Week 40 - Spain F32 ($10,000) - Sant Cugat del Vallès (Clay)

SMC1809 · All-time great

RE: Week 40 - Spain F32 ($10,000) - Sant Cugat del Vallès (Clay)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QF: (1) Alex Ward WR 377 vs (5) Juan Lizariturry (ESP) WR 557 (CH = 304 in July last year)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QF: Dan Dowson (AUS) & Alex Ward CR 1681 (935+746) defeated Yusuke Takahashi & Renta Tokuda (JPN/JPN) UNR by 1 & 3

*****

SF: Andrés Artunedo & Steven Diez (ESP/CAN) CR 1683 (799+884) vs Dan Dowson (AUS) & Alex Ward CR 1681 (935+746)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

SMC1809 wrote:
Alex did play in 14 challengers in 2013 before his injury break and has played in 7 so far in 2015.

Fair point.

I guess 7 in 2015 sounds fine.

But he's played in precisely zero during the last 3 months (since end of June) so zero since being in part of the new team. (But played 9 ITFs in the same period).

Now that might be wise planning but, as said, I wonder how much it is team driven.

indiana · Tennis legend

It's interesting, given that Alex did step up pretty well to challengers in 2013, to the extent that he got a reputation at one stage for finding winning challenger matches at least as easy as winning futures matches !

So while there are arguments for and against, building up a cushion of points vs taking the bull by the horns now, noticeably recently almost actively avoiding seemingly good challenger opportunities for a guy comfortable on clay is I think worthy of a quizzical note.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Not going to plan so far today as Alex is down a double break at 2-5*

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

One break recovered. *3-5

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Only to get broken again and lose the 1st set 6-3

Strange serving stats in this match from both players. Alex was 84% on his 1st serve and yet won only 11/26 points (42%) behind that. His opponent was similar with a 77% 1st serve percentage but only winning 10/17 (59%).

It is almost like it is an advantage to be receiving. There were 4 breaks from the 9 games.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Oh dear. Alex now *0-3 down in the 2nd as well.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QF: (5) Juan Lizariturry (ESP) WR 557 defeated (1) Alex Ward WR 377 by 3 & 2 bleh

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

hmmmm....

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Disappointing ? Yes.

But let's not forget that in his previous tournament, just last month, Alex was forced to retire. He also pulled out last week when he was down to play in Sabadell so perhaps just a bit rusty after recovering from injury.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Oh, I wasn't going 'hmmmm' over the result - everyone loses a tennis match....

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Alex's bad day at the office continues:

SF: Andrés Artunedo & Steven Diez (ESP/CAN) CR 1683 (799+884) defeated Dan Dowson (AUS) & Alex Ward CR 1681 (935+746) by 1 & 2 cry