vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Without sounding like a rude prick, will there be many tournaments that a recent sign-up like me will be able to sign up into, or will they be pretty rare now that other players are further advanced in the game?
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CricketWeb Tennis - Season I
- Thread starter SirBloody Idiot
- Start date
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
No problems mate. After Rome you'll do OK, really with Munich, Estoril and Amersfoot. It's just the Masters tournaments you may struggle with because there are so few spots.
In case you missed it, you did play in the qualifying for Barcelona.
And as an aside, I am looking into a way to implement some events for the lower guys. Maybe three challengers events a month; any more would be impossible to manage.
In case you missed it, you did play in the qualifying for Barcelona.
And as an aside, I am looking into a way to implement some events for the lower guys. Maybe three challengers events a month; any more would be impossible to manage.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Mate, that's awesome. Personally, not concerned about having any challenger events, let alone three a month. One a month would be out of this world.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
I'll look into it after the French Open, anyway
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Open Sabadell Atlántico (Finals) - Apr 20-26 Season I
Open Sabadell Atlántico I
Finals - Barcelona
Draw - 1st Section
Draw - 2nd Section
Draw - 3rd Section
Draw - 4th Section
Draw - Finals
Daniel Páez Blanco has captured a fourth clay title for the season following a categorical thrashing of fellow Spaniard Sanchez Emelio in the final of the Open Sabadell Atlántico in Barcelona. In just under an hour, Blanco secured a big winners cheque with a 6-1 6-1 victory over a lacklustre Emelio. Despite the world number 50's good form throughout the tournament, he was well-and-truly overwhelmed by the Spanish number one who hit his peak form after a somewhat ordinary display so far. After being forced to come from a set down against Ukraine's Illya Altman, Blanco ensured he would not be surprised again as he ran away with a 4-0 lead. Whilst Emelio managed to avoid the bagel, he couldn't avoid the breadstick as Blanco held his service to take the first 6-1. It was a similar case in the second as Emelio held his serve in the first game before losing six on the trot to bow out in disappointing style. In fitting style, Emelio served up a double fault to hand the championship to Blanco and send him to third on the world rankings.
Seeds Out: None.
Open Sabadell Atlántico I
Finals - Barcelona
Draw - 1st Section
Draw - 2nd Section
Draw - 3rd Section
Draw - 4th Section
Draw - Finals
Daniel Páez Blanco has captured a fourth clay title for the season following a categorical thrashing of fellow Spaniard Sanchez Emelio in the final of the Open Sabadell Atlántico in Barcelona. In just under an hour, Blanco secured a big winners cheque with a 6-1 6-1 victory over a lacklustre Emelio. Despite the world number 50's good form throughout the tournament, he was well-and-truly overwhelmed by the Spanish number one who hit his peak form after a somewhat ordinary display so far. After being forced to come from a set down against Ukraine's Illya Altman, Blanco ensured he would not be surprised again as he ran away with a 4-0 lead. Whilst Emelio managed to avoid the bagel, he couldn't avoid the breadstick as Blanco held his service to take the first 6-1. It was a similar case in the second as Emelio held his serve in the first game before losing six on the trot to bow out in disappointing style. In fitting style, Emelio served up a double fault to hand the championship to Blanco and send him to third on the world rankings.
Seeds Out: None.
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
More like Kuerten. Can't win outside clay.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Rankings - April 26, I
Gun clay courter continues rise
Blanco in striking distance
Spain's Daniel Páez Blanco has continued his dramatic rise up the rankings by overtaking Radek Špidla to seal a place in the world's top three in the ATP Rankings released today. Following his victory over Sanchez Emelio in Barcelona, Blanco sits just 285 points behind world number two Radivoj Daneu. Meanwhile, Emelio has flown up 26 places in the rankings to sit at 24, whilst semifinalist Randy Smeltz has risen eighteen to 28th in the world. Elsewhere, injured American Rick Henson's slide continues to world number 9 - a position which will fall further after the ATP Masters Series Rome event.
