Front Office Football Central - View Single Post

Brian Swartz · 11-05-2022, 12:12 AM

Paris Masters

For no good reason I can think of, #4 Themis Xantos (CYP) skipped this tournament. It wasn't accidental - he decided to play what had to be an inefficient practice event instead. On top of that the usual strangeness with an indoor tournament, with multiple seeds in the low teens losing their first match, others coming close to losing and winning in close three-setters. With just 16 seeds, some of the unseeded players are not actually much of an upset.

After nearly becoming an upset victim himself, [b](13) Dominic Stricker (SUI)[/], who we've not had much cause to mention this year, edged past Solitris Papadias 6-2, 6-7(3), 7-6(2). A second straight early defeat for the Greek no. 2; is this a developing pattern, or just a bit of a slump? German qualifier Davide de Laurentis, just missing out on not being a qualifier as he's ranked in the mid-30s, made it to the third round before Bardales told him to go away. And at the bottom of the quarterfinals two double-digit seeds made it in. (10) Eddy Copperfield didn't like the fact that we don't talk about him anymore, rallying against (4) Jochen Weigle 2-6, 7-5, 6-1. Similarly, (8) Johann Przalowik took his first top-8 seed and won the first set, then was a comeback victim against (11) Raul Ramirez.

The quarterfinals then still had the Big Three and four of the top five, but more of a hodge-podge after that with Stricker being the lowest-ranked to make it. He was promptly bageled by Faille and limited to two total games won. Leon Polychroniadis exited earlier than expected against Oleg Urazov, 6-2, 7-6(8). Toni Bardales was easily dismissed by Cananis, and Copperfield rallied against Ramirez in a fun 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 match for the last QF.

Straight-sets for both Ben Faille over Urazov, although one was a tiebreak, and Renke Cananis over Copperfield, with only the loss of four games there. The final was a little more competitive, but only a little. With the crowd fully behind him, Faille would not be denied, taking another title 6-1, 7-5. Cananis and Polychroniadis remain close for the #2 spot, but Faille is consistently pulling away at the top. Meanwhile with the run to the semifinals, Urazov is showing signs of inching his way upwards as well.

Elsewhere ...

Abijan, Cote de Ivoire was the site for Aparna Chandrasekharan to play his final amateur. It was more competitive than the others he's played in lately, and he lost a close final to unseeded German Otto Amstdater that went the distance; four points separated them out of 230 total. That was of little consequence however as Chandrasekharan had more than enough points to join the low end of the futures ranks. He lost in the third round of doubles. Now we will see if he can begin to consolidate that position.

11-05-2022, 12:12 AM	#1314
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Paris Masters For no good reason I can think of, #4 Themis Xantos (CYP) skipped this tournament. It wasn't accidental - he decided to play what had to be an inefficient practice event instead. On top of that the usual strangeness with an indoor tournament, with multiple seeds in the low teens losing their first match, others coming close to losing and winning in close three-setters. With just 16 seeds, some of the unseeded players are not actually much of an upset. After nearly becoming an upset victim himself, [b](13) Dominic Stricker (SUI)[/], who we've not had much cause to mention this year, edged past Solitris Papadias 6-2, 6-7(3), 7-6(2). A second straight early defeat for the Greek no. 2; is this a developing pattern, or just a bit of a slump? German qualifier Davide de Laurentis, just missing out on not being a qualifier as he's ranked in the mid-30s, made it to the third round before Bardales told him to go away. And at the bottom of the quarterfinals two double-digit seeds made it in. (10) Eddy Copperfield didn't like the fact that we don't talk about him anymore, rallying against (4) Jochen Weigle 2-6, 7-5, 6-1. Similarly, (8) Johann Przalowik took his first top-8 seed and won the first set, then was a comeback victim against (11) Raul Ramirez. The quarterfinals then still had the Big Three and four of the top five, but more of a hodge-podge after that with Stricker being the lowest-ranked to make it. He was promptly bageled by Faille and limited to two total games won. Leon Polychroniadis exited earlier than expected against Oleg Urazov, 6-2, 7-6(8). Toni Bardales was easily dismissed by Cananis, and Copperfield rallied against Ramirez in a fun 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 match for the last QF. Straight-sets for both Ben Faille over Urazov, although one was a tiebreak, and Renke Cananis over Copperfield, with only the loss of four games there. The final was a little more competitive, but only a little. With the crowd fully behind him, Faille would not be denied, taking another title 6-1, 7-5. Cananis and Polychroniadis remain close for the #2 spot, but Faille is consistently pulling away at the top. Meanwhile with the run to the semifinals, Urazov is showing signs of inching his way upwards as well. Elsewhere ... Abijan, Cote de Ivoire was the site for Aparna Chandrasekharan to play his final amateur. It was more competitive than the others he's played in lately, and he lost a close final to unseeded German Otto Amstdater that went the distance; four points separated them out of 230 total. That was of little consequence however as Chandrasekharan had more than enough points to join the low end of the futures ranks. He lost in the third round of doubles. Now we will see if he can begin to consolidate that position.