Today was a dream day on the Delray drawsheet with loads of intriguing matches but for Ryan Harrison it was a nightmare. Ranked 58 from a career high of 40 last July, Harrison fell 6767 to Reilly Opelka with a df on set point in the first and a netted forehand on the fourth and final match point. Last week as Memphis defending champion in NY Harrison lost to Karlovic so Harrison’s rhythm must be in major discord. Opelka is aggressive like Isner and Ivo and played his best match since beating Kevin Anderson in 2016. Harrison took the L in stride with no antics and respectfully patted Opelka on the chest at the handshake.
John Isner solved the Radu Albot puzzle with a three set win to avenge last week’s loss in NY.
Jared Donaldson struggled but overcame Peter Polansky.
Milos Raonic was down 3-5 in the second to Taro Daniel but prevailed for his first win of the year. The 27 yr old ranked 32 now is on the way back after injuries and losses but has a long way to go to regain the form that once was good enough to hold the ATP no. 3 ranking in 2016. Raonic once lost seven times in one year to Andy Murray and you have to wonder what those defeats did to his psyche.
Max Mirnyi served for the match with Oswald but lost that game, second set and ultimately the deathbreaker to Donald Young and Matt Ebden. Young mat be evolving into a doubles star with steady good results including last years French Open final.
Jack Sock cruised to an easy 6263 win with Jackson Withrow vs Paes Raja. Sock was Harlem Globetrotting with his showboating and trick shots including a tweener forehand into the net at 30-0 serving for the match. Then Sock shanked a backhand for 30-all. Pressure mounting? Nope. Sock aced Paes wide and then Raja’s return sailed long to end the Jack Sock Show where he literally toyed with a legend and his sidekick.
A potential future legend Denis Shapovalov was getting a lesson from Karlovic early but then turned the tables from 0-2 to win a 7576 win. Pegged by Rod Laver as a possible no. 1 in the future, Shapovalov did well to solve Karlovic and the tricky stadium winds with his evolving arsenal.
Mikhail Youzhny needed five match points to down Dudi Sela 75 64. Sela was down 0-40 in the last game but got it back to deuce four times on Mischa’s serve. Evgeny Donskoy was watching just as Youzhny had watched Donskoy defeat Darian King the previous match on the same court.
I spoke with both Russians about Facing Safin. Donskoy’s memories and insights were astonishingly amusing. Some of the best content I’ve ever gotten for any of my Facing books. Safin could actually analyze players by nationality.
There was a dog on the grounds without a ticket or credential. Lu is the english boxer of Sam Querrey and his girlfriend who sat on the side of the practice court as Sam warmed up before playing Fritz.
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Duke Carnoustie · February 21, 2018 at 1:26 am
Another correct prediction by the Duke that Fritzie would take out Sam I Am in a Delray thriller. Must have been a good one.
Young guns going well with Opelka and Foe as well.
Nice to see Harrison not get upset, that’s good sportsmanship. Meanwhile kind of upset how this DY fallout has been non-existent. Has he apologized to Harry? I used to like the guy but not anymore. I hope Donskoy beats him for using the race card.
Scoop, any Micaela sightings with Sock? What’s his team look like?
scoopmalinowski · February 21, 2018 at 6:43 am
Big win for Fritz who came on strong in second. Fritz had lost last yr to Sam 64 in third so he solved the Q puzzle. Maybe best win of Fritz life. Sock team is Jay Berger. Did not see Michaela yesterday at practice or post dubs match but she could be here.
scoopmalinowski · February 21, 2018 at 6:46 am
I have the audio of Youngs statement and will share it later in week. Strange how the controversy has been swept under the rug by media now that Harrison is exonerated. Media feeding frenzy must look elsewhere to fabricate its next white racist. They wanted and tried but couldnt crucify Harrison.
Dan Markowitz · February 21, 2018 at 6:47 am
Not true there was no Harry outburst. I heard in the first set he went ballistic. He’s just an ornery guy on the court. Looking over at Russell in the stands and muttering under his breath when he makes a mistake.
Raonic was down 5-1 in the second set against Daniel before coming back. Good crowds here in Delray. I heard lSt week at the NY Ppen one of the reasons the crowds were so disappointing was that the ticket prices rivaled the USOpen.
dan markowitz · February 21, 2018 at 6:55 am
I will inquire about the Young-Harry incident today. As far as I know, it hasn’t been swept under the rug, but we’re waiting for the findings of the ATP investigation.
catherine · February 21, 2018 at 7:09 am
The ATP has cleared Harrison of the charges, as Scoop mentioned above. Tennis Now has Harrison’s statement. So nothing seems to be swept under the rug because there’s nothing now to sweep.
Very poor crowds in Dubai, not unusual, but a lot of the tennis I’ve seen so far (live) has been awful.
dan markowitz · February 21, 2018 at 7:11 am
I talked to Big John Isner after his three-set win against Radu Abot and this is what the former no. 1-ranked American had to say about his slow start this year and whether he thinks he’s an over-or-under achiever:
“I’m slowly but surely finding my form this year. The Davis Cup win is a different animal as won (the win against Abot was Ozzie’s first win on the ATP Tour this year); it’s such a different feeling than a regular ATP win, but I definitely started off slow which I have for the past few years, but I’m going to see if I can start playing better.
“I think I’ve over-achieved on the tour considering I didn’t decide I was going to try to play pro tennis until I was 21 years old; in my junior year of college I decided to play professional tennis than work an everyday job and I think I made a pretty good choice. I’m pretty proud of myself. Certainly there’s been sometimes where I’ve let some things slip by on the court just as everybody has before, but I’ve been very proud of how I’ve taken care of myself; how professional I’ve been to be able to keep myself out here for a long time.
