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Oct/14

26

Diary of USTA Tourney Adventures Part One

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It’s the end of the season, we’re chasing USTA points for our ranking. I need to win one tournament and gain the hundred-twenty five points to maintain my top five spot from a year ago. So I enter Spring Valley, which is the last local tournament without having to travel to Brooklyn or the Bronx.

There’s only one other player signed up, my old nemesis, a tall lefty pusher who crowds the net. I’ve beaten him three straight times, straight sets but each match has been a battle where he had his chances and I came up with the passing shots and saved break points. It’s always a challenge to beat this guy “John” who has beaten me in the past in tournaments.

I’m a little worried about this match, for two reasons. I haven’t played a singles set in over a week and I’m now using a Volkl Tour Ten which I haven’t yet used in a singles tournament. I haven’t played a singles tournament in over a month. It rained the last four days so I haven’t prepared as much as I wanted to.

Also I make a foolish mistake by showing up at the wrong courts. The last three years, this tournament director has held all of his events in Clarkstown, NY, but this year he’s moved to Spring Valley. Though I was at the (wrong) courts at 9:30 – a half hour before the scheduled time – I get penalized three games for being late.

The new courts have no windscreens, the sun is bad on one side and it’s a little windy. Now I’m 0-3 down to John to start the match. And I don’t even feel comfortable playing him with no disadvantage. This year, he’s had some good results, losing 46 46 to a nationally ranked player who I also beat in June 62 62.

John is tough because he is very solid from the baseline, but he’s lethal at net, with his volleys and overheads. Serve is okay. He used to beat me in the past with his topspin forehand and charging the net on my backhand. But the last three meetings I have the formula to beat him. Keep the ball deep and slow to his backhand corner, he can’t hurt me with his block back bunt backhands. Keep it deep with spin and he can’t come in. Then try to force the error or dictate with a shot to the other side, or a drop shot or attack the net myself.

He serves to start the match up 3-0. I have the sun at my back. Every point is huge for me. I need to make up the disadvantage. He sprays an early ball wide on the first point. But I miss a backhand pass wide down the line on the second point. I continue with my gameplan to beating down his backhand. It works and I level the score at 3-3. In the crucial sixth game, I know I have to win it because I do not want to go down 34 with the sun straight in my face. He gets two break points on me but I save them both, one with a backhand volley winner into his backhand corner. I finally win the long game, 43.

John shows his first sign of frustration by smacking a ball into the fence.

And then I win the next two games on the bad side to take the first set 6-3. One point was incredible. I was up 30-love and we played a marathon point, at least 20 balls to his backhand, then some to the forehand side, but I give him too much pace – he likes pace more than loop – and he rifles a nice forehand cross court winner just inside the line. But I don’t let this effect anything and keep the pressure on him and win the next two points.

He launches a ball over the fence. His frustration is building.

To start the second set, with sun in face, I lose focus a bit and make some UEs. Basically gave this game. After expending so much focus on the first set from being 0-3 down, a letdown was natural.

The second game is crucial, I’m on the good side so I have to win it. It’s another marathon game with at least six deuces. His break point percentage is bad so far in the match and I somehow win this game to level it at one apiece. He’s playing better now and his backhand is not missing anymore. I have to earn the points in a different way. I decide to keep looping to his backhand but also mixing in loops to his forehand. He can’t hurt me off that side either. Just keep looping to both sides, keep mixing it up. It works. I break him for two-one.

And then hold serve on the sun side for three one. Then I roar my first huge Come on- up a set and a break and a gameplan that is working. For the first time he verbally expresses his rage. He mimicks my come ons like a little child, ten straight times, Come on come on come on…

I can’t believe it. Quietest guy in USTA history, he never talks with anyone or says anything but the score, and he’s mocking my come ons. I tell him he does a pretty good come on, Not bad. It kind of helps him as. He does it again after I hit a big winner to go up 40-love and it seems to help him as he wins two points in a row. But I get him with a drop shot to win the game. I’m two games away.

I win both games and the match 63 6l. I don’t yell a come on but when he hits a ball at me when getting my towel I roar a gigantic come on.

After we blow off our steam I say the first words, extend the olive branch, hoping he can understand my intensity. “Hey I have to play you at full intensity, you’re too tough. If I play you passive emotionally I can lose, I have to be like that. You’re tough to play. I tell everyone you have to respect this guy, they all say they should beat you, but I tell them that’s your mistake, you have to play him like a top player not a pushover.”

It’s true. Another player I played in a tournament this spring said “I should never lose to him.” But he did again twice more. I tell him you have to play this guy with more respect. He’s deceptively tough. He doesn’t look like much of a player but he is very match tough and plays a tournament every weekend. He beats a lot of good players.

I continue to tell John: “I don’t even like to play you in any match, especially not from 0-3 down. So I had to have full intensity.” He seems to understand and offers a quiet, “Nice match.”

I leave the courts with the cup trophy and some sore legs, though it was two hours, it was a lot of long points and pressure all the way.

