Author: Mertov

Djokovic vs Federer: US Open Showdown

In Cincinnati, in his semifinal match against Andy Murray and in the final against Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer put forth two magical performances in as many days, dazzling the spectators at the Western & Southern Open. Apart from his tremendous agility at the age of 34, he also showcased his latest contribution to the game of tennis, a “half-volley-return-approach-shot” (later named SABR), using it in every one of his matches in Cincinnati against some of the best servers and players in the world…

With success…!

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Following his 7th Cincinnati title, and his 87th title overall praised the great champion, the tennis world praised Federer – deservedly – who provided much-needed relief to his fans around the world, still recovering from the Wimbledon loss to Djokovic in the final, and wondering if their man would still be in top form after weeks of no competition.

Now the two men will face each other for the U.S. Open title in the biggest tennis stadium in the world, in less than 48 hours – weather permitting, yes, that needs to be mentioned.

Ex-player-and-coach Darren Cahill, usually the cooler-headed member of the ESPN Tennis crew on TV, and the one who often brings order to the plethora of somewhat chaotic and emotional plethora of analysis by the other experts on that team, astutely said that he cannot really pick a winner in this match. Federer has looked formidable this summer, and in New York so far. Some pick him to hold his 18th Major trophy once it is all said and done. Others believe that Djokovic will find that extra gear on Sunday and once again topple the Swiss in the final match of a Major.

I happen to be in that small group of people, like Cahill, who find it difficult to tilt the scale in one player’s favor. Seeing how well Federer is playing, and how Djokovic did not consistently perform at a high level in his previous rounds, I tended to lean toward Roger until the semifinals. However, after seeing Djokovic’s ground strokes on fire against Marin Cilic, I had to remind myself that the Serb can peak at the right time, and has done it numerous times before. As Novak graciously pointed it out in the on-court interview after the match, there is no denying that Cilic was hampered by injury. Nevertheless, that should not negate how well the world number one was stroking the ball. Djokovic continuously absorbed Cilic’s serves, placed the returns deep in the court and pushed the Croat around from the very first shot of the rally, and then, repeatedly found dimes to hit on the court at will.

I prefer to stay away from overrated clichés such as reminding everyone that Federer looked invincible against Murray in the semifinals at Wimbledon but that Djokovic raised his level to still take him out in the finals, thus hinting that Djokovic should win again… OR, that Cincinnati shows that Federer had overcome the 4-set loss at Wimbledon, thus claiming that he is poised to beat Djokovic again on Sunday. These types of conclusions do have some merit, and yes, a win in Cincinnati without losing serve once (and only once in the US Open, against Philipp Kohlschreiber, if I am not mistaken) must have added a level or two to Roger’s already sky-high confidence. We can also say that defeating a solid Federer in the Wimbledon final, and doing it convincingly in the last two sets of the match, can only increase Djokovic’s belief in his late dominance over the Swiss in the Majors (6-2 since 2010). Or maybe, the fact that Djokovic ran almost 3 more miles than Federer did so far in the tournament, meaning that Roger will feel fresher than Novak (ok… not really… Djokovic will not lose the final because he is “tired,” considering how short his semifinal match lasted, let’s be honest). In any case, these stats remain great “clubhouse chat” topics, but do not influence the outcome of the next match as much as tennis fans are led to believe.

So, in an attempt to explain why it is such a complicated task to pick a favorite in this particular US Open final, I will dare to go a bit further and nitpick some details that are pertinent to how this 42nd meeting (Federer leads 21-20) between the world’s two best players may play out.

