Tennis

[MU82]

Until Djoker passes him

If he stays healthy, I'd be surprised if Djokovic isn't the all-time majors winner by the end of this year. Nadal, Federer and Djokovic ... incredible that the three best ever each was in his prime at the same time. What a privilege to watch as a tennis fan.

[shoothoops]

8 of the remaining 32 Men's Singles players are from 'Merica.

Atlanta Australian Opem continues as Atlanta native Ben Shelton advanced. NCAA Team Title, NCAA Singles Title, ATP Top 100, AO 3rd round. Nice couple of years for now Florida based Ben Shelton.

6 of the remaining 32 Women's singles players are from ' Merica.

20 year old qualifier from Walnut Creek, CA, Katie Volynets defeats top 10 Veronika Kudermetova, and is into the 3rd round.

[MuggsyB]

Nice win for Korda. 

[shoothoops]

2018 NCAA Singles champion JJ Wolf (Ohio State) will play 2021 NCAA Singles Champion Ben Shelton for a place in the Australian Open Quarterfinals.

Recently, Ben Shelton was the number 3 player on his University of Florida team. This is his first trip ever outside of the United States.

Tommy Paul, JJ Wolf, Ben Shelton, have a 3 out of 4 chance to make the AO Singles semifinals.

Coco Gauff is the youngest player to 100 wins since Caro Woz in 2009.

[MuggsyB]

Coco better wake up.

[MuggsyB]

Extremely disappointing performance by Gauff.  Tactically she was given poor advice against a player who loves pace. 

[shoothoops]

Extremely disappointing performance by Gauff.  Tactically she was given poor advice against a player who loves pace.

Gauff was fine. Ostapenko, was better. Sometimes you have to tip your cap. Penko is a streaky player who is as good as anyone when she's on a good one. Top 15 world player right now. 30 winners. Missed opportunities converting 1 of 8 on break points for Gauff through the beginning of the 2nd. Gotta serve at a higher percentage on frst serves in the 2nd. Margins were small. 

Gauff won 16 straight sets prior to that.

[MuggsyB]

Gauff was fine. Ostapenko, was better. Sometimes you have to tip your cap. Penko is a streaky player who is as good as anyone when she's on a good one. Top 15 world player right now. 30 winners. Missed opportunities converting 1 of 8 on break points for Gauff through the beginning of the 2nd. Gotta serve at a higher percentage on frst serves in the 2nd. Margins were small. 

Gauff won 16 straight sets prior to that.

Of course she's fine but I disagree with your take on the match.  You have to move a player like Ostapenko around the court and change pace.  Especially when she was feeling it like last night.  There was no tactical game plan from Gauff (or her camp) and therefore she got blown off the court.   She was also getting thumped on her 2nd serve the final set plus.  It was a very poor match strategically and quite disappointing imo. 

[shoothoops]

Of course she's fine but I disagree with your take on the match.  You have to move a player like Ostapenko around the court and change pace.  Especially when she was feeling it like last night.  There was no tactical game plan from Gauff (or her camp) and therefore she got blown off the court.   She was also getting thumped on her 2nd serve the final set plus.  It was a very poor match strategically and quite disappointing imo.

Maybe you're just a Negative Nancy?

I must have watched a different match.

She didn't get blown off of the court. She lost the first set 5-7 after failing to convert multiple games of 0-40 and 15-40 on Penko's serve. She was the better player much of the first set, holding easily much of the time, while forcing long games on Penko's serve.

At minimum it would be fair to say the first set could have gone either way. Super small margins. And Penko came up big in big points. Credit to her.

Gauff had a lot of success moving Penko wide on deuce serves and ad side backhand kick serves. Penko is known more for her forehand but her backhand was elite last night up against Coco, who has one of the best backhands in the game.

An opportunity for improvement for Coco, is 2nd sets after she loses the first set. She is something like 1-19 in her last 20 against top level players after losing the first set. This is where some things broke down in execution and some tactics were changed. Much of Gauff's undefeated 2023 was in large part due to her success moving forward. JO took some lf that away.

You've now posted twice about this particular match without once giving credit to Ostapenko for playing well. Maybe start with that.

[MuggsyB]

I appears the Djoker is just gonna roll dudes in Melbourne on his way to another Aussie title. 

[shoothoops]

As of today, 10 of the ATP World Top 50 Singles players are from 'Merica.

9 of the them are age 25 or younger.

2 of them might face one another in the AO Singles semifinals.

[MU82]

I appears the Djoker is just gonna roll dudes in Melbourne on his way to another Aussie title.

Can't believe you're talking about Djoker without giving credit to Penko. And Mackie.

[BM1090]

As of today, 10 of the ATP World Top 50 Singles players are from 'Merica.

9 of the them are age 25 or younger.

2 of them might face one another in the AO Singles semifinals.

Two Americans can't face one another in the semi finals. Shelton/Paul are on one side, Korda is on the other side.

[shoothoops]

Can't believe you're talking about Djoker without giving credit to Penko. And Mackie.

Mackie McDonald outplayed Rafa Nadal.

Jelena Ostapenko outplayed Coco Gauff.

Maybe start a new thread about a different topic.

[shoothoops]

Two Americans can't face one another in the semi finals. Shelton/Paul are on one side, Korda is on the other side.

Yep. Should say finals.

[shoothoops]

Elena Rybakina is the first player since 2001 to defeat 3 former grand slam singles champions (Swiatek, Ostapenko, Azarenka) in the same Australian Open. In 2001, Capriati defeated Hingis, Seles, Davenport).

Rybakina had 53% (!!!)  of her tourney first serves not returned prior to the semis.

Rybakina will be ranked in the World top 10 next week despite getting ZERO points for winning 2022 Wimbledon.

Self described "Boring Tiger" Aryna Sabalenka has won 20 straight sets to start 2023.

Big serves, big hitting, lots of movement from both.

[MuggsyB]

Elena Rybakina is the first player since 2001 to defeat 3 former grand slam singles champions (Swiatek, Ostapenko, Azarenka) in the same Australian Open. In 2001, Capriati defeated Hingis, Seles, Davenport).

Rybakina had 53% (!!!)  of her tourney first serves not returned prior to the semis.

Rybakina will be ranked in the World top 10 next week despite getting ZERO points for winning 2022 Wimbledon.

Self described "Boring Tiger" Aryna Sabalