DOHA, CHENNAI - Main thread and information 2-8 January 2012

[cazza99]

DOHA - QatarExxonMobil Open 2-7 Jan 2012

website - http://www.qatartennis.org/

Draw - http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2012/451/mds.pdf

Information to be added later




CHENNAI - Aircel Chennai Open 2-8 Jan 2012

Website - http://www.aircelchennaiopen.org/2012/

Draw - http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2012/891/mds.pdf

Information to be added later

[RoastLamb]

Milos is playing Chennai. Hope he gets a good start coz last year he went out in the qualies.

[Sallydaisy]

Chennai Schedule - Monday, 2 January, 2012


CENTRE COURT start 5:00 pm
[WC] Y Bhambri (IND) vs K Beck (SVK)
[WC] V Vardhan (IND) vs [5] I Dodig (CRO)
[4] J Erlich (ISR) / A Ram (ISR) vs [WC] M Jayaprakash (IND) / R Ramanathan (IND)
COURT 1 start 2:00 pm
Qualifying - V Pospisil (CAN) vs R Ram (USA)
Qualifying - E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs G Soeda (JPN)
Not Before 5:00 PM
[6] F Fognini (ITA) vs D Sela (ISR)
P Riba (ESP) vs B Paire (FRA)
COURT 2 start 2:00 pm
Qualifying - Y Sugita (JPN) vs R De Voest (RSA)
Qualifying - I Van der Merwe (RSA) vs T de Bakker (NED)

Doha - information not yet up on ATP site

[Linda]

Colin and Ross are playing today: they are the last match on Court 1 at Doha, against Kas & Kohlschreiber.

[Linda]

Ross & Colin's match just about to start!

[Sallydaisy]

SCHEDULE - TUESDAY, 3 JANUARY, 2012

CHENNAI


CENTRE COURT start 5:00 pm
S Querrey (USA) vs V Hanescu (ROU)
[WC] D Goffin (BEL) vs [7] X Malisse (BEL)
N Almagro (ESP) / P Riba (ESP) vs J Knowle (AUT) / M Kohlmann (GER)
[WC] N Balaji (IND) / J Nedunchezhiyan (IND) vs [2] S Lipsky (USA) / R Ram (USA)

COURT 1 start 4:00 pm
[8] O Rochus (BEL) vs [Q] Y Sugita (JPN)
A Beck (GER) vs [Q] V Pospisil (CAN)
F Gil (POR) vs [Q] G Soeda (JPN)
P Marx (GER) / A Shamasdin (CAN) vs A Beck (GER) / S Wawrinka (SUI)
COURT 2 start 4:00 pm
E Prodon (FRA) vs [LL] E Roger-Vasselin (FRA)
[Q] T de Bakker (NED) vs Y Lu (TPE)
B Kavcic (SLO) vs S Darcis (BEL)
F Fognini (ITA) / I Zelenay (SVK) vs J Brunstrom (SWE) / I Dodig (CRO)
SCHEDULE - MONDAY, 2 JANUARY, 2012
CENTRE COURT start 5:00 pm
[WC] Y Bhambri (IND) vs K Beck (SVK)
[WC] V Vardhan (IND) vs [5] I Dodig (CRO)
[4] J Erlich (ISR) / A Ram (ISR) vs [WC] M Jayaprakash (IND) / R Ramanathan (IND)
COURT 1 start 2:00 pm
Qualifying - V Pospisil (CAN) vs R Ram (USA)
Qualifying - E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs G Soeda (JPN)
Not Before 5:00 PM
[6] F Fognini (ITA) vs D Sela (ISR)
P Riba (ESP) vs B Paire (FRA)
COURT 2 start 2:00 pm
Qualifying - Y Sugita (JPN) vs R De Voest (RSA)
Qualifying - I Van der Merwe (RSA) vs T de Bakker (NED)

