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Post by TennisHack on Mar 11, 2003 0:14:02 GMT -5
They don't call me the Mental Hospital Escapee for nothing, you know. Michel holds easily for 2-5.
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Post by The Chloe on Mar 11, 2003 0:15:15 GMT -5
So now we hope for a break - or 2.... or 3.. in a row ;D
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Post by The Chloe on Mar 11, 2003 0:15:59 GMT -5
Say, have you heard from Sjengster yet?
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 11, 2003 0:19:33 GMT -5
Nope, no word from Sjengster yet. I think he has read the PMs and emails but he wasn't on WTAWorld today and hasn't been here while I've been here. *shrug*
Double match point Clement . . . Michel saves one . . .
Game set match Clement, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
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Post by The Chloe on Mar 11, 2003 0:19:34 GMT -5
Sorry Hackie! But at least he held on at the end, he held his serve and fought off a match point, so he didn't give up...right? *trying to look on the bright side*
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 11, 2003 0:25:26 GMT -5
Match statistics for: Arnaud Clement vs (Q) Michel Kratochvil Final Score: Clement d. Kratochvil 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 Final Time: 1:20 Aces/Double Faults Kratochvil 1/6 Clement 7/3 First Serve % Played Kratochvil 51 / 82 = 62% Clement 43 / 81 = 53% First Serve Won Kratochvil 32 / 51 = 62% Clement 31 / 43 = 72% Second Serve Won Kratochvil 9 / 31 = 29% Clement 15 / 38 = 39% Total Service Points Won Kratochvil 41 / 82 = 50% Clement 46 / 81 = 56% Return Points Won on First Serve Kratochvil 12 / 43 = 27% Clement 19 / 51 = 37% Return Points Won on Second Serve Kratochvil 23 / 38 = 60% Clement 22 / 31 = 70% Total Return Points Won Kratochvil 35 / 81 = 43% Clement 41 / 82 = 50% Break Points Won Kratochvil 4 / 7 = 57% Clement 6 / 13 = 46% Total Points Won Kratochvil 76 / 163 = 46% Clement 87 / 163 = 53%
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Post by The Chloe on Mar 11, 2003 0:27:42 GMT -5
6 df's eh? That's not pretty, but it certainly could be worse. Right Anna?
Anyhow, I'm off to make a salad wrap (seeing as I'm out of chicken)
So brb
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Post by Henny on Mar 11, 2003 0:40:53 GMT -5
:wavey Hi whoever is here. Bloody hell, I'm sick, Michel , as for his double faults But he's a little fighter and hopefully he'll do better next time * trying to not sound so dejected*
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 11, 2003 1:11:52 GMT -5
Oh, yes, Michel fought bravely for some of his serve games and all of his breaks, but in the end it wasn't enough. His serve let him down once again *sigh* But it was a real dogfight and he held in as best he could. Hopefully he will have better luck in Miami.
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Post by Partridge In A Pear Tree on Mar 11, 2003 5:27:05 GMT -5
Morning! I see Michel lost, but it was a 3 setter... I'm sure he'll find his groove again one of these days.
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Post by Doris on Mar 11, 2003 6:26:19 GMT -5
To bad this topic had to start with a loss!!!
allleeezzz Michel!!! Do it better next time!!
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 18, 2003 12:43:29 GMT -5
RF posted a link to this in the Juanqui chat thread:
18 Mar 2003 - David Law Kratochvil Steps out of Federer's Shadow
A young Swiss hit the headlines for leading his nation to victory in the final rubber of this year’s Davis Cup by BNP Paribas first round match against the Netherlands, and for the first time in years, his name wasn’t Roger Federer.
Michel Kratochvil had spent the last couple of years desperately trying to add Davis Cup points to those won by his more illustrious countryman, but to no avail.
He had Yevgeny Kafelnikov on the brink in Moscow last year but failed to deliver the hammer-blow. Kratochvil led the Russian two-sets-to-one, but lost a fourth set tie-break and then buckled in the fifth.
It looked like being a similar story in Arnhem, Holland, as Kratochvil again went down in five heart-breaking sets to home favourite Sjeng Schalken. This time though, after Federer had again held up his side of the bargain by taking two singles points to keep Switzerland in it, Kratochvil officially came of age.
With the tie score balanced at 2-2, the Swiss defeated Dutch debutant Martin Verkerk to take his nation through.
For Kratochvil, it was a career-defining moment.
“I was really, really happy,” he said. “There was a lot of pressure because I’d played some good Davis Cup matches before – against Kafelnikov, and Marat Safin, and while I made them tired for the next day, I didn’t win.”
