Week 35 - Challenger ($50,000) - Bangkok, Thailand (Hard)

steven · Tennis legend

Week 35 - Challenger ($50,000) - Bangkok, Thailand (Hard)

korriban · Challenger level

Neil playing in a Challenger for the first time in a long while.

Currently *3-4 down. Broke the Kiwi for *3-2, then broken to love. Currently just 1/7 on second serve; with 8/10 on first serve. The second serve seems to be the big issue for the vast majority of players stepping up a level - lack of mph, lack of skill, lack of variety, lack of experience or matchplay nous or probably just nerves. Just look at Evo's very poor second serve a month ago, compared to how much it has improved with so many matches played at the higher level. Suspect Alex Ward may be finding the same thing.

Fingers crossed for Neil today - he needs some better fortune after his fairly disasterous Asian trip so far.

korriban · Challenger level

indiana wrote:
I think the issues are much more Neil's ( lack of ) form than location. But can't be much fun so far away over there with such little success.

Clearly not an awful result this time, but another disappointment for him.

You're right. His results suggest his form has been significantly worse than in 2012 for pretty much the whole season. I guess the killer question for Neil is:

Was last season actually a one-off purple patch....or is this season to date just a temporary slump - hopefully the latter: and he's still young.

-- Edited by korriban on Tuesday 27th of August 2013 02:52:16 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

But just lost the first set 6-4 . . . .

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well, Neil's won the second set 6-3 against the world's no 295

After the past few weeks, it would be nice if he could get the result here . . .

korriban · Challenger level

Coup Droit wrote:
Well, Neil's won the second set 6-3 against the world's no 295

After the past few weeks, it would be nice if he could get the result here . . .

9 DFs in 9 service games puts huge pressure on his own serve. A very very drawn out hold at *4-3 (I suspect somewhere between 24-30 points required), followed by an almost inevitable break of his opponent, who must have been very disappointed after not breaking himself. No straightforward service games at all.

Tennisnow · Lower Club Player

Not looking good here for Neil at 1*-5 in the third.

korriban · Challenger level

L32: Neil Pauffley WR 435 lost to Jose (Rubin) Statham (NZL) WR 295 4-6 6-3 1-6

Neil lost the last 6 games in a row. Barely a service game in the match where he had an easy ride; 12 DFs overall.

So this month long trip has included 3 $15k Futures and a relatively easy Challenger draw. Just 1 win against a a player ranked about 1,300; 4 losses and just 1 ranking point. Ouch! Come home, son!

indiana · Tennis legend

I think the issues are much more Neil's ( lack of ) form than location. But can't be much fun so far away over there with such little success.

Clearly not an awful result this time, but another disappointment for him.