If the issue is mental and grinding becomes difficult, then clay is not the surface to try and push on through. Grass has easier points and if you're technically sound you can connect and gain some easy points and confidence. I hope

Julia's point is interesting and worth considering. However, a coach (and/or a mental one) can help with that.

Was today not important in terms of potentially being seeded at RG? FAA lost which is good and Dan putting out Lajovic might help as well. Looks like he will probably be around 30 ranking. Depends on how deep others go I guess. Cam being in Federers half rules him out. There are players like Krygios, Verdasco and a few others who might go above him. Seeding for Wimbledon must be in more doubt though. Think we could see our top 3 players ranked on top of each other come US Open. Might spur them all on.

Julia Carrot wrote:

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indiana wrote:

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Yes, the wheels have come off for now for Kyle. I wonder even more about the effect of losing his previous main coach, he is maybe someone that really does need the right motivation to get him up and maybe struggles a bit as a self motivator.

Hope he can turn things around fairly soon. He has such proven ability to be doing very much better, particularly on clay. 

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 13th of May 2019 11:52:50 AM

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 My feeling is it's not coach related.  More to do with general stamina/wellness, physical and mental, and likely connected to that long period he had with recurring viral (?) illness culminating in having  a tonsillectomy.

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 I would agree with that as well. Looking over your shoulder at ranking must add to the pressure when you know you need to win a few rounds to avoid dropping down. 

Bob in Spain wrote:

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JonH wrote:

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If the issue is mental and grinding becomes difficult, then clay is not the surface to try and push on through. Grass has easier points and if you're technically sound you can connect and gain some easy points and confidence. I hope

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I think the higher bouncing ball on clay courts suits Kyle's game style more than the low skiddy ball on the grass.

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 I agree but I'm of the view that not many guys know grass these days, Kyle is more familiar,  has that big forehand and can volley as backed up by doubles. It's all relative and half the field is good on clay, not all can make the switch 

And Dan's on court now, a break up 4-2*

They have played just 6 games in 44 minutes, and Ruud has had 40 serves in just 3 service games, with Dan winning just 1/6 BPs. I think nearly all of those were in that 5th game where Dan broke, so that game must have gone on for +10 mins or so.

Bob in Spain wrote:

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Jaggy1876 wrote:

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Bob in Spain wrote:

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JonH wrote:

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If the issue is mental and grinding becomes difficult, then clay is not the surface to try and push on through. Grass has easier points and if you're technically sound you can connect and gain some easy points and confidence. I hope

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I think the higher bouncing ball on clay courts suits Kyle's game style more than the low skiddy ball on the grass.

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 Ironic then that Dan appears to performing on clay when he shouldnt really be. Be interesting  see how many clay court wins he gets. Playing with no pressure or expectancy on this surface must simularly be helping in the opposite way where Kyle has the pressure.

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Yes. There is psychology and reverse psychology at work.  It could indeed work in his favour.  Evo is a much more instinctive and adaptable player in my opinion and it is no surprise that he is now having some success on the clay.  I did comment when I saw him reach the QFs in Barcelona 2 years ago the he was playing with zero expectation and a smile on his face. So that reverse psychology worked for him there.  Let's hope it works on the grass for Kyle.

We should also remember, that although Kyle seems to have been around on the circuit for many years, he is still only 24, just a year older than Cam and 4 years younger than Evo.  His best years a still ahead of him - plenty of them.

Indi -Yes I do remember those 3rd set fall aways that you commented on and perhaps Julia has a point with the health/fitness side of things.  You only have to be half a step  slower in this game and the result can be very different.

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 I was just watching BBC24 whilst having a run over lunch time ( I do work  honest!). They showed match point of Kyle v Verdasco. Kyle looked worn out, could barely reach the ball and FV just moved him side to side before playing a winner. He looked v tired. Albeit one point but that is what it looked like to me.