Metz - Moselle Open 2012

[Elias]

Surface is indoor hard meaning if you don't like the included Metz court, you can use any other indoor hard court included in the mod to play your matches (if your opponent agree to). Rotterdam is probably one of the best ones.

[VMoe86]

A long break after an early exit at the US Open and my first match on the ITST was a good one: VMoe86 (Isner) defeats Kono (Berdych) 6-4, 6-4.

I expected a tough match for three reasons: Isner being the slowest guy in our roster, Berdych being quite strong and finally Kono showing some good results (despite some losses) on the tour. But Isner has this imposing serve and Kono maybe lacks a bit experience on returning serve, at least I hoped so.

Kono had a bit better start into the match than me, he was winning the rallies, but I was serving well. I got him to deuce at 1-1, but he held and suddenly I was down 0-40 on my serve -- and the serve bailing me out with two aces. But it wasn't over yet, he still got a fourth chance: Good one-two punch to save it.

Then at 3-3, I got such an opportunity as well. Some second serves from him helped me to get there and I took risks on them. However, three are rarely enough for me to break, so it got to deuce and I was staying tough there mentally, finally being rewarded on the sixth or seventh break point. Nothing serious then happened anymore in this set, I served it out with an ace.

I was quite confident about my game after the first set, lost only three points on serve in the second set and had the upper-hand in the rallies. I took advantage of second serves again at 1-1 and also had the chance to win the match at 5-3 in the second, but my serve was good today. Surprisingly I hit way more aces in the first set, but overall my game got better as the match lasted.

Good match Kono, you are on a good way. With Berdych it surely was difficult to return Isner's serve well, but you managed to get it in play at the end of the second set. Who knows how this match would have turned out if you had taken one of your break points? I wanted to win one match as Isner, mission accomplished.

Here are the stats:

[C4iLL]

Kono has no easy draws since the beginning :s

[Ugadalou]

Ugadalou (Gulbis) vs. G.Dimitrov(BUL) (Federer) 6-7/7-6/6-4

A very close match from start to finish.Unfortunately it was completed in the second day because the power supply went down (as in rain delay for indoor matches?? ).
Anyway in the match Dimitrov had many chances, in the first set I was serving to stay in the set and he goes 0-40 up but I save them all plus one ADV-break point which is for sure the best break point I've ever saved.However,in the Tie-breaker Dimi goes up,I come back to *5-4 ready to close it but he makes a strong comeback and wins the first set.
In the second set he had many chances to break in my first 2 service games again but I was determined and didn't let it happen.So TB once again, only this time I take it.
We had to stop playing at this point and played the deciding set today.Again Dimi had break chances early in the set but failed to capitalize, at 4-4 I had a glimpse of my first (!) break points in the whole match, converted and served it out.
Dimitrov had many chances, he was really unplayable on his service games serving with 70% 1st serve.Plus he has very successfully added net play in his game which makes him a very difficult opponent and all around player.I see in Malaysian Open he's seeded deservedly so, he's not a R16 opponent.
My QF is against the controversial Michael.D, I'm very interested to see his peculiar play-style.

Sets 1,2 stats:



Set 3 stats:

[C4iLL]

Dimitrov has set a new record : 11 break points opportunities 0 converted
Mutant, you can't be serious !!!

[VMoe86]

He still has to beat 1/14 -- I look at it as 13 break points missed, but he was close. Some nice rivalry Ugadalou and Dimitrov have there -- almost all the matches between you two are decided by few points here and there, so the head is important in these matches.

[C4iLL]

You did 1/13 Vmoe ?

[VMoe86]

You did 1/13 Vmoe ?

Yes, I did 1/14. It was against Robbintheboss who did not give me much chances, though.

[C4iLL]

That + the fact you lost against Fox with match point + 5-3 or 5-4 on your service in second set, make you one of the special guy of the tour

Report Carlos vs C4iLL, the big shock of the R16 round.

Carlos came here with 9 victories in a row, 0 defeat, 2 tournaments won I think ; me with a statute of semi-finalist of US Open to defend. Everybody wanted to watch the match and it was sometimes very spectacular !

Result : 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 for me.

First set : I had one break opportunity, I had a biiiiiiiig freeze of maybe 1 minute just when I hit the return, so didn't convert it. Apart that, no occasion for both of us. Tie-break was very close, he only lost it because of a mistake.

