Week 16 - Challenger ($100,000) - Sarasota, FL, USA (clay)

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Week 16 - Challenger ($100,000) - Sarasota, FL, USA (clay)

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Russell was pretty useless, I think James has a chance here.

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Also seeds dropping like flies, all seeds in the top half have been knocked out in the 1st round, whilst 3rd seed Alund is also out.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Just got home and seen the final result. Pretty much as I expected.

I have probably seen more of Kyle than anyone so far this year and although he has generally played well, he was not up the standard I witnessed in the DC tie - but he wasn't far off. By the sounds of it, he didn't serve too well today. I don't see his serve as a general problem - he probably just had a bad day. One fact that hasn't been mentioned yet is that he hasn't played a competitive match for almost 6 weeks, so he may have been a bit rusty, particularly in the early stages.

I also think that it was probably a very difficult match psychologically for BOTH players, given their recent experiences together in the DC. It would have been a strange atmosphere and probably the draw that both players least wanted.

James is still the superior player of the two, but that gap will close. I definitely think James should and will play ahead of Kyle in Croatia. Whatever Kyle does between now and then, experience is a big factor in DC, particularly in an away match with a partisan crowd.

And whilst we all want to see where Kyle will be rankings wise in 3 weeks, or 3 months time, what is far more important is where he is in 3 years time. We all need to be patient - me included.

Anyway, congrats to James. Let's hope the DC success has built his confidence and he can have a good run here.

korriban · Challenger level

Thanks again Bob. From yesterday still a noticeable difference in level, which Kyle will hopefully bridge (and more) in time. Time is something he has plenty of.

I certainly wasn't tipping Kyle for a DC cup slot in September, merely suggesting that with a full season on clay ahead including for Kyle 2 CHs 2 Futures and the Junior FO, and at his rapid rate of improvement, he shouldn't be ruled out on what is probably his favourite surface and others also have the chance to make their mark. Now extremely unlikely, of course.

As it happens, from the limited amount I have seen of the latest "generation" of young guns (1993s-1995s), none of them come even close to the wow factor of the Murrays, Nadals, Djokovic's or Gasquets at the same age or even the Tomic or Dimitrov class. Perhaps Thiem has flashes of what one might call a "special" talent. I haven't seen anything of Nick Kyrgios, who seems to be making exceptional strides.

I also flipped to Monaco immediately after Ward-Edmund and the power, consistency and accuracy of Gulbis was extraordinary to watch in the last set - frankly it was like watching a completely different sport.

-- Edited by korriban on Wednesday 17th of April 2013 06:09:04 AM

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

The Magician Santoro wrote:
Also seeds dropping like flies, all seeds in the top half have been knocked out in the 1st round, whilst 3rd seed Alund is also out.

Harrison (2) bit the dust as well, beaten by the Argentine, Facundo Argüello, by 6-7(3) 4-6, which means that Pella (ARG/6) & Odesnik (USA/8) are the only ones left standing! disbelief

RJA · Hall of fame

Jamie and John lead *4-2

RJA · Hall of fame

First set in the bag 6-3

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the boys had bagged the first set, but less surprised to note that the fightback has started: Bozo & Dev lead by 3-0* in the second.

hmm

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Yikes! Second set down the pan by 1-6! bleh Squeaky-bum time!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Oh no!

R1: (Q) Ilija Bozoljac & Somdev Devvarman (SRB/IND) WR 841 defeated (2) Jamie Murray & John Peers (AUS) WR 23 by 3-6 6-1 [10-4] cry

Reeltime · Satellite level

Ouch. Lost 10-4

spud · Challenger qualifying

Thats a shame, probably the worst draw they could have asked for though ironically

philwrig · Hall of fame

korriban wrote:
Thanks again Bob. From yesterday still a noticeable difference in level, which Kyle will hopefully bridge (and more) in time. Time is something he has plenty of.
I certainly wasn't tipping Kyle for a DC cup slot in September, merely suggesting that with a full season on clay ahead including for Kyle 2 CHs 2 Futures and the Junior FO, and at his rapid rate of improvement, he shouldn't be ruled out on what is probably his favourite surface and others also have the chance to make their mark. Now extremely unlikely, of course.
As it happens, from the limited amount I have seen of the latest "generation" of young guns (1993s-1995s), none of them come even close to the wow factor of the Murrays, Nadals, Djokovic's or Gasquets at the same age or even the Tomic or Dimitrov class. Perhaps Thiem has flashes of what one might call a "special" talent. I haven't seen anything of Nick Kyrgios, who seems to be making exceptional strides.
I also flipped to Monaco immediately after Ward-Edmund and the power, consistency and accuracy of Gulbis was extraordinary to watch in the last set - frankly it was like watching a completely different sport.

-- Edited by korriban on Wednesday 17th of April 2013 06:09:04 AM

How have you made the conclusion that clay is Kyle's favourite surface ? I would have thought it was either hard or grass.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, Phil, from Bob in Spain's discussions with Kyle and his coach and subsequent reports to us, I got the impression that the emphasis on clay was much more about honing a consistent game than any suggestion that it was because it was Kyle's favourite surface.

The fact that Kyle has played so much recently on clay will in itself clearly be making him a better clay court player and ahead of some other similarly ranked Brits. But favourite surface ? - I don't know about that one ( and I'd actually be a bit surprised ) unless I've missed something.

What seemed to suit him best in his junior days ?