Mana Games

[Zorromorph]

I thought I'd post a diary here of my recently started coaching career, as it might be of interest to some in the community(particularly new players).

Jerome Sterling(1990 -2005 period, Incredible difficulty)
+3 Charisma, 95% Potential Detection, Luck +10%

Starting Player: Jason Cashton(USA)
Ball Feeling(2), Injury Resistance(2), Slice Serve, Topspin Serve, Kick Serve, Champion(1), Globetrotter

Cashton is a max-height player(6-8), and will be a serve-and-volley style player, which should produce some entertaining serve-offs with Pete Sampras and others of that style. Unlike the secondary players, Cashton will ignore Davis Cup and concentrate soley on having the greatest career he can as a singles player.

Schedule: Jason will play a ton of futures events right away just to get some match experience, while also getting a lot of physical training, until those critical skills are up to a competitive level.

Mark Petchey(UK, #310, 19 years old) – Recruited W1 1990. Fairly limited player(Varied style), but capable of possibly becoming a Top 100 player. A lack of power is his current weakness, but that’s nothing a little strength training can’t fix.

Contract: 5% commission, Win any tournament(futures or higher), stay above #410.

Schedule: A pretty standard mix of two futures weeks followed by a couple weeks off for recuperating and training for a while, Mark has the talent to succeed at the futures level certainly so it’s just a matter of working on his game.

The third player to recruit was quite an interesting decision. Two candidates stood out from the rest: Gilad Bloom(ISR) and Michael Robertson(USA). Bloom is higher ranked(118th compared to 132nd) and is a more developed, more talented player – but Robertson was offering a 10% commission instead of the standard 5% offered by the Israeli. In the end, Jerome Sterling chose to coach Gilad Bloom, because he is farther from his peak than Robertson is, and that 5% commission is likely to be almost as much given his increased earning potential.

Gilad Bloom(ISR, #118, 5-9, 22 years old) – Recruited W6 1990. A varied style player, a good but not elite talent. Could become on the game’s best returners, and is very solid from both sides on the baseline. Not a big server, and less-than-stellar tactical awareness, consistency, confidence, and general physical capabilities will limit him from becoming a real star.

Contract: 5% commission, reach rank #95, stay above #155

Schedule: High-quality Challenger events to start with, he’ll play the Slams(already a first-round loss in the Australian) and if he achieves his ranking goal, he may be able to escape the Challenger circuit altogether. As the second of only two quality Israeli players(behind #42 Amos Mandorf), Davis Cup is also a possibility here.

It worked out well – Robertson was still looking for a coach several weeks later, and he’d doubled his commission as well in desperation!

Michael Robertson(USA, #145, 6-2, 26 years old) – Recruited W11 1990. Puncher style player, good return, good power off both sides, and an accurate backhand are his strengths. Average serve and mental capabilities, and weak volleying will prevent him from ever being a regular in IS events.

Contract: 20% commission, maintain ranking #170, stay above #190

Schedule: High-level Challenger events and Grand Slams.


I'll have three updates each year: Beginning of the year, Spring(W14, beginning of clay season), and Fall(W28, after the UK Open ends and hardcourt season resumes). Also if anybody has any questions about the goings-on I'll try to answer them.

[WTAfan]

Hi !

i think you should test the womens base!

[Zorromorph]

I think I'm not interested in testing the women's base. Sorry.

[Zorromorph]

1990 – SPRING UPDATE

JASON CASHTON

The first three matches of Jason’s career were very lop-sided straight-sets losses, but he eventually showed improvement, getting his first win against Zach Fleishman(USA), in Israel. He lost in the next round, but it was no fluke or blip – it was only the first of five consecutive first-round wins.

The last of those wins was the most noteworthy, as it came against #2 seed Peter Tramacchi(AUS), a dominant win that avenged a bad loss in Panama a couple months earlier. Not only that, but Cashton followed it up by qualifying for the main draw(Cuba F1), the first time he’d achieved that.

Drawn against the top player in the tournament(Jimy Szymanski(USA)), he pulled off a tough upset win to really make it a great achievement, and then ran the table until losing in the final, a string of seven straight wins that showed how much he’d improved. With this excellent result, Jerome Sterling pulled him from his summer tournaments so that he could put some serious training in on his technical skills – he was obviously doing fine in the match experience department.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 12-9
Tournament Titles: None
Prize Money: $1,383
Entry Ranking: 450
Race Ranking: NA

[/b]MATCH DETAILS[/b]

France F1 Qualifying

R1 v. Michael Lammer(CHE). L 6-1, 6-1.

