So, I finally got around to watching that Cerundolo versus Shelton match replay. Wasn’t live, but I made sure to avoid spoilers, wanted to really see how it played out with fresh eyes.
First thing I did was settle in, you know, get comfortable. Didn’t just plop down, I actually grabbed a little notepad. Old habit, helps me focus on specific things rather than just watching the ball go back and forth.
My Watching Process
I decided beforehand I’d focus on two main things:
- Shelton’s raw power versus Cerundolo’s clay smarts. How would that contrast actually look point by point?
- How each player adjusted. Would Shelton try to rein it in? Would Cerundolo try to take the ball earlier?
So, the match starts. Right away, Shelton’s serve is just booming. No surprise there, but seeing it against Cerundolo, who usually moves so well on the dirt, was interesting. First few games, Cerundolo looked a bit rushed, like he was just reacting.
I jotted down a few notes about Shelton’s court positioning. He likes to stand way back on return, but on his own serve, he’s eager to get inside the baseline quick. Aggressive stuff.
Then, maybe mid-first set, I noticed Cerundolo starting to change things up. He wasn’t trying to match power, obviously. Instead, he started using more angles, trying to pull Shelton wide, especially off the forehand. He was mixing up the pace too, throwing in slower, loopier balls to break Shelton’s rhythm. I made a note: “Cerundolo using angles + spin, not just defense.”
Shelton, though, man, he just kept swinging. Even when Cerundolo got him scrambling, he’d unleash these huge groundstrokes. Sometimes they missed by a mile, other times they were incredible winners. That’s the deal with him, high risk, high reward. I wrote down: “Shelton relying on big hits, less plan B?”
Key Moments I Noticed
There was a period in the second set, I think, where Shelton started making fewer unforced errors for a stretch. He seemed to find a better balance, still hitting big but with more control. That was the moment I thought, okay, maybe he’s figuring out how to play Cerundolo on clay.
But Cerundolo is crafty. He weathered that storm. He kept using those high, heavy balls to Shelton’s backhand, kept changing direction. He wasn’t hitting flashy winners all the time, but he was making Shelton play uncomfortable shots over and over. That persistence, that was key.
Final Thoughts After Watching
Finished watching it all. Put down the notepad. My main takeaway? It really showed the classic clash of styles. Raw athleticism and power versus experienced court craft and consistency, especially on a specific surface like clay.
Shelton’s potential is obvious, the power is just nuts. But Cerundolo showed how manipulating points, using the court, and staying mentally tough can counter that raw power. It wasn’t about hitting harder, it was about hitting smarter for Cerundolo.
It was a good session, watching it closely like that. You see more than just the highlights. You see the little adjustments, the patterns, the mental games being played out. Good stuff.
