So, I went to Estoril Open today, has I do every year
I'm not sure if I can go back this year, and it was a bad day to go there, I only saw a couple 1st. round matches, and some guys on practice courts
First match of the day, between Guido Andreozzi, from Argentina, and Hugo Dellien, from Bolivia. I confess I didn't knew any of them. I left a bit more impressed with the Argentinian. Typical claycourters, lots of top spin and running, so meh...
I left before it ended to grab a sandwich, and watch something better, at least I expected: Yoshihito Nishioka vs Mackenzie Mcdonald. This US kid was playing like a joke, so I left by the end of first set because the match was getting too boring, and there was a doubles legend playing: Nenad Zimonjic. At his age, I don't know if I can see him playing again.
He was teaming with Dusan Lajovic, who's not definitely a doubles expert. They lost to a British team. Zimonjic is playing with Wilson now, his racquet seemed to be the same has Lajovic's, meaning a 6.1, with lots of visible lead @ 3, 9 and 12. Seemed to be extended too.
Next, the supposed to be the big match of the day: Rilly Opelka and Portugal's second best best player, a guy called Pedro Sousa. Opelka's serve is very impressive, not the fastest I've seen ( he clocked a couple ones at 220's km/h) but with a really massive kick. He can hit big on the forehand side, the backhand is ok level. He showed good hands at times. Not the fastest mover, but not the slowest for sure, at least for such a big athlete. I'm a bit curious about his racket. Seemed like a 95 sq.i. Wilson, so something on the 6.1 line, or perhaps Pro Open pro stock like Feliciano Lopez
Last match of the day was the best too. This time, the 3rd. best Portuguese player, João Domingos, a qualifier, got a big win over Alex DiMinaur. It's the second time I watch DiMinaur playing. This kid grew a bit from the last time I've seen him, both physically and has a player. His strokes are different, more conventional, but João was the best player today
On the practice courts I saw Taylor Fritz with Malek Jaziri, David Goffin, and Jean Julien Roger, just practicing serves
That's it, lets see if I have the chance to go back there, and bring some more inputs
I'm not sure if I can go back this year, and it was a bad day to go there, I only saw a couple 1st. round matches, and some guys on practice courts
First match of the day, between Guido Andreozzi, from Argentina, and Hugo Dellien, from Bolivia. I confess I didn't knew any of them. I left a bit more impressed with the Argentinian. Typical claycourters, lots of top spin and running, so meh...
I left before it ended to grab a sandwich, and watch something better, at least I expected: Yoshihito Nishioka vs Mackenzie Mcdonald. This US kid was playing like a joke, so I left by the end of first set because the match was getting too boring, and there was a doubles legend playing: Nenad Zimonjic. At his age, I don't know if I can see him playing again.
He was teaming with Dusan Lajovic, who's not definitely a doubles expert. They lost to a British team. Zimonjic is playing with Wilson now, his racquet seemed to be the same has Lajovic's, meaning a 6.1, with lots of visible lead @ 3, 9 and 12. Seemed to be extended too.
Next, the supposed to be the big match of the day: Rilly Opelka and Portugal's second best best player, a guy called Pedro Sousa. Opelka's serve is very impressive, not the fastest I've seen ( he clocked a couple ones at 220's km/h) but with a really massive kick. He can hit big on the forehand side, the backhand is ok level. He showed good hands at times. Not the fastest mover, but not the slowest for sure, at least for such a big athlete. I'm a bit curious about his racket. Seemed like a 95 sq.i. Wilson, so something on the 6.1 line, or perhaps Pro Open pro stock like Feliciano Lopez
Last match of the day was the best too. This time, the 3rd. best Portuguese player, João Domingos, a qualifier, got a big win over Alex DiMinaur. It's the second time I watch DiMinaur playing. This kid grew a bit from the last time I've seen him, both physically and has a player. His strokes are different, more conventional, but João was the best player today
On the practice courts I saw Taylor Fritz with Malek Jaziri, David Goffin, and Jean Julien Roger, just practicing serves
That's it, lets see if I have the chance to go back there, and bring some more inputs