Top Fifty
Outside of Smeltz, Sven Oxenstierna also reclaimed seventh spot after his quarterfinal appearance. Outside of the top hundred, Alex de Wet finds himself sitting pretty in 138th - up eighteen spots from last week. New kids on the block, Scotland Rivers and Daniel LeRusso, also find spots in the 300s.
CWLanders
Gun clay courter continues rise
Blanco in striking distance
Spain's Daniel Páez Blanco has continued his dramatic rise up the rankings by overtaking Radek Špidla to seal a place in the world's top three in the ATP Rankings released today. Following his victory over Sanchez Emelio in Barcelona, Blanco sits just 285 points behind world number two Radivoj Daneu. Meanwhile, Emelio has flown up 26 places in the rankings to sit at 24, whilst semifinalist Randy Smeltz has risen eighteen to 28th in the world. Elsewhere, injured American Rick Henson's slide continues to world number 9 - a position which will fall further after the ATP Masters Series Rome event.
Top Fifty
Outside of Smeltz, Sven Oxenstierna also reclaimed seventh spot after his quarterfinal appearance. Outside of the top hundred, Alex de Wet finds himself sitting pretty in 138th - up eighteen spots from last week. New kids on the block, Scotland Rivers and Daniel LeRusso, also find spots in the 300s.
CWLanders
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Injuries & Davis Cup - April 26, I
Chinese wonderkid to miss Roland Garros
French organisers hit hard
Just weeks following the news that former world number 2 Rick Henson would miss the French Open, Roland Garros organisers have been hit hard by news that world number eight Zhijun Sun will also miss the tournament following a broken toe. After falling in the quarterfinals in Barcelona, Zhijun suffered the most unlucky of injuries as his foot was run over by a local driver. Whilst four of his five toes remained unharmed, the damage done to his big toe will leave him on the sidelines for the best part of a month. The former number five will follow Henson out of the world's top ten by the time he returns to full fitness.
Injuries
Davis Cup Update
Americas Group III
Puerto Rico (1) and Honduras (2) have won promotion to Americas Zone Group II for season II
Bolivia (7) and Barbados (8) have been relegated to Americas Zone Group IV for season II
Americas Group IV
Trinidad & Tobago (1) and Bermuda (2) have won promotion to Americas Zone Group III for season II
Chinese wonderkid to miss Roland Garros
French organisers hit hard
Just weeks following the news that former world number 2 Rick Henson would miss the French Open, Roland Garros organisers have been hit hard by news that world number eight Zhijun Sun will also miss the tournament following a broken toe. After falling in the quarterfinals in Barcelona, Zhijun suffered the most unlucky of injuries as his foot was run over by a local driver. Whilst four of his five toes remained unharmed, the damage done to his big toe will leave him on the sidelines for the best part of a month. The former number five will follow Henson out of the world's top ten by the time he returns to full fitness.
Injuries
Davis Cup Update
Americas Group III
Puerto Rico (1) and Honduras (2) have won promotion to Americas Zone Group II for season II
Bolivia (7) and Barbados (8) have been relegated to Americas Zone Group IV for season II
Americas Group IV
Trinidad & Tobago (1) and Bermuda (2) have won promotion to Americas Zone Group III for season II
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Qualification) - Apr 27- May 3 Season I
Internazionali BNL d’Italia
Qualifiers - Rome
Draw
Jarko Maxum and Billy Spleen are the two CWLanders to join the main draw of the ATP Masters Series Rome following their victories in this weekend's qualification. Spleen overcame Holland's Sipko Wetzel in three sets in his qualifying final to book his spot in the main draw; the 19-year old sealing a convincing 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory in impressive style. To make it to the final, Spleen was forced to account for countryman Spas Delev; doing so in straight sets 7-6(9) 6-1. After taking the first in a marathon tiebreaker, Spleen took all the momentum into the second set to ease past his more experienced opponent in impressive style. Elsewhere, Maxum earned his spot in the main draw in a three-set tussle with another CWLander Rob Bowenburg. After The Lob impressed in his three-set win over Brazil's Dênis Rodrigues, he came into the match as hot favourite. But with the match headed for a tiebreaker, The Lob went completely off the boil as the composed Maxum played a perfect tiebreaker to advance 6-4 6(3)-7 6-4.
