Week 40 - Spain F33 ($10,000) - Sabadell (Clay)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: Week 40 - Spain F33 ($10,000) - Sabadell (Clay)

paulisi · Tennis legend

He needs the points as he still has plenty to defend until the end of the year (39pts).

Alex just got the first break

DWH · Club Coach

Bob in Spain wrote:
Did Alex attend a Tennis Academy or something when he was living there ? Maybe the same one Andy M went to ? Sabadell is so close to Barcelona, I actuallly stayed in the Hotel Sabadell right in the centre when I went to the Barcelona ATP event last year.

Really good hotel although it had the record for the slowest internet connection and the hardest underground car park to get in and out of.

3-3 so far with no breaks.

Yep, Sánchez-Casal.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Thanks DWH

But the bad news is Alex was broken back immediately and is now serving at *4-5

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Did Alex attend a Tennis Academy or something when he was living there ? Maybe the same one Andy M went to ? Sabadell is so close to Barcelona, I actuallly stayed in the Hotel Sabadell right in the centre when I went to the Barcelona ATP event last year.

Really good hotel although it had the record for the slowest internet connection and the hardest underground car park to get in and out of.

3-3 so far with no breaks.

I don;t know about the academy - and couldn't find out from a cursory google. But his blog says :

"Draws out in Sabadell 10k. I'm 4th seed here and play Diarra on tuesday. Had a good weekend of practice here in Barca. Always enjoy coming back to a place i know well after living here from 2006-2009. Scenic club too."

However, as paulisi says, he certainly could do with the points so now's the time to clock some up . . .

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Oh dear.

Alex gets broken again and loses the first set 6-4.

paulisi · Tennis legend

He needs one of his renowned comebacks......

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

From 4-3 up in the 1st set, Alex has now lost 5 games in a row and been broken 3 times.

He is now 0-2* down in the second.

Could I suggest a "tactical toilet break" to change the momentum ?

On second thoughts ................

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

well, this is a bundle of laughs . . . :(

korriban · Challenger level

Bob in Spain wrote:
From 4-3 up in the 1st set, Alex has now lost 5 games in a row and been broken 3 times.

He is now 0-2* down in the second.

Could I suggest a "tactical toilet break" to change the momentum ?

On second thoughts ................

What an earth is going on today?

First Kyle's match. Now Alex has gone AWOL - 7 games in a row.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Maybe Alex should stick to Challengers after all.

wolf · Tennis legend

L32: Gibril Diarra (AUT) WR 887 (CH 771 in Aug) beat (4) Alex Ward WR 310 6-4 6-1

RJA · Hall of fame

Unless there are some serious mitigating circumstances this is an awful, awful result.

Spectator · All-time great

Since we know that he wasn't wholly well last week, there may be mitigating circumstances.

At any rate, we'll probably all breathe a sigh of relief when he goes back to higher-level tournaments.

DWH · Club Coach

Playrd my last match on clay for this year. Lost yesterday 64 61 to Diarra. Tough conditions out there and i wasn't tough enough. Heading home today to recharge the batteries for a few days before some training on hardcourts. My next tournament will be Stockholm ATP which starts 12th October. No more dirty socks at least!

From Alex's page.