Hopefully this win will earn enough points to hold onto the #3 ranking which I achieved last year in the USTA Eastern 45s. Last year and this year I won three regular tourneys and made a final in a sectional (NJ States) for the same amount of total points.

Number won’t happen this year because the top two are machines who are good enough to win national events.

Stay tuned for more adventures on the USTA adult tournament circuit…

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76 comments

  • Dan Markowitz · October 26, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Scoop,

    How come you get into confrontations with the guys you play? What’s going on here. If a guy rifled a ball at me while I was going for my towel, I might have to give him a Samurai chop. This opponent of yours sounds a little deranged. But nice diplomacy at the end to placate the dude and make sure he didn’t slit your tires before the long ride home. Geez, these USTA matches can get testy.

    Now how about Mitchell Frank against Harry in Charlottesville? If Harry loses that one we might have to set him up for a match with your friend, John.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 27, 2014 at 9:31 am

    The guy used to be able to beat me Dan. He caught me at times when I wasn’t ready or sharp and I couldn’t handle his game back about 8 years ago. Now I know how to and in each match over the last five years he had his chances but failed to capitalize on his chances whether it be some bad volley mistakes or some laser passes by me. Missed opptys. Compounded by my intensity and built up frustration of four straight losses. But I have to play with the Hewitt intensity because if I fall asleep mentally, he’s good enough to take the lead and I don’t want to have to hit those passes down a break. The guy is known as being a bit quirky and eccentric because of his quiet shyness, but he’s respected because he plays pretty fair and wins a lot of matches. I know some guys dislike me but I have to play full intensity to compensate for lack of experience and still have an underdog complex that my game still isn’t good enough though it has gotten better as you know.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 27, 2014 at 9:32 am

    If Harrison loses to Frank, close the curtains. And cue up the Doors song The End.

  • Dan Markowitz · October 27, 2014 at 10:31 am

    I just played in a club ladder match. I badly strained my hamstring playing one on one doubles the other day where you have to serve and volley on every point or you lose the point so I shouldn’t have played. I haven’t played a best 2 out of 3 sets in a long long while. I beat him 6-1, 6-1, but I was having trouble out there.

    You know the way I like to play, Scoop, serving and volleying, chipping and charging, but with a pulled hammy and not being in good tennis shape, I was having my problems. This guy was older and didn’t move great, but he had a very good forehand. I feel a little bad because at 4-1 in the 2nd set, I came to net off a weak approach shot and he hit a backhand slice I couldn’t even get my racket on. I thought it was going to land in, but it either caught the back of the line or was out–I thought it was out–and I called it out. I hate making close calls against my opponent especially if he’s a good guy.

    But I know what you mean about that intensity, he was talking to me at changeovers and he was a very nice guy, but I don’t even want to converse or know anything about my opponent’s life. Got to take off now and not play until this hammy gets better.

    How about Qball coming back from losing first set to Jerzy Boy 7-6 and winning the next two sets. Those three Challenger wins in Cally has given him confidence. How about Sock beating Tomic badly in last round of Paris qualis?

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 27, 2014 at 11:00 am

    Welcome back to the tournament grind. I still don’t understand what one on one doubles is, is that just using half the court? Querrey is a new man now, he’s gotta be feeling unbeatable, that’s sixteen straight wins. Sock is really becoming a force. Reading the Jimbo Connors book, I didn’t know his first two major finals were in doubles with Nasty and his first major title came in doubles on the third try with Nasty. Kind of like the Sock route. Sock beat Tomic a few weeks ago in Asia in a tough 3 setter. Sock is on the rise in singles. Also, I just learned Sock and Oudin saved a MP in their first round match the year they won the US Open mixed. Also beat Bob Bryan and Huber in the second round.

  • Andrew Miller · October 27, 2014 at 12:45 pm

    Guy is a sore loser. Glad you’re nice to him and Dan’s right, otherwise those tires would have been slashed.

    Is T-P planning on reviewing the Secrets of Spanish Tennis book or videos? I am wondering if this stuff actually works. Here is the website: http://www.secretsofspanishtennis.com

    Results, Paris Masters
    Verdasco d. DY 4-6 6-1 6-3. The lefty vet ousts the lefty journeyman, showing that an old vet knows how to beat a young vet. I like how DY is not giving up this indoor season, he is firmly committed to staying full time on the ATP tour. Good job DY.

    Sock d. Andujar 6-1 6-1, 67 minutes. The debate is over. Sock is the best young U.S. player and in my opinion he will be the #1 U.S. player. I give him 1 year to get his movement to the backhand in order and get that stature. This is lining up “nicely” for Australia.

    Querrey d. Jerzy Janowicz in 3 sets. Querrey having a nice post U.S. open, obviously those three challenger wins plus the 2 qualifying paris masters draw wins has him at what, 17 match wins in a row? Gotta believe Querrey is now “believing”.

    Thiem d. Dolgo 6-0 in the 3rd set. Thiem is the best young player. He’s more proven than Coric and he’s above Vesely and anyone else around him. He’s got the edge on Tomic, Kyrgios, Sock and anyone else in his age bracket. I think Thiem is heading for the top 20 at least even if I have issues with his forehand. Edberg did too (Thiem isn’t Edberg).

