Australian Open 2021

[PKBasu]

The courts last year were resurfaced, and apparently played a bit slower than in the previous 3 years. But Dominic Thiem said after his match today that the courts are quick. Anyway, let's hope Sumit is able to adapt to them, and his coaches have worked out a way to play Berankis better than last week.

[arjun2761]

Article on court speeds: https://www.perfect-tennis.com/tennis-c ... t-speeds/


Found this article on court speeds. Based on this the Australian Open is among the fastest surfaces among the GS and Masters level tournaments. Advantage to the big servers and big hitters. Nagal is neither, so he'll have a tough time advancing here. Was surprised to see that the US Open is relatively slow, so that may explain why he did quite well there.

[Rajiv]

Continuation of the same scoreline when these 2 last met , and Sumit losses the first set at the same score 26 , and already down a break in the 2nd , doesn't look good at all , watched the first set , and our guy looked thoroughly outplayed.

[vparam]

This is getting ugly!

[Rajiv]

Broken in the 2nd after being 40-15 up , looks all at sea , down 0-4 in 2nd , just cant seem to adjust to to the pace ,timing seems to be missing .

Ok breaks the Lithuanian after 4 to 5 deuces, is this a turnaround now ?? 1-4 serve to come , but still a break down down..

[PKBasu]

Sumit breaks Berankis!! Could this be the turning point?

[Rajiv]

yes a 2nd break , 3-4 , with Sumit to serve...

Yess 4 all now ...

[PKBasu]

What a fightback!! 4-4 in the second set. This is the Sumit we know...

[Rajiv]

Gone 2nd set , after doing all the hardwork , lost the 2nd set 57, some UFE;s done him in , when a good chance to go up 30-15 , he put a easy return into the net.

So with our cricketers along with Sumit , a Double whammy for us on the cards.

[PKBasu]

Defeated but not disgraced.

[R1] WC-Sumit Nagal (IND, 138) l. Ricardas Berankis (LTH, 73) 26 57 36

[sameerph]

Did not expect a win from Sumit on these fast courts but good that after looking like getting wiped out in the first half of the match like last week, he did put up a better fight in the second half of the match.

[jayakris]

That 5-7 set made things a bit respectable. I was not hoping for anything more than this. Good to see that he is in decent form.

[PKBasu]

He was getting blown away at 2-6, 0-4 but then began a great fightback, breaking Berankis twice in succession, and coming tantalisingly close to breaking him a third time (which would have given him the second set). But Berankas was able to regroup and take the 12th game of the second set.

[Sanjay]

Sumit playing Berankis this evening at 9:15pm CST. Berankis has the edge as the better player, but I hope Sumit is pumped up.

I hope it's available to watch on TV.

GO SUMIT!

If the courts are quick, Sumit will likely be outgunned. However, Berankis is one of the weaker players you could expect to play in a GS first round, so hopefully Sumit will give it his all as he did against Federer at the US Open and pull out a win! Good luck to him!

Oh well. I watched the match and I think Sumit needs to be stronger mentally. He lost 3 breakpoints and was getting frustrated and losing his focus. This cannot happen in serious level tennis.

[arjun2761]

Not sure what Sumit worked on in the offseason but it wasn't his serve. He averaged 161 kms for his first serve and that number is worse than most of the top players on the WTA tour and the slowest on the ATP tour by a mile.

This would be like having a fast bowler bowling 115-120 KMS - you aren't going to have success against top level opponents if you are outgunned this badly. Clearly, he should focus on the clay season and the slower hard courts and perhaps that is his plan. He likely came to Australia to collect a paycheck....