All is forgiven since your razor-sharp content makes up for the missed dropshot. :) I was pulling big time for Ruud -- super nice dude finally gets his 1000. Got his first 500 last year, now the 1000...dare do we dream an RO for him next month?
Currently ranked 7th overall, he lost in the 2nd round in Rome last year, so he can add some points there and maybe get even closer. He won Geneva last year, but with the Madrid win, I think his seeding inside top 8 is pretty solid. Which means he won't have to face Sinner/Alcaraz until the quarters/semis.
He's made a habit of turning on his clay form just in time for RG, and then usually putting in a good performance there. I thought he played really well here, so it's going to be interesting to see in Rome how Sinner comes back, how Alcaraz has recovered from the leg, what Zverev's form looks like as defending champ, etc.
I really like Draper but I have seen him get tired and run out of gas. 30 years ago he would have been like Krajicek. Today it’s tough because the conditions are slower. He is playing with two hands which wears him down more. I totally agree he should attack the net more. It would help him win. But in best of five, not sure he can last.
Thanks so much for supplying the rpm's on their forehands. They have 2 of the heaviest(rpm's) on Tour, and that is something that Casper had that margain rpm wise over Draper for the match. And good call on the Draper size. He is just not particularly built for long drawn out caly court battles of attrition. Ruud has been one of the very best clay courters in the world for years as you pointed out. Great to see him get a Masters 1000. Now on to Rome and RG.
"Look how much bigger Casper could go when set from the ad-side." I'm curious how much of this is "could go" and how much he was "obliged to go"?
Stating the Obvious-
A lot more court is left open hitting the FH from ad side than duece side. When FH from Ad, better do enough with your shot to make your opponent struggle, especially when hitting DTL. When hitting FH cross from Deuce, the shot doesn't need to be great to stay in the rally. So perhaps the speed difference was choice, not capability?
Or is it Mechanics?
If I line up to hit a FH to the Ad corner, I don't find it that compromising to pull the shot to the deuce corner. If I line up to hit a FH to the duece corner but elect to hit to Ad, the shot is weak. So I usually try to line up toward the ad corner on attacking FHs to have a bit of disguise without excessively compromising either direction. Perhaps Casper does this as well. So when he's hitting a FH out of the ad corner, he's lined up to hit the inside-out (cross). This is also the direction with favorable court geometry- long diagonal and low net. So perhaps those features combine to allow rockets. But from Deuce side he has to either hit in the less natural direction or hit over the high part of the net.
Below is an interesting take that touches on how Alcarize avoids compromising his forehand set-up in an attempt to disguise direction:
I think it's more a case of "could go" in the sense that if he's managed to get around to that side of the court (AD side) and hit a forehand, he probably has more time, height, and balance, which is not the case when hitting from the deuce side as much. Draper's backhand cross is flat and low and he takes it early, I don't think Ruud had the height or time to hit his cross ball that well. Plus, maybe this data was skewed by Draper's harder line forehands rushing ruud as well. You're right to point out that it's also the longer court/lower net direction too.
interesting read re faulttolerant, but I'm not so sure I could pick Alcaraz's inside-in/inside-out shot direction based on his setup; it's such a fine adjustment.
I wrote a match recap of that one touching on the drop shot direction also:
4 Masters tourneys completed, with 4 different winners (Draper IW, Mensik Miami, Alcaraz Monte-Carlo, and Madrid Ruud). As you've said, the ATP is weird this year, with opportunities for new guys to get to the top 10.
It feels like Draper could be the 3rd young guy to compete for big titles along with Sinner and Alcaraz. Rune has shown positive signs this year (IW final, Barcelona title), but Jack has made enormous strides during the last couple of months. Granted, Jack's fitness is still a question mark, especially at grand slams (withdrawal after 2 sets v Alcaraz in the AO 4th round). I think RG could be tough for him since you need more fitness on clay.
In terms of new guys to get to the top 10, Musetti is there now. Someone like Shelton or Fils could get there within the next couple of weeks.
