Sony Open Tennis

[djarvik]

Thank you for the offer. No.

[C4iLL]

R32 : C4iLL vs ELXETXU 6-3, 7-6

We both played a bad first set, second set was better especially for him ; he was a bit in fire sometimes, touching the lines etc and as I was also extremely exhausted, suffering from eyes after a long day working on a computer, I was in trouble.

Respect for ELXETXU anyway, I could have won this second set 6-2 or 6-4, and he came back nicely to get a tie-break

[VMoe86]

Another QF: VMoe86 (Federer) defeats Don (Youzhny) 6-2, 6-1

We spontaneously arranged to play the Miami R16, so I was not even prepared for a match. He started better than me, was hitting some nice shots and even had a break point at 1-1. He hit a air swing on the BP and I've never face any danger on serve anymore. Then I started to play better and hit the ball well, played faster and this got the job done, also because Don was making more errors.

What Don always tried was to mix things up, do something crazy. It did not work out all the time, but I think once he puts the pieces together, he will have good results on tour.

Next up for me in the QF is then Cerji or C4iLL. In any case, I will have to find something special to win that match.

[C4iLL]

Big early clash C4iLL vs Cerji = 5-7, 4-6 --> 44 minutes !

Well, I think I globally played at a very high level, but that wasn't sufficient for different reasons.

Since the very first point indeed, I showed him that I was really hot today. I began on a very fast rythm, hiting constantly cross court from everywhere on the court and finishing points at the net.

I quickly get a break 0-40 to lead 2-1. But my next service, at 30-40, he came back with a net cord :/

After that, I was a bit frustrated and lost a new service... He had 2 set points at 5-3 but I saved them and broke again.
I came back to 5-5, but at that moment, at like 30-a or 40-a, he scored the most amazing point of the year : after running from left to right to left and right because of my cross court acceleration, he managed to hit an unbelievable passing banana shot in end of course. I was like I could just applaude ^^

This killed my concentration : I lost all the last points of the set to loose 7-5.
And even in the second set, I was still down mentally : to be quickly led 3-1. Minute after minute anyway, I came back at my max level. At 5-3 for him, when he was serving for set, I was 100% focus and break again with a very risky short cross acceleration return !

I thought I could reverse the match, but at 5-4, on my service, I once again missed everything with faults and so on. He finally won 6-4.

To conclude : Cerji is an amazing defender and tactician. He's a hard challenge to face, and I enjoyed the match
I really advice the video makers to make a video of his banana shot, it was absolutely fantastic (and maybe the key of the match !).

[Clog]

Cerji is an amazing defender and tactician.

I actually think that he's currently the best on the tour. At least, he has the best form.

[ELTXETXU]

R32 : C4iLL vs ELXETXU 6-3, 7-6

We both played a bad first set, second set was better especially for him ; he was a bit in fire sometimes, touching the lines etc and as I was also extremely exhausted, suffering from eyes after a long day working on a computer, I was in trouble.

Respect for ELXETXU anyway, I could have won this second set 6-2 or 6-4, and he came back nicely to get a tie-break

Thank you very much for your words C4ILL. It was a funny match, and i really enjoyed. I learned a lot in this match, and it gave me a lot of confidence for my future matches.

I hope to play with you soon again!

[Florian]

QF Florian def. Kyuuji 6-4 6-2 Well he wasn't in great shape today, i just remember i did a bad serve game in each set where he broke me, for the rest he wasn't able to hurt much my defence, but i don't think it has much to do with him, i mean since 1.13 i don't feel i'm actually playing the same game anymore, it's so easy now to turn rallies around while defending with a b1+b2 on the fh side whereas it should be an ue or a very poor ball, now it becomes a very effective strategy and i can't really feel great about it.

Anyway gg and gl next tournie.

[Richie1308]

A great fight against my compatriot Vramvrim, I dominated the first set where he did not play great at all while I could attack well and finish the points early. In the second it was closer but I probably was the closest to break in the whole set but he managed to make great serves at important moments to survive and get the break à 5-6 on a bad game for me. Fortunately I'm ale to break at the start of the last set and keep the break until the end before getting another one to win. For having played a lot with him before, I know he didn't play at his best, from my side I am satisfied with my game, offensive enough with my forehand and volley to get in the semis here before facing again a top player, Vmoe or Cerji.

