#taube-grossman pro tennis tournament

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The second set became a one-way traffic once Z. Svajda kicked in from his form in the first set. After three consecutive holds, a working drop shot set up an important equalizer before Nishesh’s double fault opened the gate before Z. Svajda’s working volley right to the open space resulted in the break point creation, which was eventually converted to 3-1. Z. Svajda then consolidated his lead to 4-1.

However, Nishesh tried to sustain the moment for at least another service game hold, but Z. Svajda had a swift return to secure the first break point of the game. Despite the save and a game point, Nishesh foiled that game point due to his double fault and had a failed smash (due to the sunlight blocking the vision) securing Z. Svajda’s break point before its conversion at the cost of his forehand rush. Z. Svajda then had the opportunity to serve for the match, and even though there were several hiccups (including a notable forehand error), Z. Svajda successfully served it out for his third Challenger title of the year, securing his entrance to the Top 140 for the first time by landing at 139.

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Fairfield Ch F: Learner Tien [1] def. Bernard Tomic [7] 6-0, 6-1 Match Stats

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It was a complete masterclass from Learner, overpowering B. Tomic as the former tried to bring the latter off-balance from the start of the match. While this match was supposed to be an out-smarting contest in terms of their point construction, the American first seed dominated from having smooth service games until leaving B. Tomic less to no options. This way, not only Learner converted 5 out of his 9 chances to break while the Australian was unable to even open some gates to create his chances, he also had a decent serving day by winning 90% of his second serve points, 12% more than his first as he left B. Tomic's second serves even more attack-prone since the latter only won 27% of his second serve points.

This match not only became the shortest final match of the year not only in game (13 games) and duration (39 minutes) right after the Noumea Challenger earlier this year, but also became the all-time shortest finals in duration right after the Cassis Challenger 2019 between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Dudi Sela (43 minutes), as well as the Zhangjiagang Challenger 2023 between Terence Atmane and Mikalai Haliak (44 minutes). Outside of this record, Learner also became the fourth American to win three Challenger titles before turning 19 after Taylor Fritz, Andy Roddick, and Sam Querrey, propelling his rank to a career-high of 124, with a possible push for the Australian Open main draw wild card or the Top 100 (and a direct entry to the Australian Open). On the other hand, B. Tomic's next tournament is the Calgary Challenger, where he will face qualifier Patrick Maloney in the last timeslot of the next day of action. And the grind continues.

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Blink, and you missed the entire match.

The closing Challenger-level final for the week was the Fairfield Challenger final match between first seed Learner Tien, who survived the scenic route by defeating sixth seed Brandon Holt 6-0, 5-7, 6-4 in the semifinals, and seventh seed Bernard Tomic, who stunned third seed Tristan Schoolkate 6-3, 6-3 in a surprisingly straightforward all-Australian affair in the match right after for B. Tomic's first Challenger-level final since 2018. While this match could have been as competitive as their last meeting in the Las Vegas Challenger quarterfinals before B. Tomic's retirement, the flow turned out to be a one-way traffic for some reason.

After Learner held his serves to 1-0, he punished B. Tomic's nervy start with a forehand down-the-line winner, finding his aggression early before breaking to 2-0. Learner then consolidated his lead to 3-0, and created his initial break point in the next game through a forehand winner right after the Australian seventh seed's double fault before doubling his break to 4-0. Holding his serves to 5-0 right after, three consecutive double faults in the next game from B. Tomic only caused Learner to serve the first-set bagel (6-0) within 16 minutes.

B. Tomic tried to match the pace in the second set as he went on the board, but Learner kept overpowering him until he became more error-prone at the end. Trying to find his lines until there were 3 consecutive holds to start the set, a forehand winner somewhere from Learner started it before the first strikes got into B. Tomic's erratic third shots, which caused the former to break early to 3-1. Somehow, Learner held his serves to 4-1 even though B. Tomic had fair chances through his swift returning, but it was insufficient as Learner's forehand winner paved the way where even though the seventh seed saved 2 break points, the first seed still broke anyway, with smooth serving securing his second-set breadstick (6-1), winning the championship speedily in just 39 minutes.

