Talk About Tennis 2.0

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 07, 2023 2:02 am I agree Pegula could have skipped Charleston ..she doesn't need the points..and there are too many, strenuous clay events coming up...Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome ..RG
I suspect she has a sentimental fondness for Charleston, may have played here in her early days? Or for HarTru...

She might have some fondness for playing Charleston, despite the narrative around her and Buffalo, she mostly grew up in Hilton Head. But this is her best result at this tournament, so not sure she has any major memories tied to playing here.

I think it's more likely that this was a good target for results for her when setting her schedule. Clay is not her strongest surface, so this might be her best showing on clay this season outside of perhaps Madrid, where some of the hard court players do better because of the altitude.

I don't expect her to play Stuttgart. I can't say for sure she's never played it, but I can't recall her playing it recently. I think she tends to play Miami, Charleston and then Madrid. Or Miami and then Madrid. And Fed Cup in between.

It's disappointing - if not surprising - to see people here having their heads firmly buried in the sand about the very real negative consequences of gambling (and about other sociological problems). After all, it's much more comfortable and convenient to convince oneself that a problem does not exist than it is to be consciously aware of the problem (and potentially try to help fix it)...

Gambling is 'more controlled' now than previously?
Wow.
It's really much better to NOT 'drink the kool-aid'...

It's obvious that you people don't want to believe what I'm saying, so I'll offer you the views of others. Obviously I don't really expect you to read the contents of these links - because you know that that will threaten the comfortable and convenient illusion you hold that there is no problem with sports gambling - but I feel compelled to at least attempt to lift some heads out of the sand...

The Unfortunate Consequences of the Huge Growth of Sports Betting, Explained...

Not Just a Game: Online Sports Betting and The Rise of Corrosive Technology...

This from the New York Times article below:
"That relationship came into harsh focus recently following an independent review of integrity in tennis. Among the findings, published last month, was the claim that lower levels of game were awash with a “tsunami” of corruption.

Adam Lewis, a British lawyer, wrote the relationship between the International Tennis Federation and Sportradar was part of the problem, arguing that by providing betting companies with instant scores and other data from thousands of minor matches around the world, there were more opportunities to cheat.

“Tennis is responsible for more suspicious betting than any other sport,” Lewis wrote."
Is Britain the Future of U.S. Sports Betting?

'The Next Opioid Crisis' - Online Sports Betting Has Put Casinos in the Pockets of Millions of Americans, Tripling Rates of Gambling Addiction and Threatening a Flood of Bankruptcies and Suicides

The Real Dangers of the Sports Betting Boom For Young Men...

Fastbackss wrote: ↑Fri Apr 07, 2023 10:23 am Gambling (in other countries) has been available for a long time. I don't think the US will impact the game that much in that regard.

The TIU has been around (and suspending / banning players) since 2008

^ Yes, legal sports gambling has been available in other countries for longer than it has been legal in North America.
And, as the articles above point out, it has caused significant and grave problems in those countries where it's been legal.

Sigh...

If the discussion on gambling/sports betting is to continue, I think it would be best to move it to the 'Serious Issues' thread...

Meanwhile...
Kasatkina is finally looking like a tennis player again, rather than just a teenager in love. Although Keys had an injury issue in the 3rd set, Kasatkina had played decent tennis up to that point. The 3rd set was quite boring, void of any offence, with Keys seemingly unable to go for winners because of a shoulder injury, and Kasatkina merely putting the ball in play, waiting for an error from Keys.

Alexandrova looked lost through 2/3 of the match vs. Bencic. It got to the point where it looked like Bencic was tanking on her own serve because she knew she could break Alexandrova more easily than she could hold her own serve.
Alexandrova gave it a little push in the 3rd set, but it wasn't nearly enough.

Pegula won the 1st set over Badosa 6-3, and is up a break approaching the end of the 2nd now. Nothing noteworthy in this match to this point...

Pegula vs Bencic in
The semis...too bad..I had said these are the two best players and one of them should win..but the draw has the last word . Good to see Jabeur and Kasatkina back, though...they both have the game to do well here- Jabeur more so than Kasatkjna....Kasatkina did beat Keys but I was unimpressed with Keys in the previous match, missing shots because of her uncertain footwork ..she was late to a few, and was not stable when she made contact ..

Keys had that match - was interesting to see Kasatkina grab it from her.
Bencic looked on all cylinders.
Pegula looked way better than in last match.
Going to be a fun day...if they manage to get it in (weather). They were pulling ahead some of the doubles matches.

As for the gambling, Deuce - I understand the potential ramifications. And those are solid resources that articulate it.
I will pipe down as I am not as strongly opinionated about it...at least not tonight while watching TV haha

Day 8 Order of Play

Credit One Stadium
Starts at 01:00 PM

Semifinal
RUS D. KASATKINA (3) vs TUN O. JABEUR (2)
FOLLOWED BY
Semifinal
J. PEGULA (1) vs SUI B. BENCIC (4)

Is Bencic potentially Tier 1? we will soon find out more, when she plays Pegula...

saw a bit of Keys vs Kasatkina on Youtube.. impressive defense by Kasatkina.. wont help her much against Jabeur but could against Bencic or Pegula.. but she has to get there first... I would bet on Jabeur to stop her..

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 08, 2023 6:11 am saw a bit of Keys vs Kasatkina on Youtube.. impressive defense by Kasatkina.. wont help her much against Jabeur but could against Bencic or Pegula.. but she has to get there first... I would bet on Jabeur to stop her..

Uhm, not so sure. Kasatkina is very fast, and Ons relies at times on trick shots. If her drop shot is a bit long, Daria can get there.
I remember how at times we have spoken that Rublev was the "King of the 250's", because he won so many of those. Kasatkina has a bit of that: she wins the smaller tournaments (I now Charleston is a 500). Last year she lost in 1r at all the big summer tournaments (CAN, CINCY and USO) but won the smaller ones in between.
I am calling the upset. I say Daria in three.

I feel Jabeur is better at everything that Kasatkina is good at..

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 08, 2023 4:52 pm I feel Jabeur is better at everything that Kasatkina is good at..

Ons at her best Vs Daria at her best? Sure, you are right.
But I don't think that Ons has reached that level again. She is still working back from that injury.

This rain delay could help Jabeur. I sense will make Daria tight

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 08, 2023 4:52 pm I feel Jabeur is better at everything that Kasatkina is good at..

Assuming both are fully back ..which seems doubtful