[GeilerPferdBANNED]

Thank you for the offer. No.

Can run, but you can't hide. When does Ts5 come out again?

[Florian]

SF Florian def. Fedserena17 6-4 6-0 Didn't enjoy that match at all, his connex had lots of turtles, preventing any precise placement when trying to pass on the run. He went several times to the menus without giving any reason before and he even started to use baseline lobs, basically it was all about returning well since his all b1 2nd serves only resulted in 2 dfs which is pretty amazingly lucky IMO. He left even without saying gg so i guess i can say i'm proud i ve bageled someone with such a good serve as Raonic has. I also have the feeling that Djoko's serve is less effective since 1.13 but maybe someone will have a different feeling about it.

[VMoe86]

He went several times to the menus without giving any reason before and he even started to use baseline lobs,

In future, just leave a note via PM to the host of the tournament (in this case me ) instead of using the public forum report for it. Anyway, filed the complaint.

basically it was all about returning well since his all b1 2nd serves only resulted in 2 dfs which is pretty amazingly lucky IMO.

I've seen players hitting b1 second serves with Djokovic and keeping single digit double faults. On a 2nd serve, the probability for failing a b1 or b1+b2 serve should go up.

I also have the feeling that Djoko's serve is less effective since 1.13 but maybe someone will have a different feeling about it.

The serve stats and the serve animation did not change, so there is no reason why it should be less effective.

[VMoe86]

Cerji (Djokovic) defeats VMoe86 (Federer) 7-6, 6-1

Congrats to Cerji for reaching another SF in a Masters 1000, good luck in there against Richie! The connection between us does not seem to be particularly well (this match and at IW), so we had to face some turtles this time around (with less Desyncs than last time).

We both started "so-so" into the match and he was the first to break after I made some errors in a row to give him triple break point. We both held on our serves pretty well until it was 5-3 and Cerji serving for the first set. There I made some good returns and lucky deep counters to get to double break point -- him doing an air-swing on the second one. I hold, getting to 5-5. I tried to take the momentum for another break, but I only managed to get to deuce and he got out of it. I reached the tie break, where he got the first mini break. I got it back and at 5-4 I hit an ace, then I get an open court -- the BH going a bit out wide and thus Cerji has set point. That set point was enough for him.

In the end, it was 40 to 40 points in this set. I was also doing well at the net (thanks to the help of the netcord ), 12 out of 18 points won there. But in the second set I was angry about myself and kind of gave him that set (stupid net rushing giving him easy passing shots).

I will now take some rest until Madrid and see whom I will pick next -- I always wanted to give Ferrer some try, so watch out for him!

[Richie1308]

Semi Final Sony Open Tennis
Richie d Cerji 2-6/6-4/6-3



A 3rd match with Cerji and the rule is still the same : one wins easily the first set before losing the match in 3 sets. In the first set my game began to struggle a bit which made my game complicated to play. In the second set I decided to go for a "full attack without reflection strategy" so as not to be bothered too much by this problem. I took big risks on a lot of points and thanks to some luck and success on my shots I managed to get the breaks I needed to win the two last sets.

I didn't really feel pressure during the match, I just knew that I had to take the good risks and hope the balls will stay on the court. I didn't hesitate to rush the net a lot also as it was the best way to shorten the points and not to be affected by my little struggle with the game. That probably made the difference as I felt he was a bit nervous while I just tried some risks on almost every point. Fortunately without much misses.

I'd like to congratulate Cerji who is always really hard to beat, he was not very successfull today whereas I was. I'm satisfied to get to my second final after IW, here against Florian and I hope this time I'll be able to get it !

[Florian]

F Richie def. Florian 6-3 6-4 Hopeless mission considering my current level, i was dropping most balls short, couldn't do anything precise even though i had the feeling that if i didn't go for the lines i'd have 0 chance to finish any point. He could play very fast, paint the lines on both wings and he had no trouble except for that start of the match where somehow i could break him. He guessed couple times in that game in the 2nd set where he broke me, and i'm not sure i had any bp in that set. anyway GG congrats and see you maybe on clay.

[C4iLL]

Congratulations Richie, amazing form apparently, 1 defeat in like 20 matches ! Second final of a M1000 lost for Florian after Paris Bercy !