[Snowwy]

Originally Posted by tommyg6

Erik lost in the Swedish F7 Futures finals to Andreas Vinciguerra of Sweden in straights sets. Not good considering the guy hasnt played a full year of pro tennis in 4 years.

The guy could still be around 100 in the world if he were healthy.

[J99]

He took the 1st set in the final qualy round for Stockholm 64 over the well regarded Copil, but as it seems to be a theme with him he dropped the next 2, 61, 64.

[letshavefun3]

So Erik lost first round of Seoul challenger to a qualifier ranked 718 in the world (in straight sets!).

[letshavefun3]

Erik lost in the first round in of Eckental challenger to Mertl 6-4 7-6 (3).

[mayumashu]

Watched some of it. Mertl served well and Erik looked out of sorts the whole match through, in part I'm sure 'cause he often couldn't get Mertl's serves back in play.

[big_j_tennis]

I randomly met Erik in the Montreal Metro today. He's a very nice guy, seems very down to earth. He told me he was presently training at the Uniprix Stadium, notably with Peliwo and Polansky, and that he was coached by Fred Niemeyer during the off-season. He is also training daily at the gym, in order to be fit and ready for the upcoming season. He will be leaving for Australia on the 31st of December, and will get a week or so of training before the qualies. After the AO, he'll stay in Australia to play a couple of challengers, and after that he isn't sure. He plans to play more challengers and less futures than last year, but says that this may vary according to his ranking. He seemed very happy to see that I actually knew who he was... Anyways, he's a really nice person, a lot nicer than other tennis pros I have met in the past. I hope him the best for 2013.

[J99]

Playing Menendez in R1 of AO qualys.

[mayumashu]

Erik up against it, taking on Lu, in Burnie, Tasmania. Match beginning in a moment, being streamed live at http://www.burnieinternational.com.a...live-streaming

Check that; it's not Lu, it's LL Ryan Agar. (Lu withdrew due to abscess tooth. http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/...rnament/?cs=88)

Erik lost first set 6-3 and looks, like he often has in the past to be honest, unlikely to become ranked any higher. He makes too many unforced errors, against a guy who hits flat and misses into the net on his backhand a lot, for top-200 material.

His moment is too slow and his rally shots land at the opponent's service line or inside it (which is not necessarily easy to do) too often. He doesn't seem to be able to drive through the ball, or at least doesn't do it very often at all. (Probably spoiled after the Aussie Open all last week.)

He's playing better now - took the second set 6-2 - maybe half of it is rust from not playing many tour matches in a while.

Dug himself another hole but survived, coming back from 3-5 to take the third set 7-5. Plays Aussie WC Whittington in second round.

[mayumashu]

Erik with a comfortable (looking, at stat sheet) win today over Chase Buchanan. After watching him in Burnie and where he pulled out of the next Aussie challenger, very glad to see this result today.

[mayumashu]

Another solid looking win for Chvojka indoors in San Jose - one more to go to get to main draw, but up next is top seed Smyzcek - a tough ask. (Wonder if the wind in Burnie was causing Erik grief - can't imagine he could turn his game around so quickly. Or was he a little injured and better now??)

[J99]

Almost qualified for only his 3rd ever ATP match, good job anyway.

[mayumashu]

Erik in a tough draw - second round Smyczek or Ginepri - in qualifying at Delray Beach. Will be windy too, won't it? Erik seems to play quite a bit better indoors, out of wind.

[mayumashu]

Erik was the top seed in the Indian Wells pre-qualifying tourney but retired from his quarterfinal round match. http://www.bnpparibasopen.com/Events...of-Events.aspx

[big_j_tennis]

he's the top seed in the gatineau futures qualifying.

[Snowwy]

He is in Canada F1 into R2, I will see him play tomorrow.