Shanghai: On the show court of the Qi Zhong Tennis Center, playing a first round match in the Shanghai Rolex Masters, Somdev Devvarman resembled a struggling technician, unshaven and unsure.
With the bruising afternoon sun beating down on him, the 26-year-old Indian flinched once too often, going down to Spain's Guillermo Garcia Lopez 4-6, 3-6 in a flood of errors.
Somdev, ranked 84 to Garcia's 53, wasn't playing badly, in that his strike from the back of the court was heavy and clean for most part, but he never quite got his teeth into the fight in the manner he so enjoys.
Still, he made a clutch of fine passes and pulled off some delicate volleys. Somdev had chances to break and take the lead in both sets, but failed to put his foot through the door when opportunity beckoned, going over the lines or finding the bottom of the net.
Visibly downcast, the Indian told TOI, "The difference was the big points, which he played really well. I had my chances, but I didn't make the returns when I needed to. Against a player of his calibre, you only get so many chances and if you can't take them you end up losing."
The US-based pro, who has already played Garcia thrice this season, winning two encounters, on clay and grass in Belgrade and Eastbourne, came into the match knowing what to expect. "I had a definite plan, I know how he plays," Somdev said.
"He's an aggressive baseliner, who doesn't like to play too many balls, doesn't like playing defence, that's what I was trying to do, make him play, but unfortunately my timing was a little off from the back of the court. I didn't serve great either. I have no one to blame but myself."
"Maybe I was a little tired, in patches," he said, "I have been struggling since the US Open, these courts in Asia are a little too fast for my liking. But I've been trying to do whatever I can to try and improve."
TOI