France F2 Qualifying

R1 v. (6)Jean-Claude Scherrer(CHE). L 6-3, 6-0.

Panama F1 Qualifying

R1 v. Peter Tramacchi(AUS). L 6-3, 6-1.

Panama F2 Qualifying

R1 v. Michihisa Onoda(JPN). L 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Israel F1 Qualifying

R1 v. Zach Fleishman(USA). W 6-2, 6-2.
R2 v. Wolfgang Schranz(AUT). L 6-2, 6-3.

Israel F2 Qualifying

R1 v. Francisco Costa(BRA). W 6-1, 6-1.
R2 v. (2) Stefano Cobolli(ITA). W 6-4, 7-5.
R3 v. (7) Daniel Marco(ESP). L 6-3, 6-2.

Morocco F1 Qualifying

R1 v. Juan Barat(ARG). W 6-1, 6-2.
R2 v. (7) Phillip King(USA). L 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2.

Morocco F2 Qualifying

R1 v. (4) Eduardo Velez(ESP). W 6-1, 6-0.
R2 v. Jakub Herm-Zahlava(DEU). L 6-3, 6-2.

Cuba F1 Qualifying

R1 v. (2) Peter Tramacchi(AUS). W 6-2, 6-3.
R2 v. Roland Burtscher(AUS). W 6-0, 6-2.
R3 v. Kotaro Miyachi(JPN). W 6-4, 6-1.

Cuba F1

R32 v. (1) Jimy Szymanski(USA). W 7-6(2), 6-4.
R16 v. Sasa Tuksar(HRV). W 6-2, 7-5.
QF v. Gorka Fraile(ESP). W 6-4, 6-2.
SF v. Robert Eriksson(SWE). W 6-1, 6-0.
F v. (7) Giorgio Galimberti(ITA). L 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.



MARK PETCHEY

Mark started things off flying in his first event in Costa Rica. He came in as the top seed, and had a challenge in the quarters. With his German opponent serving for the first set, Petchev reeled off the next nine games to win the match and eventually advanced to the final.

The next two events showed his inconsistency, as he won only a single match between them. Finally in Switzerland he accomplished his goal of a futures title in March, and did so in dominant fashion – he was never challenged until the final set of the tournament. With the win, his schedule was adjusted to focus on low and mid-level Challenger events for the summer.

SUMMARY

Match record: 15-5
Tournament Titles: Switzerland F2
Prize Money: $6,172
Entry Rank: 290
Race Rank: NA

MATCH DETAILS

Costa Rica F1(#1 seed)

R32 v. Ryan Blake(USA). W 6-1, 6-1.
R16 v. Stefan Eriksson(SWE). W 6-2, 6-0.
QF v. Axel Pretzsch(DEU). W 7-5, 6-0.
SF v. Q Gerald Mandel(AUT). W 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
F v. (2) Dimitri Poliakov(UKR). L 6-2, 6-4.

Costa Rica F2(#1 seed)

R32 v. Q Oscar Serrano(ESP). W 6-4, 6-4.
R16 v. Jacco Eltingh(NLD). L 6-2, 6-2.

Switzerland F1(#1 seed)

R32 v. Q Juan Luis Tati Rascon(ESP). L 6-3, 6-2.

Switzerland F2(#1 seed)

R32 v. Shuang-Qiang Liang(TWN). W 6-0, 6-1.
R16 v. Q Artem Derepasko(RUS). W 6-1, 6-2.
QF v. Q David Caballero(ESP). W 6-0, 6-3.
SF v. (4) Nassir-Ghanim Al Khulaifi(QAT). W 6-0, 6-1.
F v. Thierry Guardiola(FRA). W 6-3, 7-6(5).

Sweden F1(#1 seed)

R32 v. Nicholas Tordero(ARG). W 6-0, 6-2.
R16 v. Tuomas Ketola(FIN). W 6-0, 6-2.
QF v. (8) Fredrick Jonsson(SWE). W 6-2, 6-4.
SF v. Q Shahar Perkiss(ISR). L 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.



