Thursday, January 16, 2014

Day 4: Bautigol steals the show and not enough 5 setters

Another day in the furnace of Melbourne Park, though unlike the previous days they decided to implement the heat rule. It's interesting that it's much drier than yesterday which felt worse but finally decided to suspend play.

Seppi - Young

Seppi is a player who gets better with more matches and he was back to his usual slow starts. Young was playing quite well and there wasn't much in a tight 1st set but Seppi with a poor service game at *4-5 dropped serve and DY took the first set.

Young had a bit of a lapse and Seppi lifted his game slightly and was extending the rallies taking the second set easily. DY is hitting the backhand fairly well and the forehand getting some work on it. Seppi played another poor service game just making errors and Young takes a 2 set to 1 lead and is getting all animated.

Seppi is getting bothered by the hear but is winning the extended rallies the majority of time. Young isn't waiting too long before getting the first strike in. Seppi dropped serve early in the 4th but was able to get the break back. Seppi held from 0-40 down and the only first serve he got in the game was an ace when he had game point. Young plays an awful game to get broken double faults and shanks galore. So we're at 2 sets all.

After the break both played poorly it was just Young was less poverty stricken and won. Seppi had break chances for 4-2, then he served 3 double faults to get broken. DY decides to return the favour and Seppi plays another poor game to lose serve. This time DY actually went for it and served it out.


Robert - Przysiężny

Best result of the day with the likable Robert taking this match. Of course this should have been done in straight sets but that's not the Robert way the easy way.

Przysiężny was trying to be aggressive but was missing a lot of shots and mostly slicing his backhand instead of hitting it. Robert with the slightly ungainly style was hitting very well and playing without fear. He easily had a 2 sets to love lead and then served for the match in the 3rd set. Robert played a very poor game and was tentative which doesn't suit him as he doesn't have the defensive skills at all.


Robert

Robert got the early break in the 4th and in the last few games Przysiężny didn't want to know and Robert plays the ball and not the situation which is easy to say but hard to achieve. His 3rd round match with Martin Klizan is a battle of the lucky losers, it would be fantastic if Robert could beat the poor mans Jürgen Melzer.

Federer - Kavčič

What to say about this match apart from the first two sets Federer played very well tactically and was teaching Kavčič a lesson. The fact that the roof was closed for this match was perfect for Federer as there were no elements at all to deal with.

An indication that you knew it was Federer's day were the numerous backhand down the line winners. Kavčič didn't serve well enough in the first two sets. Fed was returning well and able to get Kavčič off the baseline with short returns into parts of the court that Kavčič isn't comfortable with and worked him over from there.


Kavčič

It was tough for Kavčič who isn't great indoors but the conditions helped Federer even more in a match where he had a huge advantage. In the 3rd set Kavčič played better as he was able to improve his serving. While Federer was holding serve easily, Kavčič was struggling and fighting hard on all of his service games to the tiebreaker.

Kavčič had a forehand in the tiebreaker that he missed, then served a double fault. Any half chance he had was gone and it would have definitely been against the run of play if he managed to win the 3rd set. Federer was never really in any trouble at all and in the first two sets Kavčič was very passive at best.

So far Kavčič a good start to the season, he has been working on some things to improve his game. Has to stick with it and continue to make improvements. He isn't the most naturally talented but he works very hard to maximise his potential which is all anyone can ask.

Simon - Cilic

Gilles Simon trolling like a master that is all one can say about this match. This man who has recovered quicker than Hulk Hogan really should have been out in 3 sets to Marin Cilic but trolled him to win this match in 5.

As good a trolling effort this was, the one against Monfils when he won in 5 and the Massu one where he was carried off court with cramps rate higher on the troll scale. Cilic was handling business fairly easily, then in the 2nd set tiebreaker Simon was in wall mode and Cilic gave it away.

The third set was the best Cilic up 5-1 with a double break, failed to serve it out and then somehow wins the tiebreaker by being semi aggressive which got him to the lead. After the 3rd Cilic dropped his concentration and Simon got in that zone where he misses very little and in the last set was even hitting some winners. Neither player was injured, neither played well but Simon was less rubbish.

Bautigol

First major upset of the tournament was delivered by Roberto Bautista Agut taking out the Tandil Tower Juan Martin del Potro in a result that was fantastic for RBA. I've seen a lot of his matches and in his first round match where he made Smyczek look like a village player. Yes, he played well in Auckland as well, thought he could push him and get a set but didn't expect him to win.


Bautista-Agut

Bautigol defended when he needed to but was more aggressive as well and didn't lose belief in what he was doing. Will be interesting to see if he can follow that up as he plays crazy Benoit Paire or the young Kyrgios.

In spite of the losses for Kyrgios and Kokkinakis they unlike Tomic have great attitude to the game and look like they enjoy the sport. The Kokk playing Nadal now knows what kind of work it takes to be at that level. Kyrgios it's a conditioning and he'll worki hard on improving that.

3 comments:

michelle said...

Not wanting to piss on the Spaniard's parade, but that was classic dumbass Juan tennis. Momentary signs of brilliance inbetween erratic serving, squandered break points and abject gamesmanship. I knew he was finished when the muttering to himself started in the first set....why I squandered my entire morning watching that match still remains to be seen. Thanks again for taking the time out to blog..throw back a few beers for me and keep chill :)

Kyriakos said...

Thanks for the reports man, great reading. Surprised by Bauti but glad for him. Take care, under that heat it is tough for fans as well.

Marc said...

I heard Simon in the last set was blasting winners, yes it seems strange to hear this but heard it from a good source.

Poor stuff from Seppi who didn't handle the brutal heat at all.

Bautogil well played. Kyrgios and Kookinakis both have good attitudes to game and barring injuries have good futures in the sport.