Wimbledon 2018

[PKBasu]

Divij is the only Indian still playing as we enter the second week of Wimbledon. His doubles R3 is the second match on Court 17 today.

Really irritating to see no Indians in the junior tournament. What the hell does AITA spend its money on??
Natasha Subhas and Govind Nanda are representing the US. The former lost a close 3-setter in R1.

[PKBasu]

However, I do not recall him having wild swings in his level of play going through the matches. Given what he had (his strengths, limitations, weapons or lack thereof ), I believe he had a storied career.

All that may be true but it doesn’t distract from the fact that less “storied” opponents would have been salivating to draw Somdev in a slam or really at any level. Yuki is an even more delectable offering.

I'm sure that Gael Monfils, Lucas Pouille, Nicholas Mahut, Taylor Fritz, Mirza Basic, Elias Ylmer, Guido Pella, Stefan Kozlov, Marco Cecchinato and Nicholas Kicker would have regretted thinking that Yuki was a "delectable offering" when they found themselves confronting him in an ATP tournament. This is a listing of players Yuki has beaten in ATP tournaments in 2018 and 2017. And of course, during that period Yuki has generally dominated Challengers, beating top-100 players like Blaz Kavcic (thrice) and Sergiy Stakhovsky along the way.

The truth is that Yuki has toiled and fully earned his current ranking of 85. He is a consistently good Challenger player, and is now making the transition to the ATP tournament level -- with the expected ups and downs in that process. He has had a couple of breakthroughs in Masters tournaments, although his performance in the Slams has been a bit disappointing.

And Somdev, despite depending primarily on his legs and stamina, was a very competent ATP-level player for the 2-3 years of his peak performance -- winning against the likes of Marin Cilic, Milos Raonic, Guillermo Garcia, Baghdatis (then ranked in the 20s), Xavier Malisse (at least twice) in ATP tournaments. At the ATP level, Somdev actually did pretty reasonably, which is why he was ranked in the top-100 for 3 years. In 2011, he beat Mannarino, Baghdatis and Malisse to make the Indian Wells fourth round (losing 57 46 to Nadal), so I don't think players would have been salivating to draw him at the ATP level that year. And in 2013, he made R2 of three of the Slams. And of course he won the singles gold at the CWG and Asiad in 2010. What can be said about Somdev is that he was less successful and consistent at the Challenger level -- while actually being a solid top-100 player at the ATP level for 3-4 years.

[PKBasu]

Another bad (actually awful) start for Divij/Artem. They lost the first set 1-6. But they had two set points in the second set when the opponents were serving at 5-6. Couldn’t convert, so it’s on to the TB.
Update: lost the TB 3-7
So down 1-6, 6-7(3). Can we have another long fight back?

[PKBasu]

The fight back begins: third set to Divij/Artem 6-4

[Atithee]

I'm sure that Gael Monfils, Lucas Pouille, Nicholas Mahut, Taylor Fritz, Mirza Basic, Elias Ylmer, Guido Pella, Stefan Kozlov, Marco Cecchinato and Nicholas Kicker would have regretted thinking that Yuki was a "delectable offering" when they found themselves confronting him in an ATP tournament.

This still doesn’t make a difference in how drawing Yuki would have been perceived by an opponent. Anyway, you’re entitled to your judgment as am I; neither of us are Yuki’s opponents on the court. If Yuki’s recent slam failures don’t convince you, then I don’t know what will do. This when he should have actually been a favored player in each of those first round slam matches.

[sameerph]

The fight back begins: third set to Divij/Artem 6-4

The fightback is continuing. Divij-Artem win the fourth set 6-4.

In the deciding 5th set, they are serving at 1-2.

[ankit1407]

up a break in decider...Cmon guys

[meyyis]

Divij/Artem break their opponents in the seventh game of the decider to go 4-3 up. They consolidate the break with a hold of serve to go 5-3 up. They seem to have imbibed the 'Rocky Balbao' strategy - to tire your opponents and knick them in the last 3 sets.

Should they win this, they would be facing the American pair of Mike Bryan and Jack Sock in the Quarter Finals, who themselves needed a 5 setter to win their PQF match. So they would be equally exhausted as well.

After missing 3 Match points and multiple deuces, Erlich and Matkowski hold to make it 5-4 in the decider. Common, Finish it off - Divij/Artem.
They easily hold their serve to finish it off 6-4 in the decider.

[jaydeep]

What a comeback by Divij and Artem in 3 hours and 50 minutes match.

[R3] Divij Sharan (IND)/ Artem Sitak (NZL) bt Jonathan Erlich (ISR)/ Marcin Matkowski (POL) 16 67(3) 64 64 64

[meyyis]

Doubles

[R3] Divij Sharan (IND)/ Artem Sitak (NZL) d. Jonathan Erlich (ISR)/ Marcin Matkowski (POL) : 1-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

Up Next

[QF] Divij Sharan (IND)/ Artem Sitak (NZL) vs. Mike Bryan (USA) / Jack Sock (USA)

With this win, Artem and Divij move up to new CHs of 34 & 35 respectively in the Live Rankings. Robin Haase can still move ahead of Divij should he win his PQF match which has entered into a decider as well.

[sameerph]

Another wonderful comeback win by Divij and Artem. Divij is into his first grand slam quarter final.

[S_K_S]

Congrats to Divij. Nice guys do prosper.

[PKBasu]

And yet another sensational comeback, as Divij/Artem take the final 3 sets 64 64 64!!!

[PKBasu]

Divij at another new career high of 36!

[PKBasu]

17 year old qualifier Govind Nanda of the US beat 9th seed Fecundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina 76(5) 62 in R1 of the boys singles.