Tennis 2020: There is an I in Thiem
- Thread starter jon abbey
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Djokovic the first male to win a Grand Slam in 3 different decades (Martina and Serena have done it on the women’s side).
Interesting how Djokovic’s energy level changed when that purple drink came from his coaches’s box. Reminded me of the first Aaron Pryor/Alexis Arguello fight.
Interesting how Djokovic’s energy level changed when that purple drink came from his coaches’s box. Reminded me of the first Aaron Pryor/Alexis Arguello fight.
Yeah, I've seen mysterious liquids turn his matches before, but pretty sure they have drug tests right after.
Grand Slam titles, Novak comin':
Sampras 14, Federer 0, Nadal 0, Djokovic 0 (after 2002)
Sampras 14, Federer 9, Nadal 2, Djokovic 0 (after 2006)
Federer 16, Sampras 14, Nadal 9, Djokovic 1 (after 2010)
Federer 17, Sampras 14, Nadal 14, Djokovic 7 (after 2014)
Federer 19, Nadal 16, Sampras 14, Djokovic 12 (after 2017)
Federer 20, Nadal 19, Djokovic 17, Sampras 14 (now)
Grand Slam titles, Novak comin':
Sampras 14, Federer 0, Nadal 0, Djokovic 0 (after 2002)
Sampras 14, Federer 9, Nadal 2, Djokovic 0 (after 2006)
Federer 16, Sampras 14, Nadal 9, Djokovic 1 (after 2010)
Federer 17, Sampras 14, Nadal 14, Djokovic 7 (after 2014)
Federer 19, Nadal 16, Sampras 14, Djokovic 12 (after 2017)
Federer 20, Nadal 19, Djokovic 17, Sampras 14 (now)
Is that really Kim Clijsters as a wildcard for the Monterrey Open this week? She's about to go up against #2 Jo Konta. Girl is 36 and has retired twice already. In fact, I thought she's been retired since like 2012.
Nice to see someone out there doing it for love at a high level, trying to make a comeback, who's not named Williams.
Nice to see someone out there doing it for love at a high level, trying to make a comeback, who's not named Williams.
You didn't see that Clusters already played Muguruza in Dubai, I guess. (And looked pretty good in the second set, by all accounts.)
Indian Wells has been canceled. Very disappointing to now have this empty space in the tennis calendar.
No tennis globally for the next 6 weeks
https://www.atptour.com/en/news/atp-tour-2020-six-week-suspension-decision
https://www.atptour.com/en/news/atp-tour-2020-six-week-suspension-decision
Men's tennis, at least. If the WTA were to follow suit and come back in six weeks, that's be pretty much perfect, as I have four days of Madrid commentary booked in after two days from Istanbul the week before, and I think the latter would be the first tournament back. But I'm not holding my breath about it just yet.
French Open now scheduled to start on September 20th. It will start just after a week after the US Open is scheduled to end on September 13th. Would be quite the double slam if someone can pull that off.
The Laver Cup is scheduled to be played in Boston from September 25th though 27th.
The Laver Cup is scheduled to be played in Boston from September 25th though 27th.
Tennis seems like one sport where you could actually play it. Yes, the balls get touched by both players, but at the professional level, not really -- only the server ever picks up a ball. They could modify the rules so each player has their own service balls, put the ball boys and girls and line judges in hazmat suits and go for it. Empty stadiums.
Given that the rest of the world of sports is shut down, the TV audiences could be huge.
I am only being slightly facetious. Under the circumstances, I'd be totally invested in watching a tournament set up like this.
Given that the rest of the world of sports is shut down, the TV audiences could be huge.
I am only being slightly facetious. Under the circumstances, I'd be totally invested in watching a tournament set up like this.
Sure. If you test each player before every match.
Tennis balls are sponges. I’m an avid Rec
Player and there is no way I’d be playing right now.
Tennis balls are sponges. I’m an avid Rec
Player and there is no way I’d be playing right now.
