Tennis Prose




Oct/14

13

Moscow, Stockholm and Vienna

cilicwin
Three solid draws this week on the ATP circuit.

Vienna is bolstered by having David Ferrer and Andy Murray as the top two seeds. Also competing back on the main tour will be Victor Estrella Burgos who has played two Challengers since his sensational run at the US Open, where the 34 year old first time main draw entry reached the third round, falling to Milos Raonic 676767. Austrian upstart Dominic Thiem is also playing his home and favorite tournament.

Jonas Bjorkman’s Stockholm event is packed with stars and good stories as well. Tomas Berdych and Grigor Dimitrov are the top two seeds. Alexander Dolgopolov, Jack Sock, Kevin Anderson, Marcos Baghdatis are some of the featured players. Donald Young takes on near-Federer conqueror Leonardo Mayer in the first round. Young Swedish teen Elias Ymer will hope to spark his country out of it’s decade-long drought of substandard mediocrity.

Moscow hosts a another fine draw headed by top seed Milos Raonic and slumping US Open champ Marin Cilic. Hard serving Sam Groth, Roberto Batista Agut, Fabio Fognini, Tommy Robredo, Dudi Sela and Ernests Gulbis are all competing at this historic event (Hey, this is the second tournament of the last three where Gulbis and Thiem have played separately – are they growing apart?). An intriguing first round battle pits red hot Mikhail Kukushkin vs. teenager Karen Kachanov. Could this be Youzhny’s final Moscow Open?

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68 comments

  • Andrew Miller · October 18, 2014 at 2:25 pm

    Kozlov-Klizan? If it were Kozlov-Kamke i would pick Kozlov. Some top 100 players are not as challenging a match but some are horrible matchups. If Kozlov gets a set count me shocked. Plus it will be indoor? Then it wuuld be really shocking.

    Speaking of Valencia just read on si.com of a new book called secrets of spanish tennis by chris lewitt, website which includes artices tips and drill videos is at http://www.secretsofspanishtennis.com . Maybe a tp’r can review the book or interview the author. Supposedly goes into what makes the spanish system works ( and no the answer isnt doctor fuentes ).

  • Andrew Miller · October 18, 2014 at 4:10 pm

    Sugar Ray Leonard plays tennis several times a week. Read it in AARP current magazine. He hits the small bag and he plays tennis.

    Kozlov – Klizan match: Like Kozlov’s chances. Klizan hits a lot of short balls (and also likes feasting off of them to close out points) – Nadal’s spin it up game fed right into Klizan’s take advantage of the short ball game. Has a problem guessing too (he guesses an awful lot – took a lot of gambles in the Nadal match, he was right more than wrong, but this isn’t like Murray and Djokovic anticipation).

    Might have some issues with the pace of Klizan’s game. Hits a heavy ball. But he also has the advantage of surprise – there’s not much tape on Kozlov so Klizan is guessing before he gets to the court. Team Kozlov should scout Klizan.

  • jblitz · October 19, 2014 at 5:27 am

    Are you guys really serious thinking Kozlov will beat Klizan???

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2014 at 9:29 am

    jblitz have you ever seen Kozlov play, even once? For sure it’s a tough challenge for Kozlov but those who know Kozlov and have seen him play know he is capable of tennis magic. He beat Harrison in a practice set 62 this summer. He beat Zimonic in mixed at US Open this year, saving MPs, he saved MPs and forced a third set vs. Prszyszieny last year at Newport at age fifteen, ultimately losing 46 in the third. He beat Harrison and Smyczek in three sets in Sacramento recently. If Klizan underestimates or has a bad day, it’s certainly possible that Kozlov can win the match.

  • Harold · October 19, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    Are there 2 Andrew Millers?

    In the span of 90 minutes, you went from Kozlov having no chance(lucky to get a set), to liking his chances.

  • Andrew Miller · October 19, 2014 at 12:51 pm

    Hey Harold – sorry for having a second look. I had never seen Klizan play before making the first comment on Kozlov’s chances and given that Klizan plays Nadal close I thought well if Klizan beat Nadal he will destroy Kozlov. But then i said well, lets watch the tape. The tape shows Klizan is solid, when he has the hot hand he can turn a match into a war. But since tennis is a game of matchups i cant say well since he beat nadal he will destroy klizan. That is like saying since kozlov beat harrison he can beat raonic. Doesnt work that way. Nadals game against klizan that day had a lot of spin, which allowed Klizan to wind up and unleash on each wing. I dont think Kozlov game provides the same opportunities (on paper Klizan flattebs Kozlov our of the sheer physiclity with which he plays, pace, strengtstrength, shotmaking etc). But Kozlov is no stranger to playing against bigger, stronger opponents. Querrey was too much for him and maybe Querrey only played well enough to win. But if Klizan is having an off day and Kozlov stays steady and picks his spots, he might unhinge Klizan.

