Tennis Acumen

J. J. Wolf: Highlights and Lowlights

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American J. J. Wolf at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: Any highlights or lowlights in this disrupted year?

J. J. Wolf: There have been a couple of both. Last year, I'd say one of the highlights was qualifying for the 2020 Cincinnati Masters. Even though it was in New York, it still really meant a lot to me. That and making the third round at the 2020 U.S. Open was pretty cool. This year, coming back from nine months off and a couple of surgeries, getting that fifth challenger title in Vegas meant a lot to me. But, I'm just working on my game a lot, not worrying about results too much.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: You pretty well have to be obsessive to be in this game professionally, right?

J. J. Wolf: Right.

Tennis Acumen: Going back to the beginning, waking up every morning and knowing you just got to do it one more day. How do you manage your hitting time, your sleep time, your meals? what's it like to keep the machine going every day?

J. J. Wolf: It's hard on the on the road, especially because you've got different match times. You don't really know exactly when you're going to play. It could be a morning match, afternoon or night match. And, every place you go is different, with different facilities. You have to figure out what works for you that week and create a routine. I've been trying to do that more. It was very hard during quarantine when you couldn't leave the hotels at tournaments. But now, I can go out and get breakfast and walk around, ease my mind. And not be thinking about tennis all the time. I am trying to take care of my body and not get away from the game too much like last year.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: So, in terms of diet, how strict are you, J.J.??

J. J. Wolf: I try to be pretty good about it. When I was coming back from the surgeries, I couldn't use my core really to do anything for about six months. So I was really strict with it. After coming back there, I probably let it go a little bit during my off time. But I got it back pretty quickly and got back into shape pretty fast, so I was lucky with that.

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: @jjwolf5

Evan King: Favorite Places on Tour

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American Evan King at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: Well, that draws us right into favorite cities on the tour.

Evan King: I think Melbourne. I love Australia. Australia is awesome. So, Melbourne's good because there's no language barrier. Travel is a lot easier. I liked Taiwan as well. I had a really good experience in Taiwan. I thought the food was great. A lot of people came out, and they ran a really good event.

Tennis Acumen: Do you ever get time to really go and sightsee?

Evan King: It all depends on the result of the tournament. That would be an advantage of doing poorly in a tournament. I have more time off to actually see a place. But on a week where I'm winning matches, it's more so hotel and tennis courts. Maybe a couple of meals out, but then you don't actually get to sightsee. So, one of my bigger regrets was I spent two weeks in India in 2017. I didn't get to see anything and I've never been back. I've been to India, but I didn't experience India, I didn't actually get to travel around because the schedules just didn't allow for it. We go to some pretty cool places and very interesting places. Sometimes you do see them, sometimes you don't. If you ask five different players about travel, some people have more of a focus on: “I want to see the world.” Others have more of a focus on tennis, tennis, tennis, which both work, but different people have different philosophies on it.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: I asked Tennys Sandgren the same question. he said Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is his ‘go to’ place. He finds that just the most stunning place. What would your ‘go to’ place be?

Evan King: Hmm, that's interesting. I don't know if I have an immediate one. I think it's more about people. If I'm traveling with people that I really get along with, regardless of where it is, I'll have a good time, be at peace and enjoy myself. It is more that than specific places.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: OK, that’s more a social point of view. And speaking of airports and hotels and cars, I worked as a rock drummer for a long time. You know, there are a lot of cities I never really saw. I can't say: “I've been there.” We just went to this hall and played four sets. Now the other thing about rock and roll, and this is where people get in trouble. Too much time on your hands. How do you deal with that? I mean, you're not going to get into excess or go off the deep end. But how do you handle the down time and the sheer boredom that can happen to you?

