Tennis

[MuggsyB]

Pretty amazing that Serena has a legitimate shot to win this thing and has barely played for 2 yrs.

[JWags85]

Pretty amazing that Serena has a legitimate shot to win this thing and has barely played for 2 yrs.

Legit is probably very generous.  Last night was lightning in a bottle, but her conditioning is a big question mark.  The draw is favorable, but she's still got top 50 opponents much younger than her in the next 2 matches, then some heavy seeded players after that.

[MuggsyB]

Legit is probably very generous.  Last night was lightning in a bottle, but her conditioning is a big question mark.  The draw is favorable, but she's still got top 50 opponents much younger than her in the next 2 matches, then some heavy seeded players after that.

I don't see a clear favorite and she did just beat the #2 seed.  Her draw looks wide open to me.  Obviously winning it all will be difficult, especially with how little she has played.  That said I don't think she's an enormous Longshot.

[MU82]

All's I know is it's good fun watching this stuff.

[MuggsyB]

Rafa is now on ESPN2.

[MuggsyB]

Horrific 1st set for Rafa. 

[MU82]

That might be the worst set I've ever seen Rafa play.

[MuggsyB]

That might be the worst set I've ever seen Rafa play.

This is a complete disaster.  He has about 25 mins to find his game or it's over.

[MU82]

This is a complete disaster.  He has about 25 mins to find his game or it's over.

Pretty obvious now that he's not healthy. He's barely serving 100 mph and he's missing shots he rarely does.

Sucks, but that kind of thing can happen to 36-year-old athletes whose bodies are wearing down.

[MU82]

Well, that was quite a turnaround.

[MuggsyB]

Still a long way to go. 

[MU82]

Rafa was very candid in his interviews. He said it was about the worst hour and a half that he's had. He knew he was fortunate that Fognini just went into the tank. If Rafa had played any of the top 25 players in the world like that, he'd have been rolled.

But he didn't play any of the top 25, he survived, and I like to think he'll play much better in future matches. I was happy to see his serve speed get back to 115+ the last 2 sets, and he made some great forehands (which he hadn't earlier).

[shoothoops]

7 years ago Zhang Shuai wanted to retire from tennis and open a coffee shop. Sam Stosur talked her into playing Australia one more time. Makes a quarterfinal run with wins over Halep and others.

With her win today Shuai has now made the 2nd week of all 4 Grand Slams. (and she is one of the World's best doubles plays too)

[shoothoops]

7 years ago Zhang Shuai wanted to retire from tennis and open a coffee shop. Sam Stosur talked her into playing Australia one more time. Makes a quarterfinal run with wins over Halep and others.

With her win today Shuai has now made the 2nd week of all 4 Grand Slams. (and she is one of the World's best doubles plays too)

Shuai's next opponent Coco Gauff just completed advancing to the 2nd week of all 4 slams, ............at age 18.

[MuggsyB]

This is Gauff's best surface.  She sent a pretty big message rolling Madison Keys. 

[MuggsyB]

Serena looks dome.  Stuck in cement and can't overpower Tomjlonovic.

[MU82]

Tomljanovic is one cool customer.

Serena sure will be missed. She could barely stand out there but she kept battling, kept saving match point.

[MuggsyB]

See ya Gasquet.  Rafa is rolling this dude.  That Kyrgios/Medvy match should be a good one.

[MU82]

Rafa up 6-0, 3-0 over a guy he's beaten a bazillion straight times, and the announcer says: "For Gasquet, belief is starting to fade."

[MuggsyB]

Rafa up 6-0, 3-0 over a guy he's beaten a bazillion straight times, and the announcer says: "For Gasquet, belief is starting to fade."

After Rafa and Tiafoe I'm rooting for Alcaraz.  That kid has game and tremendous wheels.  He appears to be the total package and has that wicked pop on his ground strokes. 

[MuggsyB]

Poor decision by Gasquet to dropshot Rafa there. 

[MU82]

After Rafa and Tiafoe I'm rooting for Alcaraz.  That kid has game and tremendous wheels.  He appears to be the total package and has that wicked pop on his ground strokes.

Tiafoe is gonna be tough for Nadal. I'd love a Nadal-Alcaraz semifinal.

[shoothoops]

52.....FIFTY-TWO winners for Danielle Collins.

87% First Serves won... and Cornet still had set points to force a 3rd set.

6-4, 7-6 (11-9) Collins over Cornet.

[MuggsyB]

Tiafoe is gonna be tough for Nadal. I'd love a Nadal-Alcaraz semifinal.

I forgot about Nakashima.  He's in a tough one right now with Skinner.

As for Tiafoe he's certainly capable of overpowering Rafa on this surface.  Can he put together 3 sets?  I'm not so sure.  He has to serve big and a high percentage.

As for Rafa?  He's not 100% and I wouldn't say he's the favorite.  The winner of the Medvedev/Kyrgios match is probably the betting favorite.  That said Alcaraz has the potential to win this year and could very well take the torch from Nadal and Djoker.  You can see that explosiveness and speed.  Look the H out if he amps up his serve a bit.  He doesn't anticipate yet like Djoker or Nadal but I actually think he's a better mover.  Even when they were younger.

[MU82]

I forgot about Nakashima.  He's in a tough one right now with Skinner.

As for Tiafoe he's certainly capable of overpowering Rafa on this surface.  Can he put together 3 sets?  I'm not so sure.  He has to serve big and a high percentage.

As for Rafa?  He's not 100% and I wouldn't say he's the favorite.  The winner of the Medvedev/Kyrgios match is probably the betting favorite.  That said Alcaraz has the potential to win this year and could very well take the torch from Nadal and Djoker.  You can see that explosiveness and speed.  Look the H out if he amps up his serve a bit.  He doesn't anticipate yet like Djoker or Nadal but I actually think he's a better mover.  Even when they were younger.

Rafa was the best "mover" I've ever seen, and yes, Alcaraz reminds me of him at that age. It's fun to look at that kind of thing and make projections about a career, but we'll see if Alcaraz can have 1/10th the career that Nadal and Djokovic have had. I hope so - tennis needs young stars and he has a very enjoyable-to-watch game and personality.

Agree about the Medvedev/Kyrgios winner being the favorite - definitely if it's the former and probably if it's the latter.