Tennis Random, Random (On Court)

[Oploskoffie]

3. who surprised you the most this year, positively? Andreeva? Coco? Sabalenka?Paolini?

For me, that'd be the story that most people outside (and, in all honesty, inside...) the Netherlands missed: the return of Michaela Krajicek. Another example of wanting to go out on one's own terms, she'd not really played competitive tennis for about five years, had dealt with several injuries (including six knee surgeries) and heart issues during her career, went on to have two children and dabbled in padel before returning to tennis at age 35 at absolute basement level: a lower, non-ITF, national level event in a place called Hoensbroek - which she won without dropping a set. She's since won three more national level titles and helped LTC Naaldwijk to the Dutch National Mixed Team title. And she's looked like she's had a blast doing it. No word yet on trying things out at ITF level next year, but if this is it, I think she's done well.

[ti-amie]

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[ti-amie]

[ponchi101]

Now that 2024 is done, at least for the women, some things to reflect on:
1. who impressed you the most as someone who is gearing up for great deeds in 2025? Zheng? Navarro? Noskova? Andreeva?
2. who has been the most disappointing in 2024?
3. who surprised you the most this year, positively? Andreeva? Coco? Sabalenka?Paolini?
4. whose return are you looking forward to the most? Bencic? Kvitova?
5. whose performance has puzzled you the most? Swiatek? Garcia?
6. what was the most positive event of the year?
7. the most depressing? I would say the fact that the WTA chose to play the YEC in Saudi..

1. I think Zheng has outperformed what was expected of her. Navarro had a nice ride, but I think that will be her peak. The FH is a lovely, but the rest of the game lacks power.
2. Rybakina. I know, there has been a lot of injuries. But she simply did very little.
3. Paolini. I thought that RG final was a fluke. Weeks later, she reaches the W. final. She can adjust and is playing better. At her age, that is amazing.
4. Nobody. I don't see them doing much if they come back.
5. Swiatek. Outside of clay, her level drops so much. She is a completely different player.
6. I would not know how to answer that. Too many events were good. Except:
7. Yes. The finals in Riyadh were a sad spectacle.

[ashkor87]

looking forward, always more fun than looking back..
1. who will be best player in 2025? Sinner and Sabalenka, would be my guess.
2. who will fade away (relatively) ? Paolini and Rublev, would be my guess.
3. who will improve a lot, make great strides? Noskova and Andreeva, and Machac, my guess
4. which tournament will be the most chaotic, in the sense of upsets and unexected results? Wimbledon, would be my guess.. it is just so unusual a surface...
5. which tournament will play out exactly as we expect? that is, not chaos? French, I would guess.
6. who will win the Australian? Sabalenka and Sinner, French: Swiatek and Alcaraz, Wimbledon: Rybakina and Sinner, USO - Coco and Sinner
please add questions..!

[ponchi101]

Rybakina will not win Wimbledon next year. The injuries are serious.
You are giving Sinner three slams in one year. That is a tall order.
Sabalenka for a threepeat at a tournament where many players feel at ease. Can be done, but I doubt it.
Wimbledon will be chaotic in the women's. I agree there. For the man, it will be more orderly.
Noskova and Andreeva remain a bit far away from top tennis.

[ti-amie]

[ashkor87]

I don't think Rybakina was injured..her problems were probably emotional ..she has gotten over them already. And Sinner is now as dominant as Djokovic was in his prime, so 3 majors? Quite feasible ..

[ashkor87]

As for Noskova and Andreeva, young players improve very fast..they are knocking on the door right now, they will blast it open soon...at least, so I hope

[JTContinental]

I must have missed the part of the season where Rybakina has gotten over her problems.

[JTContinental]

Rybakina will not win Wimbledon next year. The injuries are serious.
You are giving Sinner three slams in one year. That is a tall order.
Sabalenka for a threepeat at a tournament where many players feel at ease. Can be done, but I doubt it.
Wimbledon will be chaotic in the women's. I agree there. For the man, it will be more orderly.
Noskova and Andreeva remain a bit far away from top tennis.

Andreeva will step up, I think, but it seems like the Czech teen phenoms have not yet been playing at the level that was expected. Noskova is doing ok, but both Fruhvirtovas have regressed this season, IMO. Bejlek has yet to crack the top 100.

[ashkor87]

I must have missed the part of the season where Rybakina has gotten over her problems.

beating Sabalenka not good enough?

[nelslus]

I must have missed the part of the season where Rybakina has gotten over her problems.

LOL, agreed, and I am a fan of Rybakina's game.

OH, and to He Who Has Me Blocked For Infinity and Beyond....yes, beating Sabalenka in a match that did not matter is not good enough.

[ti-amie]