Tennis Prose




Oct/18

16

October Movers and Shakers

Sweden

Tennys Sandgren gets back on the winning track with a quality 64 64 win vs Lucas Pouille in Sweden. It’s the American’s first main draw win since beating Troicki at US Open. Sandgren is holding steady at 62 in the ATP rankings down from a high of 47 in April. Pouille is at 22.

Hyeon Chung, 27 in the world, beat Taylor Fritz, 56, for the second time this year in straight sets, 62 62 today.

Qualifier Ernie Gulbis beat WC Mikael Ymer. Gulbis is 145 in the rankings. 20 year old Ymer is struggling still at 285.

22 year old brother Elias Ymer, still with coach Robin Soderling, beat Max Marterer in three sets as a wildcard. The older Ymer is ranked 135.

Bradley Klahn continues to win matches, today defeating Marius Copil 62 36 64. The Californian is 102 in the world. His four ATP main tour wins this year equals his total career ATP wins before 2018. His career mark in ATP main draws is now 8-25.

Fernando Verdasco beat the dangerous Matt Ebden 64 62 in what was their very first ATP meeting. The 34 year old Spaniard is ranked 29 while Ebden is at his career best 40 at age 30.

Moscow

Wildcard Nick Kyrgios beat Andrey Rublev in three sets. 20 year old Rublev has dropped to 78 in the world, Nick is lodged at 37.

Benoit Paire avenged his crushing US Open 75 in the fifth loss to Mischa Zverev last year with a third win over the lefty Russian this year. Paire powered to a 76 26 61 win today, his third tough win over Zverev in 2018. They also played once in 2008 in Marseilles qualies, won by Zverev in two sets. The flashy French hotshot is 57 in the world while MZ is 71.

25 year old Russian Egor Gerasimov, ranked 217, beat Damir Dzumhur 61 67 62. Gerasimov is coached by former Wimby semifinalist Vladimir Volchkov. Gerasimov has won 16 career ATP singles matches. Dzumhur is the defending champion of Moscow so his ranking will fall from 39.

Antwerp

37 year old Feliciano Lopez is ranked 70 now but he got a much needed win vs struggling wildcard Frances Tiafoe 64 76. The American is ranked 45.

McKenzie McDonald continues to win matches, taking down Nicolas Jarry today 61 76, Double M is ranked 84. Jarry is at 43.

Jo Wilfried Tsonga returned with a 75 57 76 win vs Pella. It’s his first win since February. Tsonga is now ranked 75 at age 33.

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105 comments

  • Hartt · October 16, 2018 at 5:51 pm

    In a match between a veteran and a youngster, the wily vet, Kohlschreiber, won over Alex de Minaur 7-6, 6-7, 6-1 in 2 hours, 41 minutes. Kohli should have won the 2nd set, he had 4 MPs on Alex’s serve, but did not convert any, and then played a tight service game and was broken. Alex then won the TB 7-2.

    Alex was actually the higher ranked player, No. 31 to Kohli’s No. 35. Both guys played well overall. I was impressed with Alex’s willingness to come forward, and his good volleys. In the end, Kohli’s experience showed, and he was able to be both aggressive and steady enough to take the decider, winning the match with an ace.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 16, 2018 at 6:47 pm

    Yet another fine showing by deMinaur vs a proven veteran. Just a matter of time before deMinaur cracks the top 15. He’s gaining super valuable experience. Keep in mind this is really his first full year on the Tour.

  • catherine · October 16, 2018 at 6:49 pm

    And in one of those matches Steve Simon does not want to see – Yastremska bt Lepchenko in Luxembourg in 3 hrs 4 mins πŸ™‚

  • catherine · October 17, 2018 at 3:15 am

    Dayana could hardly move by the end. Can’t see her getting past Muguruza and that would be no bad thing. Rest, please.

    I liked the way she stopped on her way out to sign autographs for a couple who had stayed behind in the almost empty stadium.

  • catherine · October 17, 2018 at 9:22 am

    Bouchard bts CSN 6-1 6-0. Is Joyce making a difference ?

