Rotterdam, Rio and Dubai

[VMoe86]

Now that I have some time to report on these tournaments, I will do so. I will proceed in chronological order of the matches at Rotterdam and Rio, then move on to Dubai.

Rotterdam R32 against Nadal_Fan was a match where I lost a significant amount of ELO, even though I won 6-0, 6-3. First he lost connection, we had to restart, then I lost connection like 3 times or so because I updated my router's firmware the day before.

Next up in Rio R16 was VAMOSRAFA, where my 6 year old nephew was present and watched the whole match. He commented a bit on my opponent: "Why is he always smashing the racquet? He is playing bad, I call him bad player! Why did he give up at 6-0, 5-0?" I told him that my opponent is a bad loser. I forgot to tell my nephew that he is as much a bad loser as he is when I beat him in some other videogame.

Same day I played Rotterdam R16 against Vincetheprince, which was a pretty unspectacular match. Vincetheprince did not serve well with Raonic, so it was fairly comfortable for me. Same goes for the next match in Rotterdam against Robbin: I broke him right at the start of each set, went up 2-0, and dropping only 5 points on serve throughout the whole match it then was just about holding serve. He did well to variate on his service games to get not broken anymore, but our earlier meetings had more interesting stories. Part of it was Brands' serve.

In Rio QF another well-known opponent has been waiting, inseedious. The scoreline was harsh, the rallies were tougher than the score indicates. Whatever the reason, I have the feeling to be a bad match-up for him, which makes things worse for him.

So, in both tournaments I got Vramvrim in the SF. I have never beaten him before, but we had many close matches and while beating everyone except one of Top 4 in the ranking, he did not seem to be playing as well as he did for the most of last season. I liked my chances at Rotterdam more and knew that as long as I served well, I would have my chances with Brands.

At the beginning it was easier for him than for me on serve, suddenly I had a 0-40 on his serve, but he held. Then at 4-4 I managed to break and served it out, even dealing with a netcord when serving it out. I immediately broke at the start of the 2nd set and looked for a second break when I saw the chance with some 2nd serves by him. This was the case when he was serving to stay in the match. Even if it was not Vramvrim at his best, it was a good win for me.

The other SF in Rio, me as Robredo and him as Djokovic, I feared the worst because of this match-up. To my surprise it was not that bad, even losing the first set 2-6 I felt I could win, because I had chances to break back in that set. Down a break in the second set it did not look good, but I caught Vram in the right moment and was aggressive to take advantage in certain situations, getting the break. It seemed to turn his way again, he broke again, but I won the last three games and a deciding set was necessary.

My track record there has been quite bad, but things went my way today: The net cords, the big points, also Vram's faults were a help of course to get back from one break deficit in the 3rd set. When I got the break back, and more importantly was up a break, I knew I better give everything for another break. As if history were repeating, I got double match point when he was serving to stay in the match at 5-2. He saved them and held, he was very focused here. So, I had to serve it out. I got up 40-0, triple match point. He saved all of them again, got to break point, which I somehow saved. After he saved another match point I managed to close it out, but my hands were shaking after this. In the end we both had 101 points each, not our highest quality match, but for sure an entertaining one hour fight!



My first finals since Rome 2013 were awaiting me, in both of them the dominant number one Richie! As it was with the SFs: I liked my chances more in Rotterdam for the same reasons I mentioned above.

The match at Rotterdam is quite typical for facing Richie it seems. We both broke each other at the start, then remained on serve until 4-4, where I got to break point, but he hit a big serve and held. Then he played a good return game (and got help from the netcord) to get set points at 5-4, of which he took one. Second set remained on serve all the way until 5-5, where I got a double break point. He got out of trouble with 4 big serves (either service winner or ace), I held for 6-6 and a tie break had to decide this set. I immediately was down 0-2, another netcord! This mini break remained until the end and he won. I won one point more in total, but he won the important points in both sets with clutch play. Except maybe one service game (break by him for 3-3 in first set) I have no regrets about Rotterdam.

The Rio Final was another story: del Potro is tall enough to deal with Robredo's spin, so I tried to push very little. I wanted to play aggressively and that's what I did in the first set, but I had to deal with a break deficit early on. I created chances to get the break back once, but he saved a double break, I then finally broke when he served for the first set, which was not enough to carry me to a tie break -- he broke right away to take the first set, where I played a sub-par service game (too aggressive shot selection). I still felt positive about this match, though.

