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Brian Swartz · 05-08-2015, 03:07 AM

2038 Miami Masters

For Amrik Chittoor it was a repeat of Indian Wells. A good run through qualifying, then a quick beatdown in the first round of the main draw. Argentinian veteran Patrick Rafter surrendered just four games.
It was similar for Mehul as well. New Zealand's Arsenio Antuofermo(world no. 37) was beaten 6-3, 6-4 in the first. That brought up a matchup with a beatable seed, another fairly kind draw.

Tihomir Hreglic(CRO, 21st) was the obstacle. Hreglic is not quite as good from the baseline as Mehul nor as comfortable on the hard courts, but he has a much better serve and is a very mentally tough player, always doing his best in the key moments. Anil gave it a run but Tihomir prevailed 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2. The Croatian saved all three break points he faced and his first serve was impregnable(14 aces, 67% won). If he hadn't been having a great day in terms of accuracy -- he only missed 12 of his first serves, 12% of the total -- Mehul would have had a real chance to pull off the upset.

The final round of group play in the WTC is a bit anticlimactic for Sri Lanka. That's coming up next week, and we'll find out who we face in the quarterfinals.

Long-range Outlook

Anil Mehul turned 22 the first week of the Miami Masters, which seemed a good time to take a look at how his career is progressing. He's been moving steadily upwards this year, these last couple weeks playing at the level of probably a Top 30 player though his ranking is still in the 60s. There are only five players ranked ahead of him who are shy of their 21st birthday, an indicator that many bigger things are ahead of him.

Amrik Chittoor's days in my stable of players are numbered. He's not as good of an athlete, though skill wise he's not far behind Mehul and a year younger. I don't think he has the ability to rise too much further than he has, and I'll be surprised if he ever cracks the Top 50.

Girish Girsh is the future. He's very similar in talent to Mehul, not quite as dedicated, a little more mentally tough, physically very similar though probably a shade behind. Girsh is a little ahead of the pace though in developing his skills and it's not out of the question that he'll become the best player of the group. In a year or two, Chittoor will be jettisoned in favor of a new junior player and Girsh will eventually take his place on the national WTC team. It's a question of when, not if.

05-08-2015, 03:07 AM	#11
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	2038 Miami Masters For Amrik Chittoor it was a repeat of Indian Wells. A good run through qualifying, then a quick beatdown in the first round of the main draw. Argentinian veteran Patrick Rafter surrendered just four games. It was similar for Mehul as well. New Zealand's Arsenio Antuofermo(world no. 37) was beaten 6-3, 6-4 in the first. That brought up a matchup with a beatable seed, another fairly kind draw. Tihomir Hreglic(CRO, 21st) was the obstacle. Hreglic is not quite as good from the baseline as Mehul nor as comfortable on the hard courts, but he has a much better serve and is a very mentally tough player, always doing his best in the key moments. Anil gave it a run but Tihomir prevailed 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2. The Croatian saved all three break points he faced and his first serve was impregnable(14 aces, 67% won). If he hadn't been having a great day in terms of accuracy -- he only missed 12 of his first serves, 12% of the total -- Mehul would have had a real chance to pull off the upset. The final round of group play in the WTC is a bit anticlimactic for Sri Lanka. That's coming up next week, and we'll find out who we face in the quarterfinals. Long-range Outlook Anil Mehul turned 22 the first week of the Miami Masters, which seemed a good time to take a look at how his career is progressing. He's been moving steadily upwards this year, these last couple weeks playing at the level of probably a Top 30 player though his ranking is still in the 60s. There are only five players ranked ahead of him who are shy of their 21st birthday, an indicator that many bigger things are ahead of him. Amrik Chittoor's days in my stable of players are numbered. He's not as good of an athlete, though skill wise he's not far behind Mehul and a year younger. I don't think he has the ability to rise too much further than he has, and I'll be surprised if he ever cracks the Top 50. Girish Girsh is the future. He's very similar in talent to Mehul, not quite as dedicated, a little more mentally tough, physically very similar though probably a shade behind. Girsh is a little ahead of the pace though in developing his skills and it's not out of the question that he'll become the best player of the group. In a year or two, Chittoor will be jettisoned in favor of a new junior player and Girsh will eventually take his place on the national WTC team. It's a question of when, not if.