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CricketWeb Tennis - Season I
- Thread starter SirBloody Idiot
- Start date
Mister Wright
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Doubles is great. Would love to see it remain.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Sunday, June 7, I
FRENCH OPEN 2009: Men's Final PREVIEW
With the men's singles final decided, let's see how the competitors in tomorrow's final stack up.
Sven Oxenstierna (CWLand)
Ranking: 8 (peak of 12, 12/4)
Born: Borås, Sweden
D.O.B.: 22 April, 1984 (age 25)
Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Best Performances: F: World Team Cup (United States); SF: Vina del Mar (Boros); Acapulco (Matias); Indian Wells (Daneu); QF: Auckland (Z Varga); Costa do Sauipe (Hancianu); Miami (Špidla); Barcelona (Smeltz); 4R: Australian Open (Špidla).
Daniel Páez Blanco (Spain)
Ranking: 2 (peak of 2, current)
Born: Málaga, Spain
D.O.B.: 12 September, 1978 (age 28)
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Best Performances: W: Vina del Mar (d Boros); Buenos Aires (d Boros); Monte Carlo (d Charles); Barcelona (d Emelio); Rome (d Boros); Madrid (d J Moreno); QF: Doha (Joaquin); 4R: Australian Open (Cowan).
Previous Meetings: 1 (Blanco 1, Oxenstierna 0)
Sven Oxenstierna CWL (8) vs. Daniel Páez Blanco ESP (1). For very different reasons, tomorrow's French Open final is of the upmost importance for both men. For Oxenstierna, he has the chance to finally show his critics that he has the ability to produce the goods late in the piece as he competes in his first ever final. Some might say this is an unfair criticism, and that his win over Morgan Carter was already enough evidence that he can bring the goods. Meanwhile, with a clay court record of 37-0, Blanco would probably say his season has been wasted if he cannot complete it with a French Open crowd. A ludicrous suggestion for a man who has already claimed six titles and the world number one ranking this season, but for the Spaniard, winning Roland Garros is all that matters. "At the start of the season, I made a goal to go and win the French Open," a typically straight talking Blanco told the packed press room following his four-set slog against Juan Moreno in the semifinals, "If I don't win, I will see all leading up to it as a waste."
Indeed, Blanco's semifinal win against Moreno was probably the most he's been tested on clay this season. Oxenstierna would do well to learn from the Argentine's performance; the aggressive Moreno that came out for the last three sets was far more effective against the 28-year old Blanco than the Moreno that wilted under the pressure in the first set. The CWLander learned just how intimidating Blanco can be the hard way in their only previous meeting; a straight sets loss in the Monte Carlo Masters. But The Ox is a different player than the one who struggled throughout the Masters Series events; he's experienced a rennaissance of sorts after confidence boosting wins over Jason Hall and Radivoj Daneu in the World Team Cup. Meanwhile, Blanco has been in scary form ever since the tour ticked over from hard to clay - he's backed up early season wins in Vina del Mar and Buenos Aries with titles in Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona and Madrid.
But for all his recent form - promising as it may be - I just cannot see Oxenstierna being the man to stop the Blanco juggernaut just yet. He's spent a lot more time on court than his opponent and will struggle if the match goes the journey. For that reason, Blanco should fittingly finish his clay court season off on a high, and officially take the number one spot with a Grand Slam under his belt. PREDICTION: Blanco in 4 sets.
---
Will do things in this order: Challenger finals, doubles final, singles final. Vimes can choose how he wants it posted - set-by-set or all at once.
FRENCH OPEN 2009: Men's Final PREVIEW
With the men's singles final decided, let's see how the competitors in tomorrow's final stack up.
Sven Oxenstierna (CWLand)
Ranking: 8 (peak of 12, 12/4)
Born: Borås, Sweden
D.O.B.: 22 April, 1984 (age 25)
Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Best Performances: F: World Team Cup (United States); SF: Vina del Mar (Boros); Acapulco (Matias); Indian Wells (Daneu); QF: Auckland (Z Varga); Costa do Sauipe (Hancianu); Miami (Špidla); Barcelona (Smeltz); 4R: Australian Open (Špidla).
Daniel Páez Blanco (Spain)
Ranking: 2 (peak of 2, current)
Born: Málaga, Spain
D.O.B.: 12 September, 1978 (age 28)
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Best Performances: W: Vina del Mar (d Boros); Buenos Aires (d Boros); Monte Carlo (d Charles); Barcelona (d Emelio); Rome (d Boros); Madrid (d J Moreno); QF: Doha (Joaquin); 4R: Australian Open (Cowan).