It all looked positive in the 2nd set, I was up 2-1 and 30-0 on serve, then played a couple of loose points (including a net cord by him!) and got broken back. My reaction to this setback was that I got up 0-30 on his serve, good chance to make it 0-40 and miss it by 1mm or so. From then on I lost the focus, I was out of the match and lost the next games quickly.

That's what can happen when you play Richie, you have to execute your best all the time, otherwise he will take the point. That's what I liked about our matches, both looking to impose their games and punishing mistakes of the other one. Congrats to Richie for his start of the season!

Of course I am disappointed that I leave with empty hands and could not stop Richie's streak, but there is no looking back now, time to create another chance in Dubai or Indian Wells.

In Dubai R16 I managed the first obstacle, InsiperXZ. I've never played him before, not even in some exhibition set. First set was close in the beginning, with me having a double break point and some 0-30, which he got out of. He then started to actually be the better player at 4-4, having a break point himself, or at 5-5, having a 0-30. I saved the break points with good serving and aggressive play, going for the lines. The 0-30 situation I survived with good serving and him not being fully focused. I took advantage of his mental state and broke quickly to clinch the first set 7-5. In the second set it was easier for me because I got that first set and more of an idea of his game. He definitely has great potential!

My next two matches are against Robbin, him playing as Llodra in both of them. Looking forward to it!

[C4iLL]

Wow big reports, I'm gonna read it and add mine about the nice match we had with Felipe when I'll have more time as well.

[pidzi]

Lol, huge report. Its a shame that people generally stopped to write reports as it was interesting to read always. Also im wondering why people also stopped to upload .dmo files as im sure many guys would find it useful to watch.

[VMoe86]

On Wednesday it was time for Dubai QF against Robbin. Me as Pospisil and him as Llodra I knew I had to take care of my serve first and take the chances I get on his. First set was like the sets in our first meeting this season: This time I was serving first, but nevertheless I got to a 2-0 lead, breaking in the second game, after he got from 0-40 to deuce I stayed very focused and got the break. The rest of this set was unspectacular, all on serve.

Second set I got a break point early on, but he saved it with good play and started to play better. Then he played a good point on my next service game, got 0-15. This was the moment I had to step up further and did so, I held. I was then returning well and giving him tough shots to play volleys off. Consequently I broke and with that break it got easier for me, got another break and won 6-3, 6-2 in the end.

This was a very solid match for me, not giving Robbin a serious look in my service games. I always enjoy the thrill of returning serve against serve and volley, was entertaining! Next up is Vramvrim tonight, him as Tursunov. No idea how that match-up will go.

[C4iLL]

Report of my 1/8 - Llodra vs Croato (Wawrinka) @ Dubai (6-2 7-6)

A very spectacular match where I never stopped rushing the net, chip and charge and try crazy stuff. In the second set I did everything to get the best Croato possible and he was very good at the end of the set, I had to play my best to compete. I finally won but I could have lost that set and tie break for sure as I had no margin at that specific moment.

I think we both had a lot of fun

Report of my quarter final of Dubai match : (Llodra) vs Felipe M (Nadal) : 2-6, 6-1, 7-6.

First set : I was realy disturbed by the specific timing/sensitivity of the delay. As I often aim for the lines, on service or baseline, a lot of shots were out for 1 cm whereas with 100 delay there are in. Felipe didn't even play at a great level to win this set quickly.

At that time I really thought I will loose that match quickly.

Second set : I don't really know how and why but I started to play better naturally without thinking tactics or stuff like that.
I got a lucky break to lead 2-0 and afterwards I started playing as I do with 100 delay.

Third set : I missed a 0-40 situation at the beginning of the set and it gave him confidence back. The set became then extremely balanced with all games going to 40-a. It was highly strategic (maybe one of the most tactical match I played for a long time) each of us trying stuff to disturb the other. We logically went to tie break, which I epically won with some crazy anticipations made through a precise observation of Felipe gameplans during the match.

