Adelaide International, 2020 - ATP 250

[Moxie]

Haven't seen the match, but appreciate the play-by-play from @mrzz. Doesn't sound like FAA choked. Sounds like it was a tight match.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Haven't seen the match, but appreciate the play-by-play from @mrzz. Doesn't sound like FAA choked. Sounds like it was a tight match.

He choked..he was up a break in the 3rd set..lost it ..next he subsequently lost his service game again. Was down double match point came back and totally mishit a ball that he should have let go out at match point when he had total control of the point..

 

[mrzz]

Felix choked

I watched it from start to finish. FAA did not choke. To begin with, the first player to be in a position to win the match was Rublev. FAA played an absolutely brilliant tie-break to survive and make it one all. He was trailing for most of that tie-breaker, survived some monster forehands not to allow multiple match points for Rublev.

Rublev was the first to let the intensity fall (after being so close to win it, had two MP's) and was broken in the start of the third. Rublev broke back by raising up his intensity again in a game that FAA did not play that well -- but in no way that is choking. Rublev broke back to get to 2x3 -- that is early in the third, FAA was not serving for the match. The Russian broke again to serve for the match at 6-5 finally after setting up breaking point with a return at deuce that was absurd, nothing to blame on FAA on that, total merit from Rublev. The last word I would use on that match is choking.

 

[mrzz]

He choked..he was up a break in the 3rd set..lost it ..next he subsequently lost his service game again. Was down double match point came back and totally mishit a ball that he should have let go out at match point when he had total control of the point..

It was not immediately after as I put in my post above. He was broken back at 1-3 and was broken again at 5 all. Yes, in the actual match point he missed an overhead -- the previous one he survived as Rublev missed the winner by inches -- but had he won that point it would be back at deuce, with Rublev serving. Let's not forget who had the MP...

 

[mrzz]

By your posts I get that you root heavily for FAA, @the AntiPusher . I get the frustration. The kid is an absurd talent, don't worry. Multiple majors ahead. I wish I could say the same about the players I like (well, I guess I can say it about Thiem).

 

[mrzz]

A small taste of what this match was (tons of other points at least on the same level):

 

[the AntiPusher]

I watched it from start to finish. FAA did not choke. To begin with, the first player to be in a position to win the match was Rublev. FAA played an absolutely brilliant tie-break to survive and make it one all. He was trailing for most of that tie-breaker, survived some monster forehands not to allow multiple match points for Rublev.

Rublev was the first to let the intensity fall (after being so close to win it, had two MP's) and was broken in the start of the third. Rublev broke back by raising up his intensity again in a game that FAA did not play that well -- but in no way that is choking. Rublev broke back to get to 2x3 -- that is early in the third, FAA was not serving for the match. The Russian broke again to serve for the match at 6-5 finally after setting up breaking point with a return at deuce that was absurd, nothing to blame on FAA on that, total merit from Rublev. The last word I would use on that match is choking.

Agreed.thanks MrZz...you are correct he didn't choke but Felix has got to show some true grit and figure out how to avoid loosing a.match like this .IMO

 

[kskate2]

Agreed.thanks MrZz...you are correct he didn't choke but Felix has got to show some true grit and figure out how to avoid loosing a.match like this .IMO

Most people learn the hard way. The only way for him to figure out how to win these kind of matches is to lose some of them first. A true champ will not like that sting and will develop the grit you're talking about to pull future matches out. Besides, he's still a teenager. Give him a few years to mature and develop.

 

[mrzz]

Glad to see that Rublev won the title. Could not follow the match this time, just watched some long highlights (nowadays we luckily get some highlight reels that are between 10 and 15 minutes, and without time between the points the end result is that you see about 30% or more of the points played in the match, so you can really have a good idea of how it went).

The scoreline (6x3 6x0) tells the story of a blowout, but the first was decided with a single break of serve, and Harris had the first break opportunity that Rublev saved with a pretty good lob that Harris managed to get it, but could not avoid the net. It was a contest right until the end of the first, Rublev had to earn the points to close it out.

Then the second was a completely different story. It started with a break of serve and was one way traffic from there.

The Russian is now #16 in the world, and with 3 titles since October (2 in 2020), riding in a 12 match winning streak in the process. He is playing easily top 8 level to say the least.

His greatest weapon now is not his big forehand actually (that when clicks is a complete absurd, but his rally shots are "normal"), but the grit he is showing. There is a Nadalesque resolve in his play when he is down break points. That champions attitude is the greatest improvement I see on him.

Off course the back hand has improved a lot. It used to be a liability and now he can even sometimes finish points with it. He is much more solid overall, a little less offensive oriented, even adopting the slice now and then. But the most important improvement game-wise I saw was the return of serve. Off the forehand, his ROS was completely top shelf in these last two matches.

He is also going forward with some frequency which is a good thing, normally following his big forehand, but still...

The liabilities are mainly the second serve (both FAA and Harris were able to run around it and attack with relative ease), and still some lack of a plan B, even if he is able to dose better the level of aggression. A giant improve from the player he was a year ago. Right now against a guy like A. Zverev for example he is total favorite to my eyes, and expect him to have one big scalp at least at AO. Quarters seem a distinct possibility and if he continues like this he could be an outside contender for bigger things latter in the year. The most important thing in tennis is the mind set, and in that department he seems to be right there with best right now. Game wise, overall still a lot to improve to join the elite, but if he continues to show this grit even when the winning streak is over, than I would say that the he already has the most important ability of all.

 

[Carol]

A weird thing to be happy about but OK.

Don´t be so twisted, nobody is happy for that

 

[El Dude]

I can't believe I missed this match from my two favorite young 'uns (FAA and Rublev). At least one of them won .