Category Archives: ATP Tour
Battle-Hardened and Flak-Happy
Indian Wells, Second Round There is an old belief, cherished by a certain kind of pundit, that fighting through a three-round qualifying draw transfigures hitherto meek qualifiers into battle-hardened killing machines. It is, at heart, akin to the doctrine that … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
The Unwatchables (Part One)
To the best of my knowledge, no one is pretending that the decision not to televise the opening rounds of the Indian Wells Masters tournament is motivated by any factor besides money. Regrettably, this is bad news for any writer … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
Luck of the Doubles Draw: Indian Wells 2012
Indian Wells is my favourite doubles tournament, because it is the only one that consistently features the best doubles players. This doubtless owes to its position in the schedule, and to a certain headiness in the Southern Californian air, which … Continue reading
Luck of the Draw: Indian Wells 2012
The men’s singles draw for the Indian Wells Masters has been released, meaning that we may now hunt it for sport. The astounding news is that Federer and Nadal are in the same half. Again. That’s twice in a row. … Continue reading
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Highs and Lows
Delray Beach, Final (7) Anderson d. (Q) Matosevic, 6/4 7/6 Kevin Anderson won his first tournament at the SA Tennis Open in Johannesburg in February of 2011. Johannesburg was frankly a wretched event that ultimately could not overcome the woes … Continue reading
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Dancing Along a Tightrope
Dubai, Final (2) Federer d. (3) Murray, 7/5 6/4 Roger Federer today won his 72nd title from his 102nd final. The tournament is Dubai, which he has won for the fifth time, meaning he now owns enough of those polished … Continue reading
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What a Difference a Court Makes
Dubai, Semifinals (4) Murray d. (1) Djokovic, 6/2 7/5 (3) Federer d. (8) del Potro, 7/6 7/6 What a difference a topcoat makes. Every few years, for reasons entirely its own, a tournament will lay down a hardcourt that plays … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour, Other Writing
If You Pay Them
Dubai, Quarterfinals Having laboriously convened the most august congregation of men’s tennis players it could afford, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was today blessed by the finest assembly of quarterfinalists since . . . well, it’s been a while. … Continue reading
Solid Gold Trousers
Dubai, First Round The lowest seed at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships this year – Juan Martin del Potro – would have been the top seed at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis last week, if only he … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
Forcibly Disarming
Memphis, Final Melzer d. (4) Raonic, 7/5 7/6 Isn’t the ATP Entry System peculiar? This morning John Isner, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Milos Raonic awoke to the thrilling news that the number representing their ranking had shrunk to be the smallest … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour