N Sriram Balaji thread

All posts regarding specific player and player fans threads are in this forum

Moderator: Moderators

User avatar
jayakris
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 34750
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:24 am
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by jayakris »

Atithee wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 6:27 pm Losing count of Indians losing matches after winning the first set. It’s just too frequent.
At least Balaji's loss was to the second seeds, so it was rather expected. Upsets by our teams have been very rare in doubles, and upsets on our teams have not been that rare, lately. Jeeven and Purav pulled a comeback from dropping a set (which itself has been rare) today in France - but they were the 4th seeds and were in danger of getting upset. Generally, nobody doing great after the pandemic break.
User avatar
prasen9
Member
Member
Posts: 19122
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 8:49 pm
Please enter the middle number: 1
Location: State College, PA
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 8 times
Contact:

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by prasen9 »

Atithee wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 6:27 pm Losing count of Indians losing matches after winning the first set. It’s just too frequent.
This generally means that we are not that good. Top players make adjustments during the match and pull it out. The weaker players cannot adjust and lose. That is why we play multiple sets. The first set win is more of a surprise factor. In that you come out and do something and the opponent loses before they can adjust. Then, once they know what you are doing, they adjust and then you have no answer. So, in a way winning the first set is more about gimmicks.

Also, people with weaker fitness lose steam after the first set.

Additionally, people with weaker mental state usually lose more often than not in the tiebreaker.

So, however you dice it, it seems we are not that good as teams. Thus, even when we win the first set, we lose the match. Deservedly.

We need to improve our game, tactical acumen, fitness, and mental aspects to pull out full matches. Which is short for saying, we need to get better.
sameerph
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 32789
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:26 pm
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: MUMBAI
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by sameerph »

Bala and Jeevan are thru to the SF in Colombia.

At Cali Challenger, Colombia (Clay)

[R1] (1) N. Sriram Balaji (IND) / Jeevan Neduncheziyan (IND) d. Pedja Kristin (SRB) / Milan Zekic (SRB) Walkover

[QF] (1) N. Sriram Balaji (IND) / Jeevan Neduncheziyan (IND) d. Ignacio Carou (URU) / Facundo Mena (ARG)

Next,

[SF] (1) N. Sriram Balaji (IND) / Jeevan Neduncheziyan (IND) vs. Keegan Smith (USA) / Evan Zhu (USA)
sameerph
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 32789
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:26 pm
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: MUMBAI
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by sameerph »

They lost in the SF.

At Cali Challenger, Colombia (Clay)

[SF] (1) N. Sriram Balaji (IND) / Jeevan Neduncheziyan (IND) l. Keegan Smith (USA) / Evan Zhu (USA) 46 61 6-10
User avatar
jayakris
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 34750
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:24 am
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by jayakris »

Balaji and Jeevan are at the Challenger 80 in Ambato, Ecuador (Clay)

[Q1] (Alt) N.Sriram Balaji (IND,918) vs (Alt) Henry Barrett (USA,NR)
and
[R1] (1) N.Sriram Balaji (IND)/ Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (IND) vs Cayetano March (ECU)/ Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva (BRA)
sameerph
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 32789
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:26 pm
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: MUMBAI
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by sameerph »

Oh, they have gone all the way to Ecuador to play. In the past, had not seen anyone travel to South America for tournaments. But, nowadays at least some of the Indian players are going there. Certainly our players seem to have more resources these days to travel and play all over the world more than it was few years back. Sadly so far it has not resulted in better performances.
User avatar
jayakris
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 34750
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:24 am
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by jayakris »

I was also feeling that suddenly a lot of players seemed to have funds to travel to places where we never saw Indians go to. Rather strange.

But the one player I want to see travel and play a lot (Sahaja) is struggling for funds :(
User avatar
Atithee
Member
Member
Posts: 5843
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:14 pm
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 10 times

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by Atithee »

sameerph wrote: Sun Oct 16, 2022 4:36 am Oh, they have gone all the way to Ecuador to play. In the past, had not seen anyone travel to South America for tournaments.
In this thread itself, they were in Cali, Colombia in July. :D

And Sumit is in Chile.
sameerph
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 32789
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:26 pm
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: MUMBAI
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by sameerph »

Atithee wrote: Sun Oct 16, 2022 5:43 am
sameerph wrote: Sun Oct 16, 2022 4:36 am Oh, they have gone all the way to Ecuador to play. In the past, had not seen anyone travel to South America for tournaments.
In this thread itself, they were in Cali, Colombia in July. :D

And Sumit is in Chile.
In the past, I meant 10-20 years back. :D
User avatar
jayakris
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 34750
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:24 am
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by jayakris »

