DOHA 2017, 2nd-7th January - Main thread

[Bardot]

Andy's first match as a knight of the realm :p could be in doubles in Doha where he's partnering Mariusz Fyrstenberg. Couldn't be more random. ;)

[themass15]

Marius Fyrstenberg - since he stopped partnering Matkowski, not much has been heard from him.

[cazza99]

Covered by Eurosport.

[Bardot]

Andy's draw.

R1: Chardy
R2: G.Melzer/PH.Mathieu
QF: Kohlschreiber
SF: Berdych/Tsonga
F: Djokovic

[Bardot]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C1BOiorWIAAGOkm.jpg

[exislander]

Andy's first match as a knight of the realm :p could be in doubles in Doha where he's partnering Mariusz Fyrstenberg. Couldn't be more random. ;)

On the schedule for tomorrow at 12.30 GMT Centre Court vs Marrero/Zimonjic.

[david1610]

On the schedule for tomorrow at 12.30 GMT Centre Court vs Marrero/Zimonjic.
If they win, and if Jamie and Bruno win their match, then Andy will play AGAINST Jamie in the second round!!!!

[Teresa]

Looking very unlikely at the moment. Have these two ever played together before?

[mickeypops]

Yes, Andy and partner well beaten I'm afraid 6-2 6-4. Not vintage doubles by any means.......

[Bardot]

Andy third on court tomorrow with play starting at 12.30pm UK.

[Alis]

Djokovic has just dropped his first service game against Struff.

[Monica]

And his second!

[Bardot]

Struff always wore a backward baseball cap before which hid that massive head of fluffy hair. No wonder Djokovic is distracted.

[Teresa]

He is woken up now:-(

[patlowe]

Yes, Andy and partner well beaten I'm afraid 6-2 6-4. Not vintage doubles by any means.......
No worries. A good way for Andy to get the gremlins out of his system before AO.

[patlowe]

Andy third on court tomorrow with play starting at 12.30pm UK.
I will be travelling to Bury St Edmunds tomorrow (going to help daughter who is moving house), so I will miss most of the play tomorrow (and maybe rest of week). But I know I can rely on all you guys for updates and comments etc so I look forward to reading them all at some stage. Keep 'em coming and thanks in advance!

[anor]

Safe journey, Pat. Here's hoping our Knight got rid of his serving gremlins yesterday!:knight: (love the new smilies).

[Jan]

Will probably miss today's action.
Good luck Andy!
ooh new smilies!
:knight::GBflag:

[Bardot]

http://i67.tinypic.com/2i08yhi.png

[Bardot]

Verdasco beat Goffin 6-1 7-6(4) on his 6th MP. Remember Andy's comment after losing to Goffin in Abu Dhabi about how players can play more freely when it's an exhibition.....

[Bardot]

Zeballos stops for a selfie with Djokovic as he walks off court having lost 3-6 4-6. :shrug:

[Bardot]

http://i64.tinypic.com/zvsen5.png

[Sallydaisy]

i'm off to see if I can find the Tsonga v Dreddy match on a stream ... love watching those 2 play although even better is Dreddy v LaMonf!

[Alis]

I was looking forward to it too but, unfortunately, Dreddy just not on form tonight.

[harriet]

three singles players will be playing doubles today, Stepanek, Verdasco and Almagro

[DonaldGrump]

Watching Djokovic and cant help but notice quite a few of the crowd have winter coats on and one women even wrapped in a blanket....its 19 degrees for gods sake!

[pabbers]

Goran seems to be working some magic with Berdy!

[Teresa]

Berdych has a wining H2H against Tsonga regardless of Goran. Berdych will probably be a easier opponent, but would still prefer Tsonga.

[pabbers]

Here we go with the first semi. Part of me wonders if Djokovic would rather not meet Andy before the Oz Open. A final between the 2 of them here would be huge for both psychologically.

[Jan]

FerVer serving for the first set *5-4

[pabbers]

Hmm nothing to dispel my feelings so far as Nando breaks for a second time and serves for the set.

