Oso planning to go pro
Medvedev obviously played well, but Djokovic was so far away from top form that I feel quite a few opponents would have beaten Novak today.Turned out to be a weird tournament.Two unranked teens play for the women’s title, with the winner being the one who had to go through qualifying just to get in the field.And a men’s draw without Rafa and Roger, and with Novak unable to muster the energy at the end to grab a historic victory.With The Big 3 in their mid-30s and older, and with Serena obviously at or very near the end, is this the new normal for tennis? A new era that won’t be dominated by a very few players?
No doubt. He just didn't have it. But Medvy played a very intelligent match and chased down everything. As far as the new normal? It could be for awhile. Although I do think Medvedev and Zverev could break out. Novak isn't done and Rafa might have 2 more French-O's. Fed I think is finished. On the women's side I think we'll see a number of champions and Gauff will eventually get there.
Medvedev just kept hitting everything back to Djokovic and waited for Novak to screw up. That was an intelligent strategy today, because it wasn't Normal Novak, and I'm guessing Medvedev recognized that early.I have doubts about Medvedev, Zverev or any of the other young men separating themselves from the pack. I hope you're right about Rafa, but he just can't stay healthy and he's not a kid. I didn't mean to suggest Novak is done; I mean, the guy won 3 majors and got to the final of the 4th. But even he can't go on forever.The women's side is just a big jumble to me.
The women's side is just a big jumble to me.
I don't mean this to be sexist, im sure it will be but not intentionally, but after watching lots of tennis of both genres at the ATP/WTA level, dating a D1 collegiate player for a bit, and having a cousin who played college tennis...the womens game is far more emotional and mercurial. There are men who have that issue, but it feels far more prevalent in the womens game, even amongst the stars. I can think of plenty of Grand Slam matches where Wozniaki, Svitolina, Mertens, Halep, etc... absolutely implode mid set in a match they have under control. It just contributes to the parity. Hell, Raducanu short circuited at Wimbledon and then came back and did this incredible run, but it wouldn't be out of norm to expect another crumble. It is what it is.There are men who implode plenty, but there always feels like a couple of top male players are impervious for a stretch of time.
Marat Safin for emotional meltdowns.
“If you are vaccinated, you can play in the Australian Open ... and everywhere."-- Rafa Nadal
I guess I'm a bit lost as to why Djokovic was cleared to play in the first place?
What they said.This is "personal choice" working its magic. Djokovic personally chose to not get vaccinated and to try to get around Australia's national rules with a bogus exemption. Now he's personally choosing to fight it Australia enforcing its rules. And if he loses in court, as most expect he will, he can personally choose to either get the vaccine so he can compete in his favorite tournament and become the all-time majors winner, or he can personally choose to go home.
He's certainly a joke.But a hell of a tennis player.
Here's some of his past claims:The tennis star has a track record when it comes to questionable scientific claims.In his book Serve to Win, Djokovic described how in 2010 he met with a nutritionist who asked him to hold a piece of bread in his left hand while he pressed down on his right arm. Djokovic claims he was much weaker while holding the bread, and cited this as evidence of gluten intolerance.And during an Instagram live, he claimed that positive thought could "cleanse" polluted water, adding that "scientists have proven that molecules in water react to our emotions."