by ti-amieTournament: Western & Southern Open Location: Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A. Dates: August 13 - August 20 2023 Tier: ATP M1000 Surface: Hard Prize Money: $6,600,000 Total Financial Commitment: $7,665,215
Entries
Seed* Name Current Ranking Entry Ranking
1 Carlos Alcaraz 1 1
2 Novak Djokovic 2 2
3 Daniil Medvedev 3 3
4 Casper Ruud 4 4
5 Stefanos Tsitsipas 5 5
6 Holger Rune 6 6
7 Andrey Rublev 7 7
8 Jannik Sinner 8 8
9 Taylor Fritz 9 9
10 Frances Tiafoe 10 10
11 Karen Khachanov 11 11
12 Felix Auger-Aliassime 12 12
13 Cameron Norrie 13 13
14 Tommy Paul 14 14
15 Borna Coric 15 15
16 Lorenzo Musetti 16 16
Hubert Hurkacz 17 17
Alex de Minaur 18 18
Alexander Zverev 19 19
Francisco Cerundolo 20 20
Grigor Dimitrov 21 21
Pablo Carreno Busta 22 22
Denis Shapovalov 23 23
Jan-Lennard Struff 24 24
Roberto Bautista Agut 25 25
Nicolas Jarry 26 26
Alexander Bublik 27 27
Sebastian Korda 28 28
Daniel Evans 29 29
Yoshihito Nishioka 30 30
Christopher Eubanks 31 31
Matteo Berrettini 32 32
Jiri Lehecka 33 33
Tomas Martin Etcheverry 34 34
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 35 35
Tallon Griekspoor 36 36
Nick Kyrgios 37 37
Adrian Mannarino 38 38
Ben Shelton 39 39
Ugo Humbert 40 40
Andy Murray 41 41
Marin Cilic 102 21 (PR)
Gael Monfils 315 35 (PR)
Milos Raonic 545 33 (PR)
(WC)
(WC)
(WC)
(WC)
(SE)
(Q)
(Q)
(Q)
(Q)
(Q)
(Q)
(Q)
Alternates
Name Current Ranking Entry Ranking
1 Lorenzo Sonego 42 42
2 Roman Safiullin 43 43
3 Miomir Kecmanovic 44 44
4 Botic van de Zandschulp 45 45
5 Yannick Hanfmann 46 46
6 J.J. Wolf 47 47
7 Lloyd Harris 202 47 (PR)
8 Emil Ruusuvuori 48 48
9 Richard Gasquet 49 49
10 Gregoire Barrere 50 50
11 Aslan Karatsev 52 52
12 Bernabe Zapata Miralles 53 53
13 Marton Fucsovics 54 54
14 Laslo Djere 55 55
15 Daniel Elahi Galan 56 56
16 Brandon Nakashima 57 57
17 Sebastian Ofner 58 58
18 Mackenzie McDonald 59 59
19 Roberto Carballes Baena 60 60
20 Dusan Lajovic 61 61
by ti-amieTournament: Western & Southern Open Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Dates: August 14 - August 20, 2023 Level: WTA 1000 Total Financial Commitment: $2,788,468 Surface: Hard
by ti-amieTWO HOMETOWN PROS AWARDED WILD CARDS TO WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN
JUL 24, 2023
The Western & Southern Open announced today it is granting main draw wild cards to local pros J.J. Wolf and Peyton Stearns. Both have made tremendous movement up the world rankings in the past year after stellar collegiate careers.
Wolf, ranked 46th, made his debuts at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this year, reaching the fourth round in Australia. He has proved himself on all three court surfaces this season – he reached the semifinals in Dallas on a hard court with a win over world No. 14 Frances Tiafoe, made the quarterfinals in Houston on clay and the quarterfinals on the grass of Eastbourne. He also reached the third round at the 1000 Masters clay court event in Rome with a win over the world’s No. 15 player Hubert Hurkacz. It was his second success in Italy after reaching his first ATP final in Florence last October. He’s cut his ranking by more than half from this time last year.
“I’m thrilled to be participating, and extremely appreciative to the Western & Southern Open for the opportunity to compete in the main draw of the tournament,” Wolf said. “This event means so much to me as I used to go to this tournament when I was a kid and I can’t wait to be back competing in front of all of my family and fans. Looking forward to seeing everyone out there! 513 forever!!”
Wolf reached his first main draw on the ATP Tour at the 2020 Western & Southern Open after being granted a wild card into the qualifying tournament and winning two rounds. The Cincinnati Country Day graduate played at Ohio State, where he was an All-American and named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2019.
Stearns, 21, grew up five miles from the tournament in Mason. Since turning pro just over a year ago, she has reached a WTA Tour final in Bogota, a quarterfinal in Austin, defeated 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez in Rabat to reach her third career quarterfinal, made her debuts at the US Open, French Open and Wimbledon, and reached seven finals on the ITF circuit, winning four. She gained her first Grand Slam match wins at the French Open, where she upset 17th seed and 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko to reach the third round. Ranked 413th a year ago, Stearns is now No. 57 in the world.
“I am super happy and excited to play at the Western & Southern Open and grateful to the tournament for giving me such an opportunity,” said Stearns. “To be playing in front of the best fans just around the corner from my family home, it’s a dream come true. I have so many memories from going to the matches with my parents when I was a little girl and being invited on court for a coin toss with Kim Clijsters, so for now to be able to compete at the very same courts it’s a thrill. I will give my 100% and can’t wait to get started!”
Before turning pro Stearns enjoyed an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Texas. In her two years there, the school won the NCAA team title twice and she became the first woman in the program’s history to win the NCAA singles title.
by ponchi101 Novak did say he was skipping all tournaments prior to the USO, right?
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 7:49 pm
Novak did say he was skipping all tournaments prior to the USO, right?
As far as I can tell it was just Toronto that he withdrew from.
by ti-amie
by ti-amieWTA Qualifying Draw
E. Cocciaretto (1) vs Wang Xiyu
S. Sorribes Tormo vs Y. Putintseva (13)
V. Gracheva (2) vs A. Danilina
C. Bucsa vs L. Fruhvirtova (10)
L. Tsurenko (3) vs T. Townsend
S. Hsieh vs M. Trevisan (14)
A. Parks (4) vs V. Zvonareva
A. Sasnovich vs A. Bogdan (11)
J. Paolini (5) vs R. Masarova
K. Boulter vs C. Osorio (15)
L. Davis (6) vs A. Li
L. Siegemund vs A. Cornet (12)
C. Giorgi (7) vs R. Marino
L. Fernandez vs E. Navarro (9)
L. Noskova (8) vs M. Frech
D. Parry vs L. Bronzetti (16)
by ti-amieATP MD Singles
(1) Carlos Alcaraz/Bye
(WC) John Isner vs Qualifier
Ugo Humbert vs Qualifier
Miomir Kecmanovic vs (14) Tommy Paul
(10) Frances Tiafoe vs Tallon Griekspoor
(WC) Brandon Nakashima vs (WC) Stan Wawrinka
(PR) Lloyd Harris vs Qualifier
Bye/(5) Casper Ruud
(4) Stefanos Tsitsipas/Bye
Ben Shelton vs Christopher Eubanks
Hubert Hurkacz vs Qualifier
Sebastian Korda vs (15) Borna Coric
(11) Karen Khachanov vs Andy Murray
Roman Safiullin vs Nicolas Jarry
Emil Ruusuvuori vs Qualifier
Bye/(7) Andrey Rublev
(6) Holger Rune/Bye
(WC) Mackenzie McDonald vs Yannick Hanfmann
Richard Gasquet vs Adrian Mannarino
Matteo Berrettini vs (12) Felix Auger-Aliassime
(16) Alexander Zverev vs Grigor Dimitrov
Gregoire Barrere vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Daniel Evans vs Lorenzo Musetti
Bye/(3) Daniil Medvedev
(8) Jannik Sinner/Bye
Francisco Cerundolo vs Qualifier
Lorenzo Sonego vs Qualifier
Jiri Lehecka vs (9) Taylor Fritz
(13) Cameron Norrie vs (PR) Gael Monfils
Alex de Minaur vs J.J. Wolf
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Bye/(2) Novak Djokovic
by ti-amieATP Qualifying Draw Singles
(1) Laslo Djere vs Thanasi Kokkinakis
Nuno Borges vs (11) Daniel Elahi Galan
(2) Arthur Fils vs (WC) Brandon Holt
(WC) Maxime Cressy vs (8) Zhizhen Zhang
(3) Daniel Altmaier vs Christopher O'Connell
Corentin Moutet vs (9) Matteo Arnaldi
(4) Jordan Thompson vs Alexandre Muller
Marc-Andrea Huesler vs (14) Aslan Karatsev
(5) Alexei Popyrin vs Ilya Ivashka
Max Purcell vs (12) Luca Van Assche
(6) Marton Fucsovics vs (Alt) Alexander Shevchenko
(WC) Diego Schwartzman vs (13) Marcos Giron
(7) Aleksandar Vukic vs Jason Kubler
(WC) Rinky Hijikata vs (10) Dusan Lajovic
by skatingfan Max Purcell may not make the qualifying tomorrow - currently up a set with Rublev in doubles in Toronto.
by nelslus
skatingfan wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2023 11:00 pm
Max Purcell may not make the qualifying tomorrow - currently up a set with Rublev in doubles in Toronto.
