Ramkumar Ramanathan thread

[Rajiv]

Have a court will play....
Once again Ram makes an effortless transition to a different surface with a commendable victory and thus proving he is impervious to change of court surfaces.

Having watched him for few years , never have I seen him so confident as he was playing today ,
from the first to the last point , every point he played was with authority and even though he lost the first set , did not get that feeling that he would ever be in trouble.

This playing form speaks of new found level of confidence which Ram has acquired and hoping he makes at least the semis for this tourney.

[Prakharulz]

He shouldn't be playing doubles
More chances of injury and tiredness. But I guess the financial incentive is the driving force.

[PKBasu]

Wonderful stuff continues from the effervescent Ramkumar, and he edges up further to a new career-high of 183.

[S_K_S]

[R1] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND)/ Aldin Setkic (BIH) lost to (3) Marin Draganja (CRO)/ Tomislav Draganja (CRO) 4-6, 6-2, 9-11

[Tolamu]

[R1] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND)/ Aldin Setkic (BIH) lost to (3) Marin Draganja (CRO)/ Tomislav Draganja (CRO) 4-6, 6-2, 9-11

Good riddance!!

[Sin Hombre]

RamK would be next up against the winner of
[7] Salvatore Caruso ITA v Petr Michnev CZE

This is a match he should win on outdoor hard against either opponent. Kudryavtsev is a more accomplished hard courter.

[Varma]

That's an amazing transformation from what we saw just a few months ago. Last week's performance must have done a world of good to RamK's confidence. He needs to keep that going to catapult himself into the big league.

- Varma

[S_K_S]

[R1] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND)/ Aldin Setkic (BIH) lost to (3) Marin Draganja (CRO)/ Tomislav Draganja (CRO) 4-6, 6-2, 9-11

Good riddance!!

Until we have 3-4 players regularly in the singles draw of a slam, the doubles draw is our bread and butter and as much as we would like to turn our noses up at it, it remains the best chance of a tournament win for an Indian.

[Atithee]

Not any more even that. Doubles teams aren't assured of a trophy in slams either. ATP challenger level, maybe.

[jaydeep]

So after today's rest, he is facing 7th seed Italian Salvatore Caruso.

At $50K+H Recanati Challenger 2017, Italy

[R2] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND,184) vs (7) Salvatore Caruso (ITA,200)

[sameerph]

RamK would be next up against the winner of
[7] Salvatore Caruso ITA v Petr Michnev CZE

This is a match he should win on outdoor hard against either opponent. Kudryavtsev is a more accomplished hard courter.

Caruso beat RamK on hard courts in a challenger in Italy in straight sets last November. So, it won't be easy.

[S_K_S]

It will be Caruso but not till Thursday. Day off for RamK.

[S_K_S]

About to start against Caruso

RK to serve
1-0 Boom boom RK. 2 aces and 2 service winners. Lost 2 points where there were rallies
1-1 Hold to 15
2-1 Tough game. Self inflicted after putting a simple volley put away long at 40-15. Got taken to deuce but saved the game
2-2 No idea what happened
2-3 RK broken. 40-30 served an ace on 2nd serve down the T that the linesman called out. Caruso is the stronger from the baseline. RK trying to come to the net where possible
3-3 Broke back
4-3
4-4
5-4 Hold to 15. Hanging in there. 58% first serves in but when they do go in they are a rocket
5-5 Hold to 15
6-5 Hold to 15. New nickname time "Rocket Ram". When the rocket gets his 1st serve in the point is as good as over
6-6 Hold to love
1-0 pass down the line is wide by Caruso
2-0 smash wide by Caruso after a great get by RK off the 1st smash by Caruso. Mini-break for RK.
2-1 Forehand pass down the line by Caruso with RK at the net
3-1 Return is long off a 2nd serve
4-1 long from the baseline from Caruso. Decibel levels rising
4-2 Forehand into the net from RK
4-3
5-3 rally followed by winner from RK with Caruso at the net
6-3 Ace from Rocket Ram
6-4 shot into net from RK after a net chord
6-5 Smash winner from Caruso
7-5 2nd serve ace down the T from Rocket Ram
The great get off the smash at 1-0 to get Caruso to make the error on the 2nd smash was the difference
7-6(5)

0-1 Hold to 15 by Caruso
1-1 Hold to 15 by RK despite 2 dodgy line calls on his serve
2-1 Hold to 30 by SC. Chip and charge tactic off the return worked on a few but no cigar.
Medical time-out for SC. getting his left knee taped up
2-2 RK holds to 15 and that was thanks to another over rule by the umpire
3-2 Hold to 30 again by SC. RK getting close but just a bit more care needed on the chip and charge off the 2nd serve return. Right tactic but just needs fine tuning on the execution
3-3 RK waits for church bells to stop ringing. For whom do the bells toll? Holds to love anyway
3-4 SC holds to love with a couple of aces
3-5 broken to 30. Our friendly umpire over ruling again this time on the baseline
3-6 Hold to 15. For 15-0 to SC Umpire over rules again in SC's favour. RK loses it and long argument with the umpire. Quite right. Accuses the umpire of robbing him. How many times can I keep quiet says RK
RK continues the argument at the end of the game. Takes a toilet break.

0-1 RK is broken to 15. DF on 0-15 and generally a very tame loss. Clearly still impacted by the argument
1-1 Attaboy RamK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Breaks to love!! Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Umpire feeling a bit guilty decided to give SC a time violation at 0-30 for going on a walk about
2-1 Holds to 30 despite another ace at 15-15 being called out. The boy has spirit! Come on RamK
2-2 Holds to 30
3-2 Hold by RK to 15. Another ace at 40-0 chalked off. On the line is out today if you are an Indian
4-2 Couple of chances missed at 15-30 and 30-30 but a DF at 40-30 brings it to deuce. FH into net gives ad-out. 2nd serve on BP and after a long rally bh from SC is wide
4-3 Broken on the 3rd BP. Huge game where came back from 15-40. Had a forehand to win the game but went wide. SC converted 3rd BP
5-3 RK breaks to 15. terrible game by SC. 2 backhands into the net and a wild forehand
5-4 Broken. 0-30 after a couple of loose points, gets one back off a bh winner, df makes it 15-40, forced error after coming into the net makes it 30-40, bh wide though gives it away which RK again disputes
5-5 Hold to 15 by SC
5-6 Broken. 0-15 bh cx winner, 0-30 forehand long by RK, 15-30 smash by RK at the net, 30-30 fh just in from volley at net, 30-40 forehand into net off the 2nd serve return. game - at the net again off the 2nd serve and this time the passing shot generates a forced error
Medical time-out for RK. Massage to the left leg. Quads by the looks of it.
Come on RamK - one final effort
5-7 Holds to 15. RamK doesn't shake hands with the umpire. SC hobbles to the net to shake hands.

[R2] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND,184) lost to (7) Salvatore Caruso (ITA,200) 7-6(5), 3-6, 5-7

[PKBasu]

I didn't want to break Samarth's rhythm, but it's been downhill from there, with Caruso now serving for the match at 6-5
Caruso, 7th seed, wins it 7-5

[S_K_S]

Glad someone is watching. About to put my fist through the wall if we lose this one.