Week 37 - Challenger ($75,000) Istanbul, Turkey (Hard)

RJA · Hall of fame

Week 37 - Challenger ($75,000) Istanbul, Turkey (Hard)

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

Lets hope the change in surface for Kuznetsov will work for Evo.

FriendofLouieG · Lower Club Player

+1
Kuznetsov has played mostly clay this year and he is pretty formidable on clay. He has however had mixed results on hard courts.

Dan is returning to his best form, let's hope he's up for a battle because if he gets through R1, the draw really opens up.

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

Whilst I don't believe in over analysing an opponents form, Kuznetsov hasn't beaten many highly ranked players since June. His recent Challenger tournament victory saw him beat Munoz de la Nava (wr105) in the final, but apart from that, everyone else he beat was outside the top 250. Dan knows he is good enough to win if he plays close to his top level, and it is the sort of match he'll need to win if he is going to achieve his objectives any time soon.

I remark on the very wide range of rankings in this tournament. 5 players in the top 100, but last direct acceptance is 410.

I hope the match will be on a streamed court!

goldenboy · Club Coach

Kuznetsov beat evo at wimbledon a couple of years back! Remember watching the match and thinking he was pretty good actually.

So a tough match for dan but chance for revenge!

Oakland2002 · All-time great

What an awful draw for Kuznetsov!

Shhh · Challenger level

Dan has pulled out. The drawsheet states for personal reasons.

thejester · Satellite level

Davis Cup surely

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Not Davis cup but probably due to the turnaround from a close 3 set battle yesterday.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Jaggy1876 wrote:
Not Davis cup but probably due to the turnaround from a close 3 set battle yesterday.

That's what I reckon.

But you never know . . . Leon may just want him as part of the hitting squad ???

indiana · Tennis legend

Interesting, we wait to see ...

RJA · Hall of fame

Jaggy1876 wrote:
Not Davis cup but probably due to the turnaround from a close 3 set battle yesterday.

As I said I thought he looked a bit sluggish yesterday and he complained at one point that he legs felt really heavy. He has played 33 matches since Wimbledon (49 since May) so it wouldn't be that surprising if that has caught up with him, especially after having spent a long time out. In such circumstances a quick trip to Turkey for a match against a high calibre opponent probably didn't seem like the smartest option.

Topemp · Strong Club Player

This is a big disappointment, Dan in Istanbul was one of the few tennis things to look out for with much enthusiasm this week.

It may be a combination of wanting to be fresh in event of DC call-up and thinking that Turkey was a long way to go for such a tough first rounder after all the tennis he has played recently.

Anyway, sad he wont be there, but might well be sensible decision.

RJA · Hall of fame

Also worth noting that all remaining first round matches in Istanbul are being played tomorrow so Dan would have presumably had to travel today and then play tomorrow which would have been far from ideal.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Don't be ridiculous weekend of top sport coming up

its Villa v baggies Saturday, villa v Blues Tuesday the man needs a bit of a R n R if not n Glasgeee