He's been serving terribly recently and it's going to see for him here...

That was a tough match-up. Kokkinakis, one suspects, isn't (barring injury or unforeseen circumstances) even going to be in Challengers for that long a time. Not someone against whom one can afford an off day.

-- Edited by Spectator on Tuesday 22nd of July 2014 11:07:06 PM

The Kokk as he's known by some is only 1 step behind Kyrgios, so that was a very tough draw. Smethy will comeback strong at some stage, he's made too many big gains this year not to, but clearly he's not firing on all cylinders at the moment on the singles court.

DWH wrote:

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Shame about Dan E and Dan S.  Hopefully Dan C can go well. 

I know Steven tweeted live scores only but he is actually scheduled on the streamed court (Court 6 on the ATP app, Court 1 on the livestream site) if you care to stay up or watch it tomorrow.

 

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Oops - well, if they will call Court 6 'Court 1' ...

Anyway, it all went downhill from the last update:

L32: (4) Dan Evans WR 147 lost to Vincent Millot (FRA) WR 188 (CH 147 in 2011) by 4 & 3
L32: (5) James Ward WR 150 beat (WC) Jared Donaldson (USA) WR 333 (= CH) by 7-6(4) 6-4
L32: Dan Cox WR 207 lost to (3) Yuichi Sugita (JPN) WR 132 (CH 116 in 2012) by 3 & 2
L32: Dan Smethurst WR 239 lost to (WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) WR 243 (= CH) by 2 & 1

L16: (5) James Ward WR 150 v Crepaldi or Witten (just gone into a 3rd set)

 

Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg · 4h

After watching his team tonight in DC, Kastles owner Mark Ein is flying to Lexington to play doubles challenger vs Daniel Evans/Smethurst.

Did wonder, as per SC's post earlier, who Mark Ein was ... Now know ... and based on this, he's not quite your standard opponent.  http://www.washingtonkastles.com/teams/article.aspx?article_id=606. Looks as if he plays one Challenger a year, in which he either loses or his opponents retire (or, last year, his team gives a W/O). Seems a bit like amateur conductors who have been financially very successful in other fields and decide to rent out a concert hall ... but hope it both gives him pleasure (though not the pleasure of winning) and is a boon for the two Dans!

-- Edited by Spectator on Wednesday 23rd of July 2014 06:37:43 AM

Julia Carrot wrote:

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indiana wrote:

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HGM, travelling from the UK ( presumably ), 5 hours time difference, the preferable east to west direction and no clear reason that he should be arriving relatively late, I wouldn't be thinking jetlag
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Last year one of the commentators at, I think his second or third US tournament, mentioned that Dan was still finding it incredibly difficult to get into a normal sleep pattern.   So, whilst not suffering exactly from jet lag,  sleep disruption from travel does seem to cause him some serious issues. 

 

 

 

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There may well be some truth in this.

But wouldn't you then leave a week earlier or so? i.e. it's not like Dan was playing in Europe and had to rush over, last minute (like Joss/Anna).

Go earlier, give yourself more time to adapt, play better . . . seems like a plan.

Because, without being rude, Millot is a very 'ordinary' player who Dan Cox beat earlier this year and who is only ranked where he is due to a (sudden, surprising, slightly lucky?) good run at the Aussie Open, and has done precious little since.

There could hardly have been a better draw for Evans . . .