Talk About Tennis 2.0

Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Oct 31, 2025 8:35 am In any case it's my understanding that Saudi Arabia has changed a fair bit lately. Are they really so much more conservative and/or oppressive than Qatar these days? Nobody is proposing to boycott them...

They are more oppressive than Qatar. In Qatar, you will see local women walking in the streets wearing western clothing. You have local bars (at the hotels) and there are few restrictions for foreign women.
Not that Qatar is in any way a paradise; the slaves situation is not funny at all.

I don't know what one can achieve through a boycott; Saudi Arabia will not notice what will happen with my TV on Sunday. But on the other hand, there is so little one can do when dealing with a situation like this one, that I don't know if doing that very little thing is the sole moral thing to do.
Plus:
It must be said that we are not in disagreement with a country's political or social structure. We are in disagreement with a cultural/religious structure. And that is a more complicated issue.

The Beijing match where Anisimova really thrashed Coco - watched it again just to analyze.. this is clearly a bad matchup for Coco on a slow court: Anisimova's backhand is in the same class as Coco's, and her forehand is a class better - her serve is also slightly more reliable.. Coco's superior court coverage doesnt matter much on a slow court. Riyadh may be similar..!

I don't think anybody other than Aryna has the quality of strokes of Amanda. All the strokes are powerful, and when she is moving well, it is not a bad combo.
Having said that... Coco won las year. She likes the court, for sure.

American ladies

Maybe awkward, but in fact this year no one looks unfortunate.

Doubles players look good as well

Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Oct 31, 2025 7:58 pm American ladies

Amanda's gown is very sexy. Because it looks like she is wrapped in a bed sheet.
C'mon, you can do better than that, girl!

Owendonovan wrote: ↑Fri Oct 31, 2025 1:45 pm This is an awkwardly staged photo in what looks like an elevator vestibule.

Someone quipped that it looks like an advert for Real Housewives Riyadh

Saturday Day 1 RR Day 1

Center Court
Starts at 8:30 AM

ITA Errani /ITA Paolini (1) vs USA Muhammad /NED Schuurs (8)
Starts: 15:30 (Venue) 08:30 (Your time)
Upcoming
POL I. Swiatek (2) vs USA M. Keys (7)
Not before: 18:00 (Venue) 11:00 (Your time)
Upcoming
USA A. Anisimova (4) vs KAZ E. Rybakina (6)
Follows previous match
Upcoming
RUS Kudermetova /BEL Mertens (4) vs TPE Hsieh /LAT Ostapenko (6)
Follows previous match

Sunday Order of Play RR Day 2

Center Court
Starts at 7:00 AM

CAN Dabrowski /NZL Routliffe (3) vs RUS Andreeva /RUS Shnaider (5)
Starts: 15:00 (Venue) 07:00 (Your time)
Upcoming
BLR A. Sabalenka (1) vs ITA J. Paolini (8)
Not before: 17:00 (Venue) 09:00 (Your time)
Upcoming
USA C. Gauff (3) vs USA J. Pegula (5)
Not before: 18:30 (Venue) 10:30 (Your time)
Upcoming
CZE Siniakova /USA Townsend (2) vs HUN Babos /BRA Stefani (7)
Follows previous match

Keys is currently not ready to play at a high level. Likely to withdraw or go 0-3.

And Iga draws the first blood )

I caved in and I am watching.
Coco's serving woes travelled to Ryyadh too. She is up to 13 DF's starting the 3rd set. And some of the shots have been landing 2-3 mts OUT. She is really struggling today.
If Pegula does not get this match, it will be sad for her.

Great win for Pegula. Probably secures her SF's spot along Sabalenka. I expect Sabalenka will go 3-0 and Paolini 0-3.