ATP250 Umag General Discussion: Post-Wimby Hangover Thread Diversion

[stringertom]

Back to majoring in minors following a great two weeks!

One of twin ATP250 Euroclay tournaments (maybe someone else starts one for the bro in Bastad???), this one features the return of Russian Currency to ATP play after a lengthy absence due to a back injury. Rublev is the defending champion and gained a 1R bye as the #4 seed.

Top seed is Brit Kyle Edmund, looking for his first ATP title. In contrast, #2 seed Damir Dzumhur will vie for his fourth title in 10 months but the first on clay. #3 seed Marco Cecchinato (ITA) shares with Rublev the distinction of having won his initial title as a LL (ATP250 Budapest''18).

WCs include Canadian teen Felix Auger Aliassime.

Play began today (Monday) in the lovely Adriatic city and there was a mild upset when veteran Pablo Cuevas was beaten in three by Lazlo Djere (SRB).

Discuss or Disgust, as you wish,

 

[EloQuent]

Anyone know the back story here?

Vatutin is a Lucky Quitter...he retired at 3-2 down in the first set during the final qualie round.

I do not like the rule that allows him and other retirees to be awarded a LL spot.

 

[Meles]

Back to majoring in minors following a great two weeks!

One of twin ATP250 Euroclay tournaments (maybe someone else starts one for the bro in Bastad???), this one features the return of Tussian Currency to ATP play after a lengthy absence due to a back injury. Rublev is the defending champion and gained a 1R bye as the #4 seed.

Top seed is Brit Kyle Edmund, looking for his first ATP title. In contrast, #2 seed Damir Dzumhur will vie for his fourth title in 10 months but the first on clay. #3 seed shares with Rublev the distinction of having won his initial title as a LL (ATP250 Budapest''18).

WCs include Canadian teen Felix Auger Aliassime.

Play began today (Monday) in the lovely Adriatic city and there was a mild upset when veteran Pablo Cuevas was beaten in three by Lazlo Djere (SRB).

Discuss or Disgust, as you wish,

How rude, but no Ruud. Looking forward to Rublev's return and FAA appears to be doubling down on clay and won't return to hard courts until presumably Rogers Cup. Edmund will be good to watch as well. Pella, Bedene, Jarry, Marterer, Djere, and Cecchinato will make this draw tough enough for any geriatrics showing up (they've gathered in Bastad).

 

[stringertom]

How rude, but no Ruud. Looking forward to Rublev's return and FAA appears to be doubling down on clay and won't return to hard courts until presumably Rogers Cup. Edmund will be good to watch as well. Pella, Bedene, Jarry, Marterer, Djere, and Cecchinato will make this draw tough enough for any geriatrics showing up (they've gathered in Bastad).

Ruud is a WC in neighboring Sweden in probably much cooler conditions he can possibly handle. He plays another WC in Bastad 1R (Munar).

 

[EloQuent]

Ruud is a WC in neighboring Sweden in probably much cooler conditions he can possibly handle. He plays another WC in Bastad 1R (Munar).

I doubt there's enough interest for a bastad thread so should we just disgust both clay250s here?

 

[stringertom]

I doubt there's enough interest for a bastad thread so should we just disgust both clay250s here?

@Meles claims it's the geriatric ward so perhaps he'll back up his claim with facts (3 teen WCs; I cry Bullsheet!) in thread form.

 

[Meles]

I doubt there's enough interest for a bastad thread so should we just disgust both clay250s here?

I concur.

 

[stringertom]

I concur.

Eye donut! Start a thread.

 

[stringertom]

Bastad thread started.

In major developments at this minor:

Kyle Edmund has withdrawn at the last moment with a Muzziah-like last minute decision (throat infection, excessive choking) to throw the draw in minor disarray.

ARV #5 steps to the top of the draw and receives the 1R bye. The German lefty Marterer becomes a seed at #9...no real impact there

LL Vatutin also drops out and is replaced with 2016 finalist Andrej Martin. He plays FAA later today.

Will adjust poll if possible.

 

[stringertom]

@SeeingDusk and @oldmanfan need to change their Edmund votes.

Sorry, can't edit poll apparently

 

[stringertom]

@Sysyphus @falstaff78 and @Red Rick need to show suppoart for Redhead Rubylev in his return to the tour and possible defense of his Umag'17 title.

 

[EloQuent]

I'm seeing a score FAA-Vatutin 4-2 Cancelled. Then FAA playing A. Martin, set 1 done 64. What in the world is going on? They changed the schedule mid match?

 

[EloQuent]

I'm seeing a score FAA-Vatutin 4-2 Cancelled. Then FAA playing A. Martin, set 1 done 64. What in the world is going on? They changed the schedule mid match?

Also, Vatutin is the guy who retired in Qualis, then got a LL.

 

[Manute Bol]

Also, Vatutin is the guy who retired in Qualis, then got a LL.

I was at the FAA match, he played Martin from Slovakia. Felix won in straight sets.

 

[EloQuent]

I was at the FAA match, he played Martin from Slovakia. Felix won in straight sets.

So the Vatutin stuff was an error?

 

[Manute Bol]

So the Vatutin stuff was an error?

He was supposed to play Vatutin, that’s what the printed schedule says. But then it’s Martin who showed up on court. The change was probably made between this morning and match time.

 

[Sysyphus]

I repeat what I perspicaciously noted ahead of last year's Umag tournament:

Hard to see who will take out Rublev in this draw.

 

[stringertom]

Nice win for FAA! It is his second ATP level match win (first vs fellow Canadian Pospisil at IW).