First, Federer’s SABR will no longer be an element of surprise for Djokovic. For example, in Cincinnati, neither Novak nor anyone else expected Federer to do it at 3-1 in the tiebreaker. That will not be the case in New York. Djokovic will now expect it and get ready for it. He may even turn it in his favor if he passes Federer in the first couple of attempts, making Roger think twice before he decides to approach the net again. Quite frankly, Federer does not base his game or his “Plan A” on the SABR, although I can understand the media and the fans talking it up because it is indeed a spectacular shot. He is not winning because the SABR works. It is in fact nothing more than a minor component of his overall attacking plan which includes (1) aggressive returns, often coming over the ball rather than slicing the backhand like he used to do à-la-pre-2014, (2) parking on or inside the baseline during rallies and suffocating his opponent by rushing him, (3) frequently serving and volleying, even on some second serves, (4) throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the opponent in terms of variety and effect on the ball, including drop shots, inside-out slices, and loopy topspin balls followed by hard and flat strokes, in the name of forcing the opponent to lose rhythm and hit that one short ball so that he can charge the net (in the past he used to do the same, but often, with only the goal of forcing an error from the opponent). Whether the SABR results in two or three points won or not is a lot less important than whether the above general areas work or not. One or more minor components of this master plan, such as the SABR or the drop shot, may not function well on a particular day, but if the rest clicks like a Swiss clock, Federer still has a great chance to lift the trophy on Arthur Ashe.

Expect a lot of this: Federer looking to create, Djokovic on his toes, rock solid.
Expect a lot of this: Federer looking to create, Djokovic on his toes, rock solid.

Second, many people seem to forget that, as much as Federer’s serve may have dominated opponents this summer, the last two times that these two champions faced each other, Djokovic has broken Federer’s serve a total of 4 times (more than everyone else combined since the French Open), while Federer has broken Djokovic’s only twice. And we are talking about two matches in which Federer played brilliant tennis for the most part. Consider also that the only break that Federer could muster in the 7-6 6-3 win in Cincinnati came when Djokovic committed three double faults in one game.

Third, the idea that Djokovic can defeat Federer simply by keeping the ball deep, staying solid from the baseline, and out-rallying him, while valid from 2013 until this summer, may now appear outdated. Federer has shown since the beginning of the 2015 season that he has no intention of settling for baseline rallies, although that plan alone worked well enough for him to win a good portion of his career wins and titles. That being said, let’s also admit that against Djokovic, as Federer himself probably knows, he can no longer win like that. This type of challenge is precisely why Federer and his team undertook certain adjustments to his game at the start of the season, beginning with his off-season practice sessions in Dubai in December of 2014 (the move to the bigger racket should also get a mention here, even if it took place much earlier than that). Just as modifications to one’s game takes time to integrate to the existing arsenal of shots, and reach the level desired, it took some time for Federer’s adjustments to become one with how he and his team envisioned his game to develop in 2015. But I believe most of us can now comfortably say that he is now at ease with the attacking style of tennis that we are seeing from him today.
But only now…!
Meaning that, on Sunday, we will most likely witness a Federer who feels more confident about every facet of his game than ever before. To put it bluntly, I expect Federer to attempt to impose his attacking style on Djokovic more efficiently than he may have done in their previous five encounters this year, including the latest one in Cincinnati. He will find a way (unlike in Rome, or in significant portions of Wimbledon) to keep the rallies short and rush to the net earlier than expected. That brings me back to my original point in the beginning of the paragraph: yes, the idea that solid baseline rallies largely favor Djokovic is valid on paper, and would work on the court just as it did in many of their previous matches. But it will be much harder, perhaps impossible, for Djokovic to put that idea into practice this particular weekend in September. Djokovic will need to come up with an extra answer this time.

Fourth, the New York crowd is unlike any other crowd in the world. They will once again be pro-Federer, in the same way that the Wimbledon crowd was, except that they will be louder, tipsier and more obnoxious than the spectators that fill the Centre Court on SW19. Djokovic expects that when facing Federer and Nadal. However, expecting it does not mean that it does not bother him. It will be essential for Djokovic to keep his cool, and not share an unnecessary number of “silent-stare-down” moments with his corner every time something does not go his way on the court.

