Front Office Football Central - View Single Post

Brian Swartz · 10-19-2015, 04:08 AM

Madrid Masters

Girsh needed and got a favorable first-round draw against Russian qualifier Efim Lipovsky, brushing him aside easily. Marcek was up in the next round and Girsh did well to take a set before falling, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. No shame there.

Mehul took three sets to come through against Swede Olav Birkeland in his second-round match; he's dominated that matchup with six wins in as many encounters so it was a little tougher than expected. He then routined Thiago Herrera to make the quarterfinals where David Alvarez waited. Alvarez has clearly established himself as the second-best clay player in the world the last couple of years, and so a competitive 6-4, 7-5 loss -- though it wasn't quite as close as that scoreline would indicate -- was a very credible result.

Rome Masters

It was more of the same, with Girish Girsh astonishingly drawing Lipovsky again, though this time the Russian didn't have to qualify. Switzerland's Roger Federer -- gotta love the originality of some people with the 'idol worship' names -- presently 40th in the world, was a good second-round test and Girsh passed 6-3, 7-6(4). On to the round of 16 ... where it was Marcek again. Guh. He wasn't playful this time, handing out a pair of breadsticks en route to the final as Iglar and Goncharenko would fall in his wake. A fine run for the Czech no. 2 here.

Mehul dusted off Mockler 4 & 4, Blanco in straight sets as well, and had another shot at David Almagro, who'd beaten him in the Monte Carlo semis. Another quarterfinal is a good finish, but after a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat he left the court frustrated and believing he should have won it. He won 40% of the points on Almagro's serve, but just 3 of 17 break chances and was just edged 95-93 in total points. Probably he should have won this one, but it almost certainly would have meant getting beat by Benda in the next round. The German won both Madrid & Rome to the surprise of nobody, upping his Masters total to 8, equaling Alastra and Iglar among others at that number.

Coming Up ...

Heading into Roland Garros both players are feeling good about themselves. Girsh has tied his career-high at 29th and looks secure. He lost in the first round at RG and Wimbledon last year, has no other points coming off in the interim, and since he'll be seeded this year he has the chance to start making up some ground on those ahead of him. Mehul has had a stellar clay season, by far the best of his career, and moved up a spot to a new high of 6th as Elder's free-fall continues. He'll be looking to at least equal last year's QF finish.

10-19-2015, 04:08 AM	#170
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Madrid Masters Girsh needed and got a favorable first-round draw against Russian qualifier Efim Lipovsky, brushing him aside easily. Marcek was up in the next round and Girsh did well to take a set before falling, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. No shame there. Mehul took three sets to come through against Swede Olav Birkeland in his second-round match; he's dominated that matchup with six wins in as many encounters so it was a little tougher than expected. He then routined Thiago Herrera to make the quarterfinals where David Alvarez waited. Alvarez has clearly established himself as the second-best clay player in the world the last couple of years, and so a competitive 6-4, 7-5 loss -- though it wasn't quite as close as that scoreline would indicate -- was a very credible result. Rome Masters It was more of the same, with Girish Girsh astonishingly drawing Lipovsky again, though this time the Russian didn't have to qualify. Switzerland's Roger Federer -- gotta love the originality of some people with the 'idol worship' names -- presently 40th in the world, was a good second-round test and Girsh passed 6-3, 7-6(4). On to the round of 16 ... where it was Marcek again. Guh. He wasn't playful this time, handing out a pair of breadsticks en route to the final as Iglar and Goncharenko would fall in his wake. A fine run for the Czech no. 2 here. Mehul dusted off Mockler 4 & 4, Blanco in straight sets as well, and had another shot at David Almagro, who'd beaten him in the Monte Carlo semis. Another quarterfinal is a good finish, but after a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat he left the court frustrated and believing he should have won it. He won 40% of the points on Almagro's serve, but just 3 of 17 break chances and was just edged 95-93 in total points. Probably he should have won this one, but it almost certainly would have meant getting beat by Benda in the next round. The German won both Madrid & Rome to the surprise of nobody, upping his Masters total to 8, equaling Alastra and Iglar among others at that number. Coming Up ... Heading into Roland Garros both players are feeling good about themselves. Girsh has tied his career-high at 29th and looks secure. He lost in the first round at RG and Wimbledon last year, has no other points coming off in the interim, and since he'll be seeded this year he has the chance to start making up some ground on those ahead of him. Mehul has had a stellar clay season, by far the best of his career, and moved up a spot to a new high of 6th as Elder's free-fall continues. He'll be looking to at least equal last year's QF finish.