Re: Ben's Hard Court Season 2015 (February - Bergamo)
Another solid win for Ben in the QF yesterday, 6-4, 6-4 over Dustov, in only 1 hour and 13 minutes! :cheerleader:
He returned well to break and go 3-2 up in the 1st set , and then showboated through a love service game hold, with some great backhands, a very cheeky drop shot, a FH passing shot and an Ace!
At 4-3 up, Ben serving, 30-30, there was a strange point which I think was a bad bounce and Ben hit an airshot, which drew gasps from the crowd. BP... which in his new clutch style, he saved with an ace.
Then he double faulted to give another BP
There was a great rally where Dustov was aggressive and Ben defended really well, and Dustov ended up falling at the net. It didn't look that bad (only saw it once, no replay or close-up etc) but Dustov needed a medical time out, which went on for quite a few minutes. Ben was keen to get going again, but kept the crowd entertained with his footy skills and a tennis ball!
When they started again - still deuce on Ben's serve - Dustov hit a great return to earn another BP, which Ben saved with a great serve down the middle. After another deuce, Ben hit a great FH winner, and then an ace to win the game, 5-3.
Ben then returned really well to get 3 BP's, 0-40 on Dustov's serve, but with a couple of errors from Ben and good serving, Dustov held serve. Ben was really keen to serve out the set, and was out of his chair very early to play. Dustov waited until time was called and then some, then walked slowly around the whole outside of the court to get to his return position.
Dustov hit a great return and Ben made an error and suddenly it was 0-30. But Ben hit an ace out wide, then big serves all the way to win the game and the set, 6-4. :cheerleader:
It all went on serve in the 2nd set, until 3-3 deuce, Dustov serving. Ben hit a deep return and followed with a great forehand into the top corner, to earn a BP. And then he defended really well, running from side to side to get balls back, before hitting a FH passing shot down the line for the break, and letting out a huge "Allez". They both held serve the next 2 games, and Ben served for it at 5-4 up. Again he served out to love - a terrific 1-2 with a BH winner cross court/ an ace/ Dustov's return went wide/ and an ace to finish.
It's really wonderful to see him playing with so much confidence and serving out to love. His serve seems very solid at the moment - getting him out of trouble at crucial moments in all the matches I've seen this week - and he's returning very well.
He plays the SF tonight against Jurgen Zopp (who beat Lucas Pouille). Allez Ben!
(He also got a WC to Marseille and plays PHM in R1.)