I think the ONLY way they could do a tourney is have the top 8 men and women play. You go beyond that, it's hard to have people outside the top 10 to be able to travel privately. You also would have to limit it to no coaches/physios/family, etc. I know on paper it sounds possible, but I really don't think it would be feasible.
I would watch the shit out of an ATP+WTA top-10 round robin, broadcast-profits-to-charity. The Wimbledon Special Invitational, all on centre court + Court 1? Fucking hook it straight to my veins. Maybe the All-England Club doesn't want to be bothered holding full 128-player brackets with all the logistics that entails if they can't get gate & concessions revenue, but something the size of the Tour Finals (just, combined) could be much more doable, both safely and profitably. And they'd be the only sports show in town in June/July, in all likelihood.
Hell, they could even finally let the women play best-of-5-sets. Then have sets-won be the first tiebreaker or something. The best part is, everyone would be healthy since they'd be coming in from 3 months off of tournament play.
Hell, they could even finally let the women play best-of-5-sets. Then have sets-won be the first tiebreaker or something. The best part is, everyone would be healthy since they'd be coming in from 3 months off of tournament play.
Best-of-Serena-Williams marathon starting tonight at 6pm ET on ESPN:
https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/27554472/serena-williams-most-memorable-grand-slam-victories
https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/27554472/serena-williams-most-memorable-grand-slam-victories
Sad news on Wimbledon, especially given how far in advance we are now dealing with cancelling events.
Just because we need some positive. Roger Federer donated 1 million francs to the virus relief in Switzerland, and well this clip is just cool for so many reasons
Just because we need some positive. Roger Federer donated 1 million francs to the virus relief in Switzerland, and well this clip is just cool for so many reasons
I wanna see him break out that behind-the-back job on a tweener short-hop one of these days and just catch the other guy slack-jawed.
In our spring of discontent, may I recommend David Foster Wallace's excellent description of Roger Federer, from back in 2006, as some of the finest tennis writing you'll see. I was turned on to it by another poster here, at some point, but it seems worthwhile now to return the favor.
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html
I'm saddened to report that my general dislike of Novak Djokovic - generally hard to sustain in light of him having a great sense of humor - can be readily confirmed and updated, as yesterday he publicly expressed skepticism about vaccines in general.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/tennis/novak-djokovic-vaccine-tennis-amelie-mauresmo-spt-intl/index.html
"Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn't want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel," Djokovic said in a Facebook live chat. "But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don't know."
As anyone who knows the first thing about the drug approval process knows, they prove safety earlier and more thoroughly than they prove effectiveness (ever since the Cutter Incident). But sure, stand on "principle".
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/tennis/novak-djokovic-vaccine-tennis-amelie-mauresmo-spt-intl/index.html
"Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn't want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel," Djokovic said in a Facebook live chat. "But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don't know."
As anyone who knows the first thing about the drug approval process knows, they prove safety earlier and more thoroughly than they prove effectiveness (ever since the Cutter Incident). But sure, stand on "principle".
Yeah, I saw that written up in The Guardian this morning, and as someone who has generally liked Federer/Nadal/Djokovic about the same, I have a new set of personal power rankings. Nobody with anything like his profile should be saying stuff like that out loud.
Are you able to rationally discuss Andy Murray, or is he to scotsmen what Pedro is to Sox fans?
Well, I'm not a Scotsman, so...
Meanwhile, today Federer suggested the ATP and WTA tours should merge, and he's not getting laughed off of Twitter. Ummmm.
Meanwhile, today Federer suggested the ATP and WTA tours should merge, and he's not getting laughed off of Twitter. Ummmm.
Well not sure what would be laughable. He is not suggesting they play in mixed events. Do we need 2 separate governing bodies, or could efficiencies be gained, and everyone benefit from one ruling body
The vaccine thing is indefensible but I’m still rooting for Novak going forward.
Also it seems like tennis would be the easiest sport to restart with no live audience, only two athletes per match and they can stay away from each other easily.
Also it seems like tennis would be the easiest sport to restart with no live audience, only two athletes per match and they can stay away from each other easily.
Depends whether the virus can potentially be transmitted via the ball, no? (I'd have thought golf would be first on the list of pro sports that are easiest to restart, FWIW, although the TV production for golf is obviously more complicated.)