    Mannarino d. Hughues Herbert.

    Giraldo d. Youzhny

    Kohlschreiber d. Roger Vass.

    How about the Escobedo match, anyone believe he will beat Duckworth?

    Back in action in Traralgon: go JJ!

  • Dan Markowitz · October 27, 2014 at 12:51 pm

    I am planning on reviewing Secrets of Spanish tennis when I receive review copy from Randy Walker.

    You like Thiem better than Kyrgios. Newk said Kyrgios could be Top 4 or 5 if he works harder. Kyrgios is two years younger than Thiem, right?

  • Andrew Miller · October 27, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    I think Thiem works harder and is less talented than Kyrgios, no question there. But he puts in the work – not unlike Robredo, who learned how to win matches that on paper he loses in straight sets.

    I don’t like Kyrgios having taken off the rest of the season either, to me shows a real lack of desire. Could have said this about the Williams, but the Williams had their parents riding them to do better so their vacations were like working holidays, they never lost sight of the fact of what prep they needed to do to go from point a to point b.

    Who knows though, it seems like an entitled move from a player that’s mentally spent. He goes in refreshed to the Australian season just in time for…the pressure. How is he going to handle being a big star in Melbourne but not having prepped for it? I don’t know. Maybe Kyrgios is like Federer, imports lots of players to practice against, or maybe he keeps sparring with Tomic and Kokkinakis. You never know with these guys. Federer doesn’t work hard in his public practices but he works like a fiend in Dubai against 3, 4, 5 players that he flies in to spar with – the reason he takes it so easy is that he already knows he put in the work.

    Don’t see it in Kyrgios example but again who knows. He could be getting his serve way up on the MPH or steadying his strategy. Or hitting the Aussie beaches. or both.

  • Andrew Miller · October 27, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    No, in terms of who I like watching, easy – Kyrgios. But who do I like to do better over a period of five tournaments? Thiem.

  • Andrew Miller · October 27, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Dan, that might be your next project. The Australian trio of Tomic, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis. Too much talent, but does talent matter?

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 27, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    Andujar is the guy who beat Sock at US Open this year on grandstand, so nice by Sock to show that weird loss was probably one of those bad biorhythms days. Thiem is now 20 and I think two years older than Kyrgios. Not that it’s an exact measuring stick, but Coric beat Gulbis in straight sets while it took Thiem five to beat Gulbis at US Open. Coric might be better than Thiem right now, believe it or not. Thiem still doesn’t have that big win over a top player, Coric already has it at seventeen.

  • Dan Markowitz · October 27, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    Thiem turned 21 last month. Kyrgios is 19 months younger than Thiem. He has a much bigger game and I think he’ll do much better than Thiem over the next five years. I like the idea of doing a book on Tomic, Kokky and Kyrgios, but there’s no reason to believe that they’re going to be the next version of Courier, Agassi and Sampras.

  • Andrew Miller · October 27, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    They could be the mirror of the french trio of disappointment, Gasquet-Monfils-Tsonga. Maybe when it comes to tennis there can only be two stars at a time – Federer and Wawrinka, Agassi and Sampras, Nadal and Ferrer. That means in Australia it’s either two of those three guys emerge as the big two or they stay in excellent results but mediocre on the slam count.

  • Andrew Miller · October 27, 2014 at 5:50 pm

    Goffin vs. Rosol in Paris tomorrow. That is a match and a half. I’m pegging G-force for the W.

    The kozlov challenger looks rough, like the Hunger Games. Best challenger this side of Europe. No wonder Klahn is in Australia early, or it might be the flight to Australia is easier for Klahn from the California base than going to the east coast to a stacked challenger where he’s probably lose in round 1.

  • Andrew Miller · October 27, 2014 at 6:00 pm

    Oh man. My estimation for Kozlov just dropped a mile. Had no idea he’s with Gullickson and some other USTA. I’m shorting the stock here. I thought he had better coaching.

    For the record: Donaldson made a better decision hiring Dent, who has at least played the biggest players and has a world class coach in his own pocket.

    Anyways, sorry to post about bad decisions made by players no one should care about yet. I think Kozlov is going down early in the Hunger Games this week.

  • Andrew Miller · October 27, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    Re-read it. Definitely a tire slasher.

    Would have been better if he Robredo’d his opponents. At least it’s a lot more clear.

    https://twitter.com/entertainmentIE/status/526776618874724353/photo/1

  • Dan Markowitz · October 27, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    Is that a serious reaction by Robredo or was he just upset he came so close to victory? Was he upset with Murray for some reason?

