Week 45 - Challenger ($50,000) - Traralgon 2, Australia (Hard)

James · Satellite level

RE: Week 45 - Challenger ($50,000) - Traralgon 2, Australia (Hard)

James · Satellite level

Never mind! The links have suddenly appeared.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

First set Van P 6-4. At times that was painful viewing. Kyle certainly started serving better towards the end of the set, but I lost count of the number of returns he put into the net.

One or two glimpses of that "fearhand" but not enough and the backhand has no confidence whatsoever.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

OK. Come on Bob. Think positive thoughts. Kyle opens 2nd set with a love hold. That's better.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle's forehand warming up now and he is using it to control the match more. He moves into a 3-0* lead now in the 2nd.

indiana · Tennis legend

Such a pity that Kyle's game for now has taken such a step back, and you'll be much more aware than most here what he can produce, Bob.

However, the positives looking ahead is that we know Kyle can produce very much better, we know he can already compete with and indeed beat top 100 players. He can certainly find that again and more.

Get his coaching situation sorted and good plans and schedule in place and I am very confident that he will again be progressing significantly in 2015.

However, it would still be good to finish this season more positively, and this is crrtainly a match that can still be won.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Agreed Indi. And I hope I am not being hypercritical because of what I know Kyle is capable of producing. Form is temporary, class is permanent as the saying goes and there is NO DOUBT in my mind that Kyle will go on to be a very solid ATP player.

He is now beginning to take control of this match and the win could work wonders with the confidence. Fingers crossed time. And as I type, Kyle breaks again to go *5-1 up. Come on Kedders.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle takes the 2nd set 6-1. Into a decider.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

No BPs either way so far in the decider. 3-3*

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Superb jinxing Bob - even though I say it myself. From 30-0 on the Van P serve, Kyle wins 4 straight points to break.

Serving now at *4-3

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle goes 40-0 up but a winning lob and 2 forehand errors takes us back to deuce. But Kyle holds on and with a winning forehand moves 5-3* up.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Straight forward hold to love for Van P. Kyle to serve for the match at *5-4.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I don't know if Kyle was feeling the pressure in that last game after the run he has been on, but he certainly didn't show it as he served out the match to 15.

R1: Kyle Edmund WR 242 beat (wc) Gavin Van Peperzeel (AUS) WR 470 4-6 6-1 6-4

Let's hope that result gives Kyle the confidence boost that I am sure he needed. He certainly got better as the match progressed and by the end, his serve and forehand were working well.

I am told that in Liam's first match last week, his backhand was awful against Smyczek and look where he ended up. Would love to see Kyle do the same thing - or even go one better. But one match at a time.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Monday 3rd of November 2014 02:44:13 AM

steven · Tennis legend

Kyle's R2 opponent is now known, so here's a full rundown/recap. Still on old rankings though - today's new ones haven't come out yet.

L32: Kyle Edmund WR 242 beat (WC) Gavin van Peperzeel (AUS) WR 470 (CH 438 in Sep) by 4-6 6-1 6-4

L32: (2) James Ward WR 119 v Brydan Klein WR 253

H2H 2-0 - James won in Surbiton in 2008 & New Haven in 2010 but they both went to 3 sets

L16: Kyle Edmund WR 242 v Yang Tsung-Hua (TPE) WR 234 (CH 164 in 2012)

H2H 0-1 - Yang won 5 & 2 in R1 of the Shanghai Challenger in September

indiana · Tennis legend

Really good to see Kyle battle out a 3 set win from one set down in all the circumstances. Well done.