Week 21 - ATP 250 - Dusseldorf (Clay)

RJA · Hall of fame

Week 21 - ATP 250 - Dusseldorf (Clay)

steven · Tennis legend

Good to see they boys having a go

though it will no doubt be tough even to win one round - Vinciguerra is a former world no. 33 (albeit 12 years ago), Begemann hit a career high of 166 in 2010 and Marchenko hit a career high of 67 that same year and is still ranked pretty high.

korriban · Challenger level

steven wrote:
Good to see they boys having a go though it will no doubt be tough even to win one round - Vinciguerra is a former world no. 33 (albeit 12 years ago), Begemann hit a career high of 166 in 2010 and Marchenko hit a career high of 67 that same year and is still ranked pretty high.

Well I would expect wins for Alex and Josh (glad to see Alex won convincingly, Josh there or there abouts so far). Their opponents' rankings are now that way for good reason - age, injury, form, etc. Begemann has barely played this year. Much much tougher for Oli, but he ought to start winning (or at least being very competitive for a set or more) these types of matches sometime this year, given his pedigree and backing - though today is probably too soon. That's why his performance against Andreev last year, whilst ultimately a loss, seemed to confirm his talent and pedigree. Love him to win through today though.

Sorry to say it about Josh M (hope he wins of course), but until he sorts his serve out, which is by a country mile the poorest of any of the players on our top 25 table, I think he will struggle ever to break through - rest of his game seems very solid. He's already lost his serve 4 times out of 5, which is frankly not good enough

-- Edited by korriban on Saturday 18th of May 2013 09:35:28 AM

-- Edited by korriban on Saturday 18th of May 2013 09:36:47 AM

korriban · Challenger level

Bye bye Alex, I'm afraid. Omens not too good, but he's playing a fairly strong opponent now (although not really anyone special).

Edit: PLEASE let me be wrong - don't think I will be, but would gladly eat humble pie if Alex plays a blinder from here on in.

I think Oli's was a pretty good effort. Given how close the final set was, it would appear that he lost concentration during set 2, held it together superbly during set 3 until the tiebreak. Nonetheless of all 3 players, Oli's scoreline was probably the most pleasing, and having desperately wanted to see some ATP/CH action from our boys, I'm glad they gave it a go.

One would hope this simply encourages each player to work tirelessly on their respective weaknesses and weapons to turn around the results next time they step up.

-- Edited by korriban on Saturday 18th of May 2013 01:46:42 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yep, a tough ask, especially for three players who've had a pretty barren few months.

BUT . . . Alex is 5-0 up in the first set so: go lad !

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Alex won the first set 6-1 and leading 3-0 in the second.

RJA · Hall of fame

Alex won 1 and 1. Plays 3 seed Guido Pella in round 2 (later today)

steven · Tennis legend

Excellent win for Alex, even if the Swede is a decade past his best.

We'd be impressed with Alex only giving up 2 games to a top 600 player even if he hadn't been former top 40!

QR1: Alexander Ward WR 443 beat Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) WR 568 (CH 33 in 2001) by 1 & 1

QR2: Alexander Ward WR 443 v (q3) Guido Pella (ARG) WR 103 (CH 88 in Feb)

DF · Tennis legend

Josh currently 2 - 4

paulisi · Tennis legend

Seems a bit harsh that Alex's win will not get him any ranking points, although he will get some prize money. Excellent and unexpected win.

RJA · Hall of fame

paulisi wrote:
Seems a bit harsh that Alex's win will not get him any ranking points, although he will get some prize money. Excellent and unexpected win.

I wouldn't say unexpected. Vinciguerra's record this year is a pretty dreadful and his current ranking is reflective of his level.

It is also right that no points are awarded for first round wins. At some events you get unranked players make it into qualifying.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Josh lost the first set 6-3

paulisi · Tennis legend

And has been broken in the opening game of the second set.

DF · Tennis legend

and his first service game in the second set is broken

korriban · Challenger level

Now 5 lost service games out of 6