Tennis

[MU82]

That was nuts as well.

Swiatek’s game reminds me some of what I remember about Evert’s game.

She’s not gonna overpower anybody, but she is accurate, relentless, tough-minded, and a good athlete.

[MuggsyB]

Swiatek’s game reminds me some of what I remember about Evert’s game.

She’s not gonna overpower anybody, but she is accurate, relentless, tough-minded, and a good athlete.

Ya think?  Before my time but I always thought Evert was more of a human backboard?  Swiatek is a great athlete and mover.  She also has some sneaky pop on her shots. 

[MU82]

Ya think?  Before my time but I always thought Evert was more of a human backboard?  Swiatek is a great athlete and mover.  She also has some sneaky pop on her shots.

When Swiatek is going well, she's a human backboard, too. She will take more chances. though. Evert also could surprise opponents with the pace of her two-handed back-hand, which she helped popularize.

I'm certainly not saying Iga is a carbon-copy of Chrissie. I just think their games have similarities.

[MuggsyB]

Both players playing a really spotty 1st set.  Hopefully Alcaraz has enough in the tank.

[MuggsyB]

Alcaraz may have won the 1st set but he's spraying errors all over the place and his court position has been a bit wild.  Hopefully he finds his game. 

[MuggsyB]

You can just see Alcaraz doesn't have it.  He'll be fine long run but it still sucks. 

[MU82]

You can just see Alcaraz doesn't have it.  He'll be fine long run but it still sucks.

He obviously doesn’t have as much energy today. It’s pretty amazing that it’s 3-3 in the 3rd.

[MU82]

Stop with the effen drop shots already!!!

[MuggsyB]

Stop with the effen drop shots already!!!

His decision making has been off the entire match.  He's also running around his backhand too much.  Part of the reason is he doesn't want long points. 

[MuggsyB]

Ughhh.  There it is again.  Crazy running around the backhand there.

[MuggsyB]

VAMOS. ALCARAZ!!

He has to win this tb.

[MuggsyB]

VAMOS!
VAMOS!
VAMOS!

[MU82]

He’s energized now! One more game!!

[MuggsyB]

VAMOS!!  SLAM THE DOOR!!

[MuggsyB]

KABOOM!!!

Amazing kid. 

[MU82]

Impressed … amazed … enthralled … whatever.

Words can’t really describe how one feels watching this wonderful young player.

So good already. And he’s nowhere near as good as he’s gonna be.

Carlos Alcaraz, #1 Player In The World - that has a nice ring to it.

[MuggsyB]

Impressed … amazed … enthralled … whatever.

Words can’t really describe how one feels watching this wonderful young player.

So good already. And he’s nowhere near as good as he’s gonna be.

Carlos Alcaraz, #1 Player In The World - that has a nice ring to it.

That's what greatness is all about.  And he's 19.  He had nowhere near his A game.  But he battled to get the 3rd to a tiebreaker and then went to work by going for his shots.  In the 4th he served lights out knowing full well he didn't have much left.   Just a phenomenal achievement after three five set wins and his first gs final.

[Jockey]

Impressed … amazed … enthralled … whatever.

Words can’t really describe how one feels watching this wonderful young player.

So good already. And he’s nowhere near as good as he’s gonna be.

Carlos Alcaraz, #1 Player In The World - that has a nice ring to it.

Two outstanding champions. Alvarez and Swiatek showed great class as well as talent.

Great personalities and great representatives for the future of tennis. 

[MU82]

The biggest winner over the last two weeks was tennis.

Ruud and Sinner and Jabeur and Tiafoe would have been worthy U.S. Open champions, but with Serena Williams retiring and men's Big 3 fading, what the game really needs is young, charismatic, exciting stars to emerge. And if that emergence could take place in New York, all the better.

Enter Iga Swiatek and, especially, Carlos Alcaraz.