Finally, there is one intangible when these two play that complicates the outlook: which will have the longer “down period” during the match? I define “down” period as the number of games where a player’s intensity level drops physically or mentally – and unintentionally of course – causing him to lose focus, and letting the other player grab the upper hand as a result. For example, Federer had a visible down period in the third set of this year’s Indian Wells final, effectively ending the match. Djokovic also had one that lasted for most of the third set that he lost 6-1 to Rafael Nadal (speaking of a player who rarely goes through a down period) in their memorable five-set semifinal match in 2013 at the French Open. Even a brief down period can turn a match around, such as the one by Federer against Djokovic in the Wimbledon final when he led 0-30 on Djokovic’s serve at the 1-1 game in the third set. Two points from breaking Novak and taking charge of the third set, with all the momentum on his side (remember how he won the second set tiebreaker?), Federer went on to commit several unforced errors unexpectedly, causing him to lose the next two games and going down a break. It is very hard to predict which player will have the longer down period, or how many, but I feel certain that we will see at least one or more.

So, have you picked a favorite yet? If you must, good luck! If you are like me and simply desire to see a high-quality tennis match, I reckon we will not be disappointed. The way both players have performed in 2015, and in this tournament, I expect nothing short a stellar match.

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Reminder: Click here and send in your 2019 numbers 1 and 2 predictions. Be prepared for it to come back up four years later (in the name of having fun of course).

Mertov’s T-Desk Update

Following a summer filled with tennis and live reporting from the several major tournaments, my “other life” related obligations are taking priority for now. There will not be any MT-Desk articles posted for a little while. I don’t believe in writing articles in a hurry and shortchanging my readers.

If you are on the mailing list, I will let you know as soon as the next article comes out. If not, please feel free to email me at tennisdesk at operamail dot com and I will add you to the list (nobody will have it but me).

However, MT-Desk will remain active on Twitter during this time for live commentary, especially throughout the U.S. Open!

In fact, there is a question that I posted on Twitter that I would love for any tennis follower to answer if you find the time (and feel free to share):
“Who will be ranked top 2 (M & W) at the end of 2019 USOpen? I will store the answers. Curious on what tennis fans foresee 4 years from now. Thanks!”

— Update – 2019 September: The Results Are in: Click Here

Feel free to answer below in the “Reply” section. We can always have fun with it four years from now :). Yes, I will keep them!

Here is the full list of those who dared to put themselves on the spot 🙂 First, thank you to these courageous people, and see you in 4 years 🙂

MT-Desk
1) Raonic 2) Thiem
1) Muguruza 2) Keys

Noah @___Noah___ (Twitter)
1) Thiem 2) Djokovic
1) Halep 2) Keys

Gustave (MT-Desk email)
1) Coric 2) Zverev
1) Bencic 2) Zhuk

Claire (MT-Desk email)
1) Dimitrov 2) Zverev
1) Mladenovic 2) Halep

Rory Jiwani @roryjiwani (Twitter)
1) Coric 2) Goffin
1) Keys 2) Halep

ITV Tennis @itvtennis (Twitter)
1) Ymer 2) Coric
1) Keys 2) Halep

Paula @oscarsdream (Twitter)
1) Nishikori 2) Djokovic
1) Keys 2) Safarova

Can @CanPenn (Twitter)
1) Thiem 2) Sock
1) Halep 2) Muguruza

Suleyman (facebook)
1) Djokovic 2) Cilic
1) Bencic 2) Azarenka

Koray (facebook)
1) Djokovic 2) Nishikori
1) Halep 2) Bencic

Broley (MT-Desk email)
1) Djokovic 2) Zverev
2) Halep 2) Serena

Claudia Forli (MT-Desk email)
1) Zverev 2) Coric
1) Giorgi 2) Halep

Gokalp @gokicko (Twitter)
1) Nishikori 2) Djokovic
1) Bencic 2) Kvitova

Naile (MT-Desk post reply)
1) Dimitrov 2) Zverev
1) Puig 2) Bencic

Tuncay (facebook)
1) Dimitrov 2) Thiem
1) Bouchard 2) Muguruza

Cagdas (facebook)
1) Djokovic 2) Nishikori
1) Halpe 2) Pliskova

Cagri (facebook)
1) Rublev 2) Dimitrov
1) Serena 2) Naomi Osaka

Kempleton Pack @orloftan (Twitter)
1) Djokovic 2) Murray
1) Halep 2) Bencic

Hasan (facebook)
1) Dimitrov 2) Zverev
1) Bencic 2) Bouchard

Mytennisdailypicks @bestennispicks (Twitter)
1) Djokovic 2) Federer
1) Williams 2) Halep