DOHA

CENTER COURT start 3:30 pm
[WC] M Jaziri (TUN) vs [3] J Tsonga (FRA)
[1] R Nadal (ESP) vs P Kohlschreiber (GER)
N Davydenko (RUS) vs [2] R Federer (SUI)
[4] G Monfils (FRA) vs R Machado (POR)

COURT 1 start 3:30 pm
S Stakhovsky (UKR) vs I Karlovic (CRO)
E Gulbis (LAT) vs [7] M Youzhny (RUS)
A Bogomolov Jr. (RUS) / I Kunitsyn (RUS) vs I Karlovic (CRO) / F Moser (GER)
[WC] S Sabry (EGY) / M Safwat (EGY) vs F Polasek (SVK) / L Rosol (CZE)
COURT 2 start 3:30 pm
[Q] D Gremelmayr (GER) vs P Starace (ITA)
[WC] S Bubka (UKR) vs [Q] G Zemlja (SLO)
L Kubot (POL) / V Troicki (SRB) vs F Cipolla (ITA) / A Seppi (ITA)
M Lopez (ESP) / A Ramos (ESP) vs [WC] A Al Mutawa (QAT) / M Ghareeb (KUW)
COURT 3 start 3:30 pm
D Tursunov (RUS) / N Zimonjic (SRB) vs [2] J Cerretani (USA) / D Norman (BEL)
P Andujar (ESP) vs G Garcia-Lopez (ESP)
COURT 4 start 3:30 pm
[Q] R Bautista-Agut (ESP) vs [Q] M Bachinger (GER)

[lankster2003]

Colin and Ross did rather blow it in their match unfortunately :(

[RoastLamb]

Doha is on tennistv so I can watch Rafa's match after I come back from my own tennis league tomorrow morning as long as tennis is playing. So glad he's not on last. Yippee!

[RoastLamb]

Milos just won 6-1 6-4 over in Chennai vs Hanescu. Thought he played very well indeed. Impressed. He plays dubs later on with Vashy Popsicle. There's a livestream apparently, so I'm excited about that.

[Linda]

Tsonga is in a first set tiebreak against Cipolla! :shocked:

[RoastLamb]

I thought Djokovic was playing Doha but he's not. How odd. Wonder if he's playing next week.

[Linda]

Yes, I'd thought he was playing it, too, so was surprised to see that he wasn't in the draw.

[RoastLamb]

Ferru's not playing this week either by the looks of things.

Rafa's playing very well indeed today. Good stuff!

[Linda]

Yes, he seems to be shaking off the rust now!

[VamosVixs]

Rafa's looking fine. Just doing enough. :thumbup:

[ljs]

Vasek & Milos on court :cheer::cheer:

[RoastLamb]

Vasek & Milos on court :cheer::cheer:

Ooh thank you for reminding me. Forgotten about it.

[supergran]

Nadal serving for match.

[RoastLamb]

Good win for Rafa.

Shoot! Popsy lost his service game. Bummer. They were doing well up till then.

[Linda]

Rafa won 6-2, 6-2 - and played really well today. Though I thought that Gremelmayr played well too.

[RoastLamb]

Good day for all three of my guys: Andy, Milos and Rafa. All in different tournaments. Bit dizzying keeping up with it all. :rolling:

[Linda]

At least I've only got two tournaments to follow! :rolling:

[RoastLamb]

Just happy there's livestreams for everyone. And starting from tomorrow tennistv is showing Brisbane (WTA only, though)!

[RoastLamb]

Well, Team Canada lost the dubs BUT they did take the second set and the commies were very complimentary about Milos, saying his serve is better than Roddick's and that he's top ten potential. I do wonder which one of them Daniel will take to the Olympics as his partner. I'm thinking probably Milos altho' he played really well with Popsy at Davis Cup. Any thoughts, ljs?

[ljs]

I dont think theres any doubt it will be Milos !!

[VamosVixs]

Rafa playing very well against Youzhny! :thumbup:

[RoastLamb]

I dont think theres any doubt it will be Milos !!

