Week 33 - ATP Masters 1000 - Cincinnati, OH, USA - Hard

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Week 33 - ATP Masters 1000 - Cincinnati, OH, USA - Hard

korriban · Challenger level

James didn't have to play that well. I was shocked at how poor Garcia-Lopez was.......very average serve, lots of awful UEs and he only really pressed forward when his back was to the wall. James WILL play better today, I'm fairly certain.

steven · Tennis legend

GGL had lost his previous 4 matches so is clearly not on good form at the moment. Still, if James can have an off day and still find a way through against a top 50 player, I'm more than happy with that!

Ratty · County player

Off on a bit of a tangent. I can vaguely remember Newcastle beating Manchester United 5-0 early in the 1996-97 season, and topping the table with some cracking displays. But Manchester United ended up as Champions. Back in the day, winning the title usually required grinding out the 0-0 draws at Wimbledon on a quagmire in February, which Newcastle never quite managed.

So I like James Ward playing rubbish and still beating a guy ranked 32.

korriban · Challenger level

Ratty wrote:
Off on a bit of a tangent. I can vaguely remember Newcastle beating Manchester United 5-0 early in the 1996-97 season, and topping the table with some cracking displays. But Manchester United ended up as Champions. Back in the day, winning the title usually required grinding out the 0-0 draws at Wimbledon on a quagmire in February, which Newcastle never quite managed.

So I like James Ward playing rubbish and still beating a guy ranked 32.

James appears to be more confident on second serves even when no playing well. He also is somewhat more positive and aggressive that he used to be, although the test will be if he reverts to old habits when close to the winning post........his achilles heel.

Mr Garcia-Lopez being compared to Wimbledon FC......there's a first!!!!

EddietheEagle · County player

For me, a telling factor was Ward's relative backhand strength against the single-hander. He'll need different solutions in his next match. Benneteau is happy to camp on the baseline and bunt the ball back.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Ratty wrote:
Off on a bit of a tangent. I can vaguely remember Newcastle beating Manchester United 5-0 early in the 1996-97 season, and topping the table with some cracking displays. But Manchester United ended up as Champions. Back in the day, winning the title usually required grinding out the 0-0 draws at Wimbledon on a quagmire in February, which Newcastle never quite managed.

So I like James Ward playing rubbish and still beating a guy ranked 32.

Ratty likes something !!!

EddietheEagle · County player

You don't play rubbish and win matches. You can 'win ugly' but that's not the same thing. Ward showed good resolve yesterday particularly after he lost that set.

indiana · Tennis legend

"Rubbish" is in the eye of the beholder, and rather a relative term when talking about pretty high ranked tennis players.

But two players can play "rubbish" and one of them come out on top.

Still, ultimately, more especially if such form can be turned round, the win on the day is what matters.

EddietheEagle · County player

Having beaten Kamke, then Mathieu and now Garcia-Lopez, he's playing well, not rubbish. The only thing that was rubbish yesterday was the wind. Nobody looks good in those conditions and UEs abound because of that, not because someone's playing rubbish.

korriban · Challenger level

Moving on, Benneteau finished off at 7pm heure locale and had played for over 2 and a half hours. With the match kicking off just after midday today and at 32 years of age, not ideal circumstances for him. Not a "problem" per se, but not ideal. I think James has an excellent shot at this if his serve is firing again. It massively reduces the pressure on James which often seems to lead to tentative, safety first play.

What I love about James is that he has the occasional set of unplayable tennis within him, even against the best. Few others do.....

But he too often freezes and reins in all aggression when ahead in matches, or when he's serving to stay in a set.............that appears to have been addressed to some extent in the last few months, which could explain his mini surge.

Good luck, mate!

Oakland2002 · All-time great

What's with all the moaning about a win, so very British. I don't think Wardy served well yesterday effectively neutralising his own most potent weapon yet still won. If James turns up Benneteau has his work cut out we know on present form James is a good match for Rola. What an opportunity to continue what is now a fairly lengthy run of great results!

indiana · Tennis legend

I don't think folk were moaning about the win, just offering opinions.

Sometimes, it's as if folk shouldn't ever give negative thoughts ( or thoughts that can vaguely be construed as negative thoughts ), especially when things may be going generally well, be it about a James win, Kyle's schedule, or whatever.

I think we virtually all want the Brits to be successful.

Jan · Hall of fame

James' match is up on LS

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Has anyone got a stream for this please.