ILE rolling non-slam Tennis thread

i used to feel the same way about stephens, but then bouchard appeared

I find their hype more objectionable than their behaviour (though Bouchard's Fed Cup antics were ridiculous) but their games are so flawed. Whenever I watch Sloane I end up yelling at her about her still non-existent footwork. But when Bencic/Konjuh/Townsend get good we'll need to think about them about as much as we do Cirstea. Roll on that time.

Li seems to have got it together somewhat.

Li's form still coming in frustrating "fits and starts and sometimes stops" as the commentator put it but it's not like Stephens' first set form was that amazing so it's one-way stuff now.

lol petra just won the first set 6-4 from 0-4 behind

So good to see Caroline Garcia finally begin to make good on her talent. In March she snapped a 10-match losing streak going back to last Sep, and since then she's been on fire - first title, multiple top wins, now into the Madrid QF with a three-set win over Errani that annoyingly wasn't streamed.

Surprised that Dimitrov fell away so badly vs Berdych, only saw the first set but he was really peaking in that.

Nishikori beating Raonic is so pleasing.

Ivanovic led 2-0 and then Halep woke up and DEMOLISHED her in that set. Delicious

Given that I expected Kvitova to get blown out 6-2 6-2 by Halep, I'll take a tie-break.

Halep is being a bit of a sulky cow about being called on a double-bounce.

Also, that set was pretty ghastly.

It was woeful. Halep should be kicking herself that she managed to lose it - Petra oscillated between 10% great and 90% shite as usual and Halep did zilch to make her pay for the latter. Then concluded on one of the worst DFs ever

Loses set 6-3 from 3-1 up. That is so Petra.

So was ballooning that sitter outside the tramlines

This is such an embarrassing collapse. 900 errors. (Okay, the screen said 50, but, anyway).

Thing is, when Kvitova plays her one-point-in-seven that she doesn't hit a ridiculous error, Halep has no answers.

That's true (though it's true of everyone really), but Halep's really raised her own level since the first set. Fewer aimless rally shots, fewer errors of her own, sharper on the big points. Which is all it takes.

The on-court PA is playing "The Lazy Song". HOW APPROPRIATE FOR ONE OF THE PLAYERS ON THIS COURT, I WONDER WHO.

Martina Navratilova would love to coach someone. YOU, Petra. SHE MEANS YOU. Of course, her physical training regimen would fucking kill Kvitova stone dead within five minutes.

Incredible to think how far Halep's come since this time last year. She lost R1 to Dominguez Lino here in 2013!!! And then literally overnight started playing at a top 5 level.

Of course, her physical training regimen would fucking kill Kvitova stone dead within five minutes.

Kvitova's training regimen involves walking on a treadmill while reading a book :(

Petra hit 66 UEs, fyi. Is that even a notable number by her standards tho.

I did see a nice photo of her on an exercise bike in a pool. Yes, with water in it.

At least Radwanska probably won't flop a set and a break lead vs Sharapova. Because lol she's not likely to get one of those on clay now.

Kei beats Ferrer in three sets with an absolutely crazy last game that lasted almost 20 minutes

Nishikori and Halep would make for wonderful winners today.

Maria gettin' killed

Not so much^ .Only lost against Serena on clay is a meaningful stat, but no matches go by without weird lapses in focus, and one day it will end in a loss. Still 2/2 clay tournaments. These two should meet again quite early on in Rome.

Big Safina farewell for the trophy ceremony

Sharapova won this tournament in about the most annoying way possible. Nearly a R2 exit until McFail choked and then horrendous hysterical-fighting-spirit comebacks after getting comprehensively outplayed by two of my faves UGH

Kei save Madrid 4 me

I STILL maintain "Claypova" is a myth btw, clay rewards aforementioned fighting spirit way more than any natural affinity for the surface

7 of last 9 tournament wins are on clay and she's got the best win percentage on the tour so natural affinity or not it's her best surface and she's the most winning player on it atm.

Also if you're outplayed for one set in a three setter you're actually the one outplaying the other player altogether on account of the other two #tennis ('comprehensively outplayed- vs li na total points 93-93, vs halep ms 83 halep 76 points)

brilliant play from kei so far

Go go go

Need to find a stream stat.

just wow

He hasn't won a point since I start watching.

And hasn't lost one since I moaned about it.

didn't really even contemplate Nishikori being an exciting player to watch until a couple of months ago. This is great though

Painful to watch now.

yeah such a shame

You get the idea that this will forever be the story of his career. He's very breakable.

Such a bloody shame, Nishikori was peaking in the first set. Rafa never came close to playing well himself. What an irritating tournament.

:-(

Fran turning back the clock and giving a clay tennis masterclass to Bouchard, who looked mostly hapless. Only Fran's 4th win of 2014.

wow the end of this Cibulkova/Giorgi match is so dramatic but so bad

Giorgi gagging hard, Cibulkova not doing a thing except yelling POME after basic missed returns

Deserved win for Giorgi. Good to see her hit through her choke. Baffling by Cibulkova - first that she was so passive and nothingy, then her collapse in the TB against a nervous opponent.

Puig d. Hantuchova 60 46 60. Peak WTA scoreLiNa <3

It's basically got to the point where I'm surprised when any given Kvitova shot lands in the court, and when she misses by inches rather than miles I immediately think "oh, her form is improving!"

This Schiavone/Muguruza match is brilliant. Third set TB!

Fran wins, capers around in delight <3

lmao @ simon trolling nadal