Yes, I think you're right.


Rafa playing very well against Youzhny! :thumbup:

Missed his match coz my internet was down. :sad: Glad he won though. And Seppi took a set off Fed as well.

[RoastLamb]

I see Federer has pulled out of Doha. Scared of Tsonga more like. ;)

Just watched the second set of Milos vs Sela. Milos through to semis 7-6 6-3. :yahoo: He's playing much better, not just his serve.

Fed's back is hurting him. Tsonga is about to play vs Edberg in an exo. Which means I'll miss Rafa's match later as I'm off out to play tennis myself. Darn it.

[silver]

I agree Fiona. First decent opposition he would have faced

[Linda]

I agree! Actually I think Fed may be ill again - he has another of those big carbuncles on his face. Had one of those when he had his mini-mono.

[-J-]

maybe the goat is just growing horns

[Linda]

They are saying on tennistv that Rafa's match will definitely start at 6pm (3pm here) - Tsonga/Edberg will just be one set.

[RoastLamb]

Still going to miss it because when I get back it'll be over and there won't be anymore live transmission so I can't rewind like I'd normally do. :grrr:

[RoastLamb]

So lovely to see Stefan in action. He's my all-time fave player (along with Rafter). I think Tsonga is taking it easy on him, though. :lol:

[Linda]

Well, Tsonga won't want to wear himself out in an exho match whilst he's still in the tournament proper.

[RoastLamb]

I agree! Actually I think Fed may be ill again - he has another of those big carbuncles on his face. Had one of those when he had his mini-mono.

Linda, that's just his nose. :rolling:

[Linda]

:lol: :rolling: :rolling: :laugh:

[RoastLamb]

What's funny about watching Stefan is that he's sweating like mad yet not going for the towel at all. Interesting. Very entertaining this exo.

[Linda]

I don't think they had towels between points in his day!

[RoastLamb]

Don't think they'd even invented towels then. ;)

[RoastLamb]

Gotta go. Cheer Rafa for me, Linda. :cheer:

PS I dreamed about him last night. He was so sweet.

[Linda]

Of course he was sweet! He always is. :love:

Vamos Rafa! :yahoo:

[JAMES4578]

Not that surprised Fed pulled the tournament won't be too happy! Good to see Edberg playing the exhibition and Tsonga took it 7-5 but Stefan holding his own, though of course Jo wasn't too hard on him.

[Linda]

It would be good if they did that in all tournaments, got the player with a walkover to play an exho match.

[Linda]

Here's Rafa! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

[ljs]

monfils has played great , rafa has struggled at times

[Sallydaisy]

Crumbs, Gael is serving for the match!
:shocked:

He leads 6'3, 5'4

[ljs]

that was amazing from Gael

[Sallydaisy]

So Tsonga will play Monfils in the all French Final in Doha then ...

[patmoren]

So Andy is the last man standing, hope he gets to the final, that will give them something to think about.

[Linda]

Well, that was a very enjoyable match, with some fantastic points played - what I saw of it that is, as I dozed off several times during the second set . . . that's what comes of being up in the middle of the night watching tennis! I never expected Rafa to lose, though :sad:

[JAMES4578]

Certainly some exciting tennis there! Looked like Rafa was fighting back and was expecting a decider but Gael hit a rich vein of form and deserved the win today.

[ljs]

thought so too James , he deserved that win , good practise for Rafa too

[RoastLamb]

Oh no he lost! I'm watching it on tennistv now but I accidentally saw the final score after the first set finished. Bummer. Monfils is playing very well, though.

At least Andy and Milos are still alive in their tournaments. Fingers crossed for them.

[Linda]

I don't suppose Rafa is too worried. His only other loss to Monfils was also here, in 2009. On that occasion he went on to win AO.

[VamosVixs]

Not too disapppointed, a good workout for him and now he can travel to Melbourne to get ready for the AO.