....Rublev and Purcell lost to Rajeev and Joe 1-2 hours (or so) ago, third set tiebreaker.....
by ti-amieSunday, August 13, 2023 Day 2
Center Court Starts At 10:00 Am
Qualifying
Ann Li VS (12) Alizé Cornet
Not Before 11:30 AM
Qualifying (5) Jasmine Paolini VS (15) Camila Osorio Not Before 2:00 Pm
R64
Ben Shelton VS Christopher Eubanks Not Before 6:00 Pm
R32 (5) Hugo Nys/Jan Zielinski VS Marcelo Melo/Alexander Zverev Followed By
R64 (10) Frances Tiafoe VS Tallon Griekspoor
Grandstand Starts At 10:00 Am
Q2 (2) Arthur Fils VS (8) Zhizhen Zhang
Not Before 12:00 Noon
Q2
(Alt) Alexander Shevchenko VS Diego Schwartzman Or Marcos Giron
Followed By
TBD VS TBD - WTA Not Before 4:00 Pm
R64
Richard Gasquet VS Adrian Mannarino
Porsche Court Starts At 10:00 Am
Qualifying (2) Varvara Gracheva VS Cristina Bucsa
Not Before 12:00 PM
Qualifying
Xiyu Wang VS TBD
Followed By
Qualifying
TBD VS (14) Martina Trevisan
Court 4 Starts At 11:00 Am
Q2 (4) Jordan Thompson VS Marc-Andrea Huesler
Not Before 12:00 Noon
Q2
Laslo Djere Or Thanasi Kokkinakis VS Nuno Borges Or Daniel Elahi Galan
Followed By
TBD VS TBD - WTA
Court 7 Starts At 10:00 Am
Qualifying (8) Linda Noskova VS Diane Parry
Not Before 12:00 Noon
Q2
Hugo Gaston Or Jason Kubler VS (10) Dusan Lajovic
Court 8 Starts At 10:00 Am
Q2 (3) Daniel Altmaier VS Corentin Moutet
Not Before 12:00 Noon
Q2 (5) Alexei Popyrin VS Max Purcell Or Luca Van Assche
Not Before 2:00 Pm
R32
Robin Haase/Karen Khachanov VS Daniel Evans/Andreas Mies
Followed By
R64
Gregoire Barrere VS Yoshihito Nishioka
by ashkor87 based on videos of last year, court looks slow to medium, a tad faster than Montreal but not anywhere near the USO.. and the list of champions bears that out - Pliskova, Keys.. since it is not extreme, anything could happen, I guess..should suit Alcaraz, I uppose.. and Rybakina
by ti-amieMonday, August 14, 2023 Day 3
Center Court Starts At 11:00 Am
Sloane Stephens VS Elisabetta Cocciaretto Followed By
(WC) Venus Williams VS (16) Veronika Kudermetova Followed By
Sebastian Korda VS (15) Borna Coric Not Before 7:00 Pm (16) Alexander Zverev VS Grigor Dimitrov Not Before 8:30 PM
Elina Svitolina VS (WC) Caroline Wozniacki
Grandstand Starts At 11:00 Am
Matteo Berrettini VS (12) Felix Auger-Aliassime Followed By
(WC) John Isner VS (Q) Jordan Thompson Not Before 3:00 PM
Karolina Muchova VS (12) Beatriz Haddad Maia Not Before 7:00 PM (10) Marketa Vondrousova VS Katerina Siniakova Followed By
Daniel Evans VS Lorenzo Musetti
Stadium 3 Starts At 11:00 Am
Roman Safiullin VS Nicolas Jarry Followed By
(WC) Brandon Nakashima VS (WC) Stan Wawrinka Followed By
Lorenzo Sonego VS (Q) Alexander Shevchenko Not Before 5:00 PM
Ekaterina Alexandrova VS Sorana Cirstea Followed By
Petra Martic VS (Q) Emma Navarro
Porsche Court Starts At 11:00 Am
(Q) Jasmine Paolini VS Marta Kostyuk Followed By
(WC) Celine Naef VS Anastasia Potapova Followed By
Lin Zhu VS Anhelina Kalinina Followed By
Qinwen Zheng VS (Q) Aliaksandra Sasnovich Followed By
Bernarda Pera VS (Q) Martina Trevisan
Court 4 Starts At 11:00 Am
Emil Ruusuvuori VS (Q) Corentin Moutet Followed By
Francisco Cerundolo VS (Q) Dusan Lajovic Followed By
(WC) Christopher Eubanks/Ben Shelton VS Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen Followed By
Lloyd Glasspool/Harri Heliovaara VS Max Purcell/Andrey Rublev
Court 7 Starts At 11:00 Am
Nathaniel Lammons/Jackson Withrow VS Nikola Mektic/John Peers Followed By
Tereza Mihalikova/Yifan Xu VS Anna Danilina/Oksana Kalashnikova Followed By
(WC) Mackenzie McDonald/Frances Tiafoe VS Maximo Gonzalez/Andres Molteni Followed By
Rinky Hijikata/Jason Kubler VS Hubert Hurkacz/Mate Pavic Followed By
(WC) Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Anastasia Potapova VS Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/Luisa Stefani
Court 8 After Suitable Rest NB 2PM
(OSE) Caroline Garcia/Marta Kostyuk VS (OSE) Karolina Pliskova/Donna Vekic After Suitable Rest
(OSE) Elisabetta Cocciaretto/Mayar Sherif VS (OSE) Irina-Camelia Begu/Sara Sorribes Tormo
by ashkor87 This tournament is pretty inconsequential so far as the USO is concerned..in the past 10 years, only Djokovic in 2018 and Nadal in 2013 have won Cincy and gone on to won the USO. Among women, it is only Serena in 2014..the exception proves the rule!
by ashkor87 I would hesitate even to make any predictions, since the top players are probably holding their fire.
I do think this is not where they should be aiming to peak, they need to build it up 2 to 4 weeks later. Peaking too soon can hep you win this tournament but not, probably, the USO. I know many folks on this forum dont think 'peaking too early' is a real thing.. I do believe it is, and it is, in fact, one of the reasons for the anomaly in my post above.
by skatingfan Nice to see the weather has come to play - players should be worth rain delays after last week.
by ponchi101
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:38 am
I would hesitate even to make any predictions, since the top players are probably holding their fire.
I do think this is not where they should be aiming to peak, they need to build it up 2 to 4 weeks later. Peaking too soon can hep you win this tournament but not, probably, the USO. I know many folks on this forum dont think 'peaking too early' is a real thing.. I do believe it is, and it is, in fact, one of the reasons for the anomaly in my post above.
But how does that work?
"Well, I want to play well, but no so well, because if I play too well in THIS tournament, I will not play THAT WELL in a tournament that starts TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. So, do I play just at 90% of what I can play, meaning I will run at 90% and hit my shots at 90%? Or do I NOT HIT a few certain shots, meaning I will not practice them, but I will save them for that other tournament?"
The problem with the concept of "peaking early" is that it is tautological. By definition, anybody that wins the USO (or whichever slam we are talking about) "peaked at the right time". If you lost in the third round, you did not peak at the right time.
It is like saying that we can write Sinner and Pegula off as possible USO champs, because they played well enough to win in Canada. It makes no logical sense.
by ashkor87 yes, it is tricky.. dont know what I would do if I were a player.. fortunately, I am not, not at that level anyway!
It is not tautological because we can predict that whoever wins Cincy (unless his name is Djokovic) will not win the USO because he peaked too early. Let us see what happens.
by ashkor87 I think here are 3 reasons why the Cincy winner does not usually win the USO
1. it is too close to the USO, so the winner of Cincy could get injured/tired.. even small niggles you pick up can hurt you
2. you have peaked too soon, as argued above
3. the court at Cincy is (probably) significantly slower than the USO.. so not only are the same players not likely to be equally good on both (except the likes of Djokovic/Nada/Serena) but getting into a rhythm on the slower surface will leave you flat-footed and late on the ball at the USO
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:38 am
I would hesitate even to make any predictions, since the top players are probably holding their fire.
I do think this is not where they should be aiming to peak, they need to build it up 2 to 4 weeks later. Peaking too soon can hep you win this tournament but not, probably, the USO. I know many folks on this forum dont think 'peaking too early' is a real thing.. I do believe it is, and it is, in fact, one of the reasons for the anomaly in my post above.
But how does that work?
"Well, I want to play well, but no so well, because if I play too well in THIS tournament, I will not play THAT WELL in a tournament that starts TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. So, do I play just at 90% of what I can play, meaning I will run at 90% and hit my shots at 90%? Or do I NOT HIT a few certain shots, meaning I will not practice them, but I will save them for that other tournament?"
The problem with the concept of "peaking early" is that it is tautological. By definition, anybody that wins the USO (or whichever slam we are talking about) "peaked at the right time". If you lost in the third round, you did not peak at the right time.
It is like saying that we can write Sinner and Pegula off as possible USO champs, because they played well enough to win in Canada. It makes no logical sense.
Peaking too early is a reduction/oversimplification of management. Everyone has to manage their schedule and energy, and that varies by player and the player's changing circumstances. Which is to say - peaking too early is possible for some players, but I don't think it explains most Slam outcomes. I think it applies to streaky players, but the best aren't streaky. They are consistent high-level players who are well-managed.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:38 am
I would hesitate even to make any predictions, since the top players are probably holding their fire.
I do think this is not where they should be aiming to peak, they need to build it up 2 to 4 weeks later. Peaking too soon can hep you win this tournament but not, probably, the USO. I know many folks on this forum dont think 'peaking too early' is a real thing.. I do believe it is, and it is, in fact, one of the reasons for the anomaly in my post above.
But how does that work?