I like Fils on clay a lot. Could be a fun RG with so many young guys in form: Rune, Alcaraz, Sinner back, Musetti, Fils, Fonseca might make a run, Draper, Ruud, Shelton, ADF, Cerundolo, Mensik etc
The geometry of Ruud's 'run around' forehand is a site to behold (and respect!). Pythagoras would have to help explain the extra cushion from being so far into the ad court but Caspar used every inch of it many times....
Watching the extended highlights, I kept noticing Draper seeming less comfortable and balanced on clay. Maybe it was the flat backhand, which felt rushed at times, that made him appear that way, but I kept thinking this guy wants to be on hardcourt.
i kind of felt that whenever Ruud hit it very loopy, Draper didn't know how to handle that on his forehand. He often got caught just tentatively spinning it back from his shoulder on the rise, whereas Ruud looked very comfortable and proactive whenever he got time on the forehand, irrespective of bounce.
I think Draper's back hand is flat... I have seen on many occasions when Ruud was hitting with top spin to drapers backhand it was mostly landing on the middle of court nicely setting up for Casper to launch his forehand
I agree that jack might have used the wrong tactic there ! Clay doesn’t reward his flat backhand as much as other surfaces do ! Anyway I have been really impressed by both and I hope they capitalize on this form to Rome and play a decent RG ! Very happy sinner is back I think the tour needs a sinner leading the way as it elevates everyone level to catch him up ! Hope alcaraz injury is fulling heal and hope zverev keeps playing as bad so he leaps off the top 10 lmao
Aaaaaand only now did I realise I wrote Rune in the title. Terrible unforced error.
All is forgiven since your razor-sharp content makes up for the missed dropshot. :) I was pulling big time for Ruud -- super nice dude finally gets his 1000. Got his first 500 last year, now the 1000...dare do we dream an RO for him next month?
Currently ranked 7th overall, he lost in the 2nd round in Rome last year, so he can add some points there and maybe get even closer. He won Geneva last year, but with the Madrid win, I think his seeding inside top 8 is pretty solid. Which means he won't have to face Sinner/Alcaraz until the quarters/semis.
He's made a habit of turning on his clay form just in time for RG, and then usually putting in a good performance there. I thought he played really well here, so it's going to be interesting to see in Rome how Sinner comes back, how Alcaraz has recovered from the leg, what Zverev's form looks like as defending champ, etc.
Sinner and Alcaraz have very tough quarters. Fritz and Zverev quarters are...kind of weak.
I really like Draper but I have seen him get tired and run out of gas. 30 years ago he would have been like Krajicek. Today it’s tough because the conditions are slower. He is playing with two hands which wears him down more. I totally agree he should attack the net more. It would help him win. But in best of five, not sure he can last.
Thanks so much for supplying the rpm's on their forehands. They have 2 of the heaviest(rpm's) on Tour, and that is something that Casper had that margain rpm wise over Draper for the match. And good call on the Draper size. He is just not particularly built for long drawn out caly court battles of attrition. Ruud has been one of the very best clay courters in the world for years as you pointed out. Great to see him get a Masters 1000. Now on to Rome and RG.
Hey Hugh , hope we see you doing such pieces on WTA , we have lot of interesting profiles out there
"Look how much bigger Casper could go when set from the ad-side." I'm curious how much of this is "could go" and how much he was "obliged to go"?
Stating the Obvious-
A lot more court is left open hitting the FH from ad side than duece side. When FH from Ad, better do enough with your shot to make your opponent struggle, especially when hitting DTL. When hitting FH cross from Deuce, the shot doesn't need to be great to stay in the rally. So perhaps the speed difference was choice, not capability?
Or is it Mechanics?
