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NO SPOILERS 🎥

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Dimitrov 🎥 Nishikori (Brisbane)

Tsonga 🎥 Daniel (Brisbane)

Wawrinka 🎥 Bautista Agut (Doha)

Djokovic 🎥 Basilashvili (Doha)

Berdych 🎥 Herbert (Doha)

Paire 🎥 Simon (Pune)

Gulbis 🎥 Karlovic (Pune)

Federer 🎥 Tsitsipas (Hopman Cup)

Federer/Bencic 🎥 Tsitsipas/Sakkari (Hopman Cup)

RESULTS 🎾

💥 = Beatdown \\ 🤕 = Injury \\ ‼️ = Upset

Brisbane 🇦🇺

(ATP 250 - Hard)

Nishikori d Dimitrov: 7-5, 7-5

This result is why I was confused by reading lots of hype about Dimitrov in his earlier rounds vs Millman and Nishioka. As I mentioned in both those match summaries, Grigor was let off the hook with his usual weaknesses on 2nd serve, in part, due to the fact that Millman and Nishioka couldn’t capitalise on their chances when returning serve. Nishikori, being the excellent returner he is, did capitalise, allowing Dimitrov a measly 13/27 second serve points won and creating plenty of chances (converting 3/9 break points) with aggressive, but high margin returns. Nishikori was pretty much flawless in general today, looking incredibly secure on serve, landing a very high 80% of 1st serves, and winning an even more impressive 75% of his 2nd serve points. Great signs for Kei, form and health wise, going into the Australian Open. As for Grigor, the beginning of 2019 has done little to persuade me he won’t keep on facing mountains of pressure and break points due to his shortcomings on serve. But I’d be happy to be proven wrong.

Tsonga d Daniel : 7-6(5), 6-3

Chardy d Uchiyama: 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4)

Doha 🇶🇦

(ATP 250 - Hard)

Bautista Agut d Wawrinka: 6-4, 6-4

Impeccable performance from Bautista Agut (RBA). The Spaniards’ flat, low balls caused all sorts of problems for Wawrinka, who looked a little jaded after his reintroduction to competitive matchplay this week. Stan has always struggled on the slicker surfaces, and the relatively fast Doha conditions, combined with RBA’s lower than average trajectory balls, didn’t let him dictate from the baseline in his preferred patterns. Wawrinka likes time on the ball and ideally to make contact around waist-chest height. Today, the Swiss found himself having to get down very low and on the back foot far too often, with RBA looking like he had all the time in the world to pick his shots. This was illustrated by the chances both players created, Stan mustering up a measly 3 break points (all in the last game of the match, and all saved by RBA), and RBA creating 14 (converting 2). Thankfully for Wawrinka, the Australian Open conditions have historically been higher bouncing and livelier, meaning this result shouldn’t derail the impressive strides made this week in his comeback. As for RBA, today showed some very positive signs for his 2019 prospects, landing a high number of 1st serves at 76% (which he needs given how attackable his 2nd delivery is), and generally looking lethal on these quicker surfaces.

Djokovic d Basilashvili: 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

Basilashvili started the match on fire, slapping forehand winners for fun and completely out-hitting the world No.1. Showing no fear whatsoever, Basilashvili went up a double break courtesy of a comprehensive demolition job of Djokovic’s 2nd serve. Through 5 games (Basil leading 4*-1) Novak won just 1/7 points on 2nd serve. Things normalised somewhat with Basilashvili trying to consolidate the double break, as the Georgian missed a routine smash, down break point, to surrender one of the breaks back. Another missed smash nearly derailed the remaining break for Basilashvili, but he managed to steady the ship and save a BP to go up 5-3*, and then served out the set to 15. Djokovic, especially on return, had been a bit sub-par, not putting as many balls in play as he usually would (winning just 13/34 or 38% return points), and looking a bit flat footed facing the onslaught of Basilashvili baseline bombs. Story of the set? Djokovic’s avg forehand speed: 118kph or 73mph), Basilashvili’s avg forehand speed: 142kph or 88mph (enough to go back to the future).

