Re(1): Gant D’Or - Biarritz Masters 2 streaming Monday July 20 around 2pm EDT? Posted on July 22, 2026 at 12:57:57 PM by BigMucho
A warm welcome back to Johan who has been out for the past several weeks with injuries.
Understandably, Johan looked somewhat rusty and lacking in confidence in both Monday's Biarritz partido and Tuesday's St. Jean partido -- both losses. This won't last for long. Expect a return to form on Saturday where the quinellas format will encourage/require more aggressiveness from Johan whether he feels fully ready or not.
In the Monday Biarritz partido, many rebotes came way out off the back wall all the way to the 6 or 5 lines which should have resulted in Johan being able to relatively easily kill most of those points. But he took advantage of very few of those opportunities. Johan really needs to add to his backhand repertoire the costado off the rebote (costado al rebote) kill shot where the rebote is thrown sidearm over the back courter's head in the air resulting in a chic-chac. If Johan had effectively used the costado off the rebote shot on Monday, he would have won 8 to 10 more points and likely the partido itself.
Instead, aside from a few caroms, Johan predictably threw almost every backhand rebote as an inside placement pica high hop on the side wall which the opposing back courter cheated up on and successfully charged. Need the costado off the rebote threat to keep the back courter honest. Think Zulaica.
Alternatively, rebotes that come all the way out to the 6 or 5 lines also lend themselves to a forehand rebote shot that sails over the back courter's head for a chic-chac. Johan has a strong forehand and is readily capable of throwing that shot, but it was nowhere to be seen on Monday/Tuesday. Think Remen. Replies:
Tiger's Jai-Alai Chalk Talk
