Van Open

[Dartagnan64]

So as part of my victory in the Jura Cup Golf/tennis Biathlon, I won box seats to the Odlum Brown Van Open Tourney. Challenger series event in a beautiful setting. My center court match this evening is Vasik Pospisil vs. Hyeon Chung.

Interesting how tennis goes. Chung was in the AO semifinals in 2018 and won the Next Gen finals in 2017. Pospisil won a Wimbledon Doubles title in 2014 and made the QF of Wimbledon in 2015. So both have had success on the ATP tour and are here playing a Challenger event for a few thousand dollars. Tennis is definitely a "what have you done lately" sport.

Never had box seats for a tournament before so I'm looking forward to being close to the action.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

You are correct. If you don’t win, you don’t get paid. It’s not like many American big pro sports where you sign a contract and then make $$ regardless of the outcomes. Much more pressure.

 

[sureshs]

So both have had success on the ATP tour and are here playing a Challenger event for a few thousand dollars.

They are playing it for the ATP points. Re: Pops, his coaching and equipment may be covered by Tennis Canada and sponsors, perhaps also stipend for other stuff, so it may not be as bad as you think.

 

[Dartagnan64]

They are playing it for the ATP points. Re: Pops, his coaching and equipment may be covered by Tennis Canada and sponsors, perhaps also stipend for other stuff, so it may not be as bad as you think.

I'm sure everyone plays Challengers for ATP points as the prize money rarely pays the travel expenses. I think Pospisil might get an appearance fee since he's from the area and is a potential draw for sponsors.

 

[justinmadison]

It is a bummer the VanOpen is sold out. I know a guy playing tonight but I could not get tickets.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Had a fun time at the match. Chung beat Pospisil 1-7 7-6 6-3. Pospisil had 3 match points in the second set tie break but couldn't get it done.
We were courtside front row so it was amazing to witness the power that close up. Pospisil first serves were 196-213 kph and yet Chung started getting some back in the second and third set.

One thing I noticed was how low these guys hit over the net. Balls rarely were higher than a foot and a half over the net. Not much different than my crew. The big difference was how much harder they hit and any ball struck from inside the court was going to win the point 90% of the time. I was also impressed with how much more slicing and drop shots are being done these days. Seems to be the big counter to the relentless defender. But despite that the relentless defender beat the attacker as Pospisil clearly flagged in the third set.

Took a little video, but here's a clip of a nice return point by Vasek in slo mo to see his BH and FH set up. His FH was very Del Potro like especially late in the match where he was trying to go for more winners.

Pospisil slo mo BH and FH

 

[sureshs]

Had a fun time at the match. Chung beat Pospisil 1-7 7-6 6-3. Pospisil had 3 match points in the second set tie break but couldn't get it done.
We were courtside front row so it was amazing to witness the power that close up. Pospisil first serves were 196-213 kph and yet Chung started getting some back in the second and third set.

One thing I noticed was how low these guys hit over the net. Balls rarely were higher than a foot and a half over the net. Not much different than my crew. The big difference was how much harder they hit and any ball struck from inside the court was going to win the point 90% of the time. I was also impressed with how much more slicing and drop shots are being done these days. Seems to be the big counter to the relentless defender. But despite that the relentless defender beat the attacker as Pospisil clearly flagged in the third set.

Took a little video, but here's a clip of a nice return point by Vasek in slo mo to see his BH and FH set up. His FH was very Del Potro like especially late in the match where he was trying to go for more winners.

Pospisil slo mo BH and FH

This video is unavailable.

 

[Dartagnan64]

 

[sureshs]

How do you reconcile the state of the stands with Post #5?

 

[Dartagnan64]

How do you reconcile the state of the stands with Post #5?

The stands in the video are box seats paid for by sponsors. The club seats are behind me which were tighter spaced. Those box sets are actually pretty full. The few empty seats were because it was the beginning of the second set and some folks had headed to the washroom and were waiting for changeover to re-enter.

From what I can tell it was pretty sold out all over the grounds. Day time was quieter but the evening was pretty packed.

 

[justinmadison]

The guy I knew played on court 2 while the Pospisil match was playing. I could see plenty of empty seats I could have occupied.

Regardless, it is good to see a Challenger selling out.

 

[Dartagnan64]

It’s a beautiful setting for tennis. Parking is a pain but the view is spectacular.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

They would make more giving clinics to wealthy old men

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

I was also impressed with how much more slicing and drop shots are being done these days.

This is always the big eye opener when attending ATP
Playing basher 3.5's, its 100% on every shot.
ATP are pushers compared to 3.5 maniacs who try to hit winner on every ball.

 

[ShaunS]

ATP are pushers compared to 3.5 maniacs who try to hit winner on every ball.

I would tend to agree, relatively speaking. Obviously, no sane person would suggest that ATP players are hitting individual shots slower than anyone at the 3.5 level.

However, relative to how often they will hit shots at "100%" compared to rec players, that's true. If you're genuinely hitting a ball as physically hard as possible you've lost most if not all control.

 

[Dartagnan64]

This is always the big eye opener when attending ATP
Playing basher 3.5's, its 100% on every shot.
ATP are pushers compared to 3.5 maniacs who try to hit winner on every ball.

ATP players definitely don't try to hit a winner on every ball but that doesn't make them pushers. The guys I watched definitely went for winners when the opportunity afforded itself.

The big difference I see is that ATP players know when to play defense and when to transition to offense. Too many 3.5's play all-offensively or all-defensively and can't move seamlessly between those states.

I know myself I try to play offensively too much and need to realize there is a time for defense. I don't necessarily blast balls at 100% but I will shoot for difficult locations when I should be lobbing or just hitting CC. ATP guys just know when to step on the gas and take their shots and when a down the middle deep shot is best.

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

ATP players definitely don't try to hit a winner on every ball but that doesn't make them pushers. The guys I watched definitely went for winners when the opportunity afforded itself.

The big difference I see is that ATP players know when to play defense and when to transition to offense. Too many 3.5's play all-offensively or all-defensively and can't move seamlessly between those states.

I know myself I try to play offensively too much and need to realize there is a time for defense. I don't necessarily blast balls at 100% but I will shoot for difficult locations when I should be lobbing or just hitting CC. ATP guys just know when to step on the gas and take their shots and when a down the middle deep shot is best.

Like


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Yes, defense and neutral is what stands out at ATP vs. 3.5
3.5 is offense all the time.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Yes, defense and neutral is what stands out at ATP vs. 3.5
3.5 is offense all the time.

I would phrase it like this:
An intermediate that is all offense all the time will struggle to move beyond 3.5
An intermediate that is all defense all the time will struggle to move beyond 4.0

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

I would phrase it like this:
An intermediate that is all offense all the time will struggle to move beyond 3.5
An intermediate that is all defense all the time will struggle to move beyond 4.0

Like


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

I would phrase it like this:
An intermediate that is all offense all the time will struggle to move beyond 3.5
An intermediate that is all defense all the time will struggle to move beyond 4.0

A 4.0 who learns to play within him/herself, develops shot tolerance, and can defend when necessary but never misses the opportunity to attack is on his/her way to becoming a player [emoji471][emoji471][emoji471]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Dartagnan64]

A 4.0 who learns to play within him/herself, develops shot tolerance, and can defend when necessary but never misses the opportunity to attack is on his/her way to becoming a player [emoji471][emoji471][emoji471]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Agree. Having that skill set really separates advanced from intermediate players. Intermediates definitely struggle with both knowing when and how to attack or defend.

 

[mad dog1]

Let’s go, Jason!!!

 

[mad dog1]

And Jason Jung is into the final!