Mercedes Cup, Stuttgart Open 2018, ATP 250

[britbox]

Paire showing some deft feet and hands at the net....

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Thursday from Stuttgart

2nd Round

Guido Pella (ARG) beat Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) 7-6(4) 6-3
4-Nick Kyrgios (AUS) beat Maximilian Marterer (GER) 6-4 4-6 6-3
8-Feliciano Lopez (ESP) beat Gilles Simon (FRA) 7-6(6) 6-4
7-Milos Raonic (CAN) beat Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 6-2 6-4
3-Tomas Berdych (CZE) beat Benoit Paire (FRA) 7-6(3) 6-4

I like your video selection for this round, BB.
It shows the oz brat maturing in his playing techniques at least.
His twinner used to be just a show-off silliness that he played unnecessarily maybe trying to impress girls rather than as a wining strategy. And ended up looking stupid most times when a twinner failed or brought disadvantage to his position in the rally. But nothing of that kind in the twinner shown in the clip. If you watch the replay starting from 0:20 you must admit this was the only good shot selection at that moment, after the ball deflected from the net cord, became erratic and curved away from hos FH leaving him out of position. The other players (maybe with an exception of Fed) would be caught wrong-footed, but Nick didn't panic: just smartly calculated twinner be the best chance, and what a perfect execution!
SABR execution was also very nice, Fed would be proud.

 

[isabelle]

defending champ Lucas in semi, he'll meet either Milos or Tomas

 

[DarthFed]

Got through Pella pretty easily aside from the last game. Now it will get a lot tougher for him.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Looks like two really solid TBs from Milos or two really horrible TBs from Bird. Haven't watched.

 

[10isfan]

I’m guessing Fed has to beat Kyrgios then Raonic to win the title. That might be too tough considering his long break.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Got through Pella pretty easily aside from the last game. Now it will get a lot tougher for him.

How was the service games Darth? Easy holds or...?

 

[DarthFed]

How was the service games Darth? Easy holds or...?

Only following the scores at work but he lost 1 point on serve all first set and then worked hard to hold the last 2 games. Last game he held from 15-40. Not a good first serve % but overall easier than the score suggested.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Can anyone would watched the match make an objective comment on his level? I couldn't find a way to watch. I'd love to find out though.

 

[DarthFed]

I’m guessing Fed has to beat Kyrgios then Raonic to win the title. That might be too tough considering his long break.

I don't like his odds vs Nick because we know the latter goes all out against the big boys. Roger will have to be extra sharp on big points and that's where a lack of matches hurts. If he gets past Nick he "should" win the final.

 

[Moxie]

I don't like his odds vs Nick because we know the latter goes all out against the big boys. Roger will have to be extra sharp on big points and that's where a lack of matches hurts. If he gets past Nick he "should" win the final.

Yeah, but Nick and Milos should be even rustier than he is, right?

 

[DarthFed]

I'm not sure about Milos, I feel like he's played some the past couple months, no? Both are giant servers too, margins are smaller to begin with on fast grass. With Nick I feel like he will simply want to win more than Roger will, I honestly get that feeling with Nick against the Big 3. He wants to make a name for himself and it's the only way he will do it because he's too flaky otherwise.

 

[DarthFed]

Nick seals it. Nice test for Roger anyways and he is now pretty much guaranteed to have decent match practice for Wimbledon now unless he loses to Nick and whoever he plays first at Halle. Halle is the bigger tournament but my hope is #98 at Stuttgart, #99 at Halle and #100 at Wimbledon. Even if it's just Wimbledon I'm ok with that but he should win 2 of 3 at least including the one that matters.

 

[Moxie]

I'm not sure about Milos, I feel like he's played some the past couple months, no? Both are giant servers too, margins are smaller to begin with on fast grass. With Nick I feel like he will simply want to win more than Roger will, I honestly get that feeling with Nick against the Big 3. He wants to make a name for himself and it's the only way he will do it because he's too flaky otherwise.

OK, he played 2 in MC and 3 in Madrid, so just a bit.

 

[DarthFed]

OK, he played 2 in MC and 3 in Madrid, so just a bit.

And QF's of Miami. He has played quite a bit more than Fed but he's also been hurt. Wouldn't be that surprised if he loses to Pouille.

 

[monfed]

Difference in luck between Fed and dull right here. Dull gets a rainbreak to save his #1 ranking while Fed gets a peaking Kyrgios in a bloody 250 to prevent him from regaining #1.

The difference in luck between Fed and dull = difference in their talent level.

 

[DarthFed]

Fed has had many chances to seal #1 for awhile. He blew the match vs DP in pathetic fashion at IW and going back to last year the stupid decision to play Canada. For #1 he has himself to blame. Also for the fact there is still a slam chase. He could've put that on ice for good with a win at USO last year and he went full-on-retard beforehand.

 

[herios]

Difference in luck between Fed and dull right here. Dull gets a rainbreak to save his #1 ranking while Fed gets a peaking Kyrgios in a bloody 250 to prevent him from regaining #1.

The difference in luck between Fed and dull = difference in their talent level.

Peaking Kyrgios LOL.
The dude played only a few double matches the last 3 months. That is peak for you?

 

[atttomole]

I watched from 2 all in the second set. It is still not easy to judge Federer for now. His serve was decent, but he had a few hiccups towards the end. A few times he missed routine forehands.

 

[monfed]

Peaking Kyrgios LOL.
The dude played only a few double matches the last 3 months. That is peak for you?

You will see tomorrow that he'll hit peak form as he often does against the top players. He's himself said that is the only thing that doesn't bore him in tennis.