Valencia QF: Superstar Almagro def. Volandri 6-3 1-0 RET.

Almagro's serve was on, besides he didn't need to play that well to defeat Volandri, who was never close to winning and chose to retire after losing the final game on serve at love. Anyone who knows about his injury?

. Anyone who knows about his injury?

Cagalera

Obviously Almagro is known for his tetchy behaviour, and as far as that goes, I love to see all kinds of personalities on court. However, he was a little out of order having a go at Volandri after the 1st set. He was obviously hampered, he wasn't faking, and Almagro didn't need to do that.

I don't think, it was anything against Volandri whose stomach was hurting btw. He seemed to discuss 1-2 umpire calls. Not like Volandri needed to care about that, since he lost the set. Maybe they get along well, I don't know.

It's not something you see very often - a player talking to and apparently berating his opponent while the guy waits for the trainer.

Big thumbs-up to Volandri though - he seemed supremely disinterested in what Almagro thought and refused to be baited in any way.

Almagro seems to want to go out of his way to be unlikeable. Safin refused to shake his hand here last year, as everyone no doubt recalls.

I don't think, it was anything against Volandri whose stomach was hurting btw. He seemed to discuss 1-2 umpire calls. Not like Volandri needed to care about that, since he lost the set. Maybe they get along well, I don't know.
Goodness knows why he didn't speak to the umpire, then. Or get the marks checked at the time.

I thought he was irritated about how long Volandri was off-court when he went off the first time to get treatment from the trainer. I assumed it was something to do with that.

I saw the match and all I can say is that Volandri wasn't well at all. He went to the toilets twice. Once at 4-3, and after the 1st set. He asked for the trainer and showed him his tummy. I don't know if he was injured or if he was ill. He looked like he had had a sleepless night.

Oh I didn't know that Volandri had left the court several times in the first set. I only saw a little bit of the first set and then when Almagro was talking with Volandri. What I wrote was the german commentators impression.

Feel sorry for Volandri, but Almagro's tennis today was hardly spectacular. The winner of Martin / Ventura could give him a problem in the rallies, and Starace could certainly test him in the final imo.

almagro has an attitude problem.

the result was never in doubt, even if volandri hadnt been injured. his serve has pitifully slow, he hits every forehand off the backfoot, he covers his backhand soo much that there is an acre of space down the line.

:lol: wish I had been there to see Almagro flip out on a guy who was sick

Almagro was playing well until it became clear Volandri was injured. Then he started trying to win too fast and it became a battle. Once the first set was lost Volandri was always likely to retire.

i wonder what's going on in tennis?? every player who loses first set retires @ 2nd?? is too hilarious though!!

Volandri had an intestinal virus according to Italian websites

ironically, he got smth similar last year in Valencia and it affected all his clay season

hopefully not this time

Defending champion Nicolas Almagro is through to the semi-finals of the Valencia Open after Italian opponent Filippo Volandri was forced to retire. The Spaniard, who now faces compatriot Santiago Ventura, took the first set 6-3 before Volandri quit at 1-0 down in the second because of injury.
"I don't care about anything except that I am the favourite," said third seed Almagro. "I am in great shape."



Could he *be* any more charming?

Defending champion Nicolas Almagro is through to the semi-finals of the Valencia Open after Italian opponent Filippo Volandri was forced to retire. The Spaniard, who now faces compatriot Santiago Ventura, took the first set 6-3 before Volandri quit at 1-0 down in the second because of injury.
"I don't care about anything except that I am the favourite," said third seed Almagro. "I am in great shape."



Could he *be* any more charming?



:awww: He's speaking the truth, right?

Sorry, just a bit awe by the double standards here. And this is not directed at you, scooobsuk. I bet it will be charming if the same thing said by Safin. Or it's the truth if it's said by Federer. :shrug:

Where does the "superstar" epithet come from? Did Almagro call himself a superstar or something like that?

:awww: He's speaking the truth, right?

Sorry, just a bit awe by the double standards here. And this is not directed at you, scooobsuk. I bet it will be charming if the same thing said by Safin. Or it's the truth if it's said by Federer. :shrug:
I don't think Roger, or Safin for that matter, would say anything as crass as "I don't care about anything except that I am the favourite."

I don't think Roger, or Safin for that matter, would say anything as crass as "I don't care about anything except that I am the favourite."

exactly what's wrong with that statement? you think the "I don't care about anything" refers to Volandri's sickness? Where's that quote comes from?

