Week 32 - Challenger ($100,000) - Aptos, CA, USA (Hard)

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

RE: Week 32 - Challenger ($100,000) - Aptos, CA, USA (Hard)

RJA · Hall of fame

Just got home so I didn't see the match. Clearly a good result but I can't really comment beyond that.

I see some on here are complaining about Dan throwing his racket, in which case I can only say that if this bothers you don't bother supporting Dan. He swears on court, he throws his racket and he shouts at himself. It is the way he is, he is at his best when he is intense, firey and angry. When he plays badly and doesn't throw his racket around or shout at himself that is the time to worry. That was why his first round defeat at Lexington was so disappointing, he clearly didn't care enough to get angry. The last two weeks he has been himself on court and this is the way he has to be, if it offends some people then sorry but tough.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Another terrific win for Evo, thought it might be too tough this one, next round will be tougher but Evo's on a roll at the moment and noone is unbeatable when that is the case.

Reeltime · Satellite level

Great to see Evo having a good run :) Surely Pella on hard is possible?

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

From memory - and this is MY memory we are talking about and we all know how bad that is - didn't Alex Ward run Pella very close on clay not so long ago ? Was that a challenger or even an ATP qualifier ?

steven · Tennis legend

I said somewhere on this thread that a QF win would be enough to take Dan to GB no. 2. I'm not sure how I managed to calculate that, because looking at it this morning, I calculate that he'd actually still be 10 points behind - sorry about that! (hard to believe nobody corrected it on Twitter or here, so perhaps I've gone mad today instead of yesterday ... hmm)

-- Edited by steven on Friday 9th of August 2013 12:22:20 PM

steven · Tennis legend

QF: Dan Evans WR 194 v (1) Guido Pella ARG WR 96 (CH 75 in Jun) - n/b 01.15 BST

So, Dan gets to play the player he thrashed 3 & 1 in R1 at Queen's this year! This one is likely to be a lot harder because while Pella tends to play mainly on clay, he has had some good results on hard courts too, including winning the ATP Challenger Tour Finals on hard courts in Brazil last year. Alex Ward took him to a 3rd set tiebreak (which Pella won 7-5) in Düsseldorf ATP qualifying in May too.

chavkev · Intermediate Club Player

Apparently if Pella wins against Evo he will not be able to play Cincinnati Qualies this weekend. That might be a factor.

RJA · Hall of fame

steven wrote:
I said somewhere on this thread that a QF win would be enough to take Dan to GB no. 2. I'm not sure how I managed to calculate that, because looking at it this morning, I calculate that he'd actually still be 10 points behind - sorry about that! (hard to believe nobody corrected it on Twitter or here, so perhaps I've gone mad today instead of yesterday ... hmm)

You still haven't got it quite right. James will be on 278 points next Monday. If Dan reaches the SF he will be on 270 points next Monday, so 8 points behind James. If he reaches the final he will be 17 points ahead of James.

However Dan will drop 26 points the following week (27 coming off from his Cumberland title, offset by 1 point from a current non-countable) so he will need to win the tournament if he is to stay above James for more than a week.

-- Edited by RJA on Friday 9th of August 2013 01:18:02 PM

gazzpash · Club Coach

chavkev wrote:
Apparently if Pella wins against Evo he will not be able to play Cincinnati Qualies this weekend. That might be a factor.

I doubt it! Why would someone enter an event where they thought they can only play until the quarters.

Also those complaining about Dan throwing this racket and shouting on court, grow up! All the players have a blow out on the court. I've seen Fed, Novak and Muzza all have a good shout and blowI off some steam on the courts, it's all part of the play. If people want to just see people hitting the ball over the net with smiles and big blue eyes etc they should see if the smurfs play tennis. End rant lol

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

Pella has a preference for clay. Aptos is not particularly quick though. Pella had a dreadful grass court season, he was beaten 3&1 at Queens (by some guy called Evans), he lost to Luke Bambridge at Eastbourne qualies and had to retire in the final set of his 1st round match v. Jesse Levine at Wimbledon. This is his first tournament since Wimbledon, so it looks like his injury took a little while to clear up.

Dan play the evening match tonight, not before 5.15pm local. You'll need to be a serious night owl if you are going to watch.....

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Saw the match, both players didn't have the greatest of days. Wang had an injury time out at the end of the 2nd set for his lower back, he was clearly struggling starting to shorten the points as much as possible and unfortunately for Dan most seemed to be hitting the lines, otherwise it would've been a bagel to Dan.

Needs to serve better then this though, numerous breaks, but some good defensive play made up for it.

If he gets past Pella the SF is very winnable.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I saw most of the match, both players were patchy and were struggling with first serves. Ultimately Dan started to dominate from the back of the court and was sublime with his drop shots.

RJA · Hall of fame

Pella's hard court record this year.

Australian Open - Lost to Weintraub in R1 (straight sets)
Indian Wells - Beat Bogomolov and Berrer in qualifying but thrashed by Dodig in R1
Dallas (CH) - Straight set defeat to Rochus in R!
Miami - Got through R1 when Berloq retired after just 3 games. Thrashed by Almagro in R2
Aptos (CH) - Straight set wins over Jaziri and Baker

Overall that isn't great but he did win the Challenger Tour Finals on indoor hard court at the end of last year.

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

I have a good feeling about this one. I know it's going to be a tough match tonight for Dan, but if he can win then the SF is very winnable and Donsky seeded to reach the final....