Yes, it's that time of year when this quirky blog actually has some action. I thank the very niche audience who reads this stuff. For sure there was some tennis news relating to anti vaxxer, idiotic government and an organisation who are sketchy at best. My only comment on that subject is, once you get the money, you get the power and that helps.
Ok, enough of the shit and onto the important matters. Today was the first day of the Aus Open qualifying event, which is my favourite day of the event. You get a mix of the hardcore fans who give a shit about the game, the professional gamblers, the wannabes, friends and support staff of the players. It's so peaceful and will be a huge contrast compared to next Monday, so got to enjoy when I can.
F. Cerundolo vs. Cachin
The all Argentine battle was played in good spirit. Cachin is your standard Challenger player, fights hard, no real huge weapons, makes you work hard to beat him and his level doesn't deviate too much.
The Cerundolos are known in the Argentine tennis community, sure they aren't ubiquitous like the Ingebritsens. Francisco is the elder brother who plays totally different from his higher ranked younger brother.
Unfortunately today it was more of the bad side. He was easily the more talented and aggressive player with what he can do with the ball. Took a hard fought first set, but then lost his concentration making a lot of cheap errors to allow Cachin back in the match. Cachin took the 2nd set and maintained his level, unlike Cerundolo who was getting irriated with his own play going for big shots when he hadn't earned the right.
Cachin was solid and played to his strengths and deserved the win today.
Varillas vs. Uchiyama
This wasn't a bad match and on court 5 which was built around trees. It's good for fans but the court services are forever cleaning up the leaves.
Varillas is the lone Peruvian player in the top 200. Peru needs a successor to the great Luis Horna, Varillas like Horna is coached by an Argentine Diego Junqueira who back in the day was very good at Challenger level but couldn't win on tour.
Uchiyama was fighting hard as Varillas was using his heavy forehand to open the couer to dominate the match and stretch Uchiyama. It was a close match on the scoreboard but there was that feeling that Varillas was never losing this match. I do hope he can make the main draw.
E.Ymer vs. Kovalik
This was played in the new Kia Arena. This is not a bad court but definitely there was a lack of air today. Hope it's not a factor when the huge crowds arrive next week, then again I don't see the main courts very often.
The eldest of three Ymer brothers is a veteran of Grand Slam qualies. If he makes the final round, then he makes main draw. When I arrived at the match he was making a lot of errors on the forehand side. Kovalik wasn't doing too much but enough to have a break.
Elias Ymer
Ymer breaks back in the 1st set to level it up and starts to tighten up his game with less errors. After he takes the 1st set, then Ymer settles down and starts to play better. Kovalik is struggling with the low balls on the forehand side and is handing out the errors like Santa on LSD at Christmas time. Ymer keeps playing that side and Kovalik smashes his racquet.
Ymer isn't the most dynamic player but you know that he will grind and he did that to Kovalik.
Marchenko vs. Watanuki
Tennis's favourite Youtuber Ilya Marchenko I hadn't seen him play live for years against the young Japanese.
Marchenko lost the opening service game, well that will happen when you miss every first serve. Watanuki he isn't very tall but has an excellent serve which he used very well in this match, hitting high 190s consistently. Marchenko had a lot of break chances in the 1st set but Watanuki for the most part was able to play an excellent serve to get him out of trouble and take it.
In the second set Marchenko started serving better and had a bit more pop on the groundies. Watanuki was serving well and using the forehand to push Marchenko around. Games were going on serve and then Marchenko takes the 2nd set 6-4 after Watanuki double faulted.
Marchenko was not able to take the momentum from taking the 2nd. He served poorly and was looking gassed as Watanuki kept up his high level of play to run out an easy winner in the 3rd set. After the 3 setter Watanuki asked for some of the match balls as he didn't have enough practice.
Comment Of The Day
Max Purcell wins the day with the best comment about not getting a wildcard into the Aus Open. Credit to Mark McGowan for this.
“I actually was told I’d know on Thursday,” Purcell explained. “[Then] I’m hearing whispers in the Australian locker room from Lleyton saying something to [Australia coach Jaymon Crabb].
“Then, at like 11pm, I messaged Wally [Masur, Tennis Australia performance director] saying, ‘Mate, I’ve got three hours to pull out of [the Sydney Tennis Classic], otherwise I’ll be stuck playing Sydney instead of quallies – what’s going on?’
“He’s like, ‘Oh, no, Lleyton was supposed to tell you. I wasn’t supposed to tell you. I told him to tell you considering he was the one who didn’t want you to have it’.
“So, I didn’t end up finding out until 11pm Thursday, because I guess he didn’t have the balls to tell me in person.”
Tomorrow is Taro Daniel day.
2 comments:
Thanks for the report it is always a good read and qualies are fun.
As always, the best match reports ever can be found right here!
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