Russian Lion Karatsev

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Aslan's new clothing sponsor, Bonifique Life, has had an interesting approach in his grass-swing outfit. All white with no clearly visible logos to be seen anywhere. And on top of it all, it looks like he's wearing a tent.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

We're playing Rublev in the 2nd round.

 

[Checkmate]

Why is he not playing any of these tournaments?

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Why is he not playing any of these tournaments?

I think he was initially supposed to play both Båstad and Hamburg but didn't. Maybe he was injured or didn't want to return to clay after the grass season? He'll kick off his North American hard court swing today in Washington, against a qualifier, Pannu, from New Zealand.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

 

[McGradey]

Dat ballstriking

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Aslan is using a lot more slice now and is not trying to force hard two handers in every situation. And instead of trying to crush every back hand return with two hands, he's returning a lot more with deep slices. This worked pretty well against Lehecka.

 

[kevin qmto]

Dat ballstriking

Probably the best match I’ve seen thus far.

 

[Checkmate]

HOLY CALVES!!!!!!!!!!! Karatsev is on absolute fire

 

[kevin qmto]

Except his serve. I had to turn the match off when he double faulted on match point. Then again on break point.

Was relieved to check the scores 20 mins later to see he won.

 

[Checkmate]

Winner Count = 83 Karatsev : 10 Carbelles Baena

 

[yokied]

The king is back. It's great to see him back in business, and doing it where I always liked his chances most: US HC swing feasting on an exhausted tour... but what's he doing dropping sets to RCB? Would love to see him teeing off against Djokaraz.

The forehands, good god the forehands. Obviously the murdered drive volleys (did he even miss one?) and crunched short balls dominate the highlight reel, but the most encouraging thing was he was running around the BH to really get the FH involved but hit hardly any stupid stuff. And the sensible, measured defensive slice has returned.

Absolute highlights:
2nd point of the 2nd set, an insane backhand drop volley at full stretch, Fedal would've been very proud to hit.
3-2 in the 2nd, 30-0, runs around RCB's 2nd serve and hits a beautiful loopy IO FH winner DTL. Insane degree of difficulty. That was about the 4th time he had RCB throwing his hands up and shaking his head.
4-2 deuce in the 3rd, a truly outstanding point from both players, including the most casual half volley flick FH DTL you'll ever see since Fed.
2-1 love-all in the 4th, ballerina backhand smash

 

[Trip]

Let's the pump the breaks a bit @yokied. First he needs to get by Ben. Doable? Certainly. Trivial? Not so sure. I'm hoping for an entertaining match, both murdering tennis balls!

 

[yokied]

Let's the pump the breaks a bit @yokied. First he needs to get by Ben. Doable? Certainly. Trivial? Not so sure. I'm hoping for an entertaining match, both murdering tennis balls!

They're brakes. I'll curb my damn enthusiasm when I see anyone striking the ball on even close to his level. Haven't seen it in a lonnnng time, Fed '17 or earlier.

Wait you're giving me attitude when you joined the forum after Aslan's first major run? lol read the thread champ.

 

[Checkmate]

Scouting report on his next opponent @Notorious_Junkballer, please !

And why is he 2 : 1 favourite against our Lord?

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Scouting report on his next opponent @Notorious_Junkballer, please !

And why is he 2 : 1 favourite against our Lord?

Big Ben sure is doable but Aslan needs to be aware of his massive lefty serve, especially in the ad-court. Aslan will have to return many of those sliced and high kicking serves with his one-handed sliced backhand. And he won't be able to stand on the base line, let alone inside, and try to return those bombs. 'Just get the ball back in play' should be his motto when returning, at least on Ben's 1st serves. Because if he just manages to get the ball back deep enough, at whatever pace, he should be just fine rallying with the big boy. Furthermore, when attacking the opponent's serve, I think he should return more deep towards the server instead of always trying to find the lines left and right.

And when it comes to Aslan' own constant source of grief, his serve, he should remember that even a slow second serve is better than a double fault. He's often trying to find the lines even when serving, which results in many missed serves and a lot of second serving. He could go for the body serve a lot more.

All in all, his overall game looks really solid, and especially the forehand.

 

[Trip]

They're brakes. I'll curb my damn enthusiasm when I see anyone striking the ball on even close to his level. Haven't seen it in a lonnnng time, Fed '17 or earlier.

Wait you're giving me attitude when you joined the forum after Aslan's first major run? lol read the thread champ.

No attitude or ill will meant. I actually like Aslan and his game, especially his forehands. It was a tough match up against Shelton, though, who was serving bombs and playing decently well off the ground.

 

[yokied]

Disappointing to see Aslan still not willing to sit deeper and scrap for returns against bots. Whatever happened after the ball was in play was of lesser relevance, but he was definitely more subdued off the ground too. Really just checked out in the 3rd set. Old habits.

 

[curtstead]

Let's the pump the breaks a bit @yokied. First he needs to get by Ben. Doable? Certainly. Trivial? Not so sure. I'm hoping for an entertaining match, both murdering tennis balls!

You never miss @Trip!!!

 

[Checkmate]

Disappointing to see Aslan still not willing to sit deeper and scrap for returns against bots. Whatever happened after the ball was in play was of lesser relevance, but he was definitely more subdued off the ground too. Really just checked out in the 3rd set. Old habits.

