I want to thank all my opponents, the commentators, the Production guys, and the viewers for helping make this series of matches an amazing experience for me. Beyond just tennis, this has given me the chance to share a side of my personality, my mental approach to the game, and some pretty solid stock tips, on a much bigger platform than I’ve ever had before. When Ian first suggested we play, I said yes without hesitation, assuming I’d figure out the rest later. I had many questions running through my mind, though: What was my success criteria for this trip? What will it be like playing indoors? Are there really that many power lines in Milwaukee? (spoiler: yes) The biggest question of all, though, was how would I perform when many of the advantages I typically enjoy (the outdoor elements, the element of surprise, playing when the markets are closed ;) were off the table? My personal answer is, not as well as I would have liked, but well enough to have plenty of positive takeaways and be proud of the effort I put forth. How many rec tennis players have the opportunity to play four high quality players in rapid succession, all of whom were geared up specifically to play against you? I’m guessing not many. This match series was invaluable in helping me identify ways in which I can improve. And yes, as the results clearly demonstrate, there are plenty of them! But I embrace that challenge, just as I have tried to embrace challenges throughout my life. I have already started trying to implement some of the changes that I think will help me become a better player. Before this series, I couldn’t understand why people thought I was unwilling to come to the net consistently, but I’ve since learned that shaking hands at the end of a match doesn’t count 😉 So that's clearly an area of development for me. There are several other things I’m working on, and it will probably take some time for those changes to reflect in future matches, but I’m hoping to have the opportunity to share more of my progress with you all if you’re interested. Specifically for Ian: My man, you played tremendously well. I’m really impressed with how much time and effort you devoted to getting back into match form, to overcoming your injury, and how you treat the people you work with after getting to see it first-hand. I also learned that “Competitive Ian” is on a whole different level than the cheerful, laid back guy we see in many ET videos. To the extent your time and interest allow, I would encourage you to continue pursuing competitive match play. You have a ton left in the tank and I think it’s something viewers would enjoy getting to see. To the people who watched: thank you all. Without you guys, this series would have never happened. I really appreciate all the positive comments, constructive feedback, and engagement with new people this opportunity has provided me. It wasn't easy to put myself and my game out there for such public scrutiny, but by and large you have made it all worthwhile. To the 10-Percenters (you know who you are) I would encourage you to reflect on what you have said, and ask yourself what you are trying to achieve. There’s enough negativity in the world as it stands- no need to add more. It’s not working, anyway- I’m still here, staying positive, excited for what the future brings. I hope all of you are as well!
Many congratulations, Ben, for everything. And many thanks for all the entertainment, fun, and valuable tennis and life lessons you proportionate to us!
can’t say enough how much i respect Ben taking this on. leaving his family and donating the reimbursement for travel to charity.....service and honor are clearly core values. could tell almost immediately you were former service member. Just a solid person! thx for sharing your time with us!
Pushers are very ‘real’ tennis players. However, if they run into an offensive player running on all cylinders it’s a very tough game to counter. I personally love playing pushers like MEP. They bring out the absolute best of my game. They make me dig deep and focus on every aspect of my game in order to be victorious. This was a great match! Congrats to Ian and I know Ben will come back with a vengeance in part 2 of their matchup.
I'd much rather play a pusher than a guy that smashed the ball, but makes an error every 3rd shot. Those matches have zero rhythm at all. All short points. Either they make a great shot, or, more often than not, they just hit one out. At least with pushers you get good rallies and a chance to play your own offensive game.
All of you at ET and Ben, have won my heart. Much respect and kudos. I’m a musician here on UA-cam but also a 3.5 player. I have learned a lot, and hope to play better because of these videos.
18:19 Ben: "So I'm guessing that's not what the people came to see" HAHAHA dry and wry, in the middle of a heated battle, LOVE IT So of course the solution is to play MORE until the people see what they came to see!!
Ian has too many weapons: overheads, volleys, effective serve, and forehand approach shots all were working. Ben is scrappy and found a way to challenge him but there was a skill difference that was insurmountable.
@@MichaelSienkiewicz Sound fundamentals and skill wins MOST of the time. One of Ben's strengths seems to be the tactical side and the ability through mental toughness to continually challenge his opponent to make his shots. If he does, then Ben can be beaten, as has been shown. But his record proves that there are a whole lot of high quality players that he often brings down.
Very well played by Ian. He did not give Ben a chance to get into his game and did not allow fitness to be an issue. Very impressive play and very entertaining match. Well done, both of you!
Yes! Come to ATL y’all! Play in the sun, heat and humidity. Great matches everyone, can’t wait for the bonus set. And let’s all agree we aren’t just here for the great tennis and sportsmanship, we love the sideline commentary as well. 🥰😂🔥
Ian, you have become my favourite player to watch on UA-cam. In an era of big hitters and big servers, you play with finesse, control, and consistency. Great inspiration that tennis is not just all about power. Beautiful game!
Great series! Ben is nice enough to come all the way from Atlanta. He's a great guy. But in the end, reality kicks in on why we need to learn tennis strokes with the right technique to play and compete effectively at semi-advanced level.
This is something to look forward to! Great build up and amazing work Ian in putting so much hard work ! Multi camera mic and commentary- everything enhances the experience. U are setting new standards for tennis UA-camrs
Good solid match here. Just want to shout out the ppl behind the computers editing this footage for us on an even smaller timeline. I agreed w/ the consensus that highlight vids/ trailer vids were a bit much, but just want to praise Ian for his professionalism on this whole situation. Thanks for always providing quality content and always thinking about the people :)
Wow, this is totally not the match I expected, but still totally hooked to this channel. Now the waiting begins for part 2. Ben and Ian, thank you giving everything no the court.
So much good tennis! Wow, Ben is truly the star of this series and a great sport! His game was analyzed and dissected for days while he played multiple matches against different opponents before finally playing the match against Ian. Surprised that Ben had an ounce of gas left in the tank but he still came out and put on a great show! Continued success in your game your way and however you choose for it to evolve! Thanks for this series, Ian and team!
Definitely want to see more playing from Ben. He's tenacious. At first, I wanted to learn how to beat MEP. Scott pretty much nailed it with his assessment. The winner here was an attacking style, with well placed approach shots and volleys. But you know what? I'm definitely in Ben's camp now. I really want to see him mentally deconstruct the "conventionally trained" player and find a way to prevail. That, for me, is icing on the cake. Thanks guys for putting yourself out there. Ian, Mark: Yes vote for match-up between ET and TT universes. But it has to be in Atlanta. Let the sun, wind, and humidity be factors in the match. 🙏🤞
Well done, Ian. Two observations, your preparation paid off as did your game plan. It is way more difficult to play an opponent with Ben,'s playing style than most people can imagine. It seems that agaisnt such an opponent we fall under a spell of sorts and play outside of our skill set, and frequently LOSE.
@@MEPTennis you have been an absolute joy to watch in all these videos. I enjoy your sense of humor and your deadpan delivery is amazing. Thank you so much for taking the time to travel to Milwaukee and leave your family to entertain us. Well done, Ben! Well done!
@@MEPTennis I think for the most part you were pretty generous. It seems you called balls in that were more likely out than vice versa. This is over the entire 4 matches. As long as you're calling it honest then thats all that matters.
