Miami Open, ATP 1000

[jimlosaltos]

How does one hit 55 winners in an 3 set match and lose?

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tiafoe-miami-2023-saturday

ATP:
Frances Tiafoe withstood a ferocious returning assault from Japan's Yosuke Watanuki to sneak into the third round of the Miami Open presented by Itau in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Tiafoe needed six match points to see off the swashbuckling 24-year-old World No. 123, who crushed 55 winners (including 28 off the forehand side) and kept the American on his toes by taking huge cuts on returns.

"It was brutal tonight, just one of those nights you try to get over the line," Tiafoe said. "I was a little frustrated as I had never seen him play and he played very well and was hitting incredibly from the baseline.

[jimlosaltos]

Disappointing but Shelton out to Mannarino, 64 36 61

Saw an article where Mannarino said he didn't like his game either <g>. Can't stand watching Giles Simon, understand fans want something else.

Mannarino used to hit conventional ATP shots but hurt his wrist, and changed to hit with extremely short take back, linear swings, and reportedly loosest strings on tour.

Adapted successfully, Kudos to him. Game a bit like Italian Seppi.

[jimlosaltos]

Alcaraz on seed to meet either Fritz or Rune in the semis, both potentially interesting.

[stroke]

Disappointing but Shelton out to Mannarino, 64 36 61

Saw an article where Mannarino said he didn't like his game either <g>. Can't stand watching Giles Simon, understand fans want something else.

Mannarino used to hit conventional ATP shots but hurt his wrist, and changed to hit with extremely short take back, linear swings, and reportedly loosest strings on tour.

Adapted successfully, Kudos to him. Game a bit like Italian Seppi.

Yes Mannarino plays a real thinking man's game out there, very short take backs on both sides and great at redirecting pace. He seems to have all day on that forehand side. He also has very good hands and a very effective lefty heavy slice serve. He can be quite the handful for anyone. Interesting match going on now deep in 1st set Rune vs Schwartzman. The crowd is definitely backing Diego.

[jimlosaltos]

Yes Mannarino plays a real thinking man's game out there, very short take backs on both sides and great at redirecting pace. He seems to have all day on that forehand side. He also has very good hands and a very effective lefty heavy slice serve. He can be quite the handful for anyone. Interesting match going on now deep in 1st set Rune vs Schwartzman. The crowd is definitely backing Diego.

There's a reason IMG promotes the Miami Open as the "Latin Slam".
Used to have soccer-style audiences for Delpo.

[don_budge]

Another fascinating Nose Dive...this time Caspar Ruud. How quickly the worm turns. Once nearly crowned the heir apparent, he has consecutive losses to the numbers 32, 97, 125, 39 and 70 ranked players in the world. One part expectations and two parts wearing a target on your back. The guy on the other side of the net sees one thing...a big win. A big scalp for the belt. Another notch on the holster. They see a big bullseye target on the back of the favorite. All of a sudden they are more aggressive and dictating play. It's tough from the backcourt too. Meeting this more aggressive play. Play from the backcourt is almost by definition defensive. With just a little more nerves in play it becomes a tad more tentative on the part of the favored player. Tentative is a recipe for disaster.

I was fascinated by the coach of Althea Gibson...Sidney Llewellyn:

First, he pounded to make me think and act and play with the idea in mind that I had what it takes to become the champion. And after I made it, instead of letting up, he pressed me all the more.

"You've got to hit that ball with all your strength and attack forcefully, and overpower your opponent. You've got to hit with pace and with depth, and put that championship power and determination pride behind every shot. Never let up, and don't every change from the championship way of hitting.

"You were hitting the daylights out of the ball last year. You were hitting it with force. You've got to hit it even more forcefully, you've got to hit it with daring.

"You're the champ, you can take chances, you can hit all out on every shot. You've got the ability and you've got the experience and you've got the control and the power. All you have to do is use it. Amazing interview with Sydney: "It takes a chump to make a champ."
"Stand up there and swing freely and hit with force. Absolutely defy the ball to go anywhere except where you want it to go. That ball isn't going to talk back to you. "You're its master. It is, you see, Sydney's idea that I should fill my mind with positive thoughts and give no room at all to negative thoughts, to doubts or fears.

"You're going to win" is the only attitude he will countenance. "You're going to hit with force, as forcefully as you can, and never let up and you're going to hit the ball long, with the kind of depth that keeps your opponent back on her heels on the defensive, just like in a prize fight, then you're going to open up the court with a forcing shot and then your power is going to take advantage of that opening and put the ball away, and you're going to still be the champion because you're going to play like a champion."

[don_budge]

And running in the outside lane is "dark horse" Christopher Eubanks! Christopher, ranked number 119, has a rematch with a fellow he has a bit of history with. Gregoire Barrera. Christopher beat Gregoire in a runaway...7-6, 6-7, 7-6 match in the second round of qualifying at the U. S. Open last year. I'm giving this the don_budge "Match of the Day" status. I'd like to see this young fellow light it up with a great serving day...or night.

[stroke]

And running in the outside lane is "dark horse" Christopher Eubanks! Christopher, ranked number 119, has a rematch with a fellow he has a bit of history with. Gregoire Barrera. Christopher beat Gregoire in a runaway...7-6, 6-7, 7-6 match in the second round of qualifying at the U. S. Open last year. I'm giving this the don_budge "Match of the Day" status. I'd like to see this young fellow light it up with a great serving day...or night.

