Talk About Tennis 2.0

Slam champions still alive:
Ostapenko, Rybakina and Azarenka. But I would like for Pliskova to win it. I believe she "deserves" it.
(I know they pretty much all do).

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:05 am Slam champions still alive:
Ostapenko, Rybakina and Azarenka. But I would like for Pliskova to win it. I believe she "deserves" it.
(I know they pretty much all do).

She has had her chances...against Kerber at the USO for instance, and hasn't seized them..so no, I don't agree that she deserves it...she has been #1, which is enough ...

USO vs Kerber, Wimby Vs Barty.
And by now, I will not be surprised if she gets it (or not). Right before her Wimby run, I said she was finished. And then, she proved me wrong.

Pliskova's problem has always been and still is her movement/lack thereof. She can move but it has to be on her terms otherwise she just gets jerked around. That said I used to think she would win a Slam. I don't know if she can now.

I was thinking about that, and then it hit me: if you NEVER had good movement, when you get old you can still play the same.
She compensates somehow.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:05 am Slam champions still alive:
Ostapenko, Rybakina and Azarenka. But I would like for Pliskova to win it. I believe she "deserves" it.
(I know they pretty much all do).

I wouldn't say she deserves it. She's had ample opportunities to win a slam as a top ranked player and more often than not managed to flame out 3rd round or earlier. That doesn't speak to deserving it to me.

With that lack of mobility, I consider her an overachiever. Sure, the serve is very good, the FH is powerful. But she is, perhaps, the slowest player to make it to the top ten in ages. Certainly, the slowest #1 ever (even if she was #1 for, like, one afternoon).

ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:53 pm Pliskova's problem has always been and still is her movement/lack thereof. She can move but it has to be on her terms otherwise she just gets jerked around. That said I used to think she would win a Slam. I don't know if she can now.

I'm almost the opposite. When she couldn't stop flaming out in early rounds, and it was past the point of needing to break that trend as a top player, I assumed she wouldn't win won in her career. Like for me to believe her as a real contender, she needs to win the one to make me think she can get to 2 slam titles, I have zero faith she can get to the one.

And she's looked fantastic at this AO. Fantastic. 2nd best player from the matches I've watched though her path hasn't been as difficult as some. And still I have no belief that she'll get it done.

ANYONE who wins a Major obviously deserves it.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:54 pm I was thinking about that, and then it hit me: if you NEVER had good movement, when you get old you can still play the same.
She compensates somehow.

And the serve is the one shot that doesn't deteriorate much with age....

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 3:42 am

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:54 pm I was thinking about that, and then it hit me: if you NEVER had good movement, when you get old you can still play the same.
She compensates somehow.

And the serve is the one shot that doesn't deteriorate much with age....

Well.....it is not uncommon for players to go through periods with the service yips. Or permanent/temporary injuries. Etc.

I hear Vekic has a lopsided winning record against Sabalenka.. wonder how it will hold up..

Pegula looks quicker and sharper than Vika in the early exchanges...I would expect she will win this one...

Well, well, that didn't last long.. Vika firmly ahead now...

Pegula coming apart at the seams now...vika up 4-1 in the second, up a set