GILAD BLOOM

Gilad played only two tournaments since signing on with Jerome Sterling, but did well in both. He made it to the quarters in Braunschweig, then won in Sunrise despite a couple challenging opponents. That victory moved him into the Top 100 for the first time in his career, and validated him as the finest player that Sterling is coaching right now. His schedule has been upgraded to include some International Series events, as he tries to make his way as a legitimate professional.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 10-4
Tournament Titles: Sunrise CH
Prize Money: $39,207
Entry Rank: 100
Race Rank: 189

MATCH DETAILS

Braunschweig CH(#1 seed)

R32 v. Agustin Moreno(MEX). W 6-3, 6-4.
R16 v. Francisco Yunis(ARG). W 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.
QF v. (8) Pablo Arraya(PER). W 6-4, 6-3.
SF v. Francisco Clavet(ESP). L 6-4, 6-1.

Sunrise CH(#1 seed)

R32 v. Q Marcelo Ingaramo(ARG). W 6-2, 6-2.
R16 v. Dirk Dier(DEU). W 7-5, 7-5.
QF v. (8) Roberto Jabali(BRA). W 6-2, 6-3.
SF v. (5) Tarik Benhabiles(FRA). W 6-3, 7-5.
F v. Q Juan Luis Tati Rascon(ESP). W 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.



MICHAEL ROBERTSON

There isn’t much to say about Robertson yet, as he has yet to enter an event since becoming the final member of Jerome Sterling’s quartet.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 3-6
Tournament Titles: None
Prize Money: $15,190(most of it for showing up in Dubai as a wild card)
Entry Rank: 167
Race Rank: 194

[Guest]

No one cares.

[Chamberlain]

You must care a little to read the message, and reply. Did Zorromorph beat you online in Tennis Elbow or something?

[Zorromorph]

No one cares.

You are free to stop wasting your life by visiting this thread then. I'm doing it for my enjoyment -- by all means don't read it if you have better things to do .

[manutoo]

At least, I'm caring..!
I'm always glad to see people playing my games, and it's surely enlighten me about some way that TEM can be played...

[Zorromorph]

JASON CASHTON

The recent success continued in his two remaining tournaments, the first of which he won without losing a set. We can look forward to Jason coming back even stronger after extensive summer training.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 7-1
Tournament Titles: Spain F3
Prize Money: $2,250
Entry Ranking: 421
Race Ranking: NA

MATCH DETAILS

Spain F3

R32 vs. (8)Sasa Tucksar(HRV). W 6-2, 6-2.
R16 vs. Alois Beust(FRA). W 6-1, 6-4.
QF vs. Alejandro Hernandez(MEX). W 6-2, 6-3.
SF vs. Roko Karanusic(CRO). W 6-1, 6-2.
F vs. Pepe Imaz(ESP). W 6-4, 7-5.

Spain F4(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Paul Capdeville(CHL). W 6-4, 6-2.
R16 vs. Q Wolfgang Schranz(AUT). W 6-2, 6-0.
QF vs. Konstantinos Economidis(GRC). L 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.

MARK PETCHEY

After another futures win in Sweden, Mark made the final in his first Challenger tournament in Atlanta, winning two three-set matches before before falling to the top seed in the final, and had a mostly successful run of Challenger events leading up to his first Slam – the UK Open. He qualified without much difficulty, and won his first-round match in straight sets before losing a well-contested second-rounder to Svensson. Petchey continues to rocket up the rankings, and should break into the Top 100 before the year is out.

SUMMARY

Match record: 18-5
Tournament Titles: Sweden F2
Prize Money: $46,107
Entry Rank: 121
Race Rank: 147

MATCH DETAILS

Sweden F2(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Ignacio Martinez(MEX). W 6-2, 6-1.
R16 vs. Peter Luczak(AUS). W 7-6(4), 6-3.
QF vs. (4) Shelby Cannon(USA). W 6-3, 6-4.
SF vs. Maxime Huard(FRA). W 6-1, 6-1.
F vs. Axel Pretzsch(DEU). W 6-0, 6-2.

Atlanta CH

R32 vs. Thomas Larsen(DNK). W 6-2, 6-1.
R16 vs. (6) David Witt(USA). W 6-2, 7-5.
QF vs. Claudio Mezzadri(CHE). W 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(2).
SF vs. Martin Wostenholme(CAN). W 7-5, 4-6, 7-5.
F vs. (1) Massimo Cierro(ITA). L 6-4, 6-4.

