Tennis Prose




Jan/17

13

Gilles Muller seeks first ATP title in Sydney vs Evans

grothtennis33-year-old Gilles Muller is finally on the verge of winning his first ATP singles title, advancing into the final of the Apia International Sydney with a 6-3, 7-6(6) victory on Friday against two time defending champion Viktor Troicki.
“I served very well today, especially in the crucial moments when I was down break points,” said Muller who is currently ranked at his career high best no 34. “I always managed to serve a first big serve. It helped me a lot. Especially in the second set when I was also starting to struggle a little bit with the heat. In those pressure moments, the serve was there. That’s what got me through.”
The veteran from Luxembourg – who has previously lost in all five of his ATP singles finals over his fifteen year career – will challenge Brit Daniel Evans in a first-time meeting on Saturday. Muller lost both of his ATP finals last year – in ‘s-Heterogeneous (loss to Mahut) and Newport (loss Karlovic).

Ò€œThe problem was he was mixing up his serve very well,Ò€ said Troicki. Ò€œI couldn’t find the best rhythm. I should have moved more on the return and make him think more about the serve. It was pretty hot out there. It was tough to play and tough to keep the focus all the time. He played well [and] he also likes to play here.Ò€
Evans (ATP no 67) secured a spot in his first ATP Tour final with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia. Just one year ago Evans lost at the Happy Valley Challenger and was ranked around 500 in the world. (Artwork by John Garth)

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46 comments

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 13, 2017 at 9:08 am

    Always nice to see a final with two guys trying to win their very first ATP title – gotta favor Gilles in this one – if he doesn’t choke – Evans is always a dangerous player though – Excellent final –

  • catherine bell · January 13, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Who did the illustration here ?

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 13, 2017 at 10:12 am

    Sock vs Sousa in the Auckland final – Sock beat Johnson 64 63 while Sousa bagged Bag also in straight sets – Sousa beat Sock in madrid last year –

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 13, 2017 at 10:16 am

    Catherine: It’s by John Garth –

  • catherine bell · January 13, 2017 at 10:57 am

    Thanks – don’t know his work but it’s nice.

  • Dan Markowitz · January 14, 2017 at 2:36 am

    Wow, Rubin qualifies for his first slam, I think. He lost last year in the Open Qualis to Karachanovm, but he got through in Aussie with Tiafoe, Frantangelo, Escobedo and Opelka. Only Smyczek and Kudla lost in the last round of the Americans and Smee went down 7-5 to Tiafoe.

    But I give Rubin a lot of credit. The dude was ranked no. 200 and prevailed in two three-set matches. He’s a tough fighter.

  • Dan markowitz · January 14, 2017 at 7:18 am

    Good win by Sock in Auckland. When I shut off the match, he was down a break in third to Sousa who was teeing off on Sock, but Jack rallied and won 3 in third. Big win for him for it was 108 degrees on court and in the past, Jack has not fared well in heat. He still has the propensity to leap up on short forehand kamikaze style and flail it and Courier said he’d told Sock he doesn’t like seeing him do that.

    Love watching Muller serve. Doesn’t have huge serve but it’s placement is extraordinary.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 8:47 am

    Rubin continues to amaze – he is that kind of player who just wins and he will only get better with experience and confidence at the ATP level – also especially impressive is Opelka who dominated Caspar Ruud – Opelka was not broken through three quali matches and he was the only player to do that – No surprise that Esco and Tiafoe reached the main draw – American tennis hopes are looking the very brightest they have been in perhaps a decade right now – I predict with certainty that one or two players will venture well into the second week –

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 8:50 am

    Incredible deep emotion by Gilles winning his first title at the age of 33 – I still remember seeing Gilles hit with Jean Yves Aubone on the Key Biscayne public courts after he was beaten in the miami open qualies three or four years ago and we did a Facing Federer interview after practice – Very very nice guy – His career was on the brink but now he just won a first title and his ranking is at it’s highest ever – Never Give Up –

  • Dan Markowitz · January 14, 2017 at 8:57 am

    No doubt, nice win for Gilles and his perseverance is impressive as is his professionalism, but Muller’s and Sock’s titles have to be categorized in the “who did they beat” file. Beating Sousa and Evans is not exactly beating top-flight opponents.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 10:28 am

