Week 46 - Ritro Slovak Open Challenger (€106,500) - Bratislava, Slovakia.

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

RE: Week 46 - Ritro Slovak Open Challenger (€106,500) - Bratislava, Slovakia.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

I think he has to perhaps go for a little bit more on the serve and take any chances he has against Phau, but then it is possible that he is going for it on the serve at the moment and they are all going in, but Phau is just returning very well.

He's got to keep working the second serve of Phau and hope he can put him under pressure through that as well.

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

AB *2-0, Breaks to 15, Now hold this time!

jb288 · Satellite level

Count Zero wrote:

jb that sounds like astroturf based ct. esp with the sand. i think they are fairly common in the uk as an alternative to grass and the costs to maintain are much lower.

i don't think i've ever played tennis on them but i have played football/hockey though, i remember it grazes the skin easily! i dont think many pro tournaments are played on them though, at challenger lvl and above at least, maybe 1 in ireland?

-- Edited by Count Zero on Tuesday 17th of November 2009 09:51:34 PM

I don't think it's quite the same as astro, having played hockey on sand-based astro it's very different (and yes, very painful!). Our stuff is much more like carpet to look at (very small bristles if any, cropped very close) - but not sure what the official name is, I must say. I remember playing a school tennis match on what was ordinarily a hockey astro pitch and it was horrible. Maybe the difference is a subtle one.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

ah could be something newer then. i don't know what that is.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Hopefully this time he can hold onto his break of serve.

Playing on astroturf... I remember just how fun that used to be. I'm sure the only way to win on astro is to serve and volley on everything as at least that way you don't have to bother with the incredibly low bounce that makes it very difficult to hit a groundstroke.

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

AB 3-0* Holds to 15

Count Zero · Tennis legend

alex at 60% in on 1st serve but winning 100% - that's better.

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

AB *3-1, Phau holds to love

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

AB 4-1* Holds to 15

Count Zero · Tennis legend

Alex must have changed something surely, or Phau forgot how to return! Alex still on 100% 1st serves won thsi set. 10/10

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

AB *4-2, Phau holds to 15

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

AB 5-2*, Holds to love

Scratchy · Club Coach

Just got back expecting the game to be over..........only to find The New Battling Boggo has reared his head again! Keep it up!

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

AB *5-3, Phau holds to 15