Tunica Resorts CH(#2 seed)

R32 vs. Rodolphe Gilbert(FRA). W 6-3, 6-2
R16 vs. Phillipe Pech(FRA). W 6-3, 6-2.
QF vs. Magnus Zeile(SWE). W 6-3, 6-4.
SF vs. Nelson Aerts(BRA). L 7-6(2), 1-6, 7-6(4)

Ettlingen CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Kris Goossens(BEL). W 6-2, 6-1.
R16 vs. Marc Lopez(ESP). W 6-1, 6-2.
QF vs. (8) Tasos Bavelas(GRC). L 7-5, 6-1.

Surbiton CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Juan Avendano(ESP). L 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

UK Open Qualifying(#27 seed)

R1 vs. Jean-Francois Bachelot(FRA). W 6-1, 6-1.
R2 vs. Bruce Derlin(NZL). W 6-2, 6-2.
R3 vs. Amit Naor(ISR). W 7-6(5), 6-2.

UK Open

R128 vs. Paul Chamberlin(USA). W 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3.
R64 vs. #20 (20) J.B. Svensson(SWE). L 6-4, 7-6(4), 7-6(2).

GILAD BLOOM

The spring and summer brough Gilad’s first International Series and Grand Slam match victories as he gradually made his way up the rankings, and showed he belonged with his first real taste of competition in the French Open second around against Volkov.

At Halle, Bloom played the match of his life and almost upset Tim Mayotte, then ranked 16th in the world, before faltering in a match-deciding tiebreak. His first big-time win came at the best place possible, the UK Open, where he knocked off #13 Alberto Mancini in the second round before losing to Svensson in the third round. His goal of being #95 in the world is now a fair distance in the rear-view mirror, and his sets have been set higher.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 11-6
Tournament Titles: None
Prize Money: $105,232
Entry Rank: 67
Race Rank: 80

MATCH DETAILS

Florianopolis CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Bryan Shelton(USA). W 6-1, 6-3.
R16 vs. George Kalovelonis(GRC). W 6-3, 6-1.
QF vs. Eyal Ran(ISR). L 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Munich

R32 vs. Francisco Clavet(ESP). W 7-6(2), 6-4.
R16 vs. (5)Ronald Agenor(HAI). L 6-2, 6-3.

Prague CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Thomas Enqvist(SWE). W 6-2, 7-6(2)
R16 vs. Raul Viver(ECU). W 6-2, 6-3.
QF vs. Johan Carlsson(SWE). W 6-1, 7-5.
SF vs. Per Henricsson(SWE). W 7-6(3), 5-5 ret.
F vs. Q Udo Riglewski(DEU). L 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2.

French Open

R128 vs. Omar Camporese(ITA). W 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4).
R64 vs. (24) Alexander Volkov(RUS). L 6-0, 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-4.

Halle

R32 vs. Q Nicolas Pereira(BRA). W 6-2, 6-1.
R16 vs. #16 (3) Tim Mayotte(USA). L 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1).

UK Open

R128 vs. Q Robbie Weiss(USA). W 6-7(4), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
R64 vs. #13 (13) Alberto Mancini(ARG). W 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.
R32 vs. #20 (20) J.B. Svensson(SWE). L 6-4, 7-5, 6-1.

MICHAEL ROBERTSON

Everybody Jerome Sterling has coached so far in his brief career has been a success to some degree … certainly more so than before they came to him. Everybody, that is, except Michael Robertson. His first two tournaments, both Challengers, resulted in first-round losses to unseeded players ranked far below him, and by the time he arrived in Prague, his ranking was down to #196 and he was considering dissolving the deal. Sterling needed to get him back above 190 to restore confidence that he knew what he was doing.

The problem is Michael’s serve – or more accurately, his lack of one good enough to threaten players at this level. Sterling knew that if he gave it enough time, the work they were putting it on it would result in some victories on the court. He lost again in Prague to a German qualifier – an outstanding rising player, but it’s hard to see that when you are in the middle of a losing streak.

Finally, when things were really starting to get dire, he turned it around in Forest Hills. There was still a lot to criticize about his run to the semis though – particularly his last match where he crumbled after serving for the first set.

Things were looking up heading into his first Grand Slam experience at the French Open Qualifiers --- and then he twisted his knee in the first set. Some players just have bad luck following them everywhere, and Robertson is looking like he might be one of them.

After the French the bottom fell out of his ranking – more than 130 points down to 307, and there was no choice but to play every week until it came back up.

