'23 AO Day 4 OoP & Discussion

[nelslus]

Ruud's also lost his mojo so far this year. Not at all surprised by this.

....WELL, then again...

[nelslus]

The American men having a good tournament so far.

Same for the American women.

[JTContinental]

The American men having a good tournament so far.

Same for the American women.

I kind of take for granted that they will always have a great tournament at this point in time

[JTContinental]

Brooskby visibly nervous serving it out again, but Ruud gifted him a shank on a second serve on his 5th match point

[nelslus]

Brooskby visibly nervous serving it out again, but Ruud gifted him a shank on a second serve on his 5th match point

I mean, if you have to blow three match points in a third set- what a great response in the fourth set. WELL done.

So glad he won. A loss here would have burned, badly.

[JTContinental]

Popyrin is being coached by Xavier Malisse

[nelslus]

Popyrin is being coached by Xavier Malisse

(Censored.)

[Deuce]

Garcia just took the first set over Leylah in a tiebreak.
It was a pretty even set - one break each, back-to-back... Leylah started the tiebreak really well and aggressively, leading 5-2... But then Garcia became the aggressive one, and took charge with 5 straight points to win it.

On two separate occasions in the set, Garcia almost decapitated two different ball kids by being very late on her returns of Leylah's serves.

[jazzyg]

After not winning a point on return against Popyrin in the third set, Fritz earned (or rather was gifted) his first break point of the match in the fourth set, took it, then donated the break back immediately and faced a match point in the tiebreak before pulling it out.

Strange match. Fritz has a foot injury but it does not appear to be affecting him. He just cannot do anything with Popyrin's serve or forehand. Fritz had a break point to open the fifth set but did not take it

[Deuce]

Garcia 7-6, 7-5 over Leylah.

Leylah had a break point/set point at 5-4 in the 2nd set. But, as she had done the entire match on several break points, Garcia fired an ace. Then, two points later, another ace won her the game. I think the ace total for the match was 11-0.
Then she broke Leylah at love to go up 6-5 - the only break of the set... then held to win the match.

Surprisingly for a match between these two players, the stadium was 90% empty.

Garcia is showing a strong tendency to come up with her best tennis at the most important points during a match. That’s what champions do - the more pressure there is, the better they play.
That’s ultimately what separated her from Leylah tonight. Leylah played well, and she definitely had her chances - lots of break points, and up 5-2 in the tiebreak... But on those important points, Garcia came up with the goods, and Leylah didn’t.
Impressive.

Elsewhere, Popyrin beat Fritz in 5...
And 'lucky loser' Michael Mmoh just beat Zverev in 4 after losing the 1st set.

[Deuce]

Tough loss for Brandon Holt (Tracy Austin's son), who had a 2 sets to love lead over Bautista Agut...

[jazzyg]

I did not see any of it, but Jabeur did not even have a game point in the first five games of the third set to Vondrousova before losing 6-1. She also got blown out in the first set.

[atlpam]

Meanwhile, Murray is trying to force Kokkinakis to a 5th set.

[nelslus]

Meanwhile, Murray is trying to force Kokkinakis to a 5th set.

AND of course he has. Drama Queen's gotta Drama. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

[nelslus]

....Albeit, I 100% support Murray respectfully complaining to the umpire, after the 4th set, about how late this match is going on (including how disrespectful all of this is to the umpire and everyone- and she did NOT appear to disagree with Murray). Rain delays and all, this is totally unfair to whoever manages to win this.