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 27, 2014 at 8:43 pm

    No Andrew he’s not a tire slasher, too timid and shy. But he does have an impressive rage when he blows his stack. Will launch a ball into outer space or yell F***. Really shy quiet Norman Bates type. Just really struggles with no pace and loops, the harder I hit or served, he has good hands and counters that well. So I just slowed everything up. In a sense he’s suffering a torture, he knows I have the blueprint to beat him and there’s nothing he can do. Even when he does make a nice approach I made some even better full stretch BH passes. When I play like that, no missing at all, there’s nothing he can do. And like Archie Moore said about facing Cassius Clay, “The worst feeling in the world is when you’re in a fight and you know you have no chance of winning…” Weird reaction by Robredo, that had to be sarcasm, but even if it was, it’s very unclassy. And he’s really a classy player and has been his whole career. Guess he REALLY REALLY wanted that title. Heartbreaking loss.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 27, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    Kozlov was with Gully in DC when they played doubles against the Bryans. I think Kozlov is seeking input from a variety of coaches. A couple of weeks ago his dad asked me if I knew any famous players like Agassi or Krajicek or McEnroe, to spend some time with Kozlov during off season, just to offer some input. I have some contact info for Agassi and McEnroe and sent out emails but not sure if they responded back to Team Kozlov. Hope they do. I like that idea of reaching out to a variety of coaching sources, not just sticking with Diego Moyano or Jay Berger or Jose Higueras who haven’t exactly proven themselves as really helping any recent young American players.

  • Andrew Miller · October 28, 2014 at 12:04 am

    Thought it was funny by Robredo, give the guy a break! It was his second straight loss to Murray in a title match and the 2nd straight loss in a match where Robredo had match points, this time, just like last final they played, five match points. Meaning Robredo had ten match points in their last two matches, both finals and this one in front of a home crowd in spain. Robredo said it was a great match and Murray wasnt upset at all. Here is what espn said: ” Granted, it was all in fun. The truth is that the exhausted finalists embraced for a few warm moments at net just as the drama mercifully ended. ”

    Dont worry, they will play again and same thing, all in jest.

  • Gaurang · October 28, 2014 at 4:06 am

    Time to do assign a grade to the bold rankings predictions that I made last November. Obviously, such wild ranking predictions are bound to fail, and this one was no exception.

    My predictions were here:
    https://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/this-week-paris-indoors/comment-page-2/#comment-82752

    Here they are: (followed by current live/published ranking, and the verdict)

    Isner 10-20 18 PASSED
    Querrey 25-35 34 PASSED
    Russel — 115-125 156 FAILED, OVERESTIMTATED
    Smyczek — 60-70 95 FAILED, OVERESTIMATED
    Sock 60-70 44 PASSED (I consider it close enough)
    DY 45-55 57 PASSED
    Harrison 75-85 191 FAILED, OVERESTIMATED
    Kudla 80-90 131 FAILED, OVERESTIMATED
    Klahn 85-95 129 FAILED, OVERESTIMATED
    Rhyne 80-90 209 FAILED, OVERESTIMATED
    Johnson 120-130 37 FAILED, UNDERESTIMATED

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 28, 2014 at 8:23 am

    Completely acceptable reaction by Robredo, we all know the agony of losing a close match like that and to blow MPs. Respect to Robredo for showing he’s human in a funny way. I like his reaction far more than a robotic/zombie stoic non reaction.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 28, 2014 at 8:30 am

    I like that game of predicting the rankings one year later, it’s a challenge for sure. I’ll try for next year.
    Isner – 25
    Querrey – 22
    Russell – 200
    Smyczek – 90
    Sock – 20
    DY – 40
    Harrison – 75
    Kudla – 99
    Klahn – 98
    Rhyne – 202
    SteveJ – 26
    Kozlov – 80

  • Dan Markowitz · October 28, 2014 at 8:51 am

    I’ll bet you a million bucks Kozlov isn’t inside the Top 100 by next year, Scoop. And QBall No. 26, keep dreaming. Harry 75, you are the eternal optimist aren’t you?

  • Andrew Miller · October 28, 2014 at 10:48 am

    Sock as #1yank. Could be, he is on his way.

    Paris masters:
    Cuevas d. Mayer
    Robredo d. Pops 7-6 in third. Robredo just keeps going.
    Chardy d. Deschepper
    Verdasco d Simon in 3. Verdasco still has it.

    Kozlov’s Hunger Games challenger is tough but not as tough as the Geneva challenger, looks hard!

    News from Traralgon in Australia:

    Jj d Go Soeda. 7-6 6-1.

  • Andrew Miller · October 28, 2014 at 11:55 am

    Paris: goffin d rosol 61 minutes.
    Reunion island challenger: berankis d. Mansour 42 minutes. Ouch.
    Cv: sandgren d mcgee 61 minutes.

    Mcgee level dropped.

    Seems europe’s two challengers both a cut above the u.s. challenger, which is harder than the australian one but not by much. Almost doesnt matter where you play. Klahn and jj avoiding the pack but may not matter. Assume jj is doing this to give best shot for either than wildcard tournament of u.s. players that compete for the aussie slam wildcard or prep for the ao qualies.

    Hard to strategize. No short cuts.

