Jesper de Jong was eliminated on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the gravel tournament in the Croatian Umag. Four days after his first final place at an ATP tournament, he was unable to cope with a bad job against Spaniard Carlos Taberner: 7-5 and 6-3.
De Jong made a visibly exhausted impression in Umag. In the first set, the Dutchman was able to stay with Taberner, who had sent home the first -placed Francisco Cerúndolo in the previous round. In the final phase of the first set, he still had to bow his head.
That broke the resistance of De Jong: he came early in the second set on a break behind and could not make up for that anymore. The Noord-Hollander also visibly suffered from the bad job in Croatia. The balls barely bounced. To the organizers tried to repair the track, but without results.
“Of course I am disappointed, but I thought he played very well,” De Jong told NU.nl afterwards. “It was almost impossible to get through, because he hardly made any mistakes and I had to do everything myself. And if you already walk on your gums, then that is very difficult.”
De Jong was clearly unhappy about the job in Croatia. “The jobs are so dramatic this year that it is almost dangerous. It is quite shocking. We must always fill in an evaluation of the tournament. But I cannot imagine that someone indicates that the jobs are normally here.”
De Jong had been in the Swedish Bastad on Sunday for the first time in the final of an ATP tournament. He then went down in three sets against the Italian Luciano Darderi. De Jong made a leap on the world ranking through his final place. He climbed from the 106th to 83rd place.
Jesper de Jong was Eliminated in the Quarterfinals of the Gravel Tournament in Umag, Croatia on Thursday. Four days after his first final appearance at an ATP Tournament, he was no match for spaniard carlos taberner on a poor court: 7-5 and 6-3.
De Jong Made A Visible Exhausted Impression in Umag. The Dutchman was able to keep up with taberner for a long time in the first set, who had the top-seded francisco cerúndolo home in the previous round. In the final phase of the first set, he still had to bow his head.
That Broke de Jong’s Resistance: He Fell Beind Early in the Second Set and Was Unable to Make Up For It. The North Hollander was also visible Bothered by the Poor Court in Croatia. The Balls Barely Bounced. Around the Games, The Organizers Tried to Repair the Court, But Without Success.
“I am naturally disappointed, but I thought he played very well,” De Jong Said to Nu.nl afterwards. “It was Almost Impossible to get through, because he hardly made any mistakes and I had to do everything myself. And if you’re already running on fumes, then’s very difficult.”
De Jong was Clearly not Happy About the Court in Croatia. “The Courts are so dramatic this year it is almost dangerous. It’s Quite shocking. We always have to fill out an evaluation of the tournament. But I can’t imagine anyone indicating that the cours are normal here.”
De Jong had Been in the Final Of An ATP Tournament for the First Time in Bastad, Sweden on Sunday. He then resolves the Italian Luciano Darderi in Three Sets Against. De Jong Made A Leap in the World Rankings Due to his Final Placement. He climbed from 106th to 83rd place.
