Potito is helping Italy to play at the Davis Cup.
Yesterday, during the third round of the Group II of the Euro-African zone, he played with Kopof of Poland and he won 64 63 64. In my opinion, he was not the "usual" Potito, but the difference with the Polish tennis player was huge and Potito "got the break" at the beginning of each set.
Italy is 2-0 at this stage and it is very likely that on Sunday, Italy can finally come back in the second division of the Davis Cup.
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Friday, September 17, 2004
Potito at the Bucharest open
The French player Richard Gasquet (Q) eliminated Potito Starace 63 64 at the first round of the Bucharest Open. Gasquet was coming from the qualification rounds.
Potito was tired and he did not play "his" tennis this week. Next week Potito will play the Davis Cup in Livorno (clay).
Filippo Volandri lost in the Semifinal today 67 26 with the Argentinian Acasuso
Potito was tired and he did not play "his" tennis this week. Next week Potito will play the Davis Cup in Livorno (clay).
Filippo Volandri lost in the Semifinal today 67 26 with the Argentinian Acasuso
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Bolelli at the Brasov Challenger
Simone Bolelli, 18 years old, lost with Victor Ionita (6-1 7-6) at the Brasov Challenger (25k€, Clay). Mr. Bolelli started with a WC, since he is 399 of the ATP Indesit race.
Simone played a wonderful tennis in Brasov, by beating Rumenians Mergea (4-6 7-6 6-2), Sabau (4-6 6-4 7-5) and Spanish Ramirez Hidalgo (2-6 7-6 6-4), Ventura (7-6 6-2), which are n. 137 and 132 of the ATP ranking.
Simone played a wonderful tennis in Brasov, by beating Rumenians Mergea (4-6 7-6 6-2), Sabau (4-6 6-4 7-5) and Spanish Ramirez Hidalgo (2-6 7-6 6-4), Ventura (7-6 6-2), which are n. 137 and 132 of the ATP ranking.
Friday, September 10, 2004
September 13th-19th
Potito did not play last week in Genoa.
He will be in Bucharest (clay, 375k€) during the incoming week. At the first round, he still don't know with whom he will play (somebody from Qualifications). Volandri will play with Albert Montanes from Spain, n. 74 at the Indesit ATP race ranking. Montanes, 24 years old won this year the Valencia tournament and he was semifinalist at Barcelona, Cagliari and Barletta.
He will be in Bucharest (clay, 375k€) during the incoming week. At the first round, he still don't know with whom he will play (somebody from Qualifications). Volandri will play with Albert Montanes from Spain, n. 74 at the Indesit ATP race ranking. Montanes, 24 years old won this year the Valencia tournament and he was semifinalist at Barcelona, Cagliari and Barletta.
Saturday, September 04, 2004
The end of a dream
Seppi and Volandri lost yesterday at the US Open.
That's the end of a dream. At the same time, Rochus defeated Moya and reached the Fourth round.
That's the end of a dream. At the same time, Rochus defeated Moya and reached the Fourth round.
Oliver, Rino, Potito and his backhand
During his career, Rino Tommasi, the most influencial Italian sport journalist, has proved many times to be right.
Yesterday he said in his site: “for sure, Starace has to improve his backhand, if he wants to reach a significant improvement (in the ATP ranking). Playing with competitors who are able to attack him in that side, he would have huge problems.” I am not sure that Olivier Rochus had had the chance of reading this quote before his game with Potito. However, he implicitly applied this technique all over the 5 sets with Mr. Starace yesterday at the Court 10 of the US open. I am just wondering what Mr. Tommasi is going to comment about that match.
To be honest, the Italian press suggested other reasons for the defeat with Olivier Rochus (6-1, 4-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3): Potito's low experience on the 5-set games (by the way, Olivier has got the same experience, as pointed out by the Belgian press), as well as his dwindling mental concentration has created a competitive advantage for the Belgian player. In 2000, Rochus, the shorter player in the ATP tour (165 cm) was able to beat, along with his brother Christophe, the Italian team in a historical match during the Davis Cup.