Earlier, Martti Korpinen was handed a tough path through qualifying and fell at the first hurdle; top seed and world number fifty Atthaphol Sae-ul advancing in straight sets. The Thailander overpowered a valiant Korpinen from the start as the CWLander looked totally uncomfortable on the clay courts. In just over eighty minutes, Sae-ul completed a convincing 6-4 6-4 victory en route to qualification. The enigmatic Alex de Wet also fell at the first hurdle - he was taken out in three sets by eventual qualifier Gregor Gorshkov. Whilst the Zimbabwean-born de Wet showed glimpses of his ability, he just couldn't win the big points as he fell devastatingly short of a victory in a near three-hour tussle. A taxing 7-6(1) 5-7 7-5 win was enough to see Gorshkov through, and enough to force de Wet to look for a new racquet.
Qualifiers: 1-Atthaphol Sae-ul (THA); 8-Vladimir Gryzlov (RUS); 9-Yves Parmentier (BEL); 12-Gregor Gorshkov (RUS); 11-Billy Spleen (CWL); 6-Eric Henson (USA); Jarkko Maxum (CWL)
Wildcards: Massimo Prodi (ITA); Carlos Machado (BRA); Zhenyu Fok (CHN); Michael De Kinsele (ITA).
Internazionali BNL d’Italia
Qualifiers - Rome
Draw
Jarko Maxum and Billy Spleen are the two CWLanders to join the main draw of the ATP Masters Series Rome following their victories in this weekend's qualification. Spleen overcame Holland's Sipko Wetzel in three sets in his qualifying final to book his spot in the main draw; the 19-year old sealing a convincing 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory in impressive style. To make it to the final, Spleen was forced to account for countryman Spas Delev; doing so in straight sets 7-6(9) 6-1. After taking the first in a marathon tiebreaker, Spleen took all the momentum into the second set to ease past his more experienced opponent in impressive style. Elsewhere, Maxum earned his spot in the main draw in a three-set tussle with another CWLander Rob Bowenburg. After The Lob impressed in his three-set win over Brazil's Dênis Rodrigues, he came into the match as hot favourite. But with the match headed for a tiebreaker, The Lob went completely off the boil as the composed Maxum played a perfect tiebreaker to advance 6-4 6(3)-7 6-4.
Earlier, Martti Korpinen was handed a tough path through qualifying and fell at the first hurdle; top seed and world number fifty Atthaphol Sae-ul advancing in straight sets. The Thailander overpowered a valiant Korpinen from the start as the CWLander looked totally uncomfortable on the clay courts. In just over eighty minutes, Sae-ul completed a convincing 6-4 6-4 victory en route to qualification. The enigmatic Alex de Wet also fell at the first hurdle - he was taken out in three sets by eventual qualifier Gregor Gorshkov. Whilst the Zimbabwean-born de Wet showed glimpses of his ability, he just couldn't win the big points as he fell devastatingly short of a victory in a near three-hour tussle. A taxing 7-6(1) 5-7 7-5 win was enough to see Gorshkov through, and enough to force de Wet to look for a new racquet.
Qualifiers: 1-Atthaphol Sae-ul (THA); 8-Vladimir Gryzlov (RUS); 9-Yves Parmentier (BEL); 12-Gregor Gorshkov (RUS); 11-Billy Spleen (CWL); 6-Eric Henson (USA); Jarkko Maxum (CWL)
Wildcards: Massimo Prodi (ITA); Carlos Machado (BRA); Zhenyu Fok (CHN); Michael De Kinsele (ITA).
