dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
Gunnnnnn.
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CricketWeb Tennis - Season I
- Thread starter SirBloody Idiot
- Start date
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
Felt the Electric Cord whip was unneccesary and borderline cruel.
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Did it, or did it not do the job for you?
Mister Wright
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
How far away is the French Open? Don't want to miss out on the Slam, so if need to have a rest, would like to do it in the next tournament or two.
Magrat Garlick
Global Moderator
Monte Carlo Masters next week (week 13). The slam is 7 weeks from now.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Rankings & Injuries
Portuguese star hits twelfth
Matias closes in on top ten
Portugal's Tiago Matias has surged to world no. 12 following his impressive tournament victory in Houston. Matias climbs four spots from sixteen after not dropping a set throughout his five matches, and a good showing at this week's Monte Carlo Masters could see him edge into the top ten. Another climber inside the top twenty is Casablanca champ Jefferson Drake; the CWLander's victory seeing him break into the world's top fifteen. He's ranked no. 14, up from eighteen last week. The biggest movers are Jean-Christophe Genghini whose semifinal appearance in Houston sees him shoot from no. 119 to no. 73, and Bogdan Maurer who climbs from no. 137 to no. 97. Tumbling six spots out of the top hundred is Croat Niko Ulemek.
Top Fifty
In addition to Drake's rise, Randy Smeltz has, for the first time, climbed inside the world top fifty after a solid performance in Houston. After missing the Miami Masters through injury, Smeltz will be ranked at no. 49 for this week's event in Monte Carlo. Jojo Mustard's semifinal appearance in Houston sees him climb a massive fourteen spots to no. 46; leapfrogging countryman Smeltz. Rob Bowenburg's poor form sees him slump further in the rankings; down three spots to no. 86. CWLand this week announced they had secured two more youngsters from elsewhere around the world; the young nation announcing the signings of Hong Kong's Scotland Rivers, and American Daniel DeRusso. Both men are hard court specialists.
CWLanders
Injuries
Davis Cup Update (from April 1 - April 5)
Asia/Oceania Group IV
Iraq (Group A) & Bangladesh (Group B) have won promotion to the Asia/Ocean Group III for season II
Europe/Africa Group III(2)
Morocco (1) & Monaco (2) have won promotion to the Europe/Africa Group II for season II
Bosnia & Herzegovina (6) & Andorra (7) have been relegated to Europe/Africa Group IV for season II
Portuguese star hits twelfth
Matias closes in on top ten
Portugal's Tiago Matias has surged to world no. 12 following his impressive tournament victory in Houston. Matias climbs four spots from sixteen after not dropping a set throughout his five matches, and a good showing at this week's Monte Carlo Masters could see him edge into the top ten. Another climber inside the top twenty is Casablanca champ Jefferson Drake; the CWLander's victory seeing him break into the world's top fifteen. He's ranked no. 14, up from eighteen last week. The biggest movers are Jean-Christophe Genghini whose semifinal appearance in Houston sees him shoot from no. 119 to no. 73, and Bogdan Maurer who climbs from no. 137 to no. 97. Tumbling six spots out of the top hundred is Croat Niko Ulemek.
Top Fifty
In addition to Drake's rise, Randy Smeltz has, for the first time, climbed inside the world top fifty after a solid performance in Houston. After missing the Miami Masters through injury, Smeltz will be ranked at no. 49 for this week's event in Monte Carlo. Jojo Mustard's semifinal appearance in Houston sees him climb a massive fourteen spots to no. 46; leapfrogging countryman Smeltz. Rob Bowenburg's poor form sees him slump further in the rankings; down three spots to no. 86. CWLand this week announced they had secured two more youngsters from elsewhere around the world; the young nation announcing the signings of Hong Kong's Scotland Rivers, and American Daniel DeRusso. Both men are hard court specialists.
CWLanders
Injuries
Davis Cup Update (from April 1 - April 5)
Asia/Oceania Group IV
Iraq (Group A) & Bangladesh (Group B) have won promotion to the Asia/Ocean Group III for season II
Europe/Africa Group III(2)
Morocco (1) & Monaco (2) have won promotion to the Europe/Africa Group II for season II
Bosnia & Herzegovina (6) & Andorra (7) have been relegated to Europe/Africa Group IV for season II
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SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Monte-Carlo Masters (Qualification) - Apr 13-20 Season I
Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Qualifiers - Monte Carlo
Draw
Billy Spleen is one of seven players to qualify for the main draw of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters; but it came at a great physical toll as he spent just under five hours on court. The CWLand teenager was forced to fight hard in his opening clash against eighth seed Ivan Cesljar, but pulled off a fantastic three-set victory. Showing nerves of steel, Spleen bookended a second set tiebreak loss with late breaks in the first and third sets to seal a 7-5 6(4)-7 7-5 upset. It only got tougher from there; Spleen was forced to overcome third seed Haiku Morkel in his qualifying final. In a brutal match, Spleen still managed to fire on the clay court to seal a massive 7-6(2) 3-6 7-6(6) victory.