The 2nd set started with a donation of serve from Basilashvili, and Djokovic suddenly turned on the afterburners. Some ludicrous defence from the world No.1, coupled with some gritty baselining to save a break back point, propelled Novak to a 3-0 lead. Basilashvili created more break opportunities, but Djokovic fell back to the thing he knows he can always win on: fitness/durability in longer points. The world No.1 ground out some marathon rallies when facing pressure, to keep his break advantage in tact, to level the match at one set all. Djokovic was at just 19/54 return points won in this match (6/20 in 2nd set), which are particularly low numbers for him.

At this stage Basilashvili looked done physically. Surrendering another break at the beginning of the 3rd set looked like the final nail in the coffin, as Djokovic prevailed in another 30+ shot rally, ending in a Basilashvili error. But Basilashvili responded impressively, breaking straight back to love with more big groundstrokes. Djokovic then took a bathroom break between games, and upon resumption Basilashvili started spraying errors, immediately donating a break of serve with some rash groundstrokes. Djokovic, courtesy of saving a few more break points, then managed to serve out the match for, yet another, impressive win. Djokovic’s mental fortitude is clearly still fortress-esque in 2019, but he may be tired for a tough next round vs Bautista Agut. As for Basilashvili, his tennis has improved out of sight in the past year, and, if he keeps it up, he should have a great season.

Berdych d Herbert : 6-2, 6-4

Cecchinato d Lajovic: 7-6(2), 6-2

Pune 🇮🇳

(ATP 250 - Hard)

Anderson d Munar: 6-3, 6-3

Simon d Paire : 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4

Darcis d Jaziri : 7-5, 6-2

Karlovic d Gulbis: 7-6(5), 7-6(5)

Hopman Cup 🇦🇺

(Exhibition - Hard)

🇬🇧 Norrie d Tiafoe 🇺🇸 : 7-6(4) 6-0

🇬🇧 Boulter/Norrie d Williams/Tiafoe 🇺🇸: 3-4(2) 4-3(4) 4-1

Great Britain d USA: 2-1

🇨🇭 Federer d Tsitsipas 🇬🇷: 7-6(5) 7-6(4)

Both players struggled a bit on their backhands, but their forehand to forehand battles were fun to watch, and Federer’s big point play in both breakers was solid, as was his (and Tsitsipas’s) serving. Tsitsipas looked slightly overwhelmed by how fast the match went by (avg point length was very low), and Federer’s first strike tennis seemed slightly alien to the young Greek for much of the match. This could be a very fun matchup in a longer format like a best-of-5.

🇬🇷 Sakkari/Tsitsipas d Bencic/Federer🇨🇭:4-3(4) 2-4 4-3(3)

Entertaining doubles match with all four players shining at various points. A diving volley from Tsitsipas, a winning return on match point vs Federer’s serve from Sakkari, reflex volley’s from Federer and some nice defence from Bencic. Classic Hopman Cup fun.

Greece d Switzerland: 2-1

SHOTS OF THE DAY 😮

— Nice forehand-backhand combination from Federer (vs Tsitsipas).

— Really good to see how willing Tsitsipas is to come to the net after big approaches. Should serve him well as he develops, especially against the absolute best players.

— Tsitsipas crushes this return of serve but Federer’s fast hand skills get him out of trouble. Half-volley forehand slice taking away all the advantage of Stef’s great return.

— Lovely dropper from Fed.

—Spot the difference:

— Spare a thought for Tsistipas’s sponsors and insurers every time he dives on a hard court like this.

— Tsitsipas vaporising a backhand return.

— Basilashvili started the match on fire (vs Djokovic). Effortless forehand power.

— Anything you can do…

— Absolute joke of a forehand from Basilashvili.

— This was about the time Djokovic battened down the hatches and put everything back in play, daring Basilashvili to stay with him physically. It worked. Basilashvili couldn’t have hit that return much better…

—Basil still crushing forehands for fun. He went down swinging.

