Wk.44- Djokovic Parfait à Paris

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

The last regular season event has concluded. In NFL terms we are moving onto the playoffs, but they last only a week and the NFL doesn't really have a Davis Cup. Many things happened but the winner in the end was predictable. All Masters events are exciting in one way or another and so, without further ado, let us go through the final event of the year set in the stunning city of Paris, France.



*Week 44 CHAMPIONS*
*PARIS*
S: Novak Djokovic def. David Ferrer 7-5/7-5
D: Bryan/Bryan d. Peya/Soares


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: NOVAK DJOKOVIC, SRB
...Djokovic finishes the year on a strong note by winning another Masters title, although his progress was anything but smooth. Still, the champion within him prevailed. The Djoker beat the mighty P-H Herbert 7-6, 6-3. Herbert had smashed Paire 6-2, 6-2. He had set points against the mighty NoDjo and had he taken them well it would have been quite the story. But the talented Frenchman was denied on this occasion. Next up for Djokovic was top fifteen and 6-foot-6-plus John Isner. Isner did take his chances and won the first set 7-5 in the breaker. Djokovic simply turned it on in the next two sets, taking them 6-2, 6-2 to advance. Once Djokovic hits that top gear few, if any, can match him. He made a statement in the quarters by beating seventh seeded and ranked Wawrinka 6-1, 6-4. He will be seeing Wawrinka in London, if not necessarily playing him.

He faced a tricky test in Federer next. Fed played fantastically for an hour and a bit to lead 6-4, 2-1 but then Djokovic once more turned it on and ground down Fed for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory. Next up was Ferrer, who had chanced to take set two but eventually fell 7-5, 7-5. He has given himself a chance to take that number one ranking back. For the first time since 2009, the top spot will be decided at the year-end event. Djokovic won his 40th title which takes him up to third on the active list. He has 61 finals, which puts him third on the finals list, too. He also has third on the semifinals list with 91.
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RISER: DAVID FERRER, ESP
...The stars have aligned, the Gods have answered our pleas and Hillary is president.

Sorry, not yet.

But something just as amazing and earth shattering has happened. Brace yourselves because this is a big one. Really a big one. Ferrer beat Nadal in straight sets. Yes it was indoor hard court, but still. Ferrer served for it at 6-3, 5-4 and, as the script usually goes, he was broken. The usual was surely coming. He would lose 3-6, 7-6, 6-1. He would look back in the hotel room about how he came so close. He would say, as he always does after matches with Nadal, and I would've gotten away with it if it wasn't for your mental toughness and that damn forehand. Or something along those lines. But not this time. This time he tasted sweet victory instead of bitter defeat infused with the knowledge he was but two points away, which is what he usually tastes after matches with Rafa.

Ferrer opened his campaign against Rosol and won 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 and then dispatched Simon 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarters. He then came back to send Berdych packing 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. He then beat Nadal to set up a Djokovic clash in which he served for the second set but could not close it out.

But against Nadal his time hath come.

And as for you Hillary, your time will come...
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SURPRISE: RICHARD GASQUET, FRA
...Paris has reflected the season of the Frenchman. I thought the flashy swashbuckling Frenchman was incapable of a consistent season as did others, but he really proved to everyone that he is capable of a strong consistent year. Three titles -three more than Berdman- and a pair of fourth rounds at the slams, plus a semi at the US Open. He has also reached a couple of Masters quarterfinals and semifinals, not to mention a pretty consistent performances in his 500's. He has really cut out the dodgy losses and it takes a big player to stop him now. He edged an on-form Verdasco 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 -highlights below- to set up a clash with Nishikori ,who had beaten Tsonga 1-6, 7-6, 7-6, which he won 6-3, 6-2. He was into the quarters where he faced Nadal. He was competitive in the first set and even played clever tennis in parts, though perhaps the serve-volley tactic was the wrong one. He broke Nadal's serve but still lost it 6-4. After that, it all went downhill and the handshake came quickly as he went down 4 and 1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgi5o2EfDhE

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VETERAN: JO-WILFRIED TSONGA, FRA
...I think for Tsonga that making the World Tour Finals was crucial. He turns 29 in April, which is just five months away. He is talking about how bad his injuries are and I just think he has had a loss of form recently. He has some points to defend in the first six months of the year, too. I think he will start to go onto that downward arc next year. It won't happen straight way but I think he could be in trouble next year. Once you fall out of the top fifteen or so it becomes harder and harder to get back in. He had been the French number one for years and losing it to Richie signaled the start of something. Paire will probably be the next French number one after Gasqy. Tsonga will still have some big results and win some big tournaments but I think it looks like perhaps the beginning of the downward arc now.
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COMEBACK: MARIN CILIC, CRO
...Whether or not Cilic actually doped is a complex issue and I won't open it up here, but he is back and despite being outside of the top forty he looks to be playing decently. He beat Sijsling 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 to set up an intriguing clash with Delpo. He challenged him but ultimately fell short 6-4, 7-6. He will be a very dangerous floater in 2014 until he gets that ranking back up. Let's not forget he has been to a slam semi and a pair of quarters, too.
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DOWN: JO-WILFRIED TSONGA , FRA
For once, Tipsy doesn't get this award. Tsonga really blew it against Kei and he even double-faulted on the Japanese man's match point.
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1. PARIS SF - DJOKOVIC d. FEDERER
...4-6/6-3/6-2. Djokovic was too good for the old guard on this occasion. Federer is the last bastion of the old days. He was up there when Agassi, Roddick, Safin and Hewitt were at their peaks. He is still competing today. He played good tennis and Djokovic had to play at his best to win.
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2. PARIS QF - FEDERER d. DELPO
...6-3/4-6/6-3. Since 1999, Federer has beaten a top five player every year and his run continues with this victory.
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3. PARIS 3rd Rd. - DEL POTRO d. DIMITROV
...3-6/6-3/6-4. A clash of styles, with firepower and physicality beating panache this time.
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=ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS - LONDON=
...the finals are staying in London next year. It used to be known as the tennis Masters Cup and was last held out of London in 2008 in Shanghai. London seems to be so good at hosting it that the ATP is happy to leave it there. Anyway, I shall preview it here.

