A Day For All Seasons : Round 2

Well today had a bit of everything. There was sun, wind, rain and a variation of this theme until mid afternoon, where there was more on and off that a teenage romance. That's the lot of a tennis player and have to adjust to these things.

Norrie vs. Zeppieri

These were difficult conditions all round.   The young Italian started well with some excellent serving and using his forehand to take advantage of a sluggish start from Kiwi Norrie who has been struggling with some wrist issues.   Two things about Norrie are one that he is ridiculously fit and two that he is a player you have to beat.

Zeppo was playing at a very high level for the first 2 sets and then the delays did impact the momentum of the Italian.  He was not able to dominate as he had previously and Norrie got an early break in the 3rd set.  Once he was able to do that,  Zeppo was unable to find Norrie's backhand often enough to exploit that weaker side.  Norrie,  it depends on who you talk to is either a weaponless pusher,  the solid tradesman who will do an excellent job or someone who has maximised his potential.

Norrie was able to use his greater experience to turn the match around.   He improved his serve with excellent placement to keep Zeppo off balance and frustrated with his own inability to dominate as before.   The Kiwi Brit was just too solid and used his greater experience.

Zeppieri had a good tournament qualifying and winning a match in main draw.   He will learn a lot from this defeat and what it takes to make it as this level.

Davidovich Fokina vs.  Borges

This was an awful performance from Foki.  He was unhappy with his form in the last round thinking he was playing shit.   Tennis is brutal sport,  but at the same time you only have to be better on the day and it's not like ski jumping where you get style points for winning.

Foki up an early break,  then plays a dumb game to get broken back.  In the first set TB he was leading as well but couldn't close out.   Then after that Borges was solid,  absolutely nothing spectacular but effective.

It was difficult to see what was going on out there,  Either there was complacency,  grumpiness and it was a very flat performance.   It's something that Foki needs to achieve the emotional balance,  he's not someone who is going to be an Easter Island moai on court,  but being a raving lunatic does not help here.  Very disappointing result but he did not deserve any better.

Roundup

The run of Hugo Grenier ended in a 4 set loss to Felix Auger-Aliassime.  This was a never in doubt result but happy Grenier got a set and kept the crowd entertained.  This match showed the difference between an elite ATP tour player and a challenger player.   Let's hope the great man Stephane Robert can the best out of Grenier.

As per previous blog Fernando Vicente's summary of Eubanks game was pretty funny and blunt.   The scouting mission worked as Rublev was reading Eubanks serve easily and returning with a lot of interest.  Rublo is no tennis Einstein but he played very well and Eubanks was in no danger of breaking any strings.

My countryman Casper Ruud won a very tough match against Max Purcell in a 5th set tiebreaker.  Purcell is a man who dances to his own tune and the tennis world really needs that.   Yes,  there's the curly mullet,  the moustache,  the junk and the serve volley game which makes a welcome change to the forehand factories that are producing tennis players.  A match like that could do wonders for Ruud and for Purcell if the lessons are learned,

Too bad for the young lad Jakub Menšík who went down in a 5 setter to Hurkacz.  I though the youngster would win,  but a bit of extra experience and fitness got Hubi over the line.  Next year he won't have to worry about qualies barring injuries.

Around the grounds seen the greatest Tasmanian player of the modern times,   Rossignol racquet user and afro Richard Fromberg.  He is just doing the private coaching these days and yes if this blog was around during his days, there'd be a lot of Frommy propaganda.

The great man and Dexter lookalike Blaž Kavčič was also spotted,  he's coaching on the WTA tour these days.   It's definitely a different world for sure.

Today you'd have great value for money with the long matches.  It's 3.15am and Bullshit Russian Medvedev and Emil Ruusuvori into a 5th set.   Huge respect to the fans who have stayed there to the end.