Week 29 - Challenger ($50,000 + H) - Granby, Canada (Hard)

RJA · Hall of fame

Week 29 - Challenger ($50,000 + H) - Granby, Canada (Hard)

steven · Tennis legend

Chvojka (CH 204 last August) was on a 5-match losing streak until he won two rounds in Newport qualifying last weekend, including taking out 2nd Q seed Mischa Zverev in QR2. The losing streak included a 2 & 0 thrashing in R1 of a Futures event in Sweden (!) and two straight sets losses to Ghedin in Halle & Rosmalen qualifying, both with bagels in the 2nd set.

James played him twice in the summer of 2011 on North American hard courts, winning from a set down in both cases

LouieG · County player

Come on Wardy!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

R1: Matt Reid (AUS) & James Ward CR 1187 vs Andrew Ochotta & Kento Takeuchi (CAN/JPN) UNR

steven · Tennis legend

James is 3rd on Court 8 tomorrow not before 17.00 BST, but probably nearer 6 or 7 pm given that play only starts at 3 pm our time.

LouieG · County player

This tournament will spark an amazing run of form for Wardy as he steams towards the top 100. He will win the tournament dropping only 2 sets.

korriban · Challenger level

LouieG wrote:
This tournament will spark an amazing run of form for Wardy as he steams towards the top 100. He will win the tournament dropping only 2 sets.

Excellent news! Nothing better than someone with PMA.

Let's hope you are right: as long as he doesn't have to serve out for the match against a player ranked much higher than him, you could be right......

Unfortunately James currently has about 5 "modes" of playing, which can last a whole match, or in long patches during a match.

1. Unplayable. A set or 2 at Wimbledon 2012 were borderline staggering. First half of Donskoy match probably too.

2. Good day at the office. Often happens against higher ranked or better players, rather than against lower ranked. Very exciting to watch.

3. Bad day at the office. Happens against good or bad players alike. No explanation. Horrible to watch, particularly his forehand.

4. Rusty. Not usually at his best when he hasn't played for 2-3 weeks. So first round matches in the first tournament of a 3-4 week "tour" can be a lottery.

5. Close to the winning post or at critical moments in big matches. This is by far the biggest issue, where he goes ultra safe, ultra short, stops attacking, and leaks UEs on the forehand. 100% mental.

If James can crack "mode" 5, he will sail into the top 100, and modes 3 and 4 will start looking after themselves as he boosts his confidence and plays more matches, more often. LTA: send him to mind guru Dr Steve Peters for a course of sessions......bet it would do him a power of good in those key moments.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

L32: James Ward WR 260 defeated Erik Chvojka (CAN) WR 330 by 6-3 3-6 6-2 smile

Edit: I'm not going to delete the post I put up seven seconds after you, Steven, as I used today's rankings...

-- Edited by Stircrazy on Monday 15th of July 2013 08:47:02 PM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

LouieG wrote:
This tournament will spark an amazing run of form for Wardy as he steams towards the top 100. He will win the tournament dropping only 2 sets.

So far so good. But only 1 "spare" set to play with now.

Hoping you are spot on with your prediction.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Monday 15th of July 2013 08:59:24 PM

LouieG · County player

Are there any streams for Ward's match later?

Long time reader · Lower Club Player

www.e-tennis.tv and choose channel 6

paulisi · Tennis legend

match about to start.

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Ward holds to deuce. 1-0*

Ward very much the aggressor that game, sloppy unforced errors got him to deuce, but he made some nice winners

LouieG · County player

Wardy up 5-2* encouraging in the last game he saved 2 bp and was generally aggressive

paulisi · Tennis legend

Wardy dominating the rallies. Needs to get a few more first serves in, but fairly comfortable first set.