Week 18 - Challenger ($42,500+H) - Roma Garden Open, Rome, Italy (red clay)

philwrig · Hall of fame

Week 18 - Challenger ($42,500+H) - Roma Garden Open, Rome, Italy (red clay)

TMH · Futures qualifying

Krajinovic is class. If not for horrible injury problems in his late teens/early twenties, he'd probably be top 20 by now. Not to be underestimated. But certainly Kyle has a good chance, and will presumably be favourite.

-- Edited by TMH on Friday 6th of May 2016 07:29:18 PM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Just had to chuckle at this tweet from Kyle's dad.

Ballboy eats choc icecream on court during @kyle8edmund match. Asked to leave........he protested that he had another hand free #atproma

James · Satellite level

Kyle's on court and warming up.

On a side note, it's wonderful to see the kind of turn out that Italian challengers always seem to get. The stands today are packed. And the crowd always seems to be extremely knowledgeable and appreciative of good tennis.

James · Satellite level

Kyle 2-2*

Comfortable hold to 15 there for Kyle. He has managed to put a fair bit of pressure on the Krajinovic serve so far, which bodes well.

thejester · Satellite level

Still on serve after that early pressure on the Serb from Kyle. Kedders serving at *4-5

thejester · Satellite level

Promising that Kyle is only serving 48% 1st serves but still hasn't faced so much as a BP thus far
5-5*

TMH · Futures qualifying

God I hate this camera angle.

James · Satellite level

It has been a good standard of tennis so far. I have been very impressed by Karjinovic's ability to soak up Kyle's powerful groundstrokes and to make impactful shots when retrieving Kyle's shorter & wider groundstrokes. The match is very well poised at the moment.

James · Satellite level

6-6 Tiebreak...

James · Satellite level

Interesting that Krajinovic has apparently decided to utilise the dropshot on several occasions to try and break Kyle's rhythm. I can't recall if this is a entirely normal aspect of his game but it has to be said that it has had an effect so far, and the Serb has won the majority of points having drawn Kyle in towards the net.

James · Satellite level

Kyle has taken the first set 7-6(2)

Overall a very deserved first set. Kyle has looked the much more assertive player from the back of the court and, pleasingly, has dominated many rallies off of his backhand side.

And all of this with a first serve percentage of 49%!

-- Edited by James on Saturday 7th of May 2016 03:09:15 PM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle takes the breaker 7-2. I thought Kyle was in control throughout the entire set but feared it was one of those where a few inspired points at the wrong times from his opponent, would leave him rueing those BPs early in the set.

Overall, if they get into a rally, Kyle has too much power for Krajinovic who (as James points out) only really has the drop shot that has consistently paid dividends.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Breaks immediately in the second. 3-0*.

-- Edited by TMH on Saturday 7th of May 2016 03:25:14 PM

TMH · Futures qualifying

Kyle breaks again and now leads *4-0.