If ever a match could be deemed to be divided into various phases, this was that match. Each set was a match in itself and each had its own defining feature.

Set 1 - Lies, damn lies and statistics

How many of us here have sat and watched the scores tick through on bet365 and based our conclusions on the cold statistics that those scores generate.  I am one of the guilty ones in that regard.  This first set was the classic example of how statistics rarely tell the whole story.  There is no doubt that the obvious stat to jump out in this first set would be Kyle's unforced error count.  But any conclusions drawn from that would undoubtedly be false.

Kyle was the aggressor throughout much of the set and played some great tennis.  However, Carballes retrieval ability was at times unbelievable. So many balls kept coming back - and a high percentage of them came back with interest.  Consequently, Kyle was being forced to hit 4 or 5 aggressive shots to win a rally, whereas under other circumstances, 2 or 3 would have been enough.  He was constantly forced to go for more and more on his groundstrokes and this led to the "errors".  And whilst the stats define them as "unforced", I prefer to describe them as "forced by the excellence of his opponents defence". 

An early break for Carballes saw him lead throughout the set and a second break at *2-4 really sealed its destiny.  Kyle wasn't helped in that second service break by someones mobile phone going off during the rally at 15-30 and he was clearly distracted.  It didn't help that while waiting to serve at 15-40, the guy continued to chat on the phone, causing Kyle to pull away twice, and in the end, politely ask the guy to "shut up".  However, the set was probably gone anyway.

So set one could be summarised by saying - Kyle played really well, but Carballes just played that bit better.

Set 2 - Coaches

I have heard other GB players bemoan the lack of a travelling coach to offer tactical advice.  The importance was never clearer than when Kyle walked out at the start of the 2nd set.  Coach "Beechy" uttered 4 simple words - attack his forehand wide.

Kyle is obviously a fast learner and followed his coach's advice to the letter.  After a comfortable hold, he attacked wide to the forehand and was rewarded with the first real cracks in Carballes' armour.  Three points were won in the next game on the strength of that mode of attack and Kyle forced a break for 2-0.  As the set wore on, Kyle became more and more dominant with Carballes finally succumbing to the pressure and his own unforced error count started to rise.  As Carballes served at 2-5, Kyle turned up the heat to break him to love and tie the match at 1 set all.

Four words from the coach and the set was won.

Set 3 - Momentum

There was a brief pause before the 3rd set as Kyle visited the bathroom and the court was swept.  It was more than enough time for Coach Beechy and I to agree that the first game was going to be crucial - and so it proved.

Having broken at the end of the 2nd set, Kyle had the advantage of serving first in the decider.  But of course, it is only an advantage if you can hold your serve.  A double fault, a backhand error and a Carballes winner saw Kyle at 0-40 in the blink of an eye.  What followed next defined the match.  Off the back of three second serves, there followed three epic rallies, each ending with a fabulous Kyle winner - the last of which was a stunning forehand down the line.  DEUCE.  The game had taken on even more significance.  Another break point followed and this time, a gruelling rally ended in a stunning backhand winner from Carballes.  Kyle didn't lose the point - Carballes won it.  And with that point, in reality he took the match.

Kyle fought hard for the next three games, but Carballes was back in the zone.  Kyle, once again forced to go for more on his shots started to produce errors and in truth the final couple of games ran away very quickly.

It would be all too easy to criticise Kyle for a loss of concentration at the start of the 3rd set.  But if we were Spanish, we would be drooling over Carballes' ability to use the break between sets to regroup and refocus.  Personally, I prefer to give credit where credit is due and tip my hat to the Spaniard.  He played a great match.

So to all you Kyle fans out there - myself included - we may be disappointed by the result.  But have no fear, Kyle is still playing well and will continue to climb the rankings during the course of the season.

On to Cartagena.

 

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Saturday 10th of February 2018 07:34:32 PM

on bet365 its down as live in play

No it's not on any betting websites either , guess we'll just have to hope that the news is good

Darn. Be very interested to hear the background to that scoreline.

Submit to the LTA, or somewhere - it deserves a wider audience.
Thank you.

As a follow up, I also had the chance to talk to the coach about tennis in general. I asked him why he thought the Spanish produced so many good players compared to GB.

His answer can be best summarised as "Clarity of Vision". All the coaches from the top to the grass roots, have the same blue print of what they are trying to achieve. And whilst it is important to be flexible, it allows easy transition from one coach to another as players move up the ladder without having fundamental changes in style.

It is the same with football coaching here in Spain. It doesn't matter whether you play for Barcelona or your local U11's, you are taught the same basics. This allows for easy progression and transition through the various levels.

Other factors he mentioned included the opportunity to play outside all year round because of the weather and the number of available tournaments. I used the opportunity to ask him his opinion on the lack of Challenger events in the UK. He was quite philosophical and defended the situation because of the dearth of GB players in the 100 - 300 ranking range. He didn't see the point in organising challenger events so that overseas players can come over and rack up their points tally. He was also confident that once we got to the stage of more players developing to that level, the number of Challengers would increase.

I didn't have the opportunity to chat to Kyle this time. At the end of the match I felt it appropriate to give him his "space" and bid a hasty retreat. I hope to talk to him some more in Cartagena next week.