So, I went Sunday to watch the Final Round of Qualies for the only challenger this week. The weather was very hot and a bit moist, and light rain was dropping everywhere.
Rio Preto is one of the best cities in Brazil for tennis right now, the club has made some good investments for tennis and we are lucky to receive great players knowing that this is the only ch this week, which is surprising. The club is called Harmonia, isnt that big but we have some loyal tennis fans that came to watch the matches this sunday.
The first match I watched was on the centre court, and 100 people were watching it, besides the other people that decided to stay inside the restaurant having lunch (a big restaurant where you could see some main draw players like
Rui Machado and
Maxi Gonzalez)
Fabiano de Paula def Tiago Lopes 6-3 3-1 ret.
Lopes looked like the best player in terms of shots, but he wasnt feeling well on the court and he was making many mistakes. When we arrived it was already 4-1 for De Paula that is a good player tactically but he must improve his shots in order to do more damage, because he looks too much of a grinder right now.
Pablo Galdon def Andre Miele 6-3 4-6 6-0
This match was on the court 6 and both players were very serious and into it. I didnt see much of the match, but I think Galdon is in beter shape and Miele couldnt keep his level after being broken in the beginning of the third set. Galdon is looking like a experienced player right now, able to play some chalengers, but he has no game. His advantage over other players relies in the experience and on the mentality.
Martin Alund def Christian Lindell 7-6 (1) 6-2
Lindell makes too many errors and complains too much. He complained about the weather (wanted the umpire to stop the match) and about the towel. He could have won this match, he has a better serve and better strokes, but Alund was very focused, so every time Lindell broke him in the first set he managed to broke back playing as a grinder. I heard Alund won his first maind draw against Zampieri now. This happens because Alund is a experienced player now and he knows that on slow clay like that of Rio Preto you have to pass the ball to the other side and play tactically, waiting for errors, while Zampieri and Lindell, even with good serves and good forehands were too erratic against Martin Alund, which is a big shame. Alund served well too.
Jose Pereira def Nicolas Pastor 6-3 7-5
Pastor looks like Chardy physically but he has a typical clay court game, and he was playing very bad. All Pereira had to do was to pass the ball to the other side with consistency. Pastor tried to come back after losing 6-3 4-0*, but he still managed to lose his temper. The only moment Pastor took care of the match was when Trungelitti and Alund appeared on the side of the court and tried to cheer for him. Pereira played like Devvarman here.
Pablo Galdon def Fabiano de Paula 6-2 6-3
Like I said, after a tiring match before of both players, it was obvious the best mentality would win this match. There was nothing De Paula could do simply because Galdon was too consistent for him. Galdon played well, but I wouldnt give him much chance for him in the main draw. For De Paula, he must develop a weapon, otherwise he will only win against non consistent players.
James Duckworth def Marco Trungelitti 7-6 4-6 6-3
The most entertaining match of the day, both players have a big contrast between them. James is coached by Mantilla and looks like a serious, robotic australian kid that plays flat but that knows how to play on clay too. Trungelitti is a very cool kid. He looks very unprofessional, listening to music before the match and simply not training before the match. While Duckworth did some fitness before the match, Marco only watched Pastor losing while listening to his headphones. I didnt believe he was a tennis player at this first glance, but when he entered the court he surprised me, he has a very funky style with nice atacking tennis for an argentinian player. I can say Marco has some talent that could be more polished, he is a nice kid. Duckworth likes to attack too, but he is more cold bloded, which means that he won this match on day two because he is more prepared professionaly for the tour (he has an important coach, trains very hard etc). I cant say James is a raw talent, but he looks he has some talent allied, specially, with some real hard work (he is the more prepared player of all qualifiers here). This means he will probably play some challengers next year. Every time you watch those australians like Sean Berman and Duckworth and Saville etc you know they can grow on the tour by the hard work.
some results of monday
Rui Machado def Gastao Elias 6-3 6-1
I am surprised Machado beat Elias so easily, but Machado is really in the form of his career right now. I suppose this is just another clay court tournament now where tactics and grinding wins over raw talent.
Martin Alund def Caio Zampieri 7-6 (2) 6-4
Like I said, Zampieri has a good serve and forehand, but Alund grinded his way to the victory. Good for him, I think the calm atmosphere of Rio Preto is helping his style of game to prevail. Zampieri must re-think his strategy and play more conservative next time.
Gianluca Naso def Machi Gonzalez 6-4 6-4
I am surprised, but unforunately like I said the matches arent in a good level so players that play more calm, clay grinding style with few risks are winning those matchs. The fact this match was on the side court maybe could have made Gonzalez not very interested. He was having lunch yesterday looking very lazy.
Eduardo Schwank def Pavol Cervenak 7-6 (11) 6-1
Cervenak has lots of passion for tennis, but he simply cant play the game, he is too inconcistent for a grinder and too weak for a shotmaker. Even with Schwank in a bad form, after winning a very thight tie break it was clear Pavol was going to capitulate.
I will see some matches Tuesday for sure, but I think the qf are gonna be
Machado vs Joao Souza
Gil/Schwank vs Naso
Dutra vs Junqueira
Mello vs Prodon/Ramirez Hidalgo
cheers.
SauloREAD MORE ON TENNIS ALTERNATIVEPoitiers Women's 100K 2011 Preview
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