An incredibly inspired run through the UK Open qualifying tournament and into the main draw(where he gave #6 Agassi all he wanted and then some) brought him up to 263rd, but he needed to follow that up with consistent performances over several weeks.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 6-7
Tournament Titles: None
Prize Money: $34,996
Entry Rank: 264
Race Rank: 180

MATCH DETAILS

Florianopolis CH(#3 seed)

R32 vs. Q Alexander Mronz(DEU). L 6-4, 6-2.

Bermuda CH(#4 seed)

R32 vs. Dirk Deur(DEU). L 6-4, 6-2.

Prague CH(#7 seed)

R32 vs. Q Udo Ridlewski(DEU). L 6-1, 6-2.

Forest Hills CH(#2 seed)

R32 vs. Q Otivio Della(BRA). W 6-2, 6-2.
R16 vs. Tom Kempers(NLD). W 6-3, 7-6(4).
QF vs. Phillipe Pech(FRA). W 6-2, 6-2.
SF vs. Q Luis-Enrique Herrera(MEX). L 7-5, 6-3.

French Open Qualifying(#20 seed)

R1 vs. Marcelo Saliola(BRA). L 3-3 ret.

Lugano CH

R32 vs. (6) Jaroslav Bulant(CZE). L 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

UK Open Qualifying

R1 vs. (10) Thierry Tulasne(FRA). W 6-7(5), 7-6(1), 6-3.
R2 vs. Girts Dzelde(LVA). W 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
R3 vs. Alessandro de Minicis(ITA). W 6-0, 6-0.

UK Open

R128 vs. #6 (6) Andre Agassi. L 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 7-5.

[Zorromorph]

JASON CASHTON

By midsummer, Jason was ready to tackle the active circuit again. At first his ranking was high enough to enter only futures events, but that was expected to change quickly. At one point in his first tournament back he won 26 straight games over three matches.

When it came, the jump to Challenger events went almost seamlessly. At one point Jason won nine straight events(the last two of them Challengers), and he won 92 consecutive SETS in that streak before losing in the second round of his last event of the year. Still, there’s no question that he’s on his way up, and 1991 will show what he’s really made of as he embarks on the Grand Slams and many other challenges for the first time.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 46-1(65-11 total)
Tournament Titles: Italy F5, Italy F6, Sudan F1, Kenya F1, Kenya F2, Brazil F1, Brazil F2, Maui CH, Granby CH
Prize Money: $31,350($34,983 total)
Entry Ranking: 106
Race Ranking: 386

MATCH DETAILS

Italy F5

R32 vs. (7) Pepe Imaz(ESP). W 6-1, 6-0.
R16 vs. Julio Silva(BRA). W 6-3, 6-2.
QF vs. Q Daniele Musa(ITA). W 6-2, 6-2.
SF vs. Q Thomas Blake(USA). W 6-4, 6-1.
F vs. (1) Ion Moldovan(ROU). W 6-2, 6-4.

Italy F6(#2 seed)

R32 vs. Fabio Maggi(ITA). W 6-0, 6-1.
R16 vs. Bernando Mota(PRT). W 6-2, 6-1.
QF vs. Juan-Pablo Guzman(ARG). W 6-2, 6-2.
SF vs. Francisco Cabello(ARG). W 6-4, 6-2.
F vs. (4) Rudiger Haas(DEU). W 6-4, 6-1.

Sudan F1(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Alejo Mancisidor(ESP). W 6-3, 6-3.
R16 vs. Jamie Delgado(GBR). W 6-3, 6-0.
QF vs. Juan-Pablo Guzman(ARG). W 6-1, 6-0.
SF vs. Johan Donar(SWE). W 6-2, 6-2.
F vs. (6) Federico Sanchez(ESP). W 6-2, 6-2.

Kenya F1(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Sebastian Hette(FRA). W 6-2, 6-0.
R16 vs. Alexander Strambini(CHE). W 6-0, 6-3.
QF vs. Paul Capdeville(CHL). W 6-1, 6-2.
SF vs. Felipe Rivera(CHL). W 7-5, 6-3.
F vs. Adrian Garcia(CHL). W 6-1, 6-1.

Kenya F2(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Johan Donar(SWE). W 6-1, 6-0.
R16 vs. Brian Joelson(USA). W 6-0, 6-2.
QF vs. Maxime Huard(FRA). W 6-0, 6-0.
SF vs. (5) Felipe Rivera(CHL). W 6-1, 6-2.
F vs. (3) Paul Capdeville(CHL). W 6-1, 6-0. ‘

Brazil F1(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Kris Goossens(BEL). W 6-4, 6-1.
R16 vs. Johan Donar(SWE). W 6-3, 6-1.
QF vs. (8) Massimo Dell’Acqua(ITA). W 6-2, 6-0.
SF vs. Giovanni Lapentti(ECU). W 6-0, 6-3.
F vs. Miguel Tobon(COL). W 6-0, 6-1.

