Having now watched the 4th set tiebreaker with Fritz/Alcaraz, Taylor got way too tentative on a few points.  When he served at 6-4, he hit his spot with a 134 mph laser on the line.  How Alcaraz got that back in play, with a one handed block backhand, may have caught Fritz off guard. 

Quote from: Shaka Shart on July 11, 2025, 09:51:23 PMI dunno man I don't think we need to both sides this.

I think it's moreso the "I always play with college and retired pros" when the dude looks like a 3.5 player. That serve motion is JANKY. With his mechanics you're not all the sudden keeping pace with that level just when you're off camera.

His nice slices comes from the fact that he only hits slices. All his relatively flat shots/returns are gimmes that any normal doubles players would hit his feet or kill his partner with. They were humoring him.

 Their opponents were spraying balls all over because it's challenging to slow down the pace of the racquet to the point of eliminating the spin he would not be able to handle.


The point being, American men's tennis needs work. It already suffers from challenger level being extremely unforgiving monetarily to try and make/stay on the tour and it's a pretty bad look here that he's whining afterwards that he was nervous after clearly buying his way in.

Im guessing this gets some extra rules on partners for wild cards going forward. He should go play a charity Pro Am and stop being an indignant weirdo

I basically agree with Roddick.  This was a sanctioned tournament, not a pro-am.  And this guy saying "I play with college players and retired pros" is analogous to Stefan Djokovic saying he plays with a pro.  He's probably an above average plus 60 club player. 

Quote from: JWags85 on July 11, 2025, 09:06:25 PMI mean, to be fair, that could be 1000% true.  It doesn't mean that if he was at the top of his game he wouldn't still be greatly outclassed.  If people didn't dislike the guy, you could read that whole thing as being disappointed with himself for looking terrible in a cool opportunity.  It was also interesting that he played with Sock who is also retired and now trains to beat JayBee's ass in pickleball.

The highlights were amusing.  There was a point where Ackman actually hit a really nice
backhand slice volley running towards the net.  And then the very next point shown, he launched a half volley 20 feet over Tomic's head.

I generally like Roddick, but I'm pretty sure that there was already animosity because Ackman is a big financial support of the PTPA and the ATP/WTA hate it, and Roddick/Martina are part of the ATP/WTA PR machine.

Oh I don't disagree.  Hence why I focused on the last 2 years where he's really made a leap.

And Zverev has been a top 5 guy much longer than Fritz, but he's had the same issues for even longer.  So I'd def give Fritz the nod at this point too.

I dunno man I don't think we need to both sides this.

I think it's moreso the "I always play with college and retired pros" when the dude looks like a 3.5 player. That serve motion is JANKY. With his mechanics you're not all the sudden keeping pace with that level just when you're off camera.

His nice slices comes from the fact that he only hits slices. All his relatively flat shots/returns are gimmes that any normal doubles players would hit his feet or kill his partner with. They were humoring him.

 Their opponents were spraying balls all over because it's challenging to slow down the pace of the racquet to the point of eliminating the spin he would not be able to handle.


The point being, American men's tennis needs work. It already suffers from challenger level being extremely unforgiving monetarily to try and make/stay on the tour and it's a pretty bad look here that he's whining afterwards that he was nervous after clearly buying his way in.

Im guessing this gets some extra rules on partners for wild cards going forward. He should go play a charity Pro Am and stop being an indignant weirdo

Quote from: The Sultan on July 11, 2025, 12:58:37 PMLeave it up to UEFA to enforce the rules with Crystal Palace while Red Bull and City group repeatedly break them.

Its less selective enforcement of rules, and more allowing huge loopholes regarding blind trusts and "decisive" ownership that City and Red Bull went through with and and Palace didn't by the deadline.  Honestly, its less aggravating than all the Financial Fail Play BS that City has skirted around and UEFA has completely looked the other way on.  There was a simple enough fix here, no matter how BS it is, but Palace's ownership group messed it up a bit.  The quarrel between Textor and Steve Parish is as much to blame as anything, IMO. 

Absolutely sucks for Palace and their fans though.  Selhurst Park is great and their fans are awesome and welcoming.  Hope they make a Chelsea-like run in the Conference League

Quote from: Shaka Shart on July 11, 2025, 02:56:15 PMIn funnier news. Sure thing bud

https://bsky.app/profile/eoinhiggins.bsky.social/post/3ltpguebik226

I mean, to be fair, that could be 1000% true.  It doesn't mean that if he was at the top of his game he wouldn't still be greatly outclassed.  If people didn't dislike the guy, you could read that whole thing as being disappointed with himself for looking terrible in a cool opportunity.  It was also interesting that he played with Sock who is also retired and now trains to beat JayBee's ass in pickleball.

The highlights were amusing.  There was a point where Ackman actually hit a really nice
backhand slice volley running towards the net.  And then the very next point shown, he launched a half volley 20 feet over Tomic's head.

I generally like Roddick, but I'm pretty sure that there was already animosity because Ackman is a big financial support of the PTPA and the ATP/WTA hate it, and Roddick/Martina are part of the ATP/WTA PR machine.

Quote from: BM1090 on July 11, 2025, 08:21:06 PMI mostly agree, but Fritz has really improved the last 1.5 years. I don't think it's a coincidence he's made two of the last four grand slam semis. And his finishes at the Australian and French last year were his best ever at those events.


He's a consistently great player now. He's just a solid step behind the top 2. And he obviously dominates Zverev.

I could make a pretty good case that he's the 3rd best player in the world right now.

Oh I don't disagree.  Hence why I focused on the last 2 years where he's really made a leap.

And Zverev has been a top 5 guy much longer than Fritz, but he's had the same issues for even longer.  So I'd def give Fritz the nod at this point too.

Mbao, McMorrow, and Ousmane

Quote from: JWags85 on July 11, 2025, 11:06:02 AMThat's kind of his whole career, isn't it?  Another sort of puzzling player.  Top 5 in the world right now, rightfully.  Top 25 all time in career ATP earnings...but he's never really won ANYTHING.

He's been a high level (top 40ish) pro for 6 years now.  But he up until today, he had one other GS SF appearance (US Open final last year).  He only has 1 ATP 1000 win and 1 ATP 500, and neither are in the last 3 years.
Jack Draper for example, right behind him in the rankings, has a 1000 and 500 win in the last year.  Zverev, right in front of him, has 2 1000s and 2 500s in the last 2 years, plus 2 GS SF and 2 GS F.

Fritz has the goods but he just needs to figure out how to finish a tournament.

I mostly agree, but Fritz has really improved the last 1.5 years. I don't think it's a coincidence he's made two of the last four grand slam semis. And his finishes at the Australian and French last year were his best ever at those events.


He's a consistently great player now. He's just a solid step behind the top 2. And he obviously dominates Zverev.

I could make a pretty good case that he's the 3rd best player in the world right now.

Quote from: Shaka Shart on July 11, 2025, 10:46:44 AMThe three men left all grew up middle class to poor 🤬

And on the opposite end of the spectrum:

https://x.com/goodworkmb/status/1943715402204237950?t=Kywe4kTO4A5wlUzOaR37XA&s=19

Who ya got? Sinner or Alcaraz?  I hope I'm wrong but I sorta think Sinner is due.  And he's gotten a couple of huge breaks after being down 2 sets to Dimitrov, along with Novak not being at full strength today.  Anyway, we're lucky to get to see these two battle once again. 

Quote from: Nutty on July 11, 2025, 12:34:39 PMThat may be the strangest, most John Doddsian flex I have seen in some time.

All it needed was a reference to Wojo being the best coach since Al.