Hadn't seen the Andy wild card, thanks seagull. Any insight on Andys plans beyond that in latter part of season? Presumably he won't play Davis cup?

JonH wrote:

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Hadn't seen the Andy wild card, thanks seagull. Any insight on Andys plans beyond that in latter part of season? Presumably he won't play Davis cup?

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 Andy is due to play Bejiing/China Open (ATP 500). A few weeks ago there were ongoing negotiations about the 500 in Vienna for Andy, Rafa or Novak to play but nothing announced. (as per this twitter account: https://twitter.com/MichalSamulski)

To add: Andy's website was actually one of the best re: schedule. I can only think it's because it's a bit stop/start in the comeback that there isn't more on there, especially as the Asian ones have already been announced (it just goes up to Cinci). I would think Shanghai, if they haven't already, would give him a wc as well, given he won it a few years ago.

-- Edited by flamingowings on Tuesday 14th of August 2018 08:09:24 PM

Kyle loses the first set 6-4. Pretty even, but not winning the big points.

*5-6

Oh that's not the news I wanted to see this morning.

You've got it Helen - lack lustre is the perfect description for the second set. Some points were brilliant, some were just awful. I was watching on my tablet so couldn't comment at the same time. I don't really know how he managed to get back to 4-4 as he wasn't anywhere near his best.

I watched part of the match, starting from 4-4 in the 1st set, so I can't comment on that set too much other than through the stats. In the end, Kyle was 0/4 on BPs and Shap was 1/6 and that one he took was on SP. So I don't think there was much to choose between them in the opener and the comments I was hearing seem to back that up.

The 2nd set was wierd. Shap certainly played very well in the early part of the set and Kyle all over the place. As mentioned by The Addict above, Shap had point for 5-0 when serving at 40-30 before throwing in a couple of DFs and handing Kyle the break. A few minutes later it was 4-4 and I was asking myself, where did that come from. The last couple of games were close but Shap clearly deserved to win. He was so much more consistent.

Without trying to make excuses, I do think there is a physical/health problem with Kyle at the moment. There were several occasions during that 2nd set when he was either doubled over or down on his haunches between points. It was discussed at length by the commentators and his recent bout of tonsillitis was mentioned. My worry (in best conspiracy theory mode) is whether the story about tonsillitis is a cover for something else more serious. Whilst I agree with FW above that there were points where Kyle was brilliant, they seemed to be where Kyle decided that battling out long points was not in his armoury on the day and he was just going to thwack the fearhand. When it came off, it was spectacular. But the longer the points went, the more Shap dominated.

I know some will say this is a classic case of making excuses for a player that lost, but I am not trying to say Kyle "would have won if he was fit". I don't like the match up against Shap at the best of times. He has too much variety, the lefty swinging serve out to Kyle's weaker side and he defends like a greyhound. For me, as things stand, Shap always starts favourite against Kyle.