Vienna

[stroke]

Berenttini vs Thiem in the semi's here. Very high quality match by these 2 likeable players. The Berenttini forehand once again the biggest weapon on the court. Theim trying to work his way around it.

[stroke]

Theim wins in 3 very tough sets. Very high quality match, both players had more winners than errors.

[don_budge]

Theim wins in 3 very tough sets. Very high quality match, both players had more winners than errors.

Good match. Berrettini dominated the first set with his bludgeoning forehand. He had Dominic Theim on a string. But Dominic sort of got out of that pattern towards the end of the second set. Or Berrettini couldn't sustain it...one or the other. Theim had much more success once he was able to break the pattern of the Italian. Berrettini is for one a very difficult name to spell. Two he is a difficult player to figure out...but for certain you cannot play into the forehand and have any hopes of staying in the game. He is giving anybody a game these days and it will be interesting to see how it pans out for him in the future.

[don_budge]

Theim wins in 3 very tough sets. Very high quality match, both players had more winners than errors.

Interesting match. As you said it was the Berrettini forehand that was dominating the match...particularly in the early goings when he was really having his way with Theim. But when it came down to crunch time on a couple of different occasions...on huge points it was the Theim backhand that bailed him out. On a couple of long rallies on key points Theim just reared back and leaned into backhands that he crushed down the line that found Berrettini standing on his backhand side of the court. He had no time to react.

The Berrettini forehand might deserve a good hard look in the "Stroke of the Month" at some point in the near future. He seems to be eating his way up the food chain at a fairly rapid rate. He made his way to the net to mop up on some points but didn't look nearly as comfortable on a more traditional approach and volley scheme. The commentators were simple gaga over this match. Hyperventilating with the least little incentive. The tennis was quite good but ninety-five percent of it was backcourt exchanges with Theim trying to avoid hitting to the Berrettini forehand.

[stroke]

Interesting match. As you said it was the Berrettini forehand that was dominating the match...particularly in the early goings when he was really having his way with Theim. But when it came down to crunch time on a couple of different occasions...on huge points it was the Theim backhand that bailed him out. On a couple of long rallies on key points Theim just reared back and leaned into backhands that he crushed down the line that found Berrettini standing on his backhand side of the court. He had no time to react.

The Berrettini forehand might deserve a good hard look in the "Stroke of the Month" at some point in the near future. He seems to be eating his way up the food chain at a fairly rapid rate. He made his way to the net to mop up on some points but didn't look nearly as comfortable on a more traditional approach and volley scheme. The commentators were simple gaga over this match. Hyperventilating with the least little incentive. The tennis was quite good but ninety-five percent of it was backcourt exchanges with Theim trying to avoid hitting to the Berrettini forehand.

Definitely stroke of the month material. It is a very compact powerful shot absolutely loaded with Nadal/Sock like spin. It reminds me of Fognini forehand technique wise. Obviously though, Matteo is a way bigger stronger guy than Fabio.