M Yunus Bozkurt @MustafaYBozkurt (Twitter)
1) Djokovic 2) Nishikori
1) Keys 2) Muguruza

Kaan (MT-Desk post reply)
1) Murray 2) Nadal
2) Bouchard 2) Muguruza

Clarisse (MT-Desk email)
1) Murray 2) Fritz
1) Halep 2) Pliskova

M. Ugur Pala @m_uur (Twitter)
1) Nishikori 2) Raonic
1) Keys 2) Muguruza

Ali Gunertem @aligunertem (Twitter)
1) Kokkinakis 2) Djokovic
1) Keys 2) Muguruza

Noted but incomplete:

Mickey (facebook)
1) Opelka 2) Tommy Paul
Women?

John (MT-Desk post reply)
1) Zverev 2) Coric
Women?

23

No More under the Radar

On Friday, men’s quarterfinals in Cincinnati featured five top-10 players, the number 13, 23, and a qualifier by the name of Alexandr Dolgopolov. When the day ended, the world’s top three players, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Roger Federer took their place in the semifinals, along with that guy Dolgopolov. He is from Ukraine and he is ranked number 66 in the ATP Tour. He may require an introduction because he redefined the term “going under the radar” this week.

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The Ukrainian has won five matches, and has yet to play on Center Court. While the other winners of yesterday and today have for the most part enjoyed (or suffered) the company of a dozen or more media members in their after-match press conferences, only one media member asked to talk to Dolgopolov yesterday following his win vs. Jerzy Janowicz, and today, as a semifinalist, that number increased to a whopping two. As one of those two (the other was the knowledgeable Pete Ziebron – Twitter: @tennisacumen), I asked him if the lack of attention bothered him or not. He shrugged his shoulders, then laughed and said “No, it’s good that I save some time, I mean, I can concentrate on my tennis, that’s my concern now.” When asked if he was surprised by his run to the semifinals as a qualifier, his answer was two-fold: “I always think there is a possibility that I get a result. Obviously I couldn’t come here and expect to be in the semifinals from qualifying, with a tough match against [Santiago] Giraldo in the qualies [won 6-3 3-6 6-4]. I was playing quite good actually since the grass-court season. I had a lot of tight matches and a few bad losses. I couldn’t expect to make the semis here coming in, but I know I have the ability to do that. So both, I am surprised and not surprised.”

Many tennis fans believe that lower-ranked players faces less pressure when they surprisingly advance to the later rounds, and face highly ranked players, because they have “nothing to lose.” In Dolgopolov’s case, there is no doubt that that this is an invalid assumption. On Thursday, when he faced Janowicz, it was obvious looking from the outside that he was under tremendous pressure. He led 5-2 in the final set and had two match point opportunities that slipped out of his hands. In the next game, on his serve, he got very tight, and visibly could not hit the ball freely. He ended the game with double fault, giving up the break advantage. He calmed down during the game change, and with a little bit of help from his opponent who committed two unforced errors and two double faults, Dolgopolov was able to close the match out. The relief was clearly showing on his face as he shook Janowicz’ hand and left the court later.

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The Ukrainian confirmed that he felt the weight of that match on his shoulders, especially when he was leading: “I was thinking about [the win] too much when I was closer to winning. It was a big match for me point-wise you know, because I lost some ranking spots in the start of the year, I had a surgery last year. It was really important to find my game and some results because I have not had a great year so far this year. So that match I was very nervous. I just tried to survive, get the ball back in play. I don’t think I played as well as I played today.”