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
Drake's playing this one, right?
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Yep.
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
Rankings are weird. Up one place after a horror performance.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Preview) - Apr 27- May 3 Season I
ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Preview:
The Contenders:
• Hall: Despite a disappointing start to his clay season, Hall can never be discounted from a tournament on such a big stage. Hall made it to the quarterfinals of Monte Carlo before going out in straight sets to eventual champion Daniel Páez Blanco, but proved that he was more than competent on clay. Again gets a hard draw with Emelio looming in the second, Benaglio in the third and then fellow American Darcy Cowan in the quarters. If he can get through that, he should be in the type of form to really give Blanco a challenge in the semifinals.
• Blanco: Last time around, we said he was "probably the favourite", and after wins in Monte Carlo and Barcelona that would have to be amended to "the favourite". Handed a much softer draw this time around as Bachunelli or clay-flop Davis await in the second round, whilst he's been given a soft seed for the third with David Champion a prospect. He will like his chances against finals choker Oxenstierna in the quarters who he has a winning record against - but the CWLander can't be discounted here. We reckon he'll win it - and will deserve it with Hall and the likes waiting.
• Daneu: Has again been handed a really easy draw through to the quarters. Onwye or Alavos in the second, and then Boros or Varga in the third - not easy by any means, but a cakewalk compared to Hall and Blanco. His real issue could come in the quarters; Miroslav Brdar knocked him off in Monte Carlo and he looms as a likely opponent for the world number two here. But a win will see him go into the semis as favourite.
• Altman: Has looked the most likely to upstage Blanco after two close losses in successive semifinals. But up a good fight in Monte Carlo, and then dropped the semi in Barcelona from a set up - but his performances will fill him with confidence as he finds himself on the opposite side of the draw. He's fast becoming one of the form clay courters in the world and was rewarded with a rise to sixth on the world rankings. His draw here is an interesting one; whilst he should account for Andueza or Hurtado, the likes of Matias, Amato and Pascaul await in the third round.
• Brdar: He and Daneu should duke it out for the semifinal spot from section 4, and the Croat has proven he has a winning record against the Serbian number one. Has a tough section, though, with the likes of Micic and Charles in contention for the third round. Despite this, he's a very consistent performer who has proven he has what it takes to make it to the late stages. Can he go one step further?
Early Casualties:
• Matias: Probably has been given one of the worst "floating" players first up in the hometown kid Carlo Amato. He's proven his consistency and that he's a solid enough player, but we're not sure whether he's good enough to face down Amato at his finest in the first round. If he gets past, though, another tough prospect looms in the form of French pin-up boy Patrick Pascaul.
• Špidla: He proved us wrong last time with an impressive win over Hancianu, but he's again been given a difficult second round prospect in the form of either Read or Li Wang. Both men probably have too big a tank for Špidla to match, so the big-serving Czech will hope his power game is enough to pull him through on the surface which doesn't quite suit him. We can't see that kind of game holding up against either of them; but he'd probably prefer the out-of-form Read who doesn't have the firepower of his Chinese opponent. Either way, it only gets tougher as János Varga, Randy Smeltz, Jefferson Drake and Juan Moreno are third round prospects.
Roughies:
• Amato: The former national sprinter is a showman and is the type of player who should light up the Rome crowd. He's been given a tough little section - but it is doable if he's at his best. Expecting him to upstage Matias in the first round, and from there nobody can be all that sure how his tournament will go. He's underachieved this season, but no one can doubt his ability.
• Micic: The most unpredictable player on the tournament has underachieved this season, and finds himself in the little eighth which could surprise the big guns. With Charles, Orlov and Brdar in his section, Micic could pull something brilliant out of his bag of tricks and really compete for the title. Either that, or he could blow it in straight sets against the powerful Orlov first up.
