Week 15 (PTA): Casablanca [Joaquín]; Houston [Mustard]

[SirBloody Idiot]

US Men's Clay Court Championships II - Singles
PTA 250 - 2nd Round - Houston, TX - Clay (Red)

• Spas Delev's fantastic North American run has continued as the sixth seed advanced to the semi finals by dishing out a straight sets thrashing against Sam Lazzeri. The American local could not match his second round form as Delev played clinical tennis to shut off any avenues to victory for the unseeded American. It was a tight first set, but Delev never really looked in any danger as he bossed the rallies with his big wind up forehand to cause the World No. 108 all sorts of trouble. After claiming the first 6-4, Delev cruised through the second to end Lazzeri's confident run to set up a semi final showdown with top seed Rick Henson 6-4, 6-2.

• Second seed Jojo Mustard joins Delev in the semis after taking an impressive win over in form Brazilian Roberto Santos. Mustard had struggled through his second round clash, but seemed to benefit from the match practice as he grew in confidence against the South American. He wasn't entirely convincing in the second set as he let two separate breaks of serve slip to be level at 3-3, but he managed to show his class and show why he enjoys playing in the United States en route to a 6-3, 6-3 win. He plays fifth seed Gregor Gorshkov who has yet to drop a set in his three matches so far. Gorshkov continued his ominous form with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Václav Zeman of the Czech Republic.

• Seeded players out: None.

 

[Paid The Umpire]

It was good to have a win, pity I couldn't go on with it.

Good to see this is back.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Damn, didn't realise that I'd been avoiding clay so much!

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

​

Grand Prix Hassan II (Season II) - Singles
PTA 250 - Quarter Finals - Casablanca, Morocco - Clay (Red)

• There were no surprises in the all-West CWLand clash in Casablanca as World No. 4 Sven Oxenstierna trounced compatriot Rob Bowenburg in straight sets. Bowenburg had been in electric touch this season but found himself completely out of his depth against one of the best players on clay as the French Open finalist cruised through the first set 6-0. After the opening smashing, Bowenburg gradually worked his way back into the contest from a set and a break down but was never really in the hunt as Oxenstierna closed out a 6-0, 6-3 win. The Ox now faces possibly the most anticipated match of the tournament against third seed Carlo Amato who brutalised Javier Villaneuva to the tune of a 6-0, 7-5 win.

• Elsewhere, defending champion Jefferson Drake was ousted in three sets after giving up a set-to-love lead against Sergio Joaquín. Drake was forced to come from a set down in his second round match, but the shoe was on the other foot here as the Spaniard took the second 6-2 to send the match to a deciding third. Twice Drake was forced to come from a break down as he sent the match to a deciding tiebreaker, but there were no miracles this time as Joaquín converted his first match point with a lovely backhand that took the line to advance to the semis 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(2). He plays compatriot Sanchez Emelio after the fourth seed beat doubles partner Ion Andueza 6-3, 6-0.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Ion Andueza;
  
  Jefferson Drake;
  
  Javier Villaneuva.

 

[Mister Wright]

Mustard enjoying the clay. Hoping to reach another final.

 

[Johnners]

Stoked, gonna win it.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

US Men's Clay Court Championships II - Singles
PTA 250 - Semi Finals - Houston, TX - Clay (Red)

• Jojo Mustard has claimed the most impressive victory of his week in Houston and arguably his clay career (an unsubstantiated fact, granted) as he tamed the Russian enigma Gregor Gorshkov in straight sets. Advancing to his second final of the year, the second seed was too good for the Russian who has thus far blown away some impressive competition this week. Admittedly Gorshkov blew colder than hot, but the 6-3, 6-4 victory was particularly impressive for Mustard who was not plagued by the serving jitters that have hampered him in the past. While his first serve percentage was not particularly high, he served very well and barely gave Gorshkov a look in as he saved both break points he offered. Gorshkov's game was littered with errors as is his style, and he struggled to disrupt Mustard's momentum as he advanced to the final.

• His quest for a second US title meets its biggest obstacle against top seed Rick Henson. Once considered the second best player on the planet, the two-time French Open champion proved too strong for sixth seeded East CWLander Spas Delev in their semi final. Henson hadn't shown his best tennis earlier this week as he continues to not look at his full fitness, but after a scratchy first set blew away Delev four and one. Delev's run makes a top fifty berth almost a certainty, but he saw the gulf between him and the very top players as he struggled to play the winning shots he had earlier this week in a 4-6, 1-6 defeat.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Spas Delev;
  
  Gregor Gorshkov.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

so ghey, later top ten.

 

[Johnners]

Ghey indeed.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

​

Grand Prix Hassan II (Season II) - Singles
PTA 250 - Semi Finals - Casablanca, Morocco - Clay (Red)

• World No. 4 Sven Oxenstierna has met his demise in the semi finals of the Grand Prix Hassan II as he was beaten in two tight sets by Carlo Amato of Italy. The top seed was a slight favourite to beat his Italian opponent, but never expected an easy run considering Amato's form this week. Nevertheless, it was a tight opening tussle where it seemed the higher ranked player had the better of his opponent until he gave up a 40-15 lead to hand Amato the first set 7-5. The second set was equally close and entertaining as Amato stuck close to Oxenstierna with some fine tennis. Ultimately his ability to create chances for himself set him apart from Oxenstierna as two clean forehand winners down the line brought up two match points on his serve. He needed just one to set up a 7-5, 6-4 win and a finals showdown with Sergio Joaquín.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Sanchez Emelio;
  
  Sven Oxenstierna.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

HOUSTON FINAL PREVIEW

Didn't mean to make Henson look quite so evil...
​

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Mustard apparently enjoying a secondary career as a Norwegian time-trial cyclist:

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Biggest neckbeard in history.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

US Men's Clay Court Championships II - Singles
PTA 250 - Final - Houston, TX - Clay (Red)

• Jojo Mustard has continued his dream North American run claiming his second title and arguably one of the most impressive wins of his career in a stunning come-from-behind win over Rick Henson. In a battle of the two top seeds, Henson was a big favourite to claim his sixth PTA tour title but was woeful in the first set as Mustard dominated play with his up tempo style. But after a lazy first set, Henson struck back in the second with an early break which lifted his confidence as he lifted his first serve speed by an average of some 5 km/h and also looked to take the initiative in more rallies. That seemed to work for him well, and a break in the third set had him serving for the title at 5-3. But in a stunning turn of events, Mustard, whose best tennis had been missing since the first set, somehow strung four games together with some inspired shotmaking to secure the title 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in a big upset.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Rick Henson.

​

Grand Prix Hassan II (Season II) - Singles
PTA 250 - Final - Casablanca, Morocco - Clay (Red)

• After a fine semi final performance, third seed Carlo Amato has been edged out in the final by Spain's Sergio Joaquín who took another step towards a Grand Slam seeding with a 6-3, 6-4 win over the Italian.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Carlo Amato.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Go the Mustard! Good win, buddy.

 

[Mister Wright]

Mustard enjoying a rich vein of form, and enjoying it. Will be hoping for more of the same soon.

Thanks Heath...

 

[Paid The Umpire]

Congrats to the Mustard.

Pity about the neck beard.