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

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

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

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle would like to improve his 1st serve percantage as Zhang moves up to 15-30 on the Kyle serve. Strong forehand hitting again though from Kyle. 30-30. Zhang gets to the net on the next point and creates yet another BP. This time Kyle gets to the net but a very good backhand winner down the line brings up the 4th break in 5 games. Back on serve.

3-2*

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle is consistently running around the forehand on the 2nd serve and really attacking to great effect. After a couple of big 1st serves from Zhang, Kye then gets that forehand working again. Deuce. Ace from Zhang. Forehand winner from Kyle. Deuce again. Another winner from Kyle and a Zhang error. Anyone who can hold serve will walk away with this match.

*4-2

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Bit of an error strewn game this next one. Thought Kyle had served an ace out wide at 40-30 but called a let. Zhang now has another BP which he takes with a backhand winner. 6 breaks in 7 games.

4-3*

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

The next game opens with Kyle forehand winner. Zhang then serves up a couple of unreturnable serves followed by a DF. 30-30. Zhang then makes it to the net for a winning volley and then an error from Kyle after a long rally and we have another hold at last - unfortunately.

*4-4

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Better serving from Kyle in that one. Took a bit off the first serve a couple of times and hit kickers to the backhand which worked both times.

5-4*

5 of 6 1st serves in that game boosts his percentage to 58%

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Friday 14th of November 2014 03:56:15 AM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Zhang finds his serving boots early in this game and goes up 30-0 and despite a couple of strng rallies from Kyle, he serves out to 30.

*5-5

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Bad miss from Kyle on the 1st point as he misses an easy kill from well inside the service line. Two good points and then another error for 30-30. We get to deuce and Kyle hit his first ace followed by a DF. BP for Zhang who is attacking the net on Kyle's backhand side, but a backhand goes long and we are back to deuce. Kyle survives another BP. Then saves a third BP with his second ace of the game/match. But another DF gives Zhang his 4th BP of the game. Oh dear. Despite dominanting the next rally, Kyle eventually nets a forehand and Zhang will serve for the set.

5-6*

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Zhang opens with a service winner. On teh next two points, Kyle hits booming returns only for Zhang, off balance and on the stretch to somehow come up with outright winners. kyle hits a winning return for 40-15 but then sails a backhand wide.

First set Zhang: 7-5

Really one that got away. Kyle played pretty well on the whole but having been a break up 3 times early on he couldn't hold on to that advantage. You get the feeling that if he could just have held on one of those three occasions, the set would have been his.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Zhang clearly now trying to get to the net on Kyle's backhand, but Kyle gets to 40-30. A monster service out wide but somehow, Zhang hits a winning return. Another return winner on the next point and he has BP again. But this time Zhang throws in a couple of errors. He then tries to get to the net on Kyle's forehand for once. Big mistake. Kyle holds.

1-0*

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

A few of errors creeping in on both sides of the net now. 30-30. Kyle gets to the net and a winning volley gives him BP and Zhang dumps a dropshot into the net. VAMOS:

*2-0

Kyle needs to press home his advantage this time. Easier said than done.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Some errors from Kyle though and he finds himself 0-40 and then Zhang hits a winning backhand return.

2-1*

So we follow the pattern of the 1st set. That is now 4 times Kyle has gone a break up, but Zhang has broken back immediately on all 4 occasions.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Errors from Zhang and it is 0-30. Zhang wins the next as he again attacks the net on Kyle's backhand. But a DF gives Kyle 2 BPs at 15-40. Zhang saves them both. Deuce. An ace gives Zhang game point but he follows that up with another DF. Big forehand winner from Kyle and he has another BP, but nets. Deuce again. A third DF of the game and it's BP again. Zhang nets after a long rally and we have another break.

*3-1

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Zhang chipping and charging and Kyle's backhand again. Kyle fights back for 30-15 but then two errors and it is BP time again. Saved with a forehand winner. Zhang comes out on top in a long rally for BP and takes it.

3-2*

This is dejavu all over again. Copy and paste is such a useful tool right now.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Zhang finally breaks the pattern again holding to 15 .

*3-3