Serena, Sharapova, Osaka and others participating in a virtual grand slam playing Mario Tennis:
https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/29112577/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-mario-tennis-entrants-1m-charity-prize
https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/29112577/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-mario-tennis-entrants-1m-charity-prize
...
How long until the follow up article about Sharapova needing surgery to repair injuries occurring from WII tennis
Whoops, Now I read the full article and see they had a virtual Madrid open, and of course Gael Monfils pulled out injured
And I will now root for Belinda Bencic moving foward
Federer is done for the season, as he had a second surgery on his knee. Plans to play in 2021.
I would think if he is healthy he will do he retirement tour (hit the majors and a few other spots), but really hard to imagine it being much more than a retirement tour
I would think if he is healthy he will do he retirement tour (hit the majors and a few other spots), but really hard to imagine it being much more than a retirement tour
Along with Gregor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jun/23/novak-djokovic-tests-positive-for-covid-19-amid-adria-tour-falloutCan we change the name of this thread to "There is a C-O-V-I-D in Djokovic"? He organized and oversaw the Adria Tour, and it was a complete farce - I saw it in passing on TV the other week and assumed it must be a taped match from before the pandemic. Ball boys and girls were collecting the players' sweaty towels; the players hugged and shook hands after their matches as normal; the stands were full of fans who in no way were socially distanced; and apparently players and others were mixing at nightclubs and the like in the evenings with no regard for the virus at all.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jun/23/novak-djokovic-tests-positive-for-covid-19-amid-adria-tour-falloutCan we change the name of this thread to "There is a C-O-V-I-D in Djokovic"? He organized and oversaw the Adria Tour, and it was a complete farce - I saw it in passing on TV the other week and assumed it must be a taped match from before the pandemic. Ball boys and girls were collecting the players' sweaty towels; the players hugged and shook hands after their matches as normal; the stands were full of fans who in no way were socially distanced; and apparently players and others were mixing at nightclubs and the like in the evenings with no regard for the virus at all.
I've caught a few snippets of the Ultimate Tennis Challenge over the past few days, and while I can't begin to fathom how someone could have devised its ridiculous scoring system (or applied the "power ups" mechanisms as though Super Mario was one of the players), I'm intrigued at what seems to be fake crowd noise getting piped into the actual playing area between points. It's not like the fake noise on soccer broadcasts we've seen recently - it's actually there for the players to hear, and perhaps even feed off of. I wonder if any of the tour events might take this approach after the restart.
In contrast, the "Battle of the Brits" event - a clever round-robin plus semis/finals approach featuring the top eight British men's singles players, as well as a bunch of doubles pairings - has been taking place this week (on Amazon Prime in the UK, and possibly the US?), and they've been playing in an indoor setting with black curtains closely ringing the court. Very funereal, but apparently the players rather like the atmosphere precisely because there aren't any cavernous areas of empty seating around them. Can you imagine playing the US Open final in Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of 23,000 empty seats?
In contrast, the "Battle of the Brits" event - a clever round-robin plus semis/finals approach featuring the top eight British men's singles players, as well as a bunch of doubles pairings - has been taking place this week (on Amazon Prime in the UK, and possibly the US?), and they've been playing in an indoor setting with black curtains closely ringing the court. Very funereal, but apparently the players rather like the atmosphere precisely because there aren't any cavernous areas of empty seating around them. Can you imagine playing the US Open final in Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of 23,000 empty seats?
Madrid has been cancelled, Nadal and Barty (among others) are out of the US Open, and frankly I'll be surprised if we get both the US Open and Roland Garros played to completion. Maybe trying to run a worldwide tennis tour in the middle of a global pandemic isn't the most brilliant idea ever conceived?
I'm down to do two days of world feed commentary on the WTA event in Lexington, Kentucky next week, btw - first two matches on Center Court on both Thursday (R16) and Friday (QF) - so some of you may get to hear my dulcet tones. Why are the ladies playing in Lexington for the first time ever next week? Beats me...
