2021 Erste Bank Open...ATP 500...Vienna, Austria

[don_budge]

https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/cu...enna/337/draws

Right out of the gates it is Stefanos Tsitsipas versus Grigor Dimitrov in the first round. Jannik Sinner gets to play serve-bot with Reilly Opelka and Carlos Alcaraz has a maiden voyage match with one of the few "Masters of Disaster" in the field. Daniel Evans knows how to take the air out of the ball. It will be interesting to see this match-up of polar opposites not to mention the age differential. Andy Murray is back for more. More punishment it seems he cannot get enough. Hubert Hurkacz stands ready to apply the hammer. Lorenzo Musetti tees it up against "The Amazing Mr. Monfils". All in all there are probably only one or two questions when it boils down to this field. It's all mute as the field is jockeying for position on the food chain of the ATP tour. Nothing is set in stone now that the Big Three are absent and unaccounted for. When the cat is away the mice will play. We might see a bait and switch or two this week.

All eyes on Jannik Sinner. Let's see how he holds up after a long week of play. Being so young he just might bounce back with amazing recuperative powers. If he gets by Opelka...he just might get some breathing room for a couple of days. Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrittini and Felix Auger-Aliasimme along for the ride trying to make things the slightest bit interesting for the unsuspecting tennis fan. Nikoloz Basilashvili, who is currently being referred to as "Bash" by some on the forum and his finalist opponent at Indian Wells Cameron Norrie both in the house. Funny how things catch on between fellows. But, be that as it may, it will be interesting to see how these two fair after their "big" showing in the desert. Basilashvili has his hands full at the moment in his first round...struggling to get the horse in the barn.

It's a new dawn on the tour these days. It is all up for grabs during any given week. The players sense opportunity and it is dog eat dog on a per round basis. Who is going to be the big dog this week?

[glacierguy]

I was pleased to see Murray get his first top 10 win since his surgery. It's pretty incredible when you think about it. And I've missed his grumpy snarling and sarcastic smiles to his coaching team. Tough draw from here though.

[don_budge]

I was pleased to see Murray get his first top 10 win since his surgery. It's pretty incredible when you think about it. And I've missed his grumpy snarling and sarcastic smiles to his coaching team. Tough draw from here though.

That's right glacierguy...with Andy Murray you get the whole package. If you can stomach the stuff...and look past it, there is a very, very clever modern tennis player by any standards. The tour has sorely missed Sir Andy since his injury trevails and his victory over Hurkacz sort of validates his comeback and all of the pain he has endured. That speaks well for him. All the grimacing and the "clutch and grab" of the past is neatly in the dust bin. What we see today is testimony to his survival skills. Afterall...it isn't the strongest or necessarily the smartest, it is the one who adapts the best. Per Charles Darwin in the "Survival of the Species". The species in this case is the ATP Tour and the related "food chain".

Andy is climbing the ladder once more. He did it once upon a time when he was a young man. This climb is more symbolic and perspective filled. Yesterday it was an aspiring top ten player and today it is the future of tennis it seems...Carlos Alcaraz. Murray currently at #158 in the world and young Carlos at #42 and climbing. He is eating his way up the food chain just like Andy did so many years ago. It is the cycle of life...and death. All being played out on the stage of the tennis court. As much as I hate modern tennis...paradoxically I love the drama. The metaphors one can draw from the game as to life. And death for that matter. We come and we go...that's a thing that I know.

Stefanos Tsitsipas saw off Grigor Dimitrov in a match of almost identical strokes. Grigor had the first set all wrapped up and all he had to do was capitalise on a match point on his serve in the tie-breaker. But those little glitches...the tiny little flaws that spark friction in the service motion if it isn't perfect rear their ugly little heads just when you need them the least. A very good win for Tsitsipas to start his tournament. Hopefully we will get to see him play Lorenzo Musetti in the quarters if Lorenzo can get by "The Amazing Mr. Monfils" today. This afternoon here in Europe. In Vienna. The home of Amadeus Mozart. I once slept in an inn that was the home of the young prodigy. He's dead of course...leaving the earthly plane many, many years ago. He was young and great for a moment. Thought that he would never die. But alas...no one here gets out alive. So said Jim Morrison of "The Doors". He's dead too.

So it goes. The little death. That's what the French call the orgasm. That is what tennis players call it when you lose in a third set tie-break. Be that as it may...WE ARE THE LIVING!!! At least for the moment. So let's act like it. There will be plenty of time for the dumb shit...when we are gone and forgotten.

[don_budge]

All being played out on the stage of the tennis court. As much as I hate modern tennis...paradoxically I love the drama. The metaphors one can draw from the game as to life. And death for that matter. We come and we go...that's a thing that I know.