"Well, I want to play well, but no so well, because if I play too well in THIS tournament, I will not play THAT WELL in a tournament that starts TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. So, do I play just at 90% of what I can play, meaning I will run at 90% and hit my shots at 90%? Or do I NOT HIT a few certain shots, meaning I will not practice them, but I will save them for that other tournament?"
The problem with the concept of "peaking early" is that it is tautological. By definition, anybody that wins the USO (or whichever slam we are talking about) "peaked at the right time". If you lost in the third round, you did not peak at the right time.
It is like saying that we can write Sinner and Pegula off as possible USO champs, because they played well enough to win in Canada. It makes no logical sense.
Peaking too early is reduction/oversimplification of management. Everyone has to manage their schedule and energy, and that varies by player and the player's changing circumstances. Which is to say - peaking too early is possible for some players, but I don't think it explains most Slam outcomes. I think it applies to streaky players, but the best aren't streaky. They are consistent high-level players who are well-managed.
I think court speed and conditions can be a factor, along with environment - Cincy and NY are completely different atmospheres on and off the court, and that affects people. Another big variable is player effort - I doubt every player puts the same intensity into a 1000 as they do a Slam.
As always, I'd widen the scope of any analysis to doing well in both events, not winning both. Going deep should be the marker.
by ashkor87 btw, Chris Evert referred to this 'peaking at the wrong time' concept too so I am in good company. Does anyone here think she doesnt know whereof she speaks?
by skatingfan
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 4:14 pm
btw, Chris Evert referred to this 'peaking at the wrong time' concept too so I am in good company. Does anyone here think she doesnt know whereof she speaks?
I'm not always sure Evert knows what she's saying - not that's she's not knowledgeable, but that she does say things that make absolutely no sense.
by meganfernandez
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 4:14 pm
btw, Chris Evert referred to this 'peaking at the wrong time' concept too so I am in good company. Does anyone here think she doesn't know whereof she speaks?
I think it's a real thing but not universal or applicable to the very top players, who compete through their off days and win anyway.
by Suliso The concept of peaking too early is widely used in track and field. I think it's harder to apply in track and field because one gets so many chances in tennis. As opposed to those three tries in say javelin through every four years.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 4:14 pm
btw, Chris Evert referred to this 'peaking at the wrong time' concept too so I am in good company. Does anyone here think she doesnt know whereof she speaks?
I'm not always sure Evert knows what she's saying - not that's she's not knowledgeable, but that she does say things that make absolutely no sense.
yes, you can say that.. I dont agree but it is a fair riposte
by ashkor87
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 4:10 pm
As always, I'd widen the scope of any analysis to doing well in both events, not winning both. Going deep should be the marker.
good point, but does anyone play the USO aiming to 'go deep'? top players, I mean? maybe the ones who 'go deep' at the lesser tournament? let me do some digging and report on that.
by ashkor87 just a data point: (on going deep)
last year's finalists at the USO were Ruud and Alcaraz.. Ruud lost in the second round of Cincy, Alcaraz in the QFs
women: Swiatek and Jabeur were USO finalists - Jabeur was beaten in the third rund of Cincy, so was Swiatek.
interpret as you wish! I personally think they didnt bother to try too hard, saving their best for the USO.
by ashkor87
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 3:54 pm
Well, I want to play well, but no so well, because if I play too well in THIS tournament, I will not play THAT WELL in a tournament that starts TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. So, do I play just at 90% of what I can play, meaning I will run at 90% and hit my shots at 90%? Or do I NOT HIT a few certain shots, meaning I will not practice them, but I will save them for that other tournament?"
well, that seems a pretty fair description of what Jabeur and Swiatek actually did do last year! Lost in the third round of Cincy, and Alcaraz and Ruud too (quarters and second round respectively).. you were being sarcastic, but it may in fact be pretty close to the truth!
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 4:27 pm
The concept of peaking too early is widely used in track and field. I think it's harder to apply in track and field because one gets so many chances in tennis. As opposed to those three tries in say javelin through every four years.
It is one of the many sports' cliches that have become part of the vocabulary. I find them all dumb.
"I'm going to play it one point at a time". As opposed to what? Your opponent is going to play TWO points at a time?
"I'm going out there and play my game". Actually, if you can choose, go out there and play Federer's game. Or Nadal's game. Or Novak's, Serena's or Steffi's.
"A series does not start until the visiting team wins a game". So, technically, a series could be over and never started (the home team always won).
"Player A is the more experienced, so s/he has an advantage". Despite all the evidence against that (Jordan was a powerhouse the moment he came to the NBA, Lebron came straight from High School, and let's not start counting all the 17 yo tennis prodigies that beat plenty of more experienced players in slam finals).
All these sayings and jargons are because, in the end, sports are simple. The better player that day wins. But the talking heads need to make it sound deep because how do you justify their existence otherwise?
To use you as an example: this is NOT chemistry. It is just a (almost silly) game.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 3:54 pm
Well, I want to play well, but no so well, because if I play too well in THIS tournament, I will not play THAT WELL in a tournament that starts TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. So, do I play just at 90% of what I can play, meaning I will run at 90% and hit my shots at 90%? Or do I NOT HIT a few certain shots, meaning I will not practice them, but I will save them for that other tournament?"
well, that seems a pretty fair description of what Jabeur and Swiatek actually did do last year! Lost in the third round of Cincy, and Alcaraz and Ruud too (quarters and second round respectively).. you were being sarcastic, but it may in fact be pretty close to the truth!
Nope, I was not being sarcastic. It is a serious question. How do you NOT peak early? how do players make that approach?
And of course, you will find your examples; it is indeed frequent that people that win one week will not win the next because, as we also know, keeping streaks going is very difficult. Look at Dan Evans: winner at DC last week, 1R this week at TOR. Peaked too early? No, he is simply Dan Evans and he is not going to win every week.
Iga peaked too early at Wimby? Nope, she played very little before that and grass is simply her weakest surface. You will always be able to find a complicated narrative to fit any theory.
by ti-amie Kostyuk just lost in under an hour to Jasmine Paolini 2 & 1.
Potapova is losing to Naef 5-1 first set.
Berrettini vs FAA going three
by ti-amie Naef takes the first set 6-1 in less than 30m.
by JTContinental
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 4:14 pm
btw, Chris Evert referred to this 'peaking at the wrong time' concept too so I am in good company. Does anyone here think she doesnt know whereof she speaks?
Ummmm….have you watched her commentary?
by JTContinental Hooray, a straight sets victory for Venus over Kudermetova--she came back from 1-4 down in the first set and 2-5 down in the second set for her first top 20 win since 2019
by skatingfan And Felix won as well - must be the latest signs of the apocalypse.
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 4:27 pm
The concept of peaking too early is widely used in track and field. I think it's harder to apply in track and field because one gets so many chances in tennis. As opposed to those three tries in say javelin through every four years.
It is one of the many sports' cliches that have become part of the vocabulary. I find them all dumb.
"I'm going to play it one point at a time". As opposed to what? Your opponent is going to play TWO points at a time?
"I'm going out there and play my game". Actually, if you can choose, go out there and play Federer's game. Or Nadal's game. Or Novak's, Serena's or Steffi's.
"A series does not start until the visiting team wins a game". So, technically, a series could be over and never started (the home team always won).
"Player A is the more experienced, so s/he has an advantage". Despite all the evidence against that (Jordan was a powerhouse the moment he came to the NBA, Lebron came straight from High School, and let's not start counting all the 17 yo tennis prodigies that beat plenty of more experienced players in slam finals).
All these sayings and jargons are because, in the end, sports are simple. The better player that day wins. But the talking heads need to make it sound deep because how do you justify their existence otherwise?
To use you as an example: this is NOT chemistry. It is just a (almost silly) game.
I like when teams are in best of seven series and after splitting the first two games they say that was their goal (especially the road team) - as if they weren't actually trying to win both games.
by JTContinental Svitolina has withdrawn with a foot injury
by ti-amie
JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:46 pm
Svitolina has withdrawn with a foot injury
by skatingfan Coric vs Korda is a match up of questionable hairstyles.
by ti-amie
skatingfan wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 11:16 pm
Coric vs Korda is a match up of questionable hairstyles.
by meganfernandez
JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:46 pm
Svitolina has withdrawn with a foot injury
argh!! i really wanted to see the match. Does a LL get in?
by meganfernandez
JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:05 pm
Hooray, a straight sets victory for Venus over Kudermetova--she came back from 1-4 down in the first set and 2-5 down in the second set for her first top 20 win since 2019
JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:05 pm
Hooray, a straight sets victory for Venus over Kudermetova--she came back from 1-4 down in the first set and 2-5 down in the second set for her first top 20 win since 2019
How did Kudermatova let this one get away? Crazy.
