Week 39 - Challenger ($50,000) - Napa, USA (Hard)

Allan94 · Lower Club Player

RE: Week 39 - Challenger (€50,000) - Napa, USA (Hard)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Kudla now *4-0 up on Ed but could easily have been 2-2

Yes. Found that set really frustrating.

huntley93 · Strong Club Player

kudla's backhand is sweet though

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

huntley93 wrote:
kudla's backhand is sweet though

Yep, it's a beaut. But it would help if Ed didn't keep popping up short balls onto his backhand for Kudla to take a swing at . . (ed's won a game now - at least that's something . . . cry )

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Thoroughly enjoyed that first set by Dan Cox - which he wins 7-2 in the TB.

Like his backhand, the way he often takes the ball early (as lots of shorter players do), business-like application on his shots, and the way he's kept his cool, even when getting broken from 5-3 up.

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Ed goes down 6-0, 6-2. Gulf in class told, unfortunately not impressed with Ed's play today

Cox playing well though

korriban · Challenger level

Coup Droit wrote:
huntley93 wrote:
kudla's backhand is sweet though
Yep, it's a beaut. But it would help if Ed didn't keep popping up short balls onto his backhand for Kudla to take a swing at . . (ed's won a game now - at least that's something . . . )

Just watched Ed for set 2. Really not very good at all. Kudla was waiting for UEs from Ed on either wing, although the BH was consistently inconsistent throughout. By the end the commentator correctly spotted that Kudla was playing his B or C game, simply directing the ball to ed's BH side and waiting. What happened to the player who couldn't lose earlier in the year? I certainly didn't expect Ed to win (Kudla is a better player), but I expected much much more than I saw.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

The Magician Santoro wrote:
Ed goes down 6-0, 6-2. Gulf in class told, unfortunately not impressed with Ed's play today

Cox playing well though

I agree. Really poor show by Ed, I thought.

Josh lost 6-3 6-4.

Dan looks well on the way, and deservedly so. 3-0 up in the second set.

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

I'm pleased to see Dan C win the set. However, I really don't think the level was particularly high. Loads of breaks of serve, Mitchell teeing off on Dan's 2nd ball and just missing loads. Occasionally Dan was managing to construct points but not being decisive when he needed to be and either missing or letting Mitchell back into the point. Dan threw in a handful of doubles as well, includind two in one game. Mitchell was playing aggressively but missing too much.

Steve

RJA · Hall of fame

Coxy playing okay but Mitchell is all over the place.

korriban · Challenger level

RJA wrote:
Coxy playing okay but Mitchell is all over the place.

Agree completely. I'm sure Dan can play much better than this, but the Aussie has been having an off day, so he's not needed to be much more than steady. Wish he was 6 inches taller, as his serve is effective but doesn't pack much punch.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I though Dan played an intelligent first set. He hasn't had to do much in this second one so far - Mitchell took it badly, losing that TB. Now's the crunch time though . . .

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Nice for Dan to get the same points (in fact, 1 more) by playing and winning one match as having to play and win three matches, as he's been doing in all the futures . . .

I make it that gets to him about WR 260. Well done to him.

huntley93 · Strong Club Player

wimbledon wc at this rate, will a ranking of 260 get him into aussie open qualies? potentially have evo, ward cox and edmund there

RJA · Hall of fame

huntley93 wrote:
wimbledon wc at this rate, will a ranking of 260 get him into aussie open qualies? potentially have evo, ward cox and edmund there

Almost certainly.