Week 16 (PTA): Monte-Carlo [Oxenstierna]

[SirBloody Idiot]

Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters II – Singles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Daniel Páez Blanco was the defending champion, but lost in the quarterfinals to Dwayne Murdoch.

Sven Oxenstierna won the final, defeating Dwayne Murdoch to win his second PTA Masters 1000 title and his first title at Monte Carlo.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Screw this tournament guys. I'm off to the casino.

Alternatively, I'll take some hard-court action elsewhere.

[ripper868]

In like flint, looking forward to the return

[Paid The Umpire]

I don't think I'll qualify for this tourney (Ranked 140.)

Is there other tourneys?

[vic_orthdox]

Think that I'll stay in.

[SirBloody Idiot]

Bre, Korpinen move into Monte-Carlo main draw

East CWLanders Matt Bre and Martti Korpinen have successfully qualified for the main draw in the prestigious Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters after Sunday victories. After Korpinen ousted fourteenth seed Valter Cordiero in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) on Saturday, he came from a set down to beat unseeded Moroccan Ross Onwye 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to set up a clash with fellow qualifier José Navarro on Tuesday.

Fourth seed Bre had it easier - he easily accounted for Gjorgji Dinov 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 on Saturday before pounding Bulgarian thirteenth seed Yordan Zakov 6-2, 6-2 today. Such is the way the draw works, though, he faces a stern test against World No. 44 János Varga on Tuesday.

Monte-Carlo Preview

Six of the world's top ten players turn out at the PTA Masters Series 1000 in Monte-Carlo this week in what is shaping up to be a very exciting week. Here are some of the big questions to be answered:

Will Blanco reign supreme?

World No. 2 Daniel Páez Blanco has not lost on clay since turning professional, but faces shaky form to defend his Monte-Carlo crowd. Having beaten Henry Charles to win the final last year (along with Hall, Oxenstierna and Altman) without losing a set, he comes in on the back of early exits in Indian Wells and Miami following an injury lay-off. His undefeated record in a real trouble with possible showdowns against Tiago Matías, Becker Haas and Patrick Pascaul before the quarter final stages - all tough opponents. French Open semifinalist Dwayne Murdoch, Jefferson Drake and Radivoj Daneu also appear in his half which suggest that the tour will have no better chance to take a win off Blanco on clay than this week.

Is Oxenstierna worth second billing?

Sven Oxenstierna made the leap to World No. 4 with a victory in Indian Wells to finally suggest he is worthy of the title of one of the world's top players. But can he go further? He'll get no better chance than this week after being placed in a somewhat weaker bottom half. Defending finalist Henry Charles is a possible quarter final opponent, but he's coming off an injury lay off and poor form to suggest he's not going to trouble him. In all reality, he should make it through unscathed to at least the semi finals (bettering his third round appearance last year), but József Boros and Illya Altman in the semis pose very interesting problems.

The smokies

Can an unseeded player win this? Probably not, but many are a chance to go deep. Jojo Mustard is fresh off a huge upset title in Houston and faces qualifiers before a third round clash with Jefferson Drake. That's the danger game, but if he can come out of a very difficult section (the hardest of the lot) he'll hold himself in good stead. Zhijun Sun has improved dramatically over the summer and claimed the title in Miami. His clay history isn't great, but if he can build on his good hard court form he could be a chance in picturesque Monte-Carlo. The courts aren't too slow either, so there's always a chance for him.

Likely to fall

Henry Charles made the final last year, but I don't see it happening again. Lost points could be disastrous for his ranking. Miroslav Brdar came off a semi final, but his form is scratchy and he faces a brutal run. China's Li Wang won't defend quarter final points due to a nagging injury and will fall out of touch with the top thirty.

[ripper868]

Maxum snubbed in pre-match bulletin

The match program at Monte Carlo has sensationally left returning CWLander Jarko Maxum out of it's tournament program. Maxum has gone on record stating he is offended by the snub but also happy, hoping that none will notice his quick first round exit.

Secretly though, Maxum has begun bedding a top female tour player, played by Kirstn Dunst, and hopes that some regular hanky panky will see him through to the final to grab a dramatic title victory on his return. Maxum sites one Peter Colt as his inspiration, who went on to win Wimbledon on Channel 10 last night due to the shagging of an American broad. If only the brits caught onto the fact that man needed some action at the start of his career, instead, they are left to lament, what might have been.

[Johnners]

Shpewin, will be lucky to make it to the 2nd, let alone the 3rd...

[SirBloody Idiot]

Originally Posted by ripper868

Maxum snubbed in pre-match bulletin

The match program at Monte Carlo has sensationally left returning CWLander Jarko Maxum out of it's tournament program. Maxum has gone on record stating he is offended by the snub but also happy, hoping that none will notice his quick first round exit.

Secretly though, Maxum has begun bedding a top female tour player, played by Kirstn Dunst, and hopes that some regular hanky panky will see him through to the final to grab a dramatic title victory on his return. Maxum sites one Peter Colt as his inspiration, who went on to win Wimbledon on Channel 10 last night due to the shagging of an American broad. If only the brits caught onto the fact that man needed some action at the start of his career, instead, they are left to lament, what might have been.

Collosal **** up on my behalf. Will see what I've done wrong!

[SirBloody Idiot]

Oh what the ****?! I've spent the last half hour trying to figure out what's wrong, you Maxum's been in there all ****ing along!

Section 1 vs. Sergio Joaquín!

[ripper868]

Originally Posted by SirBloody Idiot

Oh what the ****?! I've spent the last half hour trying to figure out what's wrong, you Maxum's been in there all ****ing along!

Section 1 vs. Sergio Joaquín!

Haha sorry mate - was in reference to your pre tournament write-up, not the draw itself. Apologies for causing undue stress (as a result of Bradley's overbearing father)

[SirBloody Idiot]

'tis cool. Thought I was going mad for a minute (or thirty) there. Makes sense now I read back over it!

[SirBloody Idiot]

Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters II
PTA Masters 1000 - Monday (1st Round) - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Clay (Red)

• Play is finally underway after a long rain delay in the first clay Masters tournament of the year, and in an all-CWLand clash Spas Delev continued his fine form with a straight sets win over West CWLand rival Scotland Rivers. After breaking into the top fifty, Delev expected big results against a man who had little experience on the red clay. Early on he found trouble as he was forced to stave off two break points, but rallied well with some great defensive tennis before taking a 4-2 lead with a break of the Rivers serve. He held on to that to take the set 6-3, and serving first in the second set looked to press his dominance early. In a tense set, both men had troubles holding serve in an exchange of six breaks to be level at 5-5, but it was Delev who finally held his nerve to lead 6-5. Rivers gave him an opening with an unfortunate forehand which clipped the tape and went wide, and Delev converted his first match point to secure a 6-3, 7-5 win and a showdown with embattled fifth seed Radivoj Daneu.

• Martti Korpinen continues to qualify for Masters tournaments, but faced with an opportunity to advance to the second round he again faltered against Peruvian qualifier José Navarro. Navarro is at home on the red clay, but the faster court played havoc with him in the first set as he fell down a break. But Korpinen had his own troubles with the wind and with five double faults dropped the first set 4-6. That frayed his nerve, and Navarro made peace with the court as he lifted considerably in a dynamite second set to win 6-4, 6-1.

• The only seed to fall was thirteenth seed Patrick Pascaul who gave up a set-to-love lead to be beaten 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 by Germany's Becker Haas.

• Seeded players out: Patrick Pascaul.

[Johnners]

Gun, Daneu's got no chance 8|

[SirBloody Idiot]

Possibly a kind of fair call. He's been really ****.