2023 Tennis

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,673
Philadelphia
Thanks for those offering the update. Indeed a bummer. I was hoping for an epic match to watch later tonight.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,745
First two sets were great but Alcaraz needs to get into better shape for when he is pushed, he cramped against Sinner in Miami recently too.
 

Dim13

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
1,894
The mucky muck
Novak can break the men's record for majors and tie Serena with a win on Sunday. I really like Ruud, but I'm a Djokovic guy and I hope he gets it.
 

the1andonly3003

New Member
Jul 15, 2005
4,373
Chicago
oh wow, I stepped out thinking Muchova would get the upset...good to see Swiatek continuing to build consistency - the post Serena era needs a good rivalry set up
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,745
Ruud really needed that first set, Novak came out sluggish. Ruud broke him in his first service game and never again, Novak held sixteen straight times after that.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,745
Djokovic has only lost three sets in the first two Grand Slams of the year, that is amazing. Almost every opponent is at least a decade younger, he just keeps steamrolling.
 

ifmanis5

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 29, 2007
63,778
Rotten Apple
Ruud really needed that first set, Novak came out sluggish. Ruud broke him in his first service game and never again, Novak held sixteen straight times after that.
No doubt. Once he didn't win that set the outcome was a bit obvious. But I like Ruud and think he has a good chance at a major at some point.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,745
No doubt. Once he didn't win that set the outcome was a bit obvious. But I like Ruud and think he has a good chance at a major at some point.
He steamrolled Rune and Zverev, both impressive. That first set tiebreak just cut his heart out though, he fought some at the end but still has never won a set from Djokovic, 0-11.

Djokovic's tiebreakers in this tournament should be studied seriously by the coaches of the other top players, master classes of dismantling the opponent.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,745
Francis Tiafoe into his first grass court final, he faces #24 Jan-Lennard Struff tomorrow. If Tiafoe wins, he is into the top 10 for the first time.
 

the1andonly3003

New Member
Jul 15, 2005
4,373
Chicago
Has anyone attended an ATP/WTA tournament in person? What's the experience like? Should I aim for the early/middle rounds or final weekend? I am thinking about the Western & Southern Open in late August, and thinking of turning it into a weekend trip to explore Cincinnati plus catching parts of the tournament.
 

jezza1918

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
2,608
South Dartmouth, MA
Has anyone attended an ATP/WTA tournament in person? What's the experience like? Should I aim for the early/middle rounds or final weekend? I am thinking about the Western & Southern Open in late August, and thinking of turning it into a weekend trip to explore Cincinnati plus catching parts of the tournament.
I actually used to work for a company that provided travel packages to the majors plus a handful of other events. In terms of what part of the tourney you should attend it all comes down to personal preferences: early rounds you see a ton of action and the outer courts are typically pretty fun, and if there are lower ranked players you are into you get a chance to see them up close. But the matches on the main courts are usually kind of ho hum (generally speaking) with top seeds destroying lower ranked opponents. The "scene" at these events is usually a bit more fun during the early/middle rounds since more people are roaming around on the outer courts, and things arent so locked in on stadium courts. If you are into doubles at all, my recommendation would be the middle rounds of singles (think round of 16ish). You get some terrific tennis from seeds playing seeds, and then a lot of doubles action on the outer courts.
Any more questions dont hesitate.
 

epraz

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 15, 2002
6,177
The tournament I've attended the most is the US Open, which is it's own thing, but I think the general principle stands: The middle rounds are the sweet spot of having enough matches and having good matchups.
 

BigMike

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Sep 26, 2000
23,244
Has anyone attended an ATP/WTA tournament in person? What's the experience like? Should I aim for the early/middle rounds or final weekend? I am thinking about the Western & Southern Open in late August, and thinking of turning it into a weekend trip to explore Cincinnati plus catching parts of the tournament.
I have been to events in the past, but distant past. I have heard nothing but great things about the Cincinnati tournament. plus you can go visit Fiona the hippo at the Cincinnati zoo, which alone may be worth the trip.

