Hamburg

[jimlosaltos]

Must be something in the Hamburg clay, or the canvas, moveable roof.

Three come from behind matches today, plus Rublev is down a set and a break to Altmaier, 24 yo German local.

19 69 Frenchman Luca Van Assche over Fokina 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4
Rudd over Garin 1-6, 6-2 6-2
Musetti over Kovalik 3-6 6-2 6-4

Plus Ruud, Rublev needed 3 setters in the first round.

[stroke]

Disappointing match for Rublev, particularly after last week.

[jimlosaltos]

Disappointing match for Rublev, particularly after last week.

Absolutely. How many times does one see this stat: Altmaier won a higher percentage of points behind his second serve than Rublev did on his first serve ( 55% to 50%).

Everybody has a bad day at the office once in a while.

[stroke]

Quarters, Fils just bageled Ruud in 31 minutes, just completely overwhelming and overpowering him. It will be interesting to see Ruud's response, which one would think is coming.

[jimlosaltos]

Quarters, Fils just bageled Ruud in 31 minutes, just completely overwhelming and overpowering him. It will be interesting to see Ruud's response, which one would think is coming.

Yet another French teenager with game!

See he had a great run winning Lyon, beating FAA, Cerundolo, Nakashima.

[jimlosaltos]

Does Sebastian Baez Have a Great, High Forehand, or What?

From yesterday. Casper Ruud hits the heaviest groundies combined off both sides of any top player today. It drove Djokovic to tantrums at Roland Garros before the Serb took charge. But 5 ft 10 in Sebastian Baez repeatedly took them on the rise, incoming forehands or backhands, above his head, and just clubbed arrows to Ruud's backhand. I cued this up to one such Gaez forehand from behind his backhand doubles alley. Replay is at 3:45 into this, if the link doesn't take you straight there like it is supposed to:
https://youtu.be/2R3Tp05Y7uQ?t=225

Airborne!
Screen caps from TennisTV via YTT.

filedata/fetch?id=101699&d=1690567430&type=thumb

filedata/fetch?id=101700&d=1690567430&type=thumb

#

[stroke]

Fils wins second set 6-4. Overwhelming 25 forehand winners for match. Fils has a future number 1 physique and technique. New coach Ivan Lubicic looked pleased.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jwVTJfqhsz6yB5TT8

[jimlosaltos]

Fils wins second set 6-4. Overwhelming 25 forehand winners for match. Fils has a future number 1 physique and technique. New coach Ivan Lubicic looked pleased.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jwVTJfqhsz6yB5TT8

Ivan was in the box for both 19 yo Frenchmen. Is he doing something for FFT perhaps?

As for Ruud, it looks as if everyone he played has practiced hitting head-high forehands back flat for 12 hours the day before.

Ruud might need some variety.

[jimlosaltos]

Fils wins second set 6-4. Overwhelming 25 forehand winners for match. Fils has a future number 1 physique and technique. New coach Ivan Lubicic looked pleased.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jwVTJfqhsz6yB5TT8

Get used to this face. We could be seeing a lot of it (and his forehand) for years.

Suddenly the French Open looks to be contested.

Caption: TennisTV
filedata/fetch?id=101705&d=1690581903&type=thumb

[stroke]

Very interesting match coming up Zverev vs Fils. Zverev obviously solid favorite. Fils played his best match ever previous round vs Ruud. Zverev has played well this entire tournament. If Fils can extend him deep into the match, could be very a big upset.

[stroke]

Zverev won in 2 sets but it was very hard fought win for him. He served it out at 5-4, and Fils fought very hard and was very close to getting the break. Zverev played some of the best defense to stay in points I have ever seen him play. That one game was about as good as it gets.

[don_budge]

Very interesting match coming up Zverev vs Fils. Zverev obviously solid favorite. Fils played his best match ever previous round vs Ruud. Zverev has played well this entire tournament. If Fils can extend him deep into the match, could be very a big upset.

Nah...not saying that I disagree with you. But...Zverev routined the upstart Fils in the first set. Up a double break and serving out the set, Zverev lost the first point but then fired off three aces and a unplayable and barely touchable serve. No problema. Regards the final set it seemed Zverev almost resorted to his former self and became a bit tentative and therefore very defensive in serving out the match. Serving out a match is such a psychological drama at times. Particularly so when there is a Drama Queen involved. I have heard some knowledgeable tennis people touting Fils but I think that it remains to be seen.

Perhaps more interesting of note is the presence of Ivo Ljubicic in the French Tennis Federation corner. Loads of French players but no break through players since when? Then there is the even more perplexing question surrounding the disappearance of the Nordic Wonder Boy...Caspar Ruud. The week before he gets bageled in the final against a formidable Rublev but a bagel against Arthur Fils? Real question marks with Ruud. As a performance analyst I wonder...is there something rotten in Norway? I have mentioned this in comments over the past months regarding his performances...perhaps the Nordic Rules of mediocrity have taken over the poor lad. Jante's Law.