    Not saying it is happenning, only that i wouldnt be surprised either way. I assume like the querrey match on an indoor surface against a bigger, stronger opponent that Kozlov loses in straight sets, maybe wins five games. But kozlovs serve is underrated and also other things he can do on the court. If klizan enters the match without having scouted kozlov he might find the tables turned. Maybe only briefly, but it might be enough for kozlov to work the match to his advantage.

    Kozlov is a thinker out there and any opponent that doesnt do their prep learns a lesson from this kid. Look at Harrison, Smyczek, Rhyne Williams. Querrey didnt take any chances and wasnt going to fall for it, but he also learned from the other players losses.

    So either way i wont be surprised. If klizan wins easy im not surprised- on paper he smashes the #500 player or hoewever high kozlov is. But in a match vs an unknown player who plays precision ball, gets a lot of balls back and has already done his homework on kliza, it could get closer than the anticipated blowout.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    It’s a tricky match for Klizan. To play a sixteen yr old kid is going to be mentally challenging. And Kozlov is going to play this match with the intensity of playing the biggest match of his life I would imagine. This match reminds me of seeing prime Younes El Aynouai vs. seventeen year old Nadal on grandstand at US Open. Younes was around top fifteen at the time. Nadal was just a kid. But Nadal’s intensity was beyond belief. He came back in the first set from a break down, then was down in the TB, fought back again but ultimately lost the TB and the match. But those of us in the grandstand that day saw the fire, the fists flying, the mature, controlled intensity. Kozlov has those similar qualities. Sure he might be too young, but he’s going to challenge Klizan like Rafa did El Aynouai that day. Rafa pushed him to the limits that day and I’m pretty sure Kozlov will do the same vs. Klizan. Like Nadal, this kid is too good and too crafty to get blown out of the water.

  • Andrew Miller · October 19, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    Kozlov is a thinker…not blowing anyone off a court for.now. but if Klizan takes Kozlov for granted then he might find himself in a harder match than anticipated. Kozlov is sneaking up on players now. But if Klizan watched a match or two of Kozlov and took notes, then Klizan wins easy and sends Kozlov back to the challengers where he should be. My opinion is always the same…beat opponents at your level , prepare and then win at the next level. I dont like what Zverev is doing and think these giys should refuse the wildcards

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    Kozlov really showed he’s ready for ATP level by taking Prszyzieny to 3 sets at Newport last year. But there’s no rush and Team Kozlov has been patient about mapping out Stefan’s career. Not once has he gotten blown out with the few WC he’s gotten. Even against the Bryans in doubles in Wash DC Kozlov looked like he belonged and was competitive with GOAT at 55 in the first. Even at US Open doubles Kozlov and Rubin lost a 3 setter to Mike Russell and I forget who. I think he’s just a natural and he will find a way to keep it close or even upset Klizan. Remember, Kozlov has spent hours hitting with both Federer and Nadal too.

  • Andrew Miller · October 19, 2014 at 8:44 pm

    Upsetting Klizan=tall order. Kozlov is still a kid out there and my hunch is the big boys like Klizan will send him packing. But if Klizan underestimates Kozlov, Kozlov will have a chance to make a match of it. The match’s terms still seem to be over-weighted on Klizan’s racquet. I can’t in good faith predict a Kozlov win – that’s really too much for me given Kozlov has ONE main draw challenger in his life (in which he did great, but it’s still ONE main draw of a challenger).

    Let’s celebrate who’s done what this week and give credit where it’s due!

    Cilic d. Bautista Agut to win Moscow ATP Kremlin Cup. Cilic follows up on his enormous U.S. Open victory.

    Murray d. Ferrrer to win the Erste Bank ATP Vienna – a war of attrition in three sets and 2 hr 40 min. I’d think that’s a nice win for Murray but indoors he has to get that done sooner.

    Berdych beats Dimitrov to win Stockholm ATP in 2 hr 20 min. I’d think this is a let down for Dimitrov and a boost for Berydch. Berdych is often put down despite his excellent record and seen as soft when it counts most. But he comes through against Dimitrov so he must still have a lot in the tank.

    Pavlyunchokova beats the Romanian Irina Camelia Begu. We have to consider Romanian tennis on the upswing. Maybe this is Nastase’s legacy, making tennis count in Romania.

