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Brian Swartz · 10-08-2017, 06:05 PM

2055 Australian Open

Mehul/Kroese made it to the quarterfinals, which is about what I'd expect of them these days. Lars Kroese has broken off our partnership a couple times, only to realize nobody better wants to play with him and reoffer. Against 4 seeds Srbulovic/Zopp, they won the first set in a close one, lost a second-set tiebreaker ... and then got bageled in the decider. Shyam Senepathy had a competitive 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 defeat against Alenichev to start off his year.

The seeds were perfect in the first round, with Fai Jue of Singapore one of the bigger stories. A veteran journeyman who has never ranked higher than 50th, he gave (30)Tristan Benitez a scare in a 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 scoreline. Tight match all the way through. The Argentine was the only seed to get in serious trouble at the first hurdle. Benitez lost in three in the next round though to Czech Damian Cortecedo, while his countryman Angel Zaferia, the lowest seed in the draw, narrowly escaped. Not a great start for Argentina.

A couple of moderate upsets in the third round, with some battles between players of the same nation. Two American upstarts, Matthew Panter and Dick Blake, went at it with Blake the fairly surprising winner in four. Now 31, Tomas Nicklas knocked out fellow Czech Schmucker in a match that went the full distance. Luc Janin beat Santos in four, a matchup of contemporaries and it seems they always entertain. Espinoza narrowly escaped Gregory Mackenzie in a five-setter, and Piazzola went to 8-6 in the 5th before moving on over another US player, Vinnie Cone. Mooljee had his first struggles against Alexey Alenichev(RUS) as well. After a first-set bagel of the Russian, it was a fight the rest of the way before he prevailed in four sets. Form held for the most part in 4th round as those who would advance to week two were decided. There was one very notable exception, as #2 Gillo Fangio was bounced by Rosenberg; in straights no less, 7-6(5), 7-6(6), 6-4. The Italian was the better player(slightly) on this day, and for someone of his mental prowess to lose in such a fashion is a rare thing indeed. He certainly can't be happy. Both of my players lost their opening sets but rallied to take the next three and move on. Dudwadkar stopped Ruben Piazzola for his second straight win in their rivalry, while Mooljee got the better of Sigmund Kronecker.

Seven of the top eight into the quarterfinals, plus (13) Valentin Rosenberg(SWE), continuing his strong play from the previous year. And he wasn't done, dumping Ritwik Dudwadkar 5-7. 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. Ritwik was more consistent but he couldn't stop Valentin when he really bore down at multiple points in the match, and it cost him as this was definitely an opportunity for a deep run. Prakash Mooljee did not better, failing at the end as Zarco got him 7-5 in the final set. The superior player did not win here; 6 of 9 on BPs for the Spaniard, 5 of 14 for Mooljee. Very frustrating to see both players lose in this fashion; they had a great chance at an all-Sri Lanka semi with one going on to the final. On the top side, it was routine stuff with Kaspar over Johnny Browne, Guus Dircx over Teng.

Dircx actually took the first set in a tiebreak over Mateo Kaspar, but it got worse for him after that. The last three went 6-4, 6-2, 6-0. Martin Zarco wasn't able to stop the Swiss train losing in four in the other semifinal. Valentin Rosenberg was obliterated in the final though, losing seven games. That's what happens when you play Kaspar ... whatever you did before that, he's still going to teach you a lesson. Still, Valentin's only prior QF appearance at a Slam was last year's USO, so making the final here was huge for him, propelling the 24-year-old into the Top 10.

10-08-2017, 06:05 PM	#693
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	2055 Australian Open Mehul/Kroese made it to the quarterfinals, which is about what I'd expect of them these days. Lars Kroese has broken off our partnership a couple times, only to realize nobody better wants to play with him and reoffer. Against 4 seeds Srbulovic/Zopp, they won the first set in a close one, lost a second-set tiebreaker ... and then got bageled in the decider. Shyam Senepathy had a competitive 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 defeat against Alenichev to start off his year. The seeds were perfect in the first round, with Fai Jue of Singapore one of the bigger stories. A veteran journeyman who has never ranked higher than 50th, he gave (30)Tristan Benitez a scare in a 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 scoreline. Tight match all the way through. The Argentine was the only seed to get in serious trouble at the first hurdle. Benitez lost in three in the next round though to Czech Damian Cortecedo, while his countryman Angel Zaferia, the lowest seed in the draw, narrowly escaped. Not a great start for Argentina. A couple of moderate upsets in the third round, with some battles between players of the same nation. Two American upstarts, Matthew Panter and Dick Blake, went at it with Blake the fairly surprising winner in four. Now 31, Tomas Nicklas knocked out fellow Czech Schmucker in a match that went the full distance. Luc Janin beat Santos in four, a matchup of contemporaries and it seems they always entertain. Espinoza narrowly escaped Gregory Mackenzie in a five-setter, and Piazzola went to 8-6 in the 5th before moving on over another US player, Vinnie Cone. Mooljee had his first struggles against Alexey Alenichev(RUS) as well. After a first-set bagel of the Russian, it was a fight the rest of the way before he prevailed in four sets. Form held for the most part in 4th round as those who would advance to week two were decided. There was one very notable exception, as #2 Gillo Fangio was bounced by Rosenberg; in straights no less, 7-6(5), 7-6(6), 6-4. The Italian was the better player(slightly) on this day, and for someone of his mental prowess to lose in such a fashion is a rare thing indeed. He certainly can't be happy. Both of my players lost their opening sets but rallied to take the next three and move on. Dudwadkar stopped Ruben Piazzola for his second straight win in their rivalry, while Mooljee got the better of Sigmund Kronecker. Seven of the top eight into the quarterfinals, plus (13) Valentin Rosenberg(SWE), continuing his strong play from the previous year. And he wasn't done, dumping Ritwik Dudwadkar 5-7. 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. Ritwik was more consistent but he couldn't stop Valentin when he really bore down at multiple points in the match, and it cost him as this was definitely an opportunity for a deep run. Prakash Mooljee did not better, failing at the end as Zarco got him 7-5 in the final set. The superior player did not win here; 6 of 9 on BPs for the Spaniard, 5 of 14 for Mooljee. Very frustrating to see both players lose in this fashion; they had a great chance at an all-Sri Lanka semi with one going on to the final. On the top side, it was routine stuff with Kaspar over Johnny Browne, Guus Dircx over Teng. Dircx actually took the first set in a tiebreak over Mateo Kaspar, but it got worse for him after that. The last three went 6-4, 6-2, 6-0. Martin Zarco wasn't able to stop the Swiss train losing in four in the other semifinal. Valentin Rosenberg was obliterated in the final though, losing seven games. That's what happens when you play Kaspar ... whatever you did before that, he's still going to teach you a lesson. Still, Valentin's only prior QF appearance at a Slam was last year's USO, so making the final here was huge for him, propelling the 24-year-old into the Top 10.