Against Berdych today, Dolgopolov seemed to give a clinic on how to pacify the big Czech’s powerful game that is known to reduce opponents to just getting balls back in the court. Already in his first service game, Dolgopolov put to use the 1-2 punch, following up his serve with a winner attempt or an aggressive shot, enough to send an early message to Berdych: he was not going to play the match on his opponent’s terms. As he confirmed later, playing aggressive was the one clear idea he had before going into the match. Once he held his serve, he remained unpredictable, mostly avoiding longer, hard-hitting, monotonous rallies which would have given Berdych rhythm. He worked the angle cross-courts, followed by hard flat down-the-line winner attempts. He utilized his sizzling slices, well-known drop shots, keeping Berdych off-balance, not allowing him to direct traffic during points. He even did something rare on a few occasions which is to all of a sudden move into the court during the rally, and almost half-volley the ball and follow it up to the net in order to rush Berdych (if you have access to match replay, watch the 6-4 4-2, 15-30 point on Berdych’s serve for an example of this). These patterns left Berdych unsure of what was to come next and unable to plant his feet to unleash his ground strokes. Again, if you have access to replay, the point at 6-4 2-1 40-15 is a wonderful example of a long rally during which Dolgopolov uses a wide variety of shots and effects on the ball, always keeping Berdych on the stretch, eventually forcing him into an error.

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Surprisingly, Dolgopolov said he did not have any specific pre-planned patterns as he stepped on the court for the match, other than playing an overall aggressive game: “I mean, I was just finding ways to win the rallies. I did not have a really set-up plan on how to play him because he is solid from the baseline. It’s tough to find ways with him. I was searching for what is best for me on this day. I think I was very good at hitting angles on my forehand and that was probably the key in the match. But I can’t say that there was a specific tactic you know. I know he is an all-around player. He does not give you a lot of easy points and he does not have bad shots. It was more about what he will show today and what I will show. I played him a few times. You can see if he is playing good or not. If he feels uncomfortable than you try to make him play more. Obviously, I had more or less a tactic that I wanted to play aggressive, but then, I was just looking to see what happens on the court.” In retrospect, it is so true that when a certain pattern worked in his favor, Dolgopolov looked to repeat it as much as he could. But those patterns were discovered as the match progressed and not planned in advance. The point is that Dolgopolov’s case, at least in this match, shows that we should not universally assume that every player goes into a match with a detailed scheme already mapped out in their head.

During the match, a problem that has existed for years in the Western & Southern Open once again resurfaced. When Berdych and Dolgopolov started their match, Serena Williams and Ana Ivanovic were expected to begin their match shortly after on the adjacent Center Court. Until the women began their match, loud announcements and music could clearly be heard from the Grandstand. Other players have complained about this in the past, as well as earlier in the week. It was no exception with the two men who had to play until 4-3 in the first set with that noise, at which point the match started on Center Court and the music stopped. Until then, both Dolgopolov and Berdych complained several time to the chair umpire about it. Dolgopolov voiced his anger twice in the early games, and Berdych followed suit, especially after he went down a break at 2-4. “I thought it was disrespectful you know” Dolgopolov said, “I understand that it’s the Center Court but it was too loud. Both of us said it a few times. There has been also other things in this tournament with which I am not happy [would not elaborate]. It’s their choice. I mean, it’s their choice if they want to make the players happy or make the money and do what they care about. Our job is to go out and play. Nothing changes if you are not happy with something.”

On Saturday, Dolgopolov will face the ultimate challenge when he walks on the Center Court to take on the world number 1 Novak Djokovic in the first semifinal match scheduled for 1 PM. Djokovic is well aware of his opponent. He said that although his prepration remains the same on match days, he will do specific things during the morning warm-up in preparation for his opponent because he is a “different player” than the one he face today (Wawrinka). In any case, one thing is certain: Dolgopolov will no longer have the luxury to remain under the radar to his opponents, the media, or the fans.

Note: Watch for commentary posts here and stay tuned to MT-Desk on Twitter for frequent live updates.

David Goffin: Adjusting to Higher Expectations

Source: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

David Goffin first made a name for himself in 2012, as a 21-year old, when he reached the fourth round of the French Open as a qualifier, and eventually lost to his childhood hero Roger Federer. Then, last year, he went on a tear in the summer, winning 34 out of 36 matches, a stretch that included three challenger and two ATP Event titles, establishing himself as a top 30 player. Steady progress and consistent results have propelled the Belgian to the number 14 position entering the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati this week.

