Many of the players are taking a break this week and are either attempting to qualify for Rome or getting ready to play after a break of 2 weeks like Acasuso and Gaudio.
This will start off in Estoril and this tournament has had a spate of late withdrawals and has seen the tournament have 5 Lucky Losers in the main draw and that is more than the 4 qualifiers that are in the draw and for this year Estoril does have Mickey Mouse status, though I am not sure if it ranks with Casachallenger.
Already this tournament has started with a shock in that Justin Gimelstob won a match on clay and that is a huge surprise and Gimelstob is probably still in disbelief, but I will give him and Vincenzo Spadea credit for at least turning up and playing these events. Well for Lukas Dlouhy he deserves the red card for losing to Gimelclown on clay and having a match point, this deserves a suspension for losing this match, maybe he can be off the tour for 3 months for losing a match like this, but his confidence will have to be shot to pieces for losing this.
Good to see that Gilles Muller beat the annoying Belgian dwarf Christophe Rochus easily and the PMK is back in the winners circle after losing 3 consecutive 1st round matches and with all these withdrawals this tournament is wide open and it looks like Safin and the PMK will meet for the 3rd time this year and if that happens again I think the result will be the same as Davydenko I think is in awe of Safin and that doesn't help if you have to the beat the guy.
As for who will do well in this tournament, it's a question of who is standing at the end at least blogger favourite Dmitry Tursunov should win a match on clay and that is rare in itself. Though his ATP blog has been funny, but then again at this blog we all know about the humour and entertainment value of Gospodin Tursunov, but as usual MTF gets its a few months later.
Onto Münich and there we have a special reporter there for the tournament. This tournament hasn't suffered like Estoril has, then again not many have relative to the size of the tournament.
The "Weasel" Coria is the number 1 seed in Münich, but how he is going to go at the moment is a very big mystery and something I could discuss at length (I have an idea for a blog article yay) his problems at the moment. He is playing doubles with Juan Monaco at this event and it seems Juan will have to hold the service games and Coria win the return games.
Monaco got back in the winners circle against the Srich, but Juan should be beating the Srich on clay, so that is something to be really that proud of at all, as they say a win is a win and he needs some good performances and he is not doing himself justice at the moment, but confidence is a strange thing, winning like losing is a habit, it's just some are better than others.
Andrei Pavel, this could be his last year on tour and there are a few weak players in the draw, so of course this means he has to draw Nieminen who is one of the better players in the draw and will be one of the favourites for this title, not good for him, but can't have it all in life.
Hopefully the poor mans Acasuso Tomas Behrend can take advantage of his Lucky Loser spot and make the second round and have a good tournament, it would be funny, but I don't see it happening.
Karsten Braasch still the king of German tennis
10 comments:
Greetings from Munich! Yes - this is your "special reporter" escaping to a nearby Internet cafe to write this, because (as Michelle said in a previous report from Mexico) there are just too many prying eyes at the Hotel computer!!
Despite it´s relative Mickey Mouse status, - Munich is a lovely little tournament. Its very "fan-friendly" (no steps to climb and easy access to all practice courts), and everything is clean, efficient, well run and the staff are friendly. All the players seem to like it, and enjoy walking unhindered through the crowds eating ice-cream and stopping for a chat with all in sundry................Well all except The Weasel of course, who seems to be taking his Top Seed status far too seriously, and skulks around with 2 hulky security men and a "hoodie" pulled so low over his eyes I´m surprised he doesnt fall over his own feet. Of course, this ridiculous garb serves to make hi´m more conspicuous than the other players who walk around freely. So loosen up please St. Coria - yes of course there are kids here wanting autographs - but they are harmless - and don´t forget who pays your wages!
Only one match for me to report on - and that of course was Mónaco v Srichaphan yesterday. As our main man said, - Paradorn is not a clay court specialist and this should have been an easy match for Juan - the Thai doesnt know how to move on clay at all, and his onlý strategy seems to be just hit the ball harder and harder. However, Juan had has some bad results lately, including a loss to Fish on clay, so anything was possible. Luckily (despite a blip losing his serve at the beginning of the 2nd set and going 0-3 down), he managed to stay patient and concentrated and won 6-4, 6-4. I did notice him try and volley more than usual - maybe because of his new training regime which aims to make him adept on all surfaces - not just clay. In the short term it has changed his game a lot and led to some bad results, - but hopefully in the long term it will pay off. The game was played in good spirit - Paradorn is one of the good guys on the circuit - he conceded a couple of points that had been called wrong and endeared himself to the crowed with his smiles and good manners. Juan was very happy (some would say relieved) when he finally won and the two of them exchanged a very warm hug at the net which was good to see.
I am not at the tennis today - the shops in Munich need some investigation I think (LOL) but hope to be back later in the week.
And - NO - I am not buying or wearing Lederhosen for anyone!!
Sure the Srich is a claycourt clown, but he is not a cheat and that is good thing and Juan does have a good chance to make the quarter finals in playing Vik, but nothing will be taken for granted, at the same time if he wins here, he has to go as hard as possible, even if that means missing the qualies at Rome, he can make that up in Hamburg.
Glad you like Münich, I think Rudi Berger is a bit of a fool this is true, but I have heard only good things about it.
Weasel and Juan did well to win against quality opponents in doubles and enjoy the shopping.
Thanks a lot for the report Rose. You know how much reading them are always appreciated. Keep on having fun and enjoy good tennis.
Massu what a fool losing against Gimeclown in that performance.
Hope Rosie isn't too sick after her big night in Münich and it looks like Juan will play qualies in Rome then.
Did Massu get more money to lose against Gimelstob than to win or something?
Nieminen is in a good position in Münich for sure with these results and Karlovic making a second consecutive quarter final appearance on clay.
Playing the theme music from "The Twilight Zone".
Sorry your special Munich reporter has been a bit distracted these past few days so haven´t had a chance to come here. But will write a fuller report when I have the chance. Yesterday I watched Mónaco v Vik (not a pretty match at all), and also the doubles match with Coria/Mónaco against Pavel and Waske - do you see a pattern emerging here? Waske is an irritating so-and-so.....struts around as though he owns the place and nagged poor Pavel all the time. Coria also acted as though he owned the doubles´court which (considering the double faults) was not very fair of him.
I also watched an exhibition yesterday, where Tommy Haas played several tie-break sets against some junior players from local clubs. I am not a Haas fan at all, but it was nice he took it seriously and gave respect to his young opponents - some of whom seemed pretty good. More later as I have to prepare for Rome quallies soon.
Thanks for this report Rose.
Well, I'd say that losing the way he did caused Tommy to learn some humility, and that can only be a good thing...And, I know what you mean about Waske. I've seen him play when I was in Stuttgart last year and he really got on my nerves!!
Keep having fun and have a safe trip to Rome.
Well if Dlouhy deserves a 3-month suspension for losing to Gilmelstob on clay, what can we say about Massu? 9 months at least.
And thanks for the reports, Rosie.
Thanks for the reports Rose so far I am looking forward to the Roman adventures.
Nieminen really should win Munich and a Nalle/Moya final in Estoril looks very likely as well.
Nieminen losing 1 and to 2 to the Flea on clay. Just like I thought he had a flu and that would be the only reason the Flea would win this easily.
Nalle and PMK in the Estoril final, this could go either way, so I will say Nalle.
Go Oli Rochus.
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