I have a match today at 11, against a player from Sarasota, we met by tennisopolis.com a couple of days ago and bang, we’re gonna play already. This is the first time I’ve ever played anyone from that site. Abel says he has trouble finding quality players down here, he’s just moved here from Boston.
We meet at Bayfront Park courts but both courts are filled and we have to wait an hour. But we kill the waiting time by talking tennis and I learn quickly Abel has a passion for the game and he follows it closely. We discuss Nadal’s troubled with Djokovic, Marcelo Rios, some of our previous matches, etc. I realize quickly Abel’s a good guy. Then suddenly the woman on court one tells us she will be done in five minutes.
It turns out our set was as good as the conversation we shared. He plays with big top spin and great defense. I choose to serve and he breaks me from a 15-40 hole. Then he has game points to go up 2-0 but I get the break somehow. Abel has a big forehand and he sets me up hitting insider outers to my backhand and he wins a couple of points that way easily. I have to stop that or it’s going to be a beatdown.
I hold serve in another long tough game. We’re both similar players, consistent, patient, intense, balanced games. He can move me around by putting the ball in weird spots, like the sidelines near the net. I’m working harder but then begin to feel more comfortable and am able to move him around more, then letting him do all the dictating.
We’re at 3-2 me every game is a battle. After running me all over the court he misses an important overhead and it’s 4-3 me. I feel somewhat lucky to be up because after the first two games I accepted that I could lose this set.
Abel plays very competitive but he is also very respectful at the same time. He never once tries anything to bother me, he is totally gracious and complimentary for any fine shots I hit. I play in the same spirit. One time he hit a mishit topspin lob winner to give him game point and he sincerely apologizes for it.
Another time he hit a cross court forehand that hit the line, I played it and missed my shot. But he overruled and called it out by an inch, which game me the game because it was game point. How can you not respect a guy like that? It was probably out but too close for me to call so I just played it.
Leading 4-3 I decide to play more aggressively and attack the net earlier in the points and that mindset is quickly rewarded. I go up 0-30 on his serve and end up winning the game. Then I try to serve it out and again, opt to attack the net, with two serve and volleys which both succeed. He misses a backhand into the net to end the set. Great set, we both are happy to have found an equal level player, we are right exactly at the same level. We both played well enough to win, today was just my day. I know very well he can win the next set next week.
I can’t even remember the last time I found a total stranger right at my level, so it’s a great day.
Did you see Federer lost to Djokovic in Abu Dhabi 61 62? Anything can happen in exhibitions but it’s hard to imagine Federer would tank one to his #1 arch rival from Serbia. Maybe John McEnroe was right, Djokovic feels energized and healthy to start the new season after suffering from exhaustion during the home stretch of 2011. The Djokovic Golden Slam is looking like a distinct possibility at this point, especially if the world #1 can avoid injury.
No tags
Dan Markowitz · December 31, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Nice match, Scoop. It is great to “pick up” a game and meet a mensch of a player and person. Can’t believe the dude overruled his shot hitting the sideline and gave you the point and game.
Djoko does look mad good while suddenly, even if its an exo, Fed and Nadal are back to struggling.
Scoop Malinowski · January 4, 2012 at 2:43 pm
We’re going to play again this week, might do a quick biofile about this player, he’s got a tricky steady game. Next match is on clay, his favorite surface. Yes that was super nice of him to overrule that call. I’ve done that a few times too, when you’re in that position that he was, you can see that ball very well. It was close though. Djoko looks unbelievably good, he just made Federer look like a hitting partner in that 62 61 thrashing. Fed was trying too but when he realized Djokovic was playing to perfection he kind of acted like he didn’t care because it’s just an exo. But it was hard not to be stunned by the smooth efficiency of Djokovic, he made that look easy.