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  • Houston Final: James Blake vs. Marcel Grannollers-Pujol

    4/20/08 2:30 PM | Jonathan Morgan
    - James Blake is perhaps already a houshold name in the tennis world, but Spaniard Marcel Grannollers-Pujol has made quite a name for himself this week, and would add more to his rising stock should he pull off the upset.

    MGP is what people like to call a “dirtballer”, and “clay court specialist”. Whatever the term you use, these guys are darn good on clay. He is no exception. MGP has been getting his ranking up a lot recently, posting great results in challengers adn getting the #7 seed here.

    James Blake has yet to lose a set this week, but will face his stiffest competition yet in MGP. Blake's plan will be to overpower the Spaniard with his devastating forehand and solid serving. James will look to keep the points rather short, as he is not comfortable standing well behind the baseline and top-spinning until oblivion.

    Whether or not this plan will work depends on how MGP handles the Blake pace. Blake is not a natural clay courter and he sometimes simply plays his hardcourt game on clay. Standing up on the baseline and taking balls early for sure, but his movement is something MGP can exploit. Sometimes when James is on the run, he hits the ball and then slides after contact, as opposed to sliding into the ball and ending the slide immediately. Marcel can easily send a ball out wide and move in to knock off a short ball while Blake is still finishing with his afterslide. MGP will need to serve very well also.

    Blake is contesting his first clay court final while MGP is simply playing for his first title, surfaces not applicable. Both are looking for their own personal history, only one will get it.

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