Heilbronn Challenger 100, Germany (Clay) - May 10-16

[prasen9]

It may be fitness and mental. All these 6-1, 1-6 seems to suggest that he blows hot and cold. If you are that way, then it is difficult to string together wins consistently. And, you have to string together wins consistently if you want some big points that is available in the latter rounds of a challenger, etc.

[sameerph]

Sumit seems unable to get beyond this stage in a challenger for quite a while. We can talk about the usual reasons like he ran into an inform player or got an unlucky draw, but at some point he needs to get beyond this stage if he has any ambitions to get into the top 100.

True, challenger or ATP qualies, he is losing after winning couple of matches well. Since start if European clay season, this is fifth tournament where he has lost the third match. In QF of 3 challengers and first round of main draw of ATP tournaments where he qualfied in with 2 wins. Except for 1 loss against player ranked outside 300 all his losses this clay season have come against players ranked higher than him. So, no bad losses but he needs to start winning these if he wants to move close and inside top 100.

[jaydeep]

After a couple of good wins this was a disappointing loss for Sumit ... Missed a big opportunity of moving deep into the draw on this big challenger.

[Sanjay]

Sumit seems unable to get beyond this stage in a challenger for quite a while. We can talk about the usual reasons like he ran into an inform player or got an unlucky draw, but at some point he needs to get beyond this stage if he has any ambitions to get into the top 100.

I wonder how good his coaching is. Some coaches cannot get you beyond 100.
All of this tells us how good Vijay and Ramesh were. They were ranked in the teens and won many ATP tournaments and had wins against the top players.

[jai_in_canada]

9

Sumit seems unable to get beyond this stage in a challenger for quite a while. We can talk about the usual reasons like he ran into an inform player or got an unlucky draw, but at some point he needs to get beyond this stage if he has any ambitions to get into the top 100.

I wonder how good his coaching is. Some coaches cannot get you beyond 100.
All of this tells us how good Vijay and Ramesh were. They were ranked in the teens and won many ATP tournaments and had wins against the top players.

I think in the 70s and 80s you could ride on your talent more. Nowadays it take a lot more than talent. Fitness, nutrition, sports psychology, tactics, technique, video scouting etc.are all factors. Everyone is working on all those things even at the Challenger level. So you're right, coaching is a big factor. The Europeans are miles ahead and start their players young. So if you developed your early game outside Europe you are starting with a disadvantage that is hard to make up. Sumit left to train with Tennis Canada in his early teens, which is a great program. Still a lot of tough competition these days. Such a hard and lonely way to make a living. Missing out on family and friends at a crucial time of life.

[suresh]

[QF] (2) Divij Sharan (IND) / Sander Arends (NED) vs. Marc Polmans (AUS) / Artem Sitak (NZL) 6-2 3-6 10-8

Finally, Divij is getting some positive results in 2021.

(via ITD)

[sameerph]

Yes, he will play his semi final too later today after some time.

[SF] (2) Divij Sharan (IND) / Sander Arends (NED) vs. (3) Nathaniel Lammons (USA) / Jackson Withrow (USA)

[PKBasu]

Good to see Divij pull off a couple of wins at the Challenger level (with Sander Arends). Divij's doubles ranking has dropped to 71 (Arends is 93, with a career-high of 55) and it would help if they win the next two matches.

[Dinesh]

They scheduled the semifinals on the same day and our pair lost in straight sets. But, I’m excited for the next couple of weeks as Divij will be partnering 2 talented Aussies (Millman in Lyon250 and JP Smith in Belgrade250).

[sameerph]

Yes, they lost in straight sets in semi finals.

[SF] (2) Divij Sharan (IND) / Sander Arends (NED) l. (3) Nathaniel Lammons (USA) / Jackson Withrow (USA) 36 36

[jaydeep]

Still, this week after a longtime back to back wins for him.

[sameerph]

Talking about Indian players running into in-form players, Zapata Miralles who beat Sumit in QF went on to win Heilbronn Challenger title and Argentine Beaz who beat RamK in first round went on to win Zagreb Challenger title. So, both Indians lost to eventual champions.

Now, this is going to get me few more brickbats from excuse police here.

[arjun2761]

Now, this is going to get me few more brickbats from excuse police here.

Can't guest who is policing the excuses.

Sumit made the QF in Heilbron which he wasn't seeded to do, so no excuse needed as he actually exceeded expectations per his ranking. We are only disappointed because he looks like the closest to getting into the top 100 among our players on current form recognizing that Yuki and Prajnesh have been there already but aren't at that level now.

[sameerph]

True, in fact 9 out of Sumit's 11 losses this year have all been against higher ranked players and 7 of those 9 have been against top 100 players. So, except for 2 losses, nothing to be ashamed of for Sumit. Just that we are expecting more from Sumit which gets us disappointed from time to time.