Previous Meetings: 1 (Blanco 1, Oxenstierna 0)
- ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, 3rd Round, DP Blanco def. S Oxenstierna, 7-5, 6-2
The sixth seeded Oxenstierna copped a difficult draw to start things off as Blanco only really just began his ascent up the rankings. Whilst playing some decent tennis at times, The Ox's major weakness was on serve and it was through that he dropped the first set. From there, Blanco grew from strength-to-strength as Oxenstierna served at only 52% - not nearly enough to trouble the eventual champion.
Odds: Blanco $1.20, Oxenstierna $3.75.
Sven Oxenstierna CWL (8) vs. Daniel Páez Blanco ESP (1). For very different reasons, tomorrow's French Open final is of the upmost importance for both men. For Oxenstierna, he has the chance to finally show his critics that he has the ability to produce the goods late in the piece as he competes in his first ever final. Some might say this is an unfair criticism, and that his win over Morgan Carter was already enough evidence that he can bring the goods. Meanwhile, with a clay court record of 37-0, Blanco would probably say his season has been wasted if he cannot complete it with a French Open crowd. A ludicrous suggestion for a man who has already claimed six titles and the world number one ranking this season, but for the Spaniard, winning Roland Garros is all that matters. "At the start of the season, I made a goal to go and win the French Open," a typically straight talking Blanco told the packed press room following his four-set slog against Juan Moreno in the semifinals, "If I don't win, I will see all leading up to it as a waste."
Indeed, Blanco's semifinal win against Moreno was probably the most he's been tested on clay this season. Oxenstierna would do well to learn from the Argentine's performance; the aggressive Moreno that came out for the last three sets was far more effective against the 28-year old Blanco than the Moreno that wilted under the pressure in the first set. The CWLander learned just how intimidating Blanco can be the hard way in their only previous meeting; a straight sets loss in the Monte Carlo Masters. But The Ox is a different player than the one who struggled throughout the Masters Series events; he's experienced a rennaissance of sorts after confidence boosting wins over Jason Hall and Radivoj Daneu in the World Team Cup. Meanwhile, Blanco has been in scary form ever since the tour ticked over from hard to clay - he's backed up early season wins in Vina del Mar and Buenos Aries with titles in Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona and Madrid.
But for all his recent form - promising as it may be - I just cannot see Oxenstierna being the man to stop the Blanco juggernaut just yet. He's spent a lot more time on court than his opponent and will struggle if the match goes the journey. For that reason, Blanco should fittingly finish his clay court season off on a high, and officially take the number one spot with a Grand Slam under his belt. PREDICTION: Blanco in 4 sets.
---
Will do things in this order: Challenger finals, doubles final, singles final. Vimes can choose how he wants it posted - set-by-set or all at once.
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
Blanco in 3 IMO.
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
Set by set please. 
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
TS+ Turin; TS+ Scheveningen (Finals) - June 1-8, Season I
Sporting Challenger I
Final - Turin
Draw
Morgan Carter has just held on to a position inside the world's top 32 as he completed a successful week in Turin by lifting the Sporting Challenger crown. In a hotly anticipated clash, teenage sensation Jamee Hancianu failed to put in his best performance as he crashed to a straight sets win to the American. With both men in promising form after early exits in the French Open, Carter drew first blood as he played a brave backhand slice down the line; to a risk which paid off as the American broke service in the opening game of the match. In quick time, the world number 29 surged to a 4-0 lead as Hancianu struggled to get the better of his physically more dominant opponent. Down a set, Hancianu started the second set more solidly, and looked like causing the second seed trouble as he crept to a 3-1 lead. But Carter managed to pull back the break of service and then pull ahead in the penultimate game of the match to seal a 6-2, 6-4 win.
Siemens Open I
Final - Scheveningen
Draw
If the final in Turin was seen as a fizzer, it was nothing compared to the result in Scheveningen as third seed Eric Henson took less than an hour to demolish unseeded Croat Ivan Vuka. With some 143 spots separating the two, Henson proved far too good for the world number 211 who at no stage looked like challenging his American opponent. With tournament organisers already left reeling with tournament drawcards Danijel Micic (top thirty player) and Maarten Berg (Dutch number one) having exited in the semifinals, the 6-0, 6-1 scoreline was hardly what they would have wanted to cap off the week.
