Week 25 - Wimbledon Qualifying

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

RE: Week 25 - Wimbledon Qualifying

wales1994 · County player

I went for a little bit today as I live in Putney Heath, only saw Dan Evans play. He was in complete control throughout the match, it was all on his racket. I love his game, however, I feel his on court attitude left a lot to be desired. He kept moaning and came across ridiculously negative, maybe it was just a case of nerves.

So happy for Josh though! Glad to see a fellow Welshman doing well! His results to me seem to have come from nowhere, did anybody see his match?

RJA · Hall of fame

Madadman wrote:
Yeah your probably right. Was an incredible point. I can't remember where that was in the context of that game I want to say deuce or to go to *40-30. Either way that point alone deserved to win a game!

It was 3-0* 30-30 so it gave him a point for a double break which he really should have taken but he missed a very makable passing shot, one of the very few he missed all match.

RJA · Hall of fame

wales1994 wrote:
I went for a little bit today as I live in Putney Heath, only saw Dan Evans play. He was in complete control throughout the match, it was all on his racket. I love his game, however, I feel his on court attitude left a lot to be desired. He kept moaning and came across ridiculously negative, maybe it was just a case of nerves.

I assume that you haven't seen Dan play that much because today his attitude was pretty good. When Dan is unhappy with how he plays he has one of two responses, one is anger the other is apathy. The former is perhaps not ideal but it is a hell of a lot better than the latter. Today he was angry but focussed, a good combination for him. His play wasn't great, some good stiff mixed with some sloppy stuff, but he could have easily lost against a solid opponent who made very few mistakes.

RJA · Hall of fame

Just adding a bit more about Josh. He started slowly and was never really in the first set but for after that he was clearly the better player and thoroughly deserved his win playing with a fantastic balance between defence and attack. I have never seen him so focussed and so intense on court and he dealt with a number of really difficult moments with a mental strength that has often been absent in the past. He led 3-1* in the third set and had 0-40 for a double break but couldn't take the opportunity. Befitting his status as a wily veteran Hernych sensed his chance and had 3 break back points in the following game but Josh was resolute and eventually held after a marathon game. The final game where he served out the match was a little surreal, a couple of absolute monster Lleyton Hewitt style shouts of "come on" followed by an almost trance like calm before the next point. Josh has always worked hard on court but today there was steal to his game that I have never seen before, long may it continue.

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 12:00:21 AM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Josh played like that (at the match I saw) in Surbiton too - rather 'ethereal' in a way, sort of floating above the court, with a little Mona Lisa smile - and then some sudden flash bursts of energy. And to great effect.

yes, don't think Dan Evans was being negative, Wales, he just likes to tell his life story as he goes through a match, commentating the shots, and line calls, and passing birds, and anything else that gets in his line of vision - which is quite a lot as he's half watching the other matches at the same time (which I think is more a problem - lack of focus and all that - but maybe it helps him not be too stressed).

agree with RJA that apathy is a hundred times worse, and there was none of that.

Dan doesn't cheer his own good shots, and does berate himself for bad shots (which I guess may seem negative) but he was getting very pumped for important points i.e. the big shout would come not when he'd hit a winner but at himself to gee himself up at deuce or whatever, near the end of the set. Net net, I thought Popsicle played very well, broke Dan with some excellent play when Dan served for it, and could have won that match easily on another day. Well done, Dan, and the others.

add: as it ended quite late, there's not much news in the press about Ed's win, so Ed - if you're reading this - we're not forgetting you ! True that other guy seemed seriously unimpressed about playing on green, springy stuff but great serving, and made the job look very easy ! (maybe not quite so far behind the base line next time????)

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 08:53:57 AM

wales1994 · County player

RJA wrote:
wales1994 wrote:
I went for a little bit today as I live in Putney Heath, only saw Dan Evans play. He was in complete control throughout the match, it was all on his racket. I love his game, however, I feel his on court attitude left a lot to be desired. He kept moaning and came across ridiculously negative, maybe it was just a case of nerves.
I assume that you haven't seen Dan play that much because today his attitude was pretty good. When Dan is unhappy with how he plays he has one of two responses, one is anger the other is apathy. The former is perhaps not ideal but it is a hell of a lot better than the latter. Today he was angry but focussed, a good combination for him. His play wasn't great, some good stiff mixed with some sloppy stuff, but he could have easily lost against a solid opponent who made very few mistakes.

This is true, I've only previously seen him from his US Open run and a few matches vaguely watched online here and there. I'm glad he won, as it did feel like it was all him. I left when he was pegged back to 5-all as I had dinner arrangements. Started to fear the worst!

wimdledont · Challenger level

I can find hardly any press at all on any of this, which I find very bizarre. They seem to have given up reporting on actual tennis, just the tennis slebs' various diets, latest endorsements, state of health, coaching arrangements, thoughts and opinions on the inside of a Ping-Pong ball, etc...

I can't find mention of Wimbledon qualifiers on the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Fail. Bizarre!

Perhaps there'll be something tomorrow, as I think that Katie Swan plays today, and she might now be a sleb?

Shhh · Challenger level

Coup Droit wrote:
as it ended quite late, there's not much news in the press about Ed's win, so Ed - if you're reading this - we're not forgetting you ! True that other guy seemed seriously unimpressed about playing on green, springy stuff but great serving, and made the job look very easy ! (maybe not quite so far behind the base line next time????)

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 08:53:57 AM

Echo that Coup, well done Ed. 1st slam qualies win with a few more to come I hope.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

wimdledont wrote:
I can't find mention of Wimbledon qualifiers on the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Fail. Bizarre!

Evo's win is the only qualies result reported in today's Times, which is very unfair on Ed & Josh, but then, his name's more likely to register with casual readers than those of the other two - & it was only the first round...

RJA · Hall of fame

Coup Droit wrote:
add: as it ended quite late, there's not much news in the press about Ed's win, so Ed - if you're reading this - we're not forgetting you ! True that other guy seemed seriously unimpressed about playing on green, springy stuff but great serving, and made the job look very easy ! (maybe not quite so far behind the base line next time????)

Munoz-de La Nava is actually pretty comfortable on grass, he played very well against Evo two years ago, but it just don't think it is feasible to play in the final of a clay court challenger on Sunday and then play your first grass court match of the season the following day, especially against a player like Ed who is a very solid player and will always make opponents work for their wins. Added to that he suffered a disappointing loss in the final having gone into it as solid favourite and with a great chance of making the top 100 for the first time in his career at the age of 33.

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

Richard having to save BPs in every service game except his first, but he leads 5-3. Dustov generally getting through his service games easier though.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Bloomers is a break up on Dustov in the opening set

thejester · Satellite level

Bloomers up a break at 5-3
Hypothetically (and I'm not getting ahead of myself don't worry), if Bloomers say managed to qualify and win a round or two, do we think he might consider a full time return to the your? I'm afraid I'm a bit ignorant of his current standing in terms of what he does when he's not playing etc and his reasons for dropping from the your initially..

paulisi · Tennis legend

I don't think he is fit enough to play full time