I thought he looked ill. Out of oxygen after the second set. I have heard 60 percent of the players are suffering from some sort of viral? flu.

 

[Kralingen]

We’re so back

Metal Hip Murray blown away!

 

[Checkmate]

We’re so back

Metal Hip Murray blown away!

Should sweep aside another Brit comfortably.

 

[Young Grigor]

GOATsev

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Aslan takes the first set 7-6(5). Really boring match so far. Only a few flashes from both but a lot unforced errors. Norrie hitting his usually so consistent groundies 10-20cm long all the time.

Aslan looked rather tired and exhausted and took a 6-7min sissy-break after the set.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Aslan takes it 7-6, 7-6.

 

[Checkmate]

Was I too high or was Karatsev hitting Nadalesque topspin today? That destroyed Norrie's timing.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Was I too high or was Karatsev hitting Nadalesque topspin today? That destroyed Norrie's timing.

Both were pretty crappy today, Norrie even more so on the decisive points.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Aslan was 4-1 up in the second against Nishi when something popped in his neck. After a medical he was still seemingly bothered by it, especially when serving. So he served really cautiously from that on and didn't win a single game. He looked really exhausted already in the first set. Hope he'll be fine by Shanghai.

 

[chuckersthenut]

Kar at sev was up 2-0 both sets. Yoshi was just making him Haymarket after haymaker

 

[Checkmate]

@Notorious_Junkballer Where is Karatsev?

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

@Notorious_Junkballer Where is Karatsev?

Won't play until Shanghai.

 

[chrischris]

Cant say much about him but he has nice fluid strokes and decent positioning. IMO lacks something extra to win his matches handily.
A worker, not too much charisma it seems.

 

[AM75]

Another couple of incredible matches from Karatsev in Tokio. Why can’t he play like this all the time?

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Another couple of incredible matches from Karatsev in Tokio. Why can’t he play like this all the time?

He wouldn't be him if he did.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Just ridiculously solid and focused in Tokyo so far. Never seen him serving this well. Not only good percentages for him but also really good pace and placement. Mochizuki had a really hard time returning Aslan's serves today. The highlight was in the last game at 30-15 when he, for some reason, decided to smash his second serve at over 200 km/h right on the sideline.

And guess what, ZERO double faults!

 

[Rovesciarete]

Aslan is one of the guys which can go very far if he serves more like that…

 

[Kralingen]

Peak Karatsev is one of the 4 highest peaks I’ve ever witnessed since the early 2000s and that’s no joke.

 

[chrischris]

Peak Karatsev is one of the 4 highest peaks I’ve ever witnessed since the early 2000s and that’s no joke.

Who are the other 3?

 

[chrischris]

Federer
David Nalbandian
Fernando Gonzalez
?

 

[Checkmate]

Another Humiliating loss to the Most Punchable Jerk.
Karatsev embarrassed me again with his mental strength.

 

[yokied]

Another Humiliating loss to the Most Punchable Jerk.
Karatsev embarrassed me again with his mental strength.

Yeah I was just getting ready to review the tournament, but that scoreline is just yuk for a final, especially against that guy.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Another Humiliating loss to the Most Punchable Jerk.
Karatsev embarrassed me again with his mental strength.

I was expecting the telephone gesture but I guess it wasn't needed as he didn't have to sweat too much for the win.

 

[Vincent-C]

Hey, Karatsev made the final against a big young lefty who's red-hot.

Good job, AK.

 

[kevin qmto]

Hey, Karatsev make the final against a big young lefty who's red-hot.

Good job, AK.

And played some great tennis along the way.

 

[AM75]

And played some great tennis along the way.

He played like a low level challenger player in the 2nd set. He’s like Ostapenko of the ATP when he’s on he’s mind-blowingly good, and when he’s off he’s horrible. Only Penko has s Slam.

 

[Rovesciarete]

Alsan has such a weight in his shots that his rallies are beautiful to watch but his serve and return are often just not good enough. A pity.

 

[Vincent-C]

Well, he's back up to #37 now, so tht's good. Go, AK.

 

[robyrolfo]

They're brakes. I'll curb my damn enthusiasm when I see anyone striking the ball on even close to his level. Haven't seen it in a lonnnng time, Fed '17 or earlier.
Wait you're giving me attitude when you joined the forum after Aslan's first major run? lol read the thread champ.

Disappointing to see Aslan still not willing to sit deeper and scrap for returns against bots. Whatever happened after the ball was in play was of lesser relevance, but he was definitely more subdued off the ground too. Really just checked out in the 3rd set. Old habits.

Just bringing these back for fun. Did you really call Shelton a "bot"? As in serve-bot? Really? Did you even watch their matches?

Another Humiliating loss to the Most Punchable Jerk.
Karatsev embarrassed me again with his mental strength.

Stay classy... you know, sort of like Ben. He was polite and respectful throughout the match, even after he won it.

 

[kevin qmto]

Alsan has such a weight in his shots that his rallies are beautiful to watch but his serve and return are often just not good enough. A pity.

I think his serve is fine, it doesn't light up the speed gun but it's plenty effective. It's only main deficiency is he double faults far too much. Against Mochi he served 0 DF's and looked incredible.

 

[Checkmate]

You hit two aces against him, he will give up the entire set by blowing four double faults the next game.