The battle between the teenager and the man known as Stephane Robert who is almost old enough to be his dad. As for Kuhn he's a German-Russian born in Austria who plays for Spain, who said tennis wasn't an international sport.
Kuhn can tell he has been in the Spanish school of tennis, where there is a lot of work, work and a bit more work it's a tough system whereas Robert is on the eccentric side which is great in a sporting world with increased homogenisation which is what happens when big business gets in the way.
Nicola Kuhn
Kuhn was moving Robert around in the rallies and Robert wasn't able to change the direction often enough. The only break in the 1st came when Robert was up 40-30 had Kun wrongfooted and missed a forehand wide from there.
Robert starts playing better in the 2nd set able to get the rallies on his terms and exposing Kuhn on the backhand side where he has to run. The turning point was Robert was up a break and two opportunities for the insurance breakm but failed to make the returns. Kuhn held
Both are holding serve comfortably enough until they hit the tie breaker. Robert was up a mini break but Kuhn got a couple of miss hits go his way and Robert made errors. Possible missed opportunity but Kuhn was too good.
Gimeno-Traver vs. Davidovich Fokina
This match DGT was waiting for about 5 minutes and I was thinking can he Davidovich be timed out if he doesn't get there in time. Well he' s from Malaga via Russian and Swedish parents so he was on Malaga time.
DGT is never good early in the year as he needs matches and I've only seen Davidovich on a computer screen, it's always so much better to watch live as there aee more nuances you can see.
Gimeno Traver broke serve, then decided to hand the break back due to a multitude of errors. He broke leading 4-2, then at 4-3 plays a game of errors hands it back to the Malaga man who was playing very intelligently working the ball around. Gimeno Traver after hitting the big forehand as soon as he leant back, Davidovich got him with excellent drop shots. When serving to stay in DGT, continued to serve poorly and got broken to lose it 7-5. Can't be winning matches with a first serve percentage of 35%.
Davidovich
In the 2nd set DGT starts serving better and able to use his massive forehand and even the backhand was reasonable when at times it resembles a club player. Davidovich was getting his foot looked at by the physio kept good length on the groundstrokes, defended when necessary and hit winning drop shots. The set went along comfortably a the end DGT had to save some match points got to the tiebreaker. A bit like the first set DGT up a mini break, unable to consolidate the youngster kept fighting and took his chance and put away the veteran.
Davidovich Fokina isn't the tallest but he has good court sense, solid and uses the dropshot well. He'll get stronger for sure but have to get the balance right where it doesn't take his speed away.
Brown vs. Arevalo
Another slow start for Brown who was getting pissed off with the people walking in during the point when they are in their own world holding up the players. Arevalo was solid hardly making any errors as Brown was happy to provide them . The El Salvadoran took the 1st set.
Brown become more aggressive, because he needed to and also due to agitiation with those fans and some poor linecalling contributed. Brown wasn't serving and volleying as much, he stayed back a bit more and ripping forehands which pressured Arevalo into hitting shorter balls which Brown took advantage of breaking serve. From that point on Brown was serving better and took the ride on the momentum train taking the 2nd set.
Dustin Brown
The Brown Expreess was travelling and he never looked his losing in the 3rd, yes anything can and will happen in a Brown match but this had a feeling on inevitable about it. Brown into the final qualie round.
Rola vs.Polansky
Polansky was his solid self just putting the ball into the court and letting Rola self destruct. In the first set a bit Rola was moving like a slow Karlovic, there was no energy from his end, not getting to the ball and just making very cheap errors. Polansky did not have to do much and these are the days which one has to take advantage of.
Halfway through the second set Rola realises he can move his feet and geting more pop on the groundstrokes though not serving as well as Tuesday. There was too much of the same serve, not enough body serving whwich when he did was successful every ti.
They manage to get to a tiebreaker where Rola was more the proactive , though there was hilarious incident amoing many average calls in the match at 6-6. The linesperson forgot to change sides, Rola served and the first serve was 1m long, Polansky hits it and Layhani then calls fault before Rola hits it and Polansky is urined off. Rola takes the set.
Polansky must have had a shit and a shower since his toilet break was 10 minutes plus. It was good enough as Rola lost momentum and started playing like he did early in the set. Polansky broke and then Rola broke back, the standard of tennis wasn't great from either guy. The 6th game where Polansky broke was 4 gifts rom Rola, yes there is Christmas in July. Polansky couldn't believe his luck, while he struggled to serve out the match, his running forehand pass to take the match was excellent which could not be said about this match.
Rosol vs. Troicki
The match started in cool and overcast conditions with no sun which Rosol was enjoying. The big Czech was playing well hititng the ball cleanly, got an early break and had chances for double break but was unable to convert due to a mixture of good play from Troicki and gifts from Rosol.
Rosol served for the set at 5-4, but got tight as a drum and forgot what he got him into the lead. Troicki is a very good albeit a threatrical competitor who is not going to give anything away and broke back. Both held serve until the tiebreaker, then at 1-0 when Rosol steps up for his 2 serves he throws up 2 double faults. Troicki can't believe these presents and gains confidence to take the teiebreaker.
Troicki
In the second set Rosol is just making errors, going for winners at times when not in position to do so. Troicki is defending well and while not being passive, he essentially let Rosol self destruct which he happily obliged.
Not sure if the conditions changing threw Rosol's timing out, my Czech isn't good enough to get the mutterings. Coming back from injury isn't easy, getting the confidence back and that impacts on movement while Rosol was never the quickest, he looked a bit slower which of course means the crisp shots aren't going to be as effective.
Troicki is back with Jack Reader the supercoach. It will be a long way back but Troicki as long as he stays fit should be back in the top 100.
Talking Points
Mo Layhani did not damage any more eardrums with the screems of "correction the ball is good". He is very approachable and has plenty of fans.
Daniel Evans was being Daniel Evans pretty much saying in these exact words Australia is full of pussies.
Rosol against Bellucci he was so rubbish in the 1st set, then took a toilet break which lasted more than 10 minutes. He must have had the mother of all dumps, but as they say in the classics better out than in. Thge dump break worked as he was moving and hitting better.
Jurij Rodiinov is from the Jurgen Melzer school of left handers and not Thomas Muster. Lots of attacking tennis though definitely doesn't havet the hands of Melzer.
There is a big upside to Davidovich Fokina and Kuhn barring injuries
Darian King is a great guy.
3 comments:
I guess given the international nature of the Spanish tennis schools it was inevitable they would start picking up players from them (Kuhn, Davidovich). Plus it means the kids can play with their school mates in junior international events, why not.
Nice read. Thanks. Are u there for the full first week?
Really interesting reports Nils. I was hoping that Stephane would beat Kuhn. He is a terrific guy and I play some Facebook games with him. You have been a loyal supporter to many of these players for years.
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