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Brian Swartz · 07-13-2015, 08:51 PM

WIMBLEDON

Girish Girsh got his introduction to Grand Slam competition as anticipated. He was bounced in the first round of doubles qualifying, but did better in the singles. The biggest obstacle was in the second round, a match he should have lost, but he took advantage of a brief dip by his opponent and pulled through 6-3, 7-6(2). In the main draw, he was matched up against world no. 2 Mick Elder in a hilarious mismatch. The predictable beatdown was by a final of 6-0, 6-2, 6-1, with only five points won on Elder's serve. The success was in reaching the main draw itself though.

Anil Mehul had a qualifier himself first, winning with the loss of only five games. In the second round, Peruvian Arnaldo Barranco waited. They'd played once last year with Mehul winning a close match -- Barranco is a veteran who is still hanging around as a competitive Top 50 player. He was tough early, winning the second and third sets before Mehul rallied to not beat him so much as outlast him, 7-6(2), 4-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. It was Mehul's first five-set match in his career, and allowed him to best last year's result here.

The third round brought a clash with Antonin Iglar, a chance to see how he matched up with the best player of his generation. It was close, but Iglar won it 7-5 in the fifth after another long, epic match. Iglar would go on to beat Julian Hammerstein in five again in the next round, demonstrating how closely matched the three of them are. There will be many more meetings to come, but Antonin won this round.

There were many surprises to come, none greater than four-time defending champion Gabriel Alastra being knocked out in the fourth round by no. 9 Viktor Goncharenko. At the same stage, Elder was also sent home by no. 14 Andres Blanco, while unseeded veteran Jean-Luc Veniard of Monaco joined the quarterfinals as well. After the established powers had impressively flexed their muscles all year long, here at Wimbledon the applecart was completely overturned.

Goncharenko went on to beat Benda in four to reach the final, where he outlasted David Prieto in a classic, ultimately prevailing 8-6 in the fifth. Prior to this event he had never gone further than a quarterfinal at a Slam, and Wimbledon had been his worst of the four the last three years running! He'll have fond memories of this to be sure, his maiden Slam crown at the most prestigious of them all. It certainly sets the stage for what promises to be a fascinating second half of 2039.

07-13-2015, 08:51 PM	#61
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	WIMBLEDON Girish Girsh got his introduction to Grand Slam competition as anticipated. He was bounced in the first round of doubles qualifying, but did better in the singles. The biggest obstacle was in the second round, a match he should have lost, but he took advantage of a brief dip by his opponent and pulled through 6-3, 7-6(2). In the main draw, he was matched up against world no. 2 Mick Elder in a hilarious mismatch. The predictable beatdown was by a final of 6-0, 6-2, 6-1, with only five points won on Elder's serve. The success was in reaching the main draw itself though. Anil Mehul had a qualifier himself first, winning with the loss of only five games. In the second round, Peruvian Arnaldo Barranco waited. They'd played once last year with Mehul winning a close match -- Barranco is a veteran who is still hanging around as a competitive Top 50 player. He was tough early, winning the second and third sets before Mehul rallied to not beat him so much as outlast him, 7-6(2), 4-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. It was Mehul's first five-set match in his career, and allowed him to best last year's result here. The third round brought a clash with Antonin Iglar, a chance to see how he matched up with the best player of his generation. It was close, but Iglar won it 7-5 in the fifth after another long, epic match. Iglar would go on to beat Julian Hammerstein in five again in the next round, demonstrating how closely matched the three of them are. There will be many more meetings to come, but Antonin won this round. There were many surprises to come, none greater than four-time defending champion Gabriel Alastra being knocked out in the fourth round by no. 9 Viktor Goncharenko. At the same stage, Elder was also sent home by no. 14 Andres Blanco, while unseeded veteran Jean-Luc Veniard of Monaco joined the quarterfinals as well. After the established powers had impressively flexed their muscles all year long, here at Wimbledon the applecart was completely overturned. Goncharenko went on to beat Benda in four to reach the final, where he outlasted David Prieto in a classic, ultimately prevailing 8-6 in the fifth. Prior to this event he had never gone further than a quarterfinal at a Slam, and Wimbledon had been his worst of the four the last three years running! He'll have fond memories of this to be sure, his maiden Slam crown at the most prestigious of them all. It certainly sets the stage for what promises to be a fascinating second half of 2039.