Tennis

[lawdog77]

Hoping my guy, Rajeev Ram, gets another Major. Into the quarters.

[cheebs09]

I haven't gotten a chance to watch Fritz much so perhaps I'm underestimating him.  Based on my calculations Rafa has a 33.7% chance to beat Djoker at Wimbledon.  Kyrgios 11.3%, Norrie 2.2%. 

As a big Rafa fan, I’m not sure I see him having more than a 10% chance against Djokovic on grass. Their last final at Wimbledon wasn’t all that close. I think Djokovic would need to bring his “C” game.

[BM1090]

I'm trying to talk myself into Fritz tomorrow. He hasn't lost a set all tournament. He did beat Rafa in their last head to head but Rafa was pretty banged up.

Fritz has a lot going for him right now. He's playing great. But I can't fully get there.

[MuggsyB]

As a big Rafa fan, I’m not sure I see him having more than a 10% chance against Djokovic on grass. Their last final at Wimbledon wasn’t all that close. I think Djokovic would need to bring his “C” game.

I'll admit I'm very biased towards Rafa.  Although I do think he has more than a 10% chance.  He's played quite well Cheebs the last few rounds.  No doubt Novak has the advantage and his best on grass beats Rafa's best.  That said I think we should cut our differences and agree that if it's a Rafa vs Djoker Final Djoker's B game will lose to Rafa's A game?

[cheebs09]

I'll admit I'm very biased towards Rafa.  Although I do think he has more than a 10% chance.  He's played quite well Cheebs the last few rounds.  No doubt Novak has the advantage and his best on grass beats Rafa's best.  That said I think we should cut our differences and agree that if it's a Rafa vs Djoker Final Djoker's B game will lose to Rafa's A game?

You’ve been watching closer than I have, so you have a better read. Just looking at scores, it doesn’t look like Djokovic has been dominant. So I would agree with that.

[JWags85]

You’ve been watching closer than I have, so you have a better read. Just looking at scores, it doesn’t look like Djokovic has been dominant. So I would agree with that.

Djokovic dropped a single set total through 3 matches before Sinner pushed him.  And once he took control in the 3rd, he was utterly dominant.

I'll admit I'm very biased towards Rafa.  Although I do think he has more than a 10% chance.  He's played quite well Cheebs the last few rounds.  No doubt Novak has the advantage and his best on grass beats Rafa's best.  That said I think we should cut our differences and agree that if it's a Rafa vs Djoker Final Djoker's B game will lose to Rafa's A game?

I'm actually not sure of that.  You know when the last time Nadal beat Djokovic on a non-clay surface?  2013.  Grass is a place where Novak thrives, as evidenced by making at least the QFs 11 out of his last 12 tournaments at Wimbledon, and a surface that is easily Rafa's weakest.

In the last 10 years, Djokovic is 10-2 vs Nadal on grass/hard surface.  That doesn't bode well from Rafa if they meet in a final.

[MuggsyB]

Djokovic dropped a single set total through 3 matches before Sinner pushed him.  And once he took control in the 3rd, he was utterly dominant.

I'm actually not sure of that.  You know when the last time Nadal beat Djokovic on a non-clay surface?  2013.  Grass is a place where Novak thrives, as evidenced by making at least the QFs 11 out of his last 12 tournaments at Wimbledon, and a surface that is easily Rafa's weakest.

In the last 10 years, Djokovic is 10-2 vs Nadal on grass/hard surface.  That doesn't bode well from Rafa if they meet in a final.

They have very few matches on grass or a hardcourt the last 5 yrs. 

[cheebs09]

Djokovic dropped a single set total through 3 matches before Sinner pushed him.  And once he took control in the 3rd, he was utterly dominant.

That’s fair. I haven’t really watched, but just tracked scores. In some cases he hasn’t dropped a set at this point, so that was my thought regarding being less dominant. I still think he’s the overwhelming favorite.

[MuggsyB]

Nadal is in big trouble.  Give Fritz a lot of credit.  The young man has worked hard on his game and is just solid all over the court.  Rafa is a little off but Fritz is not allowing him to control the points and hitting his spots on his serve.  Rafa needs to dig in right now. 

[JWags85]

They have very few matches on grass or a hardcourt the last 5 yrs.

It doesn't matter what time frame you choose.  Nadal hasn't held a candle to Djokovic off of clay since they were both in their early/mid 20s.