First of all, the total head-to-head-to-head each player has against every other player in the event.

Nadal 110-38 (Winning record against all seven others)
Djokovic 88-51 (Winning record against five others)
Ferrer 38-58 (Winning record against four others)
Del Potro 27-43 (Winning record against three others)
Berdych 24-63 (Winning record against none)
Federer 88-49 (Winning record against 6 others)
Wawrinka 16-53 (Winning record against 1, tied with Gasquet at 1-1)
Gasquet 13-46 (Winning record against 1, tied with Wawrinka at 1-1)

Group A
1) Nadal 3) Ferrer 5) Berdych 7) Wawrinka

We're odds and evens in the groups.

Nadal opens with Ferrer on Tuesday. He should gain revenge on Ferrer, although the indoor hard surface plays quickly and it isn't at all Nadal's favourite surface, though that seems to mean less this year than it has previously. Nadal will beat Ferrer in three sets. He will also beat Berdych in three and Wawrinka in two. He has the easier group than Djokovic, to be honest. Ferrer is 5-20 against him, Berdych is 3-16, and Wawrinka is 0-11. He should, barring injury or upsets, top this group.

Ferrer opens with Nadal, as I said. He leads Berman 7-3 and Vavsy 7-4. I think he should be too consistent for them and, winning both in three sets, he should come through in second in this group. He might be able to beat Nadal but that is almost a free match. If he doesn't win it shouldn't matter too much and if he does win that match then it is a bonus. He needs to serve well and keep that inside out forehand rolling to succeed.

Berdych plays Vavsy in the first singles match of the event. He plays in the afternoon slot tomorrow. He is 5-7 against Vavsy. In fact, he has a losing head-to-head record against everyone here. I think he is going to crash and burn in this event. I think he may play some close sets but he will be the disappointment of the finals.

Wawrinka is the proverbial dark horse. I think he has a shot at the top spot here. It is an outside shot, however. He has to beat Nadal for the first time but I think he has a slight chance to do so. If the stars align himself, he may just be able to do so. If he can, he should then be able to beat Ferrer and Berdych to earn top spot. He has a shot, but I think that whoever he runs into in the semifinals will be too good.

In the end... Nadal 3-0, Ferrer 2-1, Wawrinka 1-2 , Berdych 0-3

Group B
The group of death and one that is impossible to call.

Djokovic should win this group. He opens against Federer on Tuesday. That will be a must-see match. I say both Federer and Del Potro will test him. He should come through those tests. Gasquet will challenge for a set and a half. Whenever the Frenchman plays the Serb, there is usually a tight set and an easy set. So, Djokovic comes on top, but not certainly. Federer and Del Potro may top him.

Del Potro I think is a title contender. I think he beats Federer, then he goes to the final of the event. That match between him and Federer is the biggest of the group stages. He should dispatch Gasquet. He will play well but just lose out to Djokovic. He could win this event. He could win this event, then the Aussie Open. Or, he could completely crash and burn. I think he will lose to Federer in three tight sets. He opens against Gasquet on Monday on the night session slot.

Roger Federer is the greatest ATP player at this event ever. He knows how to win here. I think he will be too crafty for Del Potro. He will have no problems with Gasquet. He opens against the Djoker on Tuesday in the night session. He will go through I think and especially if he can continue his Basel and Paris form.

Richard Gasquet is 4-26 combined against the rest of his group. He has done amazingly well to get here. He has nothing to lose. Nothing. If I were him, I would just go out and hit. Just go out there and have a good time. Play some ridiculous shots. He may get a set against Delpo but that will really be it. He has been dealt an appalling group because he has severe match up issues with some top-tenners. Three of them are in this group. The tennis fates like handing him unfortunate draws. They have struck again.

In the End... Djokovic 3-0 Federer 2-1 Del Potro 1-2 Gasquet 0-3

=SF/Final=
Nadal beats Federer in three whilst Djokovic puts Ferrer away in straights. Djokovic beats Nadal in an epic match in the final.

=Doubles=
GROUP: Bryans 3-0, Dodig/Melo 2-1, Quereshi/Rojer 1-2, Frystenberg/Matowski 0-3.
GROUP: Paes/Stepanek 3-0, Peya/ Soares 2-1, Granollers/Lopez 1-2, Marrero/Verdasco 0-3.

=SF/FINAL=
Bryans d. Peya/Soares
Paes/Stepanek d. Dodig/Melo
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Bryans d. Paes/ Stepanek

...Revenge for their US Open loss.

That's all. I will keep updating. Visit WTA BACKSPIN.

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