We could feel it!

We’ve backed Baez several times at the Cancun Challenger because you could feel he was gradually building up steam. But isn’t it time for him to take a break before the US Open? Four matches in Cancun in 4 days. Not big matches, except maybe the final a bit. Hot. Very hot, and humid. I’d say a three-hour time difference, and a good 5–6 hours on the plane. He finished on Sunday, it’s Tuesday now. The guy is priced at 1.25, and he’s playing Grenier… a nightmare to face. The Frenchman has one mission: get his ranking back up so he can play Grand Slam qualifiers. He’s 250 right now, and would move up to 225 if he were to win this match (the Grand Slam qualifying cut is roughly that, around 225–230). So let’s just say that a second round against a world no. 250 is a golden opportunity for him, without being the chance of a lifetime either, of course.

Against Safiullin, he played well. Still the same grinder’s game, shouting on every shot, able to defend from the baseline as well as come quickly to the net behind his serve/forehand. I don’t really like his game against Baez, who is less offensive than Safiullin. Still, I think he can give him a hard time…