Just one more thing...how about Nikoloz Basilashvili and Matteo Berrettini. Two guys that just pound the ball. Just fucking rock it. Matteo leads in the H2H 3-1, but that is not counting a Basilashvili win in 2014 for Nikoloz at a Challenger event. He looks to even the score with Matteo and he is in as good a form as he has been in years. Currently ranked #25...Matteo fits right into his wheelhouse at the moment. Matteo weighing in at #7 is a prime target for Basilashvili. It could be another feather in his cap. A notch on his holster. This match should produce some really big hitting. Right up stroke's alley I would think. He likes both of these guys. Me...not so much.

[don_budge]

Yesterday it was an aspiring top ten player and today it is the future of tennis it seems...Carlos Alcaraz. Murray currently at #158 in the world and young Carlos at #42 and climbing. He is eating his way up the food chain just like Andy did so many years ago.

Yep...as much as I positively hate modern tennis...I can still appreciate the irony and paradox of life. It was only recently that Sir Andy put a bit of a mild ass whipping on young Carlos Alvarez. Alvarez, being young, positively hates to get his ass whipped. So here you have players at completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Andy is trying to hold on to what was once his...an elevated status on the ATP tour. He beat Carlos 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 a couple of weeks ago on the other side of the planet at Indian Wells. In the desert. Wonderful contrast now to the indoor venue in Vienna. So we meet again. Little Carlos must have a thought or two going through his head about this rematch. He just loves the fact he gets a chance to take grandpa down after Indian Wells. Andy on the other hand is gritting his teeth once more. Trying to summon the dragon after nearly blowing a cog two days ago. You know...it is the contrast in life that makes it interesting. Compelling even. Trust me...these two are going in opposite directions. They both know it too.

[stroke]

Yes, all know it no doubt. I would have been very surprised if Andy could have consolidated the previous win over Carlos.

[glacierguy]

Great quality tennis in the first set of Murray vs Alcaraz. Terrific battling with both players pulling off winners just when you thought they'd been beaten. Alcaraz hit a lot of lines to Murray's disgust. I had to smile after a 28 (I think) shot rally that Murray won, leaving Alcaraz bent double gasping for air. But even in that moment of triumph I was thinking 'yes, but can you keep that up for another hour?'. He couldn't, but a hell of a fight. Probably, as always, it came down to slightly low 1st serve percentage from Murray - he could break Alcaraz, but couldn't hold on to his own. Agree with don_budge's assessment of relative trajectories of these two, but I bet Alcaraz was grateful that Murray is still around to pull such a great performance from him (Alcaraz).

[stroke]

Quite the match going on Tsitsipas vs Tiafoe. Small margains at their best.

[stroke]

What a great win for Tiafoe. Stef in full fight the 1st set, Tiafoe stayed mentally strong and took the match in 3. And a great atmosphere from the crowd.

[stotty]

Great quality tennis in the first set of Murray vs Alcaraz. Terrific battling with both players pulling off winners just when you thought they'd been beaten. Alcaraz hit a lot of lines to Murray's disgust. I had to smile after a 28 (I think) shot rally that Murray won, leaving Alcaraz bent double gasping for air. But even in that moment of triumph I was thinking 'yes, but can you keep that up for another hour?'. He couldn't, but a hell of a fight. Probably, as always, it came down to slightly low 1st serve percentage from Murray - he could break Alcaraz, but couldn't hold on to his own. Agree with don_budge's assessment of relative trajectories of these two, but I bet Alcaraz was grateful that Murray is still around to pull such a great performance from him (Alcaraz).

I just find it remarkable that Murray played to such a good level after all he's been through. He was right at his zenith before that labral tear cut him down...very unlucky, as he was due his spell at the very top of the game.

Alacraz is going to be a hell of player (he's already pretty darn good) if he continues at his current rate. He's so aggressive and so fast and strong. You can see by his demeanour that he feels like he belongs with the best already. He had no respect for Murray's former glory...just wanted his scalp.

[glacierguy]

Have to say that I laughed my ass off through the 3rd set of Tsitsipas's loss to Tiafoe. I realise it's petty of me, but it will take a long time to forget Stephanopoulos's toilet break against Murray.

[stroke]

Really good matches today particularly for a 250, Berenttini vs Alcaraz, FAA vs Zverev, Tiafoe vs Diego, Ruud vs Sinner. Zverev vs Sinner could be on tap for a very interesting final. Sinner really looking good.

[glacierguy]

Really good matches today particularly for a 250, Berenttini vs Alcaraz, FAA vs Zverev, Tiafoe vs Diego, Ruud vs Sinner. Zverev vs Sinner could be on tap for a very interesting final. Sinner really looking good.

That's 'cos it's a 500.

[stroke]

That's 'cos it's a 500.

Ha good point, my bad there

[stroke]

What a stunning match going on Berrettini vs Alcaraz. I am seeing Alcaraz as a top 5 in the conversation for winning the FO next year.