Week 29 - Challenger (€30,000+H) - Poznań, Poland (Clay)

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Week 29 - Challenger (€30,000+H) - Poznań, Poland (Clay)

korriban · Challenger level

Watching Dan S playing his first round match.

He's taking absolutely massive swings on his return of serve, not going for winners on return, merely this seems to be his style of getting the ball in play. Very few top players use much more than a truncated swing on return, as they simply don't have the time for a full swing. He's not getting enough in play....hopefully will change it up as the match goes on, but this seems to be a weakness.

On serve until the 10th game (I think; only joined match from *2-3), but then as soon as the first set critical game was played, the German got more aggressive, and Dan tensed up. Same old story for so many of our players at this higher level (and no doubt others round the world, but I don;t care so mch about them!). Difference between 250 and 450; and between 100 and 250 is almost entirely down to how these critical moments are handled.

-- Edited by korriban on Monday 15th of July 2013 02:59:41 PM

korriban · Challenger level

4-6 0-2*. Been watching for about 10-15 minutes and I'm still waiting for a top spin, or even a flat backhand from Dan. They tend to be quite effective shots on clay! I know he likes the slice, but is there a problem? Can he actually not do a topspin backhand, or is it so unreliable he's given it up entirely? Surely you can't even contemplate rising the ranks without one of the most basic shots in tennis.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

L32: (8) Peter Gojowczyk (GER) WR 168 defeated (Q) Dan Smethurst WR 394 by 4 & 2 cry

korriban · Challenger level

Stircrazy wrote:
L32: (8) Peter Gojowczyk (GER) WR 168 defeated (Q) Dan Smethurst WR 394 by 4 & 2

Finished off with a routine FH hit 10 feet or more beyond the baseline, and a backhand (slice!!!) into the net as Dan started to retreat. Some players use the slice to bring their opponent in, or as an attacking shot to pin their opponent in the backcourt, with Dan in this match it just seems it's his only option as a rally ball on the BH side, and invariably leads to losing all the initiative in the rally....and going onto the back foot. What's the end game with this approach.......