  • Dan Markowitz · October 28, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    Saw JJ had nice win over Soeda. Boy, Soeda, talk about a guy who had all the backing, looked like he was getting over the hump of being Top 50 player, had Davide Sanguinetti as coach, but has pulled a little Harry of his own. I thought it was a bit strange JJ would go all the way to Aussieville to play Challengers when he had event at his alma mater. But I’m a JJ fan. Tennis is way too much of a white man’s and woman’s game. It’d be nice to see more players of color doing well and breaking through.

    Robredo is just a cuss. That’s all there is too it. He is a hard-driving, smooth-hitting, tough-minded cuss.

    What’s happened to McGee to lose early in all the Cally qualis and then lose to Sandgren in 21 minutes?!! He even had Jeff Salzenstein with him in Virginia, but I guess it didn’t matter. I like’d James’ game in Virginia, but when the best player you have to beat to get into the US Open Main Draw is Yuki Bhambri, you’ve had a nice quali draw.

  • Andrew Miller · October 28, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    JJ avoided the pressure and expectations, which helps. Losing/winning in a place where he has nothing to lose is better than losing where he has a lot to lose. That va challenger is a tough draw. You wonder if kudla, harrison think about not going the college route – they are minutes from a major tennis program in virginia, with a great set of indoor and outdoor courts plus coaching. Losing there is not just a reconfirmation that they are still in the slump but worse, that if they did the college route they would have been at the same spot, maybe better but no worse.

    Issue is the reverse is also true. If they win this challenger it is proof they are back in business with confidence through the roof and proof that they are way above the college players like giron who despite winning ncaa title lost in the qualies of the challenger to another player.that then lost in the first round. Kozlov gets a player in the 200s in Torebko . Dan is likely right, the Frank Harrison match is a big match for team Harrison. He should roll Frank but Frank tested DY and has a habit of staying around. He wins good, he loses and a lot of racquets get broken. He should break one pre match, just get it out of the way.

  • Andrew Miller · October 28, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    Paris:
    Berdych d. Mannarino . Nice work.
    Pouille d. Karlovic.
    Kanderson d. Giraldo
    Monfila d Sousa
    Djok d. Kohlschreiber

    Va challenge
    Torebko, 243+ in world, d. Kozlov. Welcome to reality.

  • Dan Markowitz · October 28, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    I saw that guy Djoko play and he’s good. It’s amazing, you see Kohlschreiber playing whoever he played in the first round and he looks so dominant and comfortable and then he plays Djoko, at least in the first set that I was watching, and he’s a different, more feeble player.

  • Dan Markowitz · October 28, 2014 at 10:51 pm

    Harry won! Harry won! All is good in the world. Harry won! Thank God for Mitchell Frank.

  • Andrew Miller · October 29, 2014 at 12:56 am

    Harrison went on a 11-1 run after being down 4-1 in front of a pro-Frank crowd. Watched the first set – I can see why Frank wins a lot of matches. Someone watches him and says, I can beat this guy – as soon as they say that they lose. Frank’s game is deceptive (it’s not pretty) – from a distance his forehand is completely unorthodox and it’s easy to think it’s unstable, but it’s not. Nor is the backhand, he comes around very fast on the ball. He’s also pretty fast on his feet, with good footwork for the most part. It’s just not fun to watch Frank – he plays to win but his game is the title of Brad Gilbert’s first book.

    Credit Harrison, he played a high caliber match. He hit every shot Frank hit to him, back harder – got on such a roll that he started hitting the drop shots that spin away from the opponent, tomahawk “slam dunk” overheads, slice after slice to “get” to Frank (mentally). Frank started looking like Harrison! Talking to himself, getting down on himself for mistakes. Harrison still did some things that don’t work, such as the shorter spinning forehands, but he also played a very clean match and for as short as he hit he would also step in and take the ball on the rise from the baseline. To go ahead 4-0 in the 2nd set he was down 0-40, hit four huge serves. Done deal. Harrison even got Frank to start making mistake after mistake – nice work here, as

    Unfortunately Harrison directed his anger at the crowd, making gestures similar to Berdych (the finger to the lip telling them to quiet down after he broke Frank’s serve, again, for a 3-0 lead in the 2nd set). According to the announcer it was a way for Harrison to tell Frank’s team to stop being so vocal (including Brian Boland of the UVa coaching staff). The announcer took a twitter question, whether the crowd was getting to Harrison, and the announcer said – the reaction probably wasn’t warranted and the crowd probably wasn’t that bad but it did cheer a few Harrison misses, which then fired Harrison up. By the end of it, someone in the crowd actually applauded another great Harrison drop shot and Harrison thanked them personally, pointing up to the gallery. As the announcer said:

    “Whatever gets you through”.

    Dan’s probably right here – Mitchell Frank is less intimidating as far as the players faced on the challengers, he is in the 500s ranking while also being a perennial top 10 NCAA player, most of the time a top 5 NCAA player. But he’s tough as nails and has proven everyone wrong in the same terms that Dan’s contact had said a long time ago, how everyone under-estimates him and he always proves them wrong.

    So it’s good to see Harrison see that challenge off and get a W. He obviously knows Frank or knows of him, and to beat him the way he did it, going on a 9-0 run and playing with a thorough respect for the Frank game, was excellent.

