Week 18 - ATP 250 - BMW Open by FWU, Munich, Germany (clay)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Week 18 - ATP 250 - BMW Open by FWU, Munich, Germany (clay)

JonH · All-time great

Kyle has a 1-3 record on clay this season, Humbert is the only player he has beaten. I can let Tsonga and Schwartzmann go but Kudla is a shocker to lose. He had lost his first two matches on clay to Tomic (Tomic, on clay) and Fucsovics both in 2 sets and Kyle had no right to lose to him really

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I think that it's a pity Fredrik Rosengren left to concentrate on family commitments.

One thing Kyle mentioned that Rosengren was keen on was for Kyle to show more presence and positivity on court. I liked that, having previously banged on a fair bit about its lack in the past. And last year that definitely looked better.

No doubt Rosengren brought other things to Kyle's game and I thought 2018 a pretty good year overall slightly effected by illness issues. Certainly more higher ranking wins and he seemed to have put a stop to what previously seemed too many 3rd set fall aways.

The ability is clearly there to be doing better, particularly on clay, so hope he can make whatever changes are needed asap and get his ranking moving again in a positive direction.

Nix · Futures level

The bits of the match I saw seemed to show exactly what was lacking that Indy suggested Rosengren had worked on. Kyle wasn't really showing any presence or positivity. He was more reacting to what his opponent was doing rather than stamping any authority on the match. He definitely seems to have gone backwards from this display, although I haven't seen him play much this year, so don't know what he's been like elsewhere.

He definitely has the ability. Maybe the illness dented his confidence or he's still struggling from lingering ill effects such as not being able to train so hard.

Will be interesting to see if he responds to being back at home for the grass court season.

flamingowings · All-time great

That's a shame, it seems like quite a poor show from Kyle, particularly when in IW he seemed to be getting his mojo back. Oh well, onwards to the next!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

L16: (3) Ken Skupski & Neal Skupski CR 81 (49+32) defeated Guido Pella & Diego Schwartzman (ARG/ARG) CR 237 (130+107) by 6-4 1-6 [10-3]

*****

QF: (3) Ken Skupski & Neal Skupski CR 81 (49+32) vs Philipp Oswald & Mate Pavic (AUT/CRO) CR 102 (90+12)

JonH · All-time great

Another win for Ken and he will move to around 46, his CH is 44.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Ken and Neal are flying and both only need small increases in ranking to get in as pairs in masters events.

JonH · All-time great

paulisi wrote:
Ken and Neal are flying and both only need small increases in ranking to get in as pairs in masters events.

Yeah it's a shame neal sometimes is having to pair with someone else.

Whilst the clay is an endurance for most British, they seem happy on it, as do bambo and Jonny, but I've real Hope's one or two British pairs do well on the grass

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QF: Philipp Oswald & Mate Pavic (AUT/CRO) CR 102 (90+12) defeated (3) Ken Skupski & Neal Skupski CR 81 (49+32) by 4 & 4 cry

JonH · All-time great

Stircrazy wrote:
QF: Philipp Oswald & Mate Pavic (AUT/CRO) CR 102 (90+12) defeated (3) Ken Skupski & Neal Skupski CR 81 (49+32) by 4 & 4

Oh, well, clearly not as comfortable as I thought!

JonH · All-time great

As Munich draws to a close, I reckon there are 5 players out there worth a sneaker wager on for a last 16 place in RG, draw allowing:

From Munich event:

Garin won the title and backed up a win in Houston and an SF in Sao Paolo. the Chilean is having a good clay season.

Berrettini ran him close in the final and as well as RU in Munich, has a win in Budepest this spring. Worth watching.

From others:

Cuevas was RU in Estoril this week and backed up an SF in Rio ATP 500 from a month or two back, has lots of experience and a fun game to watch.

Pella has also done well on clay since an RU in Cordoba, then a win in Sao Paolo over Garin, and a QF in Monte Carlo and also in Barca

Finally and probably least surprising of the lot, Medvedev - with an RU in Barca and a semi in Monte Carlo he is bang on form. Better than last 16, a QF at least is on the cards for this talented Russian i reckon.

-- Edited by JonH on Sunday 5th of May 2019 11:09:07 PM