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Fairfield Ch R2: Bernard Tomic def. Max Basing [Q] 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-1 Match Stats

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M. Basing might have controlled some parts of the first set, but B. Tomic hung on well by utilizing his slices and occasional drop shots to balance things out. That way, he got the best out of M. Basing's groundstrokes, thus the domination became evident starting the second set tie-break with a working volley start until punishing the British qualifier's errors with some timely drop shots for the break. As a result, even if M. Basing converted 80% of his break points, B. Tomic generated 13 chances to break throughout the match.

Interestingly, despite both players having distinct service game strengths, there was a tiny difference between both players on their second serves. Scoring 7 aces compared to M. Basing's 1, B. Tomic won 71% of his first serve points, helping him to stay stable in the first two sets before dominating the third. However, M. Basing had the slight edge on his second serves with a 53% percentage, 1% more than B. Tomic as a result of the Australian's frequent rushes, mostly at the end of the first set.

In the quarterfinals, B. Tomic will face Alexis Galarneau, who previously defeated Kiranpal Pannu 6-4, 6-1 thanks to a solid showing. While this match would not be far from chaos, their general range consistency would play a crucial role outside of their groundstrokes, with their point construction also be considered as the match progressed. This could depend on how they execute things, but the more effective play could be better for either of them to stand out at the end!

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The third set became a one-way traffic as B. Tomic took the advantage coming as a consequence of M. Basing's errors. After three consecutive holds, B. Tomic tried to capitalize of M. Basing's errors that created the former's break point before the unseeded Australian's drop shots converted it to 3-1. B. Tomic then consolidated his lead with a smoother hold to 4-1.

However, this trend continued in the next game, where M. Basing's +1 error created B. Tomic's break point. This was immediately converted through another working slice lob (5-1), which earned him the opportunity to serve for the match. Ultimately, B. Tomic baked the third-set breadstick (6-1) to secure his spot in the quarterfinals.

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The second set turned out to be a different affair as B. Tomic tried to be more patient on longer rallies, mixing his slices up as he tried to go after M. Basing's range, which bore fruit at the end of the set as it affected the rest of the flow. Right at the start of the set, B. Tomic fired a rare drop shot to create one of his break points before he broke early to 1-0, but the moment did not last long thanks to M. Basing's preceding backhands, which ended with a working smash to break back to 1-1. However, another erratic service game topped off with a third-shot backhand error allowed B. Tomic to break back 2-1, consolidating his lead with a service game hold to 3-1.

Several games after, M. Basing's preceding forehand went after B. Tomic's error, which caused the break-back to 3-3 before the British qualifier held to 4-3. It took several games later before B. Tomic became even more aggressive, starting the ninth game with a backhand down-the-line working pass before creating his break point with a rare running forehand winner, but M. Basing ended up saving both of them from his forehand side before his gigantic hold to 5-4, alleviating some scoreboard pressures along the way.

Several straight service game holds later, the tie-breaker became inevitable, but parts of this match became a one-way traffic since. After B. Tomic's stellar start from his forehand side to his working volley (1-0), he consolidated his position with his service game holds, including through an ace (3-0). However, a double fault from M. Basing afterward did not help (4-0), and B. Tomic held his serves to create his set point (6-1) before M. Basing's double fault converted it, taking the second set 7-6(1) to force the deciding set.

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The action in the Fairfield Challenger then continued with Bernard Tomic, who previously defeated qualifier Max Wiskandt 7-6(6), 7-6(5) in the first round after being a break down in both sets, taking on current Stanford University student and qualifier Max Basing, whose in-form showing continued as he stunned Jack Pinnington Jones 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 after a chaotic Brit-on-Brit encounter. This turned out to be a neat encounter coming down to a few pressure points, especially from the way they constructed their points and how they finished them.

To start, M. Basing had a forehand winner right 2 points into the match, but B. Tomic still held his serves to 1-0. It took several more games before the British qualifier broke to 4-2 due to B. Tomic's preceding double fault before the forehand error, but the unseeded Australian found his range in time as he fired a working volley to set up his earlier break point before a slice error created another break point, which was converted successfully (4-3) before B. Tomic held to 4-4 even if he survived M. Basing's forehand winner.