    Expect a tougher 2nd round for Harrison, but celebrate this. Four years ago Harrison in 2010 lost in the 2nd round to former UVa #1 Michael Shabaz, who last year got his highest ranking ever, #393. This was after Harrison’s breakout at the U.S. Open. Harrison hasn’t been in town for a while, comes back, remembers his loss, and then beats the new UVa #1.

    Not saying this is the start of something huge. Only that for the first time in many matches, Harrison played the whole way through. Found his range, found his game and generally played smart. Did orthodox things like well timed drop shots, hitting the ball back to the opponent only a little harder than they hit is, then opening up a line to paint it with a winner. Everything looked good, forehand backhand volley serve, strategy. He played smart. There was no confusion as to who was the college player and who was the pro.

    So a good win, even if the opponent isn’t Harrison’s usual opponent. He respected him, prepared, probably got some scouting, fell behind, then clawed back into the match and ran away with it. The “c’mon!” that he started using during the match gave way to a larger roar. And a well earned one at that.

    Good luck to team Harrison for round 2.

  • Gaurang · October 29, 2014 at 3:02 am

    Cool Scoop. Nice guesses.. So you have a bunch of players in the 20s.

    Here’s my entry:

    Grade A:
    Isner – 10-20
    Querrey – 20-30
    SteveJ – 25-35
    Sock – 25-35
    DY – 35-45

    Grade B:
    Klahn – 70-80
    Smyczek – 90-100
    Kudla – 100-110
    Harrison –110-120
    Rhyne – 120-130

    The New Guys:
    Krajicek – 110-120
    Buchanan – 120-130
    Kozlov – 140-150
    JDonaldson – 140-150
    JJenkins – 170-180
    Kosakowski – 170-180
    Giron – 250
    Novikov – 300

  • Gaurang · October 29, 2014 at 3:44 am

    What are others picks? Andrew? Dan? Others?

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2014 at 8:13 am

    Thanks for the intricate details of the Harrison-Frank match Andrew. Great win for Harrison. Any win at this point is a great win for Harrison even one in a practice set at a park would be too. But beating the grinding machine Robo Frank, inspired by his home crowd, could be a spark for Harrison to get back on track. It’s always a chore to beat Frank who will always give you 200% and will force you to work and work and work more. Remember Sock walking by Frank practicing at Sarasota last year and just kinda smiling to himself and saying, “Grinding.” Harrison had to beat Frank and the house. I like that Harrison was showing his fire, using his emotional adrenaline. It’s crisis time in his career, he has to fight like a cornered animal. Who is this guy Torebko? I’ve seen his name before. Isner vs. Monfils rematch in Paris, now La Monf will have his home crowd support, he loves playing Bercy. For my Facing Hewitt book he said the best moment of his career was playing Hewitt when he was still a teen in front of a packed stadium in Bercy, said it was a madhouse. Expect La Monf will whip the French crowd into a frenzy. Wish I had that Tennis Channel love to see Paris Indoors, one of the coolest events, so well done.

  • Dan Markowitz · October 29, 2014 at 10:22 am

    Gaurang,

    Can’t really give you accurate picks of guys like Harry, Kudla et al because I haven’t seen much of them playing. How’s this, I’ll say the only two Americans in the Top 30 next year will be Izzie or Sock. I like QBall’s resurgence here, but for me it’s too little too late in the year. I’ve got to see more energy and fight from Sam early next year, say, starting at the Aussie O. If he shores up his movement and plays the big points better, Q could still be the US No. 2. I think Sock this year has been most impressive, but he still hasn’t had any signature wins in big events.

    Alright, here’s my sleeper pick among the Americans for 2015, I like Kudla to get into Top 80.

  • Andrew Miller · October 29, 2014 at 11:54 am

    Bercy.
    Ferrer d. Goffin in 3. The Goffin Express loses to a better version of the Goffin Express.

    Murray d. Benneteau

    Bautista d. Gasquet, 6-4 6-2. Sometimes it’s better to stay away from the home crowd.

    Raonic d. Sock, 6-3 5-7 7-6, 2+ hours. Losing stinks but this is losing with effort at a Masters.

    Wawrinka d. Thiem 6-4 7-6. Wawrinka is still himself, getting Thiem back for the Madrid loss to Thiem. Payback.

    Flopez d. Querrey 6-4 6-4 in a hurry. Querrey can’t be happy. Feliciano Lopez has put together another good year.

    Chardy so far is using the crowd to beat Federer, up 4-1. Chardy so far showing he’s not Gasquet!

    The Monfils-Isner match and the Robredo-Nishikori match look good.

    —-

    Not going to say much on the WTA but Cibulkova-Suarez is a good match. I like Cibulkova .

    —-

    On Harrison yeah I’d say a public park match win counts. Nothing wrong with approaching matches like a park match.

