The ATP World Tour 500 Series Citi Open was the first tournament in preparation for the US Open for a handful of the top 25 players on the ATP World Tour, and it was clear from the late night matches that the adjustment to North American hard courts hasn’t been entirely easy.
Top ATP Players Murray, Nishikori, Struggle To Adjust at Citi Open
The biggest name in the men’s field Andy Murray, was the victim of the one of biggest upsets of the 2015 season as he went down to journeyman Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in a thrilling three set contest 6-4 4-6 7-6(4). Gabashvili, who prior to the Citi Open had mostly been posting solid results on the challenger tour, along with playing World Team Tennis, rose up and scored a career best win after beating Fernando Verdasco and David Ferrer last season. Gabashvili kept his error count low, absorbed Murray’s power, and pushed him about on the fast courts, while Murray’s first serve deserted him and he couldn’t close out the third set when he served for it. The match point in the third set tiebreak was one of the best highlight points of the year, and overall it was a fantastic match.
Still, Murray should not be losing to a player of Gabashvili’s level, and for the first time since the spring, and just the third time this season, he lost to a player ranked outside of the top 5. The loss puts a push for world #2 in doubt, and raises questions about his form going into the Masters hard court tournaments and the US Open. Murray has had a fantastic season, with success in Slams, at the ATP level, and in Davis Cup, but one has to wonder if he’s getting a bit mentally fatigued and downcast, after he once again was denied a major victory at Wimbledon, Murray has been playing some of the best tennis of his career this season, and his results have been good, but not elite. Additionally, he has just Jonas Bjorkman in his coaching corner now, as Amelie Mauresmo is on maternity leave.
#2 seed Kei Nishikori survived his first match this summer in the North America unlike Murray, but he still was tested by another journeyman, as Australian James Duckworth took a set off of him in a tiebreak and proceeded to make the third set competitive as well, Kei prevailing 6-7(8) 6-1 6-4. In the first Nishikori appeared to be rushed, and frustrated, he hit some great shots, but also mixed in errors, and even threw his racquet at one point. A flustered Nishikori was forced into long games and rallies with Duckworth, who threw everything he had to the first set, got a break back, and then snuck out the tiebreak. Ducky slipped up in set 2, but set 3 was a battle before Kei eked it out.
Nishikori has had a good season in his own right, but he’s failed to truly threaten the big three of Djokovic, Federer, and Murray, and after a great 2014, time is running out for him to make a move this Summer, like he did at the last US Open. He has a great gamestyle and hits with fantastic pace, but his small frame may limit his ability to truly reach the top 3 or even world #1. Next for Nishikori is Leonardo Mayer and then Feliciano Lopez/Sam Groth as the draw has opened up for him with Murray’s loss, but we’ll see if he can seize the opportunity.
#3 seed Marin Cilic, the other 10 player in the Citi Open draw, also was tested in a late night match against young gun Hyeon Chung. He won 7-6(2) 6-3, but Chung’s pace bothered him at times and he didn’t do a great job on return. Cilic has a US Open title to defend this summer, but he hasn’t been the same since returning from a shoulder injury and he doesn’t seem to be adjusting well either. Next up for him is Sam Querrey and he could well reach the final or take the title.
Grigor Dimitrov and Richard Gasquet, a couple of other big European names in the draw also were tested, Dimitrov needing a tiebreak and a break to get past dirtballer Guido Pella in a poor match for him, and Gasquet surviving Gilles Muller in three sets. #5 seed Kevin Anderson, who normally excels on North American hard wasn’t so lucky, as he went out in an upset to young gun Alexander Zverev 2-6 6-3 6-4. #9 seed Viktor Troicki was also unlucky, though he has had a strong season, as he lost handily to Sam Groth 6-3 6-4. The hot conditions may have contributed to their struggles or losses, but it’s still not a good sign for their current form.
With Montreal and Cincinnati, two Masters 1000 level tournaments looming, and then the US Open, it will be interesting to see if the big names will continue to struggle to adjust, and if they can find their form in North America and finish the Summer strong.
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