So far, in the ATP 1000 event in Cincinnati, he is keeping his end of the bargain as the 13th seed. On Wednesday, he defeated the dangerous Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-4 7-6 to earn a spot in the third round where he will face the world number 1 player Novak Djokovic. He played his “A” game, staying solid from the baseline and forcing Verdasco to take risks which led to a few winners, but also to a cluster of errors by his opponent.

When I asked him about how he managed to handle a “loose-cannon” adversary like Verdasco, he said that he was well aware of what awaited him: “If he does not make mistakes, it’s very difficult to control his ball. You have to really try to make him overplay and miss, while you remain aggressive. If you are not up to the task, he takes matters into his own hands and complicates everything for you. So I tried not to back up during the rallies, make him move, especially on his backhand side because everyone knows that it is the less-effective side. But we also know that his forehand is really great. I tried to play the right zones, keep the ball deep, and play aggressive so that he does not seize control of the point and misses a bit. There are rallies like the ones at the end of the first set that he wins, then you can only say “well played” – Verdasco uncharacteristically outlasted Goffin in two consecutive long rallies in the tenth game before finally losing it, and the set 6-4. Then again, if he was playing every point like those, he would not be where he currently is [Verdasco is ranked 43].”

Most players have an off-season period in the middle of the year to fine-tune their games and rest their bodies. Goffin did not have such luxury this year. He nevertheless seems happy with his game’s progress: “For now, things are working out ok. I try to work on playing my game on my terms, play aggressive. Obviously if I have to run a lot and stay far behind the baseline, I am clearly not as good. So I try to play with my weapons, which are my return, my footwork, my speed, the quality of my shots while playing fast to find a rhythm in rallies that bothers other players. I try to improve my forward movement; I think the most important thing is that I stay aggressive.”

That being said, Goffin also knows that with his higher ranking, he will also have to revamp his schedule next year: “There are always small blocks of time during which you can work on your physical preparation or work on your game, such as the period after Wimbledon. But, in my case, I had already engaged to play this tournament. I signed up for it 6 weeks ago. It is hard to change and not go, after that. And then, on grass, you never know how it will go. As for me, last year I went back to clay courts last year after grass. I played well in Challengers and won, and then I won Kitzbuhel. So, this year I had decided to go back again to clay courts after Wimbledon. When I made those plans, I did not know that I was going to reach the finals at s’Hertogenbosch [on grass] and the 4th round at Wimbledon, and that the grass season was going to turn out to be that draining. So, it’s true that when I see my latest results on clay, after Rome, Roland Garros, and the grass-court season, it would have served me well to have a break now. I still had good post-Wimbledon clay-court season, I still reached the finals in Gstaad after Wimbledon. It’s a scheduling choice, but I think one that we have to reconsider next year.”

He still looks forward to the US Open and the Davis Cup. Belgium is in the semifinals of Davis Cup for the first time since 1999, and there is a lot expected out of the 24-year-old top Belgian player. According to Goffin, although being the most accomplished men’s tennis player in the history of Belgian tennis does not necessarily pique the curiosity of the tennis fans at his home, largely due to the success of women such as Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin who have both attained the number 1 ranking in the world, he admits that going further in Davis Cup could add to his career: “It could be an exceptional moment if we could reach the finals or do better.”

For now, the question revolves more around how to stay fresh physically than how to handle the added pressure of reaching an elevated status. When asked if he felt the weight of any extra pressure, he responded: “Not necessarily. I will try to do my best just like I do at any other tournament, so there is not really any particular extra pressure. I will be seeded at the US Open, so maybe more will be expected out of me. I suppose that in Davis Cup people will expect a lot from me, especially the two singles points for the team, that’s clear. Well, I will try to manage this pressure well. In any case, I deal with pressure a lot better now than in the past. I am also excited. I played a lot of matches in the last few months. To stay fresh will be the most important. My confidence is there, but I will need to endure matches that require three sets to win.”

