Week 46 - Challenger ($50,000) - Yokohama, Japan (Hard)

Jan · Hall of fame

RE: Week 46 - Challenger ($50,000) - Yokohama, Japan (Hard)

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Shame he couldn't make the final step, but a very good end to the season anyway. I'm looking forward to seeing how he progresses next year.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Sounds like a decent performance, but that Milkman is a hard nut to crack, isn't he. It's been an up and down year for Kyle, but ending it on such a high will only give him the momentum and confidence to start next year on the front foot.

We now have 2 high quality young players going toe to toe, which should help both of them bring it to the next level.

indiana · Tennis legend

Thanks again for the commentary, Bob.

It sounds as if Kyle had good tactics, be the aggressor and move Millman around. Clearly though he was playing a guy in good form and with the confidence that comes with that.

So good though that Kyle's season has ended so positively rather than relatively poor results, split with Greg and drift to the end.

Well done, Kyle.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Given there is another Challenger in Japan next week, I wonder what the thinking was from Kyle not to stay on. Perhaps he considered that 3 weeks in a row was enough ? Maybe the surface was a factor as this one is on carpet ? Or maybe it would have dug into his off season timetable ?

I did just check the MD for next week just in case he had "snuck in" on a WC or something but not the case. The one thing that DID jump out at me when I looked was a real humdinger of a first round between the two Brit bashers (where Challenger finals are concerned) from 2014. James Duckworth has drawn John Millman in R1. I'll bet that's not what they were hoping for.

goldenboy · Club Coach

As a follow-on to this and Millman's other recent Brit-bashing, I've noticed he's finally actually lost a match... to Federer... though still took him to 3 sets!
Lets hope he can break through onto the main tour ASAP and stop beating Brits!

indiana · Tennis legend

Ah pity, I'd noticed that The Milkman had won the first set, but Fed prevailed 4-6 6-4 6-3