[RoastLamb]

Yes, BUT he was 4-1 up in that second set. How on earth did he lose it? Mind, Monfils was so speedy around the court and got so much back, pretty incredible stuff.

[VamosVixs]

Didn't realise that, missed most of the match as was at work. It was 4-3 on serve when I came home.

[RoastLamb]

Yes, he had two breaks. So not like him to let leads like that slip. Sigh.

[Linda]

Managed to get back home just in time for the start of the Doha final - Monfils v Tsonga promises to be a good match - only for it to be suspended due to weather conditions :grrr:

[Sallydaisy]

Managed to get back home just in time for the start of the Doha final - Monfils v Tsonga promises to be a good match - only for it to be suspended due to weather conditions :grrr:

Too much humidity for Jo apparently.
There's a thing; you go to play tennis in a desert country where it gets very hot and humid but you didn't know it might feel a bit sticky playing tennis.
:rolleyes:

[Sallydaisy]

Chennai
Raonic beat Almagro and plays Tipsy (who beat Go Soeda) in the Final tomorrow.

[Linda]

I thought they said it was fog that was causing the moisture? They were talking about it swirling around.

[Sallydaisy]

I thought they said it was fog that was causing the moisture? They were talking about it swirling around.
Very weird ..... can't remember fog stopping a match before.
;)

[Linda]

It's because the moisture from the fog is making the lines and the writing really slippery.

[Sallydaisy]

Chennai
Play has resumed.
Gael broke Jo in the very first game and held serve.
Both held again so Jo is serving at *1-3.

[Linda]

Typical, I went away to do some other stuff and they've started without me! :lol:

[supergran]

Jo won first set 7-5 and is 1-0 in second on serve.

[RoastLamb]

Milos won!!! He's in another final. So excited. :yahoo:

[JAMES4578]

Well done Milos! It was all happening in Doha but glad Jo won the title 7-5, 6-3, great stuff! Gael though lost momentum somewhat once Tsonga broke back when he was serving for the first set.

[Katie]

I wish Monfils would do better in finals - he's got a terrible record in them. Well done to Jo though, he's definitely showing great form at the moment. :)

[RoastLamb]

And Leander Paes is the sole Indian in the Chenna final. The other two were beaten in a close STB in the other semi. Paes and Tipsy were two breaks down in the STB but they stormed back to win. Awesome. The crowd were going nuts watching their hometown boy battle.

[Alis]

I really do wish Croft and Rusedski would give it a rest. They've chuntered over and over today at every possible moment about the Andy/Lendl pairing and have come up with nothing new. The recurring theme seems to be 'Lendl won't put up with Andy shouting at him in the box'. Don't they yet realise that Andy is berating himself not his box and do they really think that that is all that Andy has hired Ivan for? The constant griping at Andy by British commentators drives me nuts - why on earth can't they be positive for a change? I suppose the fact that Andy has achieved far more than either of them must grate with them.

[MurrayAOne]

I agree the issue over 'ranting' at the box was ridiculous. Worse for me though was the continual references to Andy's need to take responsibility and stop apportioning blame!!! Talk about not knowing your subject matter. As you say Andy berates himself and always takes full responsibility for the way he plays. Sloppy comments.

[Linda]

I haven't heard Croft and Rusedski's commentary, but from what you are saying I must say that I think I agree with them! My first thought was that Lendl wouldn't put up with that and would just get up and walk out. Probably when they had their first talks last March that was a sticking point. Now that they have come to an agreement I think it shows that Andy has realised that he has got to change, and I think that this shows a new maturity in him. I look forward to seeing a vast improvement in Andy's on court behaviour resulting in the improvement in results that we all want.

[Alis]

My point was, Linda, that both Croft and Resedski's constant reiteration of the same point made it appear that Andy had appointed Lendl merely to discipline him - making Andy sound like an overgrown schoolboy and Ivan an austere headmaster. I am absolutely positive that this is not the relationship that either Andy or Ivan have in mind.