Subsequently, M. Basing held his serves to 5-4. Somehow, a slice error from B. Tomic paved the way before the Australian erred his forehand that generated the former's set point, which was immediately converted through another forehand error (6-4). By then, M. Basing was technically a set away from pulling the on-paper upset thanks to his more aggressive play throughout the match.

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Just like the first set, M. Wiskandt had fair chances, but B. Tomic still nailed the flow at the end. It all started in the fifth game, where M. Wiskandt fired a working volley upon redirecting B. Tomic from the baseline, eventually creating his break point thanks to his backhand winner, converting it through a cross-court forehand winner (3-2). M. Wiskandt then consolidated with a service game lead to 4-2.

Somehow, after B. Tomic held to 4-3, he struck the German qualifier back as he punished the latter's previous errors with a forehand winner to create his third break point, followed by a backhand pass to break back 4-4. Holding his serves to 5-4, he asked M. Wiskandt the necessary question through a forehand down-the-line winner as the latter might have succumbed to the scoreboard pressure, but a backhand pass generated M. Wiskandt's game point before he massively held to 5-5.

Two games later, the tie-breaker became inevitable once again to determine the rest of the flow. A smart play from B. Tomic that was closed with a working volley set up his mini-break lead to 2-0, but the advantage went away due to a failed +1 smash to 4-4. Timely enough, the unseeded Australian came up with a fourth-shot forehand winner to create his match point, which was immediately converted to 7-6(5) to secure his spot in the second round.

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The action in the Fairfield Challenger continued with the first-round singles match between Bernard Tomic and qualifier and former junior World No. 47 (in 2020) Max Wiskandt, who knocked out Quinn Vandecasteele 7-5, 6-4 in the final qualifying round. The latter had some fair chances at the start of the match, but the former dug deep enough to turn the flow in his favor.

M. Wiskandt started the match by firing a forehand winner 2 points into the first game even if B. Tomic held his serves to 1-0. It took several more games before a forehand winner created his break point, ultimately breaking to 3-1. However, the moment did not last long because B. Tomic struck back, firing a drop shot to put himself 2 points ahead before breaking back to 3-2. The unseeded Australian then leveled the play with a service game hold to 3-3, and it took 6 more service game holds before the tie-breaker became inevitable.

During the tie-breaker, a third-shot forehand error created M. Wiskandt's mini-break before he held to 3-1, but another error equalized it somewhere in the middle of the breaker after a finishing pass held the service game for B. Tomic to 4-3. M. Wiskandt then had his initial set point thanks to his forehand winner (6-5), but an error neutralized it before a +1 forehand error created B. Tomic's set point (7-6). Ultimately, B. Tomic took the first set 7-6(6) to secure his headstart to this match.

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Fairfield Ch F: Zachary Svajda [4] def. Nishesh Basavareddy 6-4, 6-1 Match Stats

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Despite both players having a reliable point construction, Z. Svajda, who earlier had a nervy start on serve, still managed to make it count on return. In several occasions, he pressed Nishesh thanks to his offensives, mostly from his passes that even got Nishesh run over at times. Eventually, some of these caused Nishesh to err his final shots, but more shot winners accounted for Z. Svajda's 6 opportunities to break, converting 66% of them, 16% more than Nishesh's conversion rate from just 2 chances, mostly from the first set.

Z. Svajda also looked solid in his service game. Scoring 2 aces (to Nishesh’s 0), Z. Svajda stood out from his first serves by 9% compared to Nishesh, whose second serves appeared questionable as a result of his 5 double faults, hence fading his second serve winning percentage to 48%. Somehow, Z. Svajda had the second serve manageable by having a 56% winning percentage, double-faulting twice as a result of some decent follow-ups as aforementioned.