Sporting Challenger I
Final - Turin
Draw
Morgan Carter has just held on to a position inside the world's top 32 as he completed a successful week in Turin by lifting the Sporting Challenger crown. In a hotly anticipated clash, teenage sensation Jamee Hancianu failed to put in his best performance as he crashed to a straight sets win to the American. With both men in promising form after early exits in the French Open, Carter drew first blood as he played a brave backhand slice down the line; to a risk which paid off as the American broke service in the opening game of the match. In quick time, the world number 29 surged to a 4-0 lead as Hancianu struggled to get the better of his physically more dominant opponent. Down a set, Hancianu started the second set more solidly, and looked like causing the second seed trouble as he crept to a 3-1 lead. But Carter managed to pull back the break of service and then pull ahead in the penultimate game of the match to seal a 6-2, 6-4 win.
- Seeded players out: Jamee Hancianu.
Siemens Open I
Final - Scheveningen
Draw
If the final in Turin was seen as a fizzer, it was nothing compared to the result in Scheveningen as third seed Eric Henson took less than an hour to demolish unseeded Croat Ivan Vuka. With some 143 spots separating the two, Henson proved far too good for the world number 211 who at no stage looked like challenging his American opponent. With tournament organisers already left reeling with tournament drawcards Danijel Micic (top thirty player) and Maarten Berg (Dutch number one) having exited in the semifinals, the 6-0, 6-1 scoreline was hardly what they would have wanted to cap off the week.
- Seeded players out: None.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
French Open (Day Fourteen) - May 25- June 8 Season I
Roland Garros - Men's Doubles
Day Fourteen - Semifinals - Paris
Seeds
Finals
Draw - Section One
Draw - Section Two
Draw - Section Three
Draw - Section Four
Despite a lack of experience on clay, American duo Hugh James and Ralph Robinson have exited the French Open as champions after a three-set win against Israeli pair Tal Cohen and Raz Teper. In just over two hours, the 33-year old Boyd and 26-year old Robinson played some superb tennis, but were definitely troubled by their unseeded opponents in the a tough encounter. Amazingly it took until the eleventh game of the first set for a break point to even be brought up, and it was Boyd whose powerful return off a Cohen second serve gave the favourites the break. It was a break which gave them the breathing space they needed to take the first set as the tall Ralph Robinson kicked two aces down the centre of the court to give the fourteenth seeds the early lead. But the Israeli pair have already caused upsets against two seeded teams, and they came back strongly in the second as veteran Boyd dropped his first game on service. It was a welcome relief for the Israelis who, despite being rarely troubled on service in the first set, had not returned well so far. Shooting out to a 3-0 lead, the underdogs levelled the match at a set each in a scrappy ninth game which saw Teper serve two double faults but still hold serve. The stage was set for a tight deciding set, and it was the Americans who surged ahead first as they broke early to secure a 5-3 lead. And despite blowing two championship points on their own service, they broke right back against the Israeli pair to secure the French Open men's doubles crown 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
Roland Garros - Men's Doubles
Day Fourteen - Semifinals - Paris
Seeds
Finals
Draw - Section One
Draw - Section Two
Draw - Section Three
Draw - Section Four
Despite a lack of experience on clay, American duo Hugh James and Ralph Robinson have exited the French Open as champions after a three-set win against Israeli pair Tal Cohen and Raz Teper. In just over two hours, the 33-year old Boyd and 26-year old Robinson played some superb tennis, but were definitely troubled by their unseeded opponents in the a tough encounter. Amazingly it took until the eleventh game of the first set for a break point to even be brought up, and it was Boyd whose powerful return off a Cohen second serve gave the favourites the break. It was a break which gave them the breathing space they needed to take the first set as the tall Ralph Robinson kicked two aces down the centre of the court to give the fourteenth seeds the early lead. But the Israeli pair have already caused upsets against two seeded teams, and they came back strongly in the second as veteran Boyd dropped his first game on service. It was a welcome relief for the Israelis who, despite being rarely troubled on service in the first set, had not returned well so far. Shooting out to a 3-0 lead, the underdogs levelled the match at a set each in a scrappy ninth game which saw Teper serve two double faults but still hold serve. The stage was set for a tight deciding set, and it was the Americans who surged ahead first as they broke early to secure a 5-3 lead. And despite blowing two championship points on their own service, they broke right back against the Israeli pair to secure the French Open men's doubles crown 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
