Week 17 - Turkey F16 ($10,000) - Antalya - Belconti (Hard)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RE: Week 17 - Turkey F16 ($10,000) - Antalya - Belconti (Hard)

korriban · Challenger level

A set and a break down. Tom hasn't had a sniff on the Brasilian's serve once - and under pressure on most of his own service games.

He has started slowly and suddenly exploded recently, but this would be an extraordinary turnaround. Keep it tight at least and see what happens.

steven · Tennis legend

Tom just saved a couple of match points on his own serve but Sant'anna is about to serve for the match 4-6 4-5*

steven · Tennis legend

Tom breaks to love

4-6 *5-5

korriban · Challenger level

Part one of the plan working. Kept it tight to 1 break down, now first 3 BPs of the match......and bang! 5-5

Strange game tennis. 1 BP chance in the entire match, now back on serve. Still a huge underdog and this next game is vital.

steven · Tennis legend

... only to get broken again

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

But breaks back again smile

korriban · Challenger level

And Tom breaks immediately back. 2 breaks in a row when the Brasilian served for the match......no BPs previously

Whats the portuguese word for Choke? smile

steven · Tennis legend

.. then breaks back again!

For a match that had only one break in each set up to 4-5 in the 2nd, this has gone a bit crazy!

steven · Tennis legend

Tom saves another match point at *5-6 in the tiebreak ... and takes it 8-6!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Great stuff.

Now if my maths is correct (and it rarely is), if Tom wins this set, Team GB cracks the 700 barrier for the 25th ranked player. So "no pressure Tom". wink

korriban · Challenger level

Second set to Tom. Whatever happens today, we know he's quite a match player. On the receiving end of a proverbial battering for a set and three quarters, with every other service game 0-30 or BPs down, and not a single chance against the serve. Kept both sets as tight as possible and finally broke through as the pressure to serve it out switched to the Brasilian. You can't ask any more than that.

Win or lose, terrific stuff!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Tom on fire now. Breaks to 15 in the opening game of the final set.

Let's hope it lasts.

steven · Tennis legend

Tom doesn't seem to know when he's beaten

... the kind of way players get when they keep winning!

Looking at the points due off on 6 May, I think Bob is right, because Ashley has already overtaken Dave Rice and Tom would do the same if he can win the 3rd set. Dave should stay on the same number of points, which currently have him at WR 688.

The only caveat is that there are so many Futures events on this week and I can't remember if the same week last year was similar - if not, there could be so many extra points getting handed out this week that players may drop a fair bit even if their points total does not change.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Tom has a double break 3*-0, although there is pressue on his serve.

Great to see such consistent performances from Tom. Regularly beating players ranked significantly higher and getting to QF's and SF's. This is the way to get your ranking up.

With his ability to turn over players in the 400's on a regular basis, a ranking of 400+ must be the realistic target.