WTA 1000 Dubai 2/16 - 2/22 2025

[ponchi101]

do people here still doubt that Noskova is a future champion? Just beat Pegula, who is my eternal benchmark - if you can beat her, you are a very very good player indeed.

Serious question now. Don't you have any doubts? Losing to another player that a while back looked like a future champ and now is in the middle of the pack.
I say she is good for a 40% chance of winning a slam sooner or later. Her fluctuations are not menial.

[Suliso]

Tauson is looking promising again. Will now be seeded for IW.

[ponchi101]

Tauson is looking promising again. Will now be seeded for IW.

She has recovered from that low. Maybe it was injuries, after all.
And Andreeva's thumping of Swiatek speaks very well of her. She may be approaching her full potential.

[Suliso]

Yes, albeit judging from 2-3 tournaments only is a bit dicey.

[ashkor87]

do people here still doubt that Noskova is a future champion? Just beat Pegula, who is my eternal benchmark - if you can beat her, you are a very very good player indeed.

Serious question now. Don't you have any doubts? Losing to another player that a while back looked like a future champ and now is in the middle of the pack.
I say she is good for a 40% chance of winning a slam sooner or later. Her fluctuations are not menial.

Not menial? What does that mean?

[ashkor87]

Shakespeare wrote some bad poetry too - does that make him a bad poer?
Players should be judged on their best play, not their worst or average

[mick1303]

Shakespeare wrote some bad poetry too - does that make him a bad poer?
Players should be judged on their best play, not their worst or average

This is a point of view, not a fact. Another possible point of view that judging on their average gives a more objective picture.

[Suliso]

I'd also judge on average. Average of Djokovic and Federer dominated the tour not their best.

[ponchi101]

Shakespeare wrote some bad poetry too - does that make him a bad poer?
Players should be judged on their best play, not their worst or average

Menial is like boring.
If you are going to judge a player by his best, then all players that have won a slam are equal. After all, at their best they won a major.
I believe you have to consider everything. Sampras, at his WORST, could still beat almost everybody on grass (1990's grass). Novak, at his best, is simply unbeatable.
But their averages are not the same. So, you consider everything.
Ostapenko at her best can win a slam. After all, she did it. But she has not produced her best in many years now. So, you have to judge by her level of consistency.

[mick1303]

Shakespeare wrote some bad poetry too - does that make him a bad poer?
Players should be judged on their best play, not their worst or average

.... Novak, at his best, is simply unbeatable.
....

This is where I would not agree. If we're looking at the absolute best, attack-oriented players usually beat defense-oriented players. Obviously being attack- or defense- oriented is not black-and-white, i.e Novak is defense-oriented comparing to Federer, but attack-oriented comparing to Nadal. Probably this proximity to the median is why he is the best overall. BUT... IMO this is also the reason why the very best version of Federer beats his very best version.

[Owendonovan]

I was recently mulling over who wins when Sabalenka, Keyes, Ostapenko, and Rybakina are playing as well as they can? Not great movers but hit the ball the hardest.

I agree Fed at his best just squeaks by Nadal and Djokovic, but those margins are razor thin.

[ti-amie]

Friday Order of Play

Center Court
Starts at 6:00 AM

Semifinal
CZE K. Siniakova/USA T. Townsend (1) vs FRA K. Mladenovic/CHN S. Zhang
Followed By
Semifinal
KAZ E. Rybakina (6) vs RUS M. Andreeva (12)
Followed By
Semifinal
DEN C. Tauson vs CZE K. Muchova (14)
Followed By
Semifinal
TPE S. Hsieh/LAT J. Ostapenko (3) vs CHN Y. Xu/CHN Z. Yang

[ashkor87]

Shakespeare wrote some bad poetry too - does that make him a bad poer?
Players should be judged on their best play, not their worst or average

Menial is like boring.
If you are going to judge a player by his best, then all players that have won a slam are equal. After all, at their best they won a major.
I believe you have to consider everything. Sampras, at his WORST, could still beat almost everybody on grass (1990's grass). Novak, at his best, is simply unbeatable.
But their averages are not the same. So, you consider everything.
Ostapenko at her best can win a slam. After all, she did it. But she has not produced her best in many years now. So, you have to judge by her level of consistency.

Menial does not mean boring. ..if something is not menial, it is high class, sophisticated. Which is why I was surprised

Yes, a player cany just play well once, it has to be often enough. osta is a good example, I agree. My example would be Panatta, at his best, he was a great player, he played at that level for a couple of years. Borderline case.

[ashkor87]

Shakespeare wrote some bad poetry too - does that make him a bad poer?
Players should be judged on their best play, not their worst or average

Menial is like boring.
If you are going to judge a player by his best, then all players that have won a slam are equal. After all, at their best they won a major.
I believe you have to consider everything. Sampras, at his WORST, could still beat almost everybody on grass (1990's grass). Novak, at his best, is simply unbeatable.
But their averages are not the same. So, you consider everything.
Ostapenko at her best can win a slam. After all, she did it. But she has not produced her best in many years now. So, you have to judge by her level of consistency.

I dont agree. But that is ok, at least it is not an adhominem argument.

[ashkor87]

very impressive win by Andreeva over Iga.. her defense, and her serve, were very very good..her stretch at the corners reminded me of Sinner.. and her passing shots were laser sharp.
she should win this title at this rate. Andreeva is really coming along fast - young people improve at a blinding speed when they start on that path.
Saw a bit of Tauson-Noskova too, not as impressed by Tauson as I expected to be.. given her results.