    Sousa was playing fantastic tennis and Evans is an unknown underrated very talented player – neither are slouches – Both are excellent wins and we know every ATP singles title is well earned – If Kiefer would have beaten Spadea in the Scottsdale final would you have said Kiefer beat a “not exactly top flight opponent”? Of course not – Vince earned his stripes that day and that’s when he finally became a champion – Evand and Sousa are in the same boat Vince was in before he won Scottsdale –

  • Jg · January 14, 2017 at 10:59 am

    I watched some of Opelka yesterday, he is going to be a force, assuming he stays healthy, even now no one will want to see him in the draw, but he may not be ready for best of 5

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 12:53 pm

    Ram lost his final qualifiers match in 3. Stepamek made it and has likely become the best of all time at qualifiers as he makes nearly every draw he tries. Maybe Scoop can ask Steps his secret as he never buckles under qualifiers pressure. Escobedo beat Kozlov slayer Bhambri in 3. Gotta like this guy.

    On wta side some us names I’ve never seen winning their way into draw like Brady beating Townsend and Boserup winning her way into the Open.

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    Opelka is NEVER healthy. Literally the Brian Baker of his cohort. He hits a ginormous ball.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Opelka could win a few round and take a few scalps – his inevitable breakout can happen any day now – He is healthy right now and looked lethal vs Ruud –

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 4:16 pm

    Someone asked Stepanek what his secret is at Eddie Herr where he was training on a Sunday afternoon and Step replied: “young girlfriends” πŸ™‚

  • Dan Markowitz · January 14, 2017 at 5:15 pm

    Not quite, Scoop, Spadea beat Roddick and Blake in that Scottsdale event and then Kiefer. I think he took the second set off Roddick by breaking him three times; something very few players did.

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    Stepanek aka Czech magnet or lothario depending how you see it is a character. And he qualifies more than any player alive even more than Mike Ironman Russell also known as his own publicist.

    Dan makes an interesting note on who qualifies from us men. If this isn’t a sign that the next us generation has started its engines and the current us men are about to fight for their rankings life than I don’t know what is. Maybe Smyczek and Ram will get in on lucky loser. Ram at least will be formidable for doubles.

    Scoop to me Opelka is a player with the biggest game and happens to be the most frail. He is like Canada’s Pete Polansky who would pull a huge result then have a freak injury. Stadiums literally shake when he serves and then his body fails afterwards. He’s the strongest weakest player in us history and finds consolation among Baker and Chris Harrison. All strong. All plague by factors outside their control.

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 5:27 pm

    Dan is right Spadeas title was huge but Sock didn’t have a choice on who he played and us players are smart to enter Auckland and plus up in a weak draw. Sock should also benefit in Australia from his seed so that the draw isn’t impossible in round 1 unless he draws Opelka or Fritz or even Stepanek. Seeds aren’t protected from the good or bad luck of a draw.

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 5:53 pm

    Liked Mueller ever since he popped Roddicks where’s Andy’s Mojo campaign in 2005 us open basically answering “not here that’s for sure”! Concerned though that despite a steady lefty game-a rarity in the sport-his results were rather meagre for a former #1 junior more Kristian Pless than Ric Gasquet, perhaps it is the whole ain’t gonna pay for a high profile finishing coach. Or can’t afford to pay for a higher profile quality coach or trainer or any of the advantages that team Djoker or team Nadal or club Federer have.

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 6:10 pm

    Also Sock and Mueller benefit in rankings and confidence from winning titles and lets admit they have three total singles titles between them as ATP veterans it’s not much and any win even a title in the middle of new Zealand starts the year off right. They are both pleased and see this as a milestone sock proves he can win a title off us soil ( this is great! His competitor Raonic had ONE title last year! ). For Mueller it’s vindication.

    Any ATP title is to be savored. Remember Blake appreciated his first title in Washington his second in NC is that right? Before he faced Nadal in 2005 us open? Proving to himself he was truly back on his feet post injury?

    I think honestly from where we are sitting it looks like ok just a small tournament win. But to those guys? Means the world.

