Monte Carlo 2007

[inez]

HEY!! Brilliant!!, Marat won his second game in a row on clay - lets hope this is the start of something GREAT for him !! Here's keeping fingers X'sed.
MAybe it's because he's not so weighed down by bling - he could move around the court quicker....or is it just me thinking he SEEMS to have lost the chain with the rings? lets just hope he didn't lose the ring...the one ring to rule them, and in the darkness bind them...the good thing is, if he has, there's no chance he'll be able to just disappear on court!!!! which means, we should be seeing more of him....HURRAH!!

[Annie]

Marat - Kristof head to head is 1:0 to Marat

They only met once last year during Madrid Masters in R16. Marat won in straight sets 6/3 6/2

[Annie]

[Anne]

And again he was brilliant! Or actually I haven't seen the match but I just know! It looked good on live scoring, though hehe!
Tomorrow Vliegen.. what should we think about that? I think he can do it.. well I don't think it I know it! But you never know with Marat.. Hope his confidence is good enough!!

Btw great pics! Thanks for sharing all of you! where do you get all that stuff?? Mysterie to me hehe!

Kisses

bp2.blogger.com/_ISyGgfEqexU/RhnvWjn5H7I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/J62teEpjEkg/s1600-h/untitled1.bmp [/img]

[Dido]

tomorrow's oop

COURT CENTRAL start 10:00 am
[12]D Ferrer (ESP) vs G Simon (FRA)
[11]R Gasquet (FRA) vs F Verdasco (ESP)
[1]R Federer (SUI) vs [Q]A Seppi (ITA)
[8]A Murray (GBR) vs M Gicquel (FRA)
M Bhupathi (IND) / R Stepanek (CZE) vs A Clement (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA)


COURT DES PRINCES start 10:00 am
B Becker (GER) vs T Johansson (SWE)
N Massu (CHI) vs F Volandri (ITA)
N Almagro (ESP) vs [10]T Berdych (CZE)
M Safin (RUS) vs K Vliegen (BEL)


COURT 2 start 12:00 noon
[Q]P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [Q]A Pavel (ROU)
H Lee (KOR) vs [13]M Youzhny (RUS)
J Nieminen (FIN) / A Pavel (ROU) vs T Perry (AUS) / S Prieto (ARG)


COURT 9 start 12:00 noon
[Q]A Portas (ESP) vs D Hrbaty (SVK)
[Q]S Roitman (ARG) vs J Melzer (AUT)
Y Allegro (SUI) / G Simon (FRA) vs I Andreev (RUS) / D Tursunov (RUS)

[davis]

Monday, April 16, 2007
Results Singles Main Draw - First Round

[Q]A Seppi (ITA) d [Q]T Gabashvili (RUS) 61 63
M Mirnyi (BLR) d [14]M Baghdatis (CYP) 75 64
M Gicquel (FRA) d F Mayer (GER) 75 57 75
K Vliegen (BEL) d P Mathieu (FRA) 75 63
[9]D Nalbandian (ARG) d [Q]F Luzzi (ITA) 36 62 61
R Soderling (SWE) d O Rochus (BEL) 64 64
R Stepanek (CZE) d G Monfils (FRA) 62 20 ret. (right hamstring)
[13]M Youzhny (RUS) d C Moya (ESP) 62 31 ret. (left adductor)
J Chela (ARG) d M Verkerk (NED) 75 62
[16]J Ferrero (ESP) d T Henman (GBR) 75 62
G Gaudio (ARG) d D Tursunov (RUS) 57 62 62
I Andreev (RUS) d J Acasuso (ARG) 64 61


And the obligatory Monte Carlo Preview
Posted 04/15/2007 @ 9 :45 PM

This is one of the exciting weeks in tennis—provided you’re not an American without the Tennis Channel. If you are, this is one of the frustrating weeks in tennis. The sport returns to an historic sight, the Monte Carlo Country Club, with its red clay courts and blue Mediterranean water rolling out behind it. It’s an annual sign of spring for a tennis fan, and one of the payoffs we get for having a bloated season. The year may be long, but it’s also split into discrete sections that can be digested on their own. Monte Carlo marks the start of my favorite part of the year, the European red-clay swing.

After the down-to-earth, no-nonsense hard-court tennis of the last couple months, it’s a pleasant shock to see the sport played in a very different way. In the U.S., clay has a reputation for tedium, but discerning fans know that the surface is a test of many skills. It allows and inspires flights of creativity while requiring added levels of stamina, both mental and physical. Most of the world’s best are in Monte Carlo (the exceptions, as usual, being Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake) to begin making the long transition that ends two months from now in Paris.

