Talk About Tennis 2.0

Kerber did play toe to toe against Swiatek for the first set of their United Cup match before being blown out in the second set.

JTContinental wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 10:50 pm Kerber did play toe to toe against Swiatek for the first set of their United Cup match before being blown out in the second set.

Sure, she played well in the first set and it was somewhat competitive, but not a single break on Iga's serve out of 5 chances - she also lost the last 9 games in a row.

On a comeback trail, I say that is not too bad.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2024 5:10 pm On a comeback trail, I say that is not too bad.

True, and I really like Kerber. She just isn't quite there yet. Neither is Kenin, although I would love to see her back at full strength and confidence.

Grand Slam Debut

McCartney Kessler, United States of America (24)
Alina Korneeva, Russia (16)
Taylor Preston, Australia (18)
Ella Seidel, Germany (18)
Yulia Starodubtseva, Ukraine (23)
Lulu Sun, Switzerland (22)
Maria Timofeeva, Russia (20)

Australian Open Debut

Mirra Andreeva, Russia (16)
Elina Avanesyan, Russia (21)
Jodie Burrage, Great Britain (24)
Mai Hontama, Japan (24)
Ashlyn Krueger, United States of America (19)
Rebeka Masarova, Spain (24)
Emma Navarro, United States of America (22)
Linda Noskova, Czech Republic (19)
Alycia Parks, United States of America (23)
Daria Snigur, Ukraine (21)
Peyton Stearns, United States of America (22)
Anastasia Zakharova, Russia (21)
Renata Zarazua, Mexico (26)
Bai Zhuoxuan, People's Republic of China (21)

Surprisingly low support for the defending champion!

Vondrousova's early departure helps Ostapenko or Azarenka in that section.

Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2024 5:59 am Vondrousova's early departure helps Ostapenko or Azarenka in that section.

Maybe, but they are playing well enough anyway...especially Ostapenko...

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:25 pm Much as I would like to see Osaka win, I don't dhe has any chance at all against Garcia...

I was quite pleased with Osaka's performance..she is 80% back .good result for both of them, I would say,! Didn't care for her space-age outfit though!!

I would give Kenin a 30% chance, she has the kind of game that would hurry Swiatek..and she is an AO champ, Swiatek isn't!!
Kerber has about 40% chance, a bit higher because Collins has had some health issues too..don't know if she is fit yet.
Kerber is very good at redirecting pace from power hitters, Collins isn't quite that...

Given the fact that the courts are a bit slower this year, I would reduce my estimate of Coco's chances, increase the others...maybe 25% each to the big 4.

The big 4?
Iga and....

Ok, I get it. But her chances will not change just by a small reduction of speed. It is not as if they went from a hard court to compacted beach sand.

The 2nd quarter is bound to produce a surprise SF's. We have:

Blinkova vs Paolini
Kalinskaya vs Stephens

Zheng vs Wang
Dodin vs Burel

Stephens is the biggest name here and the only player to have been to GS SF's before. I'm betting on Zheng instead.

Agree Zheng is the most likely
revised probabilities:

Coco 35%
Sabalenka 25%
Swiatek 20%
BHM 15%
field 5%

Oops I forgot about Osta..corrected:
Coco 30%
Sabalenka 25%
Swiatek 20%

BHM 10%
Ostapenko 10%
Field 5%