You Want It All and You Can't Have It

Today was a long day and for the most part a good one,  as they say in the classics you can't have everything.  It was definitely a lot easier to get in,  but still too warm thankfully there was shade and the mist fans working well.   Now down to business.

Cerundolo vs.  Bublik

Definite contrast in styles with Cerundolo using the serve to open up the court and blast heavy forehands whereas Bublik you never know what to get,  it's all dependant on his mood.

The match started normally,  both were holding serve comfortably.   Then the turning point,  yes it was that early in this one.  Cerundolo serving at *4-5 0-30,  Bublik had an easy high backhand floater and missed it,  does not break for the game.  Then the next service game Bublik gets broken by serving 4 double faults,  though Cerundolo doesn't close it out and it gets to the tiebreaker.

Bublik is still attempting to serve 200 km/h second serves and for the most part keeps netting them,  loses the 1st set.  As per usual with Bublik matches there is running commentary in Russian and English.  He ends up telling one of the support staff to "shut up and don't fucking talking to me for the rest of the match".

After losing the 1st set,  it really wasn't much of a match.   Cerundolo was being very solid from the baseline.  Bublik was being temperamental,  a few good moments but for the most part serving poorly and an attitude to match.

Altmaier vs.  Comesana

This goes back to my point about overcrowding.  This match was on court 15 which is right at the back of the complex and the court was so full.  The fact that the coaches couldn't sit in their usual seats and had to have chairs provided sitting in the sun across the court.

The crowd had some German and Argentine fans who created some good atmosphere,  but found out later it was seat stacking as there was a women's doubles featuring an Aussie afterwards.

Altmaier who has a brilliant single handed backhand started the match very well breaking Comesana early.   The Argentinian based German was solid in the 1st set moving the ball around well and waiting to use the backhand to finish off points and took the 1st set easily.

Comesana who is 178cm which is short by modern tennis standards has an excellent serve cracking it over 200km/h consistently and started to serve better.  Once that started happening,  he was able to start dominating the rallies ,  his level rose a little bit and Altmaier dropped and levelled at 1st set all.  There is minimal difference between their rankings and it showed,  this was an example of a close match due to good play.

The 3rd set Altmaier had to fight harder to hold serve and working for longer rallies.  Comesana was hitting the big serves and waiting for short balls on the forehand to dominate the points.  Got to 3rd set breaker and Atlmaier starts to take a few more risks coming to the net which started to work and took the buster.

Comesana is fighting hard, sticking to his patterns of play and Altmaier gets broken from 30-0 up and the German doesn't have a chance to break and going the distance.  Altmaier got the early break,  now whether it was a tactical and maybe a bit physical,  he is moving forward to make volleys after strong groundstrokes.  In this set he was being successful,  mentally very strong on serve and managed to serve out the match comfortably for his first win in Melbourne.

Shapovalov vs.  Bautista Agut

This match was the perfect example of tennis about match ups and a contrast of styles.  Shapovalov the left handed shotmaker who is a lot of sizzle and not much steak whereas Bautista Agut is the very steady baseliner with predictable patterns of play.

Shapo when he is on can create a lot of highlight reels,  but when he is off might as well play baseball.  He started off poorly,  winner,  a few errors and Bautista was being his solid self taking the 1st set.

Bautigol got the early break in the 2nd,  but Shapo raised his level, made less errors he was taking chances and was able to turn the match around.  Bautigol, doesn' t have the greatest variation and this is the problem with this match up for him.  Shapo loves rhythm and he gets that from Bautista Agut.

Shapo has improved his level,  there was the odd temperamental moment.  Bautigol is trying to dig it,  move to the net a bit more but he's not sticking the volleys and Shapo is making most of his passing shots to take the 3rd set.

The 4th set both players are playing at a very good level.   Bautigol sticking to his regular patterns of play side to side,   Shapo using his big serve to open the court up and belt winners.  They end up in the 4th set breaker and it was just nervous tennis all round,  as the level dropped.   The first 6 points were against the serve.  Bautigol was more solid as per norm he had 5 set points and worst of all there was at 6-5 that he served a double fault.  That can't be legislated and Shapo was able to take the match in 4.

Problems that Bautista Agut has in this match up is that he loves going to cross court and also as he is a flat hitter that goes into Shapo's strengths.  There wasn't enough attempts to change the directions or balls down the middle preventing Shapo using the angles,  got to mix it up to attempt to keep him off balance.  If it's too good, then so be it.

Tennis,  some days you play well and not win,  other days you play shit and win.  Ultimately,  got to take your opportunities but that's the same in life.

Other Stuff

One of the great things about an international event like this is hearing all the different languages it creates a good buzz.

The Argentinian,   Brazilian and Colombian fans creating the noise.   After the Etcheverry and Diaz Acosta wins,  the Argentine fans started the Argentina Es un Sentimiento No Puedo Parar chant.

Lorenzo Sonego what a way to break serve.