2021 BNP Paribas Open...ATP 1000...Indian Wells, California

[glacierguy]

Watching Dimitrov beat Medvedev and then Hurkacz, I've lost count of the number of times Dimitrov hit a defensive backhand slice at full stretch and then followed it up with a topspin backhand or forehand winner after the opponent went for the kill and failed on the very slow court. It's an impressive pattern. I hope he gets some rest before his semi. He's been great to watch.

[stroke]

And it's great for tennis when shotmaking wins. Dimitrov is such a good player who has all the shots. I am surprised he hasn't done a lot more. It's a big ask rallying with Medvedev and knocking him off the court when the right moment comes around, but he did it for large chunks of that second set and one assumes the third set too.

Medvedev's way of winning isn't dissimilar to Novak's but I am not sure he has the 365-day- a-year-form that Novak has shown over the last decade...only time will tell.

His game is no doubt similar to Novak's from a defensive standpoint, but he certainly does not have the perfect hitting athletic posture of Novak, not close. Grigor had an even more impressive win vs Hurkacz, coming back vs an in form player that has all the shots, and gutting it out for the win. Very impressive physically and mentally.

[stotty]

Well some times the prettiest does win.

And it's great for tennis when shotmaking wins. Dimitrov is such a good player who has all the shots. I am surprised he hasn't done a lot more. It's a big ask rallying with Medvedev and knocking him off the court when the right moment comes around, but he did it for large chunks of that second set and one assumes the third set too.

Medvedev's way of winning isn't dissimilar to Novak's but I am not sure he has the 365-day- a-year-form that Novak has shown over the last decade...only time will tell.

[stroke]

What a win for Fritz, all coming together with a very hard earned win vs a game Sinner.

[stroke]

Well some times the prettiest does win.

[stotty]

1 set each.

The shotmaker versus the never-miss-a-ball-player are always the most entertaining matches. Let's hope Dimitrov can keep up his fine form. I fancy Medvedev will regroup in the third. Not that I will see it as it's late here over the pond.

[stotty]

Funny outfit Dimitrov is wearing...looks just like a Wimbledon ball boy outfit.

[stotty]

Grigor vs Medvedev, certainly food for thought. Grigor appears to me to have all the more enviable shots technique wise, yet we all know it would be a upset if he could somehow win.

Well, Medvedev got the early break in a very focused opening game and is is now 4-3 up. I like the way Medvedev gets engaged early on and gets his nose in front. Not the prettiest game on the tour, but incredibly effective. Looks like yet another never-miss-a-ball-player will be number 1 in the world soon. Clearly this is the way to play these days.

[stroke]

Grigor vs Medvedev, certainly food for thought. Grigor appears to me to have all the more enviable shots technique wise, yet we all know it would be a upset if he could somehow win.

[stroke]

I have Fritz/Sinner as match of the day. Sinner to me a future #1, Fritz, I have long liked his game. He could very well at least hit top 15 some day.

[stroke]

Berrettini definitely not at his best. Fritz looked great, but it certainly does not get any easier out there in these 1000's, Sinner up next.

[John Yandell]

Was there. Taylor played great. Berritini looked very slugish though

[stroke]

Berrettini goes down in 2 to Fritz, who simply outplayed him. Broke Matteo 4 times, and Matteo really got hurt in 2nd serve percentage of points won. Fritz really worked over the Berrettini backhand, hurting him there the whole match.

[jimlosaltos]

It certainly is...a slugfest that is. Seems like just about everyone on the tour can hit forehands a thousand miles an hour these days. Are ball speeds going up again of late? Seems that way. jimlosaltos might have the stats on that one.

You feel Harris is the more dominant player but he doesn't always win the big points. He's had Ruud on the ropes a number of time but hasn't broken his serve yet here in the second. Be interesting to see if Ruud can hang in and nick the second set against the run of play.

Interesting that you asked. ATP just started using the InfoSys system from Roland Garros, so we can presumably compare apples to apples. While the ATP implementation is ... how can I politely put this -- a steaming pile, we can get individual shot stats for "winners". I see multiple shots by Rudd at IW in the 120 MPH range, which was supposedly rare on the ATP. I also found 130 MPH winners from Zverev. That's important to me because we have correlation across three events - Roland Garros, San Diego, and Indian Wells -- with consistent numbers for two of the biggest hitters. That tends to rule out variables such as the balls, surface, playing conditions.

One problem with the ATP implementation, as it stands today, is that unlike RG it does NOT tell you what type of shot a given winner is. So, Zverev example here from the location, could that be an overhead instead of a regular groundstroke? Got me.

Fingers crossed that the ATP will improve its implementation. But this is progress for fans.

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[stroke]

For Denis, that one will probably leave a mark.