Houston 250 Clay

[herios]

Seeds:

1. J .isner
2. S. Querrey
3. J. Sock
4. N. Kyrgios
5. F. Verdasco
6. S. Johnson
7.R. Harrison
8. F. Tiafoe

 

[herios]

Basically all the best American players ( top 16 ranked) entered the event.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Basically all the best American players ( top 16 ranked) entered the event.

Makes sense for them to get a feel of the dirt without travelling much, especially considering most won't play after this until Madrid.

 

[herios]

Second seed out, Sam beaten by Pella

 

[Moxie]

Second seed out, Sam beaten by Pella

Pella another one to keep an eye on in the clay season?

 

[Moxie]

Kyrgios and Fratangelo are playing some speed tennis out there. Bjorn won the first, but Nick has been riding rough-shod ever since.

EDIT: Nick won.

 

[herios]

Kyrgios and Fratangelo are playing some speed tennis out there. Bjorn won the first, but Nick has been riding rough-shod ever since.

EDIT: Nick won.

That match was yesterday, I think you got a replay on your channel

 

[Moxie]

That match was yesterday, I think you got a replay on your channel

Yeah, end of the day, so they reran one. But who cares? No one else commented on that match.

 

[herios]

True. I saw Sock just beat Zeby, he could have good results on clay as he uses a lot of top spin.

 

[Moxie]

True. I saw Sock just beat Zeby, he could have good results on clay as he uses a lot of top spin.

Top spin isn't the only feature of a good clay player. I'd say footwork was more critical, and I'm not sure if Sock's is that exceptional.

 

[herios]

Top spin isn't the only feature of a good clay player. I'd say footwork was more critical, and I'm not sure if Sock's is that exceptional.

You are right, he should improve his footwork to have better results on clay.

 

[isabelle]

big John vs Steve should be good

 

[britbox]

Kyrgios gets bombed out by Dr Ivo.

 

[Moxie]

How about Taylor Fritz getting Sock? He was a couple of years stalled, but I think he might be on the rise, again.

 

[britbox]

I read Fritz has Paul Annacone on board as a new coach.

 

[herios]

Kyrgios gets bombed out by Dr Ivo.

I thought that Nick was a bomber himself.
Bad result for him to go down to a fading dr. Ivo

 

[herios]

Unlike others with higher pedigree, Sandgren takes down dr. Ivo.
The reward for him, his first ATP final and a top 50 ranking for the first time.

 

[herios]

How about Taylor Fritz getting Sock? He was a couple of years stalled, but I think he might be on the rise, again.

Not just "might", Fritz is on the rise since earlier this year.
He started the season outside of the top 100, he was ranked 30 spots higher this week.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Has this tourn been so biased at Americans before?
This year it's lamost exclusively American: e.g. top half R16 only 2 overseas players but QF all Americans! Bottom half also many Americans. And the winner (Johnson) went through all 5 matches all American!
If someone's thinking American Era of tennis is not as good as 20-30y ago, this tourn may (incorrectly) suggest USA players are again all over.

 

[Moxie]

Has this tourn been so biased at Americans before?
This year it's lamost exclusively American: e.g. top half R16 only 2 overseas players but FQ all Americans! Bottom half also many Americans. And the winner (Johnson) went through all 5 matches all American!
If someone's thinking American Era of tennis is not as good as 20-30y ago, this tourn may (incorrectly) suggest USA players are again all over.

This is the only ATP clay event in the US. Obviously, a lot of US players will play. Also, same, few Europeans will. Look at the draw. There were about 2 Europeans, mostly US players, and some from farther east and So. America. It's about convenience, not bias, I don't think. And I'm pretty sure it doesn't create the impression that US players just became geniuses on clay.