Scholarship table
Someone said on the broadcast that the tennis balls are much slower than they were last week in Cincinnati. I'm wondering why that would be the case?
The balls are the same as they were in Cincinnati. So you either misunderstood or they misspoke. Why would they be different? Because it is a different tournament. Different events use different tennis balls from different brands, just as different tourneys have different sponsors etc…Throughout the season many different tennis balls are used from many brands. That isn’t new. What is new is the Women are playing with the same ball as the Men this year at the U.S. Open. Some top players complained, notably Iga Swiatek. So they made a trial run change. Previously the Women used a regular felt tennis ball to be more protective of injury and arm and shoulder problems. That ball has less control and flies through the air. Players such as Petra Kvitova like that tennis ball. The Extra Duty Wilson Tennis Ball, also used by the Men, is a much heavier ball, allows for more control, and some think last longer. Where the previous ball is more of a clay court ball in some people’s opinions. There are other heavier tennis balls on tour, so this one is more medium or fine.
I did not misunderstand. Whoever was in the booth was a current player and talked about it in depth. I think it was Eubanks but I am not 100% sure. He actually said the used balls in Cincy were faster than the balls at the USOpen.
It’s the same ball. Surface might be faster. But they are using the same ball. Previously that was different. But not this year. Canada, Cincinnati, and New York all used the same ball this year. You can ask Stacey Allaster or Steve Simon if you wish. You are in luck. It also says it here in paragraph 10: https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/38208985/us-open-use-same-tennis-balls-women-menCincy used to use different tennis balls in the past, but not this year. DC used a Technifibre X One 2 tennis balls. Those received a lot of complaints as being way too heavy in the heat and humidity. Some players don’t care and have little opinion about it, especially if it doesn’t affect them. Some have strong opinions about it. Taylor Fritz would prefer the lighter tennis balls so he could hit 150mph serves with it. Madison Keys also prefers the lighter tennis ball. Opinions are mixed. Dunlop, Slazenger, lots of different brands and types of tennis balls used per brand. Pegula is on the player council and I know she prefers the same ball every week of the tour.
I trust your explanation and assume the commentator waa incorrect. Boy is Evert a disaster as well.
Your posts often criticize the Women analysts but leave out the Men. It isn’t gender specific.Johnny Mac (who is absent this year due to illness) isn’t any better than Evert. It isn’t possible to be great if you aren’t traveling the week to week of the tour. Many of the International broadcasters are under stated, all business about that specific match. And for me, that’s what I want. Mac and some others are for casual fans who often only watch a little bit of a big event once a year. It’s equal opportunity. Mary Carillo has been bad on the World Feed. She’s a good example of someone that doesn’t know the ins and outs of the week to week of the tour. But she at least asks her partners lots of questions during a match about those things. She admits she is unaware of a lot of things. Some of the Men are too prideful to admit that.Giraffe is a good commentator. Blake is fine. Laura Robson was great on the World Feed. Lindsay Davenport is good.
Giraffe is spotty.
Carillo is abysmal and J-Mac hasn't been particularly good in recent years. The sport needs to step it up in the broadcasting dept.
Again, I'm sure it's accidental, but you are quick to rip a female broadcaster, and somewhat reluctant to do so with the Men. Johb hasn?t changed his approach in recent years. It's the same. It never was good. It's rhe Dick Vitale for people who don't folllow basketball. He's mascot and good for tennis. He's just miscast as an in match analyst. You will be the one who has to adjust. By that I meam if you want more variety and better tennjs broadcasters, you'll have to do more than follow regular ESPN a few times a year at slams and NBC. There are several good Women and Men broadcasters elsewhere. For this event, jfor example, ust watch the World Feed on ESPN plus if you are in the states. I'm not sure why anyone would watch it on ESPN2 instead of on ESPN plus.
For this event, jfor example, ust watch the World Feed on ESPN plus if you are in the states. I'm not sure why anyone would watch it on ESPN2 instead of on ESPN plus.
Don’t be silly. ESPN+ is a premium channel and with the switch to streaming services, most people don’t have it.
I'm not reluctant to do anything. I rip crappy male broadcasters all the time. Stop creating a false narrative.
As an aside, ESPN plus is very mainstream and has been for many years. It’s easily one of the most valuable places for sports content out there. I watch more sports on it than via any other form of viewing. Many sports.
ESPN+ is a subscription service that the majority of the population doesn’t have.
Ostapenko is now 4-0 all time vs Swiatek.
It was honestly crazy to see Swiatek's game completely fall apart. She was spraying errors all over the place and looked mentally shot. Gauff will take out Ostapenko.