Wk.20- The Calm Before the Storm

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

This is a quick going over of the last week. A lengthy draw analysis is available here, and this is just an accompaniment. Todd has also written a lot of great stuff on the WTA side.



*WEEK 20 CHAMPIONS*
NICE, FRANCE
S: Dominic Thiem d. Leonardo Mayer 6-7(8)/7-5/7-6(2)
D: Pavic/Venus d. Rojer/Tecau
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
S: Thomaz Bellucci d. Joao Sousa 7-6(4)/6-4
D: Cabal/Farah d. Klaasen/Lu


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: DOMINIC THIEM
...This day is like Christmas. We've been waiting so long. We knew it would happen but the waiting, the waiting was the hardest part. Thiem has won a title and he moves into the French on fire. He made the final as a junior in 2011. And he just won his first title without dropping a set.
Estrella Burgos seems to be yesterday's news. And Thiem dispatched yesterday's news 7-6[5], 6-2. Kyrgios retired in the second round and handed Thiem a quarterfinal berth. Nick was resting for the French Open. He should fulfill his seeding in Paris. Slumping third seed Gulbis beat slumping Dolgopolov [now at around 80 in the world] but was no match for Thiem. Thiem rolled through 6-2, 6-4. He beat second seed Isner 7-6[5], 6-3. But the final against Mayer could prove to be disastrous for both. It lasted two and a quarter hours. The fourth seeded Argentine won the first 7-6[8] but Thiem came back and took it out 6-7[8], 7-5, 7-6[2]. In Paris he opens with Bedene but Cuevas lurks in the second round. If Thiem can beat those players and he can go on a run. It will be interesting to see how the five set format effects him. A Thiem/Monfils third round clash looks a distinct possibility. Win two matches here and at Wimbledon, and a seed surely beckons for the Austrian in New York.
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RISER: THOMAZ BELLUCCI
...Thomaz is 27 and that is a real surprise. He still feels like a young gun. Even more surprising is that the last time he was in a final was October 2012 in Moscow. The last time he won was in Gstaad in the same year. Three years without a title is long time. He was once ranked 21 and was about to become the next big thing. Now he's ranked around 50 and his career arc has changed. But, in Geneva, Bellucci found his mojo. He likes to play in Switzerland, too. He opened against seventh seed Baghdatis and won 6-7[5], 6-3, 6-3. He beat Istomin 6-4, 6-4 but Ramos would pose a sterner test in the quarters. He beat him 6-0, 1-6, 6-3. Giraldo went down quietly, too, losing 6-3, 6-4. Souza has won finals before but in this one he lost 7-6[4], 6-4. It's a big win for Bellucci, who can play on both grass and clay. Bellucci is a real landmine in the French Open, particularly with form and momentum going into the slam. With that serve and forehand working, anything could happen. Bellucci opens with Matosevic and then Nishikori. And he could upset Nishikori. If he can unnerve Kei then perhaps the upset is on.
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SURPRISE: FEDERICO DELBONIS
...The Argentines can be so dangerous on clay. He and Monaco play one another in Paris in the opening round. The winner of that is a definite dark horse in their quarter. The winner of that lands Lopez and they could cause a real upset. Federico has been to three finals before and won one. All were on clay, of course. Exactly a year ago he was ranked 34 but now is at around 70. He beat Federer in Hamburg a couple of years ago, too. Now that he's defeated Wawrinka he has the Swiss set. He beat Gabashvili 6-3, 6-4 in the first and then Kuznetsov [Russian] by the same score. Next he ousted Wawrinka 6-7[5], 6-4, 6-4. That is one of the bigger upsets of the year but because it's right before a slam nobody really noticed. Despite a three set loss to Souza, the Argentine has had a fantastic tournament.
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FRESH FACE: QUENTIN HALYS
...Meet Halys. Quentin Halys has won a Futures tournament but apart from that he is not particularly accomplished. But then he is only 18. Halys withdrew against Groth but decided to take the Lucky Loser berth and replaced top seed Simon. James Duckworth made sure his stay wasn't a long one as he ousted the young Frenchman in two breakers, winning them 7-0 and 7-5. He opens against Rafael Nadal in the French Open. His stay won't last long there, either.
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DOWN: MARIN CILIC
...Russian wild card Rublev should have beaten Cilic, but the Croat escaped 4-6, 7-6[7], 6-1. The 17-year old even had a match point. Then Giraldo beat him with ease 7-5, 6-3. So the question is why is Cilic ranked nine? What has he done since January? I hope he loses early in New York because he does not deserve to be in the top ten. It is harsh, but then he's just occupying a spot in the top ten that should go to someone else. He is 3-5 for the year so far. He needs to get his act together.
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UPSET: FEDERICO DELBONIS
...Well this Backspin-lite update is coming to a close just as Halep serves for the match against Rodina. And I think it only apt to once again say have impressive Delbonis was in upsetting Wawrinka. Stan may not be on form but he is still a scalp. Delbonis and Wawrinka right now look to headed in different directions with regards to the French Open. The Argentine is going up and it feels like the Swiss is going down, but only time will tell. That's it. Halep is done and so am I for now...
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Well, that's it from me for at least six hours. I shall be seeing you a lot. And now I am heading into Backspin HQ's Cineplex to watch Federer. I'm bringing the soda and Todd's bringing the popcorn. Over and out. For now.

Thanks all and visit WTA BACKSPIN please.

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