2017 's-Hertogenbosch Final - [3] Ivo Karlovic vs [4] Gilles Muller

Who wins the title?

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The Green Mile

The Green Mile

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Definitely won't be everybody's cup of tea, expecting obviously a serve-fest with minimal rallies, but if you like that sort of stuff then you're in luck!

An interesting H2H between the two guys, Ivo leading 2-1, all matches being played on a grass-court. Their Newport final last year was pretty epic, Ivo saving 3 MPs that match.

Starts not before 2:30 pm local time.

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Muller to save grass court tennis from the serve doctor...

Nah, if Karlovic goes all bot, which he does 99% of the time, it's going to be very difficult for Muller. :(
 
I hope for Karlovic. He isn't being given credit. Just because he cannot help being slow due to his size does not make him awkward around the court. He has very good volleys too.

Can't do anything about being 10 foot tall though.
 
70後 said:
I hope for Karlovic. He isn't being given credit. Just because he cannot help being slow due to his size does not make him awkward around the court. He has very good volleys too.

Can't do anything about being 10 foot tall though.
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I too don't get the bad rap he gets. He is pretty uncompromising with serve and volley and chip-charge. If he was a lumbering serve-big forehand giant like Isner, I could understand. At least you will get to see great returns, passing shots, great volleys in a Karlovic match even if he is usually not the one making them.
 
Dolgopolov85 said:
I too don't get the bad rap he gets. He is pretty uncompromising with serve and volley and chip-charge. If he was a lumbering serve-big forehand giant like Isner, I could understand. At least you will get to see great returns, passing shots, great volleys in a Karlovic match even if he is usually not the one making them.
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Besides, as Ivo has reminded us, some moms like it slow!:cool:
 
They're going for their sixth consecutive TB. I'm feeling another all TB match really. I would bet on Muller to break serve, if I had to choose one of them to do it.
 
A little mistake in the H2H, they've only met twice before on the ATP tour, both meetings last year. So that means every set they've played has been a TB.
 
Muller with the bunt return, Ivo slice approach but it's not deep enough. Muller passes him dtl, and he has SP on serve.

Muller with an ace and he has the 1st set!
 
Easy serve/volley points from Muller, eating up those weak returns. Holds to love for 4-4, 2nd set. Hope this match doesn't follow last years Newport final...
 
Muller gets a hold of a 1st serve, and Ivo nets the backhand volley. 15-30.

Another low backhand volley he fumbles. Deuce.

Ivo toughens out the hold for 5-4. Don't think there has been any BPs so far this match.
 
Let's go Muller.

He has a chance to avenge two things in this match.

The lost to Ivo in that heartbreaking Newport final.
His loss in the Final of the Ricoh Open to Mahut.
 
Muller has been much more effective on serve/volley today, faster to the net and the returns are weaker. Doesn't posses that two handed backhand bunt does Ivo. 2nd set TB time.
 
Grass is becoming Mullers strongest surface. He will be seeded at Wimbledon. Very interesting to see what havoc he can cause to top seeds in the 2nd or 3rd rounds.
 
The Green Mile said:
Muller has been much more effective on serve/volley today, faster to the net and the returns are weaker. Doesn't posses that two handed backhand bunt does Ivo. 2nd set TB time.
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Haha, looks like Ivo is on the same wavelength. Sarcasm on the 'never lose a match' part, but nevertheless...

https://twitter.com/Davavaki/status...i-wouldnt-lose-match-if-i-had-two-hander.html
 
The Green Mile said:
Hey, do you know why Ivo hardly ever serves past 125 mph anymore? Is there a reason he's stated before? Better for longevity?
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No idea. The only reason I could possibly think of is, with getting older and moving a bit slower, putting the serve down even 10 mph or so gives a little extra time to get to the net -- and with that, better angle so that it doesn't come at the expense of aces. I notice that watching videos of Ivo when he was younger, he hit his serve with a little more kick, especially on the second serve (which I think is faster now, and penetrates the the court a lot better). So I think by slowing it down will let him S&V more effectively with older age, so his movement in old age isn't as evident. It's interesting looking back at older videos and seeing how his game has evolved to taking every opportunity to get to the net as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Watching Isner serve and volley is painful, because he relies more off speed -- no time to get to the net. And it kicks so high, that people can just slap it right down at his feet if they stand back a bit -- which is why his serve was helpless against Zverev in Rome.

On a side note, and while I may be biased, it's amazing to me how at 38 he can hide his disadvantages so well. And it's hard to pin-point, for me, a part of his game that can really deteriorate significantly enough any time soon to make him irrelevant in the top 20/30 level in years to come.
 
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