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

[stroke]

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.

[stotty]

The Second Coming

Not sure what time Roger is on tomorrow but have to take my wife to London for a kidney check-up. Nothing too serious but something that has to be kept and eye on. If I'm unlucky with the timings I may miss the second coming, which will be terrible.

[stotty]

Love Stan's game. In my dreams, other than Fed, there are not many players I would love to have their game more than Stan.

Stan's struggling to get any real form going of late. He is usually good when matches go deep and he gets his big game rolling. Let's hope he picks up.

[stroke]

Love Stan's game. In my dreams, other than Fed, there are not many players I would love to have their game more than Stan.

[stotty]

Lloyd Hsrris, #84 in the world with Tsitsipas like size and athletic ability, wins 1st set vs Stan in tiebreaker. So much depth out there to me, such small margains to success.

I thought I was looking at a young Tim Buckley for a minute there...expected him to start singing Sweet Surrender at any moment.

He plays well. Not and ounce on that lean but strong physique. Did well to win that game at 3-3 and go 4-3 up. He needs to win this match in the next 10 minutes or you get the feeling Stan will start taking over.

[stroke]

Lloyd Harris, #84 in the world with Tsitsipas like size and athletic ability, wins 1st set vs Stan in tiebreaker. So much depth out there to me, such small margains to success.

[klacr]

Hey what's the puppy??? Name and breed pls!

Duke Ferdinand LaCroix
2nd generation Goldendoodle
He's a blue merle so very unique coat color.
Duke is extremely intelligent, at times, too smart for his own good.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA, PTR
Delray Beach
SETS Consulting

[don_budge]

Match of the Day...Jeremy Chardy versus Daniel Evans

Federer rules. Roger in the House this week for the first time in a long time. He isn't playing so anything closest to him in degrees of separation gets top billing. Naturally. There is another tournament rumoured to being played in Marseille this week but as far as I am concerned...it hardly exists. I haven't looked at the draw sheet even. Perhaps I will. Can't be too quick to judge now can we?

Chardy has been playing good ball as Mr. stroke points out...but so has Evans when he played. Looking for Evans to pull through here. The 34 year old legs of Chardy got a real test last week. Something they just might be used to. Roger looming. Praying that the knee is good and he has been taking his "vitamins". Gee...this is exciting. Isn't it?

Yep...the legs wouldn't carry him over the finish line. Evans did a nice job of maintaining pressure on his opponent. A nice win for the Brit. I took a walk with the dogs in the first set when he got behind. Then I went out into the barn and did 1000 jumps with the rope. Twenty sets of fifty. Didn't think I had it in me after chain-sawing a slew of "Christmas Trees" down in the field. The farmer next door was behind the field, down by the ditch with his excavating machine, digging out the beaver dams. I said to him..."isn't that what men do? Man against the beaver all of our lives." He said something to the effect that it sounded like an American movie. Three loads with his machine and the field was free and clear of the trees which the EU mandated that I remove in order to get a payment from them at the end of the year. The chainsaw was a great workout...and a beautiful machine. It's a Husqvarna. Sawed through those trees like a hot knife through butter. Just a pleasure to use. The sixty-seven year old legs got a bit of a challenge. I still have to walk the wolf one more time.

That makes me wonder...Federer like a hot knife through Evans? Curious as to who comes through above this section of the draw. A possible John Millman bout.

[glacierguy]

Fed vs Evans coming up. Exciting.

[stotty]

What I don't understand is why Roger has a bye. Why isn't another lower ranked player allowed in the draw to make a 1st round opponent for Roger. We have had to wait a year for Roger's return and now we are waiting until Wednesday to get a glimpse. It's like waiting for the return of Jesus Christ.

I agree. I thought these tournaments had done away with 1st round byes but apparently not. And so true, only 32 man draw and they have byes in the draw. OH brother, and please wear a mask, I am begging you.

Oddsmakers have Rublev, Thiem, and Fed as equal cofavorites to win this tournament.

Yes, well, doesn't make sense to have a less than full draw, especially when Roger needs a bit of practice.

The bookies must know something we don't. Roger to be a favourite after a year out you'd think would be pushing it. He has kept his training extremely quite as far as my son can tell...who follows everything Roger does and seems to be able to track him down wherever he is.

[stroke]

This field is loaded for a 250. The cutoff for direct entry was in the low 40's, very low for a 250. Marselle had some good matches also. I am keeping an eye on it. Tsonga is playing for 1st time in a while. Gasquet had his 1st win this year yesterday in Doha. I like everyone else just love watching him hit backhands. As much as I love Stan's, Gasquet's my favorite. I think that built up butt of the grip he has actually helps him with that flick/external arm rotation on that shot.

[don_budge]

Match of the Day...Jeremy Chardy versus Daniel Evans

Federer rules. Roger in the House this week for the first time in a long time. He isn't playing so anything closest to him in degrees of separation gets top billing. Naturally. There is another tournament rumoured to being played in Marseille this week but as far as I am concerned...it hardly exists. I haven't looked at the draw sheet even. Perhaps I will. Can't be too quick to judge now can we?

Chardy has been playing good ball as Mr. stroke points out...but so has Evans when he played. Looking for Evans to pull through here. The 34 year old legs of Chardy got a real test last week. Something they just might be used to. Roger looming. Praying that the knee is good and he has been taking his "vitamins". Gee...this is exciting. Isn't it?

[John Yandell]

Hey what's the puppy??? Name and breed pls!

[klacr]

tgkb...

I never left. Been busy running a club, building businesses and making dreams come true. Oh, and the wife and puppy taking quite a bit of my time as well. But I'm still around. Just not contributing to forum as much as I'd like. Trying to change that.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA, PTR
Delray Beach
SETS Consulting

[stroke]

Coric just pulled out. I consider that another missed pick by me. Dammit.