2013 is over -- for me! Let's get into some details why.
Round Robin Match #1: butcher (Cilic) defeats VMoe86 (Haas) 6-3, 6-4After the groups were out I knew that match would be very important in the end. I could name at least five excuses for why I have lost this match, but in the end it came down to this: Focus! I was 2 out of 11 on Break Points, he was 4 out 4. These big points are of course easier to play (mentally speaking) when you are comfortable and confident in your game. I think I chose the right tactics, even winning more points on 1st Serve than he did (I was Haas and he was Cilic!). Congrats to butcher for winning this match, even though today it might have ended differently.
I was still convinced that I could reach SF, because I knew what I did wrong in that match. With that attitude and a healthy dose of confidence my journey continued.
Round Robin Match #2: VMoe86 (Haas) defeats Felipe.M (Harrison) 6-0, 6-1I saw Vramvrim's results against Felipe.M and butcher and thought this might be a more difficult match, but to my surprise it was not at all. One part of it was maybe due to him having stressful days with exams at university, but the other part was more about his game, which maybe has been too much based on AutoPosition. In flawless conditions (for Germany <-> Colombia, 200ms ping constant at 167ms delay) I could do pretty much what I wanted on court: Defend, attack, paint the lines, return well. Felipe is a nice guy and I wish him good luck next season!
After that match it was clear to me: If I beat Vramvrim, I will advance to SF! I was feeling good about my game, things were working well.
Round Robin Match #3: Vramvrim (Federer) defeats VMoe86 (Haas) 6-4, 7-6 (7)Here I am, having lost a match which I could have won if a few points here and there were a bit more favourable to me. I started well, 40-0 on serve, then the first netcord winner (first of many netcords to come
) gave him 40-15 and somehow I got broken, where I felt he did nothing. Same way I felt after I was down a double break, 0-3. Then suddenly I found my groove and punished his conservative game as Federer, getting back to 3-3. The match was starting to look like our great battles from Madrid and Wimbledon, with long rallies and Stamina getting lower and lower and him also taking more risks now. We pretty much neutralized each other from that point on. He got the edge for 4-3 with a break and almost won the set with another break for 6-3, but I was fighting and believed in a turnaround!
In the first set it wasn't meant to be, despite my 20 something winners compared to his 12 or so (don't remember exactly). Now, start of 2nd set, Stamina was around 50% for both of us. I got the better start in this battle and was up 4-1 (with one break), then he got back to 4-3, but I broke for 5-3 and was serving for the 2nd set. Being down 0-30, I got back to 30-30, hit a decent serve, his return touches the netcord, I get to it and slice it back, rush the net, get the pass I want and put the volley just a bit wide, break point for him instead of set point for me (my real life reaction was just an epic double facepalm!). Of course I got broken, he even got to 6-5, serving for the match. Here I got lucky with some deep shots.
A tie breaker had to decide this set. It kind of went like the set itself: I lead 4-1 (first point of this tie break I hit a nice short accell attack and he manages to hit a netcord winner off it!) with one mini-break, but he gets back the mini-break and also gets first match point at 6-5, but I save it to get a set point myself. In the end I made stupid choice with the drop shot and he won this match with Average Rally Length of 11. Congrats Vramvrim and good luck in SF!
ConclusionA season with several tight losses and 0 titles is just over for me. Of course I am remembering some matches very well, especially the match against Vramvrim at Wimbledon and that famous combination of beating butcher over three days and then losing one day later in three tie breaks to Richie at Roland Garros. These are the matches a competitor loves, which motivates me to play in 2014 (after all I lost too many of them!). I will put focus on some details in my game, won't take any extended break from playing TE in the time until next year and even though I will have a tight schedule in real life for most parts of next year (especially around Australian Open I will struggle
) I will give my best to remain among Top 8. Good luck to the remaining players in WTF and those in other tournaments!
by VMoe86 » Mon, 18 Nov 2013 17:45 
, rest is more or less as expected.
