2015 Dubai Duty Free TC…ATP 500…Dubai, U.A.E.

[klacr]

Love Roger attacking the net. Coric gave him little trouble. Hope the 18 year old took notes after that clinic. Has a ways to go.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Quick courts favor the "Old Guy"

Federer 6-2, 6-1. Think if Roger hadn't been lethargic...

Yes, very deliberate...and the courts seemed to be a bit on the quick side. Who will he play in the final?

[gzhpcu]

Federer 6-2, 6-1. Think if Roger hadn't been lethargic...

[don_budge]

Federer vs. Coric...

It's all Roger so far. He almost seems lethargic but Coric has not demonstrated the patience. First set to Roger 6-2. Federer lethargic…but dominated his serve.

[don_budge]

Borna Coric vs. Andy Murray

Borna Coric looked rather impressive but once again it looks as if Andy Murray played as meek as a nice little puddycat. A woman cannot teach a boy to be a man…can a woman coach a man tennis player? The proof is in the puddy…I'm afraid that it looks as if Andy hasn't looked all that manly as of late. That disappearing act he did in the finals of the Aussie Open was disturbing. The lack of fight in the fifth set didn't look good.

Coric? We get another look against Roger Federer today. Something about this match tells me that Federer might be set up for a fall. How badly does Roger want this match? Mats Wilander was questioning how badly Roger wants to win these days at the Australian Open. He said something to the effect that he is enjoying the spectacle more than he is enjoying the fight. The fights have to have taken a toll on not only his body but on his motivation to win tournaments such as this one. Afterall if he wins this match he has to play either Djokovic and Berdych and what does he have to gain anymore? It's a difficult position to be in…now he has everything to lose. As Coric says he has absolutely nothing to lose and he plays like it.

Coric certainly kept his feet on the ground against Murray. There wasn't any "body_flying" around the court yesterday. Not that I noticed. So if this kid is any indication of what the future of tennis looks like then we will have to wait another generation before the advent of aeronautical tennis. Except in our dreams…which is fine.

Novak Djokovic versus Tomas Berdych? Well it's a perfect match for Djokovic. Berdych doesn't threaten Djokovic with anything that he can't handle. Standard backcourt play. Very little in the element of surprise department. If Berdych had been playing a more attacking game and had something of a Wawrinka/Federer backhand he would definitely add a couple of tricks in his bag of tactics. But as it is he is facing an uphill struggle when he only game that he knows how to play fits neatly into Djokovic's "wheelhouse".

My question is about the speed of the courts. It the ITF incrementally speeding things up without our being to notice it? Subtly? They know that without Roger in the fold in the next couple of years things are going to be slim pickings with regard to marketability. They have milked Nadal, Djokovic and Murray for all that they are worth…and that really isn't all that much when they are pitted against each other. The act is getting really old and it has always been boring. Borna Coric really isn't any different…is he? Djokovic lite? Without the ham.

[klacr]

Semis:
Djokovic-Berdych
Federer-Coric

Djokovic and Federer breezed. Coric did as well against Murray.
Berdych went three but I wasn't concerned. Why? Berdych does well against attacking players like Stakhovsky. He has a target. Makes him more disciplined and gives him a specific goal, not too many options.
Berdych is new player this year. only 3 losses. Moving much better as well. Djokovic will still try to move him around though. A big guy is a big guy is a big guy. Can't change that.
Federer vs. the new generation Coric. Federer sees the next big hot shot, the hot shot sees what greatness looks like up close and personal.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[klacr]

Tomas Berdych beat Italian Simone Bolelli to get his 500th match win on Tour. Great milestone.

You are not a flake or a schmuck if you win 500 matches at that level.

Berdych is the eighth active player to record at least 500 match wins.

He is the third Czech-born player in the Open Era (since 1968) to win 500 match wins (also Ivan Lendl 1,071 and Tomas Smid 517).

Impressive stuff.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[gzhpcu]

Shot, the ATP TennisTV server has been down all day!

[klacr]

This is a solid draw. Dubai always brings in the big guns.Funny what a little oil man can do huh

Berdych has to make it through Djokovic if he wants a chance at the hardware.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Roger Federer is playing in Dubai. That is the good news. Roger is the living proof and he keeps the chain intact. After he gone…listen for a huge sucking sound. And then…nothing.

Novak Djokovic seeded #1 and Andy Murray #3 to Federer's #2. Andreas Seppi a possibility for Roger in the quarterfinals. Tomas in the top half with the #4 seed. Numerous bit players littered throughout. The Big Four seems to be getting a bit old. It's no crime, it happens to the best of us.

Here's the draw…let's just see how this thing plays itself out. Let's see how "the game" unfolds.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/share/event-draws.aspx?year=2015&eventid=495&draw=ms