Posted: Apr 21, 2017 | Updated: 3 years ago
In the Semi final show-down at this Masters 1000 Series Event, hosted at one of Europe’s leading tourist resorts, Monte Carlo, Albert Ramos Viñolas of Spain and Lucas Pouille of France are set to square off in what should be a tactically intriguing encounter.
The crux of the match-up:
There are two or three distinct weaknesses Ramos Vinolas has in his game, which opponents with the right strengths and game plan can expose, even on clay
A pattern of play Ramos thrives on is this typical trick every lefty grinder has in their locker, of being able to consistently swing forehands with spin and angle into the right handers’ backhand. The idea is to spread the court and construct an opening, by dragging the opponent more and more out wide. They’re luring/forcing opponents into a cross court duel between their reliable lefty forehand and their opponent’s backhand.
The issue arises when these one dimensional lefties come up against right handers, who can flip the script on their shenanigans, by cleaning backhands up-the-line. Suddenly it’s a card-trick not quite so easy to pull off anymore and they become stuck and trapped in the match-up. They’re out of their comfort zone and unlike when facing opponents who don’t possess the skill of being able to reliably hit backhands up-the-line, are no longer able to impose their “winning game” on their opponents as much.
The backhand-up-the-line is a shot that Pouille more than has in his arsenal. When he’s able to find his range on it, he’s making that low percentage shot, to a high percentage level.
Lefties and Ramos’ dependancy on angles and how Pouille can target this:
Much of the way lefties both attack and defend involves them using angles. That is no different for Ramos. Trouble happens when they have no angle to work from, making it difficult for them to form one. As a result what they really don’t like is when players give them balls down the centre of the court, removing their angles to play with. They become jammed. Or rushed, as some would say.
Unfortunately for Ramos, when Pouille has time on his backhand, driving balls down-the-middle of the court, hard and flat is just another one of the young French star’s many effortless qualities. So if Ramos leaves Pouille too much time on that backhand wing, by dropping his “go-to lefty crosscourt forehand” too short” or “too narrow”, Ramos is getting burned. The Spaniard has little to no chance of keeping neutral in the rally. He won’t be able to defend/retrieve and so unable to wrestle himself back into rallies.
I’m sure this is what Pouille’s team will be encouraging him to do when he does have time on that shot. Or take it up the line. As it was part of what he did so well against a much better lefty, in Nadal.
Pouille’s occasional over reliance on his serve and how that factors on dirt vs Ramos:
Lefties are typically not very good returners, due to the nature of their grip, but on the clay that doesn’t prove as much of a factor. Flat serves struck with venom slow down after making contact with the surface and so players choose to go for the kicker (Topspin) serve. As a result of this Ramos is able to take up a deeper return position, giving him time to whip balls back into court with his forehand.
Of course we know Pouille has a very good serve. It’s often a shot that gets him out of a lot of sticky situations. We’re talking 0-30s, 0-40s etc. With it not being as beneficial to him on clay as it would be on other surfaces, he’s going to be needing to grind a lot more to win points in his own service games. That will require him being more consistent with his intensity levels, something he can struggle with, along with a lot of the French guys. Maintaining intensity.
Saying that he does have a great deal of variety (Kicks and slices) which means he will be able to keep Ramos guessing.
Players Strengths/Weaknesses on clay:
Pouille’s strengths on clay:
- Point construction. Ability to find angles and spread the court nicely with well shaped forehand
- Ability to flip-script when locked in cross court duels, by making linear shots up-the-line.
- Bundles of variety on serve.
- Drop shots. Like any French player really. Effortless skill and flair. Catches you out.
- Net game, clean at net
- Fitness. He talked about it being his biggest improved and the catalyst behind why he shot up the ranks last year.
Pouille’s weaknesses on clay:
- Struggles maintaining mental intensity needed for this surface for more than 3 games in row.
- (In context of match) Inexperience at the latter stages of Masters 1000s
- Isn’t able to grab the upper hand early in rallies as easily as on other surfaces using his serve.
Ramos’ strengths on clay:
- Hooked, swung crosscourt lefty heavy topspin forehand.
- Movement.
- Lefty slice swinging away out-wide serve on AD court
- Match toughness
- Composure
- Point construction
Ramos’ weaknesses on clay:
- Dependency on one pattern of play
- Struggles to get cheap points
- Fatiguing game
- (In context of match) Inexperience at Masters 1000 level
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