[MurrayAOne]

Agree Alis. Too much was made of Andy's berating on court. Andy was not given enough credit for what he has done. Far, far too negative.

[VamosVixs]

Turned it off, they were annoying me with their negativity.

[MurrayAOne]

Turned it off, they were annoying me with their negativity.

Wise decision.

[KnightOwl]

Turned it off, they were annoying me with their negativity.

Me too. I can normally cope with Annabel - she can be annoying, but I sometimes think she's not quite as bad as she's painted - but today - I actually ran out of swear words, and had to turn it off. Wow.

[supergran]

I had a rant on twitter about Annabel. She seems to take any opportunity to run Andy down. I'd like to slap her! This woman who won only one title and only ever got to third round in a slam shouldn't be allowed to even utter the name Andy Murray.:grrr::grrr::grrr::angry::angry:

[RoastLamb]

No offence, but the preceding 7 posts have nothing to do with Doha or Chenna. :confused:

[MurrayAOne]

No offence, but the preceding 7 posts have nothing to do with Doha or Chenna. :confused:

I think it came about because there was a commentators discussion about Andy and Lendl during the Doha final - no offence taken!!!

[RoastLamb]

Oh I see. I didn't watch the Doha final.

[Sallydaisy]

Raonic giving Tipsy quite a tussle. The Serb took the first set on a TB 7'6(4). Milos held on in the 2nd to take it to another TB and this time won the set 7'6(4).
Even Stevens ..........

[Sallydaisy]

Milos Raonic takes the title in Chennai ....... hitting 35 Aces in that match alone!!!
:trophy:

6'7(4), 7'6(4), 7'6(4)

Poor Tipsy - he's supposed to be playing in the Doubles Final as well.

[JAMES4578]

Certainly a great performance from Milos and that serve is a weapon!

[Gemmahahaha]

Congrats to Milos! Sounds like a tough match. Good stuff from him.

[Linda]

If most of the match consisted of Milos' serves whizzing past a stationary Tipsy, I don't suppose Tipsy will be too worn out for the doubles!

[RoastLamb]

Milos won!!! So happy. We (my daughters and I) went out to celebrate with 2 cupcakes each from the Frosted Cupcake Boutique in our town. Would have been three seeing as my three boys won titles this weekend but didn't want to be too greedy. :lol: That was exhausting to watch. Milos played some awesome groundies and rallies - very unusual for him to win rallies longer than two points. So, his game is really improving. What a great start to the year and he goes up to #25 in the world.

Tipsy and Leander won the dubs too. 6-4 6-4. So happy for Leander. Great to see an Indian win his hometown title. Just a shame I didn't get to watch it. :sad:

[ljs]

just about to watch a replay on sportsnet
yayyyyyyyy Milos , so excited for him !!!

[patmoren]

Poor Tipsy he and Milos battered each other in the singles and Erlich and Ram focused on him in the doubles but he came through to take the doubles title with Paes. He really deserved it.

[patmoren]

If most of the match consisted of Milos' serves whizzing past a stationary Tipsy, I don't suppose Tipsy will be too worn out for the doubles!
It wouldn't have been three tiebreaks if that was what happened would it. It was a very good match and Tipsy gave as good as he got. Even the third tiebreak could have gone either way with them both fighting hard to the very end.

[RoastLamb]

Poor Tipsy he and Milos battered each other in the singles and Erlich and Ram focused on him in the doubles but he came through to take the doubles title with Paes. He really deserved it.

Wish I'd seen it. So happy for both of them (Tipsy and Leander) tbh.

PS Just want to say that Milos had MANY break opps against Tipsy's serve which the Serb fought off in style.

[Linda]

By the way, did anyone enter the candles comp (http://gigapixelfancam.com/fancams/tennis/atp/20120101/)? The questions were quite easy but I could only find six candles :sad: and now it won't let me have another go. :grrr: