Since we have 3 events at the same time, time to throw them in together and see what happens.
The fun of the World Team Cup (WTC) is on us again in lovely Düsseldorf, which is not my favourite place in Germany and for those who want to know where that is. It's called Freiburg and yes that is the German football team this blogger supports.
Chile the WTC specialists have started well winning 3-0 and these guys do it take seriously, even though in reality it's an exhibition before RG, though it does produce some good matches and some very silly results. Gonzo and Massu had hard fought victories over Ferrer and Verdasco in 3 sets and Gonzo and Ferrer must be still pissed off that Robredo won in Hamburg. The problem with WTC success is that Gonzo hasn't always performed his best at Roland Garros and neither has Massu.
Onto Argentina well Nalbandian has been at home recently with some personal issues that did not involve anything to do with rally racing and lost a tough match to the talented, but famously erratic Berdych which gave the Czechs a 2-0 lead.
Well well Gaudio this was an impressive one to say the least losing to Vik, who albeit is quite talented but lazy and for the most part successful on the Challenger circuit losing in straight sets 7-6 6-3. Yes, it's an exho and for the most part it doesn't matter too much, but these are not good signs at all for Gaudio at all. He usually plays quite well here, but it seems like he had the worst effects of PMS ( no offence to all the beautiful ladies) that read this blog.
Get your head out of your arse Gaston, seriously. He is the one of the most gifted players on the tour, he has a backhand to die for, a loving family and an understanding coach, yet he is still miserable when he misses a ball by 1/100000000000000000000000000000000000th of a mm off the centre of the racquet. I mean he must be one of the rarest guys on the tour, an Argentine that lacks self belief. He has time to come around before RG, but not much.
Good to see the Croatian serving machines defeated the Yanks, only bad thing was Gineprick defeating big Ivo, but Ljubo and Ivo showed that buffoons the Bryan brothers about tennis on clay.
Pörtschach is a very nice resort in Carinthia and much better than St Pölten and it seems the tournament has the potential to do well, too bad das arschloch Ronnie Leitgeb is running the show, but can't help bad luck.
Hewitt decides to turn up and he lost to the god loving Brazilian Marcos Daniel in 3 sets, good to see Lleyton thought about his claycourt preparation in great detail. Hahaha, Richard Gasquet the overrated player with a fine backhand losing in qualies, then comes into the main draw as a Lucky Loser and beats Hrbaty the 3 seed. As usual the last week before a Slam, something funny happens and please Horna and Seppi win a match here.
Today is the beginning of the RG qualies and of course they start on Tuesday. Since they have decided to cut it back to best of 3 sets, then why don't they start it on Thursday, then again the arseholes at RG charge for qualies, so there is your answer there.
Good luck to the guys I support in qualies and at least one of Luczak, Koubek, Zabaleta, Russell among others make the main draw, but we will find out soon enough.
11 comments:
I agree so much with your comments about Gastón. I have been upset and disappointed by his behaviour in Dusseldorf this week - he has been appaling - especially in the Kiefer match this afternoon, where all our commentators said he wasn't trying which I am sad to say I agree with. Mark Petchey (former coach to Andy Murray) was making some very valid points about his relationship with Franco Davin. Yes - he is an understading coach as you say, and a great guy - but maybe Gastón needs a change for the last part of his career? Petchey said he obviously is no longer motivated by Franco and maybe a change of coach would help him overcome this lack of self-belief by helping him to look at things in a different way. Btw - don't think Petchey was angling for a new job - LOL - he is next in line as head of the LTA I believe - but I guess it could be a idea.
Good points about Franco and Gaston maybe parting the ways. Lets be honest it's only Gaston can make the effort to change and see what he really wants out of his tennis career. If he really doesn't give a crap about it, then he should either stop or go away think about what he really wants.
I agree with Marc. Only Gastón knows what he really wants for the rest of his life - and if he really is so unhappy as a tennis player - then he should give up and go on to other things. Unlike most people of his age he is in the enviable position that he does not have to worry about money and financal security while he decides. I wish him well with whatever he does.
The RG qualies have been brutal to me so far.
Zabaleta losing to Levy 7-5 in the 3rd and Levy isn't much. Though to be honest I am happy that Zabaleta is back on tour.
Di Pasquale who has been battling it out in Challengers and Futures event, just lost to oui oui Dupuis and I am sorry for Michelle, so she won't see him.
Koubek fell over the line against claycourt clown Fleishman, he needs to get his act together.
