There were a lot of high drama matches yesterday in the final round of US Open 2024 qualifying tournament, namely the local hero wildcard Elliott Spizzirri upset of Joao Fonseca in three spectacular sets 76 67 64 and also the Jan Choinski marathon epic survival against Maxime Cressy 60 67 76.
Cressy was getting dominated after a bagel first set loss, but fought his way back into the match and won a second set tiebreaker 75. The two towering tennis titans slugged it out in the deciding set and somehow Cressy earned two match points at 5-4 40-15 but couldn’t finish it. They went to a tiebreaker and Cressy was ahead and earned another match point but again was thwarted partially by a net cord. Finally Choinski prevailed 12-10.
It was another devastating loss for the 27 year old who two years ago was ranked 31 in the world, right now he’s 161.
Let me describe the atmosphere of the final moments of the marathon. It was a full house on court 10 , one of Cressy’s college friends was rousing the crowd by screaming MAX-IME CRESS-SY over and over and over, which sparked the crowd to also get behind the American. The guy was next to me, screaming at the top of his lungs, even after a costly error. Herculean effort by this guy, let me tell you.
But it was not enough. Cressy’s all out non stop attack the net style is basically: Live by the serve and volley, die by the serve and volley. In the high pressure points of a match, he seems to miss a few by an inch or two, net cords, whatever. That’s what happens when you play aggressive every ball, that fraction of tightening up in the body and arm and mind causes the slight misses.
So when it was over, yet another crushing loss – Cressy lost 46 in the third in Atlanta qualies to Svajda, 46 46 to Michelsen in Newport, 46 in the fifth at Wimbledon qualies to Meligeni Alves, 67 in the third to Martineau in Stuttgart qualies – you get the picture. Cressy has lost a lot of close matches this year. Yesterday’s loss to Choinski was a breaking point.
After the match he sat in his chair and organized his belongings for a couple of moments, put his long hair in a bun and then just before departing threw three bananas and peels out on the court, his used overgrips, a Clif bar, and also what appeared to be a US Open meal card. Somebody filmed the incident and it went viral, provoking a lot of tennis fans to criticize the acts of frustration. But the sportsmanship experts took the incident out of context.
Being there live and knowing Cressy’s history and accumulated frustration, I completely understand how he felt and what he did on court. I was there in the corner, feeling sadness for Cressy, seeing how hard he worked to fight his way back into the match and then to lose it by inches and centimeters at the end after three hours of stress and tension. Those three match points cost him at least $100,000, or more if he won some main draw rounds and the ranking points. Cressy has lost many matches in this manner, heartbreaking, agonizing, spirit crushing defeats. Then he mentally snapped and threw some rubbish on the court. Tennis is a cruel sport.
During the match, Cressy played like a Borg robot, never any emotion, just total stoicism. This is not the way he competed in his early ATP Challenger days. Back then after his UCLA career, Cressy took the ATP Tour by storm and was a feisty, ferocious, COME ON! roaring, fist pumping dynamo. He’s the only serve and volley artist in pro tennis. Very exciting to watch. But in the last couple of years he decided to cancel the emotions and play like Borg Sampras and his ranking and results have suffered.
In Newport this year after he beat Albot in three sets, I asked him why he changed his methods and decided to conceal and suppress his emotions? He replied with a smile that he thinks he will play his offensive aggressive style better if he stays on an even keel and more relaxed. I didn’t want to argue with the master but felt a little regret later that I didn’t tell him how boxing manager great Emanuel Steward once said an athlete performs at a higher level with emotional adrenaline. Maybe Cressy needs to forget about being even keel Borg and tap back into his emotional adrenaline reserves which helped to build him into a world no. 31 ATP player.
Babolat · Jan Choinski · Maxime Cressy · New Balance · UCLA
Cory · August 24, 2024 at 2:54 pm
Watched that whole match from home. Great , great match. I’ve seen Choinski bounce around Challengers but this was my first real close look. The guy is solid, has big enough shots to boss you around, and stays even tempered enough to stay focused. I’ll be rooting for him in the first round, along with other Q3 surivivors like Krueger, Albot, etc. When Choinski was down, receiving 5-4, 40-15, I actually said out loud, watch him pull out some magic, as he seemed to be so solid throughout the match. I still couldn’t believe it. And as you said, twice down a minibreak in the TB10. I believe down 4-1 with Cressy serving a pair and won both back.
I remember Cressy was quite “outspoken” with his grunting and “come ons” in his early Challenger days. You’re right, that seemed to change.
The real wisdom is embracing the emotions, but not allowing them full charge of your chariot. Remember, you need to steer them otherwise they will run amokk. But to silence them completely like a Goffin, a Sinner, IDK… seems non-human.
Scoop Malinowski · August 24, 2024 at 10:06 pm
Cory, Yes Choinski may have made his statement breakout by beating Cressy in the manner he did. That is the kind of win that changes a career and earns a lot of respect. He may be a different player now. I know his name but can’t associate him to any big wins or memorable wins. He looked like a big time player at the end. Cressy is practically Borg Sampras now with the android like composure. He showed he’s an emotional player who gained by using emotional adrenaline, that’s how he got to top 100 top 50. Suppressing all emotion is not working for him for the last two years. He has to change something. Hopefully this loss sends the message. Did Choinski have any match points in the second set?
Cory · August 25, 2024 at 11:25 pm
None, Scoop. Went to a TB and Cressy had the first and only set point there.
I tell you, I think Choinski can beat Carballes Baena… the latter is one of my favorites and can be pesky on hard, returning everything and prolonging rallies, but lacking firepower, so if Choinski can get into some of these rallies, he can whip RCB around potentially. Also I like Krueger to get past the big serving Grenier.
Also don’t be shocked if Nagal can outlast Griekspoor. I love the latter but he’s been wildly inconsiostent for a couple months now
Scoop Malinowski · August 26, 2024 at 7:43 am
Cory, crazy to bet against Choinski right now after that Cressy win, unless Baena owns him in the head to head. These are all tough matches to pick, 5050s.