Week 15 - ATP 250 - Grand Prix Hassan II - Marrakech, Morocco (clay)

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Week 15 - ATP 250 - Grand Prix Hassan II - Marrakech, Morocco (clay)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Tougher going for Alex today. Perhaps the jetlag has now had time to kick in.

Lost the 1st set 6-4 and is down a double break in the 2nd. Djere is about to serve for the match at *5-2

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Sadly, not to be for Alex:

FQR: Laslo Djere (SRB) WR 196 defeated Alex Ward WR 462 by 4 & 2 cry

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

However, a couple of thousand euros and 6 ranking points made it worth the trip.

the addict · Tennis legend

I see that Benoit Paire is seeded 6 in the main draw - after today's match against Aljaz I don't fancy his chances.

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

A shame for Alex he had a few break points in the first set at 4-3* didn't manage to make them count then got broken in the next game then it seemed to just get away from him from that point. Anyway not bad couple of days work 6 ranking points and probably about £1k up after expenses.

thejester · Satellite level

I see that Djere KO'd Klizan (WR60) in straights in round one. Puts a bit more perspective on that FQR loss for Alex, not that it was needed. Definitely worth the trip. As a lower ranked player it's got to be worth a shot at tour event qualies every now and then. You just never know, a couple of wins, a favourable draw, a storming performance. It's rare to see true 'outsiders' go deep but it can really change their trajectory. I'm all for it as part of a balanced schedule.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

L16: Dom Inglot & Mate Pavic (CRO) CR 82 (44+38) defeated Treat Huey & Max Mirnyi (PHI/BLR) CR 67 (34+33) by 4 & 4 biggrin

*****

QF: (3) Rohan Bopanna & Marcin Matkowski (IND/POL) CR 51 (24+27) [& a combined age of 73 (37+36! wink ]) vs Dom Inglot & Mate Pavic (CRO) CR 82 (44+38)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

thejester wrote:
I see that Djere KO'd Klizan (WR60) in straights in round one. Puts a bit more perspective on that FQR loss for Alex, not that it was needed. Definitely worth the trip. As a lower ranked player it's got to be worth a shot at tour event qualies every now and then. You just never know, a couple of wins, a favourable draw, a storming performance. It's rare to see true 'outsiders' go deep but it can really change their trajectory. I'm all for it as part of a balanced schedule.

Unless your name is El Amrani, ranked 667 in he world, get a WC and then have Delbonis retire in your 1st round match. OK. So 2nd round isn't "deep" as such, but that is still a big bonus.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

thejester wrote:
I see that Djere KO'd Klizan (WR60) in straights in round one. Puts a bit more perspective on that FQR loss for Alex, not that it was needed. Definitely worth the trip. As a lower ranked player it's got to be worth a shot at tour event qualies every now and then. You just never know, a couple of wins, a favourable draw, a storming performance. It's rare to see true 'outsiders' go deep but it can really change their trajectory. I'm all for it as part of a balanced schedule.

I agree.

As said before, it's the one regret I've seen from at least two French players after quitting: they were so busy scrabbling for little points, here and there, trying to get to 300 or 250 or wherever it was that they'd artificially set themselves as their target before giving challengers a real go, and they never really just chanced their arm and saw where they were against the bigger guys.

As one said, it would only have taken a good draw, on his favourite surface, and to be playing well that week, to have a sudden run and things may have been very different. He's not saying it was highly likely, but certainly possible, and that now he'll never know and thinks about the 'what ifs'....

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QF: Dom Inglot & Mate Pavic (CRO) CR 82 (44+38) defeated (3) Rohan Bopanna & Marcin Matkowski (IND/POL) CR 51 (24+27) by 2 & 4

*****

And now for the killer match:

SF: (1) Raven Klaasen & Rajeev Ram (RSA/USA) CR 23 (11+12) vs Dom Inglot & Mate Pavic (CRO) CR 82 (44+38)

wolf · Tennis legend

This looks like a Masters field in a 250.

Spectator · All-time great

Very true. Guess not much on clay before the serious tournaments start, so ...

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Alex's conqueror managed to take Ramos (WR 24) to 6-4 in the 3rd.

thejester · Satellite level

Bob in Spain wrote:
thejester wrote:
I see that Djere KO'd Klizan (WR60) in straights in round one. Puts a bit more perspective on that FQR loss for Alex, not that it was needed. Definitely worth the trip. As a lower ranked player it's got to be worth a shot at tour event qualies every now and then. You just never know, a couple of wins, a favourable draw, a storming performance. It's rare to see true 'outsiders' go deep but it can really change their trajectory. I'm all for it as part of a balanced schedule.
Unless your name is El Amrani, ranked 667 in he world, get a WC and then have Delbonis retire in your 1st round match. OK. So 2nd round isn't "deep" as such, but that is still a big bonus.

El Amrani very nearly made even more of a bonus out of it, only losing out in a 3rd set breaker to Coric.

The money is probably even more important than the points to most as well. So far this year, El Amrani has made around $1100 from singles and doubles. He's now made 8230 in a single week. Hopefully Alex can get a stroke of good fortune like that himself.

-- Edited by thejester on Thursday 13th of April 2017 07:45:07 PM