INTERVIEW & PRESS BEST BITS 🎤

Berdych after making the Doha semi-finals by beating Herbert:

“I have belief in myself that the wins are going to come. I worked very hard, day by day, while I was rehabbing.” (On court interview)

Djokovic on Nadal’s withdrawal from Brisbane:

“The sport needs Rafa, no question about it. He is one of the greatest legends of all time and we want to see him play.” Source

Tsistipas on playing Federer:

Highlights:

“I always imagined it would be much more difficult to face that kind of player, but doing the right things on the court, didn't seem very difficult to me today.”

“Actually an unusual game, I’m not used to such a fast game, fast tempo.”

ORDER OF PLAY - THURSDAY ⏰

Match to watch = 🔥

BRISBANE

— (@ 3pm Local, 5am UK, 11pm CT) —

🇷🇺 Medvedev vs Raonic 🇨🇦 (H2H: 1-0) (Hard H2H: 1-0) 🔥

Prediction: Medvedev in 3

— NB 7pm Local, 9am UK, 3am CT —

🇦🇺 De Minaur vs Tsonga 🇫🇷 (1st Meeting) 🔥

Prediction: De Minaur in 2

DOHA

— (@ 4:30pm Local, 1pm UK, 7:30am CT) —

(After Doubles Final)

🇷🇸 Djokovic vs Bautista Agut 🇪🇸 (H2H: 7-1) (Hard H2H: 3-1)

Prediction: Bautista Agut in 3

🇨🇿 Berdych vs Cecchinato 🇮🇹 (1st Meeting)

Prediction: Berdych in 2

PUNE

— (@ 7pm Local, 2:30pm UK, 8:30am CT) —

🇭🇷 Karlovic vs Darcis 🇧🇪 (H2H: 1-0) (1st Meeting on HC)

Prediction: Karlovic in 3

🇿🇦 Anderson vs Simon 🇫🇷(H2H: 3-1) (Hard H2H: 2-1) 🔥

Prediction: Anderson in 3

HOPMAN CUP

— (Centre Court @ 10am Perth, 2am UK, 8pm CT) —

🇪🇸 Ferrer vs Pouille 🇫🇷 (H2H: 0-2) (Hard H2H: 0-1)

Prediction: Pouille in 3

🇪🇸 Muguruza/Ferrer vs Cornet/Pouille 🇫🇷

Prediction: Cornet/Pouille

(Centre Court @ 5:30pm Perth, 10:30am UK, 4:30am CT) —

🇩🇪 A. Zverev vs Ebden 🇦🇺 (1st Meeting)

Prediction: Zverev in 2

🇩🇪 A. Kerber/A. Zverev vs Barty/Ebden (AUS) 🇦🇺

Prediction: Barty/Ebden

EXTRAS 🔍📊🎤

— Explains the strange loss yesterday, but worrying news for Edmund given that he’s defending 750 semi-final ranking points, 35% of his total points, at the Australian Open in 10 days time.

In the 3rd set of the Djokovic Basilashvili match, Novak took a 2 and half minute bathroom break in the middle of the set. The umpire didn’t time him and no warning was given. Basilashvili then did the same a few games later and the clock was started with the umpire telling Basilashvili he had 90 seconds. I’m a big supporter of umpires being allowed to take the human element into consideration during longer matches. But this was a very strange inconsistency in applying the rule. Why not give Basilashvili the same leniency? At the end of the day, it’s up to the umpires to enforce the rules correctly, not the players.

— Salty/sassy Novak is the best Novak.

— Nice moment with Tsitsipas giving lots of credit to his teammate Sakkari. Another example of why killing the Hopman Cup is dumb.

NEW BALLS PLEASE 👀

— 142kph = 88mph. Basil’s forehand:

— A very masculine moment from Rog.

— Basil raging.

— Sakkari nabbing herself a Federer towel.

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GAME, SET, MATCH 👋

— The Racquet is created, and written, by Matt.

— You can find me on Twitter here.

See you tomorrow for Day 5 of Brisbane, Doha, Pune & more Hopman Cup.

Banner Image Source: Hopman Cup Twitter