Ryan Harrison had a three hour war with Horacio Zeballos which came down to 4-4 in the third. With Fish brother Christian fiancee Lauren and friend Venus looking on Harrison got stun-gunned by Zeballos who suddenly hit his turbo gear when it really counted – hitting winners and lines and stretch volleys. He couldn’t miss. Harrison played well but Zeballos – fueled by a raucous Latino crowd – was magnificent in winning eight straight points to close the show. After Harrison walked by alone on the footpath Fritz and Fish were about 20 yards ahead – Fritz who won earlier in the day in qualies looked back and saw Harrison coming but quickly turned ahead forward again – offering him no sympathy or condolence. This was another heartbreaker for Harrison who lost 76 in the third in Irving Texas to Rublev fighting off eleven match points but eventually losing anyway despite the Herculean effort… Del Potro was hitting with Hyeon Chung who always has his three coaches around – this kid is serious… The mighty doubles team Hingza were hitting on stadium court in the afternoon drawing a nice crowd… I saw Noah Rubin just crush Basic 62 62. Rubin is a very very hard guy to play he moves like a frightened cat and does not miss… Christian Harrison lost in straight sets to Smyczek 64 62 and was later hitting in late afternoon with good friend michael Venus who won an ATP doubles title earlier this year . Harrison looks bigger and stronger and looked quite good. Remember he pushed Isner a couple of years ago to 76 in the third set. Looks like his oft-fragile body is finally built sturdy enough for the rigors of pro tennis… Jared Donaldson got a huge win over Malek Jaziri in qualies 76 in the third. Taylor Dent in his corner. After the win Donaldson was hitting with an unknown player… Alexander Zverev was hitting with an unknown player with former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek looking on while chatting with fitness coach Jez Green. Krajicek took time out to recall his Facing McEnroe memories which were brilliant. King Richard had two wins over John and was on the way to a third but a ten minute delay caused by Johnnymac’s fighting with “everyone” froze Krajicek who then lost the match… Also spoke with Daniel Montes De Oca and Juan Carlos Parker about their times of playing McEnroe in New York City and the Hamptons. Interesting news of the day was that Keys will be coached by Wilander.. I didn’t see any of it but T Paul won over Carlos Berloq in straight sets. That’s a very good win to beat a tough veteran Argentine in this setting which is close to Davis Cup.
No tags
Andrew Miller · March 22, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Nice wins.
The most I can say on Harrison is this – I’m glad he’s happier in his off court life. He seems more stable, and less media obsessed, since August, which I think found Harrison at his absolute worst. The best thing about the new players on the block like Tiafoe etc. (all of them), who Harrison likes, is that they divert all the attention. Harrison’s a heck of a lot better without a microphone in front of him, and better knowing that he no longer has to be the “future of U.S. tennis” or the “hope of U.S. tennis” or the “solution of U.S. tennis”.
He can just be Harrison and try to carve out the rest of his career, tough qualies draws losses, challenger wins, and maybe some good showing at ATP tournies.
Andrew Miller · March 22, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Unless someone causes a media storm and calls him a journeyman. As TP and Scoop wrote before in a post, thanks to Lloyd Carroll.
If Lloyd Carroll called the Harrisons journeymen, I think he’d get a beat down. I remember someone asked Harrison how it felt to lose matches and to be struggling and Harrison’s answer was painful – long, well articulated paragraphs filled with desperation, making it easy to see that losing so often had filled him with so much doubt and how hard it was to see himself failing and living that out. And how much the guy actually reads about himself (apparently, a lot).
Supposedly a lot of players read a lot about themselves, unless they are Federer who probably has a media point person who takes care of it.
Dan Markowitz · March 22, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Keys is really flip-flopping coaches, Davenport, Levine now Mats, but that is interesting that Mats is trying his hand at pro coaching again.
Scoop Malinowski · March 22, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Andrew: Harrison showed great class in defeat – he didn’t do any tantrums or outbursts just took it on the chin and congratulated Zeballos with heartfelt respect and Zeballos gave him nice taps of respect for it – Harrison has matured greatly he’s a lot different now and he’s always been good in front of a mic –
Scoop Malinowski · March 22, 2016 at 9:56 pm
Wilander last coached Safin and also Golovin – he’s been absent from the coaching box for years – I think he’d be perfect for Keys – he will offer her tactical advice to compliment her power station – if Wilander can’t help Keys I don’t know who can –
Andrew Miller · March 23, 2016 at 11:12 am
Scoop, if Harrison’s more grounded that helps everyone. I think the young guys like Tiafoe grabbing the spotlight is better for Harrison – he no longer has the burden of “carrying the flag” so to speak, or living up to the idea of “next great U.S. star”. He’s not that anymore – that’s been passed to Fritz, Tiafoe, Paul and whoever else joins up (none, some, all, whatever it is). Without that burden he’s free to be himself.
Harrison says himself that watching those guys helps him out. Now, Harrison was only briefly the “next big thing” in U.S. tennis. It’s helpful that now his only concern is building out his career. All the rest of the stuff – helping out the Davis Cup team, becoming the next great U.S. player, recovering American tennis – all that is out the window.
And that’s a good thing. The guy can just be himself.
Moskova Moskova · March 24, 2016 at 1:59 pm
Sayonara Harry ! 😉
Bryan · March 25, 2016 at 1:29 pm
“The best thing about the new players on the block like Tiafoe etc. (all of them), who Harrison likes, is that they divert all the attention. Harrison’s a heck of a lot better without a microphone in front of him, and better knowing that he no longer has to be the “future of U.S. tennisâ€
Andrew is correct. Harrison going deep at Indian Wells as an 18 year old put enormous pressure on him that he couldn’t handle. So he crash and burned. Tiafoe and Fritz seem to embrace the expectations. Some fare well under the spotlight, others cringe.
Harrison is the latter. His best hope is to grind his way back to the top 70 so he can enter tournaments without going through qualies, and catch someone by surprise like he did at Mexico last year.