2016 US Open (Tennis)

jon abbey

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Wow, I really expected Murray to win this whole tournament pretty easily, since he was playing amazing and Novak is hurting. Incredible comeback by Nishikori after the rain delay, that stab volley to get the break at 5-5 in the final set had me screaming.
 

jon abbey

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Didn't see the match. ESPN is making a big deal of the stray horn going off and spooking Murray. Is that overstated?
He was pissed, but he wasn't even going to clearly win that point, so I'd say yes, quite overstated.
 

Infield Infidel

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Didn't see the match. ESPN is making a big deal of the stray horn going off and spooking Murray. Is that overstated?
Clearly, Murray let it get to him, he lost the next 6 or 7 games in a row. Calling a let was the right call. But it was in the middle of a point that was competitive, and affected both players equally , and Nishikori was fine. Murray griped that earlier, the umpire said they would play through outbursts from the crowd, but this was an entirely different situation. I mean it happened on Monday to Ana Konjuh as she started her service motion and she was fine.

It sucks and it's totally on the USTA to figure out what it was, and it's really embarrassing that they didn't stop it from happening after it happened on Monday.
 
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Dec 21, 2015
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I don't think it's overstated. It's ridiculous that it's happening in what's supposed to be the premium venue in all of tennis (with apologies to Centre Court), in the first place. Murray was looking good on that point - he wasn't 100% to win it, but he was in an advantageous position, hitting a ball to a corner that Nishikori had real trouble getting to as play was stopped. But most importantly, Murray let it get to him. He lost 12 of 14 of the next points and quickly pissed away the set and then went down a break early in the 5th. Murray had been in incredible mental rhythm in the last parts of the 3rd set and early going in the 4th, and that totally destroyed his focus - he went up to Cicak in the chair and angrily said something after the next point, and then called out the tournament official on the next changeover.

Anyone who missed the match and wants to watch one hell of a set of tennis, watch a replay of that 5th set. Just some incredible work by two of the fittest players on tour going through their fourth hour of play.
 
Dec 21, 2015
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Yeah, Serena-in-trouble alert. Easy first set, holds to start the 2nd, rallies against Halep's serve to a 0-40, Halep ends up facing 8 break points that game but eventually holds. Then forces Serena to face 4 break points on her next serve... and breaks her. (in her first 4 rounds, Serena had faced exactly one break point - and saved it)

The Halepeño is 1-and-6 vs Serena but her elite footspeed will keep her in many rallies, and what she lacks in groundstroke pace she makes up for in precision and angles.
 

BigMike

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In the second set both players are playing their best tennis and Halep is beating Serena. Can Halep stay on top of her game for another set

A brilliant deciding game to end the second set. 12 minute of just incredible tennis with both players throwing everything they have out there. Halep is able to survive a bunch of break points and hold on to win the second set
 
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Dec 21, 2015
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12 break points faced by Halep in that set, 12 break points saved. Just balls-out tennis here, as good as women's tennis gets.
 

jon abbey

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It's nice to give the women a slight break by putting the semis at night, since Serena/Pliskova played yesterday, but not sure the USTA really wants to conflict with the first NFL game of the season.
 

Infield Infidel

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Serena is returning serve from basically the same place as she did against Halep last night, but Pliskova has a much bigger serve. She should back up a step.

Also, Al Trautwig and Chanda Rubin are really good calling the Espn3 feed
 

johnmd20

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That was a sick point, Serena saved herself.

edit - and then she double faults. Ouch. 4-4 in the 2nd set tiebreak.
 

johnmd20

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And Serena double faults to lose the match. Anti climatic, but Pliskova played hard and deserved the win.
 

BigMike

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Needless to say Kerber vs Wozniaki is certainly very pleasant to watch
 

BigMike

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How many women have defeated both Williams sisters in the same slam?
As of a year ago,

Hingis 2001 Austrailian Open. (QF and SF)
Kim Clijsters 2002 WTA finals (SF and F) I know not a Slam, but same level tourney
Justin Henin 2007 US Open (QF and SF)
Kim Clijsters 2009 US Open (4R and SF)


In lesser events
Arantxa Sanchez VIcario 1998 Sydney
Steffi Graf 1999 Sydney
Lindsay Davenport 2004 LA
Jelena Jankovic 2010 Rome
 

Sliceboy

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So predictable...Djokovic up 4 - 0 on Monfils. At least Stan W. has that 'giant killer' vibe if he ends up facing Djokovic in the finals. 20% of shots by Stan so far in the tournament have been winners (!).
 

jon abbey

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I've rarely seen a player so psyched out so deep in a Grand Slam, Monfils basically stopped trying 4 or 5 games into this one.
 