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2018 at 10:47 am

    Wow that is a statement making win by Bouchard, to blast away a proven tough player like she was an out of shape div 2 college player is fine work by the controversial Canadian. Joyce is one of the best interviews in tennis and with the right player, he can do damage in the WTA.

  • catherine · October 17, 2018 at 10:56 am

    Konta’s new coach, on a trial basis, is Dimitri Zavialoff.

  • Hartt · October 17, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    I was surprised to see the score of Bouchard vs CSN. Scoop, as you said, Carla is a tough opponent, so this is a significant win. Genie is at No. 97 in the live rankings, so this also means she will make the main draw for the AO.

    I hope Joyce is the right coach for her, she could use some stability in that area.

  • catherine · October 17, 2018 at 1:35 pm

    Yastremska bt Muguruza 6/2 6/3. Some achievement considering her 3hr match yesterday. She had strapping on her left thigh.

    Kerber is in Singapore behaving as though she hasn’t a care in the world πŸ™‚

    BTW I read that her manager’s announcement was considered ‘harsh’ in its expression in the German original so we read it more or less correctly.

    Hartt – Genie looked confident and at ease in her match – haven’t seen that for a while.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    Hartt, it’s almost as shocking as the time Amanda Coetzer beat Graf 60 61 in Hamburg. But not quite.

  • Hartt · October 17, 2018 at 2:32 pm

    I did not see Genie’s match, but a piece on the WTA site said her play was “scintillating.” She can still play at a high level, the next step is to do that more consistently.

    I did see the last half of Kasatkina vs Cornet, and it was very entertaining. Dasha ultimately won in 3 sets. Both women played well overall, except for a lot of service breaks. But they were hitting the ball hard and deep, and made some terrific winners. The match lasted 2 hours, 23 minutes. Steve Simon won’t be pleased. πŸ™‚

    Dasha will play Pavs next, so an all-Russian match. The Moscow fans were very vocal in their support of Dasha today. The 2 players had a nice embrace at the net.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2018 at 3:02 pm

    Hartt, there is no doubt Bouchard can still reach her career high point. The best can be ahead of her not behind. It’s a matter of things falling into place, her head screwed on straight and working hard and regaining the lost confidence and winning touch. We saw how good she was beating Sharapova last year. She has to find that high motivation and intensity for ALL matches not just vs Maria. Very good sign that she has hired Joyce and is off to a roaring good start.

  • Gaurang · October 17, 2018 at 5:18 pm

    Btw, Coric played really well in Shanghai! He has made himself noticed and is now in top 15. He will get into top 10 very soon. He is going to be the second NextGen person in top 10 after Zverev!! Wow, its been a long time for Coric, he has been around 25-40 ranks for a long time now.

    Djokovic has played really well in Shanghai. Esp his serve is now even better. Will help him in Paris and London — and help him secure his 6th Year-End #1 ranking this year. This will equal Sampras for the highest count I believe.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2018 at 5:39 pm

    Gaurang, Coric was looking like a fringe player who would not be able to crack the elite pantheon for the last three years but now he looks ready to rumble with anyone. Working with Piatti could be a big factor, that guy has been associated with so many elite players. Gasquet, Ljubicic, Coric and I’m forgetting others.

  • Hartt · October 18, 2018 at 6:11 am

    Scoop, how could you forget that Piatti coached Raonic from the end of 2013 until last fall? In other words, for nearly 4 years, first in conjunction with Ljubicic, and then continuing with Milos after Ivan left to work with Fed. People are always going on about Milos having many different coaches, but Piatti was a constant during those 4 years.

    Given the success that Piatti had with several players, I think he has been crucial to Coric’s successful season.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 18, 2018 at 9:30 am

    Hartt, I guess because Raonic is just about forgotten now as a major threat. Piatti tried his best with Raonic but it didn’t happen. Looks like Raonic is headed the Berdych, Todd Martin route – close but no cigar.

