Tennis is played again. First day at Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. The ball was opened in Jeddah by the red group and in the first two matches there were both surprises and confirmations. On the pitch, Luca van Assche control Juncheng Shang of Nishesh Basavareddy opposite ad Alex Michelsen. Let the show begin.
[6] L. van Assche b. [4] J. Shang 4-3(3) 2-4 4-1 4-3(5)
Test of resistance that of Luca van Assche in the first match of this tournament. Not so much for the duration of the match, but more for the defense erected (in an almost obligatory manner) due to the power diJuncheng Shang – his opponent for the first time in his career -, extremely aggressive from the start of the match. Especially on the forehand side. However, he wins the Frenchvictorious with a score of 4-3(3) 2-4 4-1 4-3(5) in just under two hours of tennis.
As mentioned, the Chinese tennis player he didn’t hold back with his rebound shots and ended yes with 30 winnersbut also with 36 free. The transalpine instead he finished the match on a positive note, scoring 19 winners and alone 15 errors. Some very serious scratches on the numero 50 ATPespecially with the forehand. In fact, adding these to one poor conversion with the second serve ball (32%)the reason for his defeat is easily understood.
HE MATCH – The first games of the match follow the alternating progression of the respective serves. The one who dares the most is ShangThat play more generously looking for the final shot as soon as he can. On the contrary, van Assche barricades himself behind his servevery effective today, especially when he manages to open the court to close with the forehand. After six balanced games we go to tie-break. Ready to go and there is an immediate exchange of breaks. The French takes advantage of a forehand error from his opponent to place the decisive extension (4-2). The transalpine, very centered, earns four set points, which he realizes thanks to a robust first. The first set if he wins it from Assche per 4-3(3).
The first break point of the match arrives in the second game of the second half and is for the Frenchman. Shang promptly cancels it, also winning the deciding point. In the third game there is a very tough exchange which the Chinese win with a splendid muffled volley. Invigorated by the point won Shang you earn three balls breakwhich he converts thanks to an off-center forehand from the Frenchman. The Chinese commands the exchanges in this second set while a nervoso van Assche – in controversy with the referee – try to keep up. In the last game of the second set Shang lets the forehand run with which he often finds the last meters of the pitch. The Chinese earns the set point, which he immediately converts with a winning serve to go out. Score in perfect equality.
van Assche puts the Asian tennis player under pressure, facing three consecutive break points. But, despite himself, he confirmed the negative trend by not converting a single one. The Frenchman must necessarily keep his opponent away from the court, who when he finds an opening is unforgiving with a blazing left-handed forehand. After six missed opportunities, on the seventh Shang he comes betrayed by his best shot e from Assche can finally take off. The great depth and regularity of the Frenchman prevail over the flashes of Jerry Shang. van Assche conduct two sets to one.
You return to the playing field after a toilet break of the Frenchman, who however began the fourth set in a rather dull manner. AND 2005 Chinese a find depth with shots and, thanks to some mix-ups by the transalpine player, wins the break a 15. Return the favor soon Shang, inaccurate with both rebound and volley shots. In fact, on several occasions Free commits and returns service. Il 2-2 arrives shortly after. One step away from the abyss, the ATP number 50 saved himself from a dangerous 15-40 in the fifth game. He serves great, takes risks and is rewarded. Thus we arrive at tie-break, decided exclusively from Shang’s obverse. For better or for worse. They are though plus the mistakes of the winners and, shortly before the stroke of two hours of play, it is Vincenzo Santopadre’s student who takes home the match with the score of 4-3(3) 2-4 4-1 4-3(5).
[2] A. Michelsen b. [7] N. Basavareddy 2-4 4-3(5) 4-3(4) 4-2
It didn’t shine, but it was enough to win. The performance of Alex Michelsen it wasn’t superb. Nonetheless, the success against friend and compatriot Nishesh Basavareddy – a year younger – arrived anyway, with a score of 2-4 4-3(5) 4-3(4) 4-2. Alex thus takes the lead in the head-to-head matches (now 2-1, the other two clashes date back to Challengers in the US at the end of 2023), having prevailed in an hour and fifty-five minutes of match.
More determined than ever to enter the circuit by giving up college – as Michelsen himself had done in 2023 -, Basavareddy stepped on such an important stage for the first time and offered a good try which highlighted his two greatest qualities: his backhand and his return. The opponent’s experiencehowever, he got the better of it especially in the hot moments of the sets and the first ball – with which he collected 83% of the points and 9 aces – was fundamental for him to take home the match.
HE MATCH – Both come out of the starting blocks well, warming up the serve properly. In the third game it’s straight away Basavareddy to show themselves proactive in response. The lines are pinched several times, Michelsen he is forced to chase and ends up giving up the joke at 30. Despite a couple of double faults number 138 in the world behaves Very good above all on the reverse sidea shot that comes out very naturally from his racket. The 20-year-old American tries to stay in the wake of the partial, but Nishesh is surgical on the beat and closes the first set with a score of 4-2.
The second half And marked by duty shiftsheld without too much difficulty by both tennis players. The rallies get longer, but more often than not it is the batsman who comes out with the point in his pocket. The best solution is therefore tie-break. The balance of the set is tipped in a flash, with three consecutive minibreaks at the opening. Michelsen but it settles down and, holding his rounds of duty, goes up 4-1. Basavareddy shortens (3-4), but his more experienced compatriot holds onto the advantage. At 6-5 the opportunity is not lacking. Ace and we are a set of odds.
The ball heaviness of Alex makes itself felt at the beginning of the third set. The opponent he is betrayed by his shot, the backhand: he sinks one into the net on the opponent’s break point and thus he gives up the joke at 30. Basavareddy tries to get back into the running by responding in a big way. He reaches the decisive point, but here Michelsen lets go of his arm on a forehand volley and wins the 2-0. In the following game it is Nishesh who faces a killer point. Alex is tempted by the second serve, puts his feet inside the court and hits a cross-court backhand which however ends up out. With four set points available Michelsen rests a bit on his laurels. In the first two the opponent does well to play for the point, in the third Michelsen commits one sensational lightness at the netwhile in the fourth the 19 year old from Newport Beach breaks through with his backhand and thus drags the challenger to the tie-break after deleting four set points.
Starting centered it is Nishawhich immediately advances on 2-0 to the sound of winners. The 20-year-old from Laguna Hills finds himself but lucidity and even the score. It turns on 3-3. This time it’s the forehand that’s deceiving BasavareddyThat give way to a minibreak dangerous. And indeed this time Michelsen he doesn’t miss other opportunities. He keeps the joke properly and takes the set 4-3(4).
We return to play after a toilet break of the younger of the two who, despite being late in the timing, does not suffer any warning. Fine plays continue to be lacking in tennis Michelsenwho however does not disdain some excellent accelerations and equally excellent passers-by. On the opposite side, Basavareddy continues to play his game made of lightning-fast responses e clean showers. In the second game they are these The ingredients That they stun Michelsen and they force him to surrender the service to 0. Missed pass also for Basavareddy immediately afterwards. He concedes four consecutive break points, cancels three with character, but in the fourth Alex he guards the net well and the joke is resumed. The tension screws Nishesh in the finale. And one mistake after another (online) e Michelsen snatches success with the score 2-4 4-3(5) 4-3(4) 4-2.
Pietro Sanò collaborated