Monte Carlo, ATP 1000

[jimlosaltos]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zc6jnvB1Et4xcH1u9

Quite the match. Both played great. Sinner up next for Rune.

One of several somewhat unusual matches in Monte Carlo. Grigor broken only once in 3 sets (saved 3/4 break points), and broke Rune 3 times (3/10 BPs),plus won more points - but lost two TBs and the match. {Writes note to self: Converting breakpoints when you get them is kind of important). <g>

[stroke]

Late match, a good one Sonego vs Ugo Humbert. The Italian fans are out in force, and Sonego really brings the energy.

[jimlosaltos]

Tight match between Rune (who upset Sinner here last year) and Sinner.

If one puts credence in the new ATP/ Tennis Insight stats both players had below average serves and returns, but Sinner had stellar groundstroke numbers.


filedata/fetch?id=103977&d=1712939604&type=thumb

[jimlosaltos]

Neither Djokovic nor DeMinaur looked particularly sharp today.

Djokovic was broken 4 times in only 11 games after being broken 3 times on 6 BPs in his prior, two set match.

Djokovic said:

"But he said at the net it was ugly. The second set I think it was. We didn't play at the high level and made a lot of unforced errors, him and I, and a lot of breaks of serve. It is kind of expected on clay but maybe not this many. But a win is a win and I am happy to be through."

[stroke]

Tight match between Rune (who upset Sinner here last year) and Sinner.

If one puts credence in the new ATP/ Tennis Insight stats both players had below average serves and returns, but Sinner had stellar groundstroke numbers.


filedata/fetch?id=103977&d=1712939604&type=thumb

That forehand and backhand quality of Sinner a lot to overcome.

[jimlosaltos]

That forehand and backhand quality of Sinner a lot to overcome.

As many people have said in the last few months, "Where do you hit?"

[stroke]

As many people have said in the last few months, "Where do you hit?"

Nadal would say, I would hit forehands all over the court until I win. But Sinner is a long long way away from big 3 territory.

[stroke]

Tsitsipas was great in 1st set, Sinner a little off. 2nd set, Sinner has gone to his video game like winners to a level Stef cannot match. It looks like going to a 3rd.

[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/z9FnR9NmWnUiiZbj6

Very high quality 2nd set. On to the 3rd.

[stotty]

4-4 in the third.

Interesting final set. Momentum has shifted in favour of Steph. I am still backing Sinner to win if the injury holds up...temperament is so good.

[stotty]

Oh dear...trainer is back on.

[jimlosaltos]

So, who had Ruud vs Tsitsipas in the Monte Carlo finals? Show of hands.

Tsitisipas' forehand won the day in the opening semifinal, but Sinner was up 4-1 in the third when he hurt his knee. No word so far on the injury. Two images:

1) Sinner has been almost unbreakable behind Sinner Serve 3.0, today Stef earned 15 BPs from 15 games served by Sinner and only converted 3 -- one more than he surrendered and all he needed

filedata/fetch?id=103994&d=1713029000&type=thumb

2) ATP Tennis Insight stats on Stef glorious forehand

filedata/fetch?id=103993&d=1713029000&type=thumb

#

[jimlosaltos]

Another 3 setter yields Casper Ruud's first win over Djokovic. The Serb tried to be the aggressor but made too many UFEs.

All week Djokovic's serve has been broken an uncomfortable number of times even in winning, Today he was broken 4 times. In the final set Ruud got too tight to close out a couple of give me allowing Djokovic to break back. Old days, Novak would have closed it out then. Instead, Ruud promptly broke Djokovic back in a game that saw two double faults.

Novak won the stats, lost the big points and his service.

filedata/fetch?id=103996&d=1713029326&type=thumb

#

[stroke]

Tsitsipas was very fortunate. Tsitsipas was serving 3r set at 1-3, with a breakpoint for Sinner. He double faulted(it was clearly out, confirmed by Hawkeye 7 ml out, right under the umpires nose) but it was not called. Tsitsipas ended up holding for 2-3, where he should have been down 1-4. Sinner handled the situation better than anyone else would have, but it was certainly unfair.

[stroke]

So, who had Ruud vs Tsitsipas in the Monte Carlo finals? Show of hands.

Tsitisipas' forehand won the day in the opening semifinal, but Sinner was up 4-1 in the third when he hurt his knee. No word so far on the injury. Two images:

1) Sinner has been almost unbreakable behind Sinner Serve 3.0, today Stef earned 15 BPs from 15 games served by Sinner and only converted 3 -- one more than he surrendered and all he needed

filedata/fetch?id=103994&d=1713029000&type=thumb

2) ATP Tennis Insight stats on Stef glorious forehand

filedata/fetch?id=103993&d=1713029000&type=thumb

#

Tsitsipas seems to maybe have the best(other than Nadal) clay court forehand out there, but Ruud is right there also. Certainly going to be a forehand war in the final. They both have top tier rpm's. Tsitsipas is the slight favorite with an implied chance of winning at about 58%.