The worst was big Mike Russell losing 6-4 in the 3rd to the brainless ball basher Gabashvili. He had more than enough chances to win and 4/16 break points isn't going to get it done.
It was an opportunity blown and there was some right muppets in this qualifying event, but that's luck of the draw.
Luczak well he has other things on his mind and disappointing for him at the best time of year for him.
Had to make a seperate comment on Gaston from the other ones.
He is so sad and he even said himself how down he is at the moment and I saw him in 2004 at the start and he was horrible then. Though he did show some signs before RG that year and we know what happened there.
As Marc said and I have been saying for a while. He is frazzled and it's showing in his performances and if he is unhappy, it's going to impact negatively on his performances.
Seriously after Roland Garros, he really needs to have a long hard look at himself, irrespective of the result and not just have yes men around him. He should do some yoga or meditation, that can do stuff for the mind that is positive and it's healthy.
He is kidding himself if he thinks playing Wimbledon is a good idea. He can't win matches on clay, how is he going to do it on grass?
It's his career and he has a lot of good things around him, but can't or won't see it. He has to help himself, and if he wants to mope around like the world is against them, then that is fine and deal with the consequences.
Just to be back on tour is a good thing for Zabaleta and hopefully some good results will follow in the challenger swing he's intending to play in Europe for the next weeks.
Argentina is out of the WTC and that was unexpected. I've noticed that Berdych really gets pumped when playing for his country, he also had some very good performances in DC last year.
As for Gaudio, I agree with GWH that he needs to take some time off during the grass season, since hasn't have any vacations in 2 years because of the TMC. He needs to recharge and comeback well for the clay tournaments in July/August, where he has a lot of points to defend.
A bit disappointed with Marcos Daniel losing like that to Pavel after his good start at Poertschach, but GWH must be happy now, with Pavel and Marach playing one of the QF.
well, i saw some matches from the world team cup this week though i must say it's a torture to watch tennis on DSF (the worst "sport" program in germany) and i don't like the WTC too much. but actually there were some decent matches, the chileans and the shorthanded germans are the teams that take the tournament very seriously. in case of alex waske maybe too seriously - am i the only one who feels annoyed by his behaviour? for gaston, he really didn't look great here and it could be very disappointing french open for the argies (puerta, canas, coria also out).
the most funny things this week were the battle between ronnie leitgeb and patrick kühnen (kühnen wanted björn phau for the german team because of the injuries but of course ronnie refused to let him go) and the stupid DSF questions (did togo or germany win last year's WTC?? and yes, you can win 30000 euro for that shit lol).
Chucho smashed the Silver Fox for the loss of 2 games, good to see that Chucho and Cañas are the main Argentine winners this week.
As for Nalle well he will ready next week and for Gaudio next please.
Fab, it's ok man I have an aversion to Waske in a big way and he irritates more than Thunder Lips ever could and thanks for the info about das arschloch and Kuhnen, it's good to laugh at.
Koubek lost a silly match and should have stayed in bed. Just hope del Potro and Massa can make the main draw.
Onto Pörtschach. Ronnie you moved the venue and that's good, how about getting a decent scoreboard. It couldn't be that hard could it. Muster must have made you enough money to be able to afford that.
Horna raped Seppi 1 and 1, then beat Monaco in straight sets and it's a good show before RG to make the semis. He just needs to do that in the tournament itself.
Sorry Renato, I did enjoy Pavel winning and he really needs some good results, when I see arse clowns like Ginepri in the top 30 and Serra in the top 50. Pavel is no worse than these guys and at least a guy I like will make the final.
PMK trashed Starace and smiling Novak defeated Chela and Melzer. Good luck Jiri.
I could use 30000 Euro for sure.
Not long before the draw for Roland Garros comes out and Juan Martin del Potro has a big chance to qualify for the main draw and if he manages to do well here, then the bandwagon will be immense. Then again this is a very gifted player according to some very respected sources and as long as he can keep his head in the right area and has good guidance around him, then anything is possible.
And having seen del Potro play this afternoon in Paris I would agree with Denys - very gifted indeed, and a great prospect. His serve still needs some work and there are obviously some rough edges - but - excellent indeed.
del Potro is through to the main draw and good luck for him and knowing my luck he will either get Gaston or Seppi.
I hope Massa can make it through as well and soy Diego ( that's the name of Maradona's book).
Pavel and the PMK in the final in Austria and I hope Lucho's back isn't too bad, but I understand withdrawing as there are more important things to think about coming up/
Post a Comment