paulsawyer
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Vancouver $100kI heard Alex won a 3-setter in the R1 at Vancouver
This is pretty good news and another sign that Alex is getting back to form, hopefully the injury is behind him now, because 100k events like this are the sort of thing he's certainly capable of winning
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Jono
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and front page of LTA website.. 
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Jac
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Alex's 2nd rd match got postponed due to darkness at 46 76(14)!!
what a TB there. i assume Alex had to save several match points!
Unfortunately he isn't back to 100% yet and still felt some pain towards the end of his rd 1 match. I assume if its gets too bad he will pull out. He really wants to try and be fit for the USOQ.
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Jac
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good news - alex won the decider. in what was effectively a 1 set shoot out alex came through 64. he broke immediately only to hand it back at 3-3 before breaking again and moving on to take the win. Plays Bubka next.
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Jono
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A handy jump from 6 to 17 points, and $1,720 to $2,920.
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Jac
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with the way the ATP have changed the points around going deep is very important now, (of course it always was but more so now) at the smallest level in the past you'd get 50pts for a win and 22 for a semi now its 27pts for a semi and 75 pts for a win! a huge difference.
its a shame Alex is not 100% fit as he is getting himself some good results.
fingers crossed he can make his 2nd semi of the summer later today.
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Jono
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interesting, Id be even more tempted to put absolutely everything into this event to secure those massive points,even if it means neglecting US Open qualies.
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Jac
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Yes i think Alex will try his best here, really it depends on if the pain flairs up or not. If he can win vs Bubka then it would probably Bagdathis on the semis which could well be a step to far. but a semi would be a excellent result given the circumstances.
He could potentially miss the next challenger in Binghamton if he isn't feeling too good. being fit for the USOQ is vital really. you never know he be could get a kind draw in the qualies, and find himself competing to get into a slam which is what its all about.
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paulsawyer
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Yeah it's great to see Alex digging out wins in these tough matches.. I think it would be wise to rest after this tourney regardless of whether he wins against Bubka etc.
I somehow feel that Alex maybe has more chance of making the main draw at USO than anywhere else, since he plays on US hardcourts quite a lot, and a kind draw could be a huge boost of confidence
It would be terrific to make the semis and who knows, if he could then get a win against Baghdatis (yes, i know it's awful spelling) he'd be flying for the rest of the season
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paulsawyer
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Terrific win for alex 3 and 4!
Keeping it to two sets should help with the injury too and he's picking up some big points now...
It's fantastic that this run of form is coming now in the lead up to USO and hopefully he can keep going in this tourney
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Jac
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good result, a 2nd SF in 3 events and some good consistency being shown. that fact that he isn't 100% fit makes his run recently even more remarkable. nothing to lose now vs baggy who only just made it through 75 in the 3rd.
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Jono
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great,and points wise jumps to 33, and money wise to $5020.These points are much needed cos the only bad news is he drops 26pts on 17th August and drops 42pts on 14th September. Apart from that, Boggo has a clean run.However, if he can manage final; 55pts and win it 90pts.
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Jac
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Boggo loses 36 64 63.
Looks like Baggy had too much in the end. great 1st set from boggo, double breaking in it, but perhaps his shin injury started to play up again as the match went on (due to the time difference i haven't got any info on it yet) still its been a good performance by him and he will hopedully be feeling good about him his tennis right now.
As you say Jono he only has 2 blocks of points left to defend (even if they are quite sizeable) then its a free run. if he can get a couple of good results towards the end of the year (ideally winning a challenger - if he doesn't win a challenger then this will be the 1st time in about 5 years he hasn't won 1 in a whole year!) then maybe a finish inside the top 150 could be on the cards.
Btw sorry for no updates on the main site, i have no computer at home so have to come into work to use the net, and just haven't had time to do a update there yet. hopefully will on Monday
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Jac
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As an aside despite being GB no4 right now this year Alex has won 209 rankings pts. compared with Ward's 138, Josh's 106 and Evans' 125. shows he is still some way ahead of these guys and will probably still end the year as GB no2.
at the moment i don't know if Alex will play Binghamton yet, he has a tough 1st rd vs seeded Levy so if he is feeling a bit iffy he may decide to skip it.
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Jono
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shame,but what a good run,much more consistant. up 22 places to 213.A bit tempting to play Levy as Boggo thrashed him on hard in 2007,Valencia,CA,USA;6-3,6-2; but lost on grass in my home town 5 and 5. If Boggo plays,points are:-0,6,13,27,45,75.
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Jac
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Alex lost 64 75. fought back from 4-1 down in the 2nd set. but couldn't do enough. apparently he was still limping a bit so it looks like he isn't 100% fit yet. so really this loss isn't a bad thing, should now give him 2 weeks to rest b4 the USOQ.
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oggy
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Same old story with boggo! When will he perform to the level of talent that he shows glimpses of?
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Padraig S
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Rising up the rankingsSaw Alex for the first time in Vancouver. Was very impressed with his game - stylish, deceptive power, excellent timing, good strategy, and great demeanour.
Definitely belongs in the top 100 or even the top 40-50 'though obviously it's a very tough slog to get there.
Keep up the hard work, stay focused and positive, and BELIEVE!
You belong up there, Alex.
Padraig S.
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Jac
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Thanks Padraig, we certianly hope Alex can make the breakthrough.
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