He's the only seed left. He's the favourite to win. If I'm a favourite to win a tournament, I will be very focus and don't care about whatever is happening around him. And if saying something that's true and not hurting anyone else is crass in your opinion, I have nothing more to say.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6554277.stm

was the source

What's wrong with it is that it's crass and vainglorious.

Just my opinion.

He's not wrong. But for me he doesn't get any marks for saying so.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6554277.stm

was the source

What's wrong with it is that it's crass and vainglorious.

Just my opinion.

He's not wrong. But for me he doesn't get any marks for saying so.

:shrug: that article doesn't indicate why that quote comes up.

As long as the same opinion applies to all players. Not just one.

Almagro :haha:

I'd like to know the sort of stuff he was saying to Volandri at the changeover after the 1st set...whatever he said didn't seem to be anything positive :tape: Volandri really didn't give a toss :yeah:

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Pippo...intestinal virus sounds nasty

:shrug: that article doesn't indicate why that quote comes up.

As long as the same opinion applies to all players. Not just one.
Personally I don't like it when any player adopts that sort of tone. I also don't like it when any player does what Almagro did today at the end of set changeover to Volandri. The kid is rude.

this "Superstar" is good :angel:

get well soon pippo

So far, anyone know what Almagro said during the first set changeover? It seems everyone here is prosecuting Almagro base on what's on Volandri's face. :tape:

edit: oops, I mean persecuting, not prosecuting.

So far, anyone know what Almagro said during the first set changeover? It seems everyone here is prosecuting Almagro base on what's on Volandri's face. :tape:
I watched the match. No we don't know what he said. We know that Volandri was sat in his chair on the change of ends, Almagro crossed round to talk to him. He was gesticulating, his facial expression and general demeanour reflected someone who was irritated and unhappy and letting the other person know. Volandri just sorta responded in a very laid back and disinterested way. Almagro threw up his hands and stomped back to his side of the chair and sat down.

I think you have to take it from me that whatever that conversation was about, Almagro was unhappy and letting Volandri know.

I watched the match. No we don't know what he said. We know that Volandri was sat in his chair on the change of ends, Almagro crossed round to talk to him. He was gesticulating, his facial expression and general demeanour reflected someone who was irritated and unhappy and letting the other person know. Volandri just sorta responded in a very laid back and disinterested way. Almagro threw up his hands and stomped back to his side of the chair and sat down.

I think you have to take it from me that whatever that conversation was about, Almagro was unhappy and letting Volandri know.

;) As a mod here (although not in GM), I can't take anyone's words. :lol:

;) As a mod here (although not in GM), I can't take anyone's words. :lol:
*grins*

well fair enough. I can't well argue with that :)

I watched the match. No we don't know what he said. We know that Volandri was sat in his chair on the change of ends, Almagro crossed round to talk to him. He was gesticulating, his facial expression and general demeanour reflected someone who was irritated and unhappy and letting the other person know. Volandri just sorta responded in a very laid back and disinterested way. Almagro threw up his hands and stomped back to his side of the chair and sat down.

I think you have to take it from me that whatever that conversation was about, Almagro was unhappy and letting Volandri know.


I also watched the match and I´m not sure by any means Almagro was complaining at sth, I think he was just justifying himself bc a call he marked out and umpire saw it in after walking down his chair.

And btw, yes Almagro has always been an idiot but it´s also fair to say that there´s nothing wrong in what he´s saying, he´s the overwhelming fav to win this tourney, and that´s pretty clear for any one who knows about tennis

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6554277.stm

was the source

What's wrong with it is that it's crass and vainglorious.

Just my opinion.

He's not wrong. But for me he doesn't get any marks for saying so.

Yep, hes going to be real dissapointed he doesnt get some douchebag's marks from a tennis forum. Unlucky Almagro, you dont get "scoobsuk" marks. Try harder next time :wavey:

I watched the match. No we don't know what he said. We know that Volandri was sat in his chair on the change of ends, Almagro crossed round to talk to him. He was gesticulating, his facial expression and general demeanour reflected someone who was irritated and unhappy and letting the other person know. Volandri just sorta responded in a very laid back and disinterested way. Almagro threw up his hands and stomped back to his side of the chair and sat down.

I think you have to take it from me that whatever that conversation was about, Almagro was unhappy and letting Volandri know.

no marks again Almagro.

cup cup:) we love cup

Where does the "superstar" epithet come from? Did Almagro call himself a superstar or something like that?

His normal nickname is "Mucho". But he has the talent for sure and he definitely lets people know that, and it comes across to some as an attitude problem. He thought and thinks he is a "superstar" before producing the results that are worthy of that moniker. In other he was the swagger, but not the results as of yet to back that up.