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Old 09-09-2015, 09:29 PM   #125
Brian Swartz
Grizzled Veteran
 
Join Date: May 2006
Canada Masters

Mehul was impressive in a 6-4, 6-4 win that was not that close against Perry Mockler, one of the most dangerous 'floaters' in the draw. He wasn't as sharp against Veniard in the second round, leading to a second meeting in as many weeks with Hogue. The turning point was with Hogue serving for the first set at 5-3. Mehul got triple break point to start ... and then lost the next five points to drop the set, got broken immediately to start the second, and the rout was on. 6-3, 6-1. It seems so long right now since that five-set epic he won against Hogue back at the Australian Open, which remains his only win in six meetings.

Hogue would go on to reach the final against Iglar, and then win just two games in a miserable letdown once he got there. Topolski and Goncharenko both lost in the third round as well, so nothing changed in terms of the Race. However, Topolski and David Prieto, last year's champion, both lost points since they didn't do as well as last year; Mehul went up a bit having lost in the first round in '39. The end result was that Anil Mehul moved up to a career-high 8th, earning him a better seeding for the time being ...

Cincinatti Masters

After a first-round bye and an easy win over a qualifier, it was time for the first clash in nearly a year with Julian Hammerstein. All of their hardcourt meetings have been close, and this was no exception, but the Austrian once again proved that, when well-prepared, he's just a bit better with a 6-3, 7-6(4) final. After making the semifinals of the first three big harcourt events of the year, back-to-back third-round exits are not expiring. It is clear that Mehul is not on top of his game right now. He's playing ok, but ok is not nearly good enough.

The tournament ended with a very competitive finish. Benda challenged Iglar's hardcourt hegemony in the final, taking a first-set tiebreak and an early lead in the second, but he couldn't finish. 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3 was the final with Antonin looking better every set.

The stage is now set for the US Open in two weeks. Mehul is still in 8th, meaning he won't have to face any of the best players until the quarterfinals, should he avoid being knocked out sooner. He's defending a semi-final result though, his first big breakthrough having come at this point last year. If he doesn't make another good run, which will require playing better than he has these last few weeks, he will assuredly drop back down again.
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