Shanghai Masters

[djarvik]

We need 3 more to make it a full 32 draw

Did anyone forgot to register?

[eliomelma]

Elias , dimitrov ......

[PerfectAce]

I´m sad that I won´t be able to play. I will be on vacation...

[Robbin92]

A lot of Nadal in the draw!

[C4iLL]

Yep I think there are 8 federer, 5-6 djokovic, 5-6 nadal, 3-4 Murray, it's more balanced than before (but still 25% of Federer).

[Ugadalou]

We need 3 more to make it a full 32 draw

Did anyone forgot to register?

Something I noticed:

XBox360 Top Spin 4 Shanghai Masters : 29 players
PS3 Top Spin4 Shanghai Masters : 31 players
Tennis Elbow 2011 Shanghai Masters : 32 players

All hail Tennis Elbow, the new king of ITST !

[eliomelma]

Something I noticed:

XBox360 Top Spin 4 Shanghai Masters : 29 players
PS3 Top Spin4 Shanghai Masters : 31 players
Tennis Elbow 2011 Shanghai Masters : 32 players

All hail Tennis Elbow, the new king of ITST !

[Pance.Milanovsk]

i would like to try.....

[C4iLL]

Yep Tennis Elbow is becoming as I always say, the main ITST game, it's totally logic regarding the qualities of the games played here.

[C4iLL]

First round, Vlad vs C4iLL : 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5)

Maybe the most disappointing defeat of the season for me regarding the match I did, the story of the match, the importance of that tournament in terms of points and the fact it was an early round :/

This was a extra-high level match...

First set : At the beginning, I was like a steamroller to lead 5-0. The score was very hard for him because he played really well, but I hit a lot the lines on baseline. I could have even won 6-0 with several 40-a on his last service, I was a bit in fire...
At 5-1, he broke me, to come back 5-3, and I finally close the set.

Second set : I continue to play at perfection, and he too, the exchanges were huge, and I finally break him to lead 3-1.
The level was so high that I knew it wasn't the end of the match at all : and indeed, he broke me to get back 3-3.

We continue to 5-4, I had to serve to stay in the set. At like 15-a, he made a Lob Return (first of the match...), he told me he didn't know it was forbidden, but because of that, he got 2 set points.

I saved the first one, but not the second, 6-4 for him.

Third set : The level raises a new time, I even think I've simply reached the maximum I can with this Llodra. At 4-4, I had 2 break opportunities (15-40) on his serve, but he brillantly saved them, so 5-4.
I saved one match point on my serve and we go to tie-break.

Tie-break : I got a mini-break at the first point, but the two next points, Llodra send the ball outside the court when rushing to the net (the famous "bug" I reported in the TE. F topic).
He won his 2 next serves, and me too, so 4-3.

At that moment I break to get back 4-4, he won his second serve, 5-4.
And I did a new fault at the net, which is that time due to me (or the shot Vlad played), 6-4. I won my next serve, 6-5.
And on the last point, I put all I got but it wasn't sufficient and he won the tie-break 7-5.

At the end, I've the feeling i've reached the limit of SV today, constantly playing at the best level possible with Llodra in both baseline, service, and net throughout the 3 sets (and i'm not rewarded :/).
Vlad played as a true top player (at Fox level on service return for instance) scoring a lot of passing shots, and being ultra skilled on the baseline.

http://i46.tinypic.com/23t58hf.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/9h0s39.jpg

[Ugadalou]

Michael.D (Federer) def. Ugadalou (Nadal) 6-4/6-4.

I didn't manage to get my revanche, Michael was the better player again today and proved to me he's one of the best around.

The match started with Michael holding his serves more comfortably as I was trying to work him around the court and crack his backhand with wide shots or heavy spins.At 4-4 30-0, I make two cheap errors, another two short accel shots that should have gone in ,go out and he takes the set.
I'm determined to fight for a comeback and get the break leading 2-0 in the beggining of the second.Michael focuses more and after saving numerous break points,I maintain my lead and serve until 4-1.Then he took his game to a whole new level going more for his shots and hitting through me.I had to keep up with him and play better at that point but didn't have any other cards up my sleeves.Michael wins 5 games in a row (2 breaks) and takes the match.

I can't say I'm disappointed by my performance but it looks like to beat a player like Michael, I have to play my absolute best and find that extra gear in the deciding moments.
Good luck in your next rounds Mike, the other contenders might wanna watch out for him.

Stats:

[C4iLL]

Yep Uga, to beat these new guys, we need to play at more than 100% and play beyond limits, being creative tactically and a rock mentally. It's difficult but it brings an exciting challenge ^^

[Martan]

Tolsimir is the biggest suprise of turnament. He totaly dominated his matches

[VMoe86]

We continue to 5-4, I had to serve to stay in the set. At like 15-a, he made a Lob Return (first of the match...), he told me he didn't know it was forbidden, but because of that, he got 2 set points.

Even though djarvik said in one post that "Lobs should never be used on return.", it is no official rule. A player cannot find it under Match Rules, so assuming it to be a rule is not the right thing to do. One should only refer to rules players can find under Match Rules on the forum.

[C4iLL]

You're serious Vmoe ? This must be integrated in the rules. Nobody is indeed okay to allow such an irrealistic shot O_O
Even Manutoo should forbid in game the utilization of something which can only be considered as a bug.

In fact, when someone hits a lob as a return, it should goes as a Normal B1 shot and not as a lob return. With these service speed, it's technically impossible to hit a lob return against a volleyer in Tennis.