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 6:16 pm

    Evans final is interesting as he savored his smashing of Alex Zverev at us open last year in a huge resounding triumph and colossal upset. If someone asks Zverev the younger why he is doing better this year he’ll say it is Dan Evans beating him that made him get his act together. He’s usually known as Davis Cup stalwart so nice result there shows Murray rubbing off on him and Kyle Edmunds

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 7:02 pm

    Andrew: Opelka is a physical beast – he had foot troubles but look at the guy’s physique he is so much more stout and stronger than Isner – you can see he clearly works hard and has been doing all the proper training – I see Opelka being a five set beast in the future –

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 7:09 pm

    I guess we need to do a career comparison Gilles vs Vince – Gilles has the better overall singles record 195-177 while Vince was substantially below 500 – Gilles has an 11-6 record in five setters – Gilles has career wins over Nadal (at Wimbledon) Agassi Roddick (at US Open) Davydenko and Lamonfils – Gilles has earned over $4 million in prize $ – I might have to rate Gilles as having the superior career to Vince Dan πŸ™‚

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 7:15 pm

    Gilles is a great guy and very well liked – Did a Biofile with Gilles the day before he beat Roddick at US Open and we chatted that day in Key Biscayne a few years ago – Real class character and he deserves this belated success –

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 7:18 pm

    Yes sir Andrew winning an ATP title is a huge achievement – just look at that video of Gilles’ reaction of uncontrolled tears during his victory speech – There are no paper ATP titles each and everyone of them is something very special and something that no amount of $ can buy – Once an ATP champion forever an ATP champion –

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    Andrew: Evans beat Zverev last year at US Open because Evans is obviously a helluva player who is still shaded in obscurity because most tennis observers haven’t seen him play much if at all – I have heard about Evans for years from players about how good he is and also how controversial and fun loving he is off the court – I have been told a story by another Brit player that could make Rios proud πŸ™‚

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    Scoop not about to turn Gilles Mueller or Dan Evans into Lendl but definitely giving credit where due. My guess is Davis Cup winning in 2015 boosted his faith in his game and toughness as a competitor. Davis Cup tends to do that for those who care and that’s the reason they should NEVER change the format. It’s almost always a motivating experience .
    I can’t put Gilles ahead of Vince. But ill say he did well to nab a title and I know Scoop likes him and I think Scoop posted some time back that he felt he was playing better than ever and had a serious coach for first time in a while in some ways making up for lost time.
    Seems that’s the trick putting together a team that cares.
    But I’m happy for Gilles as he is Luxembourgs best player. I will be sexist for a moment here and say M. Minella is Luxembourg’s Kirilenko but Gilles is absolutely its Chesnokov or Cherkasov take your pick!

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 8:05 pm

    Evans gets a kick out of taking on a big player on a big stage that is a Davis Cup gladiator tactic and poor Alex Zverev didn’t know what hit him he was so bewildered to see Evans literally pulling a Djoker on the future superstar. It was similar to Robredo’s take down of Kyrgios a few years back but more devastating as Alex Zverev was truly humbled and didn’t expect Evans and probably didn’t scout him whereas Kyrgios couldn’t overcome TommyR change in strategy after Nick rattled off a quick first set win.

  • Andrew Miller · January 14, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    Opelka is a beast. But almost always sidelined.

  • Dan markowitz · January 15, 2017 at 6:24 am

    Vince has 116 more career wins than Muller. That’s a lot. Has Muller ever reached a slam quarters or the 4 the round in three slams and the third RD in the other? I think not.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2017 at 9:05 am

    Andrew: You are right I did mention Gilles last year at Newport when I was watching his match vs Estrella with his coach in the first row and Gilles kept blowing break points and then in the tiebreaker Gilles blew set points and when he saw me talking with his coach he pointed at him after blowing another set point for 6-6 and the coach got the message and said he couldn’t talk anymore πŸ™‚ Gilles finally won the tiebreaker and the second set and reached the final vs Ivo but he lost a three set heartbreaker marathon to Ivo 7-6 in the third –

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2017 at 9:11 am

    Dan: Vince lost many more matches than he won and that hurts his status – but it’s also a real credit to Vince that he persevered for so long on the Tour despite mediocre/journeyman results for the majority of his career – Vince also had the far higher career high singles ranking which I believe peaked at 14 or 15 – it’s really hard to say which player had the superior career –

  • Dan Markowitz · January 15, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    Well, no, Vince only reached no. 18 at 24 and no 19 at 29. That’s pretty good to reach top 20 at two stages in your career, five years apart.

