Week 30 - Challenger ($125,000) - Astana II, Kazakhstan (Hard)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: Week 30 - Challenger ($125,000) - Astana II, Kazakhstan (Hard)

philwrig · Hall of fame

Sounds like a very solid professional performance by Kyle, good to hear that his opponent played well. Kyle won the big points during the middle sector of the match when it was tightish, hoping that he can pull off a smal upset in the next round.
Shame for Ricey but good experience to play at this level even if he'll be gutted he didn't win.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle is first up tomorrow morning at 6am UK time. It's at times like this when my 1 hour ahead timezone comes in very handy. smile

RJA · Hall of fame

Coup Droit wrote:
Shame for Dave but he doesn't have a great game for windy conditions - way too high on his toes, all a bit unbalanced, lots of sliced backhand.

Kyle has a heavier, flatter shot, more legs - should be easier.

While I agree that Rice does have certain weaknesses in windy conditions I remember a few years back watching him play a match in very windy conditions at Nottingham and the general consensus among several players watching was that they would hate to plan him in such conditions.

His bigger problem here might well have been that he has spent 7 weeks playing on grass and will have had very little time to practice on hard court since then.

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 22nd of July 2014 01:24:28 PM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Good test this week for Kyle assuming the conditions don't make the tournament a farce. The general quality of the field looks to be a step up on Slovenia and Italy so hoping Kyle finds a way to win tomorrow and gets a few matches in.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Solid start from Kyle. Wind certainly "sounds" like it is still a big factor as the noise in the "mike" has made me put the sound on mute. Whilst it doesn't seem to be as strong as yesterday, both players are still struggling to time the ball early on.

Kyle leads 2-1*

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Steady as she goes. Just 1 BP so far (that was for Kyle) but no breaks.

Kyle leads 4-3*

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle is getting very frustrated at the number of relatively easy (on a normal day) balls that he is missing. He is definitely trying to be the aggressor here and consequently is mis-timing more balls in the wind than Fabbiano, who is taking the approach of simply bunting the ball back into play and waiting for mistakes.

Kyle survives a couple of deuces in his next service game and now leads 5-4*

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

Good morning all you early risers! A good hold from Kyle after being 0-30 down. Kyle is the more aggressive of the two players - he has made slightly too many UEs, but these have been "good " UEs in that they have been close to the lines. I feel Kyle is the more likely winner of the set on what I've seen so far.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Two more comfortable holds.

Kyle leads 6-5*

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle gets the break and takes the set 7-5

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

Kyle converts his 4th bp of the game to take the set 7-5. I don't think he is enjoying the conditions but he is remaining focussed. Keep going!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

The wind seems to be getting worse as the match goes on. Kyle had 4SP's in that last game, The 1st he put the return into the net, and the next two, he completely framed simple rally shots. Fabbiano having similar problems and put a couple of "shanks" straight into the stands.

Very difficult conditions overall, but I think on balance, as Stevie Mc said, Kyle's more aggressive approach earned him that 1st set.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

An early break for Kyle in the 2nd.

Kyle leads *2-0

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

A DF and a poor bh from Fabbiano along with 2 big forehands gives Kyle an early break in the 2nd. *2-0