  • catherine · October 18, 2018 at 9:43 am

    I saw a very good BTL comment re changes of coaches on Another Site (tennis.com)which hit the spot about Fisette, Kerber, Konta and maybe a few others.

    Basically, new top coaches ask for top commitment from players who take this on board at first and then change their minds when reality bites and the truth hits them – either my way or the highway. So often the player will let the coach go and hope that some of the instruction sticks. Then they’ll hire a lower key coach. And results might follow suit. This scenario could also explain Fisette’s relatively short-term coaching relationships in the past.

    As for Angie, if she plays in Singapore without a coach and does well – then why does she need one ? Really, at this time in her career she needs a serve coach. The rest of her game will follow her state of mind.

    Can you imagine Steve Simon’s reaction if the coachless player idea caught on ? Get a dummy, stuff it and program it and sit it on the court πŸ™‚

  • catherine · October 18, 2018 at 9:53 am

    Smile Steve ! Yastremska bt Gasparyan SS in 60 mins on the dot.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 18, 2018 at 10:50 am

    While some coaches may be as helpful as a ventriloquist wood dummy, Kasatkina’s coach is making big waves with his pep talk coaching today which helped Daria win a match from the brink of defeat. Coaching is a tough business, some actually do it for free, just to get the honor and prestige of being able to call themselves a WTA or ATP coach which they then use for their academy or private coaching. Then players can agree to hire a big name coach and a month into the relationship, they can end it. The player calls the shots. It’s really a tough business to be in, to be a professional player’s coach. The coach has no leverage and can be discarded on any day. The coach’s only leverage is if the player wins. But even then they could get canned – Rios firing Stefanki after attaining world no. 1. Tough business. Also rumors of Federer and Hewitt dismissing their coaches Lundgren and Cahill when about to be no. 1, a firing motivated by the desire to NOT have to play the $1m bonus the coach had been contractually promised if the player got to no. 1.

  • catherine · October 18, 2018 at 11:08 am

    Scoop – do you know any coaches who work for free in the WTA or ATP ?

    I still think occ is a cheat. Let’s see how Daria does in GSs next year.

    (My guess – Fisette told Angie she’d have to work harder if she wants to be No 1 again or win a big title and Angie, who likes her time off in Poland, couldn’t see her way to doing that. So exit Wim.)

    Yastremska and Sabalenka are better than some of those no-hopers who have slipped into Singapore.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 18, 2018 at 11:39 am

    Catherine, yes I do. I was told by a tennis world figure that there are coaches who work for free and actually pay their own expenses – for the honor and prestige of being able to say they are/were an ATP / WTA coach. Makes sense. It’s a big deal to get a coaching credential at a WTA or ATP tournament. It’s maybe the ultimate accomplishment for a coach besides of course, winning a title as a coach with the player. Sure beats feeding balls to kids or seniors at a clinic.

  • Hartt · October 18, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    Scoop, I think it is too early to dismiss Raonic. He is still just 27 years old, and has been hampered by injuries. I think he does need to have a big year next season, so I will wait and see what happens then.

  • Hartt · October 18, 2018 at 1:53 pm

    I am not a fan of OCC, but have to admit that Dasha’s coach is very effective, especially at helping her get over frustration and to focus better.

    One thing I was happy to see is that Dasha is serving better. She had a fist serve % today of 70%, with 1 ace and 2 DFs. I hope this means her problem with DFs is now behind her.

  • catherine · October 19, 2018 at 2:41 am

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2018/10/18/serena-williams-coach-campaigns-rule-change-allow-on-court-coaching/

    Why do I think this is all about Patrick wanting to get more of his face in front of the camera ? And excuse his behaviour at the USO.

    The reasons people give for more in-match coaching are all the wrong ones. I can see a time when the game itself gets swamped by all the triviality around it.

    I always admired Serena for never having occ. Not sure about that now.

