Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Tobias Kamke also took their opportunities in the early rounds to meet in the Quarterfinal. For Roger-Vasselin, this week marked a second career ATP-level quarterfinal appearance, his first coming in Tokyo in 2009, when he famously surprised recent US Open Champion Juan Martin del Potro and also beat Jurgen Melzer. Meanwhile, Kamke reached only his first career quarterfinal on Wednesday.
As the two competed for a chance to have weekend plans for the first time at an ATP World Tour tournament, it was Kamke who was steadier. Despite losing the first set 3-6, the German ran away with the second set, holding easily and putting pressure on his opponent. Kamke covered the court well, and, although he looks slight, can be explosive off the ground. In the deciding set, Kamke put the pressure on his French opponent's serve early on and never let up, taking the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, and making his first semifinal.
Kamke is also in the Doubles Quarterfinals with compatriot Denis Gremelmayr.
With a Little Help
What makes a journeyman into an ATP tournament seed? A little assistance. Like that little black dress, a great purse, or a mansion on Newport's famous Cliff Walk, a coach is an expensive investment, but is well worth it in returns.
Kamke, generally ranked in the 200s through 2009, began to rise in the rankings in spring 2009 and has been a fixture in the Top 100 for almost a year. Seeded eighth here in Newport, Kamke credits his coach with the rise. Prior to March 2009, Kamke was coached part-time and felt he was missing out both on year-round in-tournament training, and a second pair of eyes for his matches. But since hiring Ralph Grambow, still only 31 years old, the German feels he's steadily improving.
"I traveled mostly alone [before] 2009," said Kamke, "and it's tough to stay focused if you're alone. And then you lose a couple first round matches, and then you get, like, a little self doubt, and you don't know what's going wrong because you don't really... you can't see your matches, because it's tough to see something if you're playing. It's easier to see from outside, and my coach does it unbelievably, and that helped me unbelievably."
Kamke's semifinal opponent Isner gave his coach, Craig Boynton, praise as well, for providing excellent analysis of the American's strengths and weaknesses in a match. Perhaps there will be a coach-off on Saturday.
You Gotta Risk It
Professional wrestling fan Isner thinks he does not have enough aggression in his life. Isner told the media after defeating Alex Bogomolov, Jr. in the Quarterfinals that if he didn't serve as well as he had today (he served at 76%, making 21 aces), he would have been more in trouble in the match. Aware that he has little chance of improving his defensive game, Isner said he needs to remember not to get passive in matches. "More often than not, the more aggressive player gets paid off," Isner said.
Isner also believes he could make grass, currently perhaps his weakest surface, his best. "But," noted the top seed, "grass court season, in general, is really short."
Yeah, but could he stand in the way of Wozniacki's four-peat?
As Rajeev Ram, who lost in the Doubles Quarterfinals today with partner Scott Lipsky, was leaving the tournament, a boy asked him for an autograph. The friendly Ram obliged, but, as he walked off, the boy of about 10 shyly yelled, "Excuse me." "Excuse me, I have just one question," said the child as the player turned around, "Are you going this year to the Pilot Pen T..." The boy cut himself off. "Oh, it's a women's tournament... Nevermind," he said, striking himself on the forehead, and running away in shame.
The kid also forgot the tournament in New Haven is no longer called "Pilot Pen."
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