by MarkChan » 29 Sep 2014, 17:00
Final: MarkChan def. Viggy 6/4 1/6 10/7
So much ups and downs in this match. First set I was controlling it and went up to lead 5-2 when my low net-clearance baseline groundstrokes prevented Viggy, who is a fantastic volleyer, from dominating the net. My serve was good too , especially when serving to the side of Viggy. But the turning point was that I missed 3set pt at 5-3 40-0 when Viggy was serving. Since then Viggy found his form and started to anticipate my baseline groundstrokes much better, hitting volley winners after winners while I started to make more mistakes than usual. Luckily I closed the 1st set on my 5th set pt at 5-4 40-30.
But I know the momentum is already on his side and I was proven right. And his partner was serving better and hitting extreme wide angled cross-court since then too to create many volleying chances for Viggy. And when the volleying chances are created for a player of world no.2 caliber, you know he wouldn't miss it and would hit all varieties of great volleys: hard volley to the middle, dropshot volley, wrong-foot volleys, etc. And he won that set very quick by a score of 6-1. I was left in the dark not knowing what to do the entire set.
The master-tiebreak can seldom do justice to the match because it is a lottery most of the time. But still I know I had to play my best to stand any chance of winning the lottery. I reminded myself to defend Viggy's volley better by recalling where he positions himself to volley and also the direction of his volleys. Luckily I was able to come through in the end.
He is a great volleyer, and I expect to have many more close battles with him in the future. GG and GL.
Singles Titles and Finalists:
250: Kuala Lumpur '15
Challenger: Georgia F1 '14,Wroclaw '16
Doubles Titles and Finalists:
GS: Australian Open '15,Roland Garros '15(RU)
Masters: Paris '14(RU),Madrid '15(RU),Rome '15(RU)
250: Kuala Lumpur '14,Doha '16