Retro Review - The Chilean Edition

On the suggestion of my great friend Sammy he suggested to do a retro review of some of the best matches from the outside courts.   As any sage tennis fan knows in the first four days that all the best action happens on the outside courts.   Let’s be honest top guys on the centre court beating up their opponents is not fun.

 

As I have been going to the tennis longer than Jannik “The Prince” Sinner has been alive, so there is a lot of material.  Not sure, how this will go, but it should be fun.

 

Massu vs.  Simon

 

What a contrast in styles,   yes they both play from the baseline but in such different ways.   Massu with bristling energy,  loud grunting, intense and hitting off forehands.   Simon looks asleep, moves the ball around well and counterpunches.

 

Massu is the more experienced player whereas Simon in week 1 had won the Noumea Challenger and qualified for the main draw.   The Frenchman played a lot of matches.    The crowd was mostly Chilean but with a few Frenchies which gave it a fun atmosphere.

 

They split the first 4 sets.    In the 5th set Massu was up 3-1 with a break and I expected him to win due to his experience and multiple opportunities to break. Simon's body was going down and Massu looked like he could run for ages, it was Simon that was able to win this match, his anticipation was excellent and he played a very smart match with good touch at the net and wrongfooting shots.

Massu was just seething inside and out, he knew it was a huge match and he managed to blow it. Simon couldn't walk after the match due to cramps and had to be helped back to the locker room by two people and his court was one of the furthest ones away from it.

 

Bogomolov Jr vs.   Gonzalez

 

This was a highly entertaining and humorous as well for a lot of reasons.  Feña was having some problems with his body and even served underarm at one stage, he was hitting a lot of dropshots attempting to conserve energy.

 

Bogomolov was fighting very hard and the Chileans made plenty of noise with their “Viva Chile” chants.   The Chilean fans were giving Bogo a lot of stick.  Many of them were unaware that Bogomolov speaks Spanish as he spent formative years in Mexico.

 

They split sets and in the 5th set, Bogo after winning a huge point gave it the big "come on" and Feña gave him a big glare. The crowd loved it for sure and were getting into it. At the change of ends, Gonzo went over and had words with Bogo/ Pascal Maria had to get down from the chair to separate them.

 

Gonzo got tight, missed a forehand wide and Bogo won the match. A dejected Feña walked off, waved to his fans and there was a standing ovation. After the match Alex throws his shirt in the crowd and towels. He went to the throw one in the Chilean direction and then he baulked and laughed.   A trolling masterclass.

del Potro vs. Gonzalez

 

After Gonzo got past a difficult 1st rounder against Korolev, the next match wasn't going to be easier against the talented del Potro and this was proven to be the case.

 

The Chileans were on one side of the court with their red shirts and their "Viva Chile" chants and on the other side of the court were the Argentines. It was only Sammy, myself, an Argentine friend Rodrigo and his feisty Bulgarian girlfriend initially, but after Nalle had finished with Lapentti they were over in force. 

 

It was the first time I have seen del Potro in the flesh as well, which is always different from TV. He seems to have a good future in the game if he can look after his body and he is still growing, so management will be the key. The thing I like most about him is his temperament, which is something to always look out for.

The match itself was very close.  The first set could have gone either way as there was a break between them and it went to a TB. Gonzo wasn't as patient as he has been in the past and del Potro was serving well and had his chances to take the first set but Gonzo is too solid in the breaker.

 

Delpo then forgets about that set and focuses on the next one and is hitting good length on his shots. He was serving well frustrating Gonzo who is getting pissed off with the Argentine fans and Juan seems to be handling the Chilean fans a lot better. With some steady play mixed in with attacking at the right moments del Potro takes the 2nd set 6-4.

 

del Potro rides the wave and continues giving it to Gonzo, who is either hitting winners or making errors and this pattern continues into the 3rd set and fired up by his fans he takes the 3rd set as well.   It was a fun football atmosphere with the Chilean fans making jokes about the Malvinas and Argentines responding with their own chants.

 

Even though he is leading 2 sets to 1, the feeling around is if somehow Gonzo gets the 4th set, then he will win the 5th and this was eventuated. Gonzo tightens up his play and the youngster is getting tired. Gonzo fights hard to get the 4th. At the start of the 5th del Potro starts to serve slower and the big Chilean takes advantage of this and his greater experience was the key here in that he found a way to win, not playing well.

 

del Potro had cramps or a side strain, but he was brave and has something to build on with this performance.

 

This is end of retro review part 1 and there will be more to come.