Tennis 2021

BigMike

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At 39, any win is pretty solid. Obviously he can't win the tourney but it's cool to see him win.
I think he is at worst 50/50 against anyone in the draw other than Djokovic, and actually has a good chance of making the final . Problem is if he faces Djokovic I'd put it as a 5-10% chance
 

shawnrbu

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Cilic up 2 sets on Medvedev. If this result holds, Federer will be a favorite in his Quarter. I would also favor him slightly over Zverev in a potential semifinal.
 

semsox

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Fed's results have been interesting so far. I wonder what the balance is between just building up time on court after playing so few matches in the past 1.5 years vs. the wear and tear of being a 39 year old. I don't necessary think it would be surprising if he looks stronger as the tournament goes on.
 

jon abbey

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Surprised I'm the first to post here today, it's of course the second Monday where we get all sixteen round of 16 matches, both men and women.

The only two completed matches so far are Jabeur over Swiatek in 3 and Sabalenka over Rubakina in 3, they will play each other next and the winner is in the semis. That's two very impressive wins in a row for Jabeur after beating Muguruza last round, next she gets the #2 seed in Sabalenka.
 

jon abbey

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Khachanov/Korda is insane, 10 of 12 games in the 5th set have been breaks, including every one from 3-3 until 6-6 which is where they are now.
 

jon abbey

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Barty ends Krejcikova’s winning streak 6-3, 7-5, good win.
 

jon abbey

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The Hungarian Fucsovics is the last remaining unseeded man, he was down 2 sets to 1 to #5 Rublev but won the next 9 games, winning the 4th 6-0 and going up 3-0 in the 5th before holding on to close it out. His reward? Novak in the quarters.
 

cromulence

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This Raducanu - Tomljanovic match is interesting - close first set, then early in the second Raducanu started struggling as if she was exhausted or having trouble catching her breath. The trainer came out and it looked like she was almost hyperventilating while they pinched her nose. Then she left the court.

And they just announced the match is over. Wow. Don't want to speculate, but I totally will - maybe a panic attack?
 

jon abbey

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OK, so I think we're looking at Djokovic/Shapovalov in one men's semi and Berrettini/Federer in the other. Women I would guess Barty/Kerber and Pliskova/Jabeur.
 

Mr. Wednesday

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This Raducanu - Tomljanovic match is interesting - close first set, then early in the second Raducanu started struggling as if she was exhausted or having trouble catching her breath. The trainer came out and it looked like she was almost hyperventilating while they pinched her nose. Then she left the court.

And they just announced the match is over. Wow. Don't want to speculate, but I totally will - maybe a panic attack?
She looked like she ran out of steam late in the first set. There was one really long point (maybe one of the break points) where she just didn't look quite the same after that.
 

semsox

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Great matchups on at least one side of the men's bracket. I'm ride or die for Roger, but not sure he gets past Medvedev, and Berrettini vs. Felix should also be entertaining. Djokovic should cruise, and after seeing Khachanov's 5th set today, I'll take Shapo.
 

jon abbey

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Great matchups on at least one side of the men's bracket. I'm ride or die for Roger, but not sure he gets past Medvedev, and Berrettini vs. Felix should also be entertaining. Djokovic should cruise, and after seeing Khachanov's 5th set today, I'll take Shapo.
Roger gets a break because Medvedev didn’t finish his match today so he has to do that tomorrow and then play Roger the next day, no day off.
 

Apisith

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Medvedev is young, I don't think playing two days in a row will have much of an effect. I would put Medvedev as a slight favourite against Roger. Roger's game isn't there yet, still a ton of mishits in general. Medvedev is solid from the baseline, he's Novak-like in his ability to put the ball back in play. His serve has also improved enough that he'll win a lot of easy games.
 

BigMike

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Roger gets a break because Medvedev didn’t finish his match today so he has to do that tomorrow and then play Roger the next day, no day off.
Yeah, and it could be 15 minutes, or it could be 90+ min

Obviously if it is 15 more minutes he would have been better of finishing today. But if it does go to a rough 5th set, he may be better playing tomorrow, as he already had the 5 setter on Saturday. Fatigue may have been an issue had the match kept on today.

Normally given the load on Medvedev the last 2 matches you would think Roger would have an advantage if the match drags on, but I think if roger does play Medvedev, his best chance is coming out strong and winning straight sets. I just don't think roger can win a war of attrition
 

johnmd20

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Roger gets a break because Medvedev didn’t finish his match today so he has to do that tomorrow and then play Roger the next day, no day off.
Didn't work out that way for Medvedev, who will not be playing anyone else for the duration of the tournament.
 

BigMike

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Interesting, delay did really kill Medvedev. obviously he could have lost yesterday as well, but today was a different match. Herkacz had one break point yesterday, and went 3/3 today. In theory this works out as an advantage for Roger, but you never know. Herk is got about a 5-7 mph edge on first serve over Medvedev.
 

jon abbey

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Sabalenka takes out Jabeur in straight sets, Jabeur seemed a bit tired after three huge wins in a row (Venus, Muguruza, Swiatek). Sabalenka is a beast, she reminds me physically of Mauresmo.
 

jon abbey

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John McEnroe is being criticized for his comments following Emma Raducanu's withdrawal during a match at Wimbledon.