I enjoyed watching this. Ben just left to many balls short. I don't know that many people can truly appreciate how different indoor tennis is versus out door. Great series and very entertaining. I hope you guys do come down to Atlanta. That would be fun to watch
*Match Stats* *Set 1* *MEP* *Aces:* 0 *DF's:* 0 *1st Serve In %:* 80% *1st Serve Win %:* 25% *2nd Serve Win %:* 0% *Return Win %:* 23.5% *Winners:* 1 *FH:* 0 *BH:* 1 *Unforced Errors:* 1 *FH:* 1 *BH:* 0 *Net Points Won:* 0/0 *Break Points Won:* 0/0 *Total points Won:* 7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- *Ian* *Aces:* 0 *DF's:* 1 *1st Serve In %:* 64.7% *1st Serve Win %:* 81.8% *2nd Serve Win %:* 80% *Return Win %:* 73.3% *Winners:* 13 *FH:* 9 *BH:* 4 *Unforced Errors:* 3 *FH:* 3 *BH:* 0 *Net Points Won:* 8/9 *Break Points Won:* 3/4 *Total points Won:* 25 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- *Set 2* *MEP* *Aces:* 0 *DF's:* 0 *1st Serve In %:* 79.3% *1st Serve Win %:* 56.5% *2nd Serve Win %:* 20% *Return Win %:* 19% *Winners:* 3 *FH:* 3 *BH:* 0 *Unforced Errors:* 1 *FH:* 1 *BH:* 1 *Net Points Won:* 1/1 *Break Points Won:* 0/0 *Total points Won:* 18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- *Ian* *Aces:* 4 *DF's:* 0 *1st Serve In %:* 71.4% *1st Serve Win %:* 93.3% *2nd Serve Win %:* 50% *Return Win %:* 51.7% *Winners:* 15 *FH:* 15 *BH:* 0 *Unforced Errors:* 9 *FH:* 8 *BH:* 1 *Net Points Won:* 11/17 *Break Points Won:* 2/2 *Total points Won:* 32 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- It seems there are a few key things that will lead to a convinving win over Ben. 1) A strong serve, both Ian and Scott were serving amazingly, Ben was struggling to even get the ball back into play, let alone play a rally. 2) Comfortable at the net and with over heads. You have a strong over head, Ben can't hurt you as much. 3) The final point is, as Ian was talking about, maintaining a controlled aggresion, something Scott mastered and Ian has done well here also with a few minor bursts of erratic shots. This 3rd set really intrigues me. The second set Ian's level dropped a little, with some more unforced errors and less winners. However, his serving got EVEN better. The biggest difference was the return win %. Ian was doing so well with the return the first set, not allowing MEP to dictate and move him around too much right off the bat. The second however this relaxed a little it seems, along with i think Ben was starting to find his rhythm, with hints of it shown towards the end of the 1st and here and there throughout the 2nd. If Ian's legs start to fatigue and he can't maintain the good level of serving he's shown, there may be some trouble. MEP knows his level is still yet to peak, Ian on the other hand is either close to his ceiling, or already coming down and trying to maintain it. Great content as always Ian, i look forward to the Essential Tennis Universe expansion, when you eventually take on team Tennis Troll. (As always, there may be minor errors in the stats. I do this by hand, point by point and sometimes you get so encapsulated within a rally, you forget whether you've marked something down as a winner or a net shot already. If I feel there's a major mistake anywhere I restart, god i am a stats nerd lol...)
After Ben loses the 3rd set he’ll challenge Ian to play another set with both playing right handed only. After he loses that one in the tie breaker they play another with frying pans. Ian let’s him win it to avoid having to play another set blind folded. Great event, thanks for the entertainment and the lessons.
Gosh...that whole series was one of the funnest things to watch I have seen in a very long time. Truly great content for tennis lovers! Well done and thank you to all who made it possible!
Congratulations to Ian! You did a flawless match, The training has paid off! Now we're hoping for parts 2 and 3 and 4............nice to see these games! You're the best tennis channel on youtube!
Well done, Ian! It should be more than fair to have a rematch at Bens home-court somewhen. The difference between outdoor and indoor is huge. I would love to see Ben and Scott playing outdoor against Ben.
Great job producing this match. Loved the commentating and the in-game updates from Ben and Ian. I have to admit I was rooting for Ian, knowing how much effort he put into training for this match and bouncing back from injury. It was inspiring to see him pull it off. At the same time, it was inspiring to watch Ben compete effectively against Ian with a less conventional game. He may have lost the match, but he kept the points going. MEP gives those of us who come to tennis later in life hope that we can play with higher-level lifelong players even though we’ll never have the same number of reps they do. Thanks guys! (Edited to correct name mix-ups.)
This series of matches were so entertaining! The quality of play was really high. Thank you so much for producing such great content! Big shout out from Toronto!
32:35 I learned this after like a decade of playing tennis. I was stuck at 4.0 for a few years until I decided to improve my conditioning. I started strength training and improving my cardio and all of the sudden tennis was easier.
Well done Ian. I'm shocked, shocked, that you were able to play so loose and free - but under control. I think seeing the other matches really helped show the path and gave you confidence. Kudos to you both!
Teaser: "I did not come to Milwaukee, to lose to Ian" Me: "Oooo this is gonna be close, maybe Ben wins?" Reality: "I did not come to Milwaukee, to lose to Ian 0 and 0" 😂😂 the power of edit
Great final comments from Ben. Great sense of humor too! I'll be watching....mostly on ET...since their production value with the cameras, confessionals, and commentators make it much more enjoyable. Hint, hint to Tennis Troll. Thank you to everyone involved in putting the whole Saga together.
Good job Ian. Like Ben said, you put up a master class on how to play an attacking game at the net and how effective it is against a player with Ben's style. Also kudos to play the third set and give us more what we want to see.
Ian you played well! If I could have you confidence at net I'd be a happy man haha. 22:53 Ben with some pro-level CONVENTIONAL Looking groundstrokes?!!! That Federer one-handed backhand came out of nowhere followed by a rafa forehand passing shot!!! In all seriousness, I loved this matchplay series and I commend Ben for his incredible attitude and will to compete. Kudos to the whole ET team for putting together this whole thing. Gave the tennis community something to be excited about beyond pro tour tennis!
I have really enjoyed this series of matches. Thanks to the players and those behind the scenes for putting it all together. I would love to see some rematches in a year or so & see what improvements Ben makes in his game. He seems determined and I just know he will add some elements to his game that will give him some cheaper points.
Loved watching all these matches. Thanks ET team! Ian was able to hit very few backhand groundstrokes and (as far as I could see) no topspin backhands for the entire match.
i’m loving these matches! kudos to all @essential tennis, ian, goes to show with generosity in collaboration ( which you’ve shown over and over again) something magical happens. i enjoy this tennis community so much, thank you!
Big cudos to ian and all The other essential tennis CREW for an fantastic event. And ben aka Mep, looking forward to see more of you. You are a legend 🎾 greetings from a fan from Sweden
That court looks really slick and fast. I'd like to see them play outside on a slower court with a little bit of wind and sun thrown in. Result probably would not change but I think points would be a bit longer and Ian would have to work a lot harder. Kudos to Ian though, he executed his strategy and played well.