She lost it after both rain delays, spraying everything wide
by ti-amieTuesday, August 15, 2023 Day 4
Center Court Starts At 11:00 Am
R64
Jiri Lehecka VS (9) Taylor Fritz Not Before 12:30 Pm / TBF 6/7(5) 3/4
R64
Sebastian Korda VS (15) Borna Coric Followed By (16) Alexander Zverev VS Grigor Dimitrov Not Before 3:00 PM (5) Ons Jabeur VS Anhelina Kalinina Not Before 7:00 PM
Sloane Stephens VS (6) Caroline Garcia Not Before 8:30 Pm (1) Carlos AlcarazVS (Q) Jordan Thompson
Grandstand Starts At 11:00 Am
(9) Petra Kvitova VS Anna Blinkova Followed By
Victoria Azarenka VS (11) Barbora Krejcikova Followed By TF 2/3
Karolina Muchova VS (12) Beatriz Haddad Maia Followed By
Emil Ruusuvuori VS (7) Andrey Rublev Not Before 7:00 Pm
Adrian Mannarino VS (12) Felix Auger-Aliassime Not Before 8:30 PM (15) Madison Keys VS Elise Mertens
Stadium 3 Starts At 11:00 Am
R64
Miomir Kecmanovic VS (14) Tommy Paul Not Before 12:30 Pm / TBF 3/6 7/6(5) 2/5
R64
(WC) Brandon Nakashima VS (WC) Stan Wawrinka Followed By
R32
Nikola Cacic/Novak Djokovic VS Jamie Murray/Michael Venus Followed By
R64 (13) Cameron Norrie VS (PR) Gael Monfils Not Before 5:00 PM
(Q) Cristina Bucsa VS (13) Belinda Bencic Followed By
(Q) Linda Noskova VS Liudmila Samsonova After Suitable Rest
(OSE) Ons Jabeur/Petra Martic VS (WC) Jennifer Brady/Asia Muhammad
Porsche Court Starts At 11:00 Am
(14) Daria Kasatkina VS (WC) Peyton Stearns Not Before 12:30 PM
(LL) Varvara Gracheva VS (WC) Caroline Wozniacki Followed By
Petra Martic VS (Q) Emma Navarro Followed By (10) Marketa Vondrousova VS Katerina Siniakova Followed By
Jennifer Brady VS Donna Vekic
After Suitable Rest (5) Lyudmyla Kichenok/Jelena Ostapenko VS (OSE) Karolina Muchova/Marketa Vondrousova
Court 4 Starts At 11:00 Am
R64 (11) Karen Khachanov VS Lucky Loser Followed By / TBF 0/0
R64
Daniel Evans VS Lorenzo Musetti Followed By
R64
Hubert Hurkacz VS (Q) Thanasi Kokkinakis Followed By
R64
Alex de Minaur VS J.J. Wolf Followed By
R64
(WC) Mackenzie McDonald VS Yannick Hanfmann
Court And Time After Suitable Rest
(WC) Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Anastasia Potapova VS Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/Luisa Stefani
Court 7 Starts At 11:00 Am
Jelena Ostapenko VS Karolina Pliskova Not Before 12:30 PM
Qinwen Zheng VS (Q) Aliaksandra Sasnovich Followed By
Irina-Camelia Begu VS Marie Bouzkova Followed By
(WC) Danielle Collins VS Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Followed By
Ekaterina Alexandrova VS Sorana Cirstea Followed By
(OSE) Elisabetta Cocciaretto/Mayar Sherif VS (OSE) Irina-Camelia Begu/Sara Sorribes Tormo
Court And Time TBA
Gabriela Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe VS (8) Shuko Aoyama/Ena Shibahara
Court 8 Starts At 11:00 Am
Ugo Humbert VS (Q) Arthur Fils Followed By
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina VS Tomas Martin Etcheverry Followed By
Lorenzo Sonego VS (Q) Alexander Shevchenko Followed By
(PR) Lloyd Harris VS (Q) Max Purcell
After Suitable Rest
(OSE) Magda Linette/Bernarda Pera VS (7) Hao-Ching Chan/Giuliana Olmos Followed By
Victoria Azarenka/Beatriz Haddad Maia VS (WC) Emma Navarro/Peyton Stearns
Court And Time TBA
Miyu Kato/Aldila Sutjiadi VS Laura Siegemund/Vera Zvonareva
Court 11 Starts At 11:00 Am
Bernarda Pera VS (Q) Martina Trevisan Followed By
(Q) Xiyu Wang VS Mayar Sherif Followed By
Magda Linette VS (Q) Ann Li Followed By
Francisco Cerundolo/Tomas Martin Etcheverry VS (6) Santiago Gonzalez/Edouard Roger-Vasselin Followed By
Marcelo Arevalo/Jean-Julien Rojer VS Alejandro Davidovich Fokina/Stefanos Tsitsipas Followed By
(OSE) Alycia Parks/Taylor Townsend VS Latisha Chan/Zhaoxuan Yang
Court And Time TBA
(6) Su-Wei Hsieh/Xinyu Wang VS (OSE) Anna Blinkova/Varvara Gracheva
by ashkor87
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 7:02 am
based on videos of last year, court looks slow to medium, a tad faster than Montreal but not anywhere near the USO.. and the list of champions bears that out - Pliskova, Keys.. since it is not extreme, anything could happen, I guess..should suit Alcaraz, I uppose.. and Rybakina
now that I have seen clips of the Venus match, it actually looks a bt slower than Montreal... not that it matters, this entire tournament doesnt really matter (for the USO, I mean).. but good for people like Venus, Jen Brady etc. who need some good matches to make their way back..
Venus would certainly prefer a faster court, Brady, I dont know...
by jazzyg I do not believe Taylor Fritz has played a single good set of tennis this summer.
From 6-5 up in the first-set tiebreak against Lehecka, he double faulted three times on his next four service points and somehow still won the set because of Lehecka's mistakes. But he is not hitting the ball clean from the baseline at all, is volleying poorly and is up and down on his first serve.
by ponchi101 I thought I was the only one thinking that way. But I was not able to pinpoint any deviations from his game.
I don't see him as a factor against any other top 10.
by ashkor87 I am generally disappointed with all the American men...hoping for Eubanks now..Tiafoe is OK but not a future champion...
by jazzyg I pretty much agree with that assessment, although you can forget about Eubanks. He was amazing on grass for a month but has done zilch in his career otherwise.
I expected more from Korda. He's had injuries and is still young, but he loses a lot of matches because of his own mistakes.
At times last summer and again last week, Paul was rock solid, but his upside is limited.
by Suliso Tiafoe, Paul and Fritz all are in tennis player's prime years (ca 24-28). This is it for them. They could get lucky here or there results wise, but you can't expect seriously higher level in the future.
by ponchi101 They all are solid, all are very, very good. None has a definitive weapon, a shot that the opponents try not to go to.
I say a Slams' SF or a possible MS1000 (if the draw breaks in their favor) is their ceiling. Fritz already has one, so he can repeat there.
by JTContinental Going to picture in picture while play is still happening and then showing a commercial in one of the windows should be a crime punishable by death.
by ti-amie
JTContinental wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 8:36 pm
Going to picture in picture while play is still happening and then showing a commercial in one of the windows should be a crime punishable by death.
by JTContinental Jabeur about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
by skatingfan
JTContinental wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 9:35 pm
Jabeur about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Kalinina trying to do the same thing.
by skatingfan Taylor Fritz on the court speed, and issue with the balls this week.
by JTContinental Jabeur wins 5 games in a row to now lead 6-5
by nelslus
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:40 pm
I thought I was the only one thinking that way. But I was not able to pinpoint any deviations from his game.
I don't see him as a factor against any other top 10.
Apparently, you forgot about #10 Tiafoe.
by meganfernandez Why don't more women work on their serve and make it a weapon? Who has a first serve that's a reliable weapon these days? Such a missed opportunity.
Other than Serena, Pliskova and Osaka are the last players I can think of who had a reliably big and well-placed serve. Maybe Georges - the one year when she was on a tear, 2017-18, she was bombing them left and right. Jabeur serves well but I don't think it's her big weapon. Who am I missing? Who bombs it and gets out of tight spots with it? Kanepi but she doesn't have a ton to show for it.
by JTContinental No final for Rublev I guess
by skatingfan
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:54 pm
Why don't more women work on their serve and make it a weapon? Who has a first serve that's a reliable weapon these days? Such a missed opportunity.
Other than Serena, Pliskova and Osaka are the last players I can think of who had a reliably big and well-placed serve. Maybe Georges - the one year when she was on a tear, 2017-18, she was bombing them left and right. Jabeur serves well but I don't think it's her big weapon. Who am I missing? Who bombs it and gets out of tight spots with it? Kanepi but she doesn't have a ton to show for it.
Rybakina
by meganfernandez
JTContinental wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 1:11 am
No final for Rublev I guess
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:54 pm
Why don't more women work on their serve and make it a weapon? Who has a first serve that's a reliable weapon these days? Such a missed opportunity.
Other than Serena, Pliskova and Osaka are the last players I can think of who had a reliably big and well-placed serve. Maybe Georges - the one year when she was on a tear, 2017-18, she was bombing them left and right. Jabeur serves well but I don't think it's her big weapon. Who am I missing? Who bombs it and gets out of tight spots with it? Kanepi but she doesn't have a ton to show for it.
