Paris Masters Begins

[jimlosaltos]

Big upset already, the Top Swiss player (still hurts to type that) Marc-Andrea Huesler stuns No.11 seed Sinner 6-2 6-3. I'm not sure if Sinner is all the way back from a bad ankle sprain when forced to play on wet hard courts a few weeks ago, long after chair should have stopped play.

Lorenzo Musetti continues to show he can play on hard courts, not just clay, with a straight sets win over Marin Cilic.

S&V King! Maxime Cressy takes out Diego Schwartzman.

Sir Andy vs retiring local Giles Simon is the night match, which could be interesting.

https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/paris/352/results

[stroke]

I'm watching old war horses Simon vs Murray. Murray just does not look good out there. This is a very interesting tournament with Novak and Nadal back and all the new talent there. Sinner did not look 100% to me. Rune plays Stan tomorrow 1st round. Tough out there.

[stotty]

I'm watching old war horses Simon vs Murray. Murray just does not look good out there. This is a very interesting tournament with Novak and Nadal back and all the new talent there. Sinner did not look 100% to me. Rune plays Stan tomorrow 1st round. Tough out there.

Yes, this is the best tournament in quite a while. Usually the Paris Open is not the best but this year would seem an exception. I was rather hoping Alcaraz and Novak would be in the same half of the draw but, alas, they aren't. Anyway, the tournament will be great limbering up for the top 8 prior to heading off to Turin

[stroke]

Odds to win tournament:

strong favorite Novak
Medvedev
Alcaraz
Nadal
Tsitsipas
FAA
Fritz

A red hot FAA looks like an interesting bet.

[stroke]

Draper, a lefty, really has a very nice lefty slice serve, super effective serving to both sides. The swere on it reminds me of Gilles Muller, who had one of the best I have ever seen.

[jimlosaltos]

Does anybody know how the court is playing? I saw posts that it is "fast" but I don't know if that is based on fact of simply an assumption because it is indoors.

Last I knew, Paris used to be fast but had been slowed down dramatically to match London O2.

[jimlosaltos]

Rublev out served John Isner -- 84% first serves won to only 59%.

I wonder if Isner recovered from whatever leg issue he reportedly had?

[stroke]

Novak looked great out there vs Cressy. Novak to me looks more comfortable, more a peace with himself, than ever. I think the love Fed always got vs him was a bit of an issue for him, but that issue is over.

[stroke]

These crowds in Paris love this tournament. They are fully engaged.

[stroke]

Tennis Magazine: Stan Wawrinka blasts “baby” Holger Rune after Paris Masters thriller.

https://www.tennis.com/baseline/articles/stan-wawrinka-blasts-baby-holger-rune-after-paris-masters-thriller

[stroke]

https://tennis-infinity.com/wta/sad-picture-shows-almost-empty-stadium-at-first-match-of-wta-finals-with-us-no-1

[stotty]

Does anybody know how the court is playing? I saw posts that it is "fast" but I don't know if that is based on fact of simply an assumption because it is indoors.

Last I knew, Paris used to be fast but had been slowed down dramatically to match London O2.

I think the court speed has been increased by all accounts as last year players grumbled it was too slow.

[stotty]

Di Minaur is 4-3 up in the third and looking for his first big scalp. He's really up for it. I have to say, the bloke can really move. Seems a nice man too.

[stroke]

The demon wins it. Superb match, nothing between them.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tj3MCtp22PvGSkmd7

[stroke]

It looks to me FAA is on the verge of a breakthrough at the Master's 1000 and GS level. He has been playing great tennis in a 14 match win streak. He did not have a good day today vs Ymer, number 74 in the world. He was down a set and 4-1 in the 2nd. He fought back and won in a 3rd set tiebreaker. On a side note, number 74 in the world does not look like it used to.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/966vWJFK3Vc4nEgv8