Evan King: You need another passion to fill your days. I'm really randomly into battle rap. There's something about guys creatively messing around with the English language that I really love. So, for me right now, I watch a ton of that. Tennis players, whether it's in juniors or college or pros, we're good at time management, filling time. A lot of it's stretching. I had my match yesterday. Yeah, I probably only played for two hours yesterday, an hour to warm up, so that leaves another 12 hours of being awake. A lot of stretching, lifting weights. Watch a little bit of film. That's something that I'm trying to do more of: just scouting opponents, scouting myself, trying to figure out ways I can be better and work on that. I know some people are taking classes online, I don't have a great answer for you on that for me because I'm not doing much productive outside of this.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: Well, if you're working on your game, that's productive and if you have discipline behind you in that, it fills up the time.

Evan King: it's just a lot of recovery, whether it's physical or mental, especially now. At the end of the year, we've all been playing since January. Eleven months in, everything's a little bit achy. Mentally, you're a little bit fried. It's more so staying healthy, staying fresh as possible at this point in time, and for me, it's watching battle rap, that's just what I am into.

 

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: @EvanKingChicago

Kudla vs. Wolf & Not Gasquet vs. Verdasco in SF at Arizona Tennis Classic

PETE ZIEBRON in PHOENIX

Following his win over Richard Gasquet, Denis Kudla stated on court that "This is the toughest Challenger in the world."  It is.  Four former Top Ten players were in the draw - three played in the Quarterfinals on Friday and all three lost.

On a gorgeous 77F sunny day at the Phoenix Country Club, Denis Kudla opened play on Center Court with a 6-3 6-4 win over Frenchman Richard Gasquet.  The American, who was born in Kiev, Ukraine, did not double fault all day, hit seven aces and saved the only break point against en route to victory.

Gasquet played competitive tennis throughout the match, however was distracted midway through the second set when an off-site garbage truck was doing its duty and creating a bit of a disturbance.  Gasquet was serving at 30-0 and on serve in the set when the  clanging of metal took place on and off for three minutes.  The yellow clad Gasquet was clearly agitated, lost the next few points and crushed a ball out of Center Court, costing him a ball abuse warning.  Kudla stood his ground and simply put balls back into play as the errors from Gasquet in this game led to the only break of the second set.  

Kudla protected his serve all day and arrives in the semifinals without dropping a set in the tournament.

Next up, American JJ Wolf matched up with Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.  Like Kudla, Wolf won his first two matches in straight sets.

Fernando Verdasco, 2010   (c) Tennis Acumen

Verdasco dropped the opening service game when a let cord winner by Wolf dropped just over the net.  He glared at his box in disbelief and disgust, however was able to get the break back three games later to square the set at 2-all.  That would be the only break he would manage as Wolf saved the next six the rest of the way.

Several long rallies throughout the match were on display as both players were digging deep.  Wolf created his own break point opportunities and capitalized on a large one as Verdasco served to stay in the opening set.  The Cincinnati native took the set, broke midway through the second set for the lead and concurrently staved off Verdasco's break point opportunities.

Gasquet and Verdasco played 15 times on the ATP Tour with Verdasco holding an 8-7 H2H mark.  It appeared that these former top ten players would meet yet again.  Kudla and Wolf would not be denied on this day and both arrive in the semifinals without dropping a set.

Later in the day, David Goffin, the third former top ten player to take Center Court on Friday, lost to Liam Broady of Great Britain.  Broady will play Daniel Altmaier of Germany, who defeated Radu Albot of Moldova to close out the day session.

Three Alternates and Wild Card JJ Wolf comprise the Arizona Tennis Classic Semifinals.  Four former top ten ATP players have been eliminated.  Denis Kudla is a man of his word.

 

David Goffin Advances to Quarters in Phoenix Challenger.

PETE ZIEBRON in PHOENIX

David Goffin at the Cincinnati Masters tournament, 2017 (c) Tennis Acumen

David Goffin closed out the second round at the Arizona Tennis Classic with a 7-6 3-6 6-4 win over American Wild Card Christopher Eubanks at the Phoenix Country Club.  The Belgian did not serve particularly well, hitting 12 double faults, however he was able to save 17 of 21 break points throughout the match.

