Day 6 Honolulu Challenger – Team USA

Written by: Shubert on 27th January 2012

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Day 6 Honolulu Challenger - Team USA |

What’s up folks! Last night the Ginepri and Reynolds match was postponed due to rain after the first set. Upon arriving back at the club today, Ginepri continued his onslaught and took the second set by the same score as the first, 6-2.

I was on court with Takanyi Garanganga playing a set, working on my game. Wasn’t too sharp today as I was a night owl last night and went to another NFL player party at a local night club at Ala Moana. My friend invited me and we ended up getting a picture with Dwight Freeney in VIP. Even thought I don’t drink, the lack of sleep gets to me and my game.

Jack Sock is in a battle with Tatsuma Ito. They’ve just entered the third set on a very hot day. It’s a little bit of a cat and mouse match up because Ito is a very flat player, whereas Sock likes to hit heavy rolling spin. Lots of drop shots, slices back and forth, trying to find a shot to pounce on. Sock has the edge with the serve and I’d say it’s up to him whether to win it or lose it. Ito will remain steady unless he’s able to tag a few of Sock’s serves off the return and force errors, but he won’t be able to blast through Sock from the baseline. Every once in a while Sock will unleash a forehand before going back to a steady roller with lots of spin. It’s his attempt to send a shockwave of extra power into the court in hopes to disrupt Ito’s defense and timing.

Currently, I’m sitting under an awning in the restaurant area looking out to the pool. Americans Bobby Reynolds, Robert Kendrick, (Sort of American) Amer Delic, and Robby Ginepri are all cruising it underneath umbrellas and lounge chairs. If you’re wondering where American tennis is, I can tell you that alot of it is right here. Out of the main draw of 32 total players from around the world, 15 of them represent USA. There were 5 more in the Qualifying draw including myself. That makes 20 players total here at the Honolulu Challenger from USA. I’d say we have quite the contingent here and I’m taking steps to get to know them and become more familiar.

Veteran grinder Nick Monroe was friendly with me earlier today as I did a children’s camp with the Hawaii Pacific USTA and we exchanged contact info. I did the children’s day thing or whatever you want to call it with about 50 local elementary school kids because I believe it’s good to give back to the community and give kids a chance to get out onto the courts and play some tennis. I did a lot of these kinds of things back at BYU so it was a lot of fun and cool to sign all their t-shirts and hats afterward. I felt like a professional tennis player or something

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