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/31768484/john-mcenroe-criticized-harsh-reaction-emma-raducanu-mid-match-retirement-wimbledon
I was a huge McEnroe fan when he was playing and he was a very good announcer for a bunch of years, but he has been awful for a long time, as I've mentioned here probably more than a few times. Martina Navratilova (who I hated as a player) is about a trillion times better, it's an embarrassment that she doesn't get the big matches and is exiled to the Tennis Channel.
 

jezza1918

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I was a huge McEnroe fan when he was playing and he was a very good announcer for a bunch of years, but he has been awful for a long time, as I've mentioned here probably more than a few times. Martina Navratilova (who I hated as a player) is about a trillion times better, it's an embarrassment that she doesn't get the big matches and is exiled to the Tennis Channel.
Not to sidetrack the discussion too much, as I think what McEnroe inferred/assumed about Raducanu is worthy of the criticism he is receiving, and I am largely in agreement with you. That said, my biggest gripe with Navratilova is that sometimes she talks through big moments in matches. I think she probably has the most insightful comments out there, but often times she really hammers home whatever terrific point she is making...and will carry on through huge moments of a match. This may be just a personal gripe though, as I do tend to prefer relative silence during crucial times.
 

BaseballJones

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I was a huge McEnroe fan when he was playing and he was a very good announcer for a bunch of years, but he has been awful for a long time, as I've mentioned here probably more than a few times. Martina Navratilova (who I hated as a player) is about a trillion times better, it's an embarrassment that she doesn't get the big matches and is exiled to the Tennis Channel.
I've always been a big Martina fan and rooted for her over Chris Evert back in the day. I dunno...something about Martina I've always liked. But I've never heard her as an announcer. What makes her so good at that?
 

jon abbey

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I've always been a big Martina fan and rooted for her over Chris Evert back in the day. I dunno...something about Martina I've always liked. But I've never heard her as an announcer. What makes her so good at that?
She actually analyzes what's going on as it develops, as opposed to McEnroe who is only ever capable of looking at things from the perspective of the favorite in that match, and unless it is one of the big three men, he generally phones it in. He has never been good at women's matches either, he doesn't seem to do much homework. This happens to a lot of formerly great announcers somehow, Billy Packer and Tim McCarver both come to mind as guys who were great at their peak and terrible for a bunch of years before they finally retired/got fired.
 

jon abbey

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Not to sidetrack the discussion too much, as I think what McEnroe inferred/assumed about Raducanu is worthy of the criticism he is receiving, and I am largely in agreement with you. That said, my biggest gripe with Navratilova is that sometimes she talks through big moments in matches. I think she probably has the most insightful comments out there, but often times she really hammers home whatever terrific point she is making...and will carry on through huge moments of a match. This may be just a personal gripe though, as I do tend to prefer relative silence during crucial times.
Interesting, I haven't noticed that but will keep an eye (ear) out for it now.
 

jon abbey

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I have harped on this a lot over the years, here's a post I made in fall 2018:

Yet another example of why Martina should be the primary tennis analyst for every Grand Slam, replacing the corpse of John McEnroe (I knew when he predicted Del Potro would win yesterday before the match that Djokovic had it in the bag, he has turned into tennis' version of late career Tim McCarver and that is not a compliment) and Chris Evert (she is fine, but much like when they played, Martina is just better).
 

jezza1918

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She actually analyzes what's going on as it develops, as opposed to McEnroe who is only ever capable of looking at things from the perspective of the favorite in that match, and unless it is one of the big three men, he generally phones it in. He has never been good at women's matches either, he doesn't seem to do much homework. This happens to a lot of formerly great announcers somehow, Billy Packer and Tim McCarver both come to mind as guys who were great at their peak and terrible for a bunch of years before they finally retired/got fired.
This feels spot on to me. I've been involved with tennis for about 35 years now since the age of 4. Played it, coached it, taught it, traveled on tour for 7 years*, and I STILL learn stuff from Martina most matches I hear her commentate. Not sure I can say the same for anyone else at this point.

*a travel/tourism tennis business. I most certainly did not play or coach on tour. Though I did beat Owen Davidson at doubles once. He was 68 years old, but whatever.
 

jezza1918

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Djokovic up two sets to love and opens the third with a break. The only way I see any of the players remaining in the field beating him is if he lets the moment (tying Federer & Nadal plus possibility of the calendar year grand slam) get to him.
 

BaseballJones

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Djokovic up two sets to love and opens the third with a break. The only way I see any of the players remaining in the field beating him is if he lets the moment (tying Federer & Nadal plus possibility of the calendar year grand slam) get to him.
Novak will pass Fed and Rafa eventually. But I'm hoping Federer has one more great Wimbledon run in him and knocks Djokovic off here.
 

Apisith

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Roger still doesn’t look right. He’s winning through guile and experience right now. Novak will take him in 3.