[Teresa]

Takes it after Djokovic lets a couple of BP's go begging.

[Pam]

Yay!! Come on Nando :boogie:

[JAMES4578]

4 consecutive games for Nando and whilst impressing Djokovic struggling to find top form-may have mixed feelings at this point. Verdasco faltering though , a break a piece in 2nd but he fails to break in marathon game at 4 all after having 3bps. Holds for 5 all so perhaps all is not lost.

[RosieBear]

Argh - mon Nando ! (just 'cos I want Andy to pull away in the rankings). Overcooked those bps and deuces. You can do it Nando, let's go :cheer:

[dewster99]

4mps gone :(

[RosieBear]

Eek - 2mps on own serve :facepalm: Neither of them wanted to take it on - so tentative from both - Mon Nando !!! Be bold!

[dewster99]

How many times can you lose a lead?!

[Teresa]

Djokovic has levelled it. I think he will take it now. Expletive of your choice xxxx:-(

[Bardot]

Can you hear the drums Fernando? Verdascoing of the highest order. FIVE MPs! :facepalm:

Djokovic demanding love from the crowd is always icky. :ill:

[RosieBear]

Uh oh - Novak did nothing but let poor Nando hang himself by fluctuating between too much and too little on his shots. So difficult for Nando. Hope he can still do it. Keep going!! :cheer:

[Bardot]

At some point in this set Verdasco is going to realise he blew 5MPs.

[Rosalind]

At some point in this set Verdasco is going to realise he blew 5MPs.

what a numpty! Thought we were rid of Djokovic there for a moment.. Nevermind:cauldron:

[Nessie]

Can you hear the drums Fernando? Verdascoing of the highest order. FIVE MPs! :facepalm:

Djokovic demanding love from the crowd is always icky. :ill:

Yes I always find it a bit disrespectful to his opponent when he does that. Not many others do those kinds of things.

[RosieBear]

At some point in this set Verdasco is going to realise he blew 5MPs.

Hoping that he's so used to it and par for the course that he'll just plough on like a true Spanish grinder :thumbup: I live in hope. Mon Nando you chump :cheer:

[RosieBear]

Uh oh :hmm:

[Bardot]

Only January 6th and we've already witnessed "Choke of the Year". Thanks FerVer. :clap:

[Josephine]

Verdasco should have won that match - shows how much it is a mental game. Djoko much stronger mentally.

Also finding the demands for love from the crowd rather needy ( and a bit nauseating);)

[Sallydaisy]

At some point in this set Verdasco is going to realise he blew 5MPs.
thar she blows ...

[rimarli]

Djokovic actually has no respect for the other players. My friend who worked at Wimbledon for many years said he was objectionable behind the scenes. Has a good 'front' though. Perhaps the public are seeing through it now

[roytennisfan]

All over now at 2-4 in the decider

[Bardot]

Could this be Djokovic's "Benoit Paire" moment? ;)

[JAMES4578]

Verdasco started the decider reasonably well but faltering now and at 3-5 surely no way back, however another opponent should take advantage if they come through with vulnerabilities still apparent! (though of course every match different). The die was cast when Nando choked at the end of the 2nd!

[Bardot]

Some players would be crushed by such an outcome but Verdasco is well used to it plus and I'm probably being unfair but I get the impression there's not much going on up top with Fer. ;) I wonder what Andy is thinking after all that.

[Jan]

huh typical!

[RosieBear]

Some players would be crushed by such an outcome but Verdasco is well used to it plus and I'm probably being unfair but I get the impression there's not much going on up top with Fer. ;) I wonder what Andy is thinking after all that.

Andy's thinking 'meh' - he saves 5mps against an on-form Spaniard for fun :big grin:

[Alis]

Oh Nando!:sad:

[pabbers]

Think Nole did his best to avoid the final but there are only so many times you can say "no, really, you win" before it starts to look foolish. So really he had to take the match in the end :big grin:! Bring on tomorrow.