Mix of styles on show for packed stadium crowds
The mix of styles brought with it differing results on the opening day of competition action in the men’s ASB Classic at Auckland’s ASB Tennis Arena.
The big-hitting Kazakhstan fifth seed, Alexander Bublik, found himself outplayed by the silky skills of experienced Belgian David Goffin who prevailed 6-3 6-4.
Goffin, 31, is currently ranked 53rd in the world but at his best was as high as No 7, with six ATP Titles to his credit.
He managed to navigate the powerful serve from the 1.96m Bublic, who rose to a career-high 30 in the world after winning his first ATP Tour title at Montpellier in 2022.
“I returned really well. We all know how well he can serve like 220kph which is not easy to return especially on these small courts with not a big space behind the baseline,” said Goffin. ”So the key was the return for sure and to try to stay calm. He broke me twice but I retuned well and stayed calm to come back in the second set which was really good.”
It was a similar story with the second showdown on centre court but with the opposite result when the youthful power from American Jenson Brooksby proved a winner against the experienced Italian Fabio Fognini 6-7 6-1 6-3 in the match of the day.
Fognini, with a career-high No 9 in the world and with nine ATP titles to his credit, prevailed in the first set tiebreak, producing an array of blitzing back-court passes with some audacious touch shots.
Throughout it, the 22-year-old Brooksby maintained his poise, using his 1.93m to effect, while always on-guard against the deft skills of the experienced Italian.
“I have put in a lot of work in the off-season on my fitness and endurance and I really felt that payoff today,” said the American, who has already accounted for the likes of World No 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas in his short career.
Brooksby was always ahead in the final two sets, and despite some brave hitting from Fognini, the American was in control to claim a key win.
Veteran Frenchman Richard Gasquet went toe-to-toe with young kiwi Kiranpal Pannu to 3-3 in the first set, but when the kiwi lost his legs then his opponent took control to win 6-3 6-1.
Pannu, who earned his spot in the field from a wildcard spot offered by the event, enjoyed the experience which was an eye-opener to the level he needs to aspire to.
“It was an amazing experience. The kiwi fans were also amazing. That was the first time I ‘ve experienced a packed-house,” said Pannu.
“There was one point where I lost my legs. I took a toilet break to change and get them back but I couldn’t. At this level if you run out of steam there’s nothing you an do. I lost the rhythm in my serve. I couldn’t hang in there on those points whereas at the start I was hitting a lot of aces and it was toe-to-toe.
“I’ve played matches coming in but not matches of this level. Definitely if I want to compete at this level, the physicality has to get a lot better.”
Gasquet, a former world top-10 and with 15 ATP Tour Titles to his credit, said his return of serve was a key once he picked up the speed of the hardcourt surface.
“It was my first time on this court and my first time in Auckland so I didn’t know the court,” said Gasquet. “It was very fast and he was serving well so I had to return well and that was the difference for the rest of the match.
“It was very nice atmosphere for tennis, and nice for people to be so close and enjoy a drink. It is great for tennis and enjoyable for players too.”
Earlier Frenchman Constant Lestienne (FRA) beat Pedro Cachin (ARG) 6-3 6-3, while in doubles action Sebastian Baez (ARG) and Pedro Martinez (ES) edged the French pair of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul 6-4 6-4 in the opening doubles, while New Zealander Artem Sitak and American Alex Lawson were edged by second seeds Marcel Granollers (ESP) and Horacia Zeballos (ARG) 6-7 2-6.
The evening concluded with a barn-buster with ebullient American JJ Wolf winning 6-4 7-6 over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. Wolf claimed the opening but was down 5-4 in the second before breaking back and then winning the ti3ebreak 7-4 to move into the second round.