Tennis

[MuggsyB]

Wow.  Incredibly disappointing performance by Gauff.  She didn't handle the wind well and her forehand broke down.  She also became very tentative which surprised me.  She has to get stronger on her 2nd serve and overall consistency. 

[BM1090]

First time there are 4 American men in the R16 at Wimbledon in 26 years. Two are favorites to reach the QF. Paul has a shot. Nakashima is the only guy whose win would be a huge surprise.

[JWags85]

Incredible draw for Kyrgios if he can pull this off.  Nakashima and then the winner of Garin and De Minaur who are certainly beatable if he's got his head in it.  Maybe that doubles run in the Aussie put a charge in him

[JWags85]

BUMP

This version of Kyrgios is good enough to win the tourney, Head case breakdown aside.  That tiebreak was masterful

[MuggsyB]

BUMP

This version of Kyrgios is good enough to win the tourney, Head case breakdown aside.  That tiebreak was masterful

I mentioned he is dangerous on this surface JWags. Perhaps he's dangerous in general, I dunno.  What I do know is if you serve that big on grass, and have a lot of power off the forehand wing, you should be in the mix to win at Wimbledon.  His talent has always been there.  Can he put it together with a wide open draw until the semis?  It's definitely possible.  But it's also possible he has an epic meltdown in the S16. 

[MuggsyB]

Why on God's green earth is ESPN not showing the Tiafoe match??  He's the only American on the court right now, WTF??  inexcusable.

[MuggsyB]

I don't get this at all.  Extremely disrespectful of ESPN to Tiafoe and the American audience to essentially not show his match.  Which btw is 6-7, 7-5, 7-5 with Francis up 2 sets to 1.  It's honestly a total embarrassment and they deserved to be vilified.  Whoever made this decision is a clown. 

[shoothoops]

Just a few of the fun stories that first come to mind this Wimbledon so far:

34 year old mother of 2, Tatjana Maria is into the Women's Quarterfinals (first slam) in her 10th try.

Jack Sock grinding his way back into the singles top 100 and forming a very promising mixed doubles team with Coco Gauff. Jamie Murray and Venus Williams playing well together too.

Harmony Tan into the round of 16 in Women's singles playing very well.

Heather Watson making her first Wimbledon (and slam) Round of 16. 

Several former college tennis players playing as well as qualifying for Wimbledon both Women and Men.

Brandon Nakashima (San Diego/UVA) into his first slam Round of 16.

Iga Swiatek losing after 37 straight wins. Ons Jabeur now a favorite to win it for Tunisia and North Africa.

Frances Tiafoe into his first Wimbledon round of 16. (4th slam overall)

Amanda Anisimova seeking her first slam quarterfinal at age 20.

Vandy having two different singles players in the draw, Astra Sharma and Fern Contreras.

Arizona State's Desirae Krawczyk seeking her first doubles slam title, playing with Danielle Collins. (she has 3 mixed).

Serena playing for the first time in a year.

[MuggsyB]

Heartbreaking loss for Tiafoe.

[BM1090]

Heartbreaking loss for Tiafoe.

Yeah. Up 40-15 with a chance to break at 5-5 and Goffin hits four great first serves.

Then he crumbled in his own service game. Goffin was fantastic for large portions of that match. Wasn't going to beat himself.

[MuggsyB]

Yeah. Up 40-15 with a chance to break at 5-5 and Goffin hits four great first serves.

Then he crumbled in his own service game. Goffin was fantastic for large portions of that match. Wasn't going to beat himself.

Goffin earned it but that really hurts.

[shoothoops]

Knee injury, out of the top 70, past ankle, back, leg injuries, former World number 7, David Goffin, into his 4th slam quarterfinal. Another good, strong top 25 level performance from Frances.

[MuggsyB]

Weird body language from Kyrgios.  Hopefully Nakashima takes him out. 

[MuggsyB]

I saw it coming!  Kyrgios looks like he's faking a shoulder injury.  Nakashima takes the 1st set.

[MuggsyB]

Damn.  Nakashima can still win this in 5 but really let Kyrgios off the hook.  Lots of doubles snd unforced errors. 

[MuggsyB]

Nice to see Fritz rolling.  Nakashima forces a 5th!  If he maintains focus I think he can pull this off.  He can't let Kyrgios' nonsense bother him.

[JWags85]

Kyrgios is always gonna be a roller coaster, but man it looks like he's got the goods right now.

[MuggsyB]

Sinner is handling himself quite well vs the Djoker.  What a cool background.  Tennis was his 3rd sport as a child, he was an elite junior skier.  He didn't solely focus on Tennis until he was 13. 

[MuggsyB]

Wow just wow!  Sinner up 2 sets on Djokovic!  Obviously you never count the Djoker out but he's going to really have to did deep to get this match.  He looks frustrated and lost out there.  VAMOS Jannik!!

[JWags85]

Wow just wow!  Sinner up 2 sets on Djokovic!  Obviously you never count the Djoker out but he's going to really have to did deep to get this match.  He looks frustrated and lost out there.  VAMOS Jannik!!

Novak comfortably won Set 3 and is now up 4-0 in the 4th.  He's always been unreal when down substantially

[MuggsyB]

Novak comfortably won Set 3 and is now up 4-0 in the 4th.  He's always been unreal when down substantially

Ya...he woke up.  I'm off to work, you need to turn this around for Sinner JWags.

[BM1090]

Goffin up 2 sets to 1 on Norrie. Shame that Tiafoe couldn't pull out the match on Sunday. I think he would have had a great shot against Norrie today.

[MuggsyB]

About midway through the 3rd Djokovic went into human backboard mode.  He's so tough to beat in a match of extended rallies and his mental toughness is extraordinary.   He's able to control points more easily on grass and a hardcourt as opposed to clay.   I sadly will say it's a longshot he doesn't win this and get #21.  Now, if Rafa meets him in the Final it will be absolutely epic with all that is at stake.  But Rafa has likely two really tough matches to get there.

[JWags85]

About midway through the 3rd Djokovic went into human backboard mode.  He's so tough to beat in a match of extended rallies and his mental toughness is extraordinary.   He's able to control points more easily on grass and a hardcourt as opposed to clay.   I sadly will say it's a longshot he doesn't win this and get #21.  Now, if Rafa meets him in the Final it will be absolutely epic with all that is at stake.  But Rafa has likely two really tough matches to get there.

Rafa's next couple matches are interesting.  Fritz actually beat him to win Indian Wells a few months ago.  And then Kyrgios has actually faired decently against him off of clay.  So provided Kyrgios gets past Garin, its definitely a brutal stretch for Rafa to get either Joker or the local favorite Norrie.

Another amusing potential matchup ancedote...Kyrgios is one of the few players who can say they are undefeated against Novak.  2-0, though they haven't played in 5 years.

[MuggsyB]

Rafa's next couple matches are interesting.  Fritz actually beat him to win Indian Wells a few months ago.  And then Kyrgios has actually faired decently against him off of clay.  So provided Kyrgios gets past Garin, its definitely a brutal stretch for Rafa to get either Joker or the local favorite Norrie.

Another amusing potential matchup ancedote...Kyrgios is one of the few players who can say they are undefeated against Novak.  2-0, though they haven't played in 5 years.

I haven't gotten a chance to watch Fritz much so perhaps I'm underestimating him.  Based on my calculations Rafa has a 33.7% chance to beat Djoker at Wimbledon.  Kyrgios 11.3%, Norrie 2.2%.