Category Archives: ATP Tour
A Seductive Metonymy
Nadal d. Djokovic, 7/5 6/2 When the draw for the ATP World Tour Finals was released last week, and we shyly confessed our relief that the Big Four were evenly split between the two groups, there was immediate anticipation of … Continue reading
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Against All Odds
Federer d. Ferrer, 6/1 6/4 There’s an especially tiresome variety of Roger Federer fan who finds it impossible to reconcile their unshakeable faith in his greatness with an overwhelming dread that he’ll blow it every time he steps on the … Continue reading
Luck of the Draw: World Tour Finals
Group A: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych, Andy Roddick. Group B: Roger Federer, Robin Soderling, Andy Murray, David Ferrer. The draw for next week’s World Tour Finals is out. Both groups seem pretty even, with Group B perhaps slightly … Continue reading
Even Curiouser
Paris Masters 1000 Final Soderling d. Monfils, 6/1 7/6 Q: What does Robin Soderling have in common with Sebastien Grosjean, Tim Henman, Tomas Berdych, Nikolay Davydenko and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga? A: In the last decade, they all claimed their first Masters … Continue reading
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The Intensity Vampire
Monfils d. Murray, 6/2 2/6 6/3 It turns out there are few things more gratifying than a hairbrained prediction that comes to pass, even when the prediction happens to be that Gael Monfils will win the Paris Indoors. He’s now … Continue reading
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The Professional
Roddick d. Gulbis, 6/3 7/6 After some weeks devoid of almost any discernible suspense, the eight qualifiers for the World Tour Finals have been decided. In the end it all came in a flurry, and panned out exactly as expected. … Continue reading
Bercy Notes, Round One
Clement d. Lopez, 6/7 7/6 6/3 The more I contemplate depressing tennis careers – and I’m compiling a post on it, though it’s really crying out for a gritty miniseries – the more names I feel compelled to add. The … Continue reading
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Merely the Best
Federer d. Djokovic, 6/4 3/6 6/1 There are many ways to analyse a tennis match, most of them wrong. One of the best, clear in hindsight but typically missed as it occurs, is the Change of Momentum. A desperate winner … Continue reading
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We Sell Sizzle
Basel, Quarterfinals Roddick d. Nalbandian, 6/4 6/4 Unremarkably, when David Nalbandian is winning he looks unbeatable. Curiously, he looks equally infallible when he loses, which is to say that most of his losses feel like upsets, even though there are … Continue reading
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Slouching Towards London
Simon d. Verdasco, 6/1 6/3 Kamke d. Berdych, 6/4 6/1 Ah, London. The Great Wen. It’s so close, you can smell it. The luridly blue O2 Arena, hordes of hoarsely hollering Brits, photo-shoots featuring double-decker buses. The cash (oh, the … Continue reading
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