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Old 04-04-2016, 08:17 PM   #302
Brian Swartz
Grizzled Veteran
 
Join Date: May 2006
Canada Masters

Mehul and Girsh were both drawn into the same quarter, a bit of luck that is either good or bad depending on how you look at it; very good odds that at least one would make the semis. Shreya Ujjaval did his usual as of late, qualifying and getting a first-round win before meekly bowing out to Caratti.

Anil Mehul had a rough third-round match against Perry Mockler, almost going out to the fading American before prevailing in a final-set tiebreak. Girsh swatted aside an exhausted Gustavo Caratti, setting up the second matchup this year between the two.

This was the fifth competitive meeting between the two, and for the first time the junior player prevailed in a classic, 7-6(3), 6-7(4), 6-4. Could have gone either way, Mehul probably should have won, but Girsh's mental game prevailed over 20 aces from Anil, who is the defending champion here. Ultimately it came down him needing the win more. The point count was 116-115, about as close as it gets.

In the semis Benda awaited, having just survived a three-tiebreak affair with Thiago Herrera. Having lost his last three and seven of eight in this matchup, things weren't looking any rosier for Girsh to advance further. Again he lost the total points count by one ... but found a way to win a match he was on the losing side of a coin-flip on overall, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Back-to-back super-tight victories against his closest competitors in terms of overall ability ... I can't remember the last time Girsh managed that. I don't think there is really a precedent, and he advanced to his first Masters final.

A 20th straight loss to Iglar followed, 4 & 4. That's 21 consecutive sets as well, for those of you scoring at home. The last time he took one off the world no. 1 was at Shanghai nearly a year ago. But it was still one heck of a run here, and one that should end the conflict over the #4 spot in the rankings. That now belongs to Girsh, with Marcek bowing out in the quarterfinals to Gaskell.


Elsewhere ...

At the Trani Challenger, the top 5 seeds were all in the 100th-120th spots in the rankings. Prakash Mooljee was fourth among that group. He managed to qualify in doubles, but then lost in the first round. Better than most events, but not enough to make any real progress. Mostly he had solid wins, although a second-round clash with Sri Lanka veteran Rakesh Kuttikad was interesting. It was brutal also, a double-bagel beatdown. The tournament was basically decided in the semifinals against Falk Gries, a German journeyman who once was ranked 11th in the world, but at nearly 34 years old was just hanging onto respectability. It was a strange match; Gries was more consistent, while Mooljee played brilliant at times, and terribly at others. In the end, he got through as he generally does, with a narrow 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 comeback win, and had a relatively easy victory in the final to claim his second straight title and fourth challenger overall. Mooljee is now knocking on the door of the Top 100.


Cincinatti Masters

Ujjaval wisely took the week off here to practice, and the opening rounds were pretty similar to last week otherwhise. Girsh got Mockler this time in the third round, and won a close straight-setter. Mehul once again had to survive a final-set tiebreak, this time against Roger Federer. Both were in to the quarters again, but this time on opposite sides of the bracket.

Caratti made a nice run here, but was beaten in a competitive match by Mehul. Girish Girsh had to contend with hardcourt specialist Radek Smitala, and took his third win in four meetings but it was a real battle, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Meanwhile, Mugur Kinczllers upset Benda in a final-set breaker, the second time he's knocked off the German early this year in a Masters. That's an interesting little rivalry developing there.

Both semifinals were fairly anti-climactic. Iglar brushed aside Girsh again, competitive but not good enough as has often been the case. Mehul gave Kinczllers similar treatment. The final was even worse, with Iglar's impressive run this year continuing by the disappointingly lopsided count of 6-3, 6-1. It was as ugly as that indicated. We're back to the point, at least right now, where he has no real competition on the hardcourts. It's his 23rd Masters Shield, which ties for 4th all-time.

This might have been the best two weeks Girsh has ever put together, and he's got a lot of momentum now heading into the US Open. With Marcek an upset victim in the third round, he appears to be going exactly the opposite direction. The #4 spot is now firmly in the possession of Girsh, and he should soon be able to turn his attention to loftier matters.

Coming Up ...

A week off for everyone, and then the year's final Slam.
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