Felix will play defending champion Angrey Rubylev in 2R. It will be Russian Currency's first match since 2R M-C, when he hurt his back carrying that useless MUG loved so much by @Meles . Three long sets was too much Thiem on his hands.

 

[stringertom]

I repeat what I perspicaciously noted ahead of last year's Umag tournament:

How unsureshsian of you!!! Refresh my memory...was this before he lost in qualies to Attila the Hungarian???

 

[Sysyphus]

How unsureshsian of you!!! Refresh my memory...was this before he lost in qualies to Attila the Hungarian???

no idea

 

[stringertom]

no idea

Here's a rare match where Rubylev will play the role of savvy veteran vs a young upstart. Thoughts on drawing FAA for a first match back in three months???

 

[Sysyphus]

Here's a rare match where Rubylev will play the role of savvy veteran vs a young upstart. Thoughts on drawing FAA for a first match back in three months???

All I can say is it should be fun and unpredictable at the current moment.

Rumors say Ruby has been practicing for a while before finally making the competitive comeback, so maybe he's not that rusty.

Could be the Lewis–Vitali of our times. Lewis with the power and some more flashiness, but Vitali bringing that crazy shot tolerance, always walking ya down no matter what. I know, I know, sounds like I've got my geography all messed up – but as not everyone knows, Lennox originally represented Canada. But Vitali is Ukrainian and not Russian, right? Putin would beg to differ…

 

[stringertom]

All I can say is it should be fun and unpredictable at the current moment.

Rumors say Ruby has been practicing for a while before finally making the competitive comeback, so maybe he's not that rusty.

Could be the Lewis–Vitali of our times. Lewis with the power and some more flashiness, but Vitali bringing that crazy shot tolerance, always walking ya down no matter what. I know, I know, sounds like I've got my geography all messed up – but as not everyone knows, Lennox originally represented Canada. But Vitali is Ukrainian and not Russian, right? Putin would beg to differ…

Crimea river!!!

 

[stringertom]

Ben Wa got WTFucsovics pretty hard, 1&3. The Bearded Enigma continues to meander in more directions than the Rhone River that runs through his birthplace in Avignon.

 

[stringertom]

All I can say is it should be fun and unpredictable at the current moment.

Rumors say Ruby has been practicing for a while before finally making the competitive comeback, so maybe he's not that rusty.

Could be the Lewis–Vitali of our times. Lewis with the power and some more flashiness, but Vitali bringing that crazy shot tolerance, always walking ya down no matter what. I know, I know, sounds like I've got my geography all messed up – but as not everyone knows, Lennox originally represented Canada. But Vitali is Ukrainian and not Russian, right? Putin would beg to differ…

Rubylev on court now in dubs with Lajovic versus the Dutch tandem of Purple Haase and Mattwe Middelkoop.

 

[SeeingDusk]

@SeeingDusk and @oldmanfan need to change their Edmund votes.

Sorry, can't edit poll apparently

changed to rublev. too bad for edmund with throat sickness.

 

[Mainad]

changed to rublev. too bad for edmund with throat sickness.

There always seems to be something going on with Kyle health-wise.

 

[stringertom]

Clutch win for Cecchinato over Vesely! After a 2-6 first set, he fought off all six BPs he faced in the second set and broke in the final game of the set on his own sixth BP. Then in the third set he dominated on the serve (6 aces, no BPs) before converting MP in the final game on his seventh break opportunity to win 2-6 7-5 7-5.

In his QF on Friday he will face unseeded Lazlo Djere (SRB), the same player who withdrew at the Budapest Open in April to give Cecchinato the opportunity to gain main draw and win his first and only ATP title.

 

[stringertom]

Cecchinato makes his way through the draw and short circuits an all-Argentine final by trouncing Trungelliti in the second SF. He will face Guido Pella tomorrow in the final after the lefty Argie beat Robin Haase in three.

 

[Mainad]

The in-form Cecchinato strikes again with his 2nd ATP title which is also his 2nd of the season (following his maiden title in Budapest in April). Prior to winning Budapest, he was ranked outside the top #100 and was practically unknown. Since then he has won his maiden ATP title, beat Djokovic to make a shock run to the semi-finals at Roland Garros and now won his 2nd ATP title in Umag. As of tomorrow, he will rise to #22 in the rankings. How much further can he go?

 

[stringertom]

The in-form Cecchinato strikes again with his 2nd ATP title which is also his 2nd of the season (following his maiden title in Budapest in April). Prior to winning Budapest, he was ranked outside the top #100 and was practically unknown. Since then he has won his maiden ATP title, beat Djokovic to make a shock run to the semi-finals at Roland Garros and now won his 2nd ATP title in Umag. As of tomorrow, he will rise to #22 in the rankings. How much further can he go?

A better statistical perspective of his steep climb: Cecchinato had a grand total of four career ATP level main draw match victories before gaining his LL exemption into the ATP250 Budapest Open and just two of those wins before July 2017. He won five MD matches that week, five at RG and four more this week. That's 14 victories in a little over three weeks of competition as compared to four wins in roughly a nine-year pro career.

As far as ceiling, he is just 60 points behind #20 Nishikori and has just a little more than 100 points to defend over the last four months of the ATP calendar. He will pass Kei with a QF result in this week's ATP500 German Open in Hamburg. The draw gods have decided to fully test him though...1R vs the second highest non seed Gael Monfils. If Cech wins that match, the favorite to be his 2R opponent will be the highest ranked non seed and defending champion Leo Mayer.