Week 17 - ATP 500 - Barcelona Open - Spain (clay)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Week 17 - ATP 500 - Barcelona Open - Spain (clay)

Jan · Hall of fame

Oh that's brilliant news - very well done Evo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! biggrin biggrin

Jan · Hall of fame

Kyle is first match tomorrow on main court.
Evo is 5th match on Ct 2.

cecil · Social player

What's Mischa like on clay? He plays serve and volley doesn't he?

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

cecil wrote:
What's Mischa like on clay? He plays serve and volley doesn't he?

Yes. Almost every point. Will be interesting to see how Evo copes with that.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Jan wrote:
Kyle is first match tomorrow on main court.
Evo is 5th match on Ct 2.

It's going to be a late night for me tomorrow then. Have to drive 5 1/2 hours to get home after Evo's match.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Don't want to make you all jealous or anything (he lied) but I have had an amazing day at the tennis today. Got to chat with Leon, who is working with Kyle this week and next, Nathan Rooney (briefly) who is with Evo and also sat with Kyle's parents for much of Evo's match. Oh, and I saw two GB singles winners on clay at an ATP tournament and neither was called Murray. What a day.

For anyone hoping for a match report from Jamie's doubles, I'm afraid that match clashed with Evo's so I didn't get to see any of it at all. But I will put up some comments on both Kyle's and Evo's matches over the course of the evening. But the buffet restaurant in the hotel where I am staying is onyl open for a 45 minute window so that will have to take priority LOL.

I will be back there tomorrow to cheer them both on again.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kyle played a really solid match. If I were being picky, he could perhaps have served a bit better, but it does seem as though he is trying to put some more variety into his serve and perhaps that is why the consistency wasn't always there. Apart from that however, I was really impressed, particularly with the way he handled the pressure moments.

I have no doubt that the stand out stat for this match will be BP conversions. Just looked them up. Kyle saved 5/5 (thought it was more than that personally) while Chardy saved just 1/3.

I also thought Kyle got better as the match wore on. The key game was the 4th in the 2nd set. Kyle was already a break up and serving at *2-1. There must have been 10 deuces in that game and several BPs. Chardy just went for it. Everytime Kyle had game point, Chardy would try to run around his forehand and smash a winner and it worked. But every time there was a BP, he tried the same trick and missed - fortunately. In the end Kyle out foxed him and as Chardy tried the same trick, Kyle saw him go and threw in the slider down the T for a 2nd serve ace to win the game.

In the final game, I thought the pressure might get to Kyle at 15-30, but he won a good point for 30-30 and then two big 1st serves sealed the match.

The other stand out feature is that Kyle is definitely trying to get to the net more often - something that was apparent in his match with Nadal in Monte Carlo. It didn't always work, but it shows how Kyle and his team are always trying to add new facets to his game from which he will benefit in the longer run.

Needless to say that his mum and dad were very happy with the result.

Jan · Hall of fame

Jealous? Us?!
So glad you're having a good time and thanks for the info!!
Hope tomorrow is as good for the Brits.

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

Two cracking wins

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Right. Evo. Wow. What a match.

I think I should start by saying that Evo really seems to be enjoying his tennis right now. He was grinning almost the entire way through. Monteiro serves like a left handed Monfils, as though someone has tied his shoe laces together. He has very little subtlety to his game and hits the ball very hard. When it worked, he was able to force Evo way behind the baseline but when Evo was able to put Monteiro under pressure, his game became very ragged.

Evo controlled most of the 1st set and was able to move Monteiro around the court. But when serving for the set, Evo found himself at 15-40. He saved the 1st with an ace, but then proceeded to DF on the 2nd. We went to a TB which Monteiro took 7-4.

Evo went a break down in the opening game of the 2nd set but from there, he played some of his best tennis to completely dominate Monteiro and he won 6 of the next 7 games.

The 3rd set (I almost said 5th set then as the match seemed to last so long) was just a roller coaster. But even when Evo was 0-4 down, I still felt there was a chance. Evo was still chasing down everything and there was always the possibility that Monteiro would implode as he did in the 2nd set. 0-4 soon became 5-4 and the win was on. In the end, it all came down to handling the pressure, as it so often does in these tight matches. Evo handled it better. This was reflected in two specific moments.

At *5-5 Ad out, Evo faced a BP. He nailed a big 1st serve and Monteiro went long on the return. But the service line judge made a late call and called the serve long. The umpire got off the chair to take a look and over-ruled. It had caught the back edge of the line. Evo wanted the point, but the umpire said the return was in and ordered the point to be replayed. There followed a brief "discussion" between Evo and the umpire. In the end, Evo had to play it again. He serve and volleyed the replayed point taking the the volley into the left handed Monteiro's backhand. Evo was forced into a difficult backhand smash which he cleverly put behind the scampering Monteiro. The next lob was consequently much more defensive and Evo finished the point with a smash, a roar and a clenched fist. Evo handled the situation superbly and won the next two points for a hold.

Monteiro on the other hand blinked in the TB. He missed a sitter on the 1st point by dumping an easy forehand into the net. But the key point for me was Monteiro serving at *0-2. 1st serve missed. Evo suddenly decided to stand a yard inside the baseline for the 2nd serve - something he hadn't done at any other time in the match. Monteiro felt the pressure, went big and DFed. Evo had won the mental battle and ran away with the breaker 7-2.

It was a fantastic win against a clay court specialist who had already come through qualies on this surface. But Evo was the better player and deserved the win. I may be wrong, but I get the feeling that Dan secretly enjoys the challenge of the clay. There is very little expectation on him, so he is allowed to play with freedom and with a smile on his face. He certainly enjoyed the win - almost as much as I did, if truth be told.

indiana · Tennis legend

Great reports, thanks.

Spectator · All-time great

Thanks so much, BiS. Sounds a wonderful day, and it's lovely to be able to live it vicariously through you!

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Thanks for the report Bob. Hope you as enjoyable a day tomorrow.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

goldfish wrote:
Thanks for the report Bob. Hope you as enjoyable a day tomorrow.

ditto smile

have a good one !