    —-

    For Gaurang challenge:

    Isner – Top 25 (20-25)
    Querrey – Top 50 (40-50)
    Johnson S. – Top 50 (40-50)
    Sock – Top 20 (10-20). Sock takes over as new U.S. #1.
    DY – Top 50 (40-50). Not sure if DY gets another Davis Cup call up next year. Either he is 40-50 or he is 20-40 or he stays in 50-70. I’d prefer he gets top 30. Realistically, 40-50.

    Klahn – 120-150. The backhand hasn’t gotten back to the college level. He’s been hurt this year but his ATP performance was bad once he got to U.S. #2. He’s a good player who should be top 100, even top 50 if he does what Johnson did and work on his game, but the flaws in his game were very clear at the U.S. Open.

    Smyczek – 90-100 sounds right. He might crack the top 80.

    Kudla – 90-100. I’ll cut Kudla a little slack for being very sick this year. Not sure how hungry he is.

    Harrison – 70-80 I think Harrison is coming back. He should at minimum get within the 70-80 band.

    Rhyne – 150-160. Sorry Rhyne. good luck.

    Krajicek – 150-160

    Buchanan – 120-130 – Buchanan has been playing better.

    Kozlov – 170-180

    JDonaldson – 120-130

    JJenkins – 120-130

    Kosakowski – 190-200

    Giron – 150-160

    Novikov – 150-160

  • Andrew Miller · October 29, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    Bercy: Federer d. Chardy 7-6 6-7 6-4; Dimitrov d. Cuevas e-z.

    Any thoughts on the new WTA rule for 2015 allowing coaches to review stats with players DURING the match? The coaching phone app can be used today to review the matches AFTER the match, but this new rule allows for review during a match. That means, at one point, if Sharapova has a tendency to go down the line on ad side returns 90% of the time, the app would show that and the opponent would adjust to fill the gap. My guess is that there is too much of a good thing and that more information is more information – a good coach would only focus on a few factors. A player can’t keep twenty things in their head at once.

    Probably the more interesting thing would be to put all those stats up on the huge scoreboard and highlight a few of them if they really want to get the fans into it. Democratize this thing.

    “To date, the WTA coaching app has been used by players and coaches post-match to prepare for future matches. But this takes the concept further; instead of a tool for preparation and review, there will be real-time access — with just a 15-second delay to accommodate Hawk-Eye challenges — to more comprehensive ball-tracking data.

    That means, for example, where do second serves tend to go at break point down? And where do players stand to receive them? How do players react when under pressure? Is their depth of ball the same at 4-0 as it is at 4-5? Patterns of play that seem apparent, or not, can now be quantified.

    While there are still some concerns about the potential disadvantages for those players without travelling coaches, Allaster said the technology could also be accessed remotely for training and scouting purposes.

    “We believe that technology will play a major role in modernising our sport, delivering more to our fans without altering the integrity of the game,” she said. “Tennis is a data-driven sport and information is power. Many of our matches usually come down to just a few key points and any advantage that players and coaches can gain by analysing trends and data could deliver an edge in the match. This technology sets a new standard for women’s tennis.”

    World No.7 Ana Ivanovic is, in this case, among the fans. “I think it’s an amazing program, and it’s amazing how much detail it can go (into) and how much it can help us in your preparation for matches, but also in our training sessions so we can focus on things that we don’t do well on court.”

  • Andrew Miller · October 29, 2014 at 2:31 pm

    Try again.

    Harrison – top 80 or higher.

    Rhyne – top 200. Technically he should get top 100 but just doesn’t seem to have the D.

    Krajicek – top 175

    Buchanan – top 190

    Kozlov – top 170

    JDonaldson – top 120

    JJenkins – top 130

    Kosakowski – top 200

    Giron – top 160

    Novikov – top 160

  • Andrew Miller · October 29, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    Scoop is right about doubles momentum. The good vibes help a player’s game. The proof.

    Federer and Wawrinka win 2008 Olympic Gold doubles in China. Federer gets his Olympic gold medal, goes on to win the French and Wimbledon in 2009 after his worst year since 2002 in 2008.

    Sock and Oudin, then Sock and Pops, win slam doubles titles. Sock is now playing every match competitively and not giving up. doubles momentum made Sock win in singles.

    Scoop’s example of Connors.

    DY and JJ reached the Virginia challenger’s final in doubles last year, losing to Smyczek and Steve Johnson in the finals. In 2014 DY and Steve Johnson both have had nice comeback years. A great year for Steve Johnson, a way better year for DY, no longer the “tragedy” of U.S. tennis, now a player invested in every match (win or lose).

    And….Harrison and Carston Ball qualified for the Virginia challenger doubles, beating the Shane boys. That means Harrison had a “win” a day before his Frank match and was already used to the taunting from the Virginia team on the sideline, beating “them” twice.

    Scoop’s “practice match at a public park” comment is looking more and more like the real deal. Take momentum wherever you can get it, doubles, mixed doubles, who cares. winning is winning and that fuels the confidence tank, which then motivates the player to sharpen up to keep the good vibes and fight flowing. I think Harrison is now like a dude at a gas station who just filled up and rolled out.

    Priceless stuff. Scoop, that is my new line. Take the park match.

