Rogers Cup 2012

[C4iLL]

Every matches seem to be close and though now even on the early rounds, the ranking will change a lot I think in the next few weeks/months.

[VMoe86]

Tonight Elias and I played again: The third time in the recent weeks. We have been testing so many match-ups recently, so that we both improved our levels (he more than me, winning 10 matches or more in a row shows that). Tonight Elias played with Ferrer, but offered me to play with the stats we plan for ITST Mod 1.08. Thus Ferrer had 1% less power on both wings, less consistency and stamina from 97% to 91%.

I accepted this offer. But I also delivered a good performance: 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) was the final result.

In the first set Elias made too many unforced errors and there was one game, I think it was at 3-1, when he was up 40-0, I broke him and got to a 5-1 lead. My serve was working well in this set, 75% first serves so I was not in trouble on serve. With Simon I could take shots earlier and play long rallies against Ferrer.

Second set seemed to go the same way: Overcoming some 0-30 or 15-30 on my serve, I managed to get to a 4-1 lead, with two breaks of serve. But the main difference for me to the first set was my serve: The first serve percentage fell to 44%! Either I was nervous or something else, I don't know. Elias won four games in a row to go up 5-4, not making those mistakes anymore and playing better. Basically, some of our rallies could have gone forever if it weren't for some mistakes. Two times I had to serve to stay in the set and when Elias was up 6-5, I had to save three set points, all of them on second serves if I recall it correctly. I managed to do so, tie break time.

Here I started well, getting to a 4-1 lead with two mini-breaks, but Elias fought and got both mini-breaks back -- 4-3. At 4-4, I think Elias made a mistake and I went up 5-4 and won the first point on serve, 6-4. I'm not sure anymore how I lost the next two points, but one was a winner by Elias and the other an error by me, I believe. I got to 7-6, though, match point on serve and Elias saves it again. Finally I manage to win the match, I was really nervous that it would to a third set where I would have favoured Elias.

Great fight in the second set Elias and thanks for playing with a little handicap (especially regarding stamina it was, I think). Someone had to end your winning streak and I'm sure you are happy it was before the US Open. I'm really looking forward to the US Open, kyuuji is also back in action there.

Here are the stats:

[Elias]

Yep, nice match, i'm happy that you were the one to stop this winning streak, i guess you totally deserve it after several unlucky and/or unbalanced match-ups as you are probably the one who tested the largest amount of different characters since the tour started, your ranking is definitely not much pertinent because of this

Just as a note, about Ferrer stats it was 4% less power on BH, wich renders it mostly as a defensive shot. He's still a very good char like this but can't attack as much consistently from BH wing, still keeping a good FH.

This match up brought some more information about balance though, it felt really more relaxing playing vs. Djokovic than vs Simon surprisingly, but that's also because Simon isn't as much bothered by high spins as he can hit early very well thanks to the counter style and a pretty good consistency. As for the stamina, yep, we digged out some little issue there, seeing that Simon as a counter and a 87% stamina can outlast or being equal in this area to guys like Nadal or Ferrer, still going pretty strong during the rallies, wich is somewhat wrong, we'll try to deal with this one in 1.08. By the way this char style is a bit of a nightmare to balance properly

Still you plenty deserve the credits for winning this match as i could have won this second set as i had 3 set points and who knows then what would have happened in the third

Now i'm pretty sure you have good chances to get far in this tournament, i'll bet some coins on you for the Toronto crown, don't prove me wrong

[polca456321]

Hancock (Federer) vs Polca456321 (Soderling) : 1/6 0/4 (retired)

I don't really know what to say, I guess I was just playing well, he scored the first game of the match with many deuces, and then I scored 10 games in a row. I don't really understand because he is a good player, and I checked, both CRCs are correct... I was probably in a good day today, and I played better.

That said, keep trying Hancock, sooner or later you'll be a great player on the tour

First semi-final in a 1000, really happy to play this one !

Here are the stats :

http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/201 ... 11-003.png

http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/201 ... 11-002.png

[C4iLL]

C4iLL vs Elio = 5-7, 4-6

After a really convicing victory against PerfectAce on first round, I hoped a big performance for me against Elio.

