Australian Open: Norbert Gombos felt like football – ŠPORT.sk

Slovakia already has no representative in singles

Alex Molčan, currently the highest-ranking Slovak man in the ATP rankings, stood up against the “old fox” from Valencia, a 35-year-old veteran Andujar, after the drama in the opening round and painful cramps. His career maximum is 32nd in the world rankings and he has played 380 matches on the ATP Tour.

After his fast progress to the 2nd round, he recognized the status of our player, bet on longer exchanges, corner-to-corner and stopballs. True, you need to have a good hand for that, and the father of three does not miss it.

UNUSED CHANCES

After losing the first set, Alex Molčan got treated, but immediately lost his serve. He then turned from 0: 1 to 2: 1 and at 3: 2 did not convert four breakball balls in a long game, which later resulted in a tailor. In it, the promising score of 5: 4 turned into 6: 8. At 0: 2 on sets, the role of the Slovak unit looked to win another three sets after a three-hour load on Tuesday more than Sizyfovsky. However, the native of Prešov came to life and his hopes increased when he gave a significantly older “opponent” to his opponent.

The break was 1: 2 and Andujar took a break for treatment for cramps. As if sprinkled with living water, he then dictated the pace, no longer relying on long exchanges, and the offensive style bore fruit. Suddenly, in a few minutes, he led 5-0 in the fourth set and did not let go of the match. Molčan swung his rocket several times and once earned a reprimand, but in this fight he clearly celebrated the success of experience, patience, accuracy and a cool head.

“I didn’t take many chances, breakball. He punished me for this, and when he had the chance, you went after her and turned her over. After the third set, I felt a turnaround. I noticed he has some problems, I felt better, but I picked up the start of the fourth set when I didn’t take his hand again and then unluckyly lost my 40:15. He was already at risk there, he did not make long exchanges, he benefited from experience. Then my condition and head were gone and when it doesn’t work, everything falls apart, ” evaluated the match Alex Molčan.

However, he also acknowledged the well-deserved triumph of the experienced Spaniard. “Pablo gave a very solid performance. Better than I expected. My muscle stiffened in the first set, which was the result of the first match. I had a massage, took a pill and it was fine. The opponent played wisely. He waited for mistakes. He knew whoever did more would lose. In the decisive stages, you went for points, I had a hard time reading it. I had heavier legs, without pain, but also without speed, so I was not in time for the balls, ” added coach Karol Beck’s client.

He presented himself for the first time at the Australian Open and at the same time made his debut directly in the main competition of the grand slam tournament. In the opening match, he was originally to play against the eighth-seeded Casper Ruud from Norway, who, however, injured his ankle and was replaced by the unsuccessful qualifier Roman Safjulllin from Russia. Alex Molčan defeated him 6: 3, 7: 6 (9), 5: 7, 7: 6 (6).

“On the one hand, I am pleased with the victory in the Melbourne premiere, but more has been achieved. I’ve never played well here, I can’t get used to the conditions. So I’m only partially satisfied. I defeated several players, advanced in the rankings and gained experience. The positive is also that I see where to add. I noticed a lot of shortcomings and if I can still win the matches, then after improving and stabilizing the game I will go higher, “ Alex Molčan finished.

AS ON FOOTBALL

Norbert Gombos first watched the concert of a Bosnian native from Medjugorje, the Croatian longhorn marino Čilič. In the first two sets, he always decided with a rocket start 3: 0 and both sets were played as through indigo. In the third, however, the leader of the Slovak Davis Cup team bounced back to 3: 0, kept the break, and so decided the dramatic fourth set.

No one lost the service in it, and the chance for the Galant native at the score of 6: 5 at the setball. The silver medalist in the doubles from Tokyo fired an ace and with two more forehand blows he ended the match to the delight of the stormy Croatian compatriots in terms of with which he also danced.

“Marin didn’t give me a chance in the first two sets, he ran very hard on me. I didn’t get the serve for a long time and I got into the match only in the third set. He kicked me, I found a rhythm. In the fourth set, I couldn’t take his serve again and he finished the decisive balls hard. Marin played better than when we played against each other at the US Open, he increased the pace, is in a larger form. He won more matches, but I’m happy with the third and fourth sets. ” Norbert Gombos scored realistically.

He also commented on temperamental Croatian fans, whose behavior, however, was often across the line. “They drove Čilič, at times they were unsportsmanlike, they applauded my mistakes. Classic Balkan cauldron and football-like temperament. Sometimes they tried to derail me without respect and speech, but the atmosphere was combative. Some Slovak compatriots also encouraged me. I’m sorry I didn’t force the fifth set. Who knows what it would be because Marin had had enough in the end. I didn’t even want to fly here at first, because at the last minute I learned that my coach Tibor Tóth could not travel, I survived with honor.

I need to have a coach with me at the beginning of the season, it is important, but Karol Beck and Alex Molčan helped me a lot, for which I am grateful. I played five great and tough matches here. I won four, achieving the first Melbourne victory in the main competition. I’m leaving very happy because I didn’t have big eyes. I have never entered here successfully in a year and now I have approached the world’s elite hundred. I’m looking forward to a family home now, ” Norbert Gombos finished.

ERROR-FREE FORHEND

In the women’s singles, Kristína Kučová was the only Slovak to make it to the 2nd round. However, she did not repeat a close three-hundred-page duel with Sorane Cirstea almost five years ago in Shenzhen. Although the first two gems were drawn in matches, the Bratislava woman both lost and her set suddenly ran 2: 6.

The Romanian team pushed through the forehand, won 30: 6 for the winning strokes, served better and the second set was in the same spirit until 5: 2. At that time, however, the Slovak national team still raised its head, fought, reduced it to 4: 5 and, with a bold exchange, averted the first match. However, she made a double mistake on the second and did not advance to the third grand slam round of her career for the first time.

“The first two gems are sorry for me, because instead of 0: 2 it could have been 2: 0. However, I did not get one and I found myself under pressure. There was a virvar around us in the backyards and a stormy atmosphere at the men’s matches. Sorana, who caught well, managed the conditions better and hit the balls exactly to the lines. I pulled for the shorter end, hope shone in the second set at 4: 5, but I did not make an important game to a successful end, ” Kristína Kučová told us.

She was not very happy with her performance. “I can play better, it wasn’t a good performance. I was not a favorite, in the second round one no longer chooses. She won deservedly, but it’s still a shame I didn’t add another round. I tried to play her in a forehand that is tough, but sometimes she can make mistakes. In this encounter, however, she had a flawless one and ended it mercilessly. It turned out that the coronavirus of December and the missed two weeks of preparation had taken their toll. I used to be unlucky here, so winning over Doi in the first round was important and pleased me. ” added a new Slovak single unit.