It seems my new vision (no practice, no objectif, no pressure) helps to be more focus and relax on the crucial moments : as you're fresh and don't really care to loose, your mind is more focused on tactics and stuff like that.

[VMoe86]

Third meeting this season with Vramvrim, Dubai SF. He picked Tursunov and I knew I would have a difficult time: Good serve, solid groundstrokes, quick, would be tough battle.

First set it was all on serve, no break points I think, but I struggled a bit more on serve, but in the end I managed to do better on serve and went into a tie break with a good feeling. The first points went good for me, I got up 6-3, he saved two set points and had a good chance to save the third one, but fortunately it went out. But at this moment I could feel the increased pressure from his side: He moved better, hit the ball better, despite winning the first set I was not feeling too confident about the rest of the match.

Second set he immediately started with a triple break point on my serve. I saved two, the third one I had a put-away volley and did not win the point, broken. I tried hard to break back in the next game, even had break point, but he was rock solid on serve. At that time, he had the right answer for everything, moved better than in the first set or our previous matches and consequently he hit better shots. I needed absolute focus to keep up with him, which I managed at the end of the 2nd set to hold two times.

In the 3rd set I tried to focus as much as possible. It worked in the start, me saving some break points in a long game early on, having a break point myself in the next game, which he saved with a perfect ace. From then on the match was basically over. Maybe I could have done a bit better overall without some errors here and there, but the outcome would not have been different.

Congrats to Vramvrim for his best match of the season, I think he can finally put an end to Richie's streak, good luck with it!

[Vramvrim]

Since people requested more reports, here is mine about the Dubai tournament. My pick was Tursunov, good serve, good groundstrokes and fast movement. I felt that a good all-around player would help me with my form when the tournament started. I was moving pretty poorly since the start of the season, when I was forced to use a new gamepad to replace the old one who was breaking (the left stick got stuck sometimes, not great for moving in TE).

I don't recall much about the first two matchs, I felt pretty good when attacking, not so much in defense, but it was enough. Then came the QF vs MaGav, a Tursunov vs Tursunov battle. As expected, a lot of long rallies happened and some details made the difference, especially in the second set which was really close, such as my first serve going in when I needed it the most. In the end, it was a good battle which gave me confidence for the next match.




The SF was another encounter vs VMoe, the third of the season already. In the first one at Rotterdam, I felt slow and overwhelmed and in the second at Rio, correct in terms of level of play but pretty unclutch. I was still frustrated with my movement with the new gamepad, so I took back my old one to make a little test. It appeared that I was moving much better with it, and the stick seemed okay, so I decided to use it for the SF match.

He described the match pretty well already, I gradually played better after the first set, feeling like I could move like last year. I almost screwed up in the third where I had opportunities to break in his first two service games, then hit a DF to give him break point at 1-2, but I managed to hit an ace thanks to the Tursunov serve. After that I think he felt a little down, and with his serve not being that effective at this point of the match, I managed to break and hold until the end.





It was the best match of my season so far, with sets 2 and 3 giving me confidence. In the final, Richie was awaiting me undefeated in 2014, but since I could move normally now, I thought I would have chances. I started pretty bad, getting broken in the first game, as if my slow start tendancy came back together with my movement. I was on the verge on getting double broken at 1-3 and 2-4, but the serve saved me. I got back the break and we went to the tiebreak somehow, where a strange scenario occured : the first six points went to me, then he fought back to 6-5. I managed to finish the set with an unoriginal, but precious slice serve on the T.

In the second set I was cruising on my serve, but couldn't do that much on return either. A few 0-30 or 15-30 situations but nothing more, I think. Then serving to stay in the set at 5-6, he upped his level on return and I was suddenly down 30-40, with a tight rally ending in an error from him after a last minute slice from me on a deep shot. Then a 29 shots rally ending with a net duel, including a netcord from me. Feeling that lady luck was on my side again, we went to another tiebreak.

Each point was precious, and though he upped his level from previously in the set, he made 1 or 2 errors which made the difference, especially at 5-5. The last point was one of these points between us when one can feel where the other is going to play ; this time it was me.





Happy to win a first title in 2014 of course, beating some top players and moving well for the first time in 2014 as well. It was also important to show Richie is not invincible, and it's fun to see our H2H trend continue. Looks like the result of our next encounter is already decided.