Brazil F2(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Justin Bower(ZAF). W 6-4, 6-1.
R16 vs. Johan Donar(SWE). W 6-3, 6-1.
QF vs. (8) Pepe Imaz(ESP). W 6-1, 6-2.
SF vs. Q Tamer El Sawy(EGY). W 6-0, 6-0.
F vs. (2) Peter Doohan(AUS). W 6-2, 6-2.

Maui, HI CH(#6 seed)

R32 vs. Steve Bryan(USA). W 6-1, 7-5.
R16 vs. Chris Bailey(GBR). W 6-4, 6-2.
QF vs. Daniel Orsanic(ARG). W 6-2, 6-2.
SF vs. Cesar Kist(BRA). W 6-1, 6-2.
F vs. (8) Johan Anderson(SWE). W 6-2, 6-2.

Granby CH(#2 seed)

R32 vs. Q Andrei Olhovskiy(RUS). W 6-3, 6-4.
R16 vs. Christian Saceanu(DEU). W 6-1, 6-4.
QF vs. Todd Nelson(USA). W 6-2, 6-3.
SF vs. Mark Woodforde(AUS). W 6-4, 7-5.
F vs. (4) Johan Anderson(SWE). W 6-3, 6-4.

Belo Horizonte CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Johan Carlsson(SWE). W 6-3, 6-2.
R16 vs. Q Jeremy Bates(GBR). L 6-1, 7-6(5).


MARK PETCHEY

A great win for Mark in Poznan, but then he followed it up with a QF loss in Bogota where he served for the match three times … and was broken on each occasion. Most of the summer was a disappointment, but he made up for all of it with the best win of his career at the US Open, upsetting Mancini in the first round and making to the third round, more than good enough to give him a career-high ranking of 75th, the first time he’s made it into the Top 100.

His first Davis Cup tie was testy, but after a disappointing loss on day three, compatriot Danny Sapsford was able to provide the deciding win in the final rubber in straight sets, as Great Britain edged New Zealand 3-2. They’ll face the Netherlands next, with the winner earning a spot in next year’s main draw.

A mostly successful finish in Challengers to the year, but a disheartening pair of straight-sets losses against Netherlands allowed Great Britain to be edged 3-2 and fail to make the Davis Cup main draw next year. Certainly Mark has risen faster and farther than expected, and should have an interesting challenge next year.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 16-11(59-20 for the year)
Tournament Titles: Poznan CH, New Orleans CH
Prize Money: $93,303($145,646 for the year)
Entry Rank: 49
Race Rank: 124

MATCH DETAILS

Poznan CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Michael Robertson(USA). W 6-7(1), 7-5, 6-3.
R16 vs. Alexander Mronz(DEU). W 6-2, 6-2.
QF vs. (8) Tom Mercer(USA). W 6-0, 6-0.
SF vs. Q Nicolas Pereira(VEN). W 6-3, 6-2.
F vs. Carl Limberger(AUS). W 7-6(3), 6-3.

Bogota CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. George Kalovelonis(GRC). W 6-0, 6-3.
R16 vs. Dirk Dier(DEU). W 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4
QF vs. Amit Naor(ISR). L 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5.

San Marino CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Jonathan Canter(USA). W 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
R16 vs. Stefano Pescosolido(ITA). L 6-4, 6-4.

Bronx, NY CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Steve Bryan(USA). L 6-3, 7-6(5).

US Open

R128 vs. (24) Alberto Mancini(ARG). W 6-3, 6-0, 6-7(2), 7-6(4).
R64 vs. Q Claudio Mezzadri(CHE). W 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-3.
R32 vs. #9 (9) Pete Sampras(USA). L 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

New Orleans CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Magnus Zeile(SWE). W 6-4, 7-6(0).
R16 vs. Vijay Armritraj(IND). W 6-2, 7-6(4).
QF vs. (8) Pier Gauthier(FRA). W 6-2, 6-4.
SF vs. Gianluca Pozzi(ITA). W 7-6(4), 6-4.
F vs. Guillermo Vilas(ARG). W 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

Davis Cup Q2

United Kingdom vs. New Zealand

R2 vs. Steve Guy(GBR 0, NZL 1) W 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 3-6, 7-5.
R4 vs. Kelly Evernden(GBR 2, NZL 1) L 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(4).