- Seeded players out: None.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
French Open (Day Fourteen) - May 25- June 8 Season I
French Open - Men's Singles Final
Sven Oxenstierna CWL (8) vs. Daniel Páez Blanco ESP (2)
Tournament favourite Daniel Páez Blanco has made a good start to his assault on the French Open by claiming the first set of CWLand's Sven Oxenstierna in the men's singles final in Paris. With everything on the line, it was Oxenstierna in his first career final who was to serve first. Despite a very nervous start which saw him fall down 0-30, an edgy Oxenstierna gave himself a much-needed boost of confidence by holding serve first up. In his seventh career final, Blanco showed none of the nerves despite this also being his first Grand Slam final; the second seeded Spaniard showing enough confidence to uncharacteristically charge up to the net to put away his first service game with a brash overhead smash. But Oxenstierna had obviously learned from the mistakes of Juan Moreno in the semifinals as he went after Blanco's second serves; the CWLander drawing first blood in the sixth game to shoot to a 4-2 lead. But again, his inability to dominate on service failed him as Blanco shot back to level terms with a special backhand slice down the line to effect the immediate break back. With the scores level at 5-5, Oxenstierna quickly fell down 0-40 after an errant forehand handed his opponent three break points. Whilst he saved one, he was unable to stop a trademark cross-court forehand from the new world number one as Blanco edged ahead 6-5. In just four points, Blanco served out the first set to take a one-set to love lead. Oxenstierna will feel as if he's missed out a big chance to get the jump on Blanco; a one set deficit makes a victory even more difficult against the confident Spaniard.
French Open - Men's Singles Final
Sven Oxenstierna CWL (8) vs. Daniel Páez Blanco ESP (2)
Tournament favourite Daniel Páez Blanco has made a good start to his assault on the French Open by claiming the first set of CWLand's Sven Oxenstierna in the men's singles final in Paris. With everything on the line, it was Oxenstierna in his first career final who was to serve first. Despite a very nervous start which saw him fall down 0-30, an edgy Oxenstierna gave himself a much-needed boost of confidence by holding serve first up. In his seventh career final, Blanco showed none of the nerves despite this also being his first Grand Slam final; the second seeded Spaniard showing enough confidence to uncharacteristically charge up to the net to put away his first service game with a brash overhead smash. But Oxenstierna had obviously learned from the mistakes of Juan Moreno in the semifinals as he went after Blanco's second serves; the CWLander drawing first blood in the sixth game to shoot to a 4-2 lead. But again, his inability to dominate on service failed him as Blanco shot back to level terms with a special backhand slice down the line to effect the immediate break back. With the scores level at 5-5, Oxenstierna quickly fell down 0-40 after an errant forehand handed his opponent three break points. Whilst he saved one, he was unable to stop a trademark cross-court forehand from the new world number one as Blanco edged ahead 6-5. In just four points, Blanco served out the first set to take a one-set to love lead. Oxenstierna will feel as if he's missed out a big chance to get the jump on Blanco; a one set deficit makes a victory even more difficult against the confident Spaniard.
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
What an almighty choke.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
French Open - Men's Singles Final
Sven Oxenstierna CWL (8) vs. Daniel Páez Blanco ESP (2)
Sven Oxenstierna CWL (8) vs. Daniel Páez Blanco ESP (2)
Eighth seed Sven Oxenstierna has drawn level with a fantastic second set to be right in with a shot of claiming the French Open crown. In a set made up of more lengthy rallies than the hesitant first set, The Ox recovered from a disappointing fade away late in the first set to draw level with the soon-to-be world number one Daniel Páez Blanco. Despite dropping the last five points of the first set, Oxenstierna came out fiercely as he looked determined to not let the Spaniard shoot out of reach like he has so many times before. Whilst Blanco continued to look strong on serve, the world number eight looked the more inventive player as he looked to try different things when returning. His audaciousness paid off in the sixth game of the set as he brought up a rare break point against the second seed. That was the only opening he needed as he surged to a 4-2 lead. Where at times his serve has failed him at this stage, Oxenstierna looked assured against the intimidating figure at the other end, and soon found himself serving to level the match. With two set points available, Oxenstierna took what some might have seen as an insane risk by playing a drop shot on the run against the fittest man on tour. Nevertheless, the risk paid off as Blanco scrambled to put the ball wide to give Oxenstierna a huge boost to his confidence. If the second set is anything to go by, the favourite cannot afford to play safe tennis against a man who firmly backs himself after making it through a tough run so far.
