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Post by Brinyi on Apr 30, 2012 11:17:27 GMT -5
Brian Baker continued his come back, by titling at the Savannah $50 without losing a set. P.Polansky had a nice win over top seed Tursunov and made the QF. V.Pospisil also made the QF and the 2-seed, losing to Augustin Gensse. In the oddball match of the week, R.Ginperi def. W.Odesnik, 76(2) 75.
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Post by Brinyi on Apr 30, 2012 11:31:33 GMT -5
Futures roundup: Former USO jr champ and child actor Oliver Golding won a $10K in Bournemouth, his first pro title. He then got in a Twitter flame war with the losing finalist, Andrew Fitzpatrick. AF accused OG of being ungracious, and OG accused AF of making excuses for his loss
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Post by Brinyi on May 3, 2012 12:38:32 GMT -5
For some reason, #27 Crunchy Granollers is playing the $125K Tunis challenger. His 2R opponent will be Matteo "Sweet Music" VIOLA. Some 1R Tunis highlights: J. CHARDY [2] def. M. BASIC (SE) 64 64 Resurgent L. OUAHAB (WC) def. P. TOREBKO, 64 46 75 M. JAZIRI [3] def. M. TEIXEIRA, 63 36 64 Edinburgh Futures: Oli Golding, perhaps weakened by that exhausting Twitter war, lost 2R to DE GREEF, Arthur [7], 3-2 Ret.
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Post by Brinyi on May 9, 2012 9:57:49 GMT -5
Ruben Geezer-Hidalgo keeps chugging along - def. Chardy to win the Tunis $125K. Resurgent Ouahab almost toppled Chardy in 2R, but lost a third set TB. On the Futures tour: Former jr ace Damir DZUMHUR, now 19yo, is coming along nicely - he took his third Futures title of the year last week in Doboj. I see he also qualified for the main draws of two challengers in Brazil this year, as well. In Vero Beach, Tennys Sandgren made it to the semis, losing to Aussie John Patrick Smith in the final. Smith played at the Uni of Tennessee and was NCAA #1 in 2010. Antalya final: Arnau BRUGUES-DAVI (ESP) [1] 6-2 6-4 Brydan KLEIN (AUS) [2] In Sanremo, 16yp #5 jr Gianluigi QUINZI got a WC and won his 1R match, 6-2 6-4 over Gianni Mina. He then lost to wily 31yo TORRESI, Federico.
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Post by Brinyi on May 11, 2012 12:07:11 GMT -5
Polansky has put together a nice week at the Athens challenger, where he is through to the semis. Wins have been over: - Gerry Granola, 67(5) 76(4) 76(3) - Alexander KUDRYAVTSEV, 3-0 ret. - Jamie Baker, 2 & 4. Matosevic will be his semifinal opponent. The head to head favours Matosevic (Wimby 1R and Ojai Challenger, both in straights in 2010).
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Post by Brinyi on May 15, 2012 9:34:47 GMT -5
Fix that clock, please.
From ATP.com
Australian Samuel Groth hit an ace recorded at 163.4 mph (263 kph) Wednesday during an ATP Challenger event in Busan, South Korea. The serve, which came during Groth’s second-round defeat to Belarusian Uladzimir Ignatik, is the fastest ever recorded at a professional tennis event.
The ATP does not officially recognise service speed records because of the variance in radar guns, but confirmed that the event was using approved equipment, and that other data gathered appeared within a normal range.
Currently, the fastest-recorded serve at an ATP World Tour or Davis Cup level event is a 156 mph (251 kph) rocket hit by Croatian Ivo Karlovic during a Davis Cup tie between Croatia and Germany in Zagreb in March, 2011.
Groth hit two other serves recorded at 157.5 mph (253.5 kph) and 158.9 mph (255.7 kph) respectively in the same match.
