[Blackbriar]

thanks for the itw Soulage Nico will clinch few more spots i think, in fact the way french players are getting injured one after another, he could very well be french n°1 by year-end

[soulage]

After his final last week in cherbourg he's in semi today in sarajevo. He skips the us tourney and the beginning of the clay season to play challengers on hardcourt as bath in 2 weeks. He has real chance to take the title in sarajevo and continues to climb in the ranking with his choice of schedule.

[soulage]

he lost to Delic. I read he had some MP. Pity. Next is Bath.

[soulage]

He starts Bath campaign with a win over Hernych. I look at the draw and until semi it's a nice draw.

[Ad Wim]

I see he withdrew from Athens challenger next week. Anyone know if there's something wrong? Or does a get a WC to Monte Carlo (MD or Q)?

[soulage]

I don't think he wants to play MC. Maybe a little pain and need to rest to prepare the grass season . He already says to the Bordeaux tournament director that he will play there. On lequipe.fr he says he doesn't want too play too much on clay to be fresh for grass but it's a good preparation.http://www.lequipe.fr/Tennis/breves2...-des-pros.html

Nicolas Mahut, 88e joueur mondial : «L'an dernier je n'avais pas fait de longue préparation, j'étais arrivé en jouant mon jeu et j'avais enfin passé un tour à Roland-Garros. Il faut s'adapter un peu avec des trajectoires plus hautes, tout en gardant beaucoup de variations. Par le passé, j'ai trop voulu jouer du fond et je me suis perdu. Cela dépend aussi des conditions de jeu, si la terre est lourde et s'il y a du vent c'est compliqué. Mais l'état d'esprit joue beaucoup. Si je joue bien sur terre, je sais que je serai bon à Wimbledon. On tape plus de balles donc ça donne du rythme et mentalement on ne doit être concentré sur de longs échanges. Je ne veux en revanche pas trop jouer lors de cette tournée sur terre battue afin de garder de la fraîcheur.»

«Ça dépend de l'approche mentale. C'est dur d'accepter que les coups reviennent plus, qu'on va se faire passer. Il faut dépasser la frustration. Quand j'ai trop voulu jouer du fond, je me suis perdu. Il n'y a pas de plaisir si on joue contre-nature. Cela dépend aussi des conditions de jeu, si la terre est lourde et s'il y a du vent c'est compliqué. Si on ne joue pas cette tournée sérieusement, on va droit dans le mur. A l'attaquant d'imposer sa manière de jouer.»

[Ad Wim]

But Athens is HC...

And I guess he's going to play Nice and RG, and then Bordeaux as well, that's 3 weeks in a row

[darkboy]

Noo

I was going to see him playing in Athens...

[Kezzi]

Hope you still have fun in Athens

[darkboy]

Many thanks

[soulage]

He has a knee injury and plan to be back for the Madrid qualies according lequipe

[Filo V.]

Nicolas played Madrid qualies, and lost 4-6 4-6 to Falla. Now he's in Bordeaux and plays fellow Frenchman Maxime Teixeira in R1. Teixeira has had some great results this year, so on clay this will be a struggle for Nico. Hopefully he can get the victory.

[Ad Wim]

Why isn't he in the Nottingham EL? I'd play every graass court tournament there is, if I were him.

[soulage]

Nico will release a book called le match de ma vie next week

[Kezzi]

Seriously?