It is impossible for anybody who has even slight interest in tennis to not be taken by the teen sensation, Alcaraz, who has the look of an athlete who will dominate the men's game for a decade or more.

Nick Kyrgios apparently deciding to become at least a semi-serious tennis player in 2022, rather than the clown show he had been for years, also has added a lot of spice to the game. In the coming years, one could see him wearing the black hat against "good guy" Alcaraz. That would be cool, and great for tennis. Djokovic, who looked wonderful at Wimbledon, also will still have his say if he's allowed to play all the majors again in the next 2-3 years.

Swiatek might not be the same kind of dynamo as Alcaraz, but she is skilled and personable and driven. One could argue that a win by Coco Gauff would have been better for tennis, and I wouldn't dispute that. If Coco can continue to improve and if she and Iga can create a kind of Evert-Navratilova dynamic, that would be spectacular.

[lawdog77]

The biggest winner over the last two weeks was tennis.

Ruud and Sinner and Jabeur and Tiafoe would have been worthy U.S. Open champions, but with Serena Williams retiring and men's Big 3 fading, what the game really needs is young, charismatic, exciting stars to emerge. And if that emergence could take place in New York, all the better.

Enter Iga Swiatek and, especially, Carlos Alvaraz.

It is impossible for anybody who has even slight interest in tennis to not be taken by the teen sensation, Alvaraz, who has the look of an athlete who will dominate the men's game for a decade or more.

Nick Kyrgios apparently deciding to become at least a semi-serious tennis player in 2022, rather than the clown show he had been for years, also has added a lot of spice to the game. In the coming years, one could see him wearing the black hat against "good guy" Alvaraz. That would be cool, and great for tennis. Djokovic, who looked wonderful at Wimbledon, also will still have his say if he's allowed to play all the majors again in the next 2-3 years.

Swiatek might not be the same kind of dynamo as Alcaraz, but she is skilled and personable and driven. One could argue that a win by Coco Gauff would have been better for tennis, and I wouldn't dispute that. If Coco can continue to improve and if she and Iga can create a kind of Evert-Navratilova dynamic, that would be spectacular.

you only misspelled his name three times. Aside from that, you are 100% correct.

[shoothoops]

WTA World Singles Rankings Top 50:

Jessica Pegula 5
Coco Gauff 8
Danielle Collins 16
Madison Keys 17
Amanda Anisimova 22
Alison Riske Amritraj 23
Shelby Rogers 33
Sloane Stephens 49

12 Americans in the Top 100

[MU82]

you only misspelled his name three times. Aside from that, you are 100% correct.

Damn! I guess it was an upset that I spelled it right the fourth time!

Corrected. Thanks for being a good editor.

[MuggsyB]

Alcaraz is the #1 player in the world (youngest of all-time) and while tennis has major issues with their ranking system , I think he's definitely earned it.  In fact I think if Nadal or Djoker were asked they would give Alcaraz his due for the incredible season he has had.  I do think Zverev when he comes back will be extremely hungry and Djoker and Nadal are definitely not done.  Sinner is also the real deal and perhaps Kyrgios will actually play tennis and be relevant at the majors from now on. 

I'm just going to say this:  by 2025 I think a 22 year old Alcaraz will be in prime position to dominate men's tennis.  I think what's really scary for these other players is that his serve has the potential to be lethal and he already volleys quite well.  When this kid figures out shot-selection and court positioning, particularly when to unload or go for winners, and play better percentage shots on returns,  cancel Christmas.  His game is also totally adaptable on all surfaces.  It's fantastic we have a young man that clearly can take the mantle from the Big 3.

[shoothoops]

U.S. Open attendance was 888,044 for the 3 weeks including the free week of qualifying.

The 2 week event had 776,120.

[shoothoops]

The United States has defeated Great Great Britain in Glasgow, finishing at 1am.

2 out of 3.

Ram/Sock over A Murray/Salisbury
5-7, 6-4, 7-5.

(Norrie over Fritz, Paul over Evans)