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Post by Brinyi on May 15, 2012 9:46:05 GMT -5
In Athens, Polansky lost that semi to eventual champ Matosevic. Another WC for Quinzi in Rome last week - he lost 3 and 0 to the notorious Boris Pashanski. The eventual chap there was once-promising Pole Jerzy Janowicz, who had some nice wins over Ouanna and Gulbis. Maybe something will come of him yet (or else we can write off Gulbis, or both, or neither...)
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Post by Brinyi on May 18, 2012 11:13:14 GMT -5
Only 2 seeds survived the 1R at the Bordeaux $85K, and none survived the 2R. The casualties included Chardy, Darcis, Geezer-Hidalgo, Paire and Phau. Yuki Bhambri has reached the semis of a really weak Uzbek challenger. At the Tampa $10K, Bjorn Fratangelo took out top seed Gerry Melzer to reach the QF. His opponent will be former Great Canadian Hope Philip Bester. Tennys Sandgren is also through to the quarters, as is 18yo Duke recruit Michael REDLICKI. Future GOAT Gianluigi Quinzi is trying his hand at the $10K level this week, and has made it to the QF. He has an interesting test versus 34yo Alessio Di Mauro, who sill always live in infamy as the first player to be sanctioned for wagering on matches.
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Post by Brinyi on May 23, 2012 11:27:36 GMT -5
Yuki BHAMBRI won that really weak Uzbek $35K. Futures dénouements: Tampa, Final: Tennys SANDGREN (USA) [2] 6-1 6-3 Bjorn FRATANGELO (USA) Bug server Sam Grothosov won the Korea Futures. In Brcko, rampant Damir Dzumhur won his 4th Futures of the year.
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Post by janie on May 23, 2012 15:18:53 GMT -5
I guess this makes Yuki officially the best of the Bhambri tennis clan. The female Bhambris need to seek out some really weak 25Ks in Uzbekistan. Unless they're all retired these days; I've lost touch with their doings. Maybe Boreas knows.
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Post by Brinyi on May 24, 2012 8:14:47 GMT -5
25yo Ankita has not played since 2009. Not sure why.
24yo Sanaa plays for NC State Uni.
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Post by janie on May 24, 2012 9:45:11 GMT -5
Thank you, Brinyi! I didn't realize those Bhambris were so elderly. There's a younger one, too: Prerna, age 19, who plays Indian ITFs. In fact just today or yesterday she lost in the quarters in a 10K in New Delhi:
(Q)Simran Kaur Sethi (IND) d. (2)Prerna Bhambri (IND) 41 Ret.
Wrong thread, though. I hope I won't get banned for this infraction!
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Post by Brinyi on May 24, 2012 11:37:15 GMT -5
Thanks Janie, sorry I forgot young Prerna. She is sensibly pursuing a college education in India, I see.
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Post by Brinyi on May 28, 2012 11:01:39 GMT -5
I see that Federico Coria is still at it. He reached the semis of a Chilean Futures last week, as sixth seed. Former top 5 jr Diulio Berretta, out of Peru, lost the final of a Peruvian Futures to Renzo OLIVO (ARG). At the $10K in Morocco, the final: Hans PODLIPNIK-CASTILLO (CHI) [1] 6-4 6-1 Lamine OUAHAB (ALG) [6] Yannick "Agency" Reuter made the semis. Former top 10 jr, 20yo Kevin KRAWIETZ (GER), titled at the Bucharest Futures competition. Thiemo DE BAKKER is reduced to the $10K circuit. He reached the final in Getxo, losing to Andrea ARNABOLDI (ITA). Domenic THIEM, who did the Yucatan/Herr/OB triple last year and is 18yo, made the semis in the Czech Republic. He has lost to the same guy the past 2 weeks, 22yo Slovak Andrej MARTIN (himself a former top ten jr). It's a jungle out there.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 7, 2012 12:12:01 GMT -5
LOL at Verdasco, who surely took a whack of appearance $$$ to slum in Prostejov, and lost 1R to qualifier SEMJAN, Marek. The other high profile WCs, Mayer and Stepanek, have made it to the last 8. Semjan is ranked 1166, although in fairness he was in the top 218 two years ago.
