British Challengers (grass), June, 2018

[knarayen]

I just saw a replay of the Vijay/Borg match on grass on YouTube. And comparing the way Vijay played on Grass and RamK now - RamK sure could learn a few things from watching Vijay play on grass!

Looks like RamK is serving at 2-0 with a break in the 3rd set - way to go
Prof

[jayakris]

We should first conduct a couple of grass challengers in India like we used to. It will help our players to keep an edge on grass. If it is timed right, we will also get very good participation.

RamK is up 3-0 in the third.

[suresh]

Good point Prof. At least, he doesn't say that grass is for cows. It is 3-0 now.

[knarayen]

RamK up 3-0with a good hold. Serving well which is critical on grass..he needs to maintain this great serving and upping percentage wins on 2nd serve as well. Should be able to coast on this single break - hope no more drama on that!

Hah - RamK up 4-0 with Thompson hitting the spare ball into the stands in frustration after a bad missed backhand volley - good going!

The problem with RamK - he is not prepared for a good return on his second serve - needs to learn from Vijay!! Anyway good hold to 5-0.
THompson holds to 1-5. RamK needs to press here - Aussies never give up and are known for rearguard action! He better focus and hit ALL first serves in this game.

RamK romps home 6-1 in the 3rd!!

He knew he had to press the advantage when he had it - may the good times continue.
Prof

[jayakris]

RamK's backhand slice has wicked spin and that leads to weird bounces on footmarks. That is how Jordan is broken in set 3. It is 2-0 RamK.

I think you are right. So many mishits from the Aussie, even when he volleys. Now RamK is two breaks up at 4-0

[jayakris]

Ramk faced an Ad out BP at 4-0. No problem. Ace #10, Service winner, Aace #11, game. 5-0 in the third.

[PKBasu]

Ramkumar romping in the final set, 5-0 now against second seeded Jordan Thompson (AUS, 91).

[suresh]

RamK's lobs have been awful today -- they end up like moonballs.

[PKBasu]

And he wins 64 36 61 !!

As easy as 1-2-3!

[PKBasu]

We should apply to have a Bangalore Challenger on grass in May every year — just around the time of the Italian Open, for all those wishing to prepare ahead for grass and skip the clay.
And, for good measure we should play a couple of Challengers at Lucknow and Calcutta’s South Club in December, and offer a wild card each to the Indian who does best in each of them.

[Rajiv]

Perfect start for our guys.
Although it was a straight sets win for Yuki it was very close and tight, and the Aussie just need a window of an oportunity to make it difficult for Yuki.But to his credit Yuki didn't allow it to happen and played in planned manner blocking any comebacks. 

Ram, first had to drill in his mind and remind him that this match was an unfinished business.
Two years ago in Zhuhai even though he lost 7-6,7-5 he was 5-2 up in the first set and 4-0 up in the second, and today how well he played superbly to avenge that loss, He feels that the courts are fast and quick although with a odd low bounce but to his liking as evident from the high number number of aces,and service winners.

[PKBasu]

What a long way Indian tennis has come in the past year. At this time a year ago, neither Yuki nor RamK was in position to play the Wimbledon qualifiers. Yuki did reasonably well in some of the grass Challengers, but not quite good enough to play at Roehampton (he was the highest-ranked player to miss out). RamK put the disappointment of not making the Wimbledon qualifiers out of his mind, and pulled off the biggest win of his career -- on the grass courts of Antalya, Turkey, beating clay ace Dominic Thiem, the hottest player of 2017 until he got a rude shock from the athletic Indian!

Now, both our top players are clobbering Aussies on the famous grass of the Surbiton Challenger at the very start of the world's ever-so-short lawn tennis season.

[bujilover]

We should apply to have a Bangalore Challenger on grass in May every year — just around the time of the Italian Open, for all those wishing to prepare ahead for grass and skip the clay.
And, for good measure we should play a couple of Challengers at Lucknow and Calcutta’s South Club in December, and offer a wild card each to the Indian who does best in each of them.

And it surely will attract some tough foreign players. If only our tennis associations think like that

[bujilover]

Meanwhile, Ankita's grass court season started awful. En route to a straight-set loss against a LL.

[PKBasu]

Poor so far from Ankita. Down 1-6, 2-5, and Deuce on her serve.

Oops, and it's over. Very bad loss for Ankita at the start of the grass season -- 16 26 to a low-ranked Lucky Loser.