Rybakina
Yes. More should develop it like she has. Sabalenka's is destructive when she gets it in, but it's not nearly consistent enough. Kvitova's was a weapon when she was in form.
by ashkor87
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:54 pm
Why don't more women work on their serve and make it a weapon?
if you compare with the situation 10 years ago, women have much better serves now.. almost everyone has a decent to good serve.. and Rybakina/Samsonova have lethal first serves too, in addition to the ones you mentioned. In fact, I used o so admire Alicia Moulik because whe had the correct serving action - arched back and everything.. nowadays it is quite commn: Parry, for instance is someone whose action is admirable.
by ti-amieWednesday, August 16, 2023 Day 5
Center Court Starts At 11:00 Am
(Q) Martina Trevisan VS (3) Jessica Pegula Not Before 12:00 PM (1) Iga Swiatek VS (WC) Danielle Collins Followed By (4) Stefanos Tsitsipas VS Ben Shelton Not Before 7:00 Pm
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina VS (2) Novak Djokovic Not Before 8:30 PM
Mayar Sherif VS (7) Coco Gauff
Grandstand Starts At 11:00 Am
Lorenzo Musetti VS (3) Daniil Medvedev Followed By (8) Jannik Sinner VS (Q) Dusan Lajovic Not Before 3:00 PM
Qinwen Zheng VS (WC) Venus Williams Not Before 7:00 PM
(Q) Ann Li VS (2) Aryna Sabalenka Followed By (10) Frances Tiafoe VS (WC) Stan Wawrinka
Stadium 3 Starts At 11:00 Am
Ugo Humbert VS (14) Tommy Paul Followed By
Lorenzo Sonego VS (9) Taylor Fritz Followed By
Hubert Hurkacz VS (15) Borna Coric Not Before 5:00 PM (4) Elena Rybakina VS Jelena Ostapenko Followed By
Donna Vekic VS Victoria Azarenka
Porsche Court Starts At 11:00 Am
(14) Daria Kasatkina VS (LL) Varvara Gracheva Not Before 12:00 PM (10) Marketa VondrousovaVS Anastasia Potapova Followed By (8) Maria Sakkari VS Sorana Cirstea Followed By (9) Petra Kvitova VS (Q) Linda Noskova Not Before 5:00 Pm
Elise Mertens VS Marie Bouzkova
Court 4 Starts At 11:00 Am
(16) Alexander Zverev VS Yoshihito Nishioka Followed By
(Q) Max Purcell VS (5) Casper Ruud Followed By
(PR) Gael Monfils VS Alex de Minaur Followed By (6) Holger RuneVS (WC) Mackenzie McDonald Followed By / After Rest TBF 6/5
Rinky Hijikata/Jason Kubler VS Hubert Hurkacz/Mate Pavic
Court 7 Starts At 11:00 Am
(OSE) Alycia Parks/Taylor Townsend VS Latisha Chan/Zhaoxuan Yang Followed By (3) Nicole Melichar-Martinez/Ellen PerezVS Tereza Mihalikova/Yifan Xu Not Before 2:00 PM
Petra Martic VS Karolina Muchova Followed By
(Q) Jasmine Paolini VS (Q) Cristina Bucsa After Suitable Rest
(WC) Jennifer Brady/Asia Muhammad VS (7) Hao-Ching Chan/Giuliana Olmos
To Be Arranged
(OSE) Irina-Camelia Begu/Sara Sorribes Tormo VS (2) Storm Hunter/Elise Mertens
Court 8 Starts At 11:00 Am
Robin Haase/Karen Khachanov VS (2) Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek Followed By
Maximo Gonzalez/Andres Molteni VS (3) Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury Followed By
(WC) Emma Navarro/Peyton Stearns VS (4) Desirae Krawczyk/Demi Schuurs After Suitable Rest (6) Su-Wei Hsieh/Xinyu Wang VS (OSE) Anna Blinkova/Varvara Gracheva After Suitable Rest
(WC) Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Anastasia Potapova VS Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/Luisa Stefani Followed By
Miyu Kato/Aldila Sutjiadi VS Gabriela Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe
Court 11 Not Before 2:30 Pm
(7) Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz VS Felix Auger-Aliassime/Adrian Mannarino Followed By / TBF 6/7(10) 1/2
Lloyd Glasspool/Harri Heliovaara VS Max Purcell/Andrey Rublev Followed By
(WC) Lorenzo Musetti/Lorenzo Sonego VS (8) Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:54 pm
Why don't more women work on their serve and make it a weapon?
if you compare with the situation 10 years ago, women have much better serves now.. almost everyone has a decent to good serve.. and Rybakina/Samsonova have lethal first serves too, in addition to the ones you mentioned. In fact, I used o so admire Alicia Moulik because whe had the correct serving action - arched back and everything.. nowadays it is quite commn: Parry, for instance is someone whose action is admirable.
Agree the average serve might be better, and returns have improved, too. But I think not nearly enough players are seizing the opportunity to have a truly great serve and a weapon. They can control it. They can improve it. It is still the most important shot in the sport. It's bizarre to me.
Rybakina and Samsonova CAN produce a lethal serve, but their first serve !% is too low for it to be a reliable weapon - 57% and 54% respectively. They need to get that to 60 or above (Serena and Barty were both at 60% for their careers, so that seems like a good standard for winning multiple Slams and getting to No. 1). Then it's the weapon I'm talking about. They both have a high percentage of first serves unreturned (along with Qinwin Zheng, Garcia and Marino). But they could use more consistency. Even a few percentage points could make the difference between their current results and No. 1
by ashkor87 Rybakina serving above 60% would be unbeatable!
by ashkor87 Sloane all fired up in her win over Garcia.. she is normally more passive - hit some monstrous forehands too.. hope this is the new avatar
by meganfernandez
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 3:03 pm
Rybakina serving above 60% would be unbeatable!
Right. Like Serena and Barty. She's not a great example of my larger point. I'm talking about the average Top 50 player who isn't investing enough time and attention on the serve. Even Iga's 2nd isn't that great. Attackable.
by meganfernandez Meddy is NOT normally intense. When he's happy with his game, he is relaxed and cool. Not a good sign.
by ashkor87 i really dont know what to make of these Cincy results..FAA beaten, Bencic out.. are they saving themselves for the USO or what? Maybe it is best to just ignore this tournament...
by ashkor87
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 3:11 pm
Meddy is NOT normally intense. When he's happy with his game, he is relaxed and cool. Not a good sign.
I just hate it when players abuse their rackets -- it is like musicians abusing their instruments.. they should regard them as sacred,not tools to be thrown about. If you dont respect your instruments, how will you succeed?
by ashkor87
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 3:09 pm
Even Iga's 2nd isn't that great. Attackable.
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 3:11 pm
Meddy is NOT normally intense. When he's happy with his game, he is relaxed and cool. Not a good sign.
I just hate it when players abuse their rackets -- it is like musicians abusing their instruments.. they should regard them as sacred,not tools to be thrown about. If you dont respect your instruments, how will you succeed?
He needs one of these. I have one! It's called a Dammit Doll.
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 3:09 pm
Even Iga's 2nd isn't that great. Attackable.
true.. it comes of over-reliance on spin, maybe?
Possibly. I trust you on these matters. I'm not knowledgeable about technique.
by ponchi101
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 3:19 pm
i really dont know what to make of these Cincy results..FAA beaten, Bencic out.. are they saving themselves for the USO or what? Maybe it is best to just ignore this tournament...
You have the theory that players "save themselves" for a future tournament. if that were correct, Felix has been saving himself for the USO for months now. He is not playing quality tennis at all.
Bencic is not in the same situation, but it is not as if she has been scorching the tour as of late. This was just a loss; not much to read there.
by ashkor87
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 3:23 pm
I trust you on these matters
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 3:19 pm
i really dont know what to make of these Cincy results..FAA beaten, Bencic out.. are they saving themselves for the USO or what? Maybe it is best to just ignore this tournament...
You have the theory that players "save themselves" for a future tournament. if that were correct, Felix has been saving himself for the USO for months now. He is not playing quality tennis at all.
Bencic is not in the same situation, but it is not as if she has been scorching the tour as of late. This was just a loss; not much to read there.
You can't save yourself and keep missing out on 1000 ranking points and $1 million in prize money ($454k in the women's case). That would be dumb and counterintuitive. Good luck winning the Open without a seeding.
by ashkor87 I wonder if Bencic is still feeling the twisted ankle
by ponchi101
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 4:16 pm
I wonder if Bencic is still feeling the twisted ankle
Certainly a possibility. But she would need to play next week at The Land to get some court time. If she does not, it could be about two weeks of no competitive tennis when she gets to NYC.
by meganfernandez Sinner's out to Lajovic, a dangerous floater. By the way, plenty of players have done well in both Canada and Cincy, so this wasn't a foregone conclusion. But yeah, the conditions are different. Wonder if that's a factor or it's more a combination of fatigue and emotional letdown after Sinner's first 1000. Or just purely outplayed. On most days, Sinner should beat Lajovic, right? Not get straight-setted?
Iga steamrolled Collins 1 and 0. Only her third win in Cincy ever. Collins played her closely last week. Iga said she didn't even have a chance to practice in Cincy, which seems weird. She lost in Canada four days ago. Was her practice rained out?
by ponchi101 Lajovic is a solid player that feels at ease on hards. I would not make much about this loss. Fodder for my theory of parity, and my second theory of how hard it is to carry a streak in either tour.
I am more surprised about Collins. She is a solid hard courter, so that is too lopsided. Even if it was Iga on the other side of the net.
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 8:05 pm
Lajovic is a solid player that feels at ease on hards. I would not make much about this loss. Fodder for my theory of parity, and my second theory of how hard it is to carry a streak in either tour.
I am more surprised about Collins. She is a solid hard courter, so that is too lopsided. Even if it was Iga on the other side of the net.
I will try and find a picture. Collins had a pretty strong wrap on her left knee and couldn't really push off on it.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie José Morgado
@josemorgado@sportsbots.xyz
Zheng changed a bit her serve technique and it’s looking quite shaky.
by ti-amie
She should be escorted out.
by nelslus
ti-amie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 8:42 pm
José Morgado
@josemorgado@sportsbots.xyz
Zheng changed a bit her serve technique and it’s looking quite shaky.