The grass season has begun in Nottingham, and we have a boffo R.Berankis - V.Pospisil second round tilt on the OOP.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 13, 2012 9:19:36 GMT -5
Challenger roundup: F.Mayer's slumming paid off with a title in Prostejov. 76(1) 36 76(3) in ze final vs J.Hajek. The Caltanissetta title went to WC Tommy Robredo. B.Becker titled in the first grass event, in Nottingham. 46 61 64 over Tursunov. Slovene Fave Blaz KAVCIC titled in Furth, 63 26 62 over Stakhovsky.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 19, 2012 13:48:50 GMT -5
Futures roundup: Congratulations to 19yo Korean qualifier Nam! Ji! Sung!, who won the Karuizawa $10K. Argy-New Yorker Andrea Collarini, now 20yo, titled at the Posadas $10K. Once-proud Thiemo de Chokker titled at the $15K in Zuidwolde. Random thought: Whatever happened to Brian Dabul? Brydan Klein titled in Tekirdag, Turkey. After slogging in the Futures all year, it's his first title of 2012. In qualifying at Indian Harbor, Geronimo CHALA (USA) won his 1R match over Matthew GORDON (GBR), 0-6 Retired, then lost his 2R match 06 06 to Vikram S. HUNDAL (USA). What a run! I guess we shouldn't be shocked, since Chala is 31 and only started playing tennis at 27.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 20, 2012 13:37:06 GMT -5
There were three challengers last week, and the Slovenian superstars were scattered at the different events.
Kosice: Aljaz BEDENE titled, dominating Greul in the final. Hrbaty won a match, defeating Argy RNS Velotti before losing to Crivoi.
Nottingham: Grega ZEMLJA titled, edging K.Beck.
Monza: Blaz KAVCIC semifinalled, losing by w/o to Montanes (Bilateral knee pain)
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Post by Paean on Jun 21, 2012 3:12:44 GMT -5
Superstars Zemlja's record against the other 2 superstars is a combined 8-0 whitewash.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 21, 2012 8:18:34 GMT -5
Zemlja's record against the other 2 superstars is a combined 8-0 whitewash.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 25, 2012 12:25:36 GMT -5
No challenegers last week.
Futures roundup:
In Indian Harbor, an all-collegiate final will be contested today between 21yo Chase Buchanan (former top 10 jr now attending Ohio State Uni) vs 20yo Alexander Domijan (former #12 jr now attending Florida Uni). I guess school's out for summer, Alice.
Thiemo de Bakker titled in Alkmaar, his second straight Futures title. So he's probably about ready to move back up. His victim in the final was the peripatetic Gerard Melzer.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 27, 2012 15:36:27 GMT -5
Robredo is back in action at the Milan $30K. He is through to the QF after eliminating top seed Frederico Gil.
I am sure you, like me, wondered what Bogdanovic is doing this week, when he would have been enjoying his formerly automatic Wimby WC in the past. Well, he's in Innisbrook, FL for a $10K! Good luck to him. He was unfairly singled out as a poster boy for how badly British tennis blows.
A Cult Special 1R matchup in the Izmir $10K: DELIC, Mate def. ALTUNA, Tuna, 6-3 4-1 Ret.
In Belgrade, Marko and Djordje Djokovic were drawn for a possible 2R tilt, but it was not to be. OBRADOVIC, Vladimir def. Marko 7-6(5) 6-3 LAAKSONEN, H [5] def. Djordje 6-2 6-1.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 27, 2012 17:11:54 GMT -5
I guess Marko and Djordje don't have it, huh? Didn't Djokovic mere and pere tell us Djordje would be the best of all?
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 28, 2012 9:46:22 GMT -5
Well, we've heard that line before. Remember Richard saying that Serena would be better than Venus? Hohoho hee hee hee hahaha!
