Champaign Challenger Nov. 9-16

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
The player list is out now, and I'm super excited. I thought I'd only make it to the finals next Saturday, but now I'm planning to also go to the semis on Friday and maybe even this Sunday to see if people are practicing.

It's a great field of players for anyone who follows American tennis. Our own Filip Peliwo is even on the list!!

http://www.illinoischallenger.com/pdfs/Player Acceptance List.pdf

Hopefully there will be some streams from this tournament so we can all follow along here.
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
I live down the road in Springfield and am definitely thinking about going with a couple of tennis friends. I used to go when I was in grad school at U of I, but haven't been in a couple of years. Nice event and a really good opportunity to see some great tennis.
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
I hope there is a stream going on. ^-^

There's streaming here: http://www.usta.com/Pro-Tennis/Pro-Circuit/pro_circuit_live/.

When the stream is up, it's beautiful and HD. It seems to crap out about every 10 seconds, though.

And, today's order of play is here: http://www.illinoischallenger.com/pdfs/OP tuesday.pdf (though not updated as of this moment, should be soon)

I have a good feeling about TW's own Filip Peliwo at this tournament. I hope he makes it to at least the semis on Friday so I can see him play. He'll have to take out Jack Sock in the next round which won't be an easy task.
 

raging

Professional
Smyczek and Sock are two of the "big" names I'm hoping to see in the semis on Friday, but they're both looking like they might not make it out of this round :(

Tim is really struggling, but he should have kept the beard, it gave him luck in Knoxville....looks exhausted & he has every right to be after last few weeks.
Looking like this was one to skip...
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
That's great news. I would love to see Baker just play a year without some kind of injury.

Darn, it looks like Baker must have pulled out. He's no long in the draw. And defending champ Smyczek lost today. I need to pay close attention this week so I feel like I "know" whatever guys end up making it to the semi-finals. Rooting for Ram and Peliwo now.

Jack Sock had a nice meltdown right at the end of his match complete with racket throw, yelling at the line judge and chair, and possible diss of Challengers.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
I am hearing that Lighting on this indoor courts really suck. and players are missing overheads like crazy. why didn't they think of this when they built this indoor stadium ?
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
why isn't Jack Sock on center court ? he is playing on court 1 both yesterday and today. he is the #1 seed and future of American tennis. doesn't USTA know this ?
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
who is this Joshua Milton guy from England ? He plays just like Andy Murray or even Better ... winning easily against top 100 player Rampras.
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
why isn't Jack Sock on center court ? he is playing on court 1 both yesterday and today. he is the #1 seed and future of American tennis. doesn't USTA know this ?

It sounds like Sock was horribly petulant through this week with lots of temper tantrums. I haven't followed him close enough to know if this is the norm for him. Anyone know? I saw him play this year in Cincy, and he made a joking fuss over an incident with Raonic and some geese, but it seemed good-natured. He didn't seem good-natured this week.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
It sounds like Sock was horribly petulant through this week with lots of temper tantrums. I haven't followed him close enough to know if this is the norm for him. Anyone know? I saw him play this year in Cincy, and he made a joking fuss over an incident with Raonic and some geese, but it seemed good-natured. He didn't seem good-natured this week.

it is cause he has been sucking as of late. and he is feeling the pressure of next American Roger Federer.
 

GRANITECHIEF

Hall of Fame
Sucking is right, out in the 2nd round of challenger, and got bread sticked to boot. Wish I had a youtube video of him wanking and whining to laugh at.
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
Sucking is right, out in the 2nd round of challenger, and got bread sticked to boot. Wish I had a youtube video of him wanking and whining to laugh at.

According to live tweets from the match yesterday, at one point he mimicked his opponent's service grunt and then said, "Nice serve." The first day he threw his racket down and went off on a line judge. I guess it's the end of a long, tiring season, but geez.
 

GRANITECHIEF

Hall of Fame
Geez is right, someone needs to teach Sock to put a sock in it and be humble and professional in victory and defeat. Now he has vacation.
 
Anyone been along to watch?

I recommend it since Sam Groth is apparently going through one of his rare 'get the thing in the court' phases..

That serve record isn't a fluke, go see him live and you will BELIEVE!

It's also kind of cool to see a pro tennis player who looks like he should be in 'Sons of Anarchy'
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
Anyone been along to watch?

I recommend it since Sam Groth is apparently going through one of his rare 'get the thing in the court' phases..

That serve record isn't a fluke, go see him live and you will BELIEVE!

It's also kind of cool to see a pro tennis player who looks like he should be in 'Sons of Anarchy'

Heading over today. Have to admit I didn't really know any of the semi-finalists before this week, but I've been enjoying Groth and Sandgren a lot. I predict Sandgren might have a break-out year in 2014.
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
Great matches today! I'm so glad I went and plan to make it an annual tradition now. Talked to Sandgren for a moment after his doubles match, and he seemed thrilled to have won his first Challenger tournament singles title. I hope he can have a big year next year, but I'm worried about those knees.
 