Looking at the game statistics, I have also noticed that Starace was really irregular during the game and he made 36 unforced errors (111% more than his competitor Rochus, and 123% more than he did in the first round with Popp).
Next week, the Organizers of the Genoa challenger ($25k, Clay) are planning to give to Potito a Wild Card for playing there. I wish however that Potito can spend more time in the US, playing fewer Tournaments, but with higher price money and prestige. The ability to reach the top 50 in the next 30 weeks and to stop playing Qualifications at the Grand Slam tournaments is crucially more dependent on his planning than on the progress on his backhand play.
Yesterday he said in his site: “for sure, Starace has to improve his backhand, if he wants to reach a significant improvement (in the ATP ranking). Playing with competitors who are able to attack him in that side, he would have huge problems.” I am not sure that Olivier Rochus had had the chance of reading this quote before his game with Potito. However, he implicitly applied this technique all over the 5 sets with Mr. Starace yesterday at the Court 10 of the US open. I am just wondering what Mr. Tommasi is going to comment about that match.
To be honest, the Italian press suggested other reasons for the defeat with Olivier Rochus (6-1, 4-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3): Potito's low experience on the 5-set games (by the way, Olivier has got the same experience, as pointed out by the Belgian press), as well as his dwindling mental concentration has created a competitive advantage for the Belgian player. In 2000, Rochus, the shorter player in the ATP tour (165 cm) was able to beat, along with his brother Christophe, the Italian team in a historical match during the Davis Cup.
Looking at the game statistics, I have also noticed that Starace was really irregular during the game and he made 36 unforced errors (111% more than his competitor Rochus, and 123% more than he did in the first round with Popp).
Next week, the Organizers of the Genoa challenger ($25k, Clay) are planning to give to Potito a Wild Card for playing there. I wish however that Potito can spend more time in the US, playing fewer Tournaments, but with higher price money and prestige. The ability to reach the top 50 in the next 30 weeks and to stop playing Qualifications at the Grand Slam tournaments is crucially more dependent on his planning than on the progress on his backhand play.
Potito at the Grand Slam in 2004
While Potito is struggling in the 5th set with Rochus, I am publishing a visual analysis of what he did in the Grand Slam Tournament in 2004:
New website for Potito
Potito won the first round at the US Open
I was in Turin in the last few days, so that I haven't had the opportunity to update my blog.
However, I had the opportunity to see Mr. Starace playing with Alexander Popp in the first round at the US Open (thanks to Eurosport). He did well: after 30 minutes of troubles where he lost 1-6 the first set, Potito won 6-3 6-4 6-3. If he plays in a similar way, he could win with Oliver Rochus. The belgian player reached in the second round, after the match with the young Croatian Mario Ancic, who was in the semifinal at Wimbledon.
Volandri, Italian n°1, and Seppi (with Shuettler Silver Medalist at the Olympics Games in Athens, see the blog of the match) also reached the second round.
However, I had the opportunity to see Mr. Starace playing with Alexander Popp in the first round at the US Open (thanks to Eurosport). He did well: after 30 minutes of troubles where he lost 1-6 the first set, Potito won 6-3 6-4 6-3. If he plays in a similar way, he could win with Oliver Rochus. The belgian player reached in the second round, after the match with the young Croatian Mario Ancic, who was in the semifinal at Wimbledon.
Volandri, Italian n°1, and Seppi (with Shuettler Silver Medalist at the Olympics Games in Athens, see the blog of the match) also reached the second round.
Potito won the third (qualyfing) round at the US Open
Potito Starace has got acceptance to the main Tournament. He won today 64 63 with Florent Serra. The statistics of the third round are here. Potito will play on Monday with Alexander Popp, 82nd at the ATP ranking. Also Andreas Seppi won with Uros Vico and he will start on Monday the first round with Rainer Schuettler, number 12 of the ATP and 11 of the seeding at the US Open. There are other 2 Italians at the main tournament, Volandri (with KJ Hippensteel from the US) and Sanguinetti (with Tommy Hass)
Potito won the second (qualifying) round at the US Open
Potito Starace won the second round with Fred Hemmes Jr, 6-3, 6-4 from Netherland (see picture below).