Sacramento CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Q Andrei Olhovskiy(RUS). W 6-3, 6-4.
R16 vs. Niklas Kulti(SWE). W 7-6(3), 6-4.
QF vs. Alexandre Hocevar(BRA). W 7-6(3), 6-2.
SF vs. (5) Stefan Kruger(ZAF). L 6-1, 6-4.

Bogota CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Q Jose Daher(BRA). W 6-2, 6-2.
R16 vs. Marcelo Ingaramo(ARG). W 7-6(3), 6-2.
QF vs. Nicklas Utgren(SWE). W 6-4, 6-1.
SF vs. Jordi Burillo(ESP). W 7-6(4), 6-3.
F vs. Paul Vojtischek(DEU). L 6-0, 6-3.

St. Petersburg

R32 vs. Pieter Aldrich(ZAF). L 6-2, 6-1.

Davis Cup Playoffs

United Kingdom vs. Netherlands

R2 vs. Paul Haarhuis(NTH 1, GBR 0). L 6-1, 7-5, 7-5.
R4 vs. Jan Siemerink(NTH 2, GBR 1). L 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Granby CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Q Peter Doohan(AUS). W 7-5, 6-3.
R16 vs. Libor Nemecek(CZE). W 6-4, 7-6(2).
QF vs. Phillipe Pech(FRA). W 7-6(3), 6-4.
SF vs. (4) Johan Anderson(SWE). L 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(6).


GILAD BLOOM

As the end of the year approached, Bloom looked towards 1991, abandoning Challenger events after consecutive tournament wins and focusing on the bigger events – with a combination of first and second-round losses to show for it. Hopefully he’ll get better results consistently after getting some good training in following a failed attempt to qualify for the Paris Masters.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 15-7(36-17 total)
Tournament Titles: Campos de Jordao-1 CH, Joinville CH
Prize Money: $73,784($218,223 total)
Entry Rank: 50
Race Rank: 82

MATCH DETAILS

Indianapolis

R64 vs. Q Robbie Weiss(USA). W 7-6(3), 2-6, 7-5.
R32 vs. (14) Dan Goldie(USA). L 6-1, 6-2.

Campos de Jordao-1 CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Frederic Vitoux(FRA). W 6-4, 6-0.
R16 vs. Todd Nelson(USA). W 6-0, 7-6(2).
QF vs. (8) David de Miguel(ESP). W 6-1, 7-5.
SF vs. Bruno Oresar(HRV). W 6-1, 6-3.
F vs. (7) Keith Evans(USA). W 7-5, 6-4.

Joinville CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Mario Rincon(COL). W 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.
R16 vs. Karim Alami(MAR). W 6-3, 6-2.
QF vs. George Kosac(ROU). W 7-6(2), 7-5.
SF vs. Q Piet Norval(ZAF). W 6-3, 6-3.
F vs. Bruce Derlin(NZL). W 6-1, 6-1.

Cincinatti

R64 vs. David Wheaton(USA). L 6-3, 7-6(1).

US Open

R128 vs. Q Ken Flach(USA). W 7-6(1), 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
R64 vs. #6 (6) John McEnroe(USA). L 7-5, 6-4, 6-1.

Beijing

R32 vs. Q Eric Winogradsky(FRA). W 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
R16 vs. #14 (4) Andrei Cherkasov(RUS). L 6-2, 6-2.

Bangkok

R32 vs. (7) Darren Cahill(AUS). L 7-6(3), 6-3.

Tokyo

R64 vs. Marcelo Filippini(URY). L 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Paris Qualifying(#1 seed)

R1 vs. Nicklas Kroon(SWE). W 6-4, 6-2.
R2 vs. Luis-Enrique Herrera(ESP). W 7-6(5), 7-5.
R3 vs. (9) Martin Sinner(DEU). L 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.


MICHAEL ROBERTSON

A poor draw in Poznan led to a loss to Petchey, though Robertson acquitted himself well, but he made some progress with a nice run at Bogota. Having never made it to a final at the Challenger level, he took home a nice tournament victory and shot up 70 places to #198 … just short of the magic #190 level. A quarterfinal finish in Campos do Jordao was a bit disappointing, but still enough to get him up to #187 and keep the contract intact … with only two weeks to spare. After making another final the next week(Vancouver), he was able to ease up on the schedule a bit.

