Well it's that time of the year where this blog comes out of its slumber for a brief moment. Who knows what to expect, but already there are bizarre moments and the main draw has not started. Before I start with the circus just wanted to write RIP Damian Kust who died at 26 who loved the Challenger tour, this is where the current stars all played before they became big.
On first day there were 30 000 people for the first day of qualies, this is unheard of and the previous record was 7000. This is the time of the event where there tennis idiots like myself, tournament staff, players and coaches plus others preparing the venue. Way too many people were convinced by the very slick marketing who thought this was the first day of the event. Reading the tournament website clearly has dates there bolded.
Budkov Kjær vs. Watanuki
Woohoo Norway we actually have 2 decent tennis players now after the lovely Casper Ruud. BK was an excellent junior and is making his way through the tour. Thankfully he hasn't been hugely overhyped, though these days pretty much tennis stops at Sinner and Alcaraz, nothing outside of this exists.
Budkov Kjær
This was an interesting match. Budkov Kjær had the break in the first set, but manages to lose. Watanuki does the same in the second. The third was close but Budkov Kjær was able to take the break in 3rd. He has a good team around him, this was a very tough one and managed to get through it, Winning a match like this against a tough veteran should give him confidene, by this time next year he should be in the main draw.
Wong vs. Blanchet
Wong was serving like Karlovic hitting the corners with the serve and lots of aces. Blanchet just was not able to get into the service games. In the 2nd set tiebreaker he was up 6-3, but was unable to capitalise and Wong took it in straight sets, it would not surprise if he makes the main draw.
The highlight of this match is relating to the subject title. There was a drunken heckler who just screaming random tactical information. Some of it was accurate and other was a bit delusional. It was like a radio going on the whole time, could definitely smell the red wine from 5 rows back.
Towards the end of the 2nd set, she screams out stopping hitting the ball to him ya dickhead towards Blanchet. For sure Blanchet wanted to be running side to side, when he could make any returns to Wong. That catchphrase is almost T-shirt worthy.
Reidi vs. Choinski
Welcome back to the tour Reidi who made the 4th round of the US Open last year where he was the lowest ranked player to do so. He has plenty of talent, but the body has not been kind to him. He's definitely a consistent top 100 player when fit, just needs an injury free run.
Riedi played an excellent match, he was hitting the forehand well and working the slower Choinski around the court before unleashing quality dropshots which were for the most part outright winners. Choinski was definitely moving like the Easter Island moai and Riedi got it right tactically.
That's one of the great things about this event is the very international nature with the very diverse communities which make it interesting.
Other stuff
The Peruvian legend Luis Horna is here coaching Gonzalo Bueno who managed to defeat Bashashvili. The Georgian is so inconsistent it was either clear winner or unforced error. Bueno is predominantely a claycourt player but was very solid and did what was necessary to win the match.
I went up to Horna after the match and told him "I'd be coming here so long I remember when you had hair and I was a lot smaller". Don't worry we both laughed.
Lajovic vs. Diaz Acosta
Lajovic was winning the match fairly easily and served for it in the 2nd, failed to do so. Diaz Acosta wins the 2nd set, continues the momentum and then has an opportunity to serve out the 3rd set but fails to do so. Once this happens then Diaz Acosta starts cramping badly.
As for cramping I am sorry that's bad luck, conditioning is part of the great sport and got to be able to go the distance. Lajovic ends up winning in a champions tie break. Yes, I am still of the school, where you should be breaking to win a match in the final set, but the champions tiebreaker is definitely the least shit version.
Kudos to Diaz Acosta who even though was cramping, he was still willing to take photos with fans after losing such a close match. Most players after a close loss just want to get away as soon as possible.
Remember kids stop hitting the ball to him ya dickhead
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