CWLand Watch:
• Oxenstierna: Is again unlucky enough to land Blanco in his section; but if he wants to prove he isn't a choker, he's going to have have to beat him sometime. However there is some slight respite for him as he has a qualifier or the Chinese wildcard Zhenyu in the second round, before Davis Kennedy looms in the third. Kennedy is serviceable on clay, but not the most imposing seed he could come up against early. We expect a quarterfinal clash with Blanco to be on the cards.
• Drake: Has again landed the tricky Juan Moreno first up, but his come-from-behind win in Monte Carlo against the Argentine should fill him with confidence. From there it only gets tougher as János Varga (whose ranking has fallen due to injury) looms as a possible second round matchup. The other possibility, of course, is countryman Randy Smeltz who has a big chance of overcoming the Hungarian after a tremendous performance in Barcelona. If Drake makes it through a tricky start, he should be too good for Radek Špidla in the third if the Czech big man makes it that far. Li Wang looks more likely, though.
• Hancianu: Has been given an interesting little draw which could see him pull off a giant-killing run. He's got Carter first up which is a tough ask, but on clay he's beatable as it slows the athletic American right down. Darcy Cowan is unproven on the surface, and Olesen has yet to really set the world on fire despite his high seeding. If he brings his "A" game, he could feasibly face off with Jason Hall in the quarters.
Other matches:
Heath Davis vs. Antonio Bachunelli
Jarko Maxum vs. Tom Vollan
Jojo Mustard vs. David Champion
Randy Smeltz vs. János Varga
Brett Read vs. Li Wang
Billy Spleen vs. Sergio Joaquin
Prediction:
Blanco def. Altman
It is fast becoming the clay court rivalry to watch as Altman has looked to be the only man to have the ability to trouble the undefeated Spaniard. Blanco has been given a relatively simple draw when compared to the shambolic sections 1 and 3. We think these are the best two clay courters going around, and the path is clear for a finals appearance. Don't surprised if Daneu derails that, though.
Draw
Section One
Section Two
Section Three
Section Four
ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Preview:
The Contenders:
• Hall: Despite a disappointing start to his clay season, Hall can never be discounted from a tournament on such a big stage. Hall made it to the quarterfinals of Monte Carlo before going out in straight sets to eventual champion Daniel Páez Blanco, but proved that he was more than competent on clay. Again gets a hard draw with Emelio looming in the second, Benaglio in the third and then fellow American Darcy Cowan in the quarters. If he can get through that, he should be in the type of form to really give Blanco a challenge in the semifinals.
• Blanco: Last time around, we said he was "probably the favourite", and after wins in Monte Carlo and Barcelona that would have to be amended to "the favourite". Handed a much softer draw this time around as Bachunelli or clay-flop Davis await in the second round, whilst he's been given a soft seed for the third with David Champion a prospect. He will like his chances against finals choker Oxenstierna in the quarters who he has a winning record against - but the CWLander can't be discounted here. We reckon he'll win it - and will deserve it with Hall and the likes waiting.
• Daneu: Has again been handed a really easy draw through to the quarters. Onwye or Alavos in the second, and then Boros or Varga in the third - not easy by any means, but a cakewalk compared to Hall and Blanco. His real issue could come in the quarters; Miroslav Brdar knocked him off in Monte Carlo and he looms as a likely opponent for the world number two here. But a win will see him go into the semis as favourite.
• Altman: Has looked the most likely to upstage Blanco after two close losses in successive semifinals. But up a good fight in Monte Carlo, and then dropped the semi in Barcelona from a set up - but his performances will fill him with confidence as he finds himself on the opposite side of the draw. He's fast becoming one of the form clay courters in the world and was rewarded with a rise to sixth on the world rankings. His draw here is an interesting one; whilst he should account for Andueza or Hurtado, the likes of Matias, Amato and Pascaul await in the third round.