Potito will play the third round at the US Tennis Open with Florent Serra, from France. Potito was able to reach the third round at the Roland Garros French tournment, starting from the Qualifying Rounds. Seppi and Uros Vico also qualified for the third round, while Luzzi lost with the Czech Vacek.
More details of the Qualification Rounds at the US Open URL.
Potito Starace at the US Open
8/25/2004
Potito Starace won the first qualifying round at the US Open. He will play the second round with Fred Hemmes Jr. of Netherland. Potito's friend, Federico Luzzi and Andreas Seppi, also got the second round (Uros Vico got the second round too). I hope those guys can make it!
By the way, it is possible to see the update scores. Pretty cool, isn't it?
Potito Starace won the first qualifying round at the US Open. He will play the second round with Fred Hemmes Jr. of Netherland. Potito's friend, Federico Luzzi and Andreas Seppi, also got the second round (Uros Vico got the second round too). I hope those guys can make it!
By the way, it is possible to see the update scores. Pretty cool, isn't it?
Starace is in the Semifinal at the Trani Challenger (€50k)
Potito won with the Spanish Navarro Pastor 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 during the Quarterfinals at the Trani cup. He is going to play today the Semifinal today at 7pm with Filippo Volandri, the Italian number 1 player. In the other Semifinal, Francesco Aldi will play with the Czech Jan Vacek.
Potito Starace won the San Marino (€100K) Tennis Championship
8/1/2004
I did not watch the game, but Potito will enter the ATP ranking inside the first 100. Good job!
Next week Potito will be at the Trani cup (€50K). He will be playing the first round on Tuesday with Haehnel, a good French player. It is a great opportunity for him, but I guess he can start other kind of tournaments....
I did not watch the game, but Potito will enter the ATP ranking inside the first 100. Good job!
Next week Potito will be at the Trani cup (€50K). He will be playing the first round on Tuesday with Haehnel, a good French player. It is a great opportunity for him, but I guess he can start other kind of tournaments....
Potito Starace
From 7/31/2004:
I am following a new Italian talent in the ATP Tennis landscape: Potito Starace, who has just come into the game. Now he is playing at the CEPU San Marino tournament: he is doing well because he already joined the Semifinals. He is playing tonight with Oliver Rochus, n° 86 for the ATP ranking.
I am following a new Italian talent in the ATP Tennis landscape: Potito Starace, who has just come into the game. Now he is playing at the CEPU San Marino tournament: he is doing well because he already joined the Semifinals. He is playing tonight with Oliver Rochus, n° 86 for the ATP ranking.
FAQ
Since at my main blog, smirky, I have spent at least 10% of my postings to write something about Potito Starace, I made the decision to move all my comments here. You can find also here the FAQ of this site:
Why is the site in English?
Good question! The answer is that I wanted to update everybody about the Italian tennis crew.
Italian was not perfect to reach this goal.
Will the site be available in Italian?
Actually, there are many great sites in Italian, that the translation is not worth the effort.
What did you post that Potito won the San Marino Tournament in September, when he was at the US open?
I am unable to set the date for the postings. However, I guess it is not really important.
Why have you built another Potito's website?
Guess what: Potito is going to be happy to have more websites. Moreover, the official site until now is only in English.
Why is the site in English?
Good question! The answer is that I wanted to update everybody about the Italian tennis crew.
Italian was not perfect to reach this goal.
Will the site be available in Italian?
Actually, there are many great sites in Italian, that the translation is not worth the effort.
What did you post that Potito won the San Marino Tournament in September, when he was at the US open?
I am unable to set the date for the postings. However, I guess it is not really important.
Why have you built another Potito's website?
Guess what: Potito is going to be happy to have more websites. Moreover, the official site until now is only in English.
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