Essential Tennis team - you guys are awesome! Thank you for providing the great content you do. It's a huge added bonus to see the players perspective and if I had to compare it to anything, you guys are the Twitch of Tennis! Thank you for allowing me to live this sport through you!
Thank you Ian, ET, Ben and the commentators. As well as the other terrific players that had matches with Ben. This series has been highly entertaining and just so much fun to watch. Excellent production. Great job everyone! 👊🏻✨
@Minute 16:38 i agree with commentator Ben is not a pusher he is a blocker. He might have limited strokes options or lacks elegance but to me he has something that is even superior to strokes skills and finesse: he has an outstanding ball-reading. How many times he beats the bounce on attacks that most of us would barely chase? Like we know Nadal and Federer both have better tactic options (shot selections) than Djokovic. Both have more mph/rpm is base strokes than him, both are better net players than him, both are better servers. BUT the only area where Djoko score better than both is: BALL-READING. H2H Djoko vs both tells the story that ball-reading is far better than everything. Djoko reads so well he can block any attacks including biggest serves right from baseline. So Go Ben Go!
Scott and Ian executed my thoughts on winning consistently against Ben which is - get to net and control the net. Having a quality overhead is mandatory and great volleys are a plus. Well done, Ian and I projected you as a tough matchup for Ben with your net game. While not a singles player, this is the exact strategy I would have in general and against Ben, any neutral ball - get to net.
OMG is this really happening!! 🤩🤩🤩 Quote of the year ''We are going places that he's apprehensive about and i'm not quite sure he wants to go there with me'' 🤣 mic drop
In this game, you see more variety of strokes from Ben instead of the repeated push slices on both forehand and back. One thing which Ben doesnt have is a threatening serve. Ian is more consistent, unrushed with better gameplay and used his much firmer serve to overcome, finishing many overheads. Its interesting to note that i did not see either player taking the really huge cuts at the ball. Both seem quite cautious than truly going for it. This was a game of the mind, more. Overall, still interesting and enjoyable to watch. Thanks fellas
When you go to Atlanta, can we expect to see a commentator booth and confessional cameras? Those features add so much to the content, and increases the enjoyment factor tremendously.
Great match! Ben was such a good anti-hero throughout this quartet/tetralogy/quadrilogy. Looking forward to seeing more content-- especially the ET Universe vs TennisTroll Universe
First, Ian owes a great debt of thanks to Ben for his willingness to engage, and for helping you build your audience. Ben is one tough player who fought gamely, even though he was out-gunned in the last couple of matches. There is a lot more to his game than meets the eye. Ben took a couple of hard losses, but we can all learn from his approach to the game. (He’d kick my butt so bad I would want to cry.). Congrats to Ian on his win. He played smart, aggressive tennis and didn’t let his own mistakes throw him off track. Congrats to Ian, Ben, and the other competitors for this whole series of entertaining and high-quality matches. I enjoyed them all.
MEP just ran into a buzzsaw that was Ian's game. Ian knew exactly what to do - take the ball early and be ferocious at net. It suffocated MEP and he didn't quite know how to counter this. That is where MEP needs to improve - making adjustments. Perhaps we'll see some adjustments in the 3rd set. I like how this match is continuing. Nothing like friendly competition!
I actually think Ben's ability to make adjustments is one of his strengths. He was quite aware of what was going on and expressed that he wanted to make adjustments, but Ian did a great job making it difficult to execute on those adjustments. Ben started hitting a few really nice passing shots and forcing some errors from Ian at net in the second set to make it a lot closer, but as he mentioned a couple times, Ian was consistently hitting quality approach shots that Ben felt forced to lob.
Yaaaaaaas guys. We need more. Increible game by Ian. Always team Ian (long time follower), but wished for it to be closer. Ben won me over. Altough he says otherwise, I think fatigue is a factor for Ben. With Ben‘s approach to the game he gotta bring back more balls ( and vary more). Hope he finds a way to win the third. Great commentary, Scott and Mark a perfect duo.
I was driving home from work, and i remembered! Ian is playing Ben today!! What an amazing content ET and Ian can create! And man... What a monstrous overhead you got Ian! That thing can do some brutal damage! hahaha
Great stuff Ben and Ian!! These videos have been really insightful for club players....I wish we did something like this in Australia. Kudos to the ET team.
As one of the people that said, “There is nothing to gain from Ian playing Ben”. I was clearly wrong. Ian worked relentlessly to improve his game, technically, physically and was rock solid mentally. I had Ben winning this match a few months ago and never expected the strength of Ian’s resolve to get better. Congratulations Ian and Ben....thank you for showing us what class and determination look like on a tennis court!
This all goes to prove that tennis coaches with enough match specific training can beat a pusher (blocker). This gives hope to all of us. Perhaps you guys should present MEP with a ceremonial Essential Tennis beard trimmer? Thanks for doing all of this guys - it's been great fun watching. I'm now waiting for the match stats from our Belgian friend. It would also be interesting to use an app like SwingVision to see statistics on shots, service speed etc.
I know Ben disagrees, but I think his legs are dead from the previous day playing two matches. He just doesn't seem to get to balls as quickly like in the Topher match. Still alot of credit goes to Ian as he executed beautifully and made few unforced errors. Would love to see a rematch this summer outdoors in Atlanta.
I suspect this as well. Recovery is important in tennis. I would also add the Topher match may have been mentally challenging to get over in just one or two days.
I really enjoyed this series and learned a lot! IMHO Ben lost one of his main advantages in that people where really aware and prepared beforehand of his playing style, so his unorthodox game and strokes did not catch anyone by surprise. I am not sure how it is in the US but where I am, we usually do not play the same people over and over or have seen them play before; you have to measure, adapt and come up with a strategy/solution right there with no previous knowledge of anything and I believe that is one of Bens advantage, people underestimate him and his strokes and normally need a set or more to adapt and by that time it is too late and some (or a lot) frustration has accumulated. Now being able to have a strategy beforehand is an advantage but you still need to execute, kudos to Ian and Scott for doing that so well!
Mark made the comment at the beginning at this had the prestige of Nadal and Federer at Wimbledon, I have to admit honestly but I kind of feel that way too, I’ve been looking forward to watching this Match ever since it was announced! Thank you for all the great content on your channel!
Some fine playing, Ian! Great job. But, Ben came on strong the 2nd set, but just a little too late. I like the way Ben started to adjust by going for some passing shots. He actually was putting some heat on those balls. It would be interesting to see how Ben would adjust his game if he consistently played more players of this caliber. Keep 'em coming!
So mad props to Ben for putting himself out there - playing on an unfamiliar surface and indoors. Would be great to see the ET group travel to Atlanta and take Ben on in his element. I'm guessing the views and likes for these videos justify it.
Ian. I am so pleased how you played this match.Tactically this a winning game against most players. Well played sir. It was also great how you addressed the adrenaline factor.This is a very common issue in match play. Respect to Ben for playing 4 matches in a row. Looking forward to the additional extra play in part 2.
