Week 32 - Comerica Bank Challenger - Cal Open ($100,000) - Aptos, CA (hard)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RE: Week 32 - Comerica Bank Challenger - Cal Open ($100,000) - Aptos, CA (hard)

steven · Tennis legend

Singh gets his revenge, unfortunately

FQR: Richard Gabb WR 439 lost to (q7) Sanam Singh (IND) WR 400 (CH 293 in 2012) by 3 & 3

Main draw with new rankings:

L32: James Ward WR 150 v Emilio Gómez (ECU) WR 239 (CH 215 last month)

Oakland2002 · All-time great

So the LTA bonus scheme would value this weeks performance as equivalent with a 10K SF futures berth. But no points, probably makes sense as encourages progression (ie LTA mitigates fiscal loss through bonus scheme) but insures that only those who are going to go beyond qualifying step out of futures for too long as they will need points to maintain their rank and there are many more futures events where they can score points by performing at a similar level.

Great A level maths question defining an equation that summarises the equipoise between fiscal renumeration and points scoring in the ITF challenger transition and the level of improvement required over 4 months of futures to show that transition will be successful. You could look at ranking alone but Kyles 2 wins and a final at the age of 21 or less that he delivered at the beginning of the year seems about right. Just need Liam and Oli to deliver that level of consistency over the end of this year as a marker that they would move on to consistent challenger success next year. Luke probably needs to start another year in futures ?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Some consolation (of sorts) for Richard:

QR1: (q2) Richard Gabb & Bumpei Sato (JPN) CR 797 (444+353) defeated (qWC) Connor Farren & Alexios Halebian (USA/USA) CR 2171 (1146+1025) by 6-4 4-6 [11-9]

FQR: (q1) Emilio Gómez & Zhang Ze (ECU/CHN) CR 672 (395+277) vs (q2) Richard Gabb & Bumpei Sato (JPN) CR 797 (444+353)

paulisi · Tennis legend

James is due on court shortly and there is a stream.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

James starts a bit sluggish and gets broken in the first game.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Not looking too promising for Dino at the moment: first set down the pan by 3-6. cry

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

James seemingly annoyed at some of the calls, but impossible to tell how good/bad they've been as it's been at the far end each time. He certainly sounded exasperated with his "For goodness sake mate" at the end of that set.

Will be frustrating if James winds up losing this one as Gomez looks a long way inferior to a James on top form. However if this was going to be the week where he bums out first round, maybe it's the best week to pick with (probably) Kukushkin next. It certainly wouldn't rival Fergana 2013 where James lost in the first round when his draw looked more like a bye to the semis.

As an aside, I realise it's Challenger level but think some of the ballboying has been mediocre.

-- Edited by Jeff Stelling on Tuesday 5th of August 2014 10:24:03 PM

Jaffa · Challenger level

James seems to be a bit more comfortable, a break up in the second.

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

Decent set that. Nothing outrageous, just solid Challenger level tennis.

Jaffa · Challenger level

Oh no! An absolutely terrible call from the line judge gives Gomez a break point, Wardy defends unbelievably and gets him to miss, a HUGE come on...

Jaffa · Challenger level

A couple of deuces later and Ward holds! Come on!

Bright Spark · Lower Club Player

Great to see Wardy so pumped!

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

Absolutely loved that "coooooooommmmmeeee onnnnnnnnn" from Dino. Although he sometimes looks placid he clearly does care an awful lot.

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

As for the call it certainly looked wide on my phone. Will watch it back later on a larger screen before I say for definite, but I'd be surprised if James was that annoyed unless it was clearly out.