[13] David Ferrer (ESP) vs. [378] Calvin Hemery (FRA)
Ferrer has been struggling since his return from an injury. He has fallen out of the top ten. The last time he was ranked outside the top ten was October, 2010. I am not used to seeing him so off his game. His form was abysmal in the first set; yet, he believed he could turn the match around against the inexperienced Frenchman. He was pushed by the 378 ranked youngster from France and perhaps if he was not suffering with an injured left knee the outcome would have been different; however, in the end, Ferrer found a way to win the match 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Will Ferrer continue his dominance over Brown, his next opponent, or is his form too erratic at the moment?
BROWN ALMOST SLIPPED ON HIS STRATEGY
[68] Aljaz Bedene (GBR) vs. [101] Dustin Brown (GER)
Brown won this match 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 and in doing so, demonstrated how a player can create problems for himself in a match because of a questionable mental attitude. A player can sometimes get stuck in their own stubborn desire to use a strategy. Is that ego or poor judgment? Brown almost lost this match because he wanted to use the drop shot, even though it was not producing consistent positive results. He had a running monologue for practically the entire match, a sign that he was not fully focused, which may also explain why his form can be brilliant one minute and sloppy the next. He had the bigger game, better serve and forehand, with tremendous foot speed, but one has to question his mental approach. Watching him, I fully understand why he has never won a title despite being so talented. Can he harness all that talent and finally find a way to beat Ferrer?
