Week 15 - Challenger ($43,000+H) - Open Città della Disfida, Barletta, Italy (clay)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RE: Week 15 - Challenger ($43,000+H) - Open Città della Disfida, Barletta, Italy (clay)

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Current win streak at 8 and that is following the 7 match win streak on the American hard courts that really only ended due to tiredness/injury after racing to Miami without a break. Aljaz is definitely in great form and it is good to see after such a miserable 2016.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Aljaz is a classic Challenger expert. Like so many though he's top of the tree here yet not good enough for ATP level. Reminds me of Estrella Burgos in a lot of ways. Find a poor enough ATP250 to win ala Quito for Victor to maximise career earnings and ranking points for direct entry to Slams and he could make a good living from this and winning challengers.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Every year I wonder why he is not in Quito, especially as clay is his preferred surface. I do think he is good enough to sustain at 250 level if he remains fit though. He was on the main tour last year through merit and has a number of wins over top 20 players, his drop in the rankings was more as a result of injury issues so hopefully he can return to and stick around in the top 50 this time.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

I haven't seen much evidence of Aljaz being any more than a 50 ranked player anytime I've seen him which is around a dozen times now, therefore challenger champ etc. He's certainly not going to bother 2nd weeks at Grand Slams.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

2nd Week of slams is probably a stretch but he is as good as any number of ATP250 winners out there and I would be disappointed if he did not pick up a title or two in the next few years provided he is fit. I think he is just as good as guys like Klizan and Bautista Agut when he is on form.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

SF: (WC) Lukas Rosol WR 161 (CH = 26 in September 2014) vs (2) Aljaz Bedene WR 76

Could be a bit if a challenge...

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Epic third game in which Rosol eventually held after what seemed like an age.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

But Bedene finally got a break and leads *4-3. Holding his own serves with little difficulty so far.

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

I've only watched a couple of games, but Alijaz is looking very good, has just broken for 4-3. He is solid and puts away the half court ball efficiently.