Week 24 - ATP 250 - London Queen's Club, UK (grass)

Spectator · All-time great

RE: Week 24 - ATP 250 - London Queen's Club, UK (grass)

RJA · Hall of fame

Very, very disappointing. Hard to call that anything other a horrible, horrible choke.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, decent match in general from James. But a real pity a few forehands going a bit awry and no doubt nerves at some clutch points He'll be very disappointed that it got away.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Oh, how sad is that . . . .

It's the best I've seen James play, for SO long, and yet he couldn't serve it out (the second set service game was particularly poor).

If only he'd serve and volley, just occasionally, behind big serves - it keeps the returner honest and Dodig was able to get a huge number of James' serves back in play, just by chipping them - he;d had have to go for more on the return if James had followed in, even just occasionally, and then there'd been more faults.

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

In a way better it happens here than at Eastbourne. This is probably the most under-rewarded tournament on the whole circuit.

blob · All-time great

RJA wrote:
Very, very disappointing. Hard to call that anything other a horrible, horrible choke.

High praise indeed! One of the most positive things you've said all year.

korriban · Challenger level

James Ward is a GOOD player.

He played very well today. Except for all the key moments of the match where he was generally much more tentative and passive, and where his forehands were pushed rather than hit through.

James served for the first set and was broken. But got through the tie-break more from Dodig throwing in UEs under pressure (which he stopped doing at key moments in set 2 and 3)

James served for the second set and was broken. he had 2 match points but pushed one forehand tamely into the net, and then had 2 or 3 forehands on his next point which he did nothing with, and eventually Dodig took over the rally.

James served for the third set and was broken.

This has happened quite a bit recently (remember the Mischa Zverev match......lost 4-6 from *4-1 final set; remember the Donskoy match where he was 2 sets and a break up and lost). Yes he fought valiently against Tursunov but he seems to have a big issue with getting far too nervous and passive when at the winning line against better players.........

PLEASE LTA. Invest in the best sports psychologist possible for James to train for these sitations. Because he's a cracking player with a specific issue to solve, which could transform his career.......

RJA · Hall of fame

Jeff Stelling wrote:
In a way better it happens here than at Eastbourne. This is probably the most under-rewarded tournament on the whole circuit.

Winston-Salem is the only other ATP 250 event where there is greater than a 32 man draw and so they are the only 2 where you only 10 points for winning in round 1 (and just 10 more for winning in round 2).

RJA · Hall of fame

Ed Corrie should be on court shortly. Unfortunately no stream from court 1

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

On serve 2-1*

RJA · Hall of fame

Ed down a break 2-3*

RJA · Hall of fame

He breaks straight back *3-3

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Ed broken again and Stakhovsky serving for the set at *5-4

Spectator · All-time great

And Stakhovsky takes the first set 6-4. Good luck to Mr Corrie for the second set; fortunately, he seems to be one who will keep fighting!

korriban · Challenger level

Both players winning their first serve (70%+), losing second serve (20%-). Only difference was the Urkranian serving over 80% first serve, Ed under 60%