meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sat Dec 25, 2021 1:33 pm
Right, very strange. I want to know what’s up. Wonder why they broke up as a team, too. They like each other a lot and were doing so well.
So I'll off a counterpoint to this, though I agree Hsieh not being entered into Doubles is definitely strange. But the split with Mertens to me, not necessarily that odd.
What I've found truly strange over the last year was the adoration given to Mertens and Hsieh as a doubles team, over and above just their success on court. Elise essentially stole things that Aryna came up with for them as a team and was doing them with Hsieh and tennis media acted as if they were an original thing for Mertens and Hsieh and went wild for them, giving them more coverage than any other doubles team from what I saw. They seemed to want some darling Doubles story and these two became it. They've been acting as if Elise and Aryna were not a highly successful doubles team, and as if Hsieh was not coming off a long-term successful partnership with Strycova. The framing of the entire thing was very odd.
True, Mertens and Hsieh have just started playing together, so splitting is not that odd..I am surprised at Hsieh not being in the draw ar all, that is all .
I don't think the split (if it's even permanent) is odd, necessarily, I just wonder why. I'm a bit surprised because they like each other and were really successful last year, but of course there are reasonable explanations for parting ways, if they have. I just brought it up because it's a notable aspect of the AO draw and I'd like to know what's going on with them, not because I think it's bizarre or anything.
Last edited by meganfernandez on Wed Dec 29, 2021 2:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
To me, it's rather obvious why the Hsieh/Mertens team received lots of attention - it's because they both came from very successful doubles teams where their respective partners decided to stop playing doubles.
When you have two successful teams that split up, and then two players from those two successful teams team up together, of course all eyes will be on them - to see if they have the right chemistry and can continue the success they had with their other teams.
Given the circumstance, I'd have found it much more odd if they hadn't received the attention they received.
R.I.P. Amal...
“The opposite of courage is not cowardice - it’s conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.”- Jim Hightower
Deuce wrote: ↑Wed Dec 29, 2021 2:02 am
To me, it's rather obvious why the Hsieh/Mertens team received lots of attention - it's because they both came from very successful doubles teams where their respective partners decided to stop playing doubles.
When you have two successful teams that split up, and then two players from those two successful teams team up together, of course all eyes will be on them - to see if they have the right chemistry and can continue the success they had with their other teams.
Given the circumstance, I'd have found it much more odd if they hadn't received the attention they received.
Also, we are all bored and there is no actual tennis to talk about!!
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sat Dec 25, 2021 1:33 pm
Right, very strange. I want to know what’s up. Wonder why they broke up as a team, too. They like each other a lot and were doing so well.
So I'll off a counterpoint to this, though I agree Hsieh not being entered into Doubles is definitely strange. But the split with Mertens to me, not necessarily that odd.
What I've found truly strange over the last year was the adoration given to Mertens and Hsieh as a doubles team, over and above just their success on court. Elise essentially stole things that Aryna came up with for them as a team and was doing them with Hsieh and tennis media acted as if they were an original thing for Mertens and Hsieh and went wild for them, giving them more coverage than any other doubles team from what I saw. They seemed to want some darling Doubles story and these two became it. They've been acting as if Elise and Aryna were not a highly successful doubles team, and as if Hsieh was not coming off a long-term successful partnership with Strycova. The framing of the entire thing was very odd.
True, Mertens and Hsieh have just started playing together, so splitting is not that odd..I am surprised at Hsieh not being in the draw ar all, that is all .
Reportedly, the Belgian press said it was Mertens' choice to split up. (I guess I am going to see this curiosity through to the bitter end... hopefully will talk about something else soon!)
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
So I'll off a counterpoint to this, though I agree Hsieh not being entered into Doubles is definitely strange. But the split with Mertens to me, not necessarily that odd.
What I've found truly strange over the last year was the adoration given to Mertens and Hsieh as a doubles team, over and above just their success on court. Elise essentially stole things that Aryna came up with for them as a team and was doing them with Hsieh and tennis media acted as if they were an original thing for Mertens and Hsieh and went wild for them, giving them more coverage than any other doubles team from what I saw. They seemed to want some darling Doubles story and these two became it. They've been acting as if Elise and Aryna were not a highly successful doubles team, and as if Hsieh was not coming off a long-term successful partnership with Strycova. The framing of the entire thing was very odd.
True, Mertens and Hsieh have just started playing together, so splitting is not that odd..I am surprised at Hsieh not being in the draw ar all, that is all .
Reportedly, the Belgian press said it was Mertens' choice to split up. (I guess I am going to see this curiosity through to the bitter end... hopefully will talk about something else soon!)
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
With the Omicron variant, even people who are double vaxxed and boosted and are careful are getting Covid. If they test during the tournament, there are going to be multiple players who test positive for sure. People who make the semis / finals might just turn out to be the lucky ones to don't test positive. Time for a total outlier in the men's field to win?
And dang, but Aslan is going to lose a ton of points.
Yeah, a ton of players have already landed in Australia. And the higher ranked, connected players have already begun practicing on the Melbourne show courts.
We should know that a man that takes 27 bounces before proceeding to serve would "take his time".
Just come out and say it. "I am not vaccinated". But it will never happen.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 5:46 pm
No way he was going to NOT be there if Novak is not going. A good chance for #21.
(#3 behind Medvedev and Zverev, to me).
He had symptoms from covid. There was definitely a possibility he wouldn't be there, not to mention needing to test negative to travel.
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