Oh. Never mind.
Anyway, DD is 16, so who knows. And he did win a match.
1st Round
Djordje DJOKOVIC (SRB) / Ilija VUCIC (SRB) 6-4 6-1 Milos RADIVOJEVIC (SRB) / Antun VIDAK (CRO)
Marko eschewed the doubles. You'd have to ask him why.
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 3, 2012 11:12:57 GMT -5
Milan Challenger final: Tommy ROBREDO def. Martin ALUND, 63 60. His toughest match of the week was a split-setter vs another former ATP stalwart, Vic Hanescu. Palma del Rio Futures: 2nd Round Joshua MILTON (GBR) 2-6 6-4 6-2 Brydan KLEIN (AUS) [4] Milton reached the final (it was hard court), and lost to rampant Arnau BRUGUES-DAVI (ESP). Nau holds the ITF record of 44 straight futures match wins, set earlier this year. Play some challengers already, caballero!
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 4, 2012 9:43:18 GMT -5
Remember Evgeny KOROLEV (KAZ)? He won a German $10K last week, out of qualifying.
In that Floridian $10K, A-Bog (GBR) made it to the semis where he lost 1 and 1 to the other Blaz from Sovenia, Blaz Rola (Ohio State Uni). Rola was the eventual champ, winning the title match over VEN Davis Cupper Luis Martinez.
Former Peruvian junior star and top 5 jr Diulio Beretta, now 20yo and still seeking to crack the top 350, won the Lima $10K.
Thiemo De Bakker made it to another Futures final, but lost this one to 22yo Ze ZHANG (CHN). Zhang has been showing some good signs lately - he qualified for Halle and won a round, and also won a round at qualies of both RG and Wimbly.
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Post by janie on Jul 4, 2012 10:08:55 GMT -5
Remember Evgeny KOROLEV (KAZ)? He won a German $10K last week, out of qualifying. In that Floridian $10K, A-Bog (GBR) made it to the semis where he lost 1 and 1 to the other Blaz from Sovenia, Blaz Rola (Ohio State Uni). Rola was the eventual champ, winning the title match over VEN Davis Cupper Luis Martinez. Korolev! Famous for being the cousin of Porni, right? Didn't realize he had fallen to 10K level.
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 4, 2012 11:23:56 GMT -5
Ja. This is the first time he swallowed his pride and played a Futures. The word on the street is that he's been battling elbow problems for the past 2 years.
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 9, 2012 12:03:11 GMT -5
R.Berankis made it to the $50K final in Winnetka, but lost to qualifier and Aussie John-Patrick SMITH. Smith graduated last year from the Uni of Tennessee, where he was singles and doubles NCAA #1, and is getting ready for the non-stop thrill ride known as WTT (Orange County Breakers, which will feature L.Davenport this year). The word on the street is that his career has been held back by his hair.
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Post by Brinyi on Jul 9, 2012 13:34:55 GMT -5
Another unsuccessful Challenger finalist last week was P.Polansky, who was thumped 3 & 0 by our pal Rogerio Dutra Silva in Panama City. The Dutra Silva who kept the Da, Daniel, was runnerup at a Brazilian Futures event to 20yo Chilean Nicolas Gustavo Kauer. Other Futures highlights In lovely Kelowna, another old pal, Nikita Kryvonos. did some good for his #1439 ranking with a title. Alex Bogdanovic won the Pittsburgh Futures, and surely put himself in line for a 2013 Wimby wild card. Brydan Klein titled in Bakio, Spain. In Belgrade, M.Djokovic won a round before losing to 29yo Ukrainian Vadim Alekseenko. As you know, there was a grass court tournament played in England this week. The Manchester $10K, woohoo. 6'8" Alsatian Albano Olivetti titled, We recall this name from his feats at the Marseille ATP event, where he reached the quarters. Former top jr and pro flop Uladzimir IGNATIK (BLR) managed a title in Germany.
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