Rob "The Lob" Bowenburg looked like finally overturning his awful form as he cruised past world number 58 Oliver Engel in his first round match. After a dominant 6-4 6-4 victory, Bowenburg found himself drawn against Sanchez Emelio who also had a comfortable first round win against a local wildcard. The fourteenth seed tore out of the blocks with vigour as he raced to a one set lead, by The Lob wasn't giving up as he took the second set to a tiebreaker. Unfortunately for Bowenburg, he gave up the set with a wild unforced error which flew into the second tier; proof he's still not quite out of his recent slump.
Also unsuccessful were thirteenth seed Roy Daniels and Spas Delev. In his his first match on clay this season, Daniels was outclassed by Bulgarian Yordan Zakov in three sets. Despite taking the second set from the world number 77, Daniels never looked comfortable on clay and will probably be longing for the end of the clay season as he was bounced 3-6 7-5 4-6. Good form as of late did little to spare Delev's blushes - he was taught a clay court lesson by the big-serving Norwegian Haiku Morkel. The world number 55 proved far too strong for the lacklustre Delev as he booked a spot in a final with a 6-2 6-0 thrashing; ultimately falling to Billy Spleen.
Qualifiers: 1-Valter Cordiero (POR); Paolo Mandonna (ARG); Billy Spleen (CWL); 11-Eric Henson (USA); WC-Li Ming-Wang (CHN); 14-Sanchez Emelio (ESP); Mark Harmel (BEL)
Wildcards: Yves Parmentier (BEL); Jean-Christophe Genghini (FRA); Jochem van der Linden (MON); Carlos Machado (BRA).
Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Qualifiers - Monte Carlo
Draw
Billy Spleen is one of seven players to qualify for the main draw of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters; but it came at a great physical toll as he spent just under five hours on court. The CWLand teenager was forced to fight hard in his opening clash against eighth seed Ivan Cesljar, but pulled off a fantastic three-set victory. Showing nerves of steel, Spleen bookended a second set tiebreak loss with late breaks in the first and third sets to seal a 7-5 6(4)-7 7-5 upset. It only got tougher from there; Spleen was forced to overcome third seed Haiku Morkel in his qualifying final. In a brutal match, Spleen still managed to fire on the clay court to seal a massive 7-6(2) 3-6 7-6(6) victory.
Rob "The Lob" Bowenburg looked like finally overturning his awful form as he cruised past world number 58 Oliver Engel in his first round match. After a dominant 6-4 6-4 victory, Bowenburg found himself drawn against Sanchez Emelio who also had a comfortable first round win against a local wildcard. The fourteenth seed tore out of the blocks with vigour as he raced to a one set lead, by The Lob wasn't giving up as he took the second set to a tiebreaker. Unfortunately for Bowenburg, he gave up the set with a wild unforced error which flew into the second tier; proof he's still not quite out of his recent slump.
Also unsuccessful were thirteenth seed Roy Daniels and Spas Delev. In his his first match on clay this season, Daniels was outclassed by Bulgarian Yordan Zakov in three sets. Despite taking the second set from the world number 77, Daniels never looked comfortable on clay and will probably be longing for the end of the clay season as he was bounced 3-6 7-5 4-6. Good form as of late did little to spare Delev's blushes - he was taught a clay court lesson by the big-serving Norwegian Haiku Morkel. The world number 55 proved far too strong for the lacklustre Delev as he booked a spot in a final with a 6-2 6-0 thrashing; ultimately falling to Billy Spleen.
Qualifiers: 1-Valter Cordiero (POR); Paolo Mandonna (ARG); Billy Spleen (CWL); 11-Eric Henson (USA); WC-Li Ming-Wang (CHN); 14-Sanchez Emelio (ESP); Mark Harmel (BEL)
Wildcards: Yves Parmentier (BEL); Jean-Christophe Genghini (FRA); Jochem van der Linden (MON); Carlos Machado (BRA).
