2018 Stockholm SF - Fognini NextGen Demolition Tour Continues: Tsitsipas Next

[Meles]

I just love this match. Tsitsi has looked a little punch drunk late in his matches this week, but he's pretty good at running on fumes. He's much more consistent from the back of the court, but Fognini is very adept at hitting through people. Fabio has beaten Thiem and challenged Nadal this year on clay so I have little doubt he can light up Stefanos with his heavy spin game. This looks like a poor match up for the Greek, but he's very wily and competitive so he might have a chance of getting Fognini to self destruct. This hasn't happened much this year and Stefanos doesn't like a lot of depth which Fognini provides all too often with his aggressive hitting. Tsitsi might be able to win this match on the serve and return front. He's got a big enough serve to hold Fabio's excellent first return maybe to 25% and if he can keep around 55% on 2nd serve he might be able to hold serve well enough. Tsitsi's hard court return game is awful. I'm in shock right now looking at his numbers for the Summer with a horrid 34% won on return and a Kyrgios like first return of 23.9%. Fabio is at 32.0% on first return! Tsitsipas has been crazy clutch to be 15-8 on hard courts this Summer while only winning 50.3% of points. Match of the day tomorrow in my mind, just because of the personality clash and Fabio's disdain for NextGen. Ultimate tennis gives Tsitsi a 20% chance of winning the title. Fognini higher.

Somehow I've got faith in Tsitsi's clutchness and he has won 39% of break points despite the paltry 34% on regular return points. Somehow I think he gets Fognini to implode and takes this in straight sets. @BeatlesFan no doubt for this one.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Somehow I think he gets Fognini to implode and takes this in straight sets. No doubt for this one.

It's folly to ever try and predict a Fabio match because if he's not feelin' it, he will tank, play like trash or act the fool. But I am not picking the Greek in this one. He's never won a tournament in his life and admitted yesterday he's very tired. If serious Fabster shows up, he beats Tsitsipas. On my knees actively praying for an Ernie-Fab final. Battle of two outrageous hotties!

 

[Ann]

Sorry @BeatlesFan but I like what I'm seeing from Tsitsipas this tournament. Tsitsipas in two.

 

[Meles]

It's folly to ever try and predict a Fabio match because if he's not feelin' it, he will tank, play like trash or act the fool. But I am not picking the Greek in this one. He's never won a tournament in his life and admitted yesterday he's very tired. If serious Fabster shows up, he beats Tsitsipas. On my knees actively praying for an Ernie-Fab final. Battle of two outrageous hotties!

How do you like my custom match photo?

Fog's been extremely consistent this year and he really hates NextGen getting accolades and fans while he's ignored playing the best tennis of his life. He's not going to act the fool, but Tsitsi is wily and smart. Against Rafa at Roger's Cup only won 20% of return points, but still managed the late break to throw 2nd set in breaker. Don't know if Fabio can handle that kind of pressure. All stats say Fabio on this one, but stats don't win individual matches. We'll just have to see how they match up. Despite stats difference, Fog and Tsitsi with nearly identical ELO ratings.

 

[Meles]

Delightful match so far with Fognini having the upper hand, bug still on serve 2 all and no BPs.

 

[Red Rick]

Don Fabio is ripping every forehand lol

 

[Chas Tennis]

Delightful match so far with Fognini having the upper hand, bug still on serve 2 all and no BPs.

Spoiler alert-

Readers often record world tennis to watch later.

Please don't post results until much later.

 

[Meles]

Tsistsipas snags the break at 5-3 and warning Fognini

 

[Meles]

Spoiler alert-

Readers often record world tennis to watch later.

Please don't post results until much later.

LOL. Buzz off.

 

[Red Rick]

Veni Vidi Fognini

I went 40-0 up

I got broken

I couldn't break from 0-40

 

[Hamnavoe]

Damn Stefanos and his second serve

 

[Meles]

Haha. If that set doesn't put Fognini in the pscyh ward, don't know what will. 4 BPs squandered. 4 SP a charm after DFs on previous two.

 

[Meles]

Tsits 6-3. Sublime little match. Glad I'm watching.

 

[Meles]

Fognini, never to be out done in the trolling deparment, has a longish hold from 0-40 to open 2nd.

 

[Meles]

Tsits unfazed, love hold.

 

[Meles]

Trollni tries the hold from 0-40 again, but goes down in flames on 4th bp

 

[Meles]

MTO of ankle to let kid know he's lucky.

 

[Meles]

@BeatlesFan Fognini false dawn on hard courts exposed 6-3, 6-2. No WTF for you.

 

[Raindogs]

My God if Fognini put any less thought into his game he'd be Dolgopolov.
Real nice effort out there today, chump.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Mugnini

 

[Red Rick]

Fognini wasn't looking too happy yesterday either. He also pulled out of Beijing and Shanghai, so I'm pretty sure the physical issues are legit.

 

[Enceladus]

Tsitsi for the third time in a career in the ATP final and for the first time his final opponent not will be Nadal.

 

[Meles]

Fognini wasn't looking too happy yesterday either. He also pulled out of Beijing and Shanghai, so I'm pretty sure the physical issues are legit.

Odd he chose to come back so quickly for a 250. Probably figured if making WTF he had to play three straight events to end year. Very impressive play this year for Dadnini.

 

[Meles]

Tsitsi for the third time in a career in the ATP final and for the first time his final opponent not will be Nadal.

Tsitsi has a glimmer of hope to make WTF. With right draw in Basel and complete Nishikori collapse a final in Basel, final in Paris, and win here nudges him over the line.

 

[Meles]

 

[BeatlesFan]

@Meles. I’m unsure what I’m more shocked about: Fab’s lousy performance or the fact your prediction was so spectacularly correct. I bow down to your newly-found prognosticator brilliance! @Ann schooled me too.

 

[Enceladus]

Tsitsi has a glimmer of hope to make WTF. With right draw in Basel and complete Nishikori collapse a final in Basel, final in Paris, and win here nudges him over the line.

In QF Basel, Tsitsipas could play with Medvedev and in SF will be probably Federer. Heavy draw for advance in the final for him.
Tsitsi will play on WTF, but not in this year.

 

[Meles]

@Meles. I’m unsure what I’m more shocked about: Fab’s lousy performance or the fact your prediction was so spectacularly correct. I bow down to your newly-found prognosticator brilliance! @Ann schooled me too.

I'm surprised too. Stats heavily favored Fog, but knowing both players and the eye test I thought this might happen. Didn't help Fog ankle that Tsitsi loves to grind. I went gut and heart. I'm pretty sure if I'd been playing league I'd have picked Foggy unless scenario in league might give comeback win or something. Tsitsipas is a slippery one and just has a super brain where Foggy squarely in the mental midget camp.