Pune ATP 2022

[PKBasu]

Terrible serving destroyed Yuki's chances. In the first few games, Travaglia was hitting moon-balls and lobs to blunt Yuki's deep ground strokes that were taking Travaglia from one end of the court to the other. But once the serve was broken, the pressure eased up and Travaglia started playing better -- a more normal game. To be broken so easily (the first time because of two DFs in quick succession) is really unacceptable at this level. Yuki needs to ensure that he at least has a reliable serve, even if it isn't powerful.

[vparam]

Here is what else that is unacceptable. Yuki’s opponent first serve percentage was only 44% for the match and an abysmal 35% in the second set, yet he allows Travaglia to win 75% of his second serves in that set! How can that happen at any level?

[sameerph]

2 Indian pairs SF.

[QF] (2) Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) d. Alexander Erler (AUT) / Jiri Vesely (CZE) 76(3) 76(4)

[QF] (Alt) Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND) / Saketh Myneni (IND) l. (1) Luke Saville (AUS) / John-Patrick Smith (AUS) 63 75 3-10

[QF] (Alt) N. Sriram Balaji (IND) / Vishnu Vardhan (IND) d. (Alt) Gianluca Mager (ITA) / Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) walkover

Next,

[SF] (Alt) N. Sriram Balaji (IND) / Vishnu Vardhan (IND) vs. (1) Luke Saville (AUS) / John-Patrick Smith (AUS)

[SF] (2) Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) vs. Sadio Doumbia (FRA) / Fabian Reboul (IND)

[arjun2761]

Both Yuki and Sumit have awful serves for the ATP level -- in fact their serve speeds are similar to some of the top women on the WTA tour. Not sure why they haven't focused on improving it since it has been a known problem for quite a while. Sumit chooses to focus on clay primarily for that reason but Yuki does not have the fitness to play on clay.

At least for Sumit, perhaps his height limits what he can do with his serves. However, Yuki appears to be around 6 or 6'1" which is probably around average height for an ATP pro and should be able to serve more effectively. In essence, if you are not getting some easy points in each service game, you will struggle to win matches.

[sameerph]

I did not see today's match but looking at the stats not sure if serve was the issue in today's match. As Vparam send Yuki won only 25% points on Tavglia second serve which is bad for Yuki whose return of serve is considered as a weapon. Even in first match too Yuki's serve had same speed but he had some nice variety and placing which earned him some free points. It did seem he did not play well today and overall game was not there at his high level,

[vparam]

Both Yuki and Sumit have awful serves for the ATP level -- in fact their serve speeds are similar to some of the top women on the WTA tour. Not sure why they haven't focused on improving it since it has been a known problem for quite a while. Sumit chooses to focus on clay primarily for that reason but Yuki does not have the fitness to play on clay.

At least for Sumit, perhaps his height limits what he can do with his serves. However, Yuki appears to be around 6 or 6'1" which is probably around average height for an ATP pro and should be able to serve more effectively. In essence, if you are not getting some easy points in each service game, you will struggle to win matches.

Arjun, good comments but I don’t buy the height limits for Sumit. On the women’s side, Barty has a great serve for someone who is only 5’5”. It’s all about technique and mindset. Sumit’s goal is to just start the point with his serve. It is no where close to being a weapon and will likely never become one as Sumit appears to want to grind out each and every point after he serves. I wish he had Barty’s serve to be honest. Sumit rarely gets to 100 mph on his first serve.

[arjun2761]

but I don’t buy the height limits for Sumit. On the women’s side, Barty has a great serve for someone who is only 5’5”. It’s all about technique and mindset.

Comparing someone to world #1 Barty as an example is like advising an entrepreneur that if Elon Musk can do it then so can you.

If you look at the top 50 serves in ATP, I really doubt if any of them are from players with Sumit's height. Furthermore, Sumit is nowhere near as talented as Barty, he is almost the definition of grinder. That said, he could improve his serve from being ATP tour worse (probably in competition with Yuki). It is Yuki who is at least average height for an ATP pro and has really good shot making talent (including velocity on his ground strokes) that is the bigger mystery to me on why his serve is as ineffective as it is.

[arjun2761]

I did not see today's match but looking at the stats not sure if serve was the issue in today's match. As Vparam send Yuki won only 25% points on Tavglia second serve which is bad for Yuki whose return of serve is considered as a weapon. Even in first match too Yuki's serve had same speed but he had some nice variety and placing which earned him some free points. It did seem he did not play well today and overall game was not there at his high level,

Didn't see the match but the stats show that Yuki won 32% of return points overall which isn't great for him but isn't bad either. Ymer who beat Travaglia today also won only 32% of his return points. RamK who went to 3 close sets with Travaglia won 31% of the return points.

The only explanation I can think off on the poor conversion on second serve returns (which appears to below his overall return success in the same match) is that he might have been pressing to hit winners on those returns perhaps under scoreboard pressure because of being broken himself.

[prasen9]

but I don’t buy the height limits for Sumit. On the women’s side, Barty has a great serve for someone who is only 5’5”. It’s all about technique and mindset.

Comparing someone to world #1 Barty as an example is like advising an entrepreneur that if Elon Musk can do it then so can you.

Man, woman same thing. Doesn't really matter.

Women's serves are much weaker due to physical differences. Height matters in serves. Barty is 5'5" and a woman and can still serve at that level. This shows that it is doable. Which I think was his point. He did not say it was easy. There have been relatively short players with acceptable serves. Hewitt, Henin, Benjamin Becker, Nishikori, Marcelo Rios, Dolpo, Davydenko ... It is about technique and mindset. And coaching and mechanics and practice. Although, it undoubtedly makes it much harder to serve faster if the ball is coming down from a shorter height. Gravity matters ... to an extent. His point was that it can be overcome. It's not just Elon Musk but the other guy with the money who went to space and so can you. But, of course, you need that chunk of change.

[sameerph]

Excellent comeback by RamK and Rohan from 2-7 and 6-9 down in super tie break and to win and reach their second ATP final. They meet top seeded Australian pair who beat 2 Indian pairs in last 2 rounds.

[SF] (Alt) N. Sriram Balaji (IND) / Vishnu Vardhan (IND) l. (1) Luke Saville (AUS) / John-Patrick Smith (AUS) 26 46

[SF] (2) Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) d. Sadio Doumbia (FRA) / Fabian Reboul (IND) 64 46 12-10

[sameerph]

And team RamBo comes back from a set down to beat the Australian tops seeds to win their second ATP title.

[F] (2) Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) d. (1) Luke Saville (AUS) / John-Patrick Smith (AUS) 6710 63 10-6

[PKBasu]

Great job by Team RamBo to win their second ATP tour title of 2022. That is a remarkable statistic (I don't think any other pair yet has 2 doubles titles after the first 5 weeks of this year).
It will take Ramkumar (who was 105 in the live rankings before this final) to 95 in the doubles rankings -- a career high, and the first time he has been ranked in the top-100 in singles or doubles. (His previous-high doubles ranking was 101). Looks like something of a breakthrough for Ramkumar, although Bopanna moves on to play next week with Shapovalov (the other partner with whom he's had great success in the past 12 months).

[arjun2761]

Wow, team RamBo looks legit! 2 ATP titles in quick succession indicates that are a very strong team even at the ATP level....

[sameerph]

As per new ATP calender update for 2023, Pune ATP will be back in the first week of the year from 2023. Only ATP cup in the same week. So, the field should be stronger now with player not going to Australia in first week can start off the season here.