Ben is very brave to play Ian and friends in their house (indoor) This is a clear disavantage for Ben to play in that kind of conditions espacially according to his style of play. Would be fair to play in outdoor conditions in Ben's playground. Would be a different story for sure. The other thing is Ben played many matches in few days. He mus be exhausted. Ian and friends had also many time to study ben's play. In that kind of conditions, Ben is clearly disavantaged. Congratulations for him, for his courage and great mentality
definitely taking this match into consideration for playing my own backboards and pushers so called Patience key for sure and placement of your ball Ian but still maintaining your technique and playing your game. Lefty here as well.
Ian’s strokes might not be all that, but he closes sooo well. His anticipation to come in, identify the right time, and the opponent’s next shot, plus never missing an overhead since 1993 can be such an overwhelming force. I feel like once Ian’s ground strokes get consistently more dangerous, he will beat out a lot of the people that used to give him trouble
Great job Ian! You executed the winning game plan to perfection. Also, def go play the Tennis Troll crew in ATL. Tennis in the south during the summer is a different animal. Bring a few shirts 😂
One last thought - these matches showed that to beat Ben requires good net play. Players who stay back on the baseline are the players that get caught in the MEP trap. It also shows that most 4.5 players just aren’t that comfortable at net so Ben beats so many who want to baseline their way to wins. Ben eats those players for lunch. Topher somehow changed his style in order to beat Ben. Had he not done so he would have lost. Kudos to him to being skillful enough to adjust his preference and execute while playing MEP.
Congrats on a well executed game play Ian and control of your emotions and adrenaline. You were very Scott-like in the first set, and righted the ship in the second when you ever-so-slightly wobbled, and held on for the win. I think the secret to beating Ben (for those, unlike me, who are young enough and have the tools to do so) is to work on your cardio, entice him to play multiple matches against multiple opponents, play him on a slick court, and serve, volley and hit overheads to near perfection. Yeah, that's ALL it takes, no biggie LOL. But thankfully you did not have to play a third set ... oh wait ... my condolences ... you did! That will be interesting. Thanks for the compelling content, ignore the naysayers, they are legion, but fortunately all the good folks in the ET community far outnumber the toxic comments people. So much to process and ponder to help my game (such as it is) based on these four matches!
@@kaanfidentuncle Ha yeah, The Guy Who Posts Too Much and embodies TL;DR (referring to myself). Did not get a chance to actually watch until about 9 PM EST. Hope you are having a great day NF!
Ian does a great job of getting to the net at almost every opportunity behind decent approach shots and backs it up with good volleys and incredibly consistent overheads! I would kill to have his overhead! Ben just doesn't have quite enough speed to get to the ball early enough to hit many good passing shots. He's proven he can hit them decently but he has to have just a bit of time to hit them, which is something Ian is not giving him. One thing I've noticed is that when returning serve Ben doesn't take any sort of split step to get himself moving on the return. He seems to get caught a bit flat-footed on some of Ian's serves. Maybe that's something he can work on. During points, he does seem to split step so it doesn't seem to be a problem there.. Ian was starting to break down a bit in the second set. If Ben could have somehow forced Ian to hit more balls early in the match it might have made things more competitive in the second. The longer the match, the more that gives Ben an advantage. Curious to see if that trend continues. Also wondering if Ian is going to just let down a bit since the third set is just for fun... Or is it?? I have to give the editing team kudos! Great job on all the videos!!
Ben seems like a really good dude, but I can see Hollywood working on a Freddie Kruger/Michael Meyers tennis thriller with Ben as the killer who just won't die!!! Love this series Ian!!!!
In an earlier video Ian said when Ben’s unconventional style reached its peak he would start from scratch as a right hander. That would make a great series to watch, Ben being coached in the conventional style as a right hander. Well it worked the opposite way for Rafa!
Kudos to Ian W. for showing us how to handle MEP style of play! The score would have been close(or against Ian) if this was played 9 months ago... Peace...
It'll be fascinating to see how ET folks do down in Atlanta. The court speed, wind, sun, temperature and humidity could bring out a totally different dynamic.
I want to thank all my opponents, the commentators, the Production guys, and the viewers for helping make this series of matches an amazing experience for me. Beyond just tennis, this has given me the chance to share a side of my personality, my mental approach to the game, and some pretty solid stock tips, on a much bigger platform than I’ve ever had before. When Ian first suggested we play, I said yes without hesitation, assuming I’d figure out the rest later. I had many questions running through my mind, though: What was my success criteria for this trip? What will it be like playing indoors? Are there really that many power lines in Milwaukee? (spoiler: yes) The biggest question of all, though, was how would I perform when many of the advantages I typically enjoy (the outdoor elements, the element of surprise, playing when the markets are closed ;) were off the table? My personal answer is, not as well as I would have liked, but well enough to have plenty of positive takeaways and be proud of the effort I put forth.
How many rec tennis players have the opportunity to play four high quality players in rapid succession, all of whom were geared up specifically to play against you? I’m guessing not many. This match series was invaluable in helping me identify ways in which I can improve. And yes, as the results clearly demonstrate, there are plenty of them! But I embrace that challenge, just as I have tried to embrace challenges throughout my life. I have already started trying to implement some of the changes that I think will help me become a better player. Before this series, I couldn’t understand why people thought I was unwilling to come to the net consistently, but I’ve since learned that shaking hands at the end of a match doesn’t count 😉 So that's clearly an area of development for me. There are several other things I’m working on, and it will probably take some time for those changes to reflect in future matches, but I’m hoping to have the opportunity to share more of my progress with you all if you’re interested.
Specifically for Ian: My man, you played tremendously well. I’m really impressed with how much time and effort you devoted to getting back into match form, to overcoming your injury, and how you treat the people you work with after getting to see it first-hand. I also learned that “Competitive Ian” is on a whole different level than the cheerful, laid back guy we see in many ET videos. To the extent your time and interest allow, I would encourage you to continue pursuing competitive match play. You have a ton left in the tank and I think it’s something viewers would enjoy getting to see.
To the people who watched: thank you all. Without you guys, this series would have never happened. I really appreciate all the positive comments, constructive feedback, and engagement with new people this opportunity has provided me. It wasn't easy to put myself and my game out there for such public scrutiny, but by and large you have made it all worthwhile. To the 10-Percenters (you know who you are) I would encourage you to reflect on what you have said, and ask yourself what you are trying to achieve. There’s enough negativity in the world as it stands- no need to add more. It’s not working, anyway- I’m still here, staying positive, excited for what the future brings. I hope all of you are as well!
Your series of matches were the most entertainging thing on web/tv so far this year for me, so many thanks from Holland!
wow great comment, take a bow son. Was a great series. Would love for this to be like an annual thing like some grand slam haha
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Many congratulations, Ben, for everything. And many thanks for all the entertainment, fun, and valuable tennis and life lessons you proportionate to us!
can’t say enough how
much i respect Ben taking this on. leaving his family and donating the reimbursement for travel to charity.....service and honor are clearly core values. could tell almost immediately you were former service member. Just a solid person! thx for sharing your time with us!
Great trailer. I’d have to give this entire series an A+. Great work ET team.
Thank you so much, Chase!
@Foxtrot Oscar that wasn't too nice
I'm only 5 minutes into this and I just paused it to say congratulations to the Essential Tennis channel for such excellent tennis content.
Thank you so much, Jonathan. That means a lot to all of us.
😳 Of course MEP saved the green shirt for Ian. 😁
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I honestly thought he would have a wardrobe full of green shirts 😂
@@andresf1984 lol thought so too.. I expected a Doug Funnie-like wardrobe lol.
