A Focused Bublik
There were some doubts...
It had been a long time since Bublik last played. He was not in the best form, and US hardcourts have never been a place where he has had a lot of success. Wolf had a lot of success against Bublik previously. Well, just like last year, Sasha was able to turn up without needing to play himself into matches. Wolf managed to win a set, but never really threatened. We saw some good things from him, but it's also clear that he is not quite yet at the level he was previously, pre-injuries. In his post-match interview, Bublik also seemed to have a great attitude, giving credit to his opponent, and it did sound like he was eager to get back on the court. We know how important motivation is for Bublik!
As for Mannarino, what a comeback. What an incredibly decisive set record he has in Grand Slams as well, double-digit wins and just a loss or two. Adrian had not been even close to his best for a while now, but could this huge comeback victory help him a bit? He described himself as "serene" in the later stages of the match, and I think his calmness and experience are a huge asset, indeed. Oh yeah, also the fact that his low-skidding shots make the opponents tired, having to bend their knees over and over! I remember Bublik and Mannarino's meeting in Beijing last year; the Kazakh came there without a care and more or less just tanked the match, he was coming from the title in Hangzhou. So, I don't want to judge that match at all. I tend to like Bublik against left-handers; his backhand is really solid, and he also excels at timing his backhand return to instantly put them in a tough spot. Mannarino can really bother players without a lot of variety, who keep trying to overwhelm him with rhythmic pace, but that's not the way that Bublik plays. As I'm sure you know, he has a lot of variety and the ability to finish points at the net, which I like against Mannarino. Still, if things are not going his way, he can also lose his level and have a big dip, so it might not all be smooth sailing...
