Ah pity but looks and sounds another good display.

Goes 2nd equal with Ryan Storrie on 9 points for our 1998s or later. Jay is on 106.

Talking to Ali Gray and Ewan now. We have arrived in Palma Del Río. Send in your questions.

Done that one. When I am on the computer later instead of the iPhone I will post a response.

indiana wrote:

---

indiana wrote:

---

Ah pity but looks and sounds another good display.

Goes 2nd equal with Ryan Storrie on 9 points for our 1998s or later. Jay is on 106.

---

 

Woops, just realised that's also 2nd equal with a certain Ali Gray !

---

 Yes.  They have just been discussing that here. 

Match Report Time.

Ewan got off to a very nervy start today. He was broken in the opening game and his opponent only had to hit the ball twice. Ewan served two DFs, an Ace, but on the other two points Ruepke hit fairly poor returns off 2nd serves, roughly bouncing on the T, and Ewan, from well inside the baseline dumped the ball in the net one off each wing.

In his 2nd service game, there were the first signs of life as he clung on against a couple of BPs with some big serving and as the set wore on, his serve became more confident and holding became easier. However, Ewan really struggled to make any inroads into the Germans services games. Ruepke was short of stature but had a very muscular physique. His serve really packed a punch and he served a lot into the body of Ewan who couldnt cope. He mistimed many of his returns and didnt create any BPs in the set. And when they did get into rallies, there were too many errors from Ewan who kept shouting move your feet to himself. The German played a very solid set and but for Ewans improved serving as the set went on, the score could easily have been more convincing than the eventual 6-4.

The 2nd set however was a completely different affair. Ewan really got his game going and the standard was excellent. There were many extended rallies and Ewan managed to get on top in a decent percentage of them but at times he couldnt finish the rally off at the key moment. The German was devastating at times on the forehand side hitting hard and flat, but his backhand was not in the same category. I think if Ewan were to play Ruepke again, he would try to target the backhand side more than he did.

Both players were solid on serve up to the midpoint of the set but this time it was Ewan who created the 1st BP but Ruepke played a great point, dominating with his forehand and there was not much Ewan could do. At *4-4, Ewan played a bad game though. From 15-15, he tried to come to the net on consecutive points and on each occasion missed the volley. He followed this is a backhand error and I thought that was that. But not so. Perhaps the German tightened up a bit but Ewan played a great game, highlighted by a terrific unreturnable backhand return right onto the baseline at the opponents feet. He broke back and following another hold each, we were into a TB.

Ewan opened with another DF and soon found himself *0-3 down but fought back to level at 5-5*. Ruepke won the next point on serve to set up MP. Ewan actually played a great point again, moving his opponent around and finally getting him off court on the backhand side. Ewan came to the net, correctly in my opinion, and found himself with a volley from just below the height of the net on the forehand side. He went for the short angled cross court, but pushed it into the tramlines.

The 2nd set could easily have gone Ewans way and as he bulks up a bit and puts a bit more penetration on his ground strokes, he will win matches like this. All in all, it was a highly promising performance in the 2nd set and lots to be pleased about this week.

Ewan did actually try to convince me that he tanked the TB on the grounds that this weeks tournament in Palma del Rio is a 25k and so there was no SE place on offer had he won. He was, of course, kidding.

Thanks, Bob.

Great report of the match.

And very interesting to hear their experiences of college. Pleased (and not surprised) that they are very positive ones too.

Good luck to them all (and you too) next week - the weather sounds pretty fierce !!!