If I line up to hit a FH to the Ad corner, I don't find it that compromising to pull the shot to the deuce corner. If I line up to hit a FH to the duece corner but elect to hit to Ad, the shot is weak. So I usually try to line up toward the ad corner on attacking FHs to have a bit of disguise without excessively compromising either direction. Perhaps Casper does this as well. So when he's hitting a FH out of the ad corner, he's lined up to hit the inside-out (cross). This is also the direction with favorable court geometry- long diagonal and low net. So perhaps those features combine to allow rockets. But from Deuce side he has to either hit in the less natural direction or hit over the high part of the net.
Below is an interesting take that touches on how Alcarize avoids compromising his forehand set-up in an attempt to disguise direction:
https://faulttoleranttennis.com/alcarize-your-dropshot/
I think it's more a case of "could go" in the sense that if he's managed to get around to that side of the court (AD side) and hit a forehand, he probably has more time, height, and balance, which is not the case when hitting from the deuce side as much. Draper's backhand cross is flat and low and he takes it early, I don't think Ruud had the height or time to hit his cross ball that well. Plus, maybe this data was skewed by Draper's harder line forehands rushing ruud as well. You're right to point out that it's also the longer court/lower net direction too.
interesting read re faulttolerant, but I'm not so sure I could pick Alcaraz's inside-in/inside-out shot direction based on his setup; it's such a fine adjustment.
I wrote a match recap of that one touching on the drop shot direction also:
https://hughclarke.substack.com/p/alcaraz-x-tsitsipas-barcelona-final
Yeah, I'm not totally convinced on the hypothesis that the drop shot frees Alcaraz of needing to hide his forehand direction. But food for thought.
Comparing these two articles reminds me how much I appreciate the heavy use of gifs in your work. Thanks.
4 Masters tourneys completed, with 4 different winners (Draper IW, Mensik Miami, Alcaraz Monte-Carlo, and Madrid Ruud). As you've said, the ATP is weird this year, with opportunities for new guys to get to the top 10.
It feels like Draper could be the 3rd young guy to compete for big titles along with Sinner and Alcaraz. Rune has shown positive signs this year (IW final, Barcelona title), but Jack has made enormous strides during the last couple of months. Granted, Jack's fitness is still a question mark, especially at grand slams (withdrawal after 2 sets v Alcaraz in the AO 4th round). I think RG could be tough for him since you need more fitness on clay.
In terms of new guys to get to the top 10, Musetti is there now. Someone like Shelton or Fils could get there within the next couple of weeks.
I like Fils on clay a lot. Could be a fun RG with so many young guys in form: Rune, Alcaraz, Sinner back, Musetti, Fils, Fonseca might make a run, Draper, Ruud, Shelton, ADF, Cerundolo, Mensik etc
The geometry of Ruud's 'run around' forehand is a site to behold (and respect!). Pythagoras would have to help explain the extra cushion from being so far into the ad court but Caspar used every inch of it many times....
Watching the extended highlights, I kept noticing Draper seeming less comfortable and balanced on clay. Maybe it was the flat backhand, which felt rushed at times, that made him appear that way, but I kept thinking this guy wants to be on hardcourt.
i kind of felt that whenever Ruud hit it very loopy, Draper didn't know how to handle that on his forehand. He often got caught just tentatively spinning it back from his shoulder on the rise, whereas Ruud looked very comfortable and proactive whenever he got time on the forehand, irrespective of bounce.
Maybe it's just the time. As a more natural fast-surface player, giving him time may make him tentative.
Sorry to have to comment this but you have Rune in your title, not Ruud!
I think Draper's back hand is flat... I have seen on many occasions when Ruud was hitting with top spin to drapers backhand it was mostly landing on the middle of court nicely setting up for Casper to launch his forehand
I agree that jack might have used the wrong tactic there ! Clay doesn’t reward his flat backhand as much as other surfaces do ! Anyway I have been really impressed by both and I hope they capitalize on this form to Rome and play a decent RG ! Very happy sinner is back I think the tour needs a sinner leading the way as it elevates everyone level to catch him up ! Hope alcaraz injury is fulling heal and hope zverev keeps playing as bad so he leaps off the top 10 lmao