Tag Archives: Tsonga

The Drama Category

Rome Masters, Third Round Seppi d. Wawrinka, 6/7 7/6 7/6 The question of why Rome is my favourite Masters tournament was addressed with devastating intensity by Andreas Seppi and Stanislas Wawrinka on Court Nicola Pietrangeli today, ably supported by a … Continue reading

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Sodden Balls, A Tin Sky

Monte Carlo Masters, Third Round Haase d. Bellucci, 6/2 6/3 Last week in Casablanca, Robin Haase, not the latest great hope of Dutch tennis but still arguably the best, lost to Lamine Ouahab, ranked No.752. It was another low point … Continue reading

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Streaks and Bagels

Monte Carlo Masters, First and Second Rounds (4) Tsonga d. Kohlschreiber, 6/2 6/4 (3) Murray d. Troicki, 6/0 6/3 There is a persistent belief, and one that I share in spite of my better judgement, that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is a … Continue reading

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The Thing About Assumptions

Davis Cup, Quarterfinals, Day Three Czech Rep. d. Serbia, 4-1 Berdych d. Tipsarevic, 7/6 7/6 7/6 In twenty years’ time, someone poring over old tennis scores might chance upon today’s Davis Cup results, and might make certain assumptions – entirely … Continue reading

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Hardcourt Retrospective 2012 (Part One)

The ATP calendar has never made a great deal of sense, which is no great issue, since nowhere is it written that sporting schedules need to be sensible. In the case of tennis, a global concern with a vast delta … Continue reading

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Filed under ATP Tour, By the Numbers

Drama or Quality

Miami Masters, Quarterfinals (2) Nadal d. (6) Tsonga, 6/2 5/7 6/4 My stated intention to write about last night’s Miami quarterfinal between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Rafael Nadal was, as the second set wore tediously down, coming up hard against my … Continue reading

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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

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The Nowhere Men

Buenos Aires, Semifinals (2) Almagro d. (6) Wawrinka, 6/4 3/6 7/5 A good day of tennis will sometimes come at you from nowhere. When it occurs on the final Saturday of a slow week boasting nothing more glamorous than a … Continue reading

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Acts of Heroism, Acts of Mercy

Chennai, Final (3) Raonic d. (1) Tipsarevic, 6/7 7/6 7/6 Chennai was won by Milos Raonic, who overcame a couple of transient top-tenners in the final two rounds. In neither the semifinal against Nicolas Almagro nor in the final against … Continue reading

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Just an Exhibition

The 2012 tennis season is barely hours old, and no ‘official’ matches have occurred, but already David Ferrer has staged a dogged fightback, Novak Djokovic has won comfortably, while Gael Monfils entertained enormously in posting an inevitable loss. So much … Continue reading

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