Magrat Garlick
Global Moderator
Well done Spleen. Good fight. Morkel gets to play Davis Cup for Norway now?
Shame about Bowenburg folding in the second match.
Shame about Bowenburg folding in the second match.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Monte-Carlo Masters (Preview) - Apr 13-20 Season I
ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Preview:
The Contenders:
• Hall: It goes without saying to suggest that Hall is a clear contender. Far and away the best player in the world with a lead of over five-hundred ranking points and three tournament victories this season. It is worth noting that he's yet to be tested on clay this season, and that could be a worry for him considering the draw he's been given. Can't see him falling before the quarterfinals - he has a bye first up, and then Jason Bradley looms in the second round; Bradley defeated him in the third round at Indian Wells. Benaglio looms in the third round, but the big test will be in the quarters where Blanco and Oxenstierna await. If he gets through there, he should win.
• Blanco: Probably the favourite, if reputations are anything to go by. He's won two titles on clay this year and is probably the best player on clay going around, but his form on the harder stuff leaves a little bit to be desired and he's now slipped outside of the top ten. Much like Hall, he's been given a rotten draw, but should make it to the third round at least where Oxenstierna awaits. Has Mandonna first up who, whilst being no slouch, shouldn't be able to match it with the Spaniard, and then countryman Ion Andueza is a possibility in the second round. A horrible draw and, much like Hall, if he makes it through the first section he should go on to win the tournament.
• Daneu: He's not really been tested that vigorously on clay, but Daneu has to be a real contender for this tournament. Won in Indian Wells and Miami to claim the number two spot in the world, and has a pretty cruisy draw until the quarters where Zhijun looms. Has a bye to start with, and then will play either Machado or Hayden Onwye; neither should trouble him too much. Faces a tricky prospect against Casablanca champ Jefferson Drake in the third round, but certainly has the easier draw of the top two seeds.
• Oxenstierna: Labels himself as a clay courter, but has made his name this season on the harder stuff by breaking into the top ten. His run of quarters and semis is in serious jeopardy as he's in the section of death with Hall and Blanco. A qualifier or wildcard awaits in round two where he should kick off with a win, but Blanco in round three and then possibly Hall in the quarters certainly make it difficult for the CWLander. I can't see him getting Blanco, to be honest, but if he gets through a tough draw he's definately a contender to the title.
• Altman: Might be seeded 14, but the Ukrainian is a good value bet to make it through to the semis at the very least. Possibly showdown with Špidla in the third round who he should comfortably account for, and then Rasmus Olesen remains the only real threat to him elsewhere in the group as Kennedy is not the greatest on clay. Finds himself in a difficult top half when it comes to semifinals time, but I think he'll be the quiet contender in this tournament considering his draw.
Early Casualties:
• Špidla: Only ranked three because of a gun Aussie Open performance, but really shouldn't be anywhere needed. Has a bye first up, but could find himself against Hancianu in the second round which is a tough task on clay. If he somehow makes it through that, he's got Altman in the third round and that should really be the end of him.
• Kennedy: Despite a clay win, he's has been given a tough task against the wily Italian Antonio Bachunelli who is in red hot touch after a finals appearance in Houston. He's coming back from injury after missing Miami, and the clay is not an appetising prospect for the Canadian - particularly against a workhorse such as Bachunelli. At full fitness you'd give it to the Acapulco champ, but he's not match fit and his opponent is.
• Boros: József has probably been handed the toughest unseeded player with Serb Danijel Micic his first round opponent. Micic is a volatile player, but at the start of the year we ranked him inside of our top ten. It is by no means a certainty, but if the "good" Micic turns up then the Hungarian is in real danger. It only gets tougher from there as Darcy Cowan or Morgan Carter await in the third round.
Roughies:
• Varga: The Hungarian doesn't have an easy draw by any means, but should trouble his little section. Has Wayne Boyd first up who he should get past, before an interesting contest against fifth seed Zhijun awaits in the second round. Zhijun hasn't played on clay this season and his game doesn't really suit the slower surface, so Varga is a really good chance should he make it this far. It gets tougher as Brdar looms in the third, but he's a decent chance of making the quarters.
• Joaquin: The Spaniard has been in awful form as of late, but you can never discount the Spanish on clay. Has drawn a tough match with Pascaul first up, but if he gets through there he should account for Champion in the second round. He's got a pretty soft section with Matias awaiting in the third round and then possibly Cowan in the quarters, so he could surprise a few and book a place in the semis.
