Talk About Tennis 2.0

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:49 pm Sabalenka and Anisimova are actually very similar players, aren't they ...

Of course there are more similarities than differences. But those latter are also present. Anisimova is IMO slightly better precision hitter. But her strokes are a bit flatter. Sabalenka's have "heavier" strokes - more rpm while the velocity is the same. Therefore Anisimova is capable of hitting closer to the lines. They both are mediocre movers (of course, by elite standards), but Anisimova a bit worse in this department. In all other facets the differences are even less.

Swiatek has not won a tourney in more than a year.

I don't see any reason why that streak would end here.

Well, Sabalenka won't win it either.

Apart from the fact that I am happy for Amanda, that was a very good quality match.
If she can beat Aryna, she can beat anybody left. That is a given after you beat a solid #1.

jazzyg wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 2:54 pm Swiatek has not won a tourney in more than a year.

I don't see any reason why that streak would end here.

Not any reason? The fact that she's in the semifinals against a player she's likely to beat is a good reason. And I know you posted this before Anisimova won, but she has an excellent chance against her, too. She also played very well in Bad Homberg. She lost to Pegula, sure, but it was a high-quality match, which made me think she would do well here. Anisimova could blast her off the court, but I think the nerves will get to her if she faces Iga in the finals.

I like Bencic to beat Swiatek.

I am flying blind a little bit because I have not seen one point of a Bencic match here,but Swiatek's forehand grip is a problem on grass. She will need to continue serving well to win.

I expected Anisimova to beat Sabalenka, too, but not with a lot of confidence.

Players exhibiting the form Sabalenka showed all tournament rarely win that tournament. She could have won today--a few points determined the match--but she just has not been sharp enough. Those five returns of serve she missed with set point against Raducanu were pathetic, and she was a point away from being down 5-3 in the third set against Siegemund. The only reason she went as far as she did is the women's game is very weak right now at the top. Good depth, but no greatness when Sabalenka plays like she did this fortnight.

jazzyg wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 3:41 pm I like Bencic to beat Swiatek.

I am flying blind a little bit because I have not seen one point of a Bencic match here,but Swiatek's forehand grip is a problem on grass. She will need to continue serving well to win.

I think she is compensating for the FH grip by getting much lower with her legs. So far, the FH has been working well.

Bencic is sooo good at the drive volley....

Swiatek too strong for Bencic today.

Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 4:43 pm Swiatek too strong for Bencic today.

And the FH errors are nowhere to be seen.
Looking good for Saturday too.

She may not supposed to be playing well on grass, but she’s fooling everyone this year.

I'll go full arrogant here and say, again, that she won it as a junior.
I think she is playing more "1st strike" tennis. She is not constructing any points, she is just hitting. And they are falling in.

ESPN L.A. saying that with this set, Iga has won 30 sets 6-0 at majors.
That is pretty impressive.
I believe she takes the title on Saturday.

That was a beatdown.

I am hereby disqualified from offering an opinion on players whom I have not watched earlier in the tournament.

For those who did watch, how did Bencic beat Alexandrova and Andreeva? She had nothing to offer against a very in-form Swiatek today. Nothing. To beat Swiatek, you have to stand up to her early, which Anisimova will if she is not too nervous.

The funny thing is the only match I saw Swiatek play was on the screen from Henman Hill when she blew a 4-1 first-set lead to McNally in the second round and lost it. I knew she was going to win anyway, so I left after the first set ended.