First Quarter
This section has an eye-popper: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic heading for a quarterfinal showdown. Djokovic, who reached the quarters of the French Open last year, looks safe—he’s got Dmitry Tursunov, Gaston Gaudio, David Ferrer, Gilles Simon, or Julian Benneteau as possible opponents. Federer, who has been heavily focused on this event and the clay season in general, will make it as well, but I’d like to see him face Mikhail Youzhny in the third round. That could be a shot-making exhibition.
First-round grind to watch: Simon vs. Ferrer (welcome to clay, everyone!)
Semifinalist: Roger Federer

Second Quarter
The top seed here is Fernando Gonzalez, who should be primed for clay after his early season success. The question is whether he can shake off the burnout that came with it and hurt him in Indian Wells and Key Biscayne. The bigger question mark for me is Richard Gasquet. He beat Federer in Monte Carlo two years ago, and the pros love to come back to the scenes of their breakthroughs. He’s also watched two contemporaries, Djokovic and Andy Murray, move ahead of him in the next-big-thing sweepstakes this season. While he has a tricky first-rounder in Fernando Verdasco, this is as good a place as any for the Frenchman to make his counterattack.
First-round grind to watch: Igor Andreev vs. José Acasuso
Semifinalist: Richard Gasquet

Third Quarter
What should we make of Nikolay Davydenko after his superb 2006? Is there nowhere to go but down? If you’ve seen him in person, you know he’s got the movement and ball-striking skills of a major champion. But he’s a little guy, he has to work for absolutely everything, and his self-belief will always be shaky. Davydenko knows the clay game well; this spring swing will be a test of his staying power. With Robredo, Baghdatis, and Berdych surrounding him, it’s Kolya’s section to lose. Unfortunately, I think he will.
First-round slugfest to watch: Tomas Berdych vs. Nicolas Almagro
Semifinalist: Tommy Robredo

Fourth Quarter
The absence of the Americans has allowed Andy Murray to snag an eighth seed, a buy, and a fairly soft second-rounder. He could get Nalbandian after that. The two have played once, a five-setter at Wimbledon in 2005 won by Nalbandian. The bottom half of this section is doing its best to feature the long-awaited first meeting between Rafael Nadal and Marat Safin. The Russian won his first round, but still must get past the winner of Paul-Henri Mathieu and Kristof Vliegen. I think we may have to wait a little longer to see our dream match-up (NO WAY!!!).
First-round shot-making contest to watch: Mathieu vs. Vliegen
Semifinalist: Rafael Nadal

[davis]

Small article. I really liked the portraits...

Top seeds conference
Today at 10 am, the 7 best players met one after another for interviews on the VIP pavement. The journalists began with Spaniard Tommy Robredo, then Serbian Novak Djokovic, Russian Nikolay Davydenko, Chilean Fernando Gonzalez…

Most approached players were of course world number one Roger Federer and the double title winner Rafael Nadal,. Croatian Ivan Ljubicic was also asked a lot of question about the future Monte Carlo tournament’s downgrading. Nadal and Federer arrived together and gave a brief common interview to give their support to the tournament.

Famous history, prestigious name, beautiful place…this are the most heard words in player’s talks. There’s no doubt that all the players here appreciate the tournament. All of them want Monte-Carlo to keep his Masters Series’ status and discussion will probably take place between players and ATP and ITF in the next weeks.

[Annie]

Lovely portraits ;D ;D ;D

[Annie]

Someone on MTF posted that there is a LIVESTREAM ( a free one) on www.bwin.com and they will show Marat's match today. You do have to register though

[Annie]

Murray has pulled out due to his back injury

[Mrs. Fabregas]

Marat's match will be played on Centre court ;D
It'll start after the Fed - Seppi match, AND I CAN SEE IT LIVE ;D
(Thank you TVU player for Star sports Italy ;D)

Already nervous ;D!!!!!


Good luck, Maratik!!!!!!!!!

[miffy]

phew thank goodness Federer's match finished sky coverage is supposed to end in 45 minutes but they're going to show Marat's match i'm so happy!!
fingers crossed i'll still be happy at the end of the match

[Mrs. Fabregas]

It's about to start now ;D
He's wearing his lucky shirt again ;D

[arcoiris]

the match has just started.he looks determined and strong.fingers crossed...i can watch it.omg i love this tvu player ;D

[Annie]

OOP for tomorrow. Some kick butt tennis on tomorrow Being sick at home has its advantages

COURT CENTRAL start 10:00 am
G Gaudio (ARG) vs [6]N Djokovic (SRB)
[5]T Robredo (ESP) vs A Clement (FRA)
J Chela (ARG) vs [2]R Nadal (ESP)
[11]R Gasquet (FRA) vs D Hrbaty (SVK)
J Nieminen (FIN) / A Pavel (ROU) or B Becker (GER) / E Butorac (USA) vs [4] F Santoro (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB)

COURT DES PRINCES 10:00 am
R Soderling (SWE) vs [3]N Davydenko (RUS)
[4]F Gonzalez (CHI) vs I Andreev (RUS)
[12]D Ferrer (ESP) vs J Benneteau (FRA)
R Stepanek (CZE) vs [7]I Ljubicic (CRO)
[7] S Aspelin (SWE) / J Knowle (AUT) vs I Andreev (RUS) / D Tursunov (RUS)


COURT 2 12:00 noon
B Becker (GER) vs [10]T Berdych (CZE)
N Massu (CHI) vs [16]J Ferrero (ESP)
[Q]P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [9]D Nalbandian (ARG)


COURT 9 12:00 noon
A Fisher (AUS) / J Thomas (USA) vs [8] F Cermak (CZE) / P Vizner (CZE)
M Mirnyi (BLR) vs [Q]S Roitman (ARG) or J Melzer (AUT)
M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) vs [5] P Hanley (AUS) / K Ullyett (ZIM)