Rotterdam 500 HC

[nehmeth]

I would pick Zverev to be top five, possibly number one, if he stays healthy. I am not impressed with Tiafoe. Chung could be top twenty which would make him the best player in Korean history. I wonder when his career will get disrupted by having to serve in the military. Coric will have a tough time, given his lack of raw power, and his FH is not reliable.

Both power and FH reliability can be developed. He's only 19 in an era when 19 is the new 17. Some added power and an improved forehand and he could be a top 5 player in a couple years.

I have watched Coric on a number of occasions and have yet to see what the excitement is about. I think Chung's groundies are far more dangerous and his tennis IQ is very good. He needs to add some muscle (and height, but he has no control over that). Of them all, watching Zverev I see the most upside to his game. As I stated before at 6'6" it remains to be seen if he can stay injury free.

Edit: Watching Zverev giving Simon all he can handle in their match. On serve in the third set. Kid's second serve is nice.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Simon is a good scalp for Zverev. It shows mental strength as well as abilities on the court.

 

[nehmeth]

Simon is a good scalp for Zverev. It shows mental strength as well as abilities on the court.

Zverev fought through cramps early in the third set, got down a break and came back to take it to a tiebreaker. Gutsy.

 

[El Dude]

Zverev is now #55 in the live rankings. If he beats Monfils he's into the top 50 at around #45.

I will take that bet. I predict Coric will not be top five before he turns 22.

Well let's see...he turns 22 in November of 2018, so almost three full seasons from now. While it depends upon whether or not he can improve certain elements of his game, I don't see why it isn't possible. So we'll just have to see...

 

[herios]

Nicolas Mahut crushes Viktor Troicki: 6-2, 6-1.

 

[nehmeth]

Klizan bagels Agut in the third set. He's had a good week, going through Robredo, Baghy (who beat Goffin), and now today. Showing some mental fortitude that's been somewhat lacking in his career.

 

[herios]

Klizan bagels Agut in the third set. He's had a good week, going through Robredo, Baghy (who beat Goffin), and now today. Showing some mental fortitude that's been somewhat lacking in his career.

Wowza!. I looked at the result at one point and it was 7-6, 5-3 for RBA. I was sure he will close it soon, as he is riding a very good form, with 2 events won already. That bagel might mean that RBA needs a rest as he has been playing non stop since the season has begun.

 

[isabelle]

Froggies rock in Rotterdam, hope wa can have a 100% French final

 

[herios]

Froggies rock in Rotterdam, hope wa can have a 100% French final

Why not? Nico is just one set away to make the final

 

[nehmeth]

Froggies rock in Rotterdam, hope wa can have a 100% French final

Why not? Nico is just one set away to make the final

Martin is the comeback kid. Heading for a second tiebreak if he doesn't break Mahut here.

 

[nehmeth]

I have never seen Klizan playing so relaxed in such tight moments. He's quite the showman out there. One set all.

--- and breaks Mahut for the first game of the third.

 

[herios]

I have never seen Klizan playing so relaxed in such tight moments. He's quite the showman out there. One set all.

--- and breaks Mahut for the first game of the third.

I saw the score on livescorehunter and I know Nicolas had a MP on his serve in the TB. What happened in that point?

 

[nehmeth]

I have never seen Klizan playing so relaxed in such tight moments. He's quite the showman out there. One set all.

--- and breaks Mahut for the first game of the third.

I saw the score on livescorehunter and I know Nicolas had a MP on his serve in the TB. What happened in that point?

I don't rightly remember buddy. At some point during the 2nd set tiebreak, Klizan hit a ball after the point was over and Mahut walked into it. He got upset at Klizan, but Klizan didn't even see it hit him. Mahut after losing his serve in the first game of the third set, called for the supervisor to complain about the chair umpire... it was bizarre. Kind of blotted the sequence of points from my memory. :snicker.

 

[nehmeth]

I really like Klizan, reminds me a little bit of Nole sometimes. It would be great to see him have a breakthrough year.

 

[herios]

I have never seen Klizan playing so relaxed in such tight moments. He's quite the showman out there. One set all.

--- and breaks Mahut for the first game of the third.

I saw the score on livescorehunter and I know Nicolas had a MP on his serve in the TB. What happened in that point?

I don't rightly remember buddy. At some point during the 2nd set tiebreak, Klizan hit a ball after the point was over and Mahut walked into it. He got upset at Klizan, but Klizan didn't even see it hit him. Mahut after losing his serve in the first game of the third set, called for the supervisor to complain about the chair umpire... it was bizarre. Kind of blotted the sequence of points from my memory. :snicker.

Thanks, no problem. I was just curious if Nicolas was nervous and made an error or Klizan denied it with his shots.

 

[herios]

I really like Klizan, reminds me a little bit of Nole sometimes. It would be great to see him have a breakthrough year.

He is 26 y old. We have seen players at his age getting stronger mentally and tactically so, I think it is possible. He is closing on his best ranking to date, which was 24.

 

[nehmeth]

Thanks, no problem. I was just curious if Nicolas was nervous and made an error or Klizan denied it with his shots.

Up a break in the second set, Mahut got the yips while Klizan went for his shots. In the tiebreak it was more Klizan either hitting winners or blowing it with errors. He was letting the emotion come, good and bad and keeping his tennis at a high level.

Mahut got bent out of shape by that ball that hit him after the point was over. You know how you miss a shot and then hit the ball in frustration? Klizan did that and turned away. Meanwhile Mahut had his head down and was walking to the other side of the court and walked right into the ball. He didn't see Klizan hit it and took it as if it was done on purpose. Nicolas lost his concentration, got no satisfaction from the umpire or the supervisor. Pretty dumb to let yourself get distracted by something so little. He lost the third set rather handily.

 

[El Dude]

Some interesting developments in Rotterdam. Klizan was a player who looked like he was on his way up a few years ago - he finished 2012 at #30 at the age of 23. Maybe not a top 10 player, but he certainly looked like he could be in the next tier with the Gilles Simons and John Isners. Actually, I've always paired him (pun intended) with Benoit Paire. Both are on the older side of the "lost generation" of 1989-93, the same year as Kei Nishikori and Donald Young were born.

And then we have Philipp Kohlschreiber, who to me is the definition of the top 30ish player. He has been about as consistent as you can get, finishing every year from 2007 to 2015 ranked between #20 and #43. He has six ATP 250s but no ATP 500s.

And finally, Gael Monfils. He is on the short list for biggest underachiever on tour. He really should be a perennial top 10 player, with talent comparable to Berdych and Tsonga. Look at his record in title finals:

Masters: 0-2
ATP 500: 0-4
ATP 250: 5-11

Hard to believe he turns 30 this year.

Either way, we have three players, none of whom have ever won an ATP 500, and all for very different reasons.

 

[nehmeth]

Either way, we have three players, none of whom have ever won an ATP 500, and all for very different reasons.

Klizan is undefeated in finals (3-0)*. Hopefully he will have something left in the tank come tomorrow.

* http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/klizan-saves-match-points-against-mahut-in-rotterdam-sfs

 

[herios]

Gael defeated Kohli.