Week 20 - Challenger Bangkok 3($50k+H) - Hard

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Week 20 - Challenger Bangkok 3($50k+H) - Hard

Spectator · All-time great

And 2-2 as I dip in again, having won his service game to love. GBJ, I haven't seen much of Alex Ward's play, as I really only watch Challengers on live stream, and then only in short blocks. But with those caveats, I don't think that the bit of his R16 match that I saw was the best I've ever seen him play. More generally, while I don't think he has a massive weapon (yet) like Kyle Edmund's forehand, neither do many players who have good careers. And I do enjoy the little that I've watched. And now, dipping in again, he has two match points. Go, Mr Ward!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

So close.... Alex really had him on that first match point, stringing him out across the court.

But Alex can't come into the net to finish it because he's too far back and so the other guy's defense got him back in. He then saved then second one very well.

5-5

DF · Tennis legend

6-5

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

And he does it second time !!!!!!!!!

Breaks him to love

Game, set, and match to Alex

Spectator · All-time great

Fabulous. Just fabulous. First Challenger SF. Well done.

spud · Challenger qualifying

Very good win, at least one Ward is on the rise!

Jan · Hall of fame

Excellent!

steven · Tennis legend

That was an exciting 3rd set to watch, wasn't it - and you could see how much finally making a Challenger singles SF meant to him at the end

He gets a qualifier in the SFs too, against whom he leads the H2H 1-0

QF: Alex Ward WR 283 beat (7) Zhang Ze (CHN) WR 189 (CH 148 in 2013) by 6-4 1-6 7-5

SF: Alex Ward WR 283 v (Q) Sam Barry (IRL) WR 358 (CH 286 in 2014)

H2H 1-0 - Alex won 3 & 3 in Adana, Turkey, back in 2010.

Today's win will take Alex to a new career high just outside the top 250. He's a win away from the top 250 and from overtaking Liam, who of course lost to Barry after dumping out top seed Groth.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

steven said it all, and way better

smile

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 20th of May 2016 08:08:55 AM

Jaffa · Challenger level

Good match was that, watched it in it's entirety.

Alex rightly won the first set thanks to winning a lot of points behind his first serve and getting the break by being patient and making Ze hit one more shot.

Second set there was a bad call for Alex at BP down 1-2 30-40 and he let it get to him, and after he got broken for 1-5 he tanked the last game.

Final set I must admit I thought Ze was by far the better player and it was a matter of time before Alex's serve (that was coming under pressure) would wilt. However after a strong hold at 4-4 where his first serve came back, found himself 15-40 up on the Ze serve. To be fair Ze played 4 superb points from there and staved him off. However the same wouldn't be repeated and at 6-5 played a super return game to win.

Alex won this match because Ze couldn't cope with the variety of Alex's groundies. He especially struggled when the ball was anywhere above his ribs at the back of the court.

Also, Alex's serve has come on leaps and bounds since I last saw him, he must have served 15 or so aces in this match! And his groundstrokes are SO solid. Can be a bit negative at times but I'm sure that will be improved on. You can see why he doesn't have the game for grass but you never know with that serve he might just surprise a few people!

indiana · Tennis legend

Great to see. As has been said, Alex has stepped up pretty well to challengers in the past ( for a time almost seeming to find them easier than futures! )

After injury setbacks he has built back up well on the futures circuit and now these challenger performances are coming. A man on the rise ...

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 20th of May 2016 09:07:50 AM

brendan · Strong Club Player

steven wrote:
He's a win away from the top 250 and from overtaking Liam

and would be just 1 ranking point behind Brydan

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Once James Wards points from Wimbledon fall off unless he matches them of course then Alex will be the highest ranked Ward. If he wins the title here I make it he could be top 200. On this form he ll take care of Sam Barry.

Winning the title therefore would bring a Wimbledon Main Draw Wildcard surely with the new criteria and with his Serve and ground strokes just now you've got to fancy him to get a few points in Challengers before then.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Brilliant news to wake up to this morning. Great work from Alex. I know a team of coaches back in Spain who are also going to be delighted and should take some credit for the season Alex is having. Well done to Abel Rincon and the rest of Team Ward.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Friday 20th of May 2016 10:08:49 AM