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

Julia Carrot · All-time great

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

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Brilliant return game from Dan to finish the match, absolutely stunning tennis, half-volley winner, running backhand pass winner down the line and backhand return winner.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Well done Dan. I was totally not expecting that!

indiana · Tennis legend

Yay, Evo goes up to #30 in the live race, overtaking among others Mischa ( who had quite a good start to the year! ) and Aljaz, currently at #35.

And now it's Mr Thiem again.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

It'll be interesting how Dan fares against Mr Theim. We all seem to think of Kyle as the more natural clay player, but myybe Evo's conquering it as Andy did. Looks like he's getting more used to the Devil dirt. I'm getting hopeful for Rolly G now.

Vandenburg · Futures level

Helen40 wrote:
Well done Dan. I was totally not expecting that!

He is a serve volley-er that took advantage of the new faster australian courts, and took people by surprise. Never seen him on clay, but i'd guess he's a clown.

Vandenburg · Futures level

indiana wrote:
Yes not sure though you would imagine clay would give Tomic more time to plod into position.
Certainly though I would be disappointed not to see an Andy win.

Tomic's footwork is the worst of any top 20 player I have ever seen. His forehand is very weak too, makes Murray look like Fernando Gonzalez.

-- Edited by Vandenburg on Tuesday 25th of April 2017 04:43:01 PM

Jan · Hall of fame

Ah I missed the end of Dan's match - had to be a taxi driver for 20 mins!
Super, super Evo!!!!! biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Priesty · Challenger level

Our Dan's becoming a bit of a Zverev-basher smile

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
And Mischa's ranking is very much a post-Aussie Open one. Bit of a one-shot wonder.

Dan's got a very good chance.

More than a good chance smile

Well done, Evo !

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Cracking, absolutely fabulous win! biggrin For the record:

L32: Dan Evans WR 43 defeated (14) Mischa Zverev (GER) WR 35 by 4 & 4

*****

L16: (4) Dominic Thiem (AUT) WR 9 vs Dan Evans WR 43

Sim · County player

Many congratulations to Dan. Never won an ATP match on clay and now he has won 2 in 2 days. Unbelievable!

biggrin biggrin

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

Actually, Dan never even won a challenger match on clay. I think Dan has taken advantage of favourable draws - good for him! I really didn't th ink he was going to win a single match in the dirt season. I think DT will be a step too far, but who cares! Dan must be feeling good about life right now. And Bob, you have a safe drive home, the report can wait until tmrw!

indiana · Tennis legend

It is great to see a player in the general form of his life now in a position to give clay a go at the top level. It's almost a new experience for us and him. And one he seems to be enjoying. He is only likely to get better.

Indeed pretty kind draw, but Monteiro's surface of choice is clay - 13 wins and 10 losses career ATP tour record on clay while losing all 8 of his off clay matches. And while clearly Mischa's isn't he has won quite a number of matches at ATP tour level on clay, now a career 14 wins, 37 losses on the surface.

The Monteiro win looks the more impressive clay win, but Mischa always offers an alternative challenge and records suggest he is rather better than a clown on clay though I see he has never won a match at Roland Garros. Was he still trying to serve and volley everything though?

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 25th of April 2017 06:48:33 PM

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

On the topic of the ATP race this year, once the clay and grass court seasons are finished by the end of July the rankings are going to be as tight as they have been in years since Sampras and Agassi retired. We could potentially have the top 10 covered by 2000-3000. Only really Federer has a chance for a cushion. I think Novak is feeling the pressure more than Andy. Exciting times.