first!

Troy,
Being at the Masters event, who has impressed you the most this week so far before today's play?
As of now, only Gasquet is the only Frenchmen left standing and got to play a "red-hot" Murray tomorrow.

The Parisian crowd has been as raucously partisan as they are at Roland Garros. During today's match against Blake, the umpire had to plead for calm after virtually every point Gasquet won. Unlike at RG, however, the support seemed to buoy the Frenchman rather than cause him to crumble, and his form was (apart from a lapse of concentration towards the middle of the second set) very impressive. Blake fought well also, and all told it was a high-quality affair, with both players tallying up more winners than UEs.

Gasquet had only played Blake and Murray once before, defeating both en route to last year's Toronto final - I wonder if that pattern will hold again. Or will Murray beat two home favourites in a row?

Well, if he truly was helped by the support that is a good sign for Reeshard. Wasn't he the one who was almost fearful of playing in front of his home crowd because of all the pressure they put on him to play well? He might be in a worse boat then even Mopey.

Maybe Doji was tired from partying with Martina?

A bad day to be a Swiss fan. Wawrinka, Hingis and now Federer. Oof.

So Nalbandian proves it wasn't a fluke like his countryman Cañas at the beginning of the season. I think this was a more thrilling encounter--they both played well from beginning to end, with Nalbandian maintaining a slight edge and Federer raising his level enough to almost get back in it with some crucial breaks (for once I don't think it was just Nalby simply choking) to add the gnawing suspense. The tiebreaker was a bit anticlimactic like in the Montréal final but in the end three weeks of straight tennis must have been wearing on the No 1.

The question is whether Nalbandian can turn this win into a title yet again. Ferrer has been a bit of a bugbear for him.

Hey I've just watched Nalbys-Fed and I'm still impressed seeying at the level nalby is playing right now...he has a knowledge of the game supreme, and his intelligence to place shots correctly and change directions is awesome. Not to mention his two-hander..unbelievable!! I've NEVER seen a guy before to have such versatility and power with his backhand..Whats more it even makes me believe nalby feels more comfortable hitting backhands rather than forehands..he must be the only one in the tour in that sense..except for tommy haas or gasquet, maybe..
All right..so now its 8 all in head to head...and there's actually a 12 grand slams gap between them...Oh..that doesnt add up to me..
Go nalby!! Keep it up and crash everyone else to earn your so much deseved respect from the skeptics!!

There have been some brilliant matches today. I enjoyed every second of Gasquet-Blake. What shot-making! I just wish that Gasquet could play to his potential all of the time, as it is such a sight to behold. I'm fully aware that things are not quite that simple though!

As for Nalbandian-Fedster. Welcome back David! What an incredible performance. Again. It's a real shame that he won't be at Shanghai, but looking forward to watching him continue this vain of form next season. His return just killed Federer today.

Has yec draw been released?

bahie - they don't draw until all the players are chosen....

Choosen?

Choosen?

jb-do you mean they hve to be divided into 2 group for round robin?

Bahie,
The players are divided in to 2 groups for round robin play.

Players have already been announced for next week and they are:
Henin
Jankovic
Kuznetsova
Ivanovic
S Williams
Chakvetadze
Hantuchova
Sharapova

Alternate - Bartoli

Note - V Williams qualified for the YEC but withdrew due to her anemic problems.

They will do the group draw today or tomorrow but the first match won't start until Tuesday.

Unfortunately for the WTA, the story will continue to be Hingis instead of the YEC championships.

Ha! Loved the last line....that someone dressed like an Easter egg took out Batman! That's a good one.

we can't help but love Fabrice---yes even if he's favorite get up looks like our native food---puto bungbong, i wish i have a picture to illustrate...:)

***we saw a man dressed as an easter egg take down Batman.***

just brilliant.
thanks Troy.

Yes, Federer is sOOOO used to winning because his opponents in the caliber of Roddick, Blake, Davydenko, Ljubicic, Berdych, Ferrero, etc are so in awe of him and already FOLD UP even before a match begins.

The players who have games to beat Federer -- Safin, Nalbandian, Canas, etc. -- are saddled with one thing or another.

This is the primary reason why Nadal is so much admired around the world -- HE STANDS UP TO FEDERER. HE GIVES A FIGHT.

With Nalbandian awakened, Nadal peaking, and Djokovic maturing, 2008 will be the most difficult year for Federer.

THE LAMB WILL OUTSHINE THE GOAT.

There is a reason Nalbandian didn't make the year-end. Anyone can get 'hot' for 2 months of the year, but the question is - can he keep it up for 2008? Some of his fans thought he would go 'on a roll' after winning the Year-End a couple of years ago against Roger...and look what happened! So before you crown Nalbandian for 2008 - why don't you wait to see which Nalbandian will show up? The one who won these 2 Indoor Master titles? Or the 'just above .500 Nalbandian' who showed up for most of the year? Several players can and have gotten hot during tennis years (Blake, Safin, Ljubicic, Gasquet, even Djokovic)... but it takes a special player to keep that drive and consistency month, after month, after month...year after year... and so far, only Federer has done that throughout the entire tennis calendar during a year.

Nadal has done it on clay, but Roger has done it on every surface January through December. Let's see if Nalbandian can do something in January through September first before we say 'he's in the mix' now.