Week 10 - ATP Masters 1000 - Indian Wells, CA, USA - Hard

Oakland2002 · All-time great

RE: Week 10 - ATP Masters 1000 - Indian Wells, CA, USA - Hard

philwrig · Hall of fame

I felt that Kyle was just a bit up and down last night maybe because his prep was compromised by the back niggle picked up last week, but still much better than 12 months ago. Greg was working on getting Kyle to move forward more to shorten the points a bit. I'm pretty sure that didn't go as far as serving and volleying though. I like his game style, it's straightforward, cause fatal damage with his lethal weapon. As for the physical weakness over long matches, clearly that is a worry, but it will only get better as he gets older, and hopefully be eradicated completely. I'm more certain than ever though that Kyle will be a mainstay in the worlds top 30 as his career moves forward.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

It says a lot about where Kyle is at, that we are disappointed that he lost to a guy ranked 40 in the world and who is himself on the rise. At 21, there are clearly plenty of areas in Kyle's game that he can work on, but I see that as a positive rather than a negative. I actually thought that Pella played his best tennis of the match over those final 4 games and Kyle's inexperience at this level perhaps showed a bit.

We will never know of course, how much effect that erroneous line call had on BP in the 2nd game of the final set. On such fine margins, matches can be decided.

RJA · Hall of fame

philwrig wrote:
I felt that Kyle was just a bit up and down last night maybe because his prep was compromised by the back niggle picked up last week, but still much better than 12 months ago. Greg was working on getting Kyle to move forward more to shorten the points a bit. I'm pretty sure that didn't go as far as serving and volleying though. I like his game style, it's straightforward, cause fatal damage with his lethal weapon. As for the physical weakness over long matches, clearly that is a worry, but it will only get better as he gets older, and hopefully be eradicated completely. I'm more certain than ever though that Kyle will be a mainstay in the worlds top 30 as his career moves forward.

Perhaps the most problematic thing for Kyle at the moment is his tendency to pick up so many niggling injuries. It his caused his his career to be very stop-start and has presumably been a big factor in the relatively slow rate of improvement we have seen with his stamina. When things are going well he has a very effective (if somewhat one dimensional game) but once he starts to tire either physically or mentally his game frequently falls off to a quite alarming degree.

It is worth noting though that two years ago the same was the case with Dominic Thiem, and many wonders if he was tough enough for rigours of the ATP tour. Now he is up to 13 in the world and has played more ATP level matches so far this year than any other player. Now I don't think that Kyle quit has the same level of potential as Thiem (there is simply no comparison when it comes to movement and the backhand) but in terms of physical development there is no reason why Kyle can't make similar improvements. That being said I doubt that Kyle will embrace the rather unorthodox training methods used by Thiem's fitness coach.

Vandenburg · Futures level

I think Kyle has potential to be top 30, but probably not top 20 or 15.

RJA · Hall of fame

Vandenburg wrote:
I think Kyle has potential to be top 30, but probably not top 20 or 15.

I think that is about right. I would be surprised if he didn't make the top 50 and probably a bit higher. Top 20 or better would require massive improvements in areas of his game that aren't too good at the moment, most notably his movement. It's not impossible but unlikely in my opinion.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Frankly, I'd feel a lot more confident in Kyle's future if Greg was nowhere to be seen.....but that's probably just personal bias.....

Jan · Hall of fame

Aljaz's match has just started.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

On Skye's 'red button'

Jan · Hall of fame

Aljaz lost the first set 7-5

paulisi · Tennis legend

Was two breaks up in the second, but lost one and now broken back. 5-2 up

I'm not sure if it is just me, but I wouldn't recognise Bedene(GB no.2) if he walked down my street.

TMH · Futures qualifying

I can't understand putting ranking limits on a player. If someone makes the top 30, it's really not that much of a jump to break the top 20. Hell, when Victor Troicki can rise as high as 12 in the world, there's no reason why Kyle cannot.

That's not to say I think he necessarily will get that high, I just think it's plain ridiculous to put a ceiling on it in this sport.

Jan · Hall of fame

Aljaz levels 6-2 in the second
Come on!

TMH · Futures qualifying

Coup Droit wrote:
Frankly, I'd feel a lot more confident in Kyle's future if Greg was nowhere to be seen.....but that's probably just personal bias.....

Likewise.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

It's not just you. I have been following him a while but for most Brits I am sure he is an unknown quantity.

Hopefully he gets clearance to play DC later this month and I am sure if he gets the chance to win a deciding 5th rubber we will all know what he looks like. Aljaz and Kyle would actually make a decent singles team if we start playing our ties on clay when Andy is otherwise engaged.