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Brian Swartz · 07-19-2015, 10:12 PM

CANADA MASTERS

Going in, there was a tie for the 16th seed between Anil Mehul and Julian Hammerstein. Hammerstein had just made the final at Washington to bridge a significant gap. I don't know if it was because of some tiebreaker or if the seedings were determined the week before, but Mehul got the spot -- and it didn't matter at all. Why? Because they were matched up in the first round! Literally, this was the worst possible first-round opponent he could draw. Since Hammerstein had more to gain and less to lose, having not played as many events and not most of the masters the previous year, Mehul needed to win this to have any chance of gaining the upper hand soon.

It was a tough, tense match as they tend to be between these two, and came down to the key moments. As he usually is, Hammerstein was best in those moments and won it 7-5, 6-4. He was 3-for-7 on break chances, Mehul 1-for-8. Having broken back to 5-all to stay in the first set, Mehul dropped the last two games. Later in the second, he had triple break point with Hammerstein serving at 1-2, and failed to convert any of them. Those two moments pretty much sealed this. It's the first time he's lost in the first round of a hard-court masters in almost two years.

The other Sri Lankans did better. Girish Girsh made the semifinals of the Beijing challenger, losing a close match to George Craighead(no. 61), 6-4, 7-6(4). A fine showing for him. Prakash Mooljee got his second tier-5 juniors title, moving him up to just inside the Top 500 and allowing him to finally break free. He'll have about a month off before heading into regular Tier-4 competition.

CINCINATTI MASTERS

Spasoje Kucerovic, the ninth seed, was the first obstacle this week and both of their previous matches have been tight with one going each way. That wasn't the case here, with Mehul dropping just five games in one of his more impressive matches of the year. He'd had a long week to contemplate the disappointment in Canada, and used it well. In the second round, he dropped only a single game in a very impressive display, giving him what was now his 7th chance in the round of 16 at a big event. The foe was certainly worthy of the occasion, Mick Elder. Unfortunately the seventh time was not the charm, Elder flattened him 6-2, 6-3. He's been playing very well lately, unlike early in the year at Brisbane when Mehul defeated him for the first time.

Neither loss was really a bad one, though both a little disappointing especially in not putting up more of a fight against Elder. He lost to better players both times, and got enough matches in to be ready for what will hopefully be a good run at the US Open. The goal of getting inside the Top 16 is still not realized however.

On the larger scene, Cincinatti was a coming-out party for Antonin Iglar. He beat Benda ... and then Goncharenko ... and then Prieto ... and then Elder in the final. The last pair of matches weren't even close. It's one of the most impressive things I've seen in a long time. Iglar's title is of course his first Masters Shield, and he moves up to #9 in the world, a legitimate member of the elite now and candidate for the World Tour Finals in a few months. He is still about three months shy of his 23rd birthday. By comparison, Gabriel Alastra took about another year to reach this level of achievement, though the all-time greats like Gorritepe, Sullivan, etc. got there a year or so quicker. Still, for a 22-year-old to breach the Top 10 is not something that happens often. Once a decade maybe at most. Nobody will be interested in seeing Antonin Iglar in their draw at the US Open, that much is certain.

After a week off, the focus of the tennis world will switch to Flushing Meadows. Girsh will try to back up his qualifying effort at Wimbledon by doing it again, and Mehul will attempt to improve on last year's third-round effort.

07-19-2015, 10:12 PM	#67
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CANADA MASTERS Going in, there was a tie for the 16th seed between Anil Mehul and Julian Hammerstein. Hammerstein had just made the final at Washington to bridge a significant gap. I don't know if it was because of some tiebreaker or if the seedings were determined the week before, but Mehul got the spot -- and it didn't matter at all. Why? Because they were matched up in the first round! Literally, this was the worst possible first-round opponent he could draw. Since Hammerstein had more to gain and less to lose, having not played as many events and not most of the masters the previous year, Mehul needed to win this to have any chance of gaining the upper hand soon. It was a tough, tense match as they tend to be between these two, and came down to the key moments. As he usually is, Hammerstein was best in those moments and won it 7-5, 6-4. He was 3-for-7 on break chances, Mehul 1-for-8. Having broken back to 5-all to stay in the first set, Mehul dropped the last two games. Later in the second, he had triple break point with Hammerstein serving at 1-2, and failed to convert any of them. Those two moments pretty much sealed this. It's the first time he's lost in the first round of a hard-court masters in almost two years. The other Sri Lankans did better. Girish Girsh made the semifinals of the Beijing challenger, losing a close match to George Craighead(no. 61), 6-4, 7-6(4). A fine showing for him. Prakash Mooljee got his second tier-5 juniors title, moving him up to just inside the Top 500 and allowing him to finally break free. He'll have about a month off before heading into regular Tier-4 competition. CINCINATTI MASTERS Spasoje Kucerovic, the ninth seed, was the first obstacle this week and both of their previous matches have been tight with one going each way. That wasn't the case here, with Mehul dropping just five games in one of his more impressive matches of the year. He'd had a long week to contemplate the disappointment in Canada, and used it well. In the second round, he dropped only a single game in a very impressive display, giving him what was now his 7th chance in the round of 16 at a big event. The foe was certainly worthy of the occasion, Mick Elder. Unfortunately the seventh time was not the charm, Elder flattened him 6-2, 6-3. He's been playing very well lately, unlike early in the year at Brisbane when Mehul defeated him for the first time. Neither loss was really a bad one, though both a little disappointing especially in not putting up more of a fight against Elder. He lost to better players both times, and got enough matches in to be ready for what will hopefully be a good run at the US Open. The goal of getting inside the Top 16 is still not realized however. On the larger scene, Cincinatti was a coming-out party for Antonin Iglar. He beat Benda ... and then Goncharenko ... and then Prieto ... and then Elder in the final. The last pair of matches weren't even close. It's one of the most impressive things I've seen in a long time. Iglar's title is of course his first Masters Shield, and he moves up to #9 in the world, a legitimate member of the elite now and candidate for the World Tour Finals in a few months. He is still about three months shy of his 23rd birthday. By comparison, Gabriel Alastra took about another year to reach this level of achievement, though the all-time greats like Gorritepe, Sullivan, etc. got there a year or so quicker. Still, for a 22-year-old to breach the Top 10 is not something that happens often. Once a decade maybe at most. Nobody will be interested in seeing Antonin Iglar in their draw at the US Open, that much is certain. After a week off, the focus of the tennis world will switch to Flushing Meadows. Girsh will try to back up his qualifying effort at Wimbledon by doing it again, and Mehul will attempt to improve on last year's third-round effort.