Hambourg ATP 500 & Hall of Fame Final ATP250

[C4iLL]

Some reports about my last matches :

1) Final vs Pidzi-Lopez @Hall of (6-2 6-2) : last match of the grass season, it was a final of a real high level, as Pidzi always plays really fast and direct tennis. Exchanges were then very intense and quick but as soon as I managed to get the first break after big rallies, I had a mental advantage and that allowed me to take even more risk and I was successful.
But it was really a though battle at the beginning of both sets. The key was my ability to control his FH and destroy his lefty BH.

2) Match vs Vincetheprince-Fed @Hambourg (6-0, 6-7, 6-4) : this match is one of the craziest I ever played ^^
I led 6-0, 2-0 and it wasn't funny as Vince's level was really low. I then made everything to make him play better to have a funnier challenge. He came back 2-2. Till 4-4 I let him stay in the match and at that time I wanted to terminate. But I wasn't able to conclude as he became really solid while I wasn't able to put a ball in the court.

To my biggest surprise we went to tie-break... which I lost with huge faults. Was like I didn't know to play the game...

Third set, he was extremely confident, and even led 3-1 with a very good level. On my side I struggled a lot, I really thought I will be eliminated. I came back 3-2 but he broke again 4-2. New break for me, 4-3, and here he led 0-40 on my service... I stayed calm and saved these 3 points to come back 4-4.

At that moment his confidence felt down, I managed to finally play again at my top level, got a break and conclude 6-4.
Honestly, he would have deserve to win this last set and the match, it was really hard to come back.

Funny stat of the match : I finish with 69 winners, 66 UE (!!) ; Vince = 25 winners, 41 UE.

3) Match vs The Dude-Wawrinka @Hambourg (6-4 6-4) : the match was really a high level one, but I managed to globally dominate it due to a very solid performance on my service games.
I won 82% of my points after first serve, 81% of my second serve, had 14 break point opportunities on 6 different games whereas he had 0 break point opportunity (he won 9 pts out of 49 on return).

Anyway, The Dude showed a great ability to save break points : in second set, he saved like 9 break points in every games till I finally broke at 4-4. Big mental, and great second serve ; with more experience on ITST tour he's a potential top10 for sure !
ps : once again, there are unbelievable points on this match I think I should make a video with some highlights.

[Richie1308]

Richie (Berdych) vs Pidzi (Dimitrov) : 2-6/6-2/6-4

Again a final set thriller against Pidzi in the final set after Wimbledon, the stats of this set show what happened : 1/11 BP convertion for Pidzi and 2/9 for me with 6 match points needed at 5-4 to make the final break and win this match. After 2 sets dominated by each one, the final one had a spectacular start : breaks points on my 3 first service games, saving around 8 break points on my two first service games (being lead 0-40 on the second). I broke him behind on my first occasion but this time he could debreak me just after.

I probably got some luck in this final set as, while not being dominating, he could put me in hard trouble on my serves while I needed on my side for him to make some faults, bad plays or have some luck to have a chance. I could say that it was a little hold-up at the end with an epic last game : I lead 0-40, 3 match points he saved brightly and I would need 3 more MP to make it finally.

Now there is still the final against C4ill, the other one who gave me big trouble at Wimbledon, quite a funny joke this draw ! The last match for me before 1 week of forced rest before going to Cincinnati, I hope it will be a great one.

[C4iLL]

Semi-final, C4iLL vs Isaldor (Fed) = 6-4 7-6

First set I played at very high level and Isaldor, despite a good level could not deal with that.

Second set I stayed at this level but he increased his level and we were extremely close. I was really surprised of his level, I was near my max and he was very competitive with a lot of shots on lines.
On tie-break his level decreased and I won this easily. A very good and intense match anyway.

Final, C4iLL vs Richie (Berdych) = 1-6 6-3 1-6
Well the king of the clay won a new tournament. Globally I'm really disappointed about this match because I never felt confortable in game and then didn't show the level I had vs The Dude, Isaldor or Felipe M earlier.
Since the first exchanges I actually felt I won't play as I'm recently used to.

Richie on his side played at a very solid level, hitting awesome deep shots : everytime I made a bad choice, I paid it.
Even when I won the second set with 2 breaks, I was not satisfied with my level and my feeling of the game, too many faults, not well mooving etc. For instance, I made 2 winners for 13 faults in third set... There was definitely a false rythm in this match. Anyway, congratulations to Richie ! I'm now looking forward to the hard court season.