WELL- Zheng apparently fixed THAT problem today. (It was fun when V was up 6-1, 2-1 with a break.)
by ti-amie Ed Salmon
@fogmount@mas.to
After a messy start, Zheng finds her range and puts a little more pressure on Williams’ forehand, and that’s all it takes to make Venus disintegrate. Qinwen wins 11 straight games from 0-2 in the 2nd and goes on to prevail, 16 62 61. #AmazingScorelines #tenni
by ti-amie Spinopsys
@spinopsys@aus.social
Yes, I’m aware Casper Ruud (7) was beaten by Aussie Max Purcell (70) but that’s not an upset because Ruud is just falling to his proper level which is well outside the top-20. #Tennis
by nelslus
ti-amie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 9:13 pm
Ed Salmon
@fogmount@mas.to
After a messy start, Zheng finds her range and puts a little more pressure on Williams’ forehand, and that’s all it takes to make Venus disintegrate. Qinwen wins 11 straight games from 0-2 in the 2nd and goes on to prevail, 16 62 61. #AmazingScorelines #tenni
#AmazingScorelines PFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTT!!
by JTContinental She took a weird bathroom timeout at 2-1 in the second set and wasn't right after that. Hopefully not yet another injury.
by skatingfan Rune vs Tsitsipas now for the 4th seed at the US Open with Rublev, Ruud, and Sinner out.
by ti-amie
by ashkor87 This entire tournament is weird
by meganfernandez
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 12:10 am
This entire tournament is weird
Rainy. Grumpy players. Injuries galore. It will be good by Friday.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 12:10 am
This entire tournament is weird
Rainy. Grumpy players. Injuries galore. It will be good by Friday.
Fortunately, Cheesecake Factory is just a short Uber away from the venue
by JTContinental I no sooner thought "wtf is up with Brad Gilbert's stupid hat?" when Brett Haber quips "BG just off the tuna trawler." All he is missing is a hook hand.
by nelslus
JTContinental wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 1:28 am
I no sooner thought "wtf is up with Brad Gilbert's stupid hat?" when Brett Haber quips "BG just off the tuna trawler." All he is missing is a hook hand.
by JTContinental Gauff and Sherif's combined grunts make it sound like they are singing "Whoomp! There it is!"
by ashkor87 History suggests someone like Vekic will win this tournament..a good player who can seize the opportunity ..someone nobody is talking about...
If it is to be an established player, Jabeur's game suits surface best...
by jazzyg Several hours after he made the comment, I am still dumbfounded by JIm Courier doubling down on the idiot fan canard about peak Wawrinka being better than peak Murray.
I don't mean to disparage Wawrinka, who could be breathtakingly good in his late prime, but why is it relevant when your peak form is so rare? Courier added that Djokovic, Federer and Nadal would agree with him based on Wawrinka's success against them. I'll give him Djokovic. Even though Murray won two of his three slams by beating Djokovic in the final, Wawrinka gave Djokovic all sorts of trouble every time they met in a slam for several years. But Federer went 23-3 against Wawrinka as compared to 14-11 against Murray, and Nadal went 19-3 against him while winning the last 13 sets they played. To say they struggled with Wawrinka in big matches, or really any match, is ridiculous.
by ashkor87 But remember Wawrinka has won 3 different majors, Murray has 3 but two of them are the same..I think they are both great players, and Murray's public persona is, of course, much more sterling..Wawrinka looks more destructive when he is on, which is why Courier may have said/felt that.
by ti-amieThursday, August 17, 2023 Day 6
Center Court Starts At 11:00 Am
(10) Marketa Vondrousova VS Sloane Stephens Not Before 1:00 Pm (4) Stefanos Tsitsipas VS Hubert Hurkacz Followed By (1) Carlos Alcaraz VS (14) Tommy Paul Not Before 7:00 PM
(Q) Linda Noskova VS (7) Coco Gauff Not Before 8:30 Pm
(PR) Gael Monfils VS (2) Novak Djokovic
Grandstand Starts At 11:00 Am
(16) Alexander Zverev VS (3) Daniil Medvedev Not Before 1:00 PM (1) Iga SwiatekVS Qinwen Zheng Not Before 2:00 PM
Marie Bouzkova VS (3) Jessica Pegula Not Before 7:00 Pm
(Q) Dusan Lajovic VS (9) Taylor Fritz Followed By (3) Nicole Melichar-Martinez/Ellen Perez VS Miyu Kato/Aldila Sutjiadi
Stadium 3 Starts At 11:00 Am
(LL) Alexei Popyrin VS Emil Ruusuvuori Not Before 1:00 Pm
(WC) Mackenzie McDonald VS Adrian Mannarino Not Before 3:30 Pm
(WC) Stan Wawrinka VS (Q) Max Purcell Not Before 5:00 PM (5) Ons Jabeur VS Donna Vekic
Porsche Court Starts At 11:00 Am
(6) Su-Wei Hsieh/Xinyu Wang VS Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/Luisa Stefani Not Before 12:00 PM (8) Maria Sakkari VS Karolina Muchova Not Before 2:00 PM (4) Elena Rybakina VS (Q) Jasmine Paolini Not Before 5:00 PM (14) Daria Kasatkina VS (2) Aryna Sabalenka After Suitable Rest (1) Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina SiniakovaVS (OSE) Karolina Pliskova/Donna Vekic
Court 4 Starts At 11:00 Am
(1) Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski VS Jamie Murray/Michael Venus Followed By (4) Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden VS (WC) Christopher Eubanks/Ben Shelton Followed By
Marcelo Arevalo/Jean-Julien Rojer VS (WC) Lorenzo Musetti/Lorenzo Sonego Followed By / After Rest
Marcelo Melo/Alexander Zverev VS Hubert Hurkacz/Mate Pavic Followed By / After Rrest
Max Purcell/Andrey Rublev VS (6) Santiago Gonzalez/Edouard Roger-Vasselin
Court 7 Starts At 11:00 Am
(7) Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz VS Nikola Mektic/John Peers Not Before 2:00 PM (5) Lyudmyla Kichenok/Jelena Ostapenko VS (OSE) Alycia Parks/Taylor Townsend Not Before 4:00 PM
(OSE) Irina-Camelia Begu/Sara Sorribes Tormo VS (2) Storm Hunter/Elise Mertens
by JTContinental
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 4:12 am
History suggests someone like Vekic will win this tournament..a good player who can seize the opportunity ..someone nobody is talking about...
If it is to be an established player, Jabeur's game suits surface best...
What history suggests this? The most random person to win it in the last 20 years is Kiki Bertens. After that it's mostly players that were ranked 1 at some point.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 4:12 am
History suggests someone like Vekic will win this tournament..a good player who can seize the opportunity ..someone nobody is talking about...
If it is to be an established player, Jabeur's game suits surface best...
What history suggests this? The most random person to win it in the last 20 years is Kiki Bertens. After that it's mostly players that were ranked 1 at some point.
Garcia? Coric? were they favorites last year?
by JTContinental I can't speak for the men's side, because I don't really follow men's tennis that closely, so your theory could hold true there. But on the women's side, it's an outlier to win this unless you were a top level player: Barty, Serena, Azarenka, Sharapova, Clijsters, Muguruza, Pliskova, Li Na, Jankovic, Davenport all were ranked 1 at some point, and the rest of the winners have all been ranked 2-7 (including Garcia, who was top 5 once before years ago) in their careers.
I know you don't put much emphasis on ranking but even without rankings, no one would find their winning a Masters to be random.
by ashkor87
JTContinental wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:01 am
no one would find their winning a Masters to be random.
fair enough, but I didnt say 'random'. I said someone unexpected.
by meganfernandez
JTContinental wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:01 am
I can't speak for the men's side, because I don't really follow men's tennis that closely, so your theory could hold true there. But on the women's side, it's an outlier to win this unless you were a top level player: Barty, Serena, Azarenka, Sharapova, Clijsters, Muguruza, Pliskova, Li Na, Jankovic, Davenport all were ranked 1 at some point, and the rest of the winners have all been ranked 2-7 (including Garcia, who was top 5 once before years ago) in their careers.
I know you don't put much emphasis on ranking but even without rankings, no one would find their winning a Masters to be random.
On the men's side, the top players have always dominated, at least for 30 years. The Big 4 won 11 of the last 17, since 2005, and were a constant presence in semis and finals, too. The other winners in the Big 4 era are top 5 players at some point - Agassi, Roddick, Medvedev, Cilic, Zverev... and then Grigor and Coric. I think Coric is the only real random winner as a wild card.
Whether that's a function of the ATP being more consistent overall or not, I'm not sure. Probably.
I think Djokovic or Alcaraz or Medvedev will win this year, and Iga looked deadly the other night. If it's not Iga, it will be Gauff, Pegula, or Rybakina. The likes of Muchova or Vekic wouldn't be an unexpected winner to me... not favorites but no surprise when they win big matches. The likes of Noskova, Zheng, Bouzkova or Paolini would be unexpected, to pull some names from the draw.
by meganfernandez This would be Zverev's first Top 10 win since returning if he can finish the job. But he's lost to Medvedev three times this year, so I'm guessing it won't happen.
Zverev's biggest win this year was #12 Tiafoe.
by meganfernandez
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 5:00 pm
This would be Zverev's first Top 10 win since returning if he can finish the job. But he's lost to Medvedev three times this year, so I'm guessing it won't happen.
Zverev's biggest win this year was #12 Tiafoe.
Zverev gets it done, with some help from Meddy, who failed to convert BPs at 3-4 to serve it out, and then double-faulted (twice?) to drop serve at 4-4. Weird collapse from him given that he has owned Zvered this year and won 8 of their last 9 matches.
by ponchi101
jazzyg wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 4:39 am
Several hours after he made the comment, I am still dumbfounded by JIm Courier doubling down on the idiot fan canard about peak Wawrinka being better than peak Murray.
...
Their records certainly don't support that. Murray has won many more tournaments, and he did reach #1.
However, on the "I am partial" side of the argument: I will never say that I enjoyed Murray's game as much as I enjoyed Stan's, but I am a sucker for a 1 handed BH.
