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Welcome to the official website of Alex Slabinsky.
Alex has been one of Britain's most improved players over the last couple of years, currently the British number 5. In 2007, he increased his ranking by over 400 places. His eventual ambition is to play on the ATP tour regularly and break the world's top 10.
THIS WEEK: Sweden F2 15K
NEWSFLASH: Alex is top seed and is into the final
Check out the new blog feature, tales from the tour !
RANKING: 293
Sweden F2 15K
SF: bt M Rodrigues (Fra)(3) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Rodrigues isn't a particularly big hitter but has a good backhand and covers the court well. Alex was always in control though even during the mini-blip which saw him get broken twice in set 2. Served well during sets 1 and 3, used the slice to get him out wide and opened things up for the forehand. Broke in opening game and had chances to make it 2 breaks in the first set. Once Rodrigues levelled the match, Alex broke at the start of the 3rd and it was 1 way traffic from there
QF: bt T Goransson (Swe) 7-6, 6-3
Alex again had to come from a break down in the 1st against the leftie Goransson. He had to serve his way out of trouble at 4-5, saving 2 set points with 3 straight aces before dominating the tiebreak. Served well at crucial times and his aggressive tennis and net play proved too strong in the end
R2: bt J Greczula (Swe) 7-6, 6-2
Scorelines rarely tell the full story. This was one of Alex's toughest matches for a while, probably as tough as the Kunitsyn match 2 weeks ago. Greczula doesn't have a big serve but is very, very strong from the back and pinged the corners with deep, flat groundies. Alex twice came from a break down to take the 1st and upped it in set 2
R1: bt S Huurinainen (Fin)(q) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Had to come from behind. The Finn got off to a flyer, was 2 breaks up in the 1st at one point and then led by a break in the 3rd. He had a cannonball serve so better than his ranking suggests !
France 15K+H
R1: lost to P Ysern (Fra) 5-7, 1-6
As in Delhi last month, Ysern proved too strong. Once again Alex had set point in the 1st but couldn't convert. He didn't serve well today, only 49% 1st serves and 2 aces and that can often make all the difference indoors. Now heads to Sweden for a 15K next week where he'll be top seed
Donetsk 50K challenger
R1: lost to I Kunitsyn (Rus)(1) 4-6, 5-7
Bit of a horror draw. Kunitsyn's the world no 72, huge server and has made 2 ATP semis this year, beating players like Fish, Melzer and Haas. He went on to win this tourney but needed some large slices of luck to get past Alex. Kunitsyn shanked a winner to break at 4-4 in the first and then at 6-5 in the 2nd and deuce, he hit a winning lob off the frame and then a return winner to close out the match.
Alex has been one of Britain's most improved players over the last couple of years, currently the British number 5. In 2007, he increased his ranking by over 400 places. His eventual ambition is to play on the ATP tour regularly and break the world's top 10.
THIS WEEK: Sweden F2 15K
NEWSFLASH: Alex is top seed and is into the final
Check out the new blog feature, tales from the tour !
RANKING: 293
LATEST NEWS:
Sweden F2 15KSF: bt M Rodrigues (Fra)(3) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Rodrigues isn't a particularly big hitter but has a good backhand and covers the court well. Alex was always in control though even during the mini-blip which saw him get broken twice in set 2. Served well during sets 1 and 3, used the slice to get him out wide and opened things up for the forehand. Broke in opening game and had chances to make it 2 breaks in the first set. Once Rodrigues levelled the match, Alex broke at the start of the 3rd and it was 1 way traffic from there
QF: bt T Goransson (Swe) 7-6, 6-3
Alex again had to come from a break down in the 1st against the leftie Goransson. He had to serve his way out of trouble at 4-5, saving 2 set points with 3 straight aces before dominating the tiebreak. Served well at crucial times and his aggressive tennis and net play proved too strong in the end
R2: bt J Greczula (Swe) 7-6, 6-2
Scorelines rarely tell the full story. This was one of Alex's toughest matches for a while, probably as tough as the Kunitsyn match 2 weeks ago. Greczula doesn't have a big serve but is very, very strong from the back and pinged the corners with deep, flat groundies. Alex twice came from a break down to take the 1st and upped it in set 2
R1: bt S Huurinainen (Fin)(q) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Had to come from behind. The Finn got off to a flyer, was 2 breaks up in the 1st at one point and then led by a break in the 3rd. He had a cannonball serve so better than his ranking suggests !
France 15K+H
R1: lost to P Ysern (Fra) 5-7, 1-6
As in Delhi last month, Ysern proved too strong. Once again Alex had set point in the 1st but couldn't convert. He didn't serve well today, only 49% 1st serves and 2 aces and that can often make all the difference indoors. Now heads to Sweden for a 15K next week where he'll be top seed
Donetsk 50K challenger
R1: lost to I Kunitsyn (Rus)(1) 4-6, 5-7
Bit of a horror draw. Kunitsyn's the world no 72, huge server and has made 2 ATP semis this year, beating players like Fish, Melzer and Haas. He went on to win this tourney but needed some large slices of luck to get past Alex. Kunitsyn shanked a winner to break at 4-4 in the first and then at 6-5 in the 2nd and deuce, he hit a winning lob off the frame and then a return winner to close out the match.
To see all match reports, results, stories from around the world go to: http://www.freewebs.com/alexslabinsky/2008news.htm
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