Ramkumar Ramanathan thread

[prashanthm]

same here... didn't want to break the live commentary rhythm....

Ram was playing soooo well.... if only he didn't let those calls affect his play....

But I am glad to say that he is on the right track, using his backhand well and not being handicapped by restricting himself to use only his FH......

[fabshab]

Should have won it from being 5-3 up..... .....a lot of breaks traded in the third set....Ramk could barely manage to hold in the second half of the 3rd set.....Caruso would have done him in 2 straight sets if he had not those issues with his leg...he was a solid baseliner for sure.....Ramk should have grab this oppurtunity when your opponent is almost limping...

[sameerph]

I thought RamK seemed tired in the last few games and was trying to slow the game which worked in 1 game on Caruso serve but not later. Probably it was the effect of non-stop play that he is having. Anyway? I think he would have won earlier if he did not have those bad line calls.

[fabshab]

No offence guyzz...but i could not resist myself asking you all who watched ramk vs thiem match ...how could he managed to get past the world no.8 with that thumping scoreline because the backhand still involves a lot of slices and the one that are pure back hand are so awkardly hit meaning to say the balance .....one thing for sure his arsenal hasnt got backhand as one of them....its still the big FH on which he heavily relies......
Was that the factor that thiem didnt do his homework...reading ramks weakness and that too a big one or it was the BH that was coming quite well not like today at all.....would like the opinions...
And does anyone here thinks that instead of playing non stop tennis all around the world ...he could work on his game a bit....taking a two three weeks stint and work on those issues after all he is making that transition to Itf to an tour player now....and with those issues accompanying him he would always remain an under achiever in the sense that if he moves to top100 ...then he would have surely ended up as a top 50 had he worked with little so called errors or holes he is currently sticking with...

[Saniapower]

He cant hit flat, cant generate enough power most of the time

[PKBasu]

I don't think RamK's backhand is as much of a weakness now as it was a year ago. Still definitely his weak hand, but the power he generates off his serve, and forehand (including service returns off the forehand) give him quite an advantage against most opponents. Thiem probably hadn't properly scouted him, and began attacking RamK's backhand only in the second set, but by then RamK already had tremendous momentum, and was serving up a dream match. When he tires, RamK's service consistency deserts him: it happened against Baghdatis and again against Caruso in the end yesterday. He does need to learn to take breaks from competitive play!

[Sin Hombre]

RamK is in the QD for Newport now with MD WCs announced and one withdrawal.

[Sin Hombre]

RamK's section of the draw in Winnetka. Klahn is a solid CH but has struggled of late; RamK needs to step up and at least get to the QFs with this draw.

(5)Ramkumar Ramanathan v Bradley Klahn
Andrew Whittington v J.C. Aragone
Q v Q
Dominik Koepfer v (4)Marco Chiudinelli


It also looks like he will be seeded in the QD for Newport. I am guessing RamK has to choose; @sameer can you clarify on the rules?

[sameerph]

Choose what ?

[Sin Hombre]

Choose what ?

Qualifying for Newport starts on Sunday.

[sameerph]

I thought is starts on Saturday. Anyway if it starts on Sunday, if RamK reaches final this week at Winnetka, he will be automatically taken out from Newport draw. It will be semi final, in case Newport qualies start on Saturday. He cannot choose to pull out of Winnetka mid way and play Newport qualies.

[Rajiv]

If he reaches Singles Finals , than it is definitely worth missing New Port qualies.
But keeping a realistic target of Qtrs - Semis should help him reach in time as he is in a tough draw and his R1 opponent even though playing with PR is a dangerous floater and should he overcome , likes of Andrew Witthington , Marco Chiudinelli all strong opponents await him.

Only concern is that he is playing doubles with Jeevan , and they have good chance to go deep, so this doubles engagement if it last's the distance might put a spanner in his plans for the ATP qualies.

[sameerph]

RamK is down 36 16 in his first round match against Klhan at Winnetka.

[sameerph]

Yes, RamK makes an excellent comeback to get the break back and takes the second set in tie break 76(4).

[sameerph]

Damn, RamK missed match points with Klhan serving 4-5,30-40 and again at 5-6, 30-40. It goes down to the third set tie break now.