because you are the last one with the video ... I can play against long pips blindfolded (short pips are a bit different story), thanks to my father, he taught me how to play against them, the defenders, blockers ... to me, it is a cat and mouse play and I enjoy it very much. also in the club where we are playing we have a player with some strange long pips, but I don't have much problems. but ...
Levenko was using side rotation too much. in the end he plays some fairly unchallenging serves and his play opens up.
Coton - here things get nasty. it is first set, 5:2 where Nie strikes back and the ball just goes ... this is definitely illegal rubber. treated with something. it's extremely difficult to play against pips like that, because you don't know what you are getting. I played against illegal pips and the ball that should have loads of backspin actually came with topspin here and then ... or at least flat, but never really backspinny. and it's really hard to play like this. if you manage to adapt fast, then it's okay but sometimes rubber just doesn't allow to adapt (or, like Nie, kills you off while adapting, because, let's face it - his technique is good, he plays good and in second set he adapts and starts using pips more ... there are some sketchy situations, but more or less, after first set, Coton did not play carefully - complicated serves, i.e. which did not go well for him)