was addressed with devastating intensity by Andreas Seppi and Stanislas Wawrinka on Court Nicola Pietrangeli today, ably supported by a … Continue reading
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Lavish Set Dressing
Rome Masters, Second Round Of the nine Masters Series events that liberally pepper each tennis season, Rome’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia is my favourite. I was recently asked to explain this preference, and came up with, in no particular order: the … Continue reading
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Increasingly Jiggy With It
Madrid Masters, Final (3) Federer d. (6) Berdych, 3/6 7/5 7/5 Roger Federer today defeated Tomas Berdych in the final of the Madrid Masters, thereby cementing his place as the premiere blue clay player of our time. It was his … Continue reading
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A Profane Space
Madrid Masters, Semifinals (3) Federer d. (7) Tipsarevic, 6/2 6/3 To the extravagant array of trying conditions already prevailing at the Madrid Masters, today’s second semifinal added a fitful and swirling breeze. Roger Federer was already favoured to win, and, … Continue reading
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First Strike
Madrid Masters, Quarterfinals David Ferrer was tonight defeated in clinical fashion by Roger Federer at the Madrid Masters, whereupon he shocked the attendant media by failing to threaten a boycott of the event next year. Unspoken words, reflecting unthought thoughts, … Continue reading
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A Few Points Here or There
Madrid Masters, Second Round (3) Federer d. Raonic, 4/6 7/5 7/6 ‘I entered the court believing I could win. I left the court knowing I can win,’ declared Milos Raonic after tonight’s pulsating three set loss to Roger Federer at … Continue reading
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A Magic Box of Chocolates
Madrid Masters, First Round (12) Monfils d. Kohlschreiber, 7/5 6/7 6/3 Gael Monfils this afternoon defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber in a fine match in the first round of the Madrid Masters, and afterwards failed to label the court the worst in … Continue reading
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