  • Andrew Miller · October 29, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    Bercy:
    Pouille d. Fognini. Huge win for Pouille. Seems to have a nice game with limited results and he qualified for Bercy, shows that the qualies wins transfered over to the main draw. Young player, good job.

    Monfils d. Isner 6-4 7-6.

    Nishikori d. Robredo in 3 sets. Ironman Robredo gets a much needed break.

    Tsonga d. Melzer

    Result surprise:

    Lokoli, Laurent (France), #300, age 20 like Pouille, d. Buchanan 6-0 6-0. 45 minutes. Had to qualify for the Va. challenger. Watch out for that guy, that is a no mercy result.

  • Dan Markowitz · October 29, 2014 at 8:03 pm

    This Lokoli must be tough. He also beat the No. 1 seed Groth in first round. Who is Pouille? He’s not very big is he? Murray is looking like a wild man out there now with a big fluffy hairdo, but he’s playing good tennis. Good to see Monfils back. Geez, Sock comes close always to beating Raonic, but hasn’t been able to fully climb the Canadian Rocky.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    Andrew, confidence can come from a wide array of sources. Hitting well in practice. Executing serve and volleys in practice. And of course winning, any kind of winning. Winning does for confidence what gasoline does for fire. You win and you hunger for more. Winning is an addiction. Finally Harrison has felt the thrill of winning again and surely beating a tough grinder like Frank was a well earned quality win. That’s all he’s been missing was the feeling of winning. Just like Querrey. Even a practice set with a quality player can get you rolling. This year I had a tough final in a league and played a set with a friend who is very good. It started off even, both of us struggling then I was able to change gears and separate and dominate the set. I changed up my game, came in and attacked more and that made the difference. My confidence was sky high and it helped me win that tough final 64 in third after blowing a 76 30 lead. Without that confidence I would have lost that final. No doubt Sock got pumped up by his doubles success, same for Connors and probably even McEnroe who won French mixed with Carillo. Hewitt’s first major was also US Open doubles. Raonic needs to play more doubles. Harrison netted an easy volley in Miami SF with Sock at ten ten in third set TB vs. Cabal/Farah. That flub contributed to Harrison’s downward spiral IMO. Winning that to meet Bryans in final would have been huge for Harry. Doing well this week is crucial for Harry. He has to reestablish he can win again. Right now he’s not sure if he can because he’s lost so much lately.

  • Andrew Miller · October 29, 2014 at 10:55 pm

    POuille is 6-1, solid, two hands off the bh. playing well in front of home crowd. Results weak until this masters where he beat good players to qualify and is officially on a roll.

    Coming out of nowhere.

    Lokoli same deal but his game is even more dramatic. Has a little of the bag flair in him.

  • Andrew Miller · October 29, 2014 at 10:56 pm

    HAr has a winnable second rounder. Player is consistent but Har should find an efficient way through.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 30, 2014 at 8:17 am

    Is Lokoli the young guy Johnson beat in five at FO from two sets down? That was a huge win for Johnson and the guy Lokoli was very good and fun to watch. That win really sparked Johnson’s year, it was his first big win in a major after blowing several five setters. Buchanan set himself right on the verge of hitting the top hundred range this year but just couldn’t get over the hump. Lost a heartbreaker in US Open qualies 57 in third to Jaziri and has struggled since.

  • Andrew Miller · October 30, 2014 at 5:18 pm

    Lokoli is same player.

    Nishikori d. Tsonga 6-4 in third.
    Federer d. Pouille
    Murray d. Dimitrov
    Berdych d flopez
    Ferrer d verdasco
    Raonic d Bautista
    Kanderson d Wawrinka . 3 sets, epic.
    Djoko v. Monfils now.

    Two players putting together a decent year .
    Dzumhur, Damian
    Krajicek, Austin

  • Dan Markowitz · October 30, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    Just watched 2nd set of Harry-Nguyen match. First, there seemed to be like 20 people there. Second, this guy Nguyen is 24 ranked 344 and he plays the most chaotic game I’ve ever seen. He’s beaten Kuznetsov and Frank Dancy this year, but he cannot, at least against Harry, keep more than 2 or 3 balls in the court in a row.

    He might be 5-10, but the guy plays like Paul Annacone used to. It’s insane, he’s coming up to net on everything and mostly missing wildly off both sides. He has no weapons except for a decent two-hander, but he charged the net against Harry every chance he got.

    Harry has the nice service motion, but I didn’t see him serve and volley once and his backhand is two stiff and he plays too many rally shots with his forehand. It’s amazing a guy like Nguyen is even 344 because this guy played like a public parks player. Harry won 1 and 4.

  • Andrew Miller · October 30, 2014 at 8:21 pm

    Djokovic d Monfils. The french falling on swords.

    announcer called it an easy day at office for harry but take the wins. Fill up the confidence tank.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 31, 2014 at 8:52 am

    Wawrinka is just ordinary right now, Luthi and Fed have to be worried about his form right now. Can easily see this Davis Cup final becoming a chokefest. Good run by Harrison, two wins is just what he desperately needed. He can make it three and four.

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