Actually not even 5 years back. Before Sumit went to play on clay some 3-4 years ago, only ONE Indian had ever gone to play in S. America, which was Leander for a couple of weeks back in 1993 just before the Frejus miracle. That was it. No Indian went there for 25+ years before Sumit. (Prakash may have gone for one junior event or something - a vague memory I have; that is all)
User avatar
jayakris
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 34750
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:24 am
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by jayakris »

At the Challenger 80 in Ambato, Ecuador (Clay)

[Q1] (Alt) N.Sriram Balaji (IND,918) d. (Alt) Henry Barrett (USA,NR), 62 61 .... 4th seed Tristan McCormick (USA,528) up next.
User avatar
jayakris
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 34750
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:24 am
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by jayakris »

At the Challenger 80 in Ambato, Ecuador (Clay)

[Q2] Balaji is actually playing some good singles against the 4th seed, though rust shows every now and then. Dropped serve twice to lose the first set 2-6, but he has broken twice (once helped by a couple of DFs from McCormick) to go up 4-0 in the second set. 2-6 4-0... He holds serve at 30 for a 5-0 lead. Holds againin the 7th game, at 40-0 with some nice serve and volley. It is all even at 26 61 00... Hmmm. Go Balaji!!

And he comes up with a return winner and gets a couple of mistakes from McCormick to go up a break in the third set. Balaji is 3 of 3 in BP conversions today... 1-0... He holds serve without trouble twice, and it is 3-1... Holds again for 4-2... And a tremendous hold at 4-3 by Balaji, after saving four BPs on him (one with an ace following a DF) showing a little bit of everything, but most impressively some deft hands at the net. One drop shot earlier in the game at 15-30 was impressive too. Anyway 5-3 in the third, and McCormick holds serve. 5-4 and Balaji serving for the match... A tremendous reflex BH overhead volley at the net on a hard return that ricocheted off the net gave him triple match points (I have no idea how he hit that so perfectly on reflex. hats off, Balaji!)... He converted the second MP on a dig at the net after the previous point's dig hit the net. He did the job on a very nice upset, to qualify in and make it 3 of 3 by Indians in challenger qualies today (following Mukund at Busan and Sumit at Coquimbo)!! How about that, folks? 26 61 64 :dance: :dance:

[Q2] (Alt) N.Sriram Balaji (IND,1449) d. (4) Tristan McCormick (USA,556) 26 61 64

For the match, Balaji saved 10 of 12 BPs on him while converting all three he got. There were mistakes and mishits aplenty from both players. Probably about 15 mishits, though Balaji made only about 5 of those... 12 aces and 4 DFs by the other guy; 5 aces and 8 DFs by Balaji... This was a timely show by Balaji to pick up a few points too. His ranking had just fallen by some 500+ spots today, as 11 points fell off (from qualifying in and winning a round at the Alicante challenger last year), and he was left with just 2 points. He got 4 points back. He still has some game left, so why not try singles qualies in an odd week when he gets a chance as an ALT entry or something? $520 for making the draw doesn't hurt either. I'm happy for him.

Here is something interesting. I just saw Indians converting 9 straight BPs in a row in back to back matches. On South American clay. Six of six by Sumit in Chile and 3 of 3 by Balaji in Ecuador. Historic! ... I don't think I will ever see that many in a row being converted by players I root for! I am the lucky charm, don't you think? :)
User avatar
jayakris
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 34750
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:24 am
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by jayakris »

Total lack of luck for Indians this week, as all three qualifiers face seeds in the main draw.

[R1] (Q) N.Sriram Balaji (IND,1449) vs (7) Miljan Zekic (SRB,245)
sameerph
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 32789
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:26 pm
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: MUMBAI
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by sameerph »

We have 4 players in ATP challenger main draw this week and all 4 draw seeds in first round, 2 women challengers and they too draw seeds in first round. What were the odds of this happening ? Bad luck. Hope we get 1-2 upsets.
User avatar
jayakris
Moderators
Moderators
Posts: 34750
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:24 am
Antispam: No
Please enter the middle number: 5
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: N Sriram Balaji thread

Post by jayakris »

^^ The probability for all 6 getting seeds are roughly 1 in 3386 = 0.000295. It is 8 in 31 chance to draw a seed for an unseeded player. Raise it to the power of 6...

But then again, what are the odds for me to see two Indians converting 9 BPs in a row against higher ranked players in challenger Q2 matches? Even if we assume a 0.5 chance to win the BPs, as they were winning at that rate on opponents' serve, that has a probability of 0.002... That also happened today. A day of low probability events.

Yeah, there has to be at least one upset or something, right? Other than Sumit and maybe Karman, I just can't imagine an upset from anybody else. Hope they surprise me.
Post Reply