    You’re right, Vince’s career is marred by the large amount of losses he suffered, but that is what Vince said was why he made it and higher touted juniors of his era, Witt, Dunn, Leach and MacPhie, for example, did not. Vince said he could stand the losing and those other guys who very rarely lost in the juniors, could not.

    One thing you have to look at is Muller has a serve which is just so good and that allows him like Dr. Ivo to compete at a high level into his 30’s. Vince didn’t have a very good serve and still he was winning matches well into his 30’s. Also, reaching the 4th rd of three slams and the 3rd of the other twice, is much better than Muller who did reach the US Open quarters, (beating in a row, Haas, Almagro and Davydenko), but after that he’s only made two slam 4th rounds, (Vince made 3 or 4) and at the French, Muller’s never advanced beyond the 2n rd and only won 3 total matches at Roland Garros.

    So far Vince is ahead.

  • Andrew Miller · January 15, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    Dan is right Vince outperforms. I remember folks he was up against especially in FL. There was McPhie Witt JohnLeach Brian Dunn, a whole bunch if characters Spadea who I knew about because he was all over the Fla Tennis Association and seeing his very talented sisters play low level tournaments basically Spadea was overshadowed by a group of hyped juniors that went on to do zero on tour . Zero. I remember how Florida tennis was at that point – sport popularity was sky high leagues everywhere and junior tournaments ridiculously competitive.

  • Jg · January 15, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    On the eve of the AO you have to watch the you tube of Vince’s come from behind (I think 5 set victory in the really hot weather on a side court) I forget who he was playing but I watched it after someone posted his forehand video in street clothes and I wanted to see him in actin from an earlier time.

  • Jg · January 15, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    It was 08 he won 9 7 in the 5th

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2017 at 5:44 pm

    Spadea is 2-0 head to head vs Gilles with a three set win in 2008 in Delray beach and a straight set win at US Open in 2006 –

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2017 at 5:46 pm

    Was it against Gremelmayr? I remember that run by Vince and it was INCREDIBLE – he also beat Stepanek I believe in five sets then finally lost to Ferrer – But what a fantastic run by Vince – probably his last hurrah or his last surge of greatness –

  • Dan markowitz · January 15, 2017 at 6:28 pm

    The 5 setter was a come from behind 2-0 win against Stepanek. I remember the Delray match vs Muller. Vince was on Miller’s serve and Vince was 34 at the time.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2017 at 6:38 pm

    I’d imagine Vince’s legs were totally shot vs Ferrer after those ten sets vs Gremelmayr and Stepanek – going to look at Vince’s head to head vs Step –

  • Dan Markowitz · January 15, 2017 at 11:07 pm

    Vince did not like Steppy. We write about the match they played against one another at Monte Carlo in Break Point. Vince thought Steppy was an unscrupulous competitor.

    Here’s one for Sharko or any of you tennis buffs out there: When’s the last time two brothers were in the same singles slam draw? I can only think of the Rochus brothers in recent years. Any other examples? Both Jurgen and Gerald Melzer are in Aussie O this year.

    Here’s name of the tournament: Konstatin Kravchuck!

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2017 at 8:27 am

    Dan it happened at the last GS as both Harrison brothers qualified –

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2017 at 8:28 am

    Nick Kyrgios brother Cristos told me Step intentionally bumped into Nick at Roland Garros four years ago when he was down two sets to love to Nick to try to rattle Nick but Nick won in straight sets – what did Step do to Vince?

  • Hartt · January 16, 2017 at 10:38 am

    Two other brothers are in the AO singles – Mischa and Sascha Zverev. πŸ™‚

  • Dan Markowitz · January 16, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    Yes, Hartt, that is a good call. They are the most prominent brothers in the game today by far.

    Vince found Radek really annoying from his antics on the court–his fist-pumping at inappropriate times–actually, I realize I have to go back and read that part of the book and get back to you about what else Vince found objectionable about Radek.

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