Raanana Final: Evgeny DONSKOY [1] v. Ricardas BERANKIS [3] (q-draw)

[SoBad]

Tough call:

- both still far from prime
- both huge upside
- Berankis leads 3-1 in H2H
- Donskoy wearing pink shoes
- Berankis wearing pink shoes AND pink t-shirt

I am going with Donskoy in 3 close sets. Berankis to serve first.

http://live.robinwidget.com/livemat...kis-atp-challenger-raanana-tennis-289344.html

 

[romeo8880]

Depends who it's fixed for

 

[SoBad]

Depends who it's fixed for

It was fixed for Sela, but Berankis took him out anyway~!~

 

[SoBad]

Quickly to 3-3 in the first set. Both players playing at very high level, both unbreakable at the moment.

 

[SoBad]

Oops, looks like I jinxed Berankis.

 

[romeo8880]

I'm surprised donskoy hasn't done better. He looked like a good player the few times I've seen him.

 

[SoBad]

I'm surprised donskoy hasn't done better. He looked like a good player the few times I've seen him.

Strong era, late blooming, Safin coaching failures...

 

[SoBad]

One set point is all that Donskoy needs to capture the first set. Closes it out in style with an ace down the middle.

Based on historical records, Donskoy has never lost a match to Berankis after winning the opening set.

 

[merwy]

Strong era, late blooming, Safin coaching failures...

Strong era

Lol

Late blooming

He started out strong when he was young, so I'm not sure about that

Safin coaching failures

Probably true

 

[SoBad]

Lol

He started out strong when he was young, so I'm not sure about that

Probably true

Donskoy is essentially a younger, more talented, later blooming version of Wawrinka, except he didn't have the luxury of 5 years of weak era.

And Safin is a highly talented coach and charismatic political figure.

 

[stringertom]

Party time at the Duma tomorrow for Safin's successful strategies filtering through to Evgeny the protégé. Chill the shot glasses and the Stoli, loosen up the neck muscles to throw down said Stoli and limber up the legs for a spirited round of Hopak moves. Donskoy has won a title!!!!

 

[stringertom]

Where is comrade @norbac as the celebration escalates???

 

[norbac]

Where is comrade @norbac as the celebration escalates???

I was celebrating that we got to the final.

 

[SoBad]

Party time at the Duma tomorrow for Safin's successful strategies filtering through to Evgeny the protégé. Chill the shot glasses and the Stoli, loosen up the neck muscles to throw down said Stoli and limber up the legs for a spirited round of Hopak moves. Donskoy has won a title!!!!

Word on the street as Youzhny starts shifting away from pro sports and toward business and academia, Sobkin eyeing the Safin slack on the Donskoy front. The surprise straight-set victory over Berankis in the Israel Open could be a sign of things to come.

 

[stringertom]

I was celebrating that we got to the final.

Now if we could only get Dolgopolov to make a little sense!