Pushers are very ‘real’ tennis players. However, if they run into an offensive player running on all cylinders it’s a very tough game to counter. I personally love playing pushers like MEP. They bring out the absolute best of my game. They make me dig deep and focus on every aspect of my game in order to be victorious. This was a great match! Congrats to Ian and I know Ben will come back with a vengeance in part 2 of their matchup.
I'd much rather play a pusher than a guy that smashed the ball, but makes an error every 3rd shot. Those matches have zero rhythm at all. All short points. Either they make a great shot, or, more often than not, they just hit one out. At least with pushers you get good rallies and a chance to play your own offensive game.
All of you at ET and Ben, have won my heart. Much respect and kudos.
I’m a musician here on UA-cam but also a 3.5 player. I have learned a lot, and hope to play better because of these videos.
❤🙏
@vince wombat - do you want me to feature your music on my channel? send me an email!
@@MarkSansait absolutely!!!
@@MarkSansait where can I find your email?
@@icevelvetzen sansaitm23@gmail.com
18:19 Ben: "So I'm guessing that's not what the people came to see" HAHAHA dry and wry, in the middle of a heated battle, LOVE IT
So of course the solution is to play MORE until the people see what they came to see!!
Ben is fantastic!
“I’m not giving up on any points; and I’m not going to give up at any point in this match.”
Whoa. Respect.
BIG respect!
It looks like Ians ability to put away overheads makes the kill
Helps a lot!
@@EssentialTennis it's "Essential" 😋
His volleys were killer as well!
Ian has too many weapons: overheads, volleys, effective serve, and forehand approach shots all were working. Ben is scrappy and found a way to challenge him but there was a skill difference that was insurmountable.
@@MichaelSienkiewicz Sound fundamentals and skill wins MOST of the time. One of Ben's strengths seems to be the tactical side and the ability through mental toughness to continually challenge his opponent to make his shots. If he does, then Ben can be beaten, as has been shown. But his record proves that there are a whole lot of high quality players that he often brings down.
Very well played by Ian. He did not give Ben a chance to get into his game and did not allow fitness to be an issue. Very impressive play and very entertaining match. Well done, both of you!
I gave it my all! Thanks for watching, James
Yes! Come to ATL y’all! Play in the sun, heat and humidity. Great matches everyone, can’t wait for the bonus set. And let’s all agree we aren’t just here for the great tennis and sportsmanship, we love the sideline commentary as well. 🥰😂🔥
Thanks so much, Prisca!
Ian, you have become my favourite player to watch on UA-cam. In an era of big hitters and big servers, you play with finesse, control, and consistency. Great inspiration that tennis is not just all about power. Beautiful game!
"One for each member of my family" - You can't help but not love Ben. I'm glad they are playing one more set, I could watch them play forever.
It was heartfelt moment. Definitely like his attitude!
Great series! Ben is nice enough to come all the way from Atlanta. He's a great guy. But in the end, reality kicks in on why we need to learn tennis strokes with the right technique to play and compete effectively at semi-advanced level.
This is something to look forward to!
Great build up and amazing work Ian in putting so much hard work !
Multi camera mic and commentary- everything enhances the experience. U are setting new standards for tennis UA-camrs
Very kind of you, Saurabh. Thank you.
@@EssentialTennis Yeah seems Ian reached much higher level in editing, production and directing skills on YT videos that he has in tennis ;).
Good solid match here. Just want to shout out the ppl behind the computers editing this footage for us on an even smaller timeline. I agreed w/ the consensus that highlight vids/ trailer vids were a bit much, but just want to praise Ian for his professionalism on this whole situation. Thanks for always providing quality content and always thinking about the people :)
Wow, this is totally not the match I expected, but still totally hooked to this channel. Now the waiting begins for part 2. Ben and Ian, thank you giving everything no the court.
So much good tennis! Wow, Ben is truly the star of this series and a great sport! His game was analyzed and dissected for days while he played multiple matches against different opponents before finally playing the match against Ian. Surprised that Ben had an ounce of gas left in the tank but he still came out and put on a great show! Continued success in your game your way and however you choose for it to evolve! Thanks for this series, Ian and team!
No surprise at all that Ben had GALLONS of gas left in the tank. That's his greatest strength. He could keep playing Ian until Ian conks out.
Definitely want to see more playing from Ben. He's tenacious. At first, I wanted to learn how to beat MEP. Scott pretty much nailed it with his assessment. The winner here was an attacking style, with well placed approach shots and volleys. But you know what? I'm definitely in Ben's camp now. I really want to see him mentally deconstruct the "conventionally trained" player and find a way to prevail. That, for me, is icing on the cake. Thanks guys for putting yourself out there.
Ian, Mark: Yes vote for match-up between ET and TT universes. But it has to be in Atlanta. Let the sun, wind, and humidity be factors in the match. 🙏🤞
Well done, Ian. Two observations, your preparation paid off as did your game plan.
It is way more difficult to play an opponent with Ben,'s playing style than most people can imagine. It seems that agaisnt such an opponent we fall under a spell of sorts and play outside of our skill set, and frequently LOSE.
I hope Ben has some good lines. I like his sense of humour.
Let's all hope my lines are better than my line calls 😉
😆
@@MEPTennis lol, good one
@@MEPTennis you have been an absolute joy to watch in all these videos. I enjoy your sense of humor and your deadpan delivery is amazing. Thank you so much for taking the time to travel to Milwaukee and leave your family to entertain us. Well done, Ben! Well done!
@@MEPTennis I think for the most part you were pretty generous. It seems you called balls in that were more likely out than vice versa. This is over the entire 4 matches. As long as you're calling it honest then thats all that matters.
I enjoyed watching this. Ben just left to many balls short. I don't know that many people can truly appreciate how different indoor tennis is versus out door. Great series and very entertaining. I hope you guys do come down to Atlanta. That would be fun to watch
*Match Stats*
*Set 1*
*MEP*
*Aces:* 0
*DF's:* 0
*1st Serve In %:* 80%
*1st Serve Win %:* 25%
*2nd Serve Win %:* 0%
*Return Win %:* 23.5%
*Winners:* 1
*FH:* 0
*BH:* 1
*Unforced Errors:* 1
*FH:* 1
*BH:* 0
*Net Points Won:* 0/0
*Break Points Won:* 0/0
*Total points Won:* 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*Ian*
*Aces:* 0
*DF's:* 1
*1st Serve In %:* 64.7%
*1st Serve Win %:* 81.8%
*2nd Serve Win %:* 80%
*Return Win %:* 73.3%
*Winners:* 13
*FH:* 9
*BH:* 4
*Unforced Errors:* 3
*FH:* 3
*BH:* 0
*Net Points Won:* 8/9
*Break Points Won:* 3/4
*Total points Won:* 25
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*Set 2*
*MEP*
*Aces:* 0
*DF's:* 0
*1st Serve In %:* 79.3%
*1st Serve Win %:* 56.5%
*2nd Serve Win %:* 20%
*Return Win %:* 19%
*Winners:* 3
*FH:* 3
*BH:* 0
*Unforced Errors:* 1
*FH:* 1
*BH:* 1
*Net Points Won:* 1/1
*Break Points Won:* 0/0
*Total points Won:* 18
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*Ian*
*Aces:* 4
*DF's:* 0
*1st Serve In %:* 71.4%
*1st Serve Win %:* 93.3%
*2nd Serve Win %:* 50%
*Return Win %:* 51.7%
*Winners:* 15
*FH:* 15
*BH:* 0
*Unforced Errors:* 9
*FH:* 8
*BH:* 1
*Net Points Won:* 11/17
*Break Points Won:* 2/2
*Total points Won:* 32
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It seems there are a few key things that will lead to a convinving win over Ben. 1) A strong serve, both Ian and Scott were serving amazingly, Ben was struggling to even get the ball back into play, let alone play a rally. 2) Comfortable at the net and with over heads. You have a strong over head, Ben can't hurt you as much. 3) The final point is, as Ian was talking about, maintaining a controlled aggresion, something Scott mastered and Ian has done well here also with a few minor bursts of erratic shots.