Goffin is the #8 seed and is one of the few players that also played in the initial Arizona Tennis Classic in 2019, when he was the #1 seed.  Following the match, Goffin said that he was happy to get the win since the Eubanks serve often stretched him out wide as it was well placed in the corners.  Both players hit 10 aces and Goffin did well to block back the serve from the American which topped out in the low 130 mph range on the night.

Eubanks saved 3 of 6 break points and all three came in a game midway through the second set when he fell behind 0-40.  He rode that confidence in saving that particular game to win the middle set.  The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket is threat on the ATP Tour.  On Wednesday, he defeated veteran Qualifier Gilles Simon 6-4 7-5.  Yesterday he certainly held his own against Goffin.  Both opponents are former Top Ten players.

Next up for Goffin is Liam Broady of Great Britain.  Broady has dropped just 8 games in his two straight set victories and was added to the Main Draw as an Alternate.  Goffin, meanwhile, has been taken to three sets in each of his first two matches in Phoenix.

 

 

Benoit Paire Dazzles Phoenix Crowd En Route to Straight Set Victory

PETE ZIEBRON in PHOENIX

Benoit Paire, far right playing cards with Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon as Nicolas Mahut observes.  Pete Ziebron Images

Benoit Paire, the #1 seed in the Arizona Tennis Classic $125K Challenger in Phoenix wasted absolutely no time putting on a show for spectators on Center Court on Wednesday night.  On the third point of the match, the crafty Frenchman hit an approach drop shot that had so much spin, that it then bounced back over Paire's side of the net before Emilio Nava had any chance to make a play on the ball.  That effort gave Paire a 40-0 lead, and he closed out the opening game a point later.

Later in the opening set, Paire hit an approach shot tweener - he lost that point but the crowd was thrilled.  Deep in the opening set and serving at 5-5 deuce, Paire hit another tweener to win the point.  Certainly a rather dangerous time to hit such a shot, however Paire was feeling loose all night.  He won that game, broke Nava to win the first set 7-5 and then won the first four games of the second set.

During this game, while serving at 4-0, Paire was not thrilled with some of the officiating and set his racquet on the baseline and walked halfway up the doubles alley to point to a mark where he felt the ball landed out.  Judging from Paire's hand gesture explanation and protest, the ball was at least three inches out.  Paire would be broken at that game and he then rocketed a ball out of the stadium and on to the adjacent golf course at the Phoenix Country Club.

Benoit Paire would hit a third tweener of the night later in the set and would advance to the second round with a 7-5 6-2 victory.

Earlier in the day, Center Court featured FOUR former top ten ATP players: Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet, David Goffin and Fernando Verdasco!  Keep in mind, this is a $125K Challenger event.  The Arizona Tennis Classic draw is certainly better than many ATP 250 events and nearly as good as some ATP 500 tournaments.  

This is why I fondly refer to the Arizona Tennis Classic as the Phoenix 375. 

In fact, the first match of the evening featured Emil Ruusuvouri of Finland against American Wild Card Brandon Nakashima.  This was a rematch of last year's Atlanta 250 Semifinal, won by the American.  This time, the Finn relied on a steady serve down the middle and consistently broke down the Nakashima backhand en route to a 6-3 6-3 win.

Regarding the former top ten players, all but Simon won their matches to advance to the second round on Thursday.  Paire will play Radu Albot of Moldova, Gasquet will open Thursday's action against Facundo Bagnis of Argentina and Goffin will play American Wild Card Christopher Eubanks who defeated Simon in straight sets on Wednesday.

Indian Wells may have Nick Kyrgios, however the Arizona Tennis Classic features Benoit Paire and his active tweener game.  What will Paire bring to the table today?