The most daunting challenge for Goffin in the immediate future will be his next round opponent Novak Djokovic. They are scheduled to play the second match on Center Court and a win against the Serb would put Goffin under the spotlight more than ever. For his part, the larger goal remains the same: “I don’t function in terms of results, but rather in quality of my game. I will try to produce my best tennis the rest of this summer.”

Note: Watch for commentary posts here and stay tuned to MT-Desk on Twitter for frequent live updates from Cincinnati.

Monday at “Cincy Tennis”… Briefly…

Here is a brief summary of Monday, and I mean “brief” because the rain delay forced a late finish, with the last match between Irina-Camelia Begu and Alize Cornet just finishing moments ago, little before 1 AM. The talented Romanian took out Cornet in straight sets, 6-4 6-4.

While there were a couple of close matches, in general, Monday’s action was lackluster, with only a few matches that went to distance or provided high-quality tennis. It almost seemed like the spectators on the ground were more interested in what was happening outside the matches. Let me travel into the terrain of exaggeration and claim that more people watched Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Nick Kyrgios practice than the tournament matches (first two for obvious reasons, the third for the infamous comment directed at Wawrinka during their match last week). See below the crowds at the Nadal and Federer practices, and keep in mind that people on top are watching them practice rather than the matches on the Grandstand. During Nadal’s practice (on top), Gilles Simon and Ivo Karlovic were playing, and during Federer’s (bottom), Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza was busy getting upset by Yaroslava Shvedova.

Cincy 2015 Nadal 2
Cincy 2015 Federer 1

And here is a panoramic clip view of the crowd for Federer’s practice.

That was not all. There was a man who had everything planned to propose to his companion (named Michele according to the large banner he had made that said: “Michele, will you marry me?”) during Federer’s practice! She did say “Yes,” and he insisted that Roger hears about it!

Federer finished his practice. Fabio Fognini arrived on the court (with a clean cut and shave) and began his preparation for his encounter vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis later.
Cincy 2015 Fognini 1

Fognini practiced for about 5 minutes in front a full crowd, because Federer was still on the court chatting with a youngster and Severin Luthi while getting his stuff together. When Roger left through the door on the other side, the crowd evacuated the stands so abruptly that 3 minutes later, Fabio found himself hitting in front of about 20 people. His clean look did not change his on-court personality much, as he argued with the umpire and gave fans grief during his three-set loss to Kokkinakis in the evening.

As the night settled, Roberto Bautista-Agut who is currently ranked 22, and has been within the top 20 for most of the past 12 months, walked through the grounds and the crowds to the furthest court possible (Ct. 4) to play his match, without anybody noticing him. He played a great match against Pablo Cuevas, another regular top-30 player (currently 36) who is also “anonymous” to most fans. Bautista-Agut won in straight sets, 6-3 6-4, advancing to meet Federer next, in what is guaranteed to be a more “visible” encounter on his part.

Later, Alison Riske and Elina Svitolina played on Stadium 3. The first two tightly contested sets were a pleasure to watch. At the end of 1 hour and 37 minutes (and past 11:30 PM), the score was even at one set all. The promise of a thrilling third set quickly disappeared as Svitolina ran away with the third set (6-0) in less than 30 minutes.
Cincy 2015 Svitolina

Begu and Cornet were the only ones left playing well past midnight. Tuesday has some explosive matches on the schedule. At 11 AM, there will already be three matches that promise some fireworks. On the Grandstand, two youngsters that are deemed to be an important part of the ATP’s future, Borna Coric and Alexander Zverev (both 18 years old), will battle for a spot in the second round against Stan Wawrinka. On Stadium 3, Nick Kyrgios and Richard Gasquet (remember their epic battles at Wimbledon?) will face each other. On Center Court, the in-form Sloan Stephens will do everything she can to keep the 10th seed Carla Suarez-Navarro out-of-form. Roger Federer vs. Bautista-Agut, Ana Ivanovic vs. Venus Williams, Angelique Kerber vs. Belinda Bencic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Fernando Verdasco, Alexandr Dolgopolov vs. Bernard Tomic, Kevin Anderson vs. Leonardo Mayer, and Daria Gavrilova vs. Sara Errani, are some of the other notable matches scheduled for Tuesday. Bring it on!

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