This 3rd set really intrigues me. The second set Ian's level dropped a little, with some more unforced errors and less winners. However, his serving got EVEN better. The biggest difference was the return win %. Ian was doing so well with the return the first set, not allowing MEP to dictate and move him around too much right off the bat. The second however this relaxed a little it seems, along with i think Ben was starting to find his rhythm, with hints of it shown towards the end of the 1st and here and there throughout the 2nd. If Ian's legs start to fatigue and he can't maintain the good level of serving he's shown, there may be some trouble. MEP knows his level is still yet to peak, Ian on the other hand is either close to his ceiling, or already coming down and trying to maintain it.
Great content as always Ian, i look forward to the Essential Tennis Universe expansion, when you eventually take on team Tennis Troll.
(As always, there may be minor errors in the stats. I do this by hand, point by point and sometimes you get so encapsulated within a rally, you forget whether you've marked something down as a winner or a net shot already. If I feel there's a major mistake anywhere I restart, god i am a stats nerd lol...)
Thank you!
Awesome information!
Thanks so much for putting this together must have been a lot of work, much appreciated. 👍
After Ben loses the 3rd set he’ll challenge Ian to play another set with both playing right handed only. After he loses that one in the tie breaker they play another with frying pans. Ian let’s him win it to avoid having to play another set blind folded.
Great event, thanks for the entertainment and the lessons.
Gosh...that whole series was one of the funnest things to watch I have seen in a very long time. Truly great content for tennis lovers! Well done and thank you to all who made it possible!
We here at ET really appreciate the love and support! Supper glad you enjoyed it! Have a great day and keep an eye out for our new content!
The Epic Conclusion to the MEP Saga
Thanks for watching, Landon
Congratulations to Ian! You did a flawless match, The training has paid off! Now we're hoping for parts 2 and 3 and 4............nice to see these games! You're the best tennis channel on youtube!
Appreciate the kind words Lasse!
Well done, Ian! It should be more than fair to have a rematch at Bens home-court somewhen. The difference between outdoor and indoor is huge. I would love to see Ben and Scott playing outdoor against Ben.
Great job producing this match. Loved the commentating and the in-game updates from Ben and Ian. I have to admit I was rooting for Ian, knowing how much effort he put into training for this match and bouncing back from injury. It was inspiring to see him pull it off. At the same time, it was inspiring to watch Ben compete effectively against Ian with a less conventional game. He may have lost the match, but he kept the points going. MEP gives those of us who come to tennis later in life hope that we can play with higher-level lifelong players even though we’ll never have the same number of reps they do. Thanks guys! (Edited to correct name mix-ups.)
This series of matches were so entertaining! The quality of play was really high. Thank you so much for producing such great content! Big shout out from Toronto!
Thank you so much for your support, Andy!
32:35 I learned this after like a decade of playing tennis. I was stuck at 4.0 for a few years until I decided to improve my conditioning. I started strength training and improving my cardio and all of the sudden tennis was easier.
Great fun to watch and hats off to Ben and the ET team. The display of sportsmanship was fantastic too. Ben, you're a gentleman on/off the court too
He is!
Well done Ian. I'm shocked, shocked, that you were able to play so loose and free - but under control. I think seeing the other matches really helped show the path and gave you confidence. Kudos to you both!
Appreciate your support, T T
man, Ben is such a beast! love that he never loses his good mood!
❤
Teaser: "I did not come to Milwaukee, to lose to Ian"
Me: "Oooo this is gonna be close, maybe Ben wins?"
Reality: "I did not come to Milwaukee, to lose to Ian 0 and 0" 😂😂 the power of edit
Yeah. I lol'ed hard at that LMAOO
Editing wizardry 🪄😂
We think it's over, all is right in the world, and then plot twist: Ben pushes for a 3rd set. Jaw dropped. Love it! Game on!
Much more to come!
Great final comments from Ben. Great sense of humor too! I'll be watching....mostly on ET...since their production value with the cameras, confessionals, and commentators make it much more enjoyable. Hint, hint to Tennis Troll. Thank you to everyone involved in putting the whole Saga together.
Good job Ian. Like Ben said, you put up a master class on how to play an attacking game at the net and how effective it is against a player with Ben's style. Also kudos to play the third set and give us more what we want to see.
Thanks for your support, Andy!
Ian you played well! If I could have you confidence at net I'd be a happy man haha. 22:53 Ben with some pro-level CONVENTIONAL Looking groundstrokes?!!! That Federer one-handed backhand came out of nowhere followed by a rafa forehand passing shot!!! In all seriousness, I loved this matchplay series and I commend Ben for his incredible attitude and will to compete. Kudos to the whole ET team for putting together this whole thing. Gave the tennis community something to be excited about beyond pro tour tennis!
I have really enjoyed this series of matches. Thanks to the players and those behind the scenes for putting it all together. I would love to see some rematches in a year or so & see what improvements Ben makes in his game. He seems determined and I just know he will add some elements to his game that will give him some cheaper points.
Loved watching all these matches. Thanks ET team! Ian was able to hit very few backhand groundstrokes and (as far as I could see) no topspin backhands for the entire match.
All that backhand training for nothing.
Thanks for watching! My goals for my backhand extend way beyond this match
@@EssentialTennis haha I know, just kidding. You were going to play a tournament. Good match!
Wow- Ian’s strong lefty serve and approach shots really set the table for his crisp, well-placed volleys and “automatic” overheads! En fuego!
Glad you enjoyed it!
i’m loving these matches! kudos to all @essential tennis, ian, goes to show with generosity in collaboration ( which you’ve shown over and over again) something magical happens. i enjoy this tennis community so much, thank you!
More to come!
@@EssentialTennis and i’ll be here :)
Ian the overhead God. Great match guys!
Thanks for watching, Stef!
Big cudos to ian and all The other essential tennis CREW for an fantastic event. And ben aka Mep, looking forward to see more of you. You are a legend 🎾 greetings from a fan from Sweden
Great job Ben and everyone at Essential tennis, this is a hell of a series
❤🙏
That court looks really slick and fast. I'd like to see them play outside on a slower court with a little bit of wind and sun thrown in. Result probably would not change but I think points would be a bit longer and Ian would have to work a lot harder. Kudos to Ian though, he executed his strategy and played well.