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
(h)
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Next tournaments
Sorry to get your hopes up Ox, but the rest will be up tomorrow.
Might as well get this rolling as well.
----
AEGON Championships
West Kensington, London
Grass
International Series Gold
Sgl: 56
Dbl: 24
WHAT'S ON OFFER -
R56: 0 pts / £3,500
R32: 10 pts / £6,600
R16: 20 pts / £11,300
QF: 55 pts / £19,340
SF: 100 pts / £34,660
F: 155 pts / £62,400
W: 225 pts / £115,500
WHO IS THERE -
World number 2 Jason Hall; world number 45 Radek Špidla; world number 7 Darcy Cowan; and in their first tournaments in the best part of two months Rick Henson and Zhijun Sun!
In the doubles, Wayne Boyd and Morgan Carter will head the field, alongside French Open champions Ralph Robinson and Hugh James!
---
Gerry Weber Open
Halle, Germany
Grass
International Series Gold
Sgl: 32
WHAT'S ON OFFER -
R32: 5 pts / € 3,500
R16: 20 pts / € 6,600
QF: 55 pts / € 19,340
SF: 100 pts / € 34,660
F: 155 pts / € 62,400
W: 225 pts / € 115,000
WHO IS THERE -
World number one Daniel Páez Blanco; world number six Juan Moreno; French Open semifinalist Morgan Carter; and more!
---
Orange Warsaw Open
Warsaw, Poland
Clay
International Series
Sgl: 32
WHAT'S ON OFFER -
R32: 0 pts / € 3,950
R16: 15 pts / € 6,650
QF: 40 pts / € 11,250
SF: 75 pts / € 20,200
F: 120 pts / € 36,500
W: 175 pts / € 67,750
WHO IS THERE -
World number eight Illya Altman; world number eleven Rasmus Olesen; Spanish number two Sanchez Emelio; and more!
---
Cut for the first two tournaments is around 100-120, so take that into consideration. Also, doubles available in London. Daniels obviously injured still
.
Sorry to get your hopes up Ox, but the rest will be up tomorrow.
Might as well get this rolling as well.
----
AEGON Championships
West Kensington, London
Grass
International Series Gold
Sgl: 56
Dbl: 24
WHAT'S ON OFFER -
R56: 0 pts / £3,500
R32: 10 pts / £6,600
R16: 20 pts / £11,300
QF: 55 pts / £19,340
SF: 100 pts / £34,660
F: 155 pts / £62,400
W: 225 pts / £115,500
WHO IS THERE -
World number 2 Jason Hall; world number 45 Radek Špidla; world number 7 Darcy Cowan; and in their first tournaments in the best part of two months Rick Henson and Zhijun Sun!
In the doubles, Wayne Boyd and Morgan Carter will head the field, alongside French Open champions Ralph Robinson and Hugh James!
---
Gerry Weber Open
Halle, Germany
Grass
International Series Gold
Sgl: 32
WHAT'S ON OFFER -
R32: 5 pts / € 3,500
R16: 20 pts / € 6,600
QF: 55 pts / € 19,340
SF: 100 pts / € 34,660
F: 155 pts / € 62,400
W: 225 pts / € 115,000
WHO IS THERE -
World number one Daniel Páez Blanco; world number six Juan Moreno; French Open semifinalist Morgan Carter; and more!
---
Orange Warsaw Open
Warsaw, Poland
Clay
International Series
Sgl: 32
WHAT'S ON OFFER -
R32: 0 pts / € 3,950
R16: 15 pts / € 6,650
QF: 40 pts / € 11,250
SF: 75 pts / € 20,200
F: 120 pts / € 36,500
W: 175 pts / € 67,750
WHO IS THERE -
World number eight Illya Altman; world number eleven Rasmus Olesen; Spanish number two Sanchez Emelio; and more!
---
Cut for the first two tournaments is around 100-120, so take that into consideration. Also, doubles available in London. Daniels obviously injured still
.
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
Drake will hit up London.
Will team up with Korpinen if he so wishes to join me, otherwise no doubles.
Will team up with Korpinen if he so wishes to join me, otherwise no doubles.