If anyone is local and wants a chance to go to a tourney, you won't see the best payers there, but Newport is an incredible place to watch pro matches.

https://www.tixr.com/promoters/infosyshofopen

You won't see the stars, but you sometimes see really good upcoming players. I was lucky enough to be down a couple times to watch my buddy Bryan win the tourney, but that was long ago
 

BigMike

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Sep 26, 2000
23,244
Thanks for the responses so far. The extra motivation I have in making the drive from Chicago is that this might the last year in Cincy New Western & Southern Open director says he must be neutral | WVXU

Greater Cincinnati leaders fighting to keep Western & Southern Open - Cincinnati Business Courier (bizjournals.com)

From everyone's comments, it feels like I might miss out if I only go for the final weekend
Oh you will miss out. Early rounds they have multiple courts, and while you May want to watch some of the A matches on the main court. there is absolutely nothing like watching tennis on the outer courts. Obviously the big names will play in the 11.5K main stadium, which is nice, but if you go to grandstand that is like 1500 people max, and if you go to an outer court, you are dealing with a few hundred. And when you are in one of those small stands, you are in the game, it's just awesome
 

shawnrbu

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
39,703
The Land of Fist Pumps
Swiatek draws the 33rd ranked Lin Zhu in the first round of Wimbledon. Out of the 96 players she could have been drawn against (are Wild Cards exempt from being drawn against a Top seed?), 33 is the highest ranked. Still a -3300 favorite, still expected to be a mismatch.

Gauff and Kenin will meet in the 1st Round. Venus and Svitolina is another 1st Round matchup.

Thiem and Tsitsipas is probably the most noteworthy 1st Round matchup on the men’s side.
 
Last edited:

BigMike

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Sep 26, 2000
23,244
Swiatek draws the 33rd ranked Lin Zhu in the first round of Wimbledon. Out of the 96 players she could have been drawn against (are Wild Cards exempt from being drawn against a Top seed?), 33 is the highest ranked. Still a -3300 favorite, still expected to be a mismatch.

Gauff and Kenin will meet in the 1st Round. Venus and Svitolina is another 1st Round matchup.

Thiem and Tsitsipas is probably the most noteworthy 1st Round matchup on the men’s side.
Kind of amazed Venus keeps playing, and I guess keeps getting wildcards. she is 554 in the world. But she has won 2 matches this year after not winning one since Wimbledon in 2021. She actually played well on grass last week beating Georgi, and going to 3 sets with Ostepenko
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,770
Pittsburgh, PA
Has anyone attended an ATP/WTA tournament in person? What's the experience like? Should I aim for the early/middle rounds or final weekend? I am thinking about the Western & Southern Open in late August, and thinking of turning it into a weekend trip to explore Cincinnati plus catching parts of the tournament.
Agree with the others that early to mid rounds are the best. Not least because you can float in and out of the main stadium depending on if the match is a good one. For the US Open, I'll usually aim towards the middle to end of the first week. And yeah, having the ability to get right up onto the court and see some amazing players - sometimes famous ones - is really unparalleled. Once I was in the first row for Nick Kyrgios, sweating and cursing himself and occasionally saying something hilarious. I think the US Open is the best spectator experience for a sporting event, anywhere, in terms of value for money, and I'm sure Cincinnati is not far off.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,745
Kyrgios drops out of Wimbledon with an injury, not many proven grass players left on the men's side.
 

mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
Moderator
SoSH Member
I don’t know how well a 43-year old woman can compete with world-class athletes who are 15-20 years her junior in a fast-twitch sport like tennis, but Venus Williams’s physical conditioning is beyond belief.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,745
Coco is out. :(

Are the alternating stripes on the court always so visible at Wimbledon? Maybe I don't usually watch until it's a few days in and they've been used a bunch and are less jarring, but it bothers my eyes to watch on TV.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,745
Rough draw for Tsitsipas, he survives Thiem and gets Andy Murray next.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
70,745
Rough draw for Tsitsipas, he survives Thiem and gets Andy Murray next.
Even worse for Tsitsipas, this match is tomorrow. He played for four hours today, Murray played just two hours yesterday, big advantage for him.
 

shawnrbu

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
39,703
The Land of Fist Pumps
Some of the Tsitsipas/Thiem match was played yesterday. It was 3-6, 4-3 when they resumed today. First set yesterday was quick, only 30 minutes. Played a hair over 3 hours today.