Evan King: Playing Hurt - Part 2 of 2

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American Evan King at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: We’re talking about aches, pains and injuries, Evan.
You were not 100% physically. You're up 5-1 in the second set tiebreaker and it was painful to watch. Your mind is saying: “I've got this.” and your body is just saying: “Please, no.” You managed to win that set.

Evan King: Yes, now that was funny too, At the beginning of the third set, I was thinking OK, I've got some momentum. That's good. And no, that went away pretty quickly. I set foot on the court. I knew what I had in the tank. Go out there, compete. I saved a match point or two, which was good. I'm excited about that. But then I just did not have enough to get through it. Yeah, I'm still a little bit rattled from the match because obviously when you are a competitor, you go out there, you want to win. I wish I would've won, right?

 

 

Tennis Acumen: So how often are guys playing hurt?

Evan King: Hurt…. Hurt is a strong word. I would not consider myself hurt, less than 100 percent is different than being hurt. You don't play hurt.

Tennis Acumen: Because I've had guys tell me everybody's hurt all the time.

Evan King: I believe that, especially in November. No one's actually 100 percent. Maybe in January. I would hope so. In January, everyone's 100 percent because you have a month off. But in November, no one feels great. You just manage what you can, and you compete to the best of your ability with whatever you have on that day. There was a withdrawal earlier today. In singles he went into the match saying:”I know I have something going on, but I'm going to push it and see what I can get out of it.” And then the injury got aggravated. Maybe it went a little bit worse than he expected. And maybe there are some long-term issues that could happen if he kept playing or something like that. I have a lot of fatigue wear and tear from travel this season and everything, but I'm not hurt. That's a strong, strong word. I would not be in Champaign playing this event if I were hurt.

Tennis Acumen: Yeah, I appreciate the clarification there.

Evan King: Yeah, but it's more just wear and tear and crazy fatigue and yeah, just aches and pains and random things.

Tennis Acumen: It would be better said that everybody is playing ‘hurting’ rather than ‘hurt’.

Evan King: exactly. I would say that for sure.

 

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: @EvanKingChicago

Evan King: Playing Hurt - Part 1 of 2

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American Evan King at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: You were obviously not 100 percent physically yesterday. How do you push through?

Evan King: If you decide to start a match, you finish the match. I guess that's my code of honor, unless something is actually broken. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. As a professional, maybe I withdrew from one match. As you said, yesterday, I did not have my 100 percent.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: You know, I won't get into details on the injury itself. I'm just looking at the mindset and the spirit behind it. You were down a break early in the second set. Time to change ends, and you went off in the corner of the court and just sat on a stool. What was your thought process or what was going through your head?

Evan King: I was just trying to clear my mind and find some sort of peace because I was also frustrated that I was down a set and a break. Very frustrated. I needed to kind of be to myself. Find some peace. Try to get something out of the match. Whether it's a win, whether it's feeling good, whether it's executing certain things, just simplifying the game in my mind. I was taking it down to just a couple of shots I felt like I could execute extremely well. It was all mental, all regrouping and focusing in and really locking in for that moment.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: To be honest, Evan, it was agonizing watching the match because I could tell your mind wanted to do things and your body was saying: “Please stop. Please let me go.”

Evan King: It's a very frustrating part of tennis in general, but it's also interesting because I do focus on doubles now. My career is based off of doubles. It's making sure I stay ready for that as well. Win or lose on Tuesday, I knew I had to compete on Wednesday. Even working out for both of them is different. You use different skills when you're practicing for doubles and training for doubles rather than singles. There is playing and there is recovering. Played a match two days ago. In the second set, it got pretty physical. (King defeated Ruan Roelofse in a 24-point 2nd set tiebreak.) He was going through it too, though, because you can't say it was just me. I know my opponent was also feeling it physically as well. We all have issues we're going through, so we just try to compete and get through it.

Tennis Acumen: It was impressive, Evan.

Evan King: I appreciate that.

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: @EvanKingChicago