But that is taste, not data.
by jazzyg
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 5:32 am
But remember Wawrinka has won 3 different majors, Murray has 3 but two of them are the same..I think they are both great players, and Murray's public persona is, of course, much more sterling..Wawrinka looks more destructive when he is on, which is why Courier may have said/felt that.
Yes, Wawrinka won the Australian Open, but that was the only time he made the final. Murray lost in the final five times (four to Djokovic, once to Federer). Wawrinka lost well before the final in all five of those years. By any sane measure, Murray was far superior in Melboune to Wawrinka, who may not even have won his lone final if Nadal had not gotten injured early in the match.
by jazzyg Of the four men's completed matches so far today, I would have picked the loser to win.
This has been a really strange tournament.
by texasniteowl
jazzyg wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 6:58 pm
Of the four men's completed matches so far today, I would have picked the loser to win.
Same. All my predictions choices so far of the completed men's matches are wrong.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 5:32 am
But remember Wawrinka has won 3 different majors, Murray has 3 but two of them are the same..I think they are both great players, and Murray's public persona is, of course, much more sterling..Wawrinka looks more destructive when he is on, which is why Courier may have said/felt that.
Yes, Wawrinka won the Australian Open, but that was the only time he made the final. Murray lost in the final five times (four to Djokovic, once to Federer). Wawrinka lost well before the final in all five of those years. By any sane measure, Murray was far superior in Melboune to Wawrinka, who may not even have won his lone final if Nadal had not gotten injured early in the match.
We don't have to guess. They played each other twice in 2016, when they both won majors, and Murray won both, including on clay, where Stan should have the advantage.
Murray is 13-9 vs Stan overall. On hard court, Murray is 9-4.
by JTContinental Rybakina retired down 2-5 in the second set, presumably with a shoulder injury
by meganfernandez
JTContinental wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 8:14 pm
Rybakina retired down 2-5 in the second set, presumably with a shoulder injury
Yikes. Lucky break for Paolini. Rybakina said she picked up an injury last week.
FWIW, Rybakina won the first, so she didn't retire one game from the end of the match, which would be bush league unless absolutely necessary.
by ponchi101 Paul really, really, really does not want to win this match.
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 8:36 pm
Paul really, really, really does not want to win this match.
Jinx
by ti-amie They're trying to stop Alcaraz vs Paul and it seems neither player wants to stop.
Carlitos is being shown the radar.
by ti-amie Steve Tignor
@SteveTignor
"We're gonna get some heavy stuff," referee Gerry Armstrong tells Alcaraz and Paul of the forecast.
by ti-amie And they're back on Center Court.
by ti-amie And now play is suspended.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Ed Salmon
@fogmount@mas.to
Vekic retires during the rain delay, down 2-5 to Jabeur. #tennis
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Magenta Rocks
@MagentaRocks@mastodon.coffee
OMG total chaos in Cincinnati at the Sabalenka v Kasatkina match. Now they just announced day ticket holders need to leave and let the night ticket holder take their seats. Everyone has sat through the delay. Seems a bit harsh to kick everyone out before the match finishes. @tennis #tennis
by JTContinental Lajovic retires down 0-5 to Taylor Fritz
by JTContinental Having seen Bejlek, Fruhvirtova the elder, and Noskova play a few times now, one downside of the this upcoming group of Czech teen phenoms is that they all have the same nonexistent second serve.
by ashkor87 Maybe Cincy should sue Montreal...
by ashkor87 Strange strange results..Pegula losing to Bouzkova? She doesn't lose to tier 2 players except the very best...
by JTContinental Gauff over Noskova 6-4, 6-0--Noskova didn't hold serve once during the match. Her less-than-enthusiastic handshake at the net looked more like a botched high 5.
by ti-amieFriday, August 18, 2023 Day 7
Center Court Starts At 11:00 Am
(1) Iga Swiatek VS (10) Marketa Vondrousova Not Before 1:00 Pm
Hubert Hurkacz VS (LL) Alexei Popyrin Not Before 3:00 Pm (1) Carlos Alcaraz VS (Q) Max Purcell Not Before 7:00 PM (5) Ons Jabeur VS (2) Aryna Sabalenka Not Before 8:30 Pm (9) Taylor FritzVS Gael Monfils Or Novak Djokovic
Grandstand Starts At 11:00 Am
Nikola Mektic/John Peers VS Maximo Gonzalez/Andres Molteni Not Before 1:00 PM
Karolina Muchova VS Marie Bouzkova Not Before 3:00 PM
(Q) Jasmine Paolini VS TBD
Not Before 7:00 Pm
Adrian Mannarino VS (16) Alexander Zverev
Followed By
TBD VS TBD
Stadium 3 Starts At 11:00 Am
(OSE) Alycia Parks/Taylor Townsend VS (4) Desirae Krawczyk/Demi Schuurs Followed By
Jamie Murray/Michael Venus VS (WC) Lorenzo Musetti/Lorenzo Sonego Followed By / To Be Arranged
(WC) Christopher Eubanks/Ben Shelton VS Max Purcell/Andrey Rublev Or Santiago Gonzalez/Edouard Roger-Vasselin Followed By / To Be Arranged
Marcelo Melo/Alexander Zverev VS (2) Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek
Porsche Court Starting At 1:00 PM
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/Luisa Stefani VS (2) Storm Hunter/Elise Mertens Not Before 2:00 PM (1) Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova VS (7) Hao-Ching Chan/Giuliana Olmos
Court And Time TBA
TBD VS TBD
by skatingfan
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 1:23 am
Strange strange results..Pegula losing to Bouzkova? She doesn't lose to tier 2 players except the very best...
Bouzkova is very capable of pulling out these types of results. That is her 4th top ten win this season.
by JTContinental Bouzkova now out with a leg strain--she retired after 3 games in her match with Muchova
by ti-amie The Tennis Podcast
@TennisPodcast@sportsbots.xyz
Soooo many mid-match retirements in Cincinnati this week.
In the last few days: Rybakina, Rune, McDonald, Lajovic, Vekic, ADF, Bouzkova.
by meganfernandez
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:27 pm
The Tennis Podcast
@TennisPodcast@sportsbots.xyz
Soooo many mid-match retirements in Cincinnati this week.
In the last few days: Rybakina, Rune, McDonald, Lajovic, Vekic, ADF, Bouzkova.
I think they won't risk a real injury before NY if they don't think they can win the tournament. I'm half-convinced that some players book plane tickets for Friday or Saturday anyway and won't stick around if their chances are low. I wonder if NY beckons for some of them, too. Some people are in no hurry to get there but some are.
by mick1303
JTContinental wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:01 am
I can't speak for the men's side, because I don't really follow men's tennis that closely, so your theory could hold true there. But on the women's side, it's an outlier to win this unless you were a top level player: Barty, Serena, Azarenka, Sharapova, Clijsters, Muguruza, Pliskova, Li Na, Jankovic, Davenport all were ranked 1 at some point, and the rest of the winners have all been ranked 2-7 (including Garcia, who was top 5 once before years ago) in their careers.
I know you don't put much emphasis on ranking but even without rankings, no one would find their winning a Masters to be random.
Cincinnati on WTA side of things has much shallower history. It became Tier I only in 2009.
by jazzyg There is too much money at stake at events like Cincinnati for players to bale without a legitimate injury, and it's only the truly top players who treat the slams as the only relevant tournaments.
What's gone on this year does not happen most years at Cincy. It's been a bizarre tournament.
On another note, I like Hurkacz to beat Alcaraz tomorrow and ruin the expected final between Alcaraz and Djokovic. Hurkacz is the biggest mystery player on tour for me--capable of outstanding tennis but more content to play mediocre tennis for most of the year. He also has a lot of trouble breaking serve, and I have no idea why with his game. I think he's slightly more talented than Sinner but is nowhere near as good mentally, except on those rare occasions when he looks really good mentally. A true enigma. I only saw the first two games of his match today, but I see he blew a 6-1 lead in the second-set tiebreak before saving a set point and winning it 10-8. That sound about right for him.
by meganfernandez
jazzyg wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 9:48 pm
There is too much money at stake at events like Cincinnati for players to bale without a legitimate injury, and it's only the truly top players who treat the slams as the only relevant tournaments.
I suspect the truth is somewhere in the middle. Some players are in a position to bale on the points and money, and everyone manages their year strategically. But I don't think every withdrawal is a fake, or that Cincy is becoming a tank tournament, as Craig Shapiro suggested.
It seems like real champions never bale. The Big 4 didn't. Iga doesn't. Alcaraz doesn't seem to have one eye on New York already. One exception is that Serena baled a lot (she baled on Cincy once to go to Kim Kardashian's wedding).
by ashkor87 Well, in the end, Coco-Swiatek plus Jabeur/Sabalenka/muchova is quite a credible line-up..beginning to look like a real tournament!
I haven't seen any match in full yet but the court looks like it will suit Swiatek better than Coco..except Swiatek's second serve will sit up and beg to be punished...if Coco serves well, she has a real chance...
by ashkor87 Glad to see 'bale' spelled correctly!
by meganfernandez
ashkor87 wrote:Glad to see 'bale' spelled correctly!
