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sameerph wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:34 am

PKBasu wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:47 am Ramkumar couldn't maintain the momentum into the final set

[R1] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND, 200) l. Taro Daniel (JPN, 120) 46 76(3) 36

RamK had 15 aces and 3 double faults against only 1 ace and 2 double faults by Taro. So, he was +12 on those points. Still he got 6 points less than Taro. So, he managed to keep it close only because of his serve. Else, when the ball was in play, he was down 18 points which is a very big diference. Unless he does better on his return of serve and ground game he will find it difficult to beat opopnents who are inside top 150 despite his much better serve.

Yes, Ramkumar's game is based on his strong serve, accompanied by a relatively less dependable ground game. He is likely to succeed more on grass and indoor courts. Singapore is played indoors, but the surface may not be as quick as the typical indoor carpet. While it would be ideal if RamK could improve his ground game and return of serve (and it is surprising that they aren't stronger given his early training in Spain), he shouldn't be expected to alter the basics of his game. What he should work on is the ability to break the opponent -- such as with the break chances he had in the third set yesterday. If he is able to convert those consistently, he will win despite the apparent deficiencies in his ground game (and the huge strengths that his serve and volley confer).

Well, some bad news - Jeevan has been put to a hard lockdown since the passenger next to him were tested positive in his flight from Chennai to Singapore, even though he himself tested negative (wonder if they were a normal passenger or another tennis player - and if it were the former, amazing how Singapore tracks not only these +ve cases, but also their neighbors).

That puts Yuki’s comeback to a minor jeopardy!

Bopanna’s slump continues, lost another first round doubles match in straight sets.

Yes, absolute shocker in the doubles:

[R1] Luis David Martinez (VEN, 111)/David Vega Hernandez (ESP, 110) d. 2-Rohan Bopanna (IND, 39)/Ben McLachlan (JPN, 50) 64 62

Is the end of the road approaching for RB? He has yet to win a match this year. The Australian Open R1 loss was to a couple of players ranked outside the top-100 in doubles, and here is yet another such loss.

Dinesh wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 1:47 am Well, some bad news - Jeevan has been put to a hard lockdown since the passenger next to him were tested positive in his flight from Chennai to Singapore, even though he himself tested negative (wonder if they were a normal passenger or another tennis player - and if it were the former, amazing how Singapore tracks not only these +ve cases, but also their neighbors).

That puts Yuki’s comeback to a minor jeopardy!

Jeevan/Yuki have been scratched from the doubles draw -- replaced by Radu Albot/James Duckworth (a pretty strong pair on paper!). I wonder whether Jeevan will receive his R1 prize money (in part or whole) for making the trip. It is grossly unfair to him otherwise to be penalized for merely sitting next to someone who tested positive.

Yuki remains in the singles draw.

Yuki vs Ebden is the second match tomorrow (should be around 1:30pm local, 11am IST) on Court 1.
Purav/Ramkumar play their R1 doubles match on the same court: theirs is the fourth match (should be around 4-4:30pm local time).

"Yuki Bhambri and Matthew Ebden have arrived on court" says the ATP site exactly an hour after I had expected them to be on court. So this comeback is real, or almost so (let us wait for Yuki to win a point before we are sure ).

Ebden won the toss and chose to receive. An early attack on Yuki's serve? We shall see...

Smooth start, 1-1 in the first set. But Yuki has just served his first double-fault to make it 15-all in the third game.
But he goes onto hold comfortably at 30. 2-1. Ebden holds for 2-2.
Trouble! Yuki is broken at love in the fifth game. 2-3

After 6 games (2-4), Yuki has won just 3 out of 15 return points, i.e., one of the main strengths of his game is totally non-functional at the moment. Clear sign of tennis-rustiness from not having practiced against tour- (or even Challenger-) level players for many many months.

Excellent return game from Yuki at 3-4. Ebden went down 0-30, made it 40-30, Deuce, Ad-out, Deuce. Ad-in, Game. Ebden needed to make a lot of first serves (including one ace) to win that game. The good news is that Yuki is back, despite failing to convert his first BP. 3-5.

At least I can believe now, that Yuki is playing tennis again. I'm happy from just that. Gosh, that was a long wait. Jay

Yuki is broken at 15, and loses the first set 3-6. He needs to tighten up on his perennial weakness, his serve. The second serve (which is usually quite good) is getting clobbered. First serve points won (69%) is also slightly lower than Ebden (73%).

Yuki had a break point in the third game, but couldn't convert on Ebden's second serve. Then Ebden broke Yuki in the fourth game. 1-3 And then held comfortably for 1-4.

[R1] PR-Yuki Bhambri (IND, UNR) vs. Matthew Ebden (AUS, 316; career-high 39, Oct 2018) 36 66

Yuki holds comfortably at 15. 2-4
Ebden holds at 15 too. 2-5
8th game: 40-15, 40-30, Deuce, Ad-in, Deuce, Ad-in, Game. 3-5
Yuki BREAKS Ebden at 15, including some sizzlers off Ebden's first serve! 4-5
9th game: 0-15, 15-30, 30-all, 40-30, game! 5-5
From being down 15-30, Ebden holds at 30. 5-6
Yuki holds after three Deuces (but no BPs against). 6-6

Now that Yuki has broken serve in the second set, looks like he is playing at a decent level. His game is built on his service return and ground game, so this is a good sign for him.