CricSim Tennis: Newport [G] and Bogota [IH]

Newport - Singles

• Looking to avoid a repeat of his semi-final hammering in Den Bosch, top seed James McDougal was out in search of his second career final against Ritwick Chowdhuri. Chowdhuri, who was coming off an impressive come-from-behind win over Alistair Son in the quarters, knew he needed to start well against the Scot, and managed break points in his first two service games. Unfortunately for him, though, the Scot held firm, and heartbreakingly took the only service break of the first set in the final game to take the set 6-4. Serving first again in the second set, McDougal forced Chowdhuri to play catch up as he served consistently and was fed winners on his forehand wing. Chowdhuri to his credit got himself out of sticky situations (including three saved break points at 1-2) with his accurate serving, but another lapse in concentration gave McDougal the chance he needed to secure a 6-4, 6-3 win.

• He now has a chance at redemption, when he plays second seed Jonty Rhodes who continued his absolute red-hot form with a scintillating win over an intensely lacklustre Marquis Deane. Rhodes ridiculed Deane in the lead up for the change of his name by deedpoll, but this did little to inspire Deane who put in a deplorable performance. There were whispers of an injury, but at least he received quick treatment as Rhodes wiped the floor with him 6-1, 6-0.

 

Bogotá - Singles

• Kiwi qualifiers Lucas Schaw and James Torres were first in action on centre court, with both men looking to advance to their first career finals. With both players overcoming tough quarterfinal fixtures, it was Torres who was clearly buoyed by his boilover win against Samuel Vimes as he effortlessly charged through the first set. An unimpressive Schaw was basically left standing still most of the time, as Torres took the first set to love inside of half an hour. Schaw, however, is a better player than that, and was not going to succumb to Torres that easily as he finally started moving and winning free points on serve. Torres, meanwhile, seemingly locked up, and, in a stunning reversal of form, was completely overwhelmed in the second set. There looked like their could be another twist in the third, as Torres brought up his first break point since the first set. It wasn't to be, though, as a quickly improving Schaw rose to the task to complete a dramatic comeback 0-6, 6-2, 6-2.

• He will play Alex O'Driscoll in the final, after the second seed also came from a set down to beat Queensland's Ivan Ryabovol. With both men in scintillating form, it was little surprise that the result was a high quality match full of ebbs-and-flows. Ryabovol looked irresistible at times, and will feel mighty aggrieved that he didn't finish off the win in straight sets after setting up a commanding lead. O'Driscoll served for the first set twice, but was broken late by Ryabovol who took the set 7-5. In the second set, Ryabovol went ahead a double break with his backhand winner in the seventh game setting up a 5-2 lead. Despite being given two opportunities to serve for the match, Ryabovol fell victim to O'Driscoll's newfound sense of urgency, as the New South Welshman took four games in a row to take the set to a tiebreaker. There he took advantage of a distressed Ryabovol to win the breaker 7-3, and break immediately in the third. Ryabovol managed to regain his composure, but never got the chances on O'Driscoll's serve he needed, as AJ O'Driscoll won the State of Origin clash 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-3.

 

Newport - Doubles

• Kiwi pairing Jonty Rhodes/Gareth Weaver have claimed their second career title, following a straight sets win over Den Bosch champs Nigel Scott/Alistair Son. In what must be considered a bit of redemption for the duo, Rhodes/Weaver ensured a complete recovery from their disappointing first round exit in Holland to take the title 6-4, 7-5. In an entertaining if not scrappy contest, Scott/Son held a service break lead in both sets, only to be chased down by the experienced pair who finished many points at the net. The impressive win sets them up as New Zealand's top pairing for their Cribb Cup side.

 

Bogotá - Doubles

• English duo Ezequiel Ames/J.H. Ridd have claimed their first doubles title together, following a straight sets win over Joshua Ritchie/Lucas Schaw. In a tight contest between two very talented teams, Ritchie/Schaw gave nothing easy to their opponents, as has typified the grit Schaw, at least, has shown in his singles career thus far. The team did not, however, have the cohesion of the Ames/Ridd side, and at the key moments it was the English pairing who came out on top. In the end, the straight sets scoreline did not represent the closeness of the match, but Ames/Ridd won't be complaining about their 7-6(2), 6-4 win, that saw them come from 2-4 down in the second.

 

Of course, I'll create a separate thread so people can see.

 

Qualifiers. Hate em.

 

Newport - Singles

• Kiwi No. 1 Jonty Rhodes' run of victories has come to a screeching halt, following his straight sets mauling by fancied top seed James McDougal. McDougal, in his second career final, knew all too well the pain of a flogging on centre stage, and was intent on avoiding another at all costs. His victim was Rhodes, who himself had inflicted a mauling on poor Marquis Deane in the semis, and seemingly came into this showdown too complacent. In a one-sided first set, McDougal broke serve in all three return games in a lopsided opener, with Rhodes showing little fight and his big serve operating at less than 55 per cent. That was always going to be an issue for him, with his physical limitations around the court exposed by the longer points. He picked his game up substantially in the second set, but it wasn't enough to avoid defeat, as McDougal outclassed him to take the title 6-0, 6-3.

 

Rhodes being good in a sim is so weird.

 

Bogotá - Singles

• Second seed Alex O'Driscoll has finally been rewarded for his consistency, as he picked up a second straight come-from-behind victory to win the title in Colombia. Given the big task of facing qualifier Lucas Schaw, whose good form was compounded by his recent doubles victory over O'Driscoll in the same tournament. O'Driscoll looked shaky early, with the pressure of his favouritism seemingly causing him troubles. The impressive Kiwi took the first set 6-2 with relative ease, but it appeared that O'Driscoll was just saving himself for the second set clinic, which he took to love. Schaw, however, was no stranger to momentum changers, having come back from a 0-6 deficit to beat James Torres in the semifinals. O'Driscoll, however, kept the pressure rolling, and had break points in two of his first three service games. Schaw held strong, and was forced to serve to stay in the match twice. The second time, though, was his chance to send it to a tiebreaker, but he fell just short. The second seed's attacking game eventually won the day, as he broke Schaw to win the title 2-6, 6-0, 7-5.