CWLand Watch:
• Davis: Probably will be a non-entity in this tournament. Wasn't at all impressive on clay in Casablanca, and will struggle to get past the always solid Bradley first up. For the second tournament in row, he has Benaglio; and to top it all off, Hall awaits in the third round and that should be the end of him if he manages to get that far.
• Smeltz: First round opponent Andueza was a surprise finalist in Casablanca, whilst Smeltz was out in the quarters in Houston to eventual winner Matias. A tough ask first up, but if he makes it through that he's got a pretty difficult run - Blanco and then Oxenstierna. For most of the guys in section one, they are going to struggle once they meet one of the "big three".
• Hancianu: A big chance of getting past Špidla in the second round, and will have more trouble against Bulgarian Ivan Genov in the round of 56. Genov is a solid player, but Hancianu should win and make it to the third round at least. Anything else would be disappointing. Gets much tougher from there, though; Altman and the Olesen not exactly pushovers. That being said, section three is the softest section of the lot so anything less than a showdown with Altman will be disappointing.
• Drake: Interesting clash with Moreno looms first up, and despite Drake's win in Casablanca he will be troubled by the world number eighteen. Possibly the worst start he could get against an unseeded clay court specialist. If he makes it past the Chennai runner up, he's got Hurtado or Cordiero which are another pair of tricky little prospects. Whilst neither outrank Drake, they are both from clay court countries which could trouble the CWLander. From there it gets even tougher as Daneu awaits, so a tricky little section for Drake and I think he could fall early.
Other matches:
Billy Spleen vs. Jean-Christophe Genghini
Jojo Mustard vs. Mark Harmel
Illya Altman vs. Brett Read
Prediction:
Blanco def. Daneu
Blanco's ability on clay is irrestible to me, and I think he will pull through and take the title. He's got an absolutely deadly section with the likes of Oxenstierna and Hall in the third round and quarters respectively, but I think he's got enough about him to pull through. Daneu on the other hand avoids all the big challengers on clay in the top ten; he's got the big servers like Zhijun, Cowan and Champion on his side of which at least a couple should fall early. When it comes to a final here, I think Blanco will prove too good. He's stronger, fitter and more talented on clay; but don't be surprised if Hall sneaks past in the quarters and we get another epic between the two.
Draw
Top Half
Bottom Half
ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Preview:
The Contenders:
• Hall: It goes without saying to suggest that Hall is a clear contender. Far and away the best player in the world with a lead of over five-hundred ranking points and three tournament victories this season. It is worth noting that he's yet to be tested on clay this season, and that could be a worry for him considering the draw he's been given. Can't see him falling before the quarterfinals - he has a bye first up, and then Jason Bradley looms in the second round; Bradley defeated him in the third round at Indian Wells. Benaglio looms in the third round, but the big test will be in the quarters where Blanco and Oxenstierna await. If he gets through there, he should win.
• Blanco: Probably the favourite, if reputations are anything to go by. He's won two titles on clay this year and is probably the best player on clay going around, but his form on the harder stuff leaves a little bit to be desired and he's now slipped outside of the top ten. Much like Hall, he's been given a rotten draw, but should make it to the third round at least where Oxenstierna awaits. Has Mandonna first up who, whilst being no slouch, shouldn't be able to match it with the Spaniard, and then countryman Ion Andueza is a possibility in the second round. A horrible draw and, much like Hall, if he makes it through the first section he should go on to win the tournament.
• Daneu: He's not really been tested that vigorously on clay, but Daneu has to be a real contender for this tournament. Won in Indian Wells and Miami to claim the number two spot in the world, and has a pretty cruisy draw until the quarters where Zhijun looms. Has a bye to start with, and then will play either Machado or Hayden Onwye; neither should trouble him too much. Faces a tricky prospect against Casablanca champ Jefferson Drake in the third round, but certainly has the easier draw of the top two seeds.
• Oxenstierna: Labels himself as a clay courter, but has made his name this season on the harder stuff by breaking into the top ten. His run of quarters and semis is in serious jeopardy as he's in the section of death with Hall and Blanco. A qualifier or wildcard awaits in round two where he should kick off with a win, but Blanco in round three and then possibly Hall in the quarters certainly make it difficult for the CWLander. I can't see him getting Blanco, to be honest, but if he gets through a tough draw he's definately a contender to the title.
