Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters

[Florian]

Vramvrim is indeed a top player, always had trouble playing him, just probably lacks a bit of regularity but he can play great with many chars so he should raise very soon !

[inseedious]

Everyone can see that in exhibitions Vramvrim can take sets off Richie (and only few can do it!). Maybe Richie is better at handling tournament match pressure than him, but on technical skill there does not seem to be a difference. I find it a tad bit disrespectful to say "It was just about the Spin, otherwise there was no difference between us!". If I were convinced of such claims, I'd simply ask for some exhibitions, testing Haas vs. Haas, Almagro vs. Almagro, Haas vs. Almagro. What would the result be?

I never said he won just because of spin. I said it was like having a handicap vs him because he played insanely and greatly exploited his spin, creating both a defensive and offensive gap and managing to break me even at the start, where the match was tied. Of course spinny players can create more troubles than flatter ones, maybe they hurt a lot my gamestyle, but it was not like 1.11 Nadal , otherwise I'd complain about it. Maybe my post is misunderstandable, also because I was a bit angry after the match, but it was full of compliments to vramvrim, because he just gave me a no match. At the end, I said we could have a tied match not without spin, but with a more focus by me. It's not the spin, but his usage of spin that made every tactic useless.

[C4iLL]

A little report about the huge clash we played butcher and I. This is perhaps the hardest match in terms of tactic and mental. The very special matchup Haas vs Verdasco is a real chess game + the fact we both master the net skills, so it's very hardcore.

First set : he had a break at 3-1, I come back to 4-4. Then a big battle began and we went to tie-break. He won the tie-break logically.

Second set : He had a break at first game, but I came back. He had a new break, but I came back. He had a third break and I came back. But he broke a new time to lead 5-4, 40-15 I think, 2 match points on his service.
But I saved them, and broke to get back 5-5. At that time I had the edge, and I won the tie-break as easy as he won it in first set.

Third set : first game I still had the edge, I had one break point opportunity but didn't convert it. 1-0 for him
Second game, I had several opportunities to win my service game, but I made the wrong choices. At the first break point, he scored it and I'm led 2-0 whereas I should have been leading :/

Just after that I completely forgot my successfull gameplan. I was like out of the match tactically speaking. All the things I told myself to not do, I began to do it, at this moment, because I was completely burned mentally.
Saving so many break points, coming back after so many breaks, saving match points etc... This new break in third set whereas I should have been the one to break first, whereas I had the edge, was the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Even if the exchanges were still very close afterwards, always finishing at 40-a on our respective serves, I was not anymore able to think. So he led 3-0, and achieved quite strangely a new break. He confirmed it, and on my last service, despite many draw, I finished to loose again my service.

At the end he made 8 breaks, me 5. There are awesome points in the second set, with amazing stuff at the net from both of us and crazy series of passings/lobs/passings caught. I then recommand the videomakers to watch the dmo, and the second set

[butcher]

butcher - c4ill

1st and 2nd set : just a small comment on the match... very tough. and with some very nice point. mostly on his side master of the net play. i was ashamed going to the net after some points he played, it was simply incredible. respect i will post dmo

3rd set : bagel

butcher (Haas) def. Vramvrim (Almagro) 6-2 6-4

Extremely tough match. I went better into the match and won the first set. It was game of patience with some extremely long rallies. it was very hard for both of us to hit a winner, so i decided to go for the net often, tried to surprise him couple of times. managed to to that in 1st set, much harder in 2nd one. I must say either of us could have won the 2nd set. He had more break points at the beginning of the set, but i saved all and managed to break him at 5-4 lead. great and fair player, glad to see there are more and more top players here. good luck in the next games

[Vramvrim]

Indeed a tough match, 30 minutes for the second set even with 30+ net approachs from him. Offensive play from the baseline didn't work since he's too good at defending, especially with Almagro's spin slowing down the accels. I'm not too great at the net so I focused on defensive play in the second set. I had some break points in the first games of the set, he too, but didn't manage to convert them. While serving at 4-5 he managed to hit great winners even with an empty stamina bar and finished at the net.

Even if I had some opportunities at the beginning of the second set, I have no regrets since I feel that he was better than me during the whole match, succesfully taking risks and being the most offensive player. Congrats to him and good luck for the final

Still a good tournament for me with my first M1000 semi, hopefully not the last. Playing with huge spinners like Almagro can be tiring and boring sometimes, so I guess I'll try a more offensive player for Madrid.

[inseedious]

I'm very happy for you butcher, you always showed an awesome level here on the tour, but it was a shame you didn't reach important results yet. Honestly, I would have bet on vramvrim, because he's on a phenomenal in-form moment, but I'm very happy to see that you went against my betting and won in straight set Good luck in final, you have all chances to win, keep focused

[Florian]

SF Clog def. Florian 6-1 6-3 Another great match with 4/5 bars of stamina left from the begining of the 2nd set, thanks to some long rallies at 2-0 in the 1st...Well i guess Clog will post the stats, he ended with a 34-7 w/ues ratio, and i had 34-32...probably a very realistic ratio especially on clay but i ve seen so many of those since 1.13 so i guess it's normal. Congrats to Clog who defended really well, i tried to finish some points at the net but there is nothing i can do there apart from b1 volleys or ues if i try something riskier when i see that running from one side to the other of the court and doing a clean passing shot is easy for him.
The result shows my actual form, i hope i can do something about it soon otherwise i won't bother for long. Final should be competitive, even if i have picked my favourite. GL

[Woowhat]

Go butcher!

[inseedious]

Congratulation butcher!! You really deserved it, you're gonna rule this tour

[Richie1308]

Congrats Butcher, you killed the French Mafia who tried to guarantee the title, we will have to find another solution for Madrid.

[butcher]

thanks everybody
it was exhausting beating the mafia, i don't even want to think what its gonna be like in RG.

although, i will not rule this tour for sure. i think clay suits me good, not sure how well will i do on faster courts but we will see.

[inseedious]

thanks everybody
it was exhausting beating the mafia, i don't even want to think what its gonna be like in RG.

although, i will not rule this tour for sure. i think clay suits me good, not sure how well will i do on faster courts but we will see.

I think you will just be deadly on grass.