[BM1090]

Nadal is in big trouble.  Give Fritz a lot of credit.  The young man has worked hard on his game and is just solid all over the court.  Rafa is a little off but Fritz is not allowing him to control the points and hitting his spots on his serve.  Rafa needs to dig in right now.

I don't think he's in big trouble yet, but definitely a great first set from Fritz. We'll see if he can maintain as Rafa adjusts.

[MuggsyB]

I don't think he's in big trouble yet, but definitely a great first set from Fritz. We'll see if he can maintain as Rafa adjusts.

I was a bit hyperbolic but Rafe needs to get it together. 

[MuggsyB]

It doesn't matter what time frame you choose.  Nadal hasn't held a candle to Djokovic off of clay since they were both in their early/mid 20s.

I would differentiate grass from a hardcourt.  He's 1-2 vs Djoker at Wimbledon including a 10-8 in the 5th loss in 2018.

[MuggsyB]

Ughhh.  Rafa has an abdominal problem. Smh. 

[lawdog77]

Random fact. Three of the four men playing today Nadal, Kyrgios, and Garin  are listed at 187 pounds on ESPN.

Oh, and Ram onto the semis!

[MuggsyB]

Terrible.  He looked fine early in the match.  Well,  have a good day everyone. 

[BM1090]

Terrible.  He looked fine early in the match.  Well,  have a good day everyone.

If he can pull out this set and then the meds kick in, he's got a shot. Important for Fritz to take the 2nd.

[MuggsyB]

If he can pull out this set and then the meds kick in, he's got a shot. Important for Fritz to take the 2nd.

I hope you're right.  Anyway, I'll miss it.
   Hopefully you can will Rafa to a victory. 

[BM1090]

I hope you're right.  Anyway, I'll miss it.
   Hopefully you can will Rafa to a victory. 

I'd prefer Fritz wins but I'll be cheering for Rafa going forward if he can pull it out.

Edit: Rafa seems to be moving just fine now. It's only the serve that doesn't look right.

[JWags85]

Im too young to have seen McEnroe, but I wonder how similar he and Kyrgios are on court.  Cause I know all the negatives against him but my god I LOVE watching him play when he's on

[MUBurrow]

Im too young to have seen McEnroe, but I wonder how similar he and Kyrgios are on court.  Cause I know all the negatives against him but my god I LOVE watching him play when he's on

I really hate that Kyrgios has the domestic violence thing going on, becuase otherwise I LOVE his villain persona.

[BM1090]

Fritz is rattled and Nadal is playing great.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Im too young to have seen McEnroe, but I wonder how similar he and Kyrgios are on court.  Cause I know all the negatives against him but my god I LOVE watching him play when he's on

I would say FOR HIS TIME McEnroe was like Kyrgios is now.  But if judged side-by-side, McEnroe wasn't nearly the "bad boy" that Kyrgios is.

McEnroe was a very popular player in his era. A brash, but "common man" type aura about him.

[JWags85]

I really hate that Kyrgios has the domestic violence thing going on, becuase otherwise I LOVE his villain persona.

The timing is weird.  Not meant to be victim shaming, but its just sort of odd.  Its the same Ex that went HAM on social media when they broke up, so who knows.  He doesn't have a history of it.  Almost all of his black marks are related to on court/in sport stuff.

But otherwise, I agree.  He's nothing if not authentic.  And it balances so interestingly cause off the court he's fairly charitable and kind of an interesting cat.  His favorite athlete I believe is KG, which kind of matches with that.

I would say FOR HIS TIME McEnroe was like Kyrgios is now.  But if judged side-by-side, McEnroe wasn't nearly the "bad boy" that Kyrgios is.

McEnroe was a very popular player in his era. A brash, but "common man" type aura about him.

Thanks, makes sense.  I do wonder if social media and mics/cameras were everywhere in the late 70s/early 80s how it would have matched up.

[MUBurrow]

But otherwise, I agree.  He's nothing if not authentic.  And it balances so interestingly cause off the court he's fairly charitable and kind of an interesting cat.  His favorite athlete I believe is KG, which kind of matches with that.

I didn't know the KG thing, but that 10000% tracks.  Rooting interests for Americans aside, I really want to see a Kyrgios-Djokovic final where Kyrgios decides going in that he has to get in Joker's head. I could see that being an absolute riot.