After going down so agonisingly against Schalken in the first rubber, there were those who wondered whether the 23-year-old would ever get over the hump, but after losing a horrendous first set 6-1, Kratochvil showed his mettle.
“I even played well in that first rubber against Schalken but unfortunately I lost in five sets. Against Verkerk though, I kept my calm. I think that was the key.”
Kratochvil is a deceptive character. His previous close losses suggested a mental fragility, but his win over Verkerk dismissed those suspicions emphatically. Off the court his calm, polite demeanour probably disguises the fire that burns within his belly, and though he looks shy, he actually enjoys being the centre of attention.
“The reason I play tennis is the cheering on the court,” he says. “Winning a tournament or being on the centre court, the bigger the event is, the closer the match is, the better it is. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
He also took huge pleasure from the reaction to his win back home.
“I was really surprised at how much feedback I got from winning that final match. The reaction not just from people I know, but from people on the street, it was really huge and it makes me really motivated for the next match.”
That next match will take Switzerland away to France.
As Kratochvil says, there will be a few scores to settle.
“Two years ago we played them in the second round in Switzerland and George Bastl had a match point in the final rubber against Nicolas Escude, but we lost that one and then they went on and won the Davis Cup.”
If anything though, Switzerland are a stronger team this time around.
“Roger [Federer] is getting better all the time and I’m doing well,” said Kratochvil. “Marc Rosset is the captain - he is great in the chair – he is a very valuable man because he can still play singles and doubles. I think the whole team now has very good chemistry – we have the experience of Marc and then the young Swiss like Roger and myself, and that mixture really helps. I think we have a great chance in France.
“It’ll be exciting because there’s always a big rivalry between France and the French part of Switzerland.
“We are a small country, a small team, but we can surprise anyone.”
And Kratochvil knows a thing or two about doing that.
and Doris posted in my Michel group about Michel's new coach. I hope everything is coming together for him, finally (again?)
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Post by Partridge In A Pear Tree on Mar 18, 2003 12:53:25 GMT -5
Oh yeah, let's hope there's good chemistry between the two K's.
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Post by RogiFan on Mar 19, 2003 10:26:41 GMT -5
Good luck to Micha today in Miami! He needs some wins to prepare him for DC in April! Hopp, Micha!
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Post by Partridge In A Pear Tree on Mar 19, 2003 12:10:50 GMT -5
Viel Gluck, Krati!!!!!
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 15:50:12 GMT -5
C'mon, Michel! I want to see the showdown with James Blake!
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:10:17 GMT -5
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:11:27 GMT -5
Make that Meligeni 4, Michel 0. This is too painful to watch
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:14:02 GMT -5
Meligeni 5, Kratochvil 0. Fastly on the way to a bagel
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:16:54 GMT -5
Well, he finally managed to hold so he won't be completely embarrassed -- 5-1 to Meligeni.
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:20:52 GMT -5
6-1 Meligeni
I wonder if lokon will get there in time . . .
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Post by Partridge In A Pear Tree on Mar 19, 2003 16:25:03 GMT -5
HOPP KRATI!!!!! Fight!
*otherwise i'll be seeing you sooner back in Bern*
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:34:14 GMT -5
2-0 second set Meligeni, though Michel pushed him to deuce after being broken. Dammit, this is really frustrating as a fan!
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:34:55 GMT -5
Ay, maybe I spoke to soon? Michel rushes out to a 40-0 lead on his own serve and looks to finally hold for only the second time in the match . . . .
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:35:43 GMT -5
Woohoo! A hold at 2-1, but he still trails a break . . .
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:42:01 GMT -5
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:43:51 GMT -5
Meligeni gets the double break.
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:51:15 GMT -5
Well, its no wonder Michel isn't winning, he's playing pretty damn poorly! Here are the first set stats: 1st Serve % Meligeni 50% Kratochvil 72% Aces/Double Faults Meligeni 2/0 Kratochvil 1/1 Winning % - 1st Serve Pts. Meligeni 7 of 9 = 78% Kratochvil 7 of 13 = 54% Winning % - 2nd Serve Pts. Meligeni 9 of 9 = 100% Kratochvil 1 of 5 = 20% Winners (Including Service)/Unforced Errors Meligeni 2/0 Kratochvil 1/1 Break Point Conversions Meligeni 2 of 3 = 67 % Kratochvil 0 of 0 = 0 % Total Points Won Meligeni 26 Kratochvil 10
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 16:54:38 GMT -5
Michel *finally* broke Meligeni, 4-2, but I fear it might still be all for naught
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 19, 2003 17:01:22 GMT -5
Michel holds for 4-3 after a tense battle. He's still down a break, however.
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