WHAT DID I JUST SEE HERE!!!!?!? AWESOME!!! 3RD SET? Best of 5 sets?!? Loved this regardless. Thanks ET team!!
Glad you're enjoying it, Munditimum!
@@EssentialTennis Cheers!
Essential Tennis team - you guys are awesome! Thank you for providing the great content you do. It's a huge added bonus to see the players perspective and if I had to compare it to anything, you guys are the Twitch of Tennis! Thank you for allowing me to live this sport through you!
Thank you Ian, ET, Ben and the commentators. As well as the other terrific players that had matches with Ben. This series has been highly entertaining and just so much fun to watch. Excellent production. Great job everyone! 👊🏻✨
❤🙏
@Minute 16:38 i agree with commentator Ben is not a pusher he is a blocker. He might have limited strokes options or lacks elegance but to me he has something that is even superior to strokes skills and finesse: he has an outstanding ball-reading. How many times he beats the bounce on attacks that most of us would barely chase?
Like we know Nadal and Federer both have better tactic options (shot selections) than Djokovic. Both have more mph/rpm is base strokes than him, both are better net players than him, both are better servers. BUT the only area where Djoko score better than both is: BALL-READING. H2H Djoko vs both tells the story that ball-reading is far better than everything. Djoko reads so well he can block any attacks including biggest serves right from baseline. So Go Ben Go!
God that was a joy to watch. I'm so pumped to see the bonus tennis. Feels like Christmas, man. Incredible tennis, guys.
Scott and Ian executed my thoughts on winning consistently against Ben which is - get to net and control the net. Having a quality overhead is mandatory and great volleys are a plus. Well done, Ian and I projected you as a tough matchup for Ben with your net game. While not a singles player, this is the exact strategy I would have in general and against Ben, any neutral ball - get to net.
OMG is this really happening!! 🤩🤩🤩 Quote of the year ''We are going places that he's apprehensive about and i'm not quite sure he wants to go there with me'' 🤣 mic drop
Yikes!
Almost a thriller man.
When a pusher wants more...just say no. Drugs ‘r bad m’kay?!
Oh, yes, so right! LOL!
In this game, you see more variety of strokes from Ben instead of the repeated push slices on both forehand and back. One thing which Ben doesnt have is a threatening serve. Ian is more consistent, unrushed with better gameplay and used his much firmer serve to overcome, finishing many overheads. Its interesting to note that i did not see either player taking the really huge cuts at the ball. Both seem quite cautious than truly going for it. This was a game of the mind, more. Overall, still interesting and enjoyable to watch. Thanks fellas
Well done for dropping the whole match at once!
Thanks for watching, Jonathan!
It's hard to break a match that effectively (without changeovers) lasted under 20min in more sequels ;).
When you go to Atlanta, can we expect to see a commentator booth and confessional cameras? Those features add so much to the content, and increases the enjoyment factor tremendously.
Great match! Ben was such a good anti-hero throughout this quartet/tetralogy/quadrilogy. Looking forward to seeing more content-- especially the ET Universe vs TennisTroll Universe
Ben was amazing!
First, Ian owes a great debt of thanks to Ben for his willingness to engage, and for helping you build your audience. Ben is one tough player who fought gamely, even though he was out-gunned in the last couple of matches. There is a lot more to his game than meets the eye. Ben took a couple of hard losses, but we can all learn from his approach to the game. (He’d kick my butt so bad I would want to cry.). Congrats to Ian on his win. He played smart, aggressive tennis and didn’t let his own mistakes throw him off track. Congrats to Ian, Ben, and the other competitors for this whole series of entertaining and high-quality matches. I enjoyed them all.
MEP just ran into a buzzsaw that was Ian's game. Ian knew exactly what to do - take the ball early and be ferocious at net. It suffocated MEP and he didn't quite know how to counter this. That is where MEP needs to improve - making adjustments. Perhaps we'll see some adjustments in the 3rd set. I like how this match is continuing. Nothing like friendly competition!
I actually think Ben's ability to make adjustments is one of his strengths. He was quite aware of what was going on and expressed that he wanted to make adjustments, but Ian did a great job making it difficult to execute on those adjustments. Ben started hitting a few really nice passing shots and forcing some errors from Ian at net in the second set to make it a lot closer, but as he mentioned a couple times, Ian was consistently hitting quality approach shots that Ben felt forced to lob.
Your book came in the mail today, looking forward to reading it.
@@georgebasham2279 Awesome 🙏👍
Yaaaaaaas guys. We need more. Increible game by Ian. Always team Ian (long time follower), but wished for it to be closer. Ben won me over. Altough he says otherwise, I think fatigue is a factor for Ben. With Ben‘s approach to the game he gotta bring back more balls ( and vary more). Hope he finds a way to win the third.
Great commentary, Scott and Mark a perfect duo.
Glad you enjoyed it Nico, thanks for watching!
Nice work ET. This is like the WWE of tennis 🎾.
If you don't have a good overhead against ben you are done.
You made my day after a bad day at tennis!
Confident overhead is definitely a must against Ben!
I was driving home from work, and i remembered! Ian is playing Ben today!! What an amazing content ET and Ian can create! And man... What a monstrous overhead you got Ian! That thing can do some brutal damage! hahaha
Thanks for watching! 💪
As far as I’m concerned this series of matches with Ben has elevated the match play style videos of Essential Tennis to anime-status.
lol, thanks so much, Austin
Love these matches! They are a clinic in selftalk and keeping your head and heart in the game!
I like the trailers better than the match highlights, good switch!
Glad you're enjoying them!
Great stuff Ben and Ian!! These videos have been really insightful for club players....I wish we did something like this in Australia. Kudos to the ET team.
So happy you've found them insightful, Tom!
As one of the people that said, “There is nothing to gain from Ian playing Ben”. I was clearly wrong. Ian worked relentlessly to improve his game, technically, physically and was rock solid mentally. I had Ben winning this match a few months ago and never expected the strength of Ian’s resolve to get better.
Congratulations Ian and Ben....thank you for showing us what class and determination look like on a tennis court!
Glad you enjoyed this!
This all goes to prove that tennis coaches with enough match specific training can beat a pusher (blocker). This gives hope to all of us. Perhaps you guys should present MEP with a ceremonial Essential Tennis beard trimmer? Thanks for doing all of this guys - it's been great fun watching. I'm now waiting for the match stats from our Belgian friend. It would also be interesting to use an app like SwingVision to see statistics on shots, service speed etc.
I know Ben disagrees, but I think his legs are dead from the previous day playing two matches. He just doesn't seem to get to balls as quickly like in the Topher match. Still alot of credit goes to Ian as he executed beautifully and made few unforced errors. Would love to see a rematch this summer outdoors in Atlanta.
We'd love a rematch!
I suspect this as well. Recovery is important in tennis. I would also add the Topher match may have been mentally challenging to get over in just one or two days.
I really enjoyed this series and learned a lot!
IMHO Ben lost one of his main advantages in that people where really aware and prepared beforehand of his playing style, so his unorthodox game and strokes did not catch anyone by surprise. I am not sure how it is in the US but where I am, we usually do not play the same people over and over or have seen them play before; you have to measure, adapt and come up with a strategy/solution right there with no previous knowledge of anything and I believe that is one of Bens advantage, people underestimate him and his strokes and normally need a set or more to adapt and by that time it is too late and some (or a lot) frustration has accumulated.