    And shortening matches ? Soon enough, matches will just be one long coaching session πŸ™‚

  • Michael in UK · October 19, 2018 at 6:41 am

    Hi friends,

    I just heard on bbc radio news, Wimbledon rule changes announced.
    In final set if scores reaches 12 all then it goes to a tiebreak.
    On wimbledon and other websites no doubt.

  • Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 7:09 am

    Catherine, I love your “Soon enough, matches will just be one long coaching session.”

    I agree that a lot of this has to do with Patrick’s ego.

    β€œIt is time for tennis leaders to amend the status of coaching … To attract new people [to tennis], you need to get them emotionally involved. You want spectators and TV viewers to have opinions about the players – and the coaches – and to know who they like and who they don’t. Watching the interactions between players and coaches is a very good way of achieving this.” (The Telegraph)

    Why do fans need to have opinions about the coaches? I follow tennis quite closely and I could name just a handful of player/coach combinations. And for the women in particular, those change so often it would be a big job to keep up with them.

    I read Patrick’s original piece, and he said something about how the cameras show the coaches so often during a match. Doesn’t he know that the cameraman has simply run out of pretty girls to show?

  • catherine · October 19, 2018 at 8:05 am

    Hartt – ha ha – I noticed that too, watching live matches, how often the coaches feature. Why don’t we just get rid of the players altogether ?

    Patrick’s talking rubbish – what can we get to know about the players/coaches from just a few minutes of tv ? What if they’re not speaking English ?
    Fans have feelings about their favourites anyway. I doubt they care much about the coaches. Why should they, as you say ?

    Patrick fancies himself – he always seems visible (and audible ) – does he bribe the cameraman ? I don’t actually think he’s the Apollo Belvedere in looks either.

    Hands up those who predicted the Kerber/Fisette split from watching their occ ?

    Michael – thanks for info. And let’s hope that’s the only rule change the AEC have in mind.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 8:08 am

    Sounds like Mouratoglou knows he’s going to be canned by Serena and is trying to stay relevant by up-valuing tennis coaches. Not sure if this crusade is going to work. It’s about the players, not the bag carriers or coaches or physios or any of the entourage. If Serena cans him he may never get another high profile player to coach.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 8:11 am

    Raonic still can do it but it will be harder now, he did all he could, hired every coach, still came up empty. His self belief surely has wavered. But we’ve seen it happen before where the old veteran suddenly gets hot – Andres Gomez, Goran, Thomas Johansson, Muster, and wins that first major.

  • Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 8:14 am

    It’s not exactly compelling TV when the coaches are shown watching a match. The only being I look for in the player’s box during a match is Shapo’s mascot, “Storm”, the toy wolf. At least he is cute! πŸ™‚

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 8:14 am

    Mouraoglou’s credibility took two major hits at US Open – People realize now Serena never bothered to ask for his coaching with zero OCCs and she denied needing or accepting his illegal coaching at US Open. These two facts make Mouratoglou seem irrelevant, and just a freeloading opportunist. He’s doing desperate damage control now.

  • catherine · October 19, 2018 at 8:15 am

    Scoop: Serena hires Fisette πŸ™‚

  • catherine · October 19, 2018 at 8:23 am

    Hartt – you probably saw Bouchard bt Petko when Andrea retired with an injury. Genie plays Julia next and I wouldn’t bet on the outcome since the Ace Machine took 3 sets to get past Vekic (Torben Beltz ! Wow, that beard !)and doesn’t look in tip-top form.

  • Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 8:56 am

    I have no idea what to expect in the Julia vs Genie match. Petko was winning against Genie before she had to retire.

    For Genie, just being back in the top 100 has to be a big step forward.

  • Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 8:58 am

    Sakkari has split with her coach, Johansson. I need a chart to keep up with who is coaching whom on the WTA!

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 9:02 am

    Catherine, Serena hires Spadea πŸ™‚

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 9:04 am

    Hartt, I think Raonic losing to Pospisil is a bad loss and indicative of the direction Raonic is going. Another bad loss today by Shapovalov to Gulbis. Bouchard is saving Canada tennis this month with Felix. Brayden Schnur is doing well in Calgary Challenger.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 9:30 am

    Hartt, a year ago Johansson had Sakkari hitting nine days in a row with Marat Safin and Dinara Safin in Monte Carlo, the ultimate training situation for an unproven player. She got lots of advices. Guess she had her reasons for splitting with To Jo.