Second set : I relax a bit, failed concentration and been broken at the first game (as usual ). I put a lot of pressure on his services troughout the whole set (I had 15-40 situations at 2-1 I think) but never suceed in breaking him, he played really really well (he won 12/14 exchanges of 5-8 hits during that set !).
I was really impressed by his calm and intelligence playing. He doesn't take a lot of risk, but he plays with his head !
At the end 6-4 for him.

I was a bit frustrated at that moment because I made a lot of stupid errors, aiming too much the lines (and with a 250 ms ping it's very sensitive).

Anyway, third set I continue playing well, I transform myself into something like a super saiyan, playing at the level I had against Elias/Fox at US Open on one return game and I got a break. I was close to finish with a second break, but he played a great tennis during his last service to finally win it ; and afterwards, I won my serve and match 6-3.

I can definitely say this guy gonna be a danger for everybody here. His only little weakness today are his service and his volley for the very high level, but except that he has all the weapon of a top5/10. Good luck for the futur guys who gonna play him ^^

stats :
- 18 aces for me, 5 double faults ; 4 aces for him.
- 6 break opportunities for me, 1 converted ; 2 opportunities for him, 1 converted.
52 winners/39 faults for me ; 42/26 for him.

[Ugadalou]

C4iLL on fire!You must be on your top form mate .

[eliomelma]

Wow , C4ill , you are a public enemy!!! Incredible win against Carlos, i played against him one set and i lost 0-6!

EDIT by VMoe86: No need to quote the whole post of C4iLL, Elio.

[Ugadalou]

MichaelD (Federer) vs. Ugadalou (Gulbis) 7-6/6-3.

Michael is a solid player who you can tell by his movement and style has much on-court experience.I have a bitter taste from this match because I feel I didn't play as well as I could.Michael has a unique play style which throws the opponent off-rhythm and I fell into this trap.Mixing up his serves,using very slow wide or kick ones,then a boomer down the middle.Good shot selection in the rallies too,where he kept coming in and applying pressure.As far as the accusations for his returning are concerned,in our match he was moving strangely but I didn't have any problem hitting 21 aces nevertheless.In fact,it felt to me like he was guessing sides on returning.
In the match we both held serve comfortably,I saved a 15-40 situation at 5-5 in the 1st set but served 4 aces in a row and took the game.Then I played probably my worst TB so far, littered with errors and bad decisions-a very Gulbis- like tiebreak, djarvik would be proud!
In the second set I had a couple more of these Gulbis moments on a service game,the result was getting broken at 3-2 and then he finished it rather convicingly, not allowing me a chance to come back.
Maybe I was stunned and thrown off losing my rhythm today, but next time I'll be prepared, looking for a revanche!

Stats:

[Michael.D]

MichaelD (Federer) vs. Ugadalou (Gulbis) 7-6/6-3.

[...]

As far as the accusations for his returning are concerned,in our match he was moving strangely but I didn't have any problem hitting 21 aces nevertheless.In fact,it felt to me like he was guessing sides on returning.

Good Game, but I'm not guesser. Your serve is awesome

[C4iLL]

Quarter C4iLL vs PerfectAce (Raonic) = 6-3, 6-1.

There's only one thing to say about that rigged match : lag. It was a nightmare to play for both of us. I only try to put the ball on the court, without going to the net. With Raonic he had a lot of trouble in such difficult conditions ( he made 27 faults)

We had no fun at all and at the end the result doesn't mean anything. Usually the lag is not that huge :/

[VMoe86]

And Isner has been stopped: Algo4 (Murray) defeats VMoe86 (Isner) 6-3, 7-6 (4)

Well, there is not much to say about the match, it went kind of exactly how I imagined it. I knew that Algo is a good mover and so all I could do was prey for errors and hold serve. Once a rally started, the point was more or less lost. After all, Isner has "Varied" style, so not much bonus during the rally, and his bonus at the net was difficult to use because with 70 speed it is difficult to get to the net.

In the first set I made three errors after being 30-15 up on my serve when he was up 4-3 -- break for him and he served it out.

In the second set I was serving a bit better and played a bit better. I even had two set points, but he saved both of them with aces.

So it went to a tie-break, in which I made my first and only double fault of the match. This mini-break was enough for him.

Good match Algo and good luck in the SF!

Here are the stats:





Funny, 50% of long rallies won.