First set Elio led 1 break to 0, then I came back 1 break each.
Afterwards I get his service another time, it was like 4-3.
I relax surely too much and he came back : 2 breaks each.

We go to 6-5 for him and I lost for the third time my service : 7-5.

In second set he played at a huge level, I had 0 opportunity to break him, I had to play at the best to keep my service. And at 5-4, I cracked on my service...

Good luck Polca, if he plays against you as he did in second set, it will be hard ^^

[eliomelma]

Yep nice review. Very strange see a master of SV play with Nadal. So it was a very nice match with great long rallies (prefer playstyle for me) and breaks and rebreaks for each side. After looking many good results of C4ill but without a great result as a final, i think that in some part of matches him releaxes and loss concentration. Moreover after talking with him, in some moments when he leading against a big opponent, his head says himself that his opponent is better than him. But it is in his mind, because he is one of the best players of the tour because he can play well from baseline and can manage volleys better than anyone. so he have all the weapon to entry in top 5 but is head stop him

[polca456321]

Eliomelma (Djokovic) vs Polca456321 (Soderling) : 6/7 4/6

What a match Elio and I played ! It was really tough and I don't think the match deserved to be concluded in straight sets. But I was just lucky on the important points, I guess

On the first set, we both held our serves, even though I had 2 break points on his serve (can't remember the score), but he saved them. Then began a great tie-break, maybe more exciting than the one I played with C4iLL, or about the same level. There were a lot of mini-breaks until the first set point, for me, on his serve. And then we both served well and there wasn't any mini-breaks until 10-10 (so he had 2 set points and me 3), and I managed to mini-break, my first set point on my serve was the good one (ace).

Then on the second, I think I was more confident than him, and I began by leading 1/0, then I broke, and held my serve. So I led 3/0, but Elio showed me the great fighter he is to come back at 3/3. We held again our serves until 5/4 for me, then we had a great game on his serve, he saved 3 match point but once again the good one was the fourth.

I would really congratulate Elio, because he truely deserves his third place on the tour, I guess I was just in a good day and I finally beat him, but he stays one of the best around there, with a great spirit on and out of the game.

And finally looking forward to my first ATP 1000 final

Here are the stats :

http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/201 ... 11-004.png

http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/201 ... 11-005.png

[Ugadalou]

Congrats for your masters final polca that's a great result for sure!
You certainly have become one of the most unwanted unseeded players!

That's going to change soon though-your ranking does not reflect your level.

[PerfectAce]

Good win Polca. Congratulations...

[eliomelma]

Eliomelma (Djokovic) vs Polca456321 (Soderling) : 6/7 4/6

What a match Elio and I played ! It was really tough and I don't think the match deserved to be concluded in straight sets. But I was just lucky on the important points, I guess

On the first set, we both held our serves, even though I had 2 break points on his serve (can't remember the score), but he saved them. Then began a great tie-break, maybe more exciting than the one I played with C4iLL, or about the same level. There were a lot of mini-breaks until the first set point, for me, on his serve. And then we both served well and there wasn't any mini-breaks until 10-10 (so he had 2 set points and me 3), and I managed to mini-break, my first set point on my serve was the good one (ace).

Then on the second, I think I was more confident than him, and I began by leading 1/0, then I broke, and held my serve. So I led 3/0, but Elio showed me the great fighter he is to come back at 3/3. We held again our serves until 5/4 for me, then we had a great game on his serve, he saved 3 match point but once again the good one was the fourth.

I would really congratulate Elio, because he truely deserves his third place on the tour, I guess I was just in a good day and I finally beat him, but he stays one of the best around there, with a great spirit on and out of the game.