  • Chazz · October 19, 2018 at 9:46 am

    Great rule change at Wimbledon, it makes sense to do that.

    Shapo was just tanking to avoid the red hot Sock, who is on a one match win streak.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 10:00 am

    Chazz, that’s right, and it’s a big win for Sock who is averaging less than one singles match win per month so far this year. This is another horrid loss for Shapovalov because Gulbis has been left for dead, Gulbis lost 1R qualies at US Open to Christian Harrison.

  • Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 10:05 am

    I watched the Shapo vs Gulbis match, and Ernie deserves a lot of credit – he played very well. Denis got off to a slow start, but he raised his level in the 2nd set. Ernests still played a bit better than Denis, he was getting good returns off the shots that are Shapo winners against most players.

    Scoop, you are probably one of the few people outside of Canada who has even heard of Brayden Schnur. I am hoping he can win in Calgary.

  • Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 12:11 pm

    Kasatkina won an entertaining match over Konta in SS. Dasha, with her variety, is so much fun to watch.

    Bouchard just took the first set TB in her match vs Goerges. I have only seen a few games, but both women are playing well.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 12:34 pm

    It’s a credit to Gulbis that he’s still hanging in there, he’s lost to guys ranked around 500 in the last two years. Deep down he knows he’s a top ten player and a major semifinalist, and that is a level that Shapovalov can only dream about at this point. Though I do believe Shap will get there eventually. So Gulbis with confidence is still a formidable challenge for anybody.

  • catherine · October 19, 2018 at 1:14 pm

    Hartt – Bouchard’s about to beat Julia but I can’t agree that both are playing well – Julia should not be losing this match. She’s serving badly, complaining a lot at the beginning (no hawkeye), just seems out of it. Bit of a nightmare for her since Wimbledon. Not sure if she’s playing in Zhuhai, which she won last year. Julia does wear her heart on her sleeve sometimes and it’s sad to see her looking so depressed.

    I had a special look at the tv focus on the coaches – and all I saw was a bunch of glum men sitting with their arms folded – not a sight to attract a mad rush of fans. I can understand the tv camera doesn’t focus on glamorous women nowadays because of sexism but this lot doesn’t seem a great substitute.

  • catherine · October 19, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    Ha – I spoke too soon – had to leave my computer and when I returned Julia had won – a good tussle and I’m glad she pulled it off – but an encouraging match for Bouchard.

    Maybe one of those glum men gave the right advice during occ πŸ™‚

  • Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 1:42 pm

    Genie was serving for the match, was broken, and then Julia went on an incredible run, winning the 2nd set 7-5, and the third 6-1. She was in the zone for those last games. Genie may have lost some steam – she played qualies, so this was her 7th match in a week. But there wasn’t much she could have done when Julia was playing at that insane level.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 2:12 pm

    Hey, at least they were awake. One wta player told me she saw her coach sleeping during one of her matches. True story!

  • Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 3:14 pm

    Gulbis just won over Sock in Stockholm. I only saw a few of the games, but Ernie was playing well. This should be a big boost to his ranking.

    Karen won over Basic in SS, but it did go to a TB. I was too complacent after Karen took the first set 6-2, and did not pay much attention to the 2nd set, when suddenly they were starting the TB.

  • Dan Markowitz · October 19, 2018 at 3:28 pm

    Geez, when Gulbis beats you, Shapo’s really going down hill. We know Sock’s already at the bottom of the hill. i was watching Shapo play a recent match in Stockholm. I know he’s only 19, but it’s ridiculous how much he looks over and gestures at him mother. That’s got to stop.

  • Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    I watched the Gulbis vs Shapo match, and Ernie played very well, he is getting back to his old form.

    I agree, however, that Shapo looks at his player box too often.

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