I concur on that match of the day, not that it matters. Tomorrow will be the best day of the tournament, all the 4th round matches on tap. Match of day to me Fritz vs crowd favorite Rune. Sinner vs Rublev also looks interesting. If Chris can get through today, he will most likely have Hurkacz waiting on him. Tough out there.

[stroke]

Tsitsipas and his weak backhand appears to be in trouble going into a 3rd set vs and engaged Garin and the crowd.

[don_budge]

Tsitsipas and his weak backhand appears to be in trouble going into a 3rd set vs and engaged Garin and the crowd.

Barely hanging in there...4 games all. He has yet to hit a backhand. I only tuned in for a moment. Weak slices. Short slices.

[jimlosaltos]

Tsitsipas and his weak backhand appears to be in trouble going into a 3rd set vs and engaged Garin and the crowd.

Tsitsipas reportedly has a shoulder injury, and played both Indian Wells and Miami because it appears her misunderstands the rules.

I only saw a clip so far, but it appeared to justify the poster's claim that "Tsitsipas is afraid to hit through on his backhand."

Interview quote on why he didn't withdraw: Stefanos Tsitsipas on playing Indian wells: “There’s an ATP rule if you don’t play in a Masters 1000, they take away your best 1000 result of last year & you can’t add points. I had to play. You also get fined.. it’s frustrating to have to think about this on top of your injury”

[stroke]

Tsitsipas reportedly has a shoulder injury, and played both Indian Wells and Miami because it appears her misunderstands the rules.

I only saw a clip so far, but it appeared to justify the poster's claim that "Tsitsipas is afraid to hit through on his backhand."

Interview quote on why he didn't withdraw: Stefanos Tsitsipas on playing Indian wells: “There’s an ATP rule if you don’t play in a Masters 1000, they take away your best 1000 result of last year & you can’t add points. I had to play. You also get fined.. it’s frustrating to have to think about this on top of your injury”

No idea what is going on with Stef shoulder. His service grip makes my shoulder hurt. Definitely has something going on. He was hitting a lot more slices on the bh side than he usually does in his very close win over Garin. And as we all know, it is not a Grigor slice bh.

[don_budge]

I have talked to Eubanks a few times when he was playing at Georgia Tech. He is a truly good guy. I am certainly pulling for him. He does a a great serve and huge forehand. He is a true 6'7". His backhand gives away too many errors, his slice backhand is not that good, and he is not comfortable volleying. He does not have good hands. But he stays in the match, does not give up on himself and go away.

I concur on that match of the day, not that it matters. Tomorrow will be the best day of the tournament, all the 4th round matches on tap. Match of day to me Fritz vs crowd favorite Rune. Sinner vs Rublev also looks interesting. If Chris can get through today, he will most likely have Hurkacz waiting on him. Tough out there.

Adrian Mannarino threw Hurkacz a screwball yesterday. Probably a bunch of screwballs. The ball really comes off his racquet in a deceiving way. He's hard to read. So Christopher Eubanks handled his end of the bargain in fine fashion. Straight sets with a lot on the line proportionally for Eubanks. He hasn't been this deep in the draw before. Good on him. Mannarino is an excellent test for him. Lefty with screwball tactics. He is really good at taking air out of the ball. Eubanks gave me the impression in the little that I saw of him against "Born Again" Coric that he has a couple of gears. Hard and faster. Doesn't play it coy. Doesn't mix it up. Just my first impression. But he is tough to read as well and probably tough to get a rhythm off of. Mannarino had Roger Federer on the ropes in his final Wimbledon appearance but Roger was saved when Mannarino went down hard on the grass and had to default. This is a match of polar opposites...and I like it. Hopefully I can stay awake long enough to catch some of it. He didn't get started until 10 thirty something last night here in Sweden. That was going to be past my bed time and truthfully...the tennis these days doesn't compel me to stay awake for it. Not since you know who left the stadium.

[stroke]

Sinner just too good, too much game for a straight set win over Rublev. Fritz is fine form, looking too much for Rune. Yes Mannarino will be a fine test for Chris. That win over Hurkacz certainly one of his best in a while.

[jimlosaltos]

Sinner just too good, too much game for a straight set win over Rublev. Fritz is fine form, looking too much for Rune. Yes Mannarino will be a fine test for Chris. That win over Hurkacz certainly one of his best a a while.

Yup, great result for Mannarino at 34 yo!

I checked and the 22 lb stringing is quoted in a few places, so might actually be true.
This from 2021: Is Mannarino's 11 kg / 24 lbs the lowest string tension on tour? I think so

As for Sinner - very impressive tools. In person at Indian Wells, the depth Sinner hit his forehand with seemed to trouble even Alcaraz -- until Sinner's serve went on a walkabout in the second set.

Despite being 2 years older, Sinner gives me the impression of being more a work-in-progress than Alcaraz. Not a criticism, just that I get the feeling we know what Alcaraz can do, it's a question of whether he follows through. With Sinner, his eventual game is yet to come. It's not yet fully baked - witness changes to his service motion a year or so ago (Cahill's influence?). Sinner has spouted up to perhaps 6 ft 4 in last year, and I suspect he's still growing into his body.

A year ago people were beating him by hitting behind him, per the announcer because he didn't yet have the lower leg strength for a sudden stop and pivot. Not so much today.

With luck, Sinner - Alcaraz will be a major rivalry for years to come.