Actually it should be “bail.” To abandon… per Merriam-Webster
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
by ti-amieSaturday, August 19, 2023 Day 8
Center Court Starts At 11:00 Am
(1) Iga Swiatek VS (7) Coco Gauff Not Before 1:00 PM
Karolina Muchova VS Aryna Sabalenka (2) Not Before 3:00 Pm (1) Carlos Alcaraz VS Hubert Hurkacz Not Before 6:00 Pm
Alexander Zverev VS Taylor Fritz Or Novak Djokovic
Followed By WTA DOUBLES FINAL
TBD VS (OSE) Alycia Parks/Taylor Townsend
Grandstand Starts At 1:00 Pm
Jamie Murray/Michael Venus VS (6) Santiago Gonzalez/Edouard Roger-Vasselin Followed By / To Be Arranged
Maximo Gonzalez/Andres Molteni VS Marcelo Melo/Alexander Zverev Or Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek
by skatingfan How does someone with a serve like Fritz lost 3 service games in a row?
ashkor87 wrote:Glad to see 'bale' spelled correctly!
Actually it should be “bail.” To abandon… per Merriam-Webster
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
No, bail is what Trump wants. Webster doesn't know English, only American
This is the correct use of 'bale'
You speak the Queen’s English?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
by meganfernandez
ptmcmahon wrote:After doing some google research it sounds like you can use either form.
"But both phrasal verbs bale out and bail out mean to empty something or to throw something out."
So use whatever you want. I always thought of it as bail out myself.
I use Merriam-Webster, which doesn’t allow “bale” in the usage. Other sources might. See, language isn’t all black and white. There are various authorities.
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 12:52 am
Actually it should be “bail.” To abandon… per Merriam-Webster
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
No, bail is what Trump wants. Webster doesn't know English, only American
This is the correct use of 'bale'
You speak the Queen’s English?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yes, as I always say, the last Englishman will be an Indian
by ashkor87 was fascinating to see Swiatek coming in to the net, not Vondrousova.. just the highlights of course..
by ashkor87 nice to see townsend and Parks doing well .. I always thought Fernandez is too similar to Townsend, Parks is a more classical serve and volley player.. a bit different from Townsend with her lovely touch and court sense... takes complementary skills I guess, to make a good team.
by JTContinental I'm guessing they might be trying to pair up for a shot at the Olympics
by JTContinental I did not see the Jabeur/Sabalenka match, but it sounds like Ons injured her foot again.
by Owendonovan I only use "bale" in reference to hay.
by meganfernandez
Owendonovan wrote:I only use "bale" in reference to hay.
ashkor87 wrote:
No, bail is what Trump wants. Webster doesn't know English, only American
This is the correct use of 'bale'
You speak the Queen’s English?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yes, as I always say, the last Englishman will be an Indian
I like this!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
by ti-amie Cori 2.0 was on full display in that match. There was a point in the first set where Iga broke and Cori broke right back playing good tennis eventually winning the first set in a TB 7-6(2).
I expected Swiatek to adjust and Cori to come down from the high of winning her first set ever against Iga and Iga won the second set 6-3.
The third set was good, thinking on court tennis and adjusting to what your opponent is doing and Cori won it with her mental as well as physical game. Gilbert and Riba gave her a standing ovation when she wrested control of the set and match from Iga pointing at his head to indicate good thinking.
This was a huge win for Gauff and with next week off it's going to be interesting to see her form and draw for the US Open.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Sabalenka was up 4-1 vs Muchova. It's now 4 all first set.
by JTContinental Get it, Coco! A nice birthday present for me
by ponchi101 About Coco: did everything finally clicked? That happens to all great players. Eventually, at one point, the whole package gelled.
Of course, I did not see the match because they did not show it. So I rely on your comments. Is she truly a 2.0 now?
by skatingfan
JTContinental wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 7:18 am
I did not see the Jabeur/Sabalenka match, but it sounds like Ons injured her foot again.
Seemed to be an ankle injury - she received treatment in the 2nd set and wasn't really able to continue after that.
by ti-amie Ben Rothenberg
@BenRothenberg@sportsbots.xyz
Sabalenka loses and line-drives the ball into the stands in anger after match point.
Luckily a fan caught it on the fly (proud baseball town, this), but players need to stop doing this (expletive) ffs.
by ti-amie Sabalenka out to Muchova who fixed her first set jitters and won 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2.
by ponchi101 To me, the most beautiful game in the game right now. Muchova's.
by ti-amie Carlitos looks to be going out to Hurkacz...
ashkor87 wrote:
No, bail is what Trump wants. Webster doesn't know English, only American
This is the correct use of 'bale'
You speak the Queen’s English?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yes, as I always say, the last Englishman will be an Indian
by skatingfan
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 10:47 pm
Carlitos looks to be going out to Hurkacz...
Not done and dusted yet.
by ashkor87 Coco served very well, I hear..even Swiatek commented that Coco's first serve was faster than before, took more risks..Coco2.0 for sure!
by ashkor87
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 11:33 pm
Well, in the end, Coco-Swiatek plus Jabeur/Sabalenka/muchova is quite a credible line-up..beginning to look like a real tournament!
I haven't seen any match in full yet but the court looks like it will suit Swiatek better than Coco..except Swiatek's second serve will sit up and beg to be punished...if Coco serves well, she has a real chance...
Which she did!
by ponchi101 I have my GF as witness. When Hurkacz did not convert on that MP, I told her "This is over. Alcaraz will take it".
He is becoming one of those Freddy Kruger players: if you don't kill him at the first opportunity, you will be the dead one.
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 10:47 pm
Carlitos looks to be going out to Hurkacz...
Not done and dusted yet.
Indeed it wasn't. I really thought he was a goner!
by ti-amieDay 9 Order of Play
Center Court Starts At 1:30 Pm
(7) Coco Gauff VS Karolina Muchova Not Before 4:30 Pm
F
Carlos Alcaraz VS Alexander Zverev Or Novak Djokovic
Grandstand Starts At 12:00 Noon
F
Jamie Murray/Michael Venus VS Maximo Gonzalez/Andres Molteni
by ti-amie
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by meganfernandez The Coco Hype machine is going to combust in NY
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by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ashkor87
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 12:37 am
The Coco Hype machine is going to combust in NY
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Could well happen but this Coco is really a better player..serves better, more positive..I don't think the technical problem with the forehand is fully fixed yet, but we can hope..I can see Gilbert is working on it (practice sessions seems be led by Gilbert..?)
by meganfernandez Zverev needs a haircut
by meganfernandez
ashkor87 wrote:
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 12:37 am
The Coco Hype machine is going to combust in NY
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Could well happen but this Coco is really a better player..serves better, more positive..I don't think the technical problem with the forehand is fully fixed yet, but we can hope..I can see Gilbert is working on it (practice sessions seems be led by Gilbert..?)
I mean the hype, not necessarily the player. The media and the city are going to hype her like the Barbie movie. It will be insane.
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by ashkor87 I hear Coco got only 43% first serves in but won 73% of them..clearly, taking more risks...that is the essence of Coco2.0, not any improvements on her forehand..
by meganfernandez
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 1:54 am
I hear Coco got only 43% first serves in but won 73% of them..clearly, taking more risks...that is the essence of Coco2.0, not any improvements on her forehand..
Lots of room for improvement, then. Way too low to win the Open.
by nelslus TAYLOR AND ALYCIA!!!!
by ashkor87 Parks and Townsend have the title! Good combination...
by patrick Townsend and anyone is a good combination (Fernandez and McNally for starters)
by ashkor87
patrick wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 11:42 am
(Fernandez and McNally for starters)
McNally I agree, Fernandez is too similar to Townsend.. Parks (or Venus!) would be better..
by ti-amie
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by skatingfan Djokovic struggling with the heat, and humidity today - don't feel like we've seen him struggle like this physically in quite a long time.
by ti-amie
skatingfan wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 10:03 pm
Djokovic struggling with the heat, and humidity today - don't feel like we've seen him struggle like this physically in quite a long time.
skatingfan wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 10:03 pm
Djokovic struggling with the heat, and humidity today - don't feel like we've seen him struggle like this physically in quite a long time.
No miraculous recovery yet?
He's got things back now - the court is now in full shade. The only reason he's back in the match is that Alcaraz went off during the 2nd set, and gave him time to recover. Alcaraz was too willing to play defense on his own serve, and it cost him the lead.
OMG did Alcaraz just hurt his right hand pounding his bench after the second set tiebreaker? Djokovic seems to be getting a second bathroom break which is against the rules and Jim Courier is going nuts on the broadcast. It’s all happening in Cincy.
by ponchi101 These two are right now at a different level. Sorry for the field.
by ti-amie José Morgado
@josemorgado@sportsbots.xyz
Alcaraz saves 4 break points and holds for 6-5. Some of those kick serves to the add side should be illegal.
Djokovic is 1/13 (!!!) on break points in the 3rd set.
Alcaraz can't hold his racket properly in the 3rd set tiebreak.
UNREAL scenes.
by ponchi101 3-set match of the year? wow
by jazzyg
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 11:51 pm
These two are right now at a different level. Sorry for the field.
Overall I agree with you, but I don't think this tournament is the best example. Alcaraz was down match point in the second set to Hurkacz and down 4-1 in the second-tiebreak before rallying to win. I know it's cool and all to believe he was never going to lose when he wins a match like that, but the reality is he was one mistake or one Hurkacz big shot away from going out.
I am confident Alcaraz and Djokovic will meet in the US Open final, but Alcaraz will have to play better than he did in Cincinnati. Sinner, Hurkacz and several other players will have a chance to knock him off ie he does not raise his game, which I think he will.
by ponchi101 I would amend it to this: when they play, they reach another level. Their games match in that way.
by JTContinental Alcaraz feels things perhaps too deeply for my stoic Norwegian heritage
by ponchi101 In these cases, I believe that after such an effort your body's hormones must be totally out of whack. I don't mind him crying. He must also be in some physical pain (the good kind) after that battle.
:TheCDN4:
#Tennis @tennis 