This marked Z. Svajda’s third Challenger title of the year (after Cary 2 and Tiburon), propelling his rank to 139 live in marking his maiden Top 140 entrance. On the other hand, Nishesh entered the Top 500 for the first time, landing right at 498 live (below fellow collegian Alex Knaff). Considering he still is a sophomore (third semester) in this semester, Nishesh still had plenty of time to explore the game, especially given the next three US Challengers starting the next 2 weeks will predominantly be the indoor hard ones (Charlottesville, Knoxville, Champaign). This could be interesting for those racing for the Australian Open 2024 wild cards, so buckle up!

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Nishesh Basavareddy, who notably defeated first seed Alex Michelsen 6-3, 6-3 in a close but dominant match, pulled an epic comeback in yesterday's semifinals by stunning Steve Johnson, who ran out of gas toward the end of the match, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, while fourth seed Zachary Svajda pulled a statement win by defeating eighth seed Alexander Ritschard 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals after another statement win in defeating Brandon Holt 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Knowing both players, this could be a potential highlight-reel match, which started to deliver in the first set, and here was how.

Z. Svajda initially had a nervy start, showed by a troubling service game and his inability to win any of his service game points, hence he got broken early to 1-0. Somehow, even if Nishesh held the subsequent service game 2-0, Z. Svajda tried to find his rhythm and started to find his pace, setting a one-point lead through a backhand down-the-line winner in the middle of the game. Add that with another backhand pass from the fourth seed to hold his service game 2-1, which could have added more pressure on Nishesh as this match went by. Z. Svajda started to bounce back in the next return game, where another backhand passing shot secured him the important break after several other errors from Nishesh (2-2), and Z. Svajda consolidated the level to 2-2.

It took two more consecutive holds before Nishesh had an initial break point out of Z. Svajda’s forehand error, which was saved at the cost of Nishesh’s forehand error as well. An on-the-run forehand winner right from the middle of the court secured Z. Svajda’s important service game hold to 5-4, but it was also added by Z. Svajda’s initiative to also move forward on the run, which resulted in Nishesh getting run over to his forehand side to set himself one point ahead. At the cost of other unforced errors from Nishesh, likely due to the scoreboard pressure, Z. Svajda had several set points, which was converted due to Nishesh’s backhand error (for a +1 attempt to his serve), thus Z. Svajda took the first set 6-4 to confirm his more solid level.

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Fairfield Ch QF: Nishesh Basavareddy def. Alex Michelsen [1] 6-3, 6-3 Match Stats

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A. Michelsen’s already nervy start happened mainly due to the Top 100 pressure, but Nishesh also performed flawlessly on the point constructions department, appearing mostly crafty as this match went by. He often came up with a lot of important winners in numerous important moments, and had not looked back since, regardless it came from the baseline (with the passes) or the net (with his intuitive volleys). As a result, even if A. Michelsen had a 100% break point conversion rate, Nishesh converted 66% of it but with 6 chances to break.

On the other hand, Nishesh also nailed his service games. Although A. Michelsen scored 4 aces, Nishesh still won 70% of his points through his first serves, 17% more than A. Michelsen. A. Michelsen’s second serves also appeared more vulnerable by winning 13% lesser points than Nishesh, who didn’t double fault at all compared to the former’s 1 double fault. The shot rushes that closed the follow up did not help, so did Nishesh’s aforementioned stellar point construction under pressure, which confirmed A. Michelsen being outplayed in most cases.

In the semifinals, Nishesh will undergo a part of the battle of the generations as he will face Steve Johnson, who crushed Christian Harrison 6-1, 6-2 in a dominant fashion a timeslot after this match. While S. Johnson still tried to get back into form just like this time last year, Nishesh steadily rose in the Challenger circuit, learning through every sense, including from this line-up, to be one of the top players out there in the future. This could be an exciting match, on paper, despite a beatdown possibility on either of them should they nail the baseline pace, point construction, and continued from there, but there could also be a possibility that this match would deliver. Could be an exciting match to find out who stands out from here!

