ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 4:21 pm
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 3:37 pm
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Maybe... but if you get to a third-set TB, and the match will seal the tie, why not go ahead and play for the win? Regardless, it was a fantastic match.
Medvedev definitely wasn't going for low-percentage shots. He was on the defensive the whole time. Which I know he's fine with, but he didn't go for any lines. He wasn't just putting it back in play, but Humbert was in control of most of the match, except Meddy's serve... which he was returning pretty well, to Meddy's feet, in the third set.
He wasn't going for low percentage shots, but he has this habit of serving first serves when he serves second serves and it is a tight situation. He is quite successful, one has to admit, but by definition that is about a 60% chance of success. I wonder if he gets nervous or it is the opposite, that he is relaxed and really trusts his serve, but I think it is odd because it is not a power second serve, it is a first.
I would side with believing he is confident, but really can't tell.
Yeah, he goes for another first serve, as you said, not just a better-than-average 2nd, and he makes it quite often. It's a good tactic. I think he does that when he's tired, to keep points short. He famously did it in the summer of 2019, when he was on that incredible run of 6 finals - against Djokovic in the Cincy semis, that's the first time I remember hearing about him going for first serves on second serves, and he did it a ton. And I bet he was tired in that third set, after so many matches that summer. He was definitely getting tired yesterday against Humbert.
Anyway, I wouldn't pick Humbert to beat Meddy in B5 in Australia, but I still think it was an impressive showing by Humbert. He was sensational. He dictated play. He fought back from a break down in the second and third sets. Meddy was up a set and 3-1 and Humbert didn't fold. I also just thoroughly enjoyed the match, whether Meddy was trying his hardest or not.
But I think he was giving a pretty full effort.
The one criticism I have of Humbert is that he consistently served out wide in the ad side - he's a lefty - and never followed it in to serve and volley. Meddy was always waaaaay off the court to return those serves. But Humbert would usually put the +1 ball away, so maybe he just liked his chances better to end the point into the open court. Maybe he didn't want to give Medvedev a target at the net since he's got great passing shots. And it worked. But I'd like to see Humbert follow that serve in against other players.
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