Week 45 - Challenger ($50,000) - Knoxville, TN, USA (indoor hard)

thejester · Satellite level

RE: Week 45 - Challenger ($50,000) - Knoxville, TN, USA (indoor hard)

thejester · Satellite level

Ruthless on serve from Dan and it's another lightning fast hold for 5-5*

thejester · Satellite level

A silky backhand winner briefly halts Tiafoe's march to a hold, but hold he does to 15
Dan serving to stay in the set for a 2nd time. *5-6

Topemp · Strong Club Player

thejester wrote:
Also if anybody doesn't want these (almost) point by point updates, please do tell me to shut up.

No, keep going for me.

thejester · Satellite level

Great serve from Dan, great return from Tiafoe, even better squash forehand from Dan, though his opponent takes the next two courtesy of Evo errors, before Dan comes in and finishes for 30-30
Another volley can't make its way over the net and it's set point Tiafoe, which he takes courtesy of a forehand wide from Dan

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Drat! A relatively poor service game and Dan drops the first set 5-7.

thejester · Satellite level

That was a very close set, Dan actually winning 39 points to Tiafoe's 38, but those errors in the last game cost him the set, 7-5 to the young American

thejester · Satellite level

Tiafoe opens with a couple of booming serves separated by a netted backhand from Dan.
An error on the forehand from Tiafoe gives Dan a glimmer, but that's soon gone with a shanked forehand
*0-1

thejester · Satellite level

A net cord (Dan's had a few helpful ones) this time offers Tiafoe an easy put away, though his lob drops just long next point
Good serve from Dan and he races in to put the return away, before getting away with a backhand that the line judge misses (looked a good 6 inches long) and hitting a good deep shot that his opponent can't get back over.
1-1*

thejester · Satellite level

Tiafoe looks unhappy as the umpire overrules an ace, and he nets the next one to go 0-30 down. This time the ace stands to get him to 15-30, and Dan can't get his racquet in shape for the next belter.
Tiafoe thinks he has the next point won but Dan scurries over to put it into the empty court, and a ballooned forehand from Tiafoe gives Dan the break.
*2-1 VAMOS

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Yes! Dan breaks. Now HOLD! (for the rest of the set, please)

thejester · Satellite level

And I'll be right back after letting the dog out!

thejester · Satellite level

Thank goodness he didn't get broken in my absence, I'd never forgive myself!
3-1*

thejester · Satellite level

Getting into his opponent's serve now at 0-30, but just as quickly a couple of big serves take us to 30-30. Tiafoe goes long next time though and it's another BP for Dan... Which he takes with a backhand into the open court! *4-1

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Dan gets a double break!