    Interesting result from qualification in Valencia – Bellucci beats Berankis. Two names of excellent players that still have a rough time of getting back to the ATP full time. At one point Berankis was in the Tomic/Raonic/Dimitrov group. He must be attempting to come back from injury? Maybe someone here has the Berankis story.

    An observation on the India and Argentina challengers this month: why so few non Indian and non Argentines in the draw? Seems like no one from the U.S. plays them. I thought Dan played outside the U.S. in challengers? One of my coaches spent time on the Aussie circuit, said it was brutal!

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2014 at 9:33 pm

    Agut is now top fifteen in the world. This guy pretty much came out of nowhere. Saw him destroy Janowicz in Miami earlier this year, this guy is a wall. Berankis was never quite in that elite young gun group, being undersized I guess pundits felt he was limited. Berankis had a crushing loss to Melzer at US Open a few years ago, Melzer was top fifteen in the world and barely survived Berankis in a fifth set TB. Berankis should have won this and this loss was a heartbreaker for him. Been more or less on the fringe ever since. I think Berankis beating Raonic last week may be the best win of his career.

  • Dan Markowitz · October 20, 2014 at 2:44 am

    No, I never played a Challenger. I played some Satellites back in the late-80’s in France and Spain, but I was playing the pre-qualifiers or qualifying tournaments. I think more American players did go to India back in the day, and maybe they still do, but they play at the Futures level now. You have to be a serious player to play Challengers obviously. And maybe American players are looking at Klahn and saying, I’ll play the American Challenger events against better competition even if it is easier to go to India or far-off players and build up ranking points against easier competition.

    I was looking at the rankings and it is amazing that the only 3 players age 22 or 21 are Thiem (39), Sock (47) and Vesely in the 70’s. And then in the Top 20, the only players age 23 or 24 are Nishikori, Raonic and Dimitrov. Goffin and Struff are the only other players 24 or under in the Top 50. That to me is amazing.

  • loreley · October 20, 2014 at 4:52 am

    Bautista Agut was lucky to reach the final with Raonic & Gulbis handicapted by illess/injury.

    He was also lucky to play against a handicaped Del Potro at AO.

    Gulbis:

    “It was hard for me to play this tournament. I would have skipped this week if it wasn’t Moscow. After Asia I am not in my best shape. I would have played only in Paris for the end of the year. I said in the beginning of the year I would be playing here so…I just wanted to keep the promise and to play some matches here. It was important for me.”

  • Andrew Miller · October 20, 2014 at 10:07 am

    Rankings:
    Isner 16
    Querrey 40
    Stevejohnson 41
    Sock 47
    Kyrgios 54
    Tomic 56
    Dyoung 69
    Haas 80
    Smyczek 99
    Klahn 122
    Kudla 128
    Russell 129
    Krajicek 167
    Buchanan 185
    Kuznetsov 192
    Rhynewilliams 195
    Ryan harrison 197

    As of March the mainstream media was complaining about two players in top 70 from u.s. with isner and klahn at the bookends. Even though the u.s. players not named isner play poorly at masters and slams, four top fifty players is a better result. That’s a nice turnaround.

  • Harold · October 20, 2014 at 10:18 am

    Your first impression was right Andrew. Klizan going through Koz easy. Man against boy. If Koz doesn’t grow 5 inches, gain 20 lbs, he’s limited to a life on the Challengers, Newport, Delray tour.

    Only problem with that, some other slightly built players, tried bulking up and that was the end. Hewitt got too thick, Chang tried adding ten mph’s to his serve, only prob, he started hitting 30% first serves

  • Andrew Miller · October 20, 2014 at 11:18 am

    Harold you were right. Kozlov had no answers for Klizan, won all of six games (like the loss to querrey) in all of 82 minutes. There is no way around that, it is a shellacking.

    Nice win by Halep over Bouchard in 68 minutes, bouchard won five games. Bouchard is definitely not playing for keeps like she was at Wimby!

    Nice to see DY handle Berlocq again. Wont forgive him for the love and love loss in miami in one of dy first main draws, after which every pundit said dy has to go back to the challengers and cant play at this level (at the time they were right). He has beaten him every time since.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 20, 2014 at 11:30 am

    Harold, smaller guys have always had success on the tour – Coria, Rochus, Rios, Hewitt, Chang, Tips, Robredo, Nishikori, Melzer, Lu, Kohlschreiber, Kamke, Goffin, Fognini, Davydenko, Ferrer, Ben Becker, Andujar, Montanes, are all under six feet tall. Melzer and Almagro are even 6 ft. Let’s keep in mind Kozlov is sixteen, he turns seventeen in February.

  • jblitz · October 20, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    It’s not nice to be smug and say I told you so…so I won’t, but in private I do have a rather smug smile on my face. 😛

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