Perhaps another corner was turned towards the end of the year, as Robertson won his first two Challenger titles. He’s still a work in progress, but is showing some definite signs.

SUMMARY

Match Record: 36-12(45-25 total)
Tournament Titles: Naples CH, Segovia CH
Prize Money: $64,420($114,606 total)
Entry Rank: 69
Race Rank: 218

MATCH DETAILS

Poznan CH

R32 vs. (1) Mark Petchey(GBR). L 6-7(1), 7-5, 6-3.

Bogota CH

R32 vs. (7) Alessandro De Minicis(ITA). W 7-6(1), 6-0.
R16 vs. Karim Alami(MAR). W 6-1, 6-4.
QF vs. Richard Vogel(CZE). W 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.
SF vs. Alejandro Aramburu(PER). W 6-2, 6-2.
F vs. Amit Naor(ISR). W 6-4, 6-0.

Campos de Jordao CH(#2 seed)

R32 vs. Q Jack Brasington(USA). W 7-5, 6-0.
R16 vs. Fernando Roese(BRA). W 6-3, 6-4.
QF vs. (7) Keith Evans(USA). L 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Vancouver CH(#2 seed)

R32 vs. WC Martin Wostenholme(CAN). W 6-0, 7-5.
R16 vs. Jonathan Canter(USA). W 6-1, 7-6(3).
QF vs. Rodolphe Gilberet(FRA). W 6-2, 6-1.
SF vs. (6) Shahar Perkiss(ISR). W 6-3, 6-3.
F vs. Cristiano Caratti(ITA). L 7-6(5), 6-4.

Joinville CH(#2 seed)

R32 vs. Q Jose-Antonio Fernandez(CHL). W 6-4, 7-5.
R16 vs. Marius Barnard(ZAF). W 7-5, 6-4.
QF vs. (7) Gary Muller(ZAF). W 6-3, 7-6(5).
SF vs. Bruce Derlin(NZL). L 6-2, 6-2.

Bronx, NY CH(#2 seed)

R32 vs. Lionel Barthez(FRA). W 6-2, 6-0.
R16 vs. Chuck Adams(USA). W 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-4.
QF vs. (7) Johan Carlsson(SWE). L 6-2, 6-3.

Manerbio CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Dan Goldberg(USA). W 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3.
R16 vs. Jose-Luis Aparisi(ESP). W 6-2, 6-3.
QF vs. (8) Gabriel Markus(ARG). L 6-3, 6-2.

Szczecin CH(#2 seed)

R32 vs. Chris Garner(USA). W 6-1, 6-3.
R16 vs. Juan Carlos Beguena(ESP). L 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Tulsa CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Craig Campbell(ZAF). L 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-1.

Calabasas, CA CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Ivan Kley(BRA). W 7-6(3), 7-6(5).
R16 vs. Michael Daniel(ISR). W 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(1).
QF vs. Libor Nemecek(CZE). W 6-3, 6-3.
SF vs. Michael Tauson(DNK). L 7-5, 6-4.

Montevideo CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Q Peter Doohan(AUS). W 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3.
R16 vs. Andrew Castle(GBR). L 7-6(5), 7-6(5).

Champaign, IL CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Steve Devries(USA). W 6-4, 6-4.
R16 vs. Toshihisa Tsuchihashi(JPN). W 6-3, 6-3.
QF vs. Daniel Vacek(CZE). L 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3.

Naples, FL CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Toshihisa Tsuchihashi(JPN). W 6-1, 6-1.
R16 vs. Q Charlton Eagle(AUS). W 6-1, 6-2.
QF vs. Nelson Aerts(BRA). W 7-6(1), 7-6(6).
SF vs. Q Glenn Layendecker(USA). W 6-0, 6-1.
F vs. Steve Devries(USA). W 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-1.

Aptos, CA CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Jonathan Canter(USA). W 6-1, 6-1.
R16 vs. Henrik Holm(SWE). L 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5).

Segovia CH(#1 seed)

R32 vs. Q Paul Vojtischek(DEU). W 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-2.
R16 vs. Martin Wostenholme(CAN). W 6-1, 6-1.
QF vs. (8) Bruce Derlin(NZL). W 6-4, 6-1.
SF vs. Tarik Benhabiles(FRA). W 6-3, 6-1.
F vs. Q Jose Francisco Altur(ESP). W 6-4, 6-0.