Now being able to have a strategy beforehand is an advantage but you still need to execute, kudos to Ian and Scott for doing that so well!
So glad to hear!!
Mark made the comment at the beginning at this had the prestige of Nadal and Federer at Wimbledon, I have to admit honestly but I kind of feel that way too, I’ve been looking forward to watching this Match ever since it was announced! Thank you for all the great content on your channel!
It was more of a Nadal-Federer at RG 2008. ;)
Thanks so much for your support, Scotti
@@perakojot6524 I was at that match and man was it exciting. Had the time of my life watching :-)
Some fine playing, Ian! Great job. But, Ben came on strong the 2nd set, but just a little too late. I like the way Ben started to adjust by going for some passing shots. He actually was putting some heat on those balls. It would be interesting to see how Ben would adjust his game if he consistently played more players of this caliber. Keep 'em coming!
Mad props to MEP for playing all this tennis and being a straight up gamer. Respect.
Absolutely!
awesome match. cheers!!
note: trying to work and watch this is not easy. have to come back to rewatch later
Thanks for watching Ocean!
So mad props to Ben for putting himself out there - playing on an unfamiliar surface and indoors. Would be great to see the ET group travel to Atlanta and take Ben on in his element. I'm guessing the views and likes for these videos justify it.
Appreciate the viewing!
That could literally sell tickets here in Atlanta!
Ian. I am so pleased how you played this match.Tactically this a winning game against most players. Well played sir. It was also great how you addressed the adrenaline factor.This is a very common issue in match play. Respect to Ben for playing 4 matches in a row. Looking forward to the additional extra play in part 2.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
Ben is very brave to play Ian and friends in their house (indoor) This is a clear disavantage for Ben to play in that kind of conditions espacially according to his style of play. Would be fair to play in outdoor conditions in Ben's playground.
Would be a different story for sure.
The other thing is Ben played many matches in few days. He mus be exhausted.
Ian and friends had also many time to study ben's play.
In that kind of conditions, Ben is clearly disavantaged.
Congratulations for him, for his courage and great mentality
definitely taking this match into consideration for playing my own backboards and pushers so called
Patience key for sure and placement of your ball Ian but still maintaining your technique and playing your game. Lefty here as well.
Ian’s strokes might not be all that, but he closes sooo well. His anticipation to come in, identify the right time, and the opponent’s next shot, plus never missing an overhead since 1993 can be such an overwhelming force. I feel like once Ian’s ground strokes get consistently more dangerous, he will beat out a lot of the people that used to give him trouble
Appreciated
Congrats Ian! Was a pleasure watching all matches, so thanks to you and your team! Great job!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great job Ian! You executed the winning game plan to perfection. Also, def go play the Tennis Troll crew in ATL. Tennis in the south during the summer is a different animal. Bring a few shirts 😂
the competitive Ian is a beast. Love your killer lefty serve, the overhead and the footwork is tremendous.
So what happens after the MEP saga concludes? Guess it's back to watching cat and dog videos. Like the end of Friends all over again.
Will be Essential Tennis vs Tennis Troll Saga
More on the way, Ted!
Pray Roger is back in form for one last Wimbledon push...🙄😬🤔
@@alng16 Dude, I want to see that guy Pure Tennis Sense against one of Essential Tennis's top guys
Dog and cat videos are awesome. No shame there.
One last thought - these matches showed that to beat Ben requires good net play. Players who stay back on the baseline are the players that get caught in the MEP trap. It also shows that most 4.5 players just aren’t that comfortable at net so Ben beats so many who want to baseline their way to wins. Ben eats those players for lunch. Topher somehow changed his style in order to beat Ben. Had he not done so he would have lost. Kudos to him to being skillful enough to adjust his preference and execute while playing MEP.
Best of 17! Yay!
🔥🔥
Congrats on a well executed game play Ian and control of your emotions and adrenaline. You were very Scott-like in the first set, and righted the ship in the second when you ever-so-slightly wobbled, and held on for the win. I think the secret to beating Ben (for those, unlike me, who are young enough and have the tools to do so) is to work on your cardio, entice him to play multiple matches against multiple opponents, play him on a slick court, and serve, volley and hit overheads to near perfection. Yeah, that's ALL it takes, no biggie LOL. But thankfully you did not have to play a third set ... oh wait ... my condolences ... you did! That will be interesting. Thanks for the compelling content, ignore the naysayers, they are legion, but fortunately all the good folks in the ET community far outnumber the toxic comments people. So much to process and ponder to help my game (such as it is) based on these four matches!
😂
Was wondering where you were.
Jeez!
@@kaanfidentuncle Ha yeah, The Guy Who Posts Too Much and embodies TL;DR (referring to myself). Did not get a chance to actually watch until about 9 PM EST. Hope you are having a great day NF!
The match we've been waiting for since the dawn of time...
🔥🔥
Ian you're skills at the net are simply a MEP killer. Especialy with such fitness level. Congratulation to bith player. I love this content !
Thanks Sebastien!
Ian does a great job of getting to the net at almost every opportunity behind decent approach shots and backs it up with good volleys and incredibly consistent overheads! I would kill to have his overhead!
Ben just doesn't have quite enough speed to get to the ball early enough to hit many good passing shots. He's proven he can hit them decently but he has to have just a bit of time to hit them, which is something Ian is not giving him. One thing I've noticed is that when returning serve Ben doesn't take any sort of split step to get himself moving on the return. He seems to get caught a bit flat-footed on some of Ian's serves. Maybe that's something he can work on. During points, he does seem to split step so it doesn't seem to be a problem there..
Ian was starting to break down a bit in the second set. If Ben could have somehow forced Ian to hit more balls early in the match it might have made things more competitive in the second. The longer the match, the more that gives Ben an advantage. Curious to see if that trend continues. Also wondering if Ian is going to just let down a bit since the third set is just for fun... Or is it??
I have to give the editing team kudos! Great job on all the videos!!
Thanks so much for all your great comments and support, Glenn!
Yes, come to Atlanta! That would be sweet
Hahha Ben is Brilliant, amazing sense of humor 😂🤣
We loved working with him so much!
Awesome match. I really enjoyed the entire series with Ben. Looking forward to more in the future!
Thanks for following along, Dan!
Ben seems like a really good dude, but I can see Hollywood working on a Freddie Kruger/Michael Meyers tennis thriller with Ben as the killer who just won't die!!! Love this series Ian!!!!
😂
Bravo--your match was honorably contested and your sentiments admirably conveyed.
Appreciate the feelings 🙏
In an earlier video Ian said when Ben’s unconventional style reached its peak he would start from scratch as a right hander. That would make a great series to watch, Ben being coached in the conventional style as a right hander. Well it worked the opposite way for Rafa!
It would!
Kudos to Ian W. for showing us how to handle MEP style of play! The score would have been close(or against Ian) if this was played 9 months ago... Peace...
Unfortunately, it's midnight for me, I'll have to watch in the morning and post the stats then. Look forward to it!
Thanks for your hard word, Foot Fault!
It'll be fascinating to see how ET folks do down in Atlanta. The court speed, wind, sun, temperature and humidity could bring out a totally different dynamic.