HALLE TENNIS NEWS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM GERMANY BY CHERYL JONES

Written by: Staff on 18th June 2015

HALLE TENNIS NEWS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM GERMANY BY CHERYL JONES

Dustin Brown of Germany in action in the round of 16 match against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Germany, 18 June 2015. EPA/MAJA HITIJ |

Growing Spargel and Tennis

By Cheryl Jones

As if it was the plan all along, the Gerry Weber Open is located in an area that has wonderful sandy soil, just perfect for growing asparagus, or as they refer to it in Germany, spargel. Since ancient times, it has been a delicacy enjoyed for merely a few weeks before it turns into a massive, fluffy green garden decoration. Evidently, that same loamy soil mixture has proved itself to be the perfect medium to nurture the lawns that are accommodating enough to permit the village of Halle to host a spectacular tennis tournament each year. (The grass isn’t allowed to turn into a fluffy anything, with the groundskeepers guarding its progress all year long, as if it was a cash crop in and of itself.)

For twenty-two years, the GWO has invited a select few of the worlds’ most esteemed tennis professionals to compete on the lawns that have been coaxed into a lush carpet on which to contest tennis. Since 2004, at least two German players have worked their way through the thirty-two-person draw to climb into the Quarterfinals. This year, (the first year the tournament is a 500 level event), only one German remains – Florian Mayer. Mayer defeated American, Steve Johnson yesterday and tomorrow, he will face Roger Federer and then he, too may be out of contention. That’s speculation, but given the fact that Federer (number two in the Emirates Rankings that the ATP utilizes) has the advantage of nearly three hundred places higher than the German player. Mayer spent a lengthy time (nearly a year) out of contention recovering from a groin injury and he still seems to be a bit tenuous in his execution on court. Federer’s age has often been mentioned as a detriment to continued superlative play, but tomorrow, he should roll to yet another semifinal appearance in Halle.

Today, one of two German players who remained in the draw, Dustin Brown lost his match. He is a handsome bronze man who is ranked just outside the top one hundred and he sports waist length dreadlocks. He lost out to a phenomenal Japanese player, Kei Nishikori, 7-5, 6-1.

Kei Nishikori of Japan in action in the round of 16 match against Dustin Brown of Germany during the ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Germany, 18 June 2015. EPA/MAJA HITIJ

Nishikori spoke to me a few years ago. Then, he said his goal was to become the highest ranked Japanese player in history. His dream has come true, only better than he ever thought. Having reached and surpassed that objective (which was forty-five, by the way), he is now ranked five in the world. Not only does he have the top Japanese ranking, he possesses the record for the most highly ranked Asian player ever. He isn’t a huge guy, but he has been coached by American, Michael Chang, who in 1989 won Roland Garros when he was a mere 17 years and 4 months old. He still remains the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam. Chang’s mentoring must be just what Nishikori needs. He has made it to the Quarterfinals at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2015. There is a very good chance he could make it even further in Halle. His next opponent will be Jerzy Janowicz, a Polish player ranked 51, who defeated Alejandro Falla of Colombia today, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. He was runner-up at the GWO last year. (Interestingly, his current 147 ranking forced him to qualify for the tournament this year.)

The thirty-two player draw tournaments always seem like PDQ (Pretty Darn Quick) tennis to me. The play moves rapidly and there is always an interesting match to take in, but it happens so quickly that if one isn’t paying close attention, present matches slip into the past more quickly than it seems possible.

The majors have a 128-player draw and to come out on top requires a three set out of five win. Very often, especially late in those tournaments, five sets is the norm. I am sure that each of the men who manage to make it to the finals of those events are exhausted and truly appreciate competing at the GWO where it’s free of the hustle and bustle of a big city and the daily matches don’t usually lead to utter fatigue.

Thomas Berdych of Czech Republic in action against Borna Coric of Croatia during their second round match at the ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Germany, 17 June 2015. EPA/MAJA HITIJ

Continuing the PDQ theme, Friday will see all the Quarterfinal matches completed and the slate will be set for Saturday’s Semifinals. Who will those contenders be? As I noted earlier, it should be Nishikori over Janowicz and Federer over Mayer. The other two matches should see Thomas Berdych over Karlovic (that’s a little iffy, but I have watched them compete and even though Karlovic is an “ace” machine this year, Berdych seems the more complete player) and finally, Andreas Seppi (Italy) over Gael Monfils (France). Monfils has never done well on grass. He is a guy with a lot of talent, who often seems to drift in and out of the world of competitive tennis, but has a marvelous sense of humor that has led observers to see him as a clown. He is a superb athlete, in reality. Today, he defeated Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) 7-6, 6-4 to move to the Quarterfinal match.

After Sunday, the tennis will go the way of the spargel. There won’t be soup and side dishes until next year. Tennis has never been a side dish here or anywhere else. The lawns of the Gerry Weber Open will be tended and next year, like clockwork, it will be served up Halle style, and that will, as always be superb. Three more days remain and Friday will reveal Saturday’s menu.

Topics: Atp World Tour, Cheryl Jones, Dustin Brown, Germany, Gerry Weber Open, Halle, Kei Nishikori, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych

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June 18, 2015 at 3:13 pm

#HALLE #TENNIS NEWS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM #GERMANY BY CHERYL JONES- http://t.co/bVK5xsaXu5 #GerryWeberOpen @GERRYWEBERWORLD #ATPHalle #grass