2021 Qatar ExxonMobil Open...ATP 250...Doha, Qatar

[stotty]

5-5..I don't think Evans want to lose to a nearly 40 year old man...

[stotty]

Roger 5-4 up. Needs just one inspired game to seal the deal.

[stotty]

4-4 in the third. A watchable match by any standards. Both players are shot-making brilliantly.

[stotty]

Roger is becoming a little tired...loose mistakes...not quite getting in position. I make it even-stevens so long as Roger keeps holding serve.

[stotty]

Roger is playing well behind his serve so far, which is what he needs. Getting the serve to do the bulk of the work is what he needs here in the third. He just needs Evans to slip up behind his serve. Roger has sprayed a few shots here and there, though...slightly casual. Let's see what the next 10 minutes bring.

3-2 Roger.

[don_budge]

I didn't follow the second set.

The score tells the story. Evans maintained pressure and fought off numerous break opportunities. Good tennis from both players.

[stotty]

Afternoon everyone!

Just arrived from London in time for the third set. I followed the first set watching the score on an app. At one point in the first set Roger was averaging 90% first serves in, which is an amazing stat in itself. I didn't follow the second set.

Evans doesn't lack confidence and will think he has every chance of winning this.

Great first game of the 3rd set from Roger. Really aggressive. Any more aggressive would be over the top. Just a perfect opener.

[don_budge]

I'm enjoying that Federer goes for the aggressive placement even if it's a high tariff shot. He's not interested in the safety play, he's after perfection. Seems to me anyway...

Interesting tactical match. Federer isn't interested in a slugfest. Evans is playing it cagey. Federer played an excellent tie-breaker in the first and won. He now has hit a bit of a flat spot and it will be interesting to see how he plays his way out of it...if he can. Down a break in the second.

[glacierguy]

I'm enjoying that Federer goes for the aggressive placement even if it's a high tariff shot. He's not interested in the safety play, he's after perfection. Seems to me anyway...

[don_budge]

I have to bring the horses in first...then it's Federer versus Evans time. An excellent matchup. Evans is playing good tennis it seems. It will be interesting to see how much of an impression he can make on Federer. With Evans sort of hard nosed approach he isn't counting himself out and sees this as a huge opportunity. Nothing to lose...as they say.

Five minutes in and it looks as if he never left. Nice outfit. Not too many could make that green look as handsome. The guy is just a Federer.

[don_budge]

Sitting comfortably?

I have to bring the horses in first...then it's Federer versus Evans time. An excellent matchup. Evans is playing good tennis it seems. It will be interesting to see how much of an impression he can make on Federer. With Evans sort of hard nosed approach he isn't counting himself out and sees this as a huge opportunity. Nothing to lose...as they say.

[glacierguy]

Sitting comfortably?

[don_budge]

Federer's match has been delayed a half an hour giving stotty a bit more time to "circle back". Dominic Thiem circles back on Karatsev after losing the first set to win the next two.

[stroke]

Gasquet withdraws, the Goblin gets another bye, which may be good as he just won a tournament on Sunday.

Thiem loses 1st set to Karatsev.

[don_budge]

At least 6 of the 8 matches tomorrow look very interesting.
This is probably the best slew of matches ever final 16 for a 250 tournament. Fed is up 3rd match main court approximately 10am eastern time.

Hopefully that gives stotty enough time to "circle back" to see the match. This is a big match for him...Brit #1 versus Roger Federer. Now that is interesting. Funny, how the matches in a draw begin to take on new meaning with Roger in the draw and we haven't even seen him yet. A little unsure of what to expect? The suspense is killing me. I've the match pegged at 16:00 here in Europe.

Look at that section of the draw about Federer. That match should be cat food for Roger should he get past Evans. Even the other quarter looks doable. We are tempted to project Roger into the semis and even the finals. Whoa...hold your horses. One match at a time. One set at a time. One game at a time. One point at a time. Regressing...working backwards.

There was some pretty good action in that "other" tournament yesterday as well. A lot of the former top players trying to claw their way back into form.