Week 40 - ATP Challenger 80 - Alicante, Spain (hard)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Week 40 - ATP Challenger 80 - Alicante, Spain (hard)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QR1: (q4) Stuart Parker WR 353 (CH = 351 last month) vs Adrián Menéndez (ESP) WR 403 (CH = 111 in June 2015)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

L16: Nicolás Alvarez & Harold Mayot (ESP/FRA) CR 833 (322+511) vs Billy Harris & Kelsey Stevenson (CAN) CR 645 (349+296)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QR1: (q4) Stuart Parker WR 353 defeated Adrián Menéndez (ESP) WR 403 by 4 & 0

*****

FQR: (q4) Stuart Parker WR 353 vs (q12) Akira Santillan (AUS) WR 377 (CH = 144 in November 2017)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Strong performance from Stuart. Served very well today.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

So glad I went today, as I almost decided not too having been kept up by a party in the park next to my house that had loud music blaring until after 02.00 hrs.

Met up with Billy and had a good chat. He seems pretty happy with tennis life right now, although he did mention that in the last couple of weeks his shoulder has started 'making noises'. Hoping to get back up there to support him this week but relying on a favourable OoP to avoid work commitments that I have.

Then off to watch CD's 'little fave', who is anything but little. Thought Stuart played very well today and his serve was the difference between the two players. That first serve of his really packs a punch.

He broke in the opening game of the match, aided by a terrific drop shot to bring up BP. From there on it was pretty even and they swapped breaks again later in games 8 & 9 before Stuart served out for the set.

Menéndez was looking for anything to complain about. Not just the standard line call complaints (and there were plenty of them) but the speed and which calls were made, fidgeting ball kids and even the seat he had to sit on at change over. He insisted on another chair being brought in because it wasn't comfortable enough.

Stuart on the other hand was the personification of composure. He raced into a *3-0 in the 2nd set before what I thought was the most important game of the match. With Menéndez trying hard to fight back, the score went to 15-40 and a break back could have reignited his efforts. But Stuart went ACE, ACE, UNRETURNED SERVE to put him back in the driving seat. Still the game wasn't over and he had to fight off two more BPs before finally holding for 4-0*.

To all intents and purposes, that was the end. Menéndez tried to resort to throwing in the underarm serve at BP down in game 5 but even dumped that in the net and then DFed for another break. Stuart then went on to serve out to love.

I spoke to him briefly after the game and said it looked to me like he wanted it more than Menendez. It was a very solid win against an experienced campaigner.

Up next is Akira Santillan, who I also spoke to at length as he has hanging around with Billy. Nice guy who will be chuffed that Man City are 4-0 at half time against Man Utd. But sorry, Akira, in the next round, I have to be supporting our guy. Go Stuart.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
So glad I went today, as I almost decided not too having been kept up by a party in the park next to my house that had loud music blaring until after 02.00 hrs.

Met up with Billy and had a good chat. He seems pretty happy with tennis life right now, although he did mention that in the last couple of weeks his shoulder has started 'making noises'. Hoping to get back up there to support him this week but relying on a favourable OoP to avoid work commitments that I have.

Then off to watch CD's 'little fave', who is anything but little. Thought Stuart played very well today and his serve was the difference between the two players. That first serve of his really packs a punch.

He broke in the opening game of the match, aided by a terrific drop shot to bring up BP. From there on it was pretty even and they swapped breaks again later in games 8 & 9 before Stuart served out for the set.

Menéndez was looking for anything to complain about. Not just the standard line call complaints (and there were plenty of them) but the speed and which calls were made, fidgeting ball kids and even the seat he had to sit on at change over. He insisted on another chair being brought in because it wasn't comfortable enough.

Stuart on the other hand was the personification of composure. He raced into a *3-0 in the 2nd set before what I thought was the most important game of the match. With Menéndez trying hard to fight back, the score went to 15-40 and a break back could have reignited his efforts. But Stuart went ACE, ACE, UNRETURNED SERVE to put him back in the driving seat. Still the game wasn't over and he had to fight off two more BPs before finally holding for 4-0*.

To all intents and purposes, that was the end. Menéndez tried to resort to throwing in the underarm serve at BP down in game 5 but even dumped that in the net and then DFed for another break. Stuart then went on to serve out to love.

I spoke to him briefly after the game and said it looked to me like he wanted it more than Menendez. It was a very solid win against an experienced campaigner.

Up next is Akira Santillan, who I also spoke to at length as he has hanging around with Billy. Nice guy who will be chuffed that Man City are 4-0 at half time against Man Utd. But sorry, Akira, in the next round, I have to be supporting our guy. Go Stuart.

Thanks for that, Bob. Always good to have those little personal insights, though Billy's comment that his shoulder had started "making noises", whatever that may mean, sounded a bit ominous! hmm

Jan · Hall of fame

Thanks Bob!
Hope the OOP works out for you this week.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Great report, Bob !

And so glad that 'little' Stu didn't disappoint

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Tomorrow going to be difficult. Stuart on in the morning which is impossible. I have to drop friends at Alicante airport at 14.15 hrs and so the earliest I can get there is 15.00 hrs. Billy in 3rd on main court and n/b 14.00 hrs.

I will have to see how the scores are going before making my mind up.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Billy and Stuart are grafters, both playing most weeks and still down for the next 3 weeks on various challenger and ITF lists. Would love to see them in the top 250, I hope you said that to them as well Bob?

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

www.atptour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour/challenger-tv/challenger-tv-search-results/2022-7909-qs022-alicante-stuart-parker-vs-adrian-menendez-maceiras/2022/7909/all

Black Adidas top, level with the net. Just outing myself.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
www.atptour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour/challenger-tv/challenger-tv-search-results/2022-7909-qs022-alicante-stuart-parker-vs-adrian-menendez-maceiras/2022/7909/all

Black Adidas top, level with the net. Just outing myself.

Looking good!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Stuart and Akira now one set all as the GB fightback is on.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Santillan has retired at 1 set all and Stuart has progressed to the MD.

Shame it happened like that but well done Stuart.