[Getta]

So, we'll have David versus Stan in the third round. Love it. Just love it.

[crazy_nanine]

Originally Posted by the_natural

By which You mean Good Luck nalbandian :P

yeah sure

good to see David winning his doubles matches as well. just hope this boost his confidence and doesn't affect his fitness, there are still more matches to be played in the next 2 weeks

[Tennis-Engineer]

David has never lost to any player 5 times in a row.I hope he plays his best tennis tomorrow and defeats him after 4 losses.

[LeChuck]

Originally Posted by Getta

So, we'll have David versus Stan in the third round. Love it. Just love it.

I like both David and Stani too, and I'm pleased that they'll be facing each other here.
In the past Stan's backhand down the line has wreaked all sorts of havoc with David. It will be interesting to see how he handles it tomorrow.

[my0118]

Good luck to Nalbandian!
Stans' backhand is great. I like players who have a decent backhand. I hope it will be a great match.

[Getta]

Originally Posted by LeChuck

I'm never one to be overly bothered when my favourite players are handed difficult draws. I agree with Viken that it will be interesting to see how he copes with it.

Originally Posted by krystlel

I like difficult draws sometimes for the sake of entertainment. Mainly the only time I get bothered about bad draws are in Grand Slams.

Other times, I just comment on it as part of an analysis.

I like the difficult draws too, as I prefer my favourite players to be tested as hard as possible. Although I wouldn't mind them playing a "soft" opponent in their opening rounds.

Originally Posted by Tennis-Engineer

It is about time to revenge Wawrinka ! David can outplay him on clay.

Originally Posted by crazy_nanine

... And for Wawrinka, I also believe David has better chances on clay...

Stan's best surface is clay. Last year, he played a very close match against Rafa in Stuttgart final. It might have been a straight-set defeat (Stan lost to Rafa 4-6 5-7) but it was a really, really tough match. It lasted 130 minutes...

Originally Posted by PMK is Innocent

Wawrinka's best surface is clay, but at least he will get some good matches here, which is what he needs.

Very true.

Originally Posted by justClaudia

Every year I regret not having a few days off around the tournament time to be there - every year I think: I'll be there next year, definitely. And end up never going.

I love the tournament, the city - everything about Barcelona fascinates me. I know David loves it too.

Am only hoping he can bring the Monte Carlo form into this tournament & just enjoy himself out there.

Originally Posted by LeChuck

Barcelona is one my favourite cities in the world, and I really want to attend this tournament one day.

I will be there next year, definitely.
Love the city, love tennis on clay, have friends there. Perfect conditions for my first tournament (I've never been to a tennis tournament before ).

Claudia and Scott, even if you are there next year, it will be better not to meet you because you will most probably get embarrassed by my clumsiness.

[Viken01]

Originally Posted by Getta

I will be there next year, definitely.
Love the city, love tennis on clay, have friends there. Perfect conditions for my first tournament (I've never been to a tennis tournament before ).

Claudia and Scott, even if you are there next year, it will be better not to meet you because you will most probably get embarrassed by my clumsiness.

I'm sure you will love it Getta ! My first and only tournament was Paris TMS 2 years ago. It's really different atmosphere to be among the supporters !

And also, good luck David

[LeChuck]

Stan thrashed David 6-3 6-1, and became the first player to beat him 5 times in a row. Stan owns David on a leash, and loves to feed off the angles that David aims his way and pepper the ball down the line. His backhand down the line = a living nightmare for David.
I wasn't expecting David to win today, although I wish that he could have kept the scoreline more respectable. Next up for him is Rome next week, and a tournament where he has performed well in the past.

[crazy_nanine]

Originally Posted by crazy_nanine

the draw is not really that bad...first thing he's not in Nadal's half of the draw so there's a higher possibility for him to reach the final. And regarding the earlier rounds, I don't think either Johansson or Calleri are playing good enough these days to beat David on clay-that if he plays like he played in Monte Carlo. And for Wawrinka, I also believe David has better chances on clay...the first bad thing is if he plays Ferrer in the SF (that of course in case he reached that round )
I think it mainly depends on his fitness...so best of luck David

so I was definitely wrong the score wasn't even close! I thought David had better chances on clay because he won the only match they played on clay in RG, but obviously back then he was in better form. I'm a little disappointed with the score especially that I don't like Wawrinka that much.
The good thing is that he has more time now to prepare for Rome

[Schu]

Disappointed but not that surprised. Afterall Dave seems to just get fired up for Masters and Grand Slams and Davis Cup. Seems like the rest are just for a practice match or two. Plus there had to be the "mental" thing with his win-loss record against Stan (or should I say his loss-loss record).

On to Rome and a fired up/fit David (i hope).

[krystlel]

Disappointed with the scoreline. I agree with Scott that Wawrinka loves to go down-the-line off both wings with considerable pace using the angles that David creates, especially on the backhand side.

[justClaudia]

what a spanking Wawa completely owns David. That's all.

Originally Posted by Schu

On to Rome and a fired up/fit David (i hope).

yes, please!

[Viken01]

I didn't expect such scoreline :/

[Viken01]

From what I heard, backhand down the line is a killing weapon against nalby. So the question is, why this shot is such a nightmare for him ? I wonder...

[LeChuck]

Originally Posted by Viken01

From what I heard, backhand down the line is a killing weapon against nalby. So the question is, why this shot is such a nightmare for him ? I wonder...

Stan is able to use this shot to get David off balance in a rally, and take charge of it himself. He tests David's reach on his forehand side, constantly stretching him out wide. Many of David's shots when put under that pressure land perfectly into Stan's hitting zone. He hits it with a lot of pace, and he is very effective at probing David's weaker forehand and getting it to break down.
Stan's forehand has improved over the past 8 months or so, and he can also use his forehand down the line to nullify the threat of David's backhand.
David's best surface is indoors and Stan has beaten him 3 times under a roof, so unfortunately the chances of David winning on Stan's own favourite surface clay was very slim.