I'm down to do two days of world feed commentary on the WTA event in Lexington, Kentucky next week, btw - first two matches on Center Court on both Thursday (R16) and Friday (QF) - so some of you may get to hear my dulcet tones. Why are the ladies playing in Lexington for the first time ever next week? Beats me...
Hope you get Serena! I'll be watching. I'm treating any opportunity to get to watch either Williams henceforth as "maybe the last chance I'll get to see her in action". Venus replaced a withdrawing Muguruza, so they're playing doubles too (and Coco Gauff is there in doubles as well). You've got Konta, Stephens, etc. It might actually end up something resembling a legit tournament.
There's no reason that a tennis tournament can't be done in as safe and distanced a manner as the PGA / LPGA tours. There's literally never any need to be within 6 feet of anyone in singles, and the amount of net-vs-net play in doubles is momentary and atypical. I guess the risky part of the tour is the worldwide travel on (I assume) commercial air flight, but players can play Lexington, then take a week off, then play what would have been Cincinnati in NYC, then the US Open in NYC. If the players who are state-side don't want to get on a plane until mid-september for France, they don't have to.
There's no reason that a tennis tournament can't be done in as safe and distanced a manner as the PGA / LPGA tours. There's literally never any need to be within 6 feet of anyone in singles, and the amount of net-vs-net play in doubles is momentary and atypical. I guess the risky part of the tour is the worldwide travel on (I assume) commercial air flight, but players can play Lexington, then take a week off, then play what would have been Cincinnati in NYC, then the US Open in NYC. If the players who are state-side don't want to get on a plane until mid-september for France, they don't have to.
Holy cow...the Lexington draw is out, and Venus plays Azarenka in the first round, with the winner likely to play Serena in the second round. And Sloane Stephens seeded to be on tap in the quarterfinals. That's not a bad "welcome back" from the WTA, is it? (Almost makes me wonder if David Stern and frozen envelopes were involved.)
Serena vs Venus in the 2nd round. It's a shame they have to play so early. Venus looked unreal. Even more so for someone who is 40. Hope it goes three just to give them both some more match experience before the Open.
Watched the match highlights for both Williamses and frankly Venus looks the sharper of the two. Serena was playing many balls just safely back to the middle, way more than usual, and Pera to her credit kept punishing them. Serena was down *15-40 late in the 2nd, a few points from losing, before getting crafty to pull out the set and then turning on the gas a bit to blow her away in the 3rd.
Tomorrow you've got Coco Gauff playing 2-seed Sabalenka in the 3rd match on center court, and Sabalenka struggled to dispatch Madison Brengle, so she's not exactly playing world-class right now, #11 world ranking or not.
Tomorrow you've got Coco Gauff playing 2-seed Sabalenka in the 3rd match on center court, and Sabalenka struggled to dispatch Madison Brengle, so she's not exactly playing world-class right now, #11 world ranking or not.
Actually, she down 0-40 at 4-4 in the 2nd and had to save four break points in that game in total. I caught a little bit of the match, and Serena looked very tentative, although in fairness it's a very weird setting and setup - the tournament is being played at a normal tennis club, and "Center Court" has one small area of covered seating on one side of the court. Not that there are any fans to watch anyway, but still.
(Does anyone know why the WTA chose to hold a brand-new tournament in Lexington? The same venue hosted a $100K event back in February, but it doesn't look like a place Serena Williams should be touching with a 10-foot pole.)
So I just watched a bit of the Venus match and the announcer was going on and on about how much of a waste it was to challenge calls because they weren't going to get one overturned and they'd learn to not waste their time.
Why?
I don't watch a lot of tennis but I've watched enough to see plenty of calls reversed. Are they doing something different this year?
Why?
I don't watch a lot of tennis but I've watched enough to see plenty of calls reversed. Are they doing something different this year?
I could be wrong, but the tourneys aren't having nearly as many lines-people to call balls/lines. So I believe the chair umpire sees automatically whether a shot was in or out. So if they need to reverse it, they do it right away. There is no need for a challenge as basically Hawkeye is calling it in or out.
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