Stircrazy wrote:

---

Tough draw for Dan:

L56:  Daniel Evans WR 26 (= CH) vs Taylor Fritz (USA) WR 30 (CH = 24 in March last year)

If he wins that one, he'll play Djoko (1) in the last 32...

---

 Excellent - Fritz is eminently beatable on clay and Andy can soften Djoko up over the weekend and give Dan an easy passage again

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Saturday 8th of May 2021 10:28:08 AM

Cam ahead 6-1 5-3 , convincing.

Very solid, well done Cam!

FQR:  (q1) Cameron Norrie WR 48 vs Marco Cecchinato (ITA) WR 104 (CH = 16 in February 2019)

The Italian did for the q9, Gerasimov, in three sets.

Indeed, Indy. Strongest of the year so far by far - for me, Italian Open is by far the top clay court event outside French Open, I have never liked Madrid particularly as an event, the stadium, the using blue clay in years gone by, all count against it. Italian Open has history and prestige. Monte Carlo is above Madrid in my liking as well, to be honest.

In fact, my Masters list would normally be (Covid allowing)

- Indian Wells
- Miami
- Rome
- Monte Carlo
- Paris
- Shanghai
- Canada
- Madrid
- Cinci

In terms of personal liking, accept reality means prestige may differ a bit from that

JonH comes home wrote:

---

Indeed, Indy. Strongest of the year so far by far - for me, Italian Open is by far the top clay court event outside French Open, I have never liked Madrid particularly as an event, the stadium, the using blue clay in years gone by, all count against it. Italian Open has history and prestige. Monte Carlo is above Madrid in my liking as well, to be honest.

In fact, my Masters list would normally be (Covid allowing)

- Indian Wells
- Miami
- Rome
- Monte Carlo
- Paris
- Shanghai
- Canada
- Madrid
- Cinci

In terms of personal liking, accept reality means prestige may differ a bit from that

---

 I know it was only held 1 year but I really think moving Miami out to whatever that Stadium is called now (Joe Robbie in my day) took something away from the event. Crandon Park was a lovely venue, now it's out in what used to be the middle of nowhere, it's an absolute ballsache to get to and a grim Stadium with courts in the carpark for a view.

emmsie69 wrote:

---

JonH comes home wrote:

---

Indeed, Indy. Strongest of the year so far by far - for me, Italian Open is by far the top clay court event outside French Open, I have never liked Madrid particularly as an event, the stadium, the using blue clay in years gone by, all count against it. Italian Open has history and prestige. Monte Carlo is above Madrid in my liking as well, to be honest.

In fact, my Masters list would normally be (Covid allowing)

- Indian Wells
- Miami
- Rome
- Monte Carlo
- Paris
- Shanghai
- Canada
- Madrid
- Cinci

In terms of personal liking, accept reality means prestige may differ a bit from that

---

 I know it was only held 1 year but I really think moving Miami out to whatever that Stadium is called now (Joe Robbie in my day) took something away from the event. Crandon Park was a lovely venue, now it's out in what used to be the middle of nowhere, it's an absolute ballsache to get to and a grim Stadium with courts in the carpark for a view.

---

 Ditto, agreed, I used to like it when it started back in Boca Raton and then Key Biscayne. It really felt like the 5th major for a while, tried to emulate the golf players championship really but the prestige diminished as Indian Wells rose I think.