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Tomic Shines On Middle Saturday
14 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Bernard Tomic showed the high quality tennis today vs. Richard Gasquet, which make winning major titles or becoming ATP no. 1 reachable quests for the talented young Australian.
Tomic was always in control of the tight match, seemingly always winning the key points except for a hiccup late in the second set where he blew a 5-4 lead on Gasquet, only to lose the set.
Cool under pressure, with an array of weapons in his arsenal, young Tomic looks to me like a legend in the making.
Sloane Stephens kept it together, holding off Cvetkovska in three sets. Another nice win for Laura Robson vs. Erakovic, also in three. Robson enjoyed huge support from an adoring crowd. How about that one guy yelling Come on! after big points? It sounded not much unlike Lleyton Hewitt.
Radwanska survived Madison Keys, a player she thinks is the best young American hope because of her good hands and touch.
Tommy Berdych has beaten Kevin Anderson for the ninth time in a row.
Fernando Verdasco took care of business with Gulbis in three sets. I think Gulbis still hasn’t recovered from losing those two nailbiters to Nadal. He trained like a beast, worked his tail off, and he got his two chances to knock off the super elite Nadal, but after all was said and done, he had nothing to show for it. Though it’s nice to see Verdasco back in the mix in a major. His pal F. Lopez has his hands full with Tommy Haas today.
Andreas Seppi upset Nishikori 6-4 in the fifth.
Benoit Paire got hammered by Kubot in straight sets. There are now two Poles into the fourth round.
Monica Puig won and will play Sloane next.
I was really impressed by Grega Zemlja and how beat Dimitrov yesterday 10-8 in the fifth. Even Pam Shriver said it was one of the most dramatic matches she’s ever seen at Wimbledon, outside of the SF and Fs. Delpo is giving Zemlja the business today though.
I don’t know about you but I really don’t mind not seeing Nadal and Federer in action this week. It’s nice to see these unknown players like Kenny DeScheppers making their moves.
Middle Saturday at Wimbledon is one of the best days of the tennis season, so many intriguing matches with so many new faces this year, after all the big upsets.
So many intriguing matches today
Steve · June 29, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Congrats to Tomic. He played very well. Very close match with Gasquet scoring more points in total. Tomic has an ideal next match against either Anderson or Birdman. This is big opportunity for him, hopefully he won’t waste it.
He’s a good player for the kind of fan that chases hype. People that claim Dmitrov and Gulbis and whoever has the buzz of the moment will be the next #1.
Dan markowitz · June 29, 2013 at 12:58 pm
I’m assuming Berdman wins and if so he’ll cream Tomic. The Aussie doesn’t have enough power or foot speed to hang with the big Czech.
loreley · June 29, 2013 at 1:05 pm
It are not the fans who hype Tomic, it’s the media. Even the trouble with his dad won’t change that. He is the golden boy for Tennis Australia. He can do what he wants.
I never noticed that media hyped Gulbis. Actually they mainly judge him. Even when he was only 20 he got judged, like nobody else at that age.
Dimitrov is hyped since he is 17. IMG invested in him, labeled him Baby Federer. Since he is dating Sharapova media is all over him even more.
Raonic got hyped. Tennis Candada invested in him. He has tons of sponsors. Guys who should know better say he’ll win a Grand Slam for sure.
Only Janowicz wasn’t hyped. Who would hype a guy from Poland 😉
Harold · June 29, 2013 at 2:20 pm
I remember Gulbis being hyped as the next Safin. Not by the media, but by all the Russian tennis players I know in Brooklyn.They chased him around the practice courts and all his matches. He’s a fun watch,capable of taking out a good player, but then losing to the Steve Johnson’s of the world the next day
Dan Markowitz · June 29, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Gulbis is not mentally-strong. He will never win big. His early showing at the French will be his most shining moment. Tomic can take out guys like Querrey and Gasquet, who are both lightweights, but de-clawing Berdy is another story. I give Tomic one set.
One point about Raonic and Dmitrov. They have dropped the Golden Ball. Not as badly as Harry, but bad all the same. You just can’t lose to guys like Sijsling and Zemja at Wimbledon in early rounds. That’s embarrassing. I think Dmitrov should not be so attached to Sharapova that when he gets a big win, the first thing out of his mouth is how she told him something that gave him courage. Puh-leese.
Steve · June 29, 2013 at 5:04 pm
Birdman doesn’t like playing guys with variety, this is why Gasquet has a good record against Birdman though he’s ranked higher. However, the grass hasn’t totally turned into mud yet. If Tomic can play the way he did today he will win but he may not be able to keep his level up.
Dan Markowitz · June 29, 2013 at 5:23 pm
I have no doubt Berdy will win rather easily. Tomic might win first set because Berdy starts slow.
Steve · June 29, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Still mesmerized by the pop and depth of Seppi’s backhand today. It was always good but today he made Kei’s look somewhat feeble. I’ve never seen Seppi tired in any match.
Scoop Malinowski · June 29, 2013 at 10:31 pm
I think Tomic is ready to turn the tables on T Berd.
Scoop Malinowski · June 29, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Tomic has been highly touted since he was 14, I saw him playing US Open juniors at age 14 on court 15 and all the Aussie Federation guys were out there observing, Sandon Stolle, Cahill, Tiley, etc. The pressure and expecation on Tomic is similar to Donald Young. Difference is Tomic is still going strong and he’s on the ascent. Agree Loreley, Gulbis was always an outsider. I never heard of Raonic until he burst on the scene. Dimitrov has been heavily hyped, but deservedly so. Janowicz definitely was an outsider though I do recall seeing him lose to Berankis in the US Open junior F or SF. Janowicz struggled mightily for a few years on the pro circuit, lacked funds, first met him at a function at Polish consulate three years ago before the US Open, he came to play qualies after preparing on red clay and lost early.
Scoop Malinowski · June 29, 2013 at 10:45 pm
Agree Dan, it’s like she wears the pants because she’s so much more accomplished and four years older. It doesn’t look like an ideal set up for Dimitrov but who knows, “love is a many splendored thing”, or as Pat Benatar sang, “Love is a battlefield.” Tough loss for Dimitrov but Zemlja played an incredible fifth set, he was like a wall. He also gave Delpo two very difficult sets today. I am VERY impressed by Zemlja. Dan I think we saw him play Christian Harrison at US Open qualies last year.
Scoop Malinowski · June 29, 2013 at 10:48 pm
I can see Tomic beating Berd Steve, always favor multi-dimensional players over one dimensional.
Dan Markowitz · June 30, 2013 at 4:45 am
If I’m not mistaken, we might’ve also seen him lose to Klahn in final qualy round, but definitely did see him on Ct. 17 with Thomas Tung have a competitive match with CHarry.
bjk · July 2, 2013 at 6:51 am
Dimitrov’s backhand does not’t inspire much confidence. The end of the Zemlja was a war of attrition, who would hit the unforced error first. I don’t see him solving that problem, that’s why I don’t see him getting better results than a Wawrinka or regularly beating rock solid players like Berdych or Simon.