Overdrive

Legend
Great matches today! I'm so glad I went and plan to make it an annual tradition now. Talked to Sandgren for a moment after his doubles match, and he seemed thrilled to have won his first Challenger tournament singles title. I hope he can have a big year next year, but I'm worried about those knees.

Hmm.. a lot of players retire because of their knees..

What is Sandgren's issue?
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
Hmm.. a lot of players retire because of their knees..

What is Sandgren's issue?

I'm not sure. He had both taped similar to the way Nadal tapes his at times. Not sure if he's actively injured or if it's something chronic. He appeared to be in quite a bit of pain at times. He's played a ton of tennis this year, singles and doubles.
 

Overdrive

Legend
I'm not sure. He had both taped similar to the way Nadal tapes his at times. Not sure if he's actively injured or if it's something chronic. He appeared to be in quite a bit of pain at times. He's played a ton of tennis this year, singles and doubles.

That's terrible. He said that he is going to Florida and planning out for next season. He needs to do some R&R. If he doesn't, he is going to suffer a very serious injury... I believe he is in the top 200 now.

There was another guy that retired from tennis. I believe his name is Matt. He was a blogger on the TW blog. He stated that his body couldn't handle it anymore when he went deep into tournaments.
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
That's terrible. He said that he is going to Florida and planning out for next season. He needs to do some R&R. If he doesn't, he is going to suffer a very serious injury... I believe he is in the top 200 now.

There was another guy that retired from tennis. I believe his name is Matt. He was a blogger on the TW blog. He stated that his body couldn't handle it anymore when he went deep into tournaments.

187 now, and it looks like he's in a good position to keep gaining a lot of points. I'm predicting (hoping) he'll be inside the top 100 by July.
 

Harry_Wild

G.O.A.T.
jack Sock to win this thing and go to win the aussie open 2014

Dream on! Jack will be luck to make the main draw! If he plays in the first round; he will face top 7-20 ranked players like - Tsonga, Berdych, Isner, Youzhny, Raonic, Wawrinka or Gasquet!

And if he wins the first round; he face Nadal, del Potro, Djokovic, Murray or Federer!
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
Dream on! Jack will be luck to make the main draw! If he plays in the first round; he will face top 7-20 ranked players like - Tsonga, Berdych, Isner, Youzhny, Raonic, Wawrinka or Gasquet!

And if he wins the first round; he face Nadal, del Potro, Djokovic, Murray or Federer!

My hope for Sock and the rest of the young Americans is to just win a couple of 250s in 2014. That would be a start.
 

robow7

Professional
I was there to watch Sandgren beat Sock. I couldn't tell if he just wanted to get out of town or is he always that impatient? He went for way too much with that God awful forehand of his in situations where he should have just stayed in the point and waited for a better moment to go for it. He has so much wrist movement on that forehand, if he connects - it's awesome but I'm betting if his timing is just a little off - he can't keep it in, as he had way too many unforced errors. One other thing, he has almost this Jekyll and Hide persona on the court, one moment he is gracious and entertaining and the next moment he is a major *****. Not sure how far he'll go but I can't see him being consistent from one round to the next at this point.
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
I was there to watch Sandgren beat Sock. I couldn't tell if he just wanted to get out of town or is he always that impatient? He went for way too much with that God awful forehand of his in situations where he should have just stayed in the point and waited for a better moment to go for it. He has so much wrist movement on that forehand, if he connects - it's awesome but I'm betting if his timing is just a little off - he can't keep it in, as he had way too many unforced errors. One other thing, he has almost this Jekyll and Hide persona on the court, one moment he is gracious and entertaining and the next moment he is a major *****. Not sure how far he'll go but I can't see him being consistent from one round to the next at this point.

From what I've heard about it, I wish I'd seen that match. Did you notice him mocking Sandgren's service grunt the way I've heard it reported? I'm hoping he's just still very young and will develop the kind of personality that will keep in matches.
 

robow7

Professional
Oh yea, I heard/saw the mocking grunt, it was so "high school" that I couldn't believe my ears but then he says, "nice serve" but not really in an obvious sarcastic tone. Sandgren went to the chair ump and said something quietly so I'm not sure what he said but then Sock yelled over at Sandgren, something like " hey, was that about me, say it to me" If he would have done something like that when I played high school and collegiate tennis, our whole team would have given the kid a wedgie.
 

librarysteg

Hall of Fame
Wow, that's even worse than I imagined. The only time I've seen him play in person was against Raonic this year in Cincinnati. He was in pretty good spirits that match despite losing, and I don't remember him doing anything obnoxious.
 
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