And finally looking forward to my first ATP 1000 final

Here are the stats :

http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/201 ... 11-004.png

http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/201 ... 11-005.png

Thanks for your words mate . Yes one of the best match that i had on Tennis Elbow! Look the tie break and you can see it! Polca now is a great player, solid and that know how do in every moment of the match. the main weapon is the serve, diffucult to broke. Maybe if i score one of my set points in tie break tha match could be different, but as he says , on important point he played better than me and deserve the win. i lost this match, but i am happy to see that one player can pick Soderling that isn't a 1tier char, and play a incredible match , so out tour will become amazing!

[VMoe86]

And the other finalist arrives: TWM-Fox (Federer) defeats VMoe86 (Simon) 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.

This loss is tough: I served for the match in the second set at 5-4, but he played a good return game and broke me. At 5-3 in the third set I was serving for the match again, had one match point, and from then on he was just painting the lines.

It is quite funny that I had the upper hand in the short to medium rallies, but he in the longer rallies: Surely one does not expect this, since Simon with high stamina stat and stamina bonus from counter style can outlast most players. But Fox managed it well.

The match lasted 1:04, so it was just 10 minutes shorter than the five set Olympics final and that is also the reason why you will see momentum shifts: Beginning of 2nd and 3rd set I was better, he was a bit down, then he could up his level and mine maybe stayed at almost the same.

After a little discussion with Elias, I think the counter style has to go completely. First of all, it is incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to balance this style. Federer should be the one taking the balls early, not Simon. A defender with high counter stat sounds more like Simon.

Congrats to Fox for hanging in there mentally and winning the match in the end, at least he needed to bring some incredible level to do so -- next time I'm gonna convert this match point!

Here are the stats:

[PerfectAce]

Great match. Congratulations to both of you.

[TWM-Fox]

Fox (Federer) def Polca456321 (Soderling) : 6-2 6-3

Well first of all congrats to my opponent reaching a master's final.
Our last matches were very tied and i was expecting a big match from polca as he reached his first master's final

Unfortunatly for him this wasn't the case. I have only been on danger on my serve in the beginning of the match were i didn't have lot of difficulties to save those break point. Other than that i was really in comfort on my engagement.

I broke early in the first set and broke at the end of the set winning 6-2. So i could start the second set on my serve which comfort me more. Having the break in my hand i could release the pressure and simply win the games on my serve.

I felt polca was playing defense whereas he told me that he mostly hit acceleration and tried to attack mostly.

NB: By the way i think polca wasn't in good condition to play

Here are the stats, replay is in TE Tour Replay:






TWM-Fox (Federer) defeats VMoe86 (Simon) 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.

Concerning my previous match against VMoe well it is hard to make an analysis for me as a lot of things was in my head at this time.

This match followed my loose against Elias in Citi Open final where i was a bit disapointed. Playing Simon for the second time was tough, and i think i've been in the other way round whole match.

First of all i've lost the first set badly where i wasn't able to stick to the score. Second set i had a match point against me where i was able to save it and bring vmoe to the tie break. I leaded largely where i pick up the second set.

But again in the third set i thought this was the end again and i think Vmoe leaded even 5-2. Once again don't know how and why i came up and won the match by winning the third set 7-5

I think i've to watch this match once again to realize and make a better analysis, but i'm the first who is shock about it. I even told Elias that i doubt playing this match as i was really disapointed about my loose.

The fact is that Simon doesn't loose very much stamina, and it is hard to sustain long rallies where he can hit big counter with his big ability. Like Vmoe said what is funny in our match is that i won most of the long rallies. I guess Elias was more efficient on his shot placement during rallies

But the score mean everything. As we say usually, we need to be two to play a great match. Vmoe deserve as much i do cause he tried his best till the end. Congrats to him and sorry you could not convert this match point

[C4iLL]

Pfff Polca, so disapointing

Maybe the pressure of a first big final ?

[polca456321]

No, it wasn't at all, just my opponent played awesomely, and yes, I wasn't in good conditions to play (someone who told me to look at the tv constantly ) and I couldn't focus on the game. It isn't related to the fact it was a final.

But even if I played my best I would have lost, indeed he thought I defended while 90 % of my shots were accelerations That means he played a level I couldn't reach on my dreams

Congrats to him, a Masters 1000, it's not nothing !