Week 38 Futues - USA F23 ($10k) - Costa Mesa, CA

mjd · Challenger qualifying

RE: Week 38 Futues - USA F23 ($10k) - Costa Mesa, CA

mjd · Challenger qualifying

*5-5

2hrs 45min 37 deg C

Phew

mjd · Challenger qualifying

40-0
DF
40-15
40-30

Game

Bloomers 6-5*

Ken says "it's been a good match"
(Rich had a match point id 2nd set)

mjd · Challenger qualifying

0-15
15-15 off tape
15-30
15-40

tiebreak

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Richard won biggrin

3rd set TB (6-6)7-5
went a mini break down on 4th point.

"Quite a match" says Ken, shame that anyone had to lose"

Followed up with an interview with Rich.

-- Edited by mjd on Thursday 24th of September 2009 08:32:04 PM

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Very pleased to see Richard winning matches away from home. Well done and good luck for the next round.

steven · Tennis legend

mjd wrote:

Richard won
3rd set TB (6-6)7-5
went a mini break down on 4th point.

"Quite a match" says Ken, shame that anyone had to lose"

Followed up with an interview with Rich.

Excellent stuff

- after his recent results, I was half-expecting him to lose this. I'm sorry I missed it on the radio - I got Ken's email but I remember it saying he'd be commentating on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so I was hoping Richard could get through to at least Friday. Still, now he has, so I can listen to his next match with any luck.

Did Rich say anything interesting in the interview?

Shhh · Challenger level

Bloomers won 6-3, 6-7(8), 7-6(6) in the end and now plays 2nd seed Michael McClune #337

I have only just noticed Jan-Michael Gambill in the draw (and also into the quarters). There's a blast from the past!

-- Edited by Shhh on Friday 25th of September 2009 04:38:31 AM

mjd · Challenger qualifying

steven wrote:
Excellent stuff - after his recent results, I was half-expecting him to lose this. I'm sorry I missed it on the radio - I got Ken's email but I remember it saying he'd be commentating on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so I was hoping Richard could get through to at least Friday. Still, now he has, so I can listen to his next match with any luck.

Did Rich say anything interesting in the interview?

(6)Bloomfield vs (2)McClune is Second match tonight on ct 1, not before 21.00 BST (13.00 local) so it should be covered by Ken. McClune expended much less energy yesterday wining 6-2 7-5 so it could be tough for Rich, especially with temperatures expected over 100 deg again.

When questioned Richard admitted that after missing match point in 2nd set he had to really fight to come back and in a higher level tournament would have had a tougher job doing so.
(On the plus side if Richard survived 3 hours his back problem must be much improved.)

He confirmed that Norwich was on the east coast of England and his coach was Pete Russell "sorry Peter Russell"!

Ken then asked Rich if he was supported by The LTA which of course was a definite no, as he was too old. - This I found interesting as when 32 yr old former WR14 Jan-Michael Gambill was interviewed after his win he said that he hoped that USTA would help him to get back into tennis and see how far he could go, but he was just happy to be playing - yes JMG is really playing Futures! - perhaps Tim Henman will make a comeback in $10ks too . JMG said he was given several W/C last year but each time he was in an injury and could not play

-- Edited by mjd on Friday 25th of September 2009 07:51:10 AM

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Friday 9.15

Gambil vs Bester playing at the momemt.
Gambil leads 6-3 *3-2

Ken just had a lengthy interview with Richard questioning his career as Junior, Wimbledon, Queens etc. Also asked if he had ever played Andy which of course was a challenger in Canada and went to a tiebreak.
Ken commented that British players get critical coverage from their press.

Just confirmed that Richard's match will be broadcast once this current match finishes which could be a while yet.

www.radiotennis.com

Silver · County player

I'm guessing from Gambill's return that his acting career hasn't taken shape quite yet...

I've just told mum that Gambill's returned to tennis and she's now hoping he'll be at Queens or Eastbourne so she can ogle him again.

That's the REAL reason she went to Nottingham (initially).

wolf · Tennis legend

Rich lost the first set 6-7(5).

wolf · Tennis legend

...and also loses the second set on a TB.

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Shame - Rich really is in need of those points, to say nothing of the $'s, not playing for 4 months and not earning either makes things difficult, at least he has had lots of court play this week.

Ken's prediction of two TB was correct. - Pity it wasn't three.
I liked the comments such as "how can anyone play better tennis than this?" although Ken and Mike Nash were less inspired by the 2nd set as there were few rallies.

At least Richard can enjoy Southern California for a few days now, when interviewed he said that he liked the fact that there were lots of courts available so "you could just walk on for a hit anytime and it was warm"