“I think the slam should stay as they are: Best of 5 sets.
Moving onto Ozzie’s heir apparent on the tour, Reilly Opelka really impressed me today. In my mind, I’m going to really watch him from now on (especially tonight when he takes on Jack Sock at 6 pm). I’ve never seen a player his size hit the ball so big off the ground and come up to the net and volley so deftly. An ATP staffer told me that Brad Gilbert ranks Opelka as the best of the young Americans, and Gilbert thinks a Top 5 or 10 ranking is in Opelka’s future.
I particularly liked how Opelka dealt with a searing forehand of his being overruled on match point against Harry, who objected to the call even as I who was right on the sideline where the ball landed, saw that the ball had squarely on the line. On the changeover at 6-all, Opelka just walked by the chair and said to the umpire in a clear calm voice, “Well done, ump. You’re really good at your job.” Then he finished Harry off.
The problem with Harry is that he will never be a likable player. There’s a certain orneriness about him that would never fly as an American no. 1 player. Harry is too much cut in the cloth of a Jeff Taranto-like personality.
scoopmalinowski · February 21, 2018 at 7:57 am
Dan have you ever talked with Harrison? You will find he is a nice friendly guy. Great interview too. Cant villainize Harry he is good people. When was this supposed outburst in first set? I saw no outburst at all the whole match.
scoopmalinowski · February 21, 2018 at 7:59 am
Young is being let off the hook for lying about a fake racial hate crime. No big deal. If roles were reversed Harrison would be crucified.
scoopmalinowski · February 21, 2018 at 8:02 am
Opelka can rip it better than Isner. Mives better too. Opelka is now 7-13 career. I remember being at Isners debut in DC and he won his first four matches in deathbreakers.
Dan Markowitz · February 21, 2018 at 8:22 am
I’m talking to Harry’s on-court demeanor. He looks like Clint Eastwood out there, squinting and giving a cold vibe out there. He might have to learn like Spadea did later in his career to loosen up and show more of his personality on the court.
Doug Day · February 21, 2018 at 8:58 am
Catherine
“Theres nothing now to sweep”
Really?
Accusations hurled so easily by those you inoculate via skin color only insures it will happen again. An apology too much to ask? White enablers the real privilege.
Duke Carnoustie · February 21, 2018 at 2:09 pm
“Young is being let off the hook for lying about a fake racial hate crime. No big deal. If roles were reversed Harrison would be crucified.”
Harry recently did a podcast with Wertheim too. Young refused. Again, lost respect for Young to do this. It teaches everyone that blacks can fabricate false stories and get away with no punishment and sends a bad message for those of us who want to be inclusive when you see such a double standard.
catherine · February 21, 2018 at 2:39 pm
This incident might teach anyone who’s interested something about Young but I can’t see how it would reach any further.
Only if someone wanted it to.
Duke Carnoustie · February 21, 2018 at 3:04 pm
I’d excuse it if it was a young kid like Tiafoe or FAA. DY is a veteran on tour and he should act like it. What he did was reprehensible and immature. A public apology to Harrison is the first step. I used to root for him but like I said, I was rooting for him to lose to Donskoy and am glad he lost.
Tsitsipas loses to Mahut. He is finding winning Tour matches difficult but I give him time. Shapo really gave him a tennis lesson at the AO.
catherine · February 21, 2018 at 3:51 pm
In Dubai Konta loses in 3 sets to Kasatkina – wonder if Johanna regrets dumping Fisette for Michael Joyce. Can’t see how Joyce has improved her game but it’s clear Fisette is giving Kerber the right advice, so far. K plays Pliskova next, who did not look impressive.
Duke Carnoustie · February 21, 2018 at 4:08 pm
Konta is now an unimpressive 6-5 on the ear and Ostapenko is worse at 6-6. That’s not going to put you in the top 10 so it’s troubling times for both.
catherine · February 21, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Muguruza and Bellis playing after 1 am and the standard is dire – like elastic bands up and down the court. All 3 spectators are asleep. Mug won first set but I can’t watch the rest.
Garbine just can’t get going.
scoopmalinowski · February 21, 2018 at 6:36 pm
Mahut beat Tsirsipas at usopen qualies in three sets. Isners drought continues. Gojo also beat Ivo in newport and can handle big servers. Major progress with Facing Safin and Facing Steffi.
Duke Carnoustie · February 21, 2018 at 9:22 pm
I found Young’s “punishment” in Delray, second half of this video. …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1S7ILxs4lo
Duke Carnoustie · February 22, 2018 at 1:25 am
Good link on Ryan Harrison and the bad blood between him and DY here, Doug posted it on a previous post. Sounds like this situation has yet to be put to bed, DY really made a mess here…
http://tennisnow.com/Mobile/News/12034.aspx
Duke Carnoustie · February 22, 2018 at 1:53 am
I really feel for what Harrison has been through. It’s a sad situation that such behavior can go unpunished on the ATP Tour. Who is in charge there?
https://twitter.com/ryanharrison92/status/965395479533105153
Duke Carnoustie · February 22, 2018 at 2:08 am
Meanwhile Del Potro has split with his girlfriend so his season could be on the rocks this year…
http://www.tsmplug.com/tennis/juan-martin-del-potro-admits-to-personal-issue-after-split-with-girlfriend/
scoopmalinowski · February 22, 2018 at 8:25 am
Yep. As i said, the media is letting Young skate away. Black privilege. If Harrison said the bad words this story would be all over cnn. Trump Sandgren and now Harrison are awakening people and this bad dynamic is being corrected. Dan tried to talk to Young here but Young totally blanked him.