2016 Citi Open (ATP 500) July 18-14, 2016

[Old Lion]

Monfils vs. Karlovic Finals.

Monfils only has 5 ATP titles. All have been at the 250 level.

He has 3 500 level Finals (Japan 2010 to Nadal; Washington 2011 to Stephanek; Rotterdam 2016 to Klizan).

He has 3 Masters 1000 Finals (Paris 2009 to Djokovic; Paris 2010 to Soderling; Monte Carlo 2016 to Nadal).

IMO, wishing he gets his first 500 title would still be less than what he's expected to do. He should have gotten a 500 title by now. It's just too late in his career to be special, as he should have already done this.

Karlovic has 7 250 titles.

He's never played for a 500 title.

I'll root for him, given his age (37), and more limited game. It's a bigger achievement for him.

I still dont know how Monfils lost to Klizan. He can give Karlovic fits with his quickness. Doc is on a roll though after dropping his first set in Newport and barely salvaging the second before going on to win that one and now maybe this one.

 

[nuraman00]

If Karlovic wins, he would join Ferrer as the other player this year to win back to back titles on different surfaces.

 

[Old Lion]

Shocking the way Monfils actually won it. Looked like it was over when Doc won the first set and got the second into a tie break. Karlovic loses very few tiebreaks especially when closing out matches.

 

[nuraman00]

Shocking the way Monfils actually won it. Looked like it was over when Doc won the first set and got the second into a tie break. Karlovic loses very few tiebreaks especially when closing out matches.

Karlovic's tiebreak record is poor. Especially in deciding sets.

420-391 (52%) career,

183-204 (47%) in deciding sets.


Comparing this to Ivanisevic, Isner:

Ivanisevic:

606-335 (64%) career

92-102 (47%) deciding sets.

Isner:

341-207 (62%)

132-93 (59%) deciding sets.

 

[nuraman00]

It wasn't a well played match. But it had a lot of tense moments, like with Karlovic serving for both sets, and the 2nd set tiebreaker.

 

[Old Lion]

I am surprised he is even still playing tbh. At his age now he does not move well at all. Not that he was ever a great mover, but it is really noticeable now.

 

[nuraman00]

I am surprised he is even still playing tbh. At his age now he does not move well at all. Not that he was ever a great mover, but it is really noticeable now.

That's why I was rooting for him to get the Citi Open, as he might not have many chances left.

He also had meningitis in 2013, and had a tough road back, so kudos to him.

tennis.com - Karlovic hospitalized with viral meningitis