Looks like physical and maybe mental fatigue setting in... its been a very busy trip in Canada so far

1-2* 3rd set

Dan up 40-0. Serves. Dan thinks it's out. It comes back (just). Dan doesn't play it. And that's point to Sugita.

But manages to hold. 2-3

Dan wasn't playing as great after he broke at the start of the second set.

In the third, it looked like he just didn't have the energy

Regarding the backhand...

Dan possesses a nice slice, but he is hitting it basically every shot off of that wing. In the first set it was working well because I think it took time for Sugita to get used to it, he didn't return it with much depth or pace allowing Dan to then dictate with the forehand. However as the match went on I think Sugita just knew what was coming and knew that he couldn't really be hurt off that wing if he just rallied with it.

Overall...

A brave performance from Dan against a top player with a lot of energy. Dan's serve needs some work (however it could have just been an off day) and he definitely needs to learn to mix it up off the backhand- its not like he needs to learn to hit over it, he has a very decent topspin backhand which he used way too little today, he just needs a better balance. Forehand was slightly erratic, but that came as Dan started to lose the battle against fatigue I believe

By my calculations Dan S has now overtaken Dan E to be GB no 2 in the ATP "race". And he would still be no 2 even if Dan C ( quiet so far this year ) won this tournament.

1. A Murray 820 points

2. D Smethurst 139 ( 107 this year + 32 from November Challenger SF )

3. D Evans 136 ( 136 + 0 )

4. J Ward 124 ( 109 + 15 )

139 points actually currently represents joint 100th place in the 17/03 race positions. However, I am sure it won't come the 31/03 positions update and Dan S will probably be closer to his current 112 position ).

spud wrote:

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Dan wasn't playing as great after he broke at the start of the second set.

In the third, it looked like he just didn't have the energy

Regarding the backhand...

Dan possesses a nice slice, but he is hitting it basically every shot off of that wing. In the first set it was working well because I think it took time for Sugita to get used to it, he didn't return it with much depth or pace allowing Dan to then dictate with the forehand. However as the match went on I think Sugita just knew what was coming and knew that he couldn't really be hurt off that wing if he just rallied with it.

Overall...

A brave performance from Dan against a top player with a lot of energy. Dan's serve needs some work (however it could have just been an off day) and he definitely needs to learn to mix it up off the backhand- its not like he needs to learn to hit over it, he has a very decent topspin backhand which he used way too little today, he just needs a better balance. Forehand was slightly erratic, but that came as Dan started to lose the battle against fatigue I believe

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 I didn't see Dan today and he's clearly added something this year to his game. His forehand I always thought was very strong, and some have said it has become an extraordinary weapon. His serve seems to be on or off. However, I've never ever seen him play more than a smattering of topspin backhands in amongst 80-90% slices. And I felt he had neither power, control, direction nor consistency on the overspun backhand.....weak and error strewn, which was why I presumed he had become almost stuck in slice mode. I thought he would be stuck in "mid table obscurity" with his BH issues, but something must have clicked recently.............I kind of assumed he'd gone uber-offensive on the forehand (and used the BH simply to line up forehands) in a Jeremy Chardy, Bradley Klahn kind of way......ignore the problem and focus on the positives and weapons.

Sounds like that was his tactic today, but fatigue may be starting to catch up with him......or perhaps the word is now out.

Edit:

Beaten to it.

Incredible comeback scoreline!

-- Edited by spud on Wednesday 19th of March 2014 10:03:34 PM