• Brdar: He and Daneu should duke it out for the semifinal spot from section 4, and the Croat has proven he has a winning record against the Serbian number one. Has a tough section, though, with the likes of Micic and Charles in contention for the third round. Despite this, he's a very consistent performer who has proven he has what it takes to make it to the late stages. Can he go one step further?
Early Casualties:
• Matias: Probably has been given one of the worst "floating" players first up in the hometown kid Carlo Amato. He's proven his consistency and that he's a solid enough player, but we're not sure whether he's good enough to face down Amato at his finest in the first round. If he gets past, though, another tough prospect looms in the form of French pin-up boy Patrick Pascaul.
• Špidla: He proved us wrong last time with an impressive win over Hancianu, but he's again been given a difficult second round prospect in the form of either Read or Li Wang. Both men probably have too big a tank for Špidla to match, so the big-serving Czech will hope his power game is enough to pull him through on the surface which doesn't quite suit him. We can't see that kind of game holding up against either of them; but he'd probably prefer the out-of-form Read who doesn't have the firepower of his Chinese opponent. Either way, it only gets tougher as János Varga, Randy Smeltz, Jefferson Drake and Juan Moreno are third round prospects.
Roughies:
• Amato: The former national sprinter is a showman and is the type of player who should light up the Rome crowd. He's been given a tough little section - but it is doable if he's at his best. Expecting him to upstage Matias in the first round, and from there nobody can be all that sure how his tournament will go. He's underachieved this season, but no one can doubt his ability.
• Micic: The most unpredictable player on the tournament has underachieved this season, and finds himself in the little eighth which could surprise the big guns. With Charles, Orlov and Brdar in his section, Micic could pull something brilliant out of his bag of tricks and really compete for the title. Either that, or he could blow it in straight sets against the powerful Orlov first up.
CWLand Watch:
• Oxenstierna: Is again unlucky enough to land Blanco in his section; but if he wants to prove he isn't a choker, he's going to have have to beat him sometime. However there is some slight respite for him as he has a qualifier or the Chinese wildcard Zhenyu in the second round, before Davis Kennedy looms in the third. Kennedy is serviceable on clay, but not the most imposing seed he could come up against early. We expect a quarterfinal clash with Blanco to be on the cards.
• Drake: Has again landed the tricky Juan Moreno first up, but his come-from-behind win in Monte Carlo against the Argentine should fill him with confidence. From there it only gets tougher as János Varga (whose ranking has fallen due to injury) looms as a possible second round matchup. The other possibility, of course, is countryman Randy Smeltz who has a big chance of overcoming the Hungarian after a tremendous performance in Barcelona. If Drake makes it through a tricky start, he should be too good for Radek Špidla in the third if the Czech big man makes it that far. Li Wang looks more likely, though.
• Hancianu: Has been given an interesting little draw which could see him pull off a giant-killing run. He's got Carter first up which is a tough ask, but on clay he's beatable as it slows the athletic American right down. Darcy Cowan is unproven on the surface, and Olesen has yet to really set the world on fire despite his high seeding. If he brings his "A" game, he could feasibly face off with Jason Hall in the quarters.
Other matches:
Heath Davis vs. Antonio Bachunelli
Jarko Maxum vs. Tom Vollan
Jojo Mustard vs. David Champion
Randy Smeltz vs. János Varga
Brett Read vs. Li Wang
Billy Spleen vs. Sergio Joaquin
Prediction:
Blanco def. Altman
It is fast becoming the clay court rivalry to watch as Altman has looked to be the only man to have the ability to trouble the undefeated Spaniard. Blanco has been given a relatively simple draw when compared to the shambolic sections 1 and 3. We think these are the best two clay courters going around, and the path is clear for a finals appearance. Don't surprised if Daneu derails that, though.
Draw
Section One
Section Two
Section Three
Section Four
Last edited:
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Hoping to earn a few ranking points here. Seem to be in freefall at the moment.