kenneycb

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Watching at a bar but Djokovic's shoulder is hurting and Monfils knee looks to be in pain. Both appear to be getting treatment. Monfils battled back to win the third and broke Djokovic right after he got broken. Looks like a battle of attrition at this point but Monfils looks pretty good hitting the ball, a little slow getting to it.
 

jon abbey

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I've rarely seen a player so psyched out so deep in a Grand Slam, Monfils basically stopped trying 4 or 5 games into this one.
To update my own post, this strange nonchalant behavior from Monfils lasted for about a set and a half, and actually worked for a stretch (he cut the 5-0 deficit in set 1 to 5-3 while he pretty much was just trying to get to the next set without too obviously tanking), but he started playing harder in the third set.

Impressive first set from Nishikori, Stan couldn't do almost anything on Kei's serve.
 

BigMike

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Nishikori is a tough kid. I'm rooting for Stan because I don't think Nishikori has enough left to beat a wounded Djoker, I think Stan has a shot

The secondary ticket market though is probably very sad. It looks like a whole lot of money was spend by the Japanese American community in NY buying very expensive seats to see their hero in action tonight

Stan's the man tonight
 
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hittery

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What actor does Stan remind me of? He was in a cop or hospital or rescue drama not terribly long ago. It's driving me crazy.
 

BigMike

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Sorry can't help you with the actor, apparently he looks exactly like a cricket player named bell, so that is what shows up when searching for a doppleganger.

I'm on the tran so can't watch the match, following gamecast, and it seems the match has taken a decided Stan slant with him winning the last couple games of the 2nd set and the first 3 in the third. Has Djoker broken down physically?

Ugh as quickly as Stan got to 3-0 in the third set, he gave it back just as quickly
 

johnmd20

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Sorry can't help you with the actor, apparently he looks exactly like a cricket player named bell, so that is what shows up when searching for a doppleganger.

I'm on the tran so can't watch the match, following gamecast, and it seems the match has taken a decided Stan slant with him winning the last couple games of the 2nd set and the first 3 in the third. Has Djoker broken down physically?

Ugh as quickly as Stan got to 3-0 in the third set, he gave it back just as quickly
Both guys are missing a lot of shots. Mishits all over the place, like foul balls. The grind of the Open plus the heat today has probably caused this. But both are playing their asses off.
 

johnmd20

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Djok is hurt. Not sure how bad but he's grabbing his leg and he's down 3-0. On the last point of the 3rd game, he just stopped and didn't even bother trying to get back to the ball. It was Stan's serve and he was up 40-0 but it's still telling.

Not good for him.
 

jsinger121

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Jul 25, 2005
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Pretty amazing that Stan is only a Wimbledon title away from a career grand slam in an era of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. Have to think that Stan is going to dedicate himself big time in 2017 to make himself a better grass court player.
 

Sliceboy

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Aug 19, 2016
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A most impressive U.S. Open win by Stan. Losing the first set to both Nishikori and Djokovic, both with a shocking amount of unforced errors, is a hurdle not many other players overcome. With Stan's weak chip return of serve (his worst shot by far) I do not see Stan ever winning Wimbledon; an opponent charging the net will have a field day against his chip / block-back returns. Stan lost at Wimbledon this year in the second round.
 

jsinger121

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A most impressive U.S. Open win by Stan. Losing the first set to both Nishikori and Djokovic, both with a shocking amount of unforced errors, is a hurdle not many other players overcome. With Stan's weak chip return of serve (his worst shot by far) I do not see Stan ever winning Wimbledon; an opponent charging the net will have a field day against his chip / block-back returns. Stan lost at Wimbledon this year in the second round.
Prior to this year he had reached the QF's twice at Wimbledon. In '15 he lost a 5 set battle against Richard Gasquet losing 11-9 in the 5th set. In '14 he lost to the greatest of all time in 4 sets after taking the 1st set and losing the 2nd in a tiebreaker. He could win a wimbledon depending on grass improvement and if he has a favorable draw/other top players getting bounced.

If I was in Stan's shoes I would spend as much time on grass as possible from now until Wimbledon 2017.
 

BigMike

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I don't think anyone would have taken a bet in July 2009 that Wawrinka would win more majors from that day forward than Federer would

Good for him, and I'll root for him at Wimbledon next year
 

Sliceboy

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Hmmm...losing in the quarterfinals is a long way (three matches), against top-tier opponents, from hoisting the Wimbledon trophy. Also, at age 31, Father Time is working against Stan. Not that I'm rooting against the guy but I'll stand by my stanment (Stan + statement) that he will not win, or come that close to, winning Wimbledon.