Rio Open, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ATP 500

[Frode789]

Matchball for Ruud, but didn't take his chance.. Now 2nd set looks to be lost.

 

[Front242]

The game he lost serve was a stinker. Commentators were praising Carrena Busta's play but couldn't say I saw it that way. Seemed like just a poor game by Ruud.

 

[Front242]

Game over, man.

 

[Carol]

Vamos Carreño, you are playing well without any doubt!:clap

 

[Carol]

IMO most of these new young players don't have enough consistency. They play a couple of good matches but later they can't keep the same strength and more of his opponents give them a good fight
Bravo Carreño, well played! hope too see tomorrow a good final

 

[Moxie]

IMO most of these new young players don't have enough consistency. They play a couple of good matches but later they can't keep the same strength and more of his opponents give them a good fight
Bravo Carreño, well played! hope too see tomorrow a good final

Ruud is really young, and this is a lot of uncharted territory for him. (He actually had one MP in the 2nd set.) He made a lot of rookie mistakes. But he'll get much better. Carreño Busta did well to up the aggressiveness in his game. He's a fine clay-courter, and I agree he makes a better finalist with Thiem. Could be a good match.

 

[britbox]

Results from the Rio de Janeiro Open Men's Singles Semifinal matches on Saturday

2-Dominic Thiem (Austria) beat 5-Albert Ramos (Spain) 6-1 6-4
4-Pablo Carreno (Spain) beat Casper Ruud (Norway) 2-6 7-5 6-0

 

[britbox]

2-Dominic Thiem (Austria) beat 5-Albert Ramos (Spain) 6-1 6-4

 

[britbox]

Rio de Janeiro Open Final

v

Dominic Thiem (2) v Pablo Carreño Busta (4)

H2H: Thiem leads 4-1

2016 US Open R32 Hard Dominic Thiem Pablo Carreno Busta 1-6 6-4 6-4 7-5
2016 Buenos Aires R32 Clay Dominic Thiem Pablo Carreno Busta 6-0 3-6 6-3
2015 Gstaad QF Clay Dominic Thiem Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 3-6 6-2
2013 Como Challenger F Clay Pablo Carreno Busta Dominic Thiem 6-2 5-7 6-0
2012 Morocco F10 Futures SF Clay Dominic Thiem Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5 3-6 6-3
---

 

[Carol]

Hope tomorrow Carreño has a good win vs Thiem, and not just in singles but also in doubles, vamos!!!

 

[El Dude]

I just watched a few highlights of his match with Monteiro. It wasn't really enough to go on, but I was a bit...underwhelmed. He just seemed to be all defense, hitting the ball back, waiting for Monteiro to error. He also seemed to hit the ball softly.

But again, it was just a one-minute clip on Youtube so I'm not going to solidify my view of him.

Isn't how Rafa came up as a teenager, defending everything?

Yes, but also Borna Coric. The problem with this approach is that very few--well, no one--can be Rafa. I'm reminded of a baseball player, Vladimir Guerrero, who was known for being able to hit any ball, no matter where it was pitched. His talent was extraordinarily rare - to be so undisciplined, but still a star. The vast majority of undisiciplined hitters are nowhere near as good.

I think it is similar with "golden retrievers." Rafa is a Vlad Guerrero talent: he can pull it off because, well, he can return anything. But Coric - and presumably Ruud - don't have that level of movement.

That said, your observations are positive and make me hopeful that he can do more than what Coric has done so far. Certainly he's pushed himself onto "NextGen Top 5" in terms of future prospects.

 

[El Dude]

And losing to Carreno Busta is no shame, especially after taking the first set. PCB is probably a top 10 clay player.

 

[Puppet Master]

I just watched a few highlights of his match with Monteiro. It wasn't really enough to go on, but I was a bit...underwhelmed. He just seemed to be all defense, hitting the ball back, waiting for Monteiro to error. He also seemed to hit the ball softly.

But again, it was just a one-minute clip on Youtube so I'm not going to solidify my view of him.

Isn't how Rafa came up as a teenager, defending everything?

Yes, but also Borna Coric. The problem with this approach is that very few--well, no one--can be Rafa. I'm reminded of a baseball player, Vladimir Guerrero, who was known for being able to hit any ball, no matter where it was pitched. His talent was extraordinarily rare - to be so undisciplined, but still a star. The vast majority of undisiciplined hitters are nowhere near as good.

I think it is similar with "golden retrievers." Rafa is a Vlad Guerrero talent: he can pull it off because, well, he can return anything. But Coric - and presumably Ruud - don't have that level of movement.

That said, your observations are positive and make me hopeful that he can do more than what Coric has done so far. Certainly he's pushed himself onto "NextGen Top 5" in terms of future prospects.

Anticipation comes into play here. I agree with you but it has to be said.
Now about Ruud, I don't know what exactly was I expecting to see in him, he is literally a young Bautista Agut without the horrendous grunts. Yes, for a first ATP tournament it was quite impressive but his level wasn't exaclty ground breaking.

 

[britbox]

Final: Dominic Thiem d Pablo Carreño Busta 7-5 6-4

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Congrats to Thiem on winning a 500 this year. He captured Acapulco last year. But, he is definitely better on clay than elsewhere. :clap

 

[Moxie]

I watched some. Carreño Busta was out-gunned. Another nice win for Thiem.