Week 25 - Wimbledon Qualifying

freerider · Futures level

RE: Week 25 - Wimbledon Qualifying

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Right or wrong, this is my version of events:

Dan played pretty well, and gave his all, but the other guy played better.

The first set was all good stuff but Sugita played a great return game (more later) when Dan served for the set. And then Dan played a poorer game - Sugita relaxed, having broken back, and Dan didn't take his chances. Next game of Dan's was excellent. So 6-6. And the first 9 points of the TB were stellar. Sugita then netted a doddy backhand (contrary to form) and you thought, he were go. And then dan played 3 poor points. And set over.

The story, for me, of the match was that (a) Sugita took Dan's backhand apart and, linked, (b) return of serve.

I agree with Wales - Dan missed a couple of top spin backhands, and then started slicing every single one. Which posed absolutely no problem for Sugita who's a small, slight guy, bends low, and agile. He must have played 80% of his shots to Dan's backhand, sure in the knowledge of what he was getting back. And Dan was always then on the back foot.

Linked to this is the fact that Sugita served over 90% of his second serves to Dan's backhand - just kicked them in a bit, well placed. And all Dan could do was gently slice them back. It meant Sugita's second serve was under no pressure at all and, therefore, actually meant his first serve was less pressured too so he could go for it more, knowing there was no risk if he missed it.

Conversely, Sugita went to town on Dan's second serve (and some first ones too). Not that Dan served badly (he didn't) but Sugita stepped in, took the ball early, no real back take, and used the pace to power it back, getting Dan out of position, or right at his feet. It's obviously easier to do that with a two-handed backhand but the difference was huge. It also, therefore, put Dan's first one under more pressure, and got him a bit frustrated.

I didn't see any problem with Dan's fitness (or his knee). Or indeed his commitment.

Net net, I thought he did pretty well - obviously, the result is a little disappointing but that's because (a) he was our only one left in so all eyes were on him (not his fault), and (b) after the US Open run, we always hope/pray for a little bit of extra magic.

Wish him luck for the next run of tournaments. The lad did good, you can't always win.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

NB Hats off to Dustin Brown, who entertained the crowd, put on a show AND won with style. Great character.

Young Ymer (just turned 19) did great to qualify too; he was the better player but was made to really work for it, not surprisingly, by the Argentinian. Another new face which is very welcome.

The Aussie men had a good day, like last year. Three FQR wins out of three. This 'second' group of Aussie men are a pleasure to watch - wish them well.

P-H Matthieu conceded on match point down. Which might have included a tiny bit of amateur dramatics but he was absolutely on the floor at one point, and on one leg for a fair bit of the fifth set, with severe cramp (and something wrong with his finger). The Dutchman (does he ever crack a smile of show any emotion????) stayed amazingly calm, despite time-violations for Paulo, other possible ones, major hoo-hah etc. etc. Great match.

The quote of the day goes to Mathieu, though, as half-way through the fifth set he shouts out loud: "just call me Kinder Surprise, why don't you?" (with reference to all the freebie gifts he had within him to kindly give his opponent).

Spectator · All-time great

Anyone who comes through qualifying by beating Jurgen Melzer and PHM (not to mention Carballes Baena) should at least crack a tiny grin at some point.

Thanks again to all who were watching for analysis of the matches - so helpful.