• Altman: Might be seeded 14, but the Ukrainian is a good value bet to make it through to the semis at the very least. Possibly showdown with Špidla in the third round who he should comfortably account for, and then Rasmus Olesen remains the only real threat to him elsewhere in the group as Kennedy is not the greatest on clay. Finds himself in a difficult top half when it comes to semifinals time, but I think he'll be the quiet contender in this tournament considering his draw.
Early Casualties:
• Špidla: Only ranked three because of a gun Aussie Open performance, but really shouldn't be anywhere needed. Has a bye first up, but could find himself against Hancianu in the second round which is a tough task on clay. If he somehow makes it through that, he's got Altman in the third round and that should really be the end of him.
• Kennedy: Despite a clay win, he's has been given a tough task against the wily Italian Antonio Bachunelli who is in red hot touch after a finals appearance in Houston. He's coming back from injury after missing Miami, and the clay is not an appetising prospect for the Canadian - particularly against a workhorse such as Bachunelli. At full fitness you'd give it to the Acapulco champ, but he's not match fit and his opponent is.
• Boros: József has probably been handed the toughest unseeded player with Serb Danijel Micic his first round opponent. Micic is a volatile player, but at the start of the year we ranked him inside of our top ten. It is by no means a certainty, but if the "good" Micic turns up then the Hungarian is in real danger. It only gets tougher from there as Darcy Cowan or Morgan Carter await in the third round.
Roughies:
• Varga: The Hungarian doesn't have an easy draw by any means, but should trouble his little section. Has Wayne Boyd first up who he should get past, before an interesting contest against fifth seed Zhijun awaits in the second round. Zhijun hasn't played on clay this season and his game doesn't really suit the slower surface, so Varga is a really good chance should he make it this far. It gets tougher as Brdar looms in the third, but he's a decent chance of making the quarters.
• Joaquin: The Spaniard has been in awful form as of late, but you can never discount the Spanish on clay. Has drawn a tough match with Pascaul first up, but if he gets through there he should account for Champion in the second round. He's got a pretty soft section with Matias awaiting in the third round and then possibly Cowan in the quarters, so he could surprise a few and book a place in the semis.
CWLand Watch:
• Davis: Probably will be a non-entity in this tournament. Wasn't at all impressive on clay in Casablanca, and will struggle to get past the always solid Bradley first up. For the second tournament in row, he has Benaglio; and to top it all off, Hall awaits in the third round and that should be the end of him if he manages to get that far.
• Smeltz: First round opponent Andueza was a surprise finalist in Casablanca, whilst Smeltz was out in the quarters in Houston to eventual winner Matias. A tough ask first up, but if he makes it through that he's got a pretty difficult run - Blanco and then Oxenstierna. For most of the guys in section one, they are going to struggle once they meet one of the "big three".
• Hancianu: A big chance of getting past Špidla in the second round, and will have more trouble against Bulgarian Ivan Genov in the round of 56. Genov is a solid player, but Hancianu should win and make it to the third round at least. Anything else would be disappointing. Gets much tougher from there, though; Altman and the Olesen not exactly pushovers. That being said, section three is the softest section of the lot so anything less than a showdown with Altman will be disappointing.
• Drake: Interesting clash with Moreno looms first up, and despite Drake's win in Casablanca he will be troubled by the world number eighteen. Possibly the worst start he could get against an unseeded clay court specialist. If he makes it past the Chennai runner up, he's got Hurtado or Cordiero which are another pair of tricky little prospects. Whilst neither outrank Drake, they are both from clay court countries which could trouble the CWLander. From there it gets even tougher as Daneu awaits, so a tricky little section for Drake and I think he could fall early.
Other matches:
Billy Spleen vs. Jean-Christophe Genghini
Jojo Mustard vs. Mark Harmel
Illya Altman vs. Brett Read
Prediction:
Blanco def. Daneu
Blanco's ability on clay is irrestible to me, and I think he will pull through and take the title. He's got an absolutely deadly section with the likes of Oxenstierna and Hall in the third round and quarters respectively, but I think he's got enough about him to pull through. Daneu on the other hand avoids all the big challengers on clay in the top ten; he's got the big servers like Zhijun, Cowan and Champion on his side of which at least a couple should fall early. When it comes to a final here, I think Blanco will prove too good. He's stronger, fitter and more talented on clay; but don't be surprised if Hall sneaks past in the quarters and we get another epic between the two.
Draw
Top Half
Bottom Half
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dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
Wouldn't be surprised if I went out first round.
Mister Wright
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Would be disappointed if Mustard didn't get past a qualifier. Will take a lot of confidence from Houston, but will need to continue to play well.
David
International 12th Man
This.