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The second set somehow became a continued testament of Nishesh’s dominance. Right after he held his service game 1-0 to start the set, his craftiness once again struck A. Michelsen thanks to a backhand winner that created Nishesh’s break point before its conversion at the cost of A. Michelsen’s other unforced error to break 2-0. Nishesh then carried on by consolidating to 3-0.

Three consecutive games later, as hard as A. Michelsen tried to turn it around, Nishesh affirmed his leading position thanks to an incredible backhand get right when A. Michelsen thought he was running out of position to secure his game point before he held to 5-2. A. Michelsen forced the issue by holding his service game 5-3, and Nishesh successfully sealed the match with an ace despite a hiccup somewhere in the ninth game, securing his maiden Challenger semifinal appearance right after by taking the second set 6-3, the same score as his first set.

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The semifinals line-up would be 75% complete after this interesting quarterfinals match between two American youngsters, first seed Alex Michelsen, who avenged Thai-Son Kwiatkowski from last week's loss in Tiburon by winning 6-3, 6-3 in this week's second round, and Nishesh Basavareddy, who advanced at the cost of Federico Agustin Gomez's retirement when he was down 0-6, 0-1 in the second round after he stunned sixth seed Adam Walton 6-3, 7-5 in the first round. Taking into account both players' point construction capabilities, this could have been an interesting match that unfolded, which might or might not be the case as this match went by.

One of the factors here came from A. Michelsen's likely nervy start. This happened due to a lot of unforced errors coming from his part, including some forehand errors that led to Nishesh's early break to 1-0, only to be broken back to 1-1. It took two consecutive games later until Nishesh came up with a cross-court forehand error to secure his break point before he secured the break to 3-2 at the cost of A. Michelsen's forehand error.

Nishesh's point construction prowess then carried on with a backhand lob to secure his game point before he consolidated to 4-2 in a rally where everything appeared tested. It took two other holds before Nishesh foiled A. Michelsen's game point, then had an intuitive volley to secure his set point before A. Michelsen had a forehand error in an attempt for it to be his +1, which resulted in Nishesh's set point conversion to 6-3. Theoretically, this would put Nishesh one set away from his maiden Challenger semifinals appearance.

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Fairfield Ch R1: Steve Johnson def. Bernard Tomic 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 Match Stats

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This match took only one hour and 9 minutes, but the flow was that chaotic that S. Johnson's form suddenly dipped in the second set and somehow found a way to dominate the third set, which looked rather indescribable. Despite Tomic's 100% break point conversion rate compared to S. Johnson's 50%, the latter still produced more chances to break with 6, some or most came as a result of Tomic's unforced errors, with another likelihood of being overpowered could be another thing.

This was further confirmed in their service games despite the messy nature of this match, added with a statistically fine margin between both. S. Johnson stood out in his first serves thanks to a 72% winning percentage and scoring 3 more aces than Tomic. In contrast, even though both players double-faulted thrice, S. Johnson still managed to win 8% more points through his second serves, exposing Tomic's rushed shots (particularly forehand) as the follow-up toward the end of the match.

In the second round, S. Johnson will face Tristan Schoolkate, who stunned the third seed Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-4 earlier. While pacing still remained one of the most important issues in this match, the return depth would be another correlated aspect before the other elements came in. Could be tough for both players alike, but as soon as they kept the momentum alive, the match might be theirs. Could be one of the most interesting matches of the round as well!

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Compared to the second set, the third set's chaos indicated another momentum shift once S. Johnson dialed in once again. He went after Tomic's forehands, which errors resulted in the former's early break to 2-0 before he strengthened his lead to 3-0. Since then, he did not look back until he had to serve for the third set breadstick because the double break happened out of Tomic's error sprees.

Interestingly, S. Johnson might be visibly tight when he had to serve it out, surviving a ton of hiccups that included being several points behind and Tomic's 3 match point saves. Those saves, which might have paved the way to another epic comeback, consisted of a forehand winner, a successful volley, and a forehand return to S. Johnson's netted response, but to no avail as S. Johnson successfully settled the set thanks to an unreturned serve. Consequently, S. Johnson served Tomic the breadstick back to 6-1, securing his spot in the second round after an hour and 9 minutes of chaos.