Tennis

[MuggsyB]

Rafa somehow steals the 2nd set.  Two rough mental errors by Tiafoe thinking two shots were out.  Whoops.

[MU82]

Rafa somehow steals the 2nd set.  Two rough mental errors by Tiafoe thinking two shots were out.  Whoops.

Rafa served much better in the 2nd set after getting his wrists taped during the break. Consistently in the 115-120 range. And he finally took advantage of Tiafoe’s poor 1st-serve pct.

But yes, a couple of brain farts by Tiafoe helped a lot.

[MuggsyB]

Rafa served much better in the 2nd set after getting his wrists taped during the break. Consistently in the 115-120 range. And he finally took advantage of Tiafoe’s poor 1st-serve pct.

But yes, a couple of brain farts by Tiafoe helped a lot.

Rafa is starting to find his range a bit. 

[MuggsyB]

Give Tiafoe a ton of credit.  He's in prime position to win this match.

[MU82]

It hasn’t been what I’d call a “great” match yet. Each player has been largely content to let the other control each service game. Very few long points, too.

[MuggsyB]

It hasn’t been what I’d call a “great” match yet. Each player has been largely content to let the other control each service game. Very few long points, too.

Agreed.  But Tiafoe has had the goods when he has needed them.  That said Rafa has not played well at all imo. 

[MU82]

Multiple F-bombs from Tiafoe, who was pissed he had to serve while roof was closing.

[MuggsyB]

Multiple F-bombs from Tiafoe, who was pissed he had to serve while roof was closing.

Terrible service game for Rafa after getting that break.  Very uncharacteristic.

[Uncle Rico]

Terrible service game for Rafa after getting that break.  Very uncharacteristic.

He might be high

[MuggsyB]

Big probs.  Just not Rafa's day. 

[MU82]

Rafa is just not fit enough.

Happy for Tiafoe, though. Well deserved, and he seems like a good guy. He’s who I’m rooting for now, that’s for sure.

Meanwhile …

I wonder how much longer Rafa plays. I wouldn’t be stunned if he retires before the end of the year. But maybe he’ll want to play one more French Open?

[MuggsyB]

Rafa is just not fit enough.

Happy for Tiafoe, though. Well deserved, and he seems like a good guy. He’s who I’m rooting for now, that’s for sure.

Meanwhile …

Why would he be satisfied with only 14 French Open titles?  15 sounds much better. 

I wonder how much longer Rafa plays. I wouldn’t be stunned if he retires before the end of the year. But maybe he’ll want to play one more French Open?

[shoothoops]

Frances was able to get to shots on a fast hard court, that many others can’t. Rock solid from both wings, 49 winners, 18 aces. He was able to play on and inside the baseline for 3 of 4 sets. He’s polished many little things since working with Wayne Ferreira.

Danielle Collins’ serve dipped into the 30’s, highly unusual for her, and she couldn’t overcome it in 3 vs Sabalenka

I’ve attended many late night sessions in Queens, into the wee hours of the morning, but 2:47am is a bit much. (End time of the 5 setter between Cilic and Alcaraz)

Caty McNally into both the Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals (Townsend) and Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals (Blumberg)
4 other Americans alive in doubles or mixed.

[MuggsyB]

Frances was able to get to shots on a fast hard court, that many others can’t. Rock solid from both wings, 49 winners, 18 aces. He was able to play on and inside the baseline for 3 of 4 sets. He’s polished many little things since working with Wayne Ferreira.

Danielle Collins’ serve dipped into the 30’s, highly unusual for her, and she couldn’t overcome it in 3 vs Sabalenka

I’ve attended many late night sessions in Queens, into the wee hours of the morning, but 2:47am is a bit much. (End time of the 5 setter between Cilic and Alcaraz)

Caty McNally into both the Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals (Townsend) and Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals (Blumberg)
4 other Americans alive in doubles or mixed.

Ya....2:47 am seems a bit ridiculous.  You have to figure Alcaraz didn't get back to his hotel until well after 4am and who knows when he got to sleep.  I would imagine Tiafoe will get the next match tomorrow so it makes it really tough on Alcaraz.  Although Sinner played fairly late. 

[BM1090]

Ya....2:47 am seems a bit ridiculous.  You have to figure Alcaraz didn't get back to his hotel until well after 4am and who knows when he got to sleep.  I would imagine Tiafoe will get the next match tomorrow so it makes it really tough on Alcaraz.  Although Sinner played fairly late.

Tiafoe is the day match, Alcaraz-Sinner is the night match. I'm sure they'd prefer the young American in primetime but they didn't really have a choice.

[MuggsyB]

Tiafoe is the day match, Alcaraz-Sinner is the night match. I'm sure they'd prefer the young American in primetime but they didn't really have a choice.

Oh...I guess I was wrong. Ty.

[MuggsyB]

Damn.....not happy about Gauff. 

[shoothoops]

Damn.....not happy about Gauff.

I posted the other day that Caroline Garcia has been the WTA Tour's best player this Summer. 3 titles, 3 different surfaces.

This is the list of players she defeated to win a fast hars court in Cincy:

Kvitova, Sabalenka, Pegula, Mertens, Martic, Sakkari, most in lopsided fashion.
She also crushed Bibi Andreescu in NYC this week as well.

Caro tweaked a few things. She' has always been high risk, high reward. She'll have a good chance to win the tourney unless she drops her level a bit. There is an old tennis term called treeing.

Coco is doing well. She has made the 2nd week of all four slams now at only 18. She will move into the World Top 10 next week.

Sometimes you just have to tip your cap.

[4everwarriors]

Hoo names der sun Karen, hey?

[MU82]

Kyrgios looks like he’s on sedatives.

[MU82]

No sooner did I write that … and Kyrgios started trying to win.

Annnnd … there’s the thrown racquet!

[MuggsyB]

No sooner did I write that … and Kyrgios started trying to win.

Annnnd … there’s the thrown racquet!

It will be interesting if he loses this set. 

[MuggsyB]

Complete wtf shot by Khachanov on that 2nd break point.  Wow.

[MU82]

Complete wtf shot by Khachanov on that 2nd break point.  Wow.

Could cost him the match. If KK makes the routine shot there, Kyrgios might have just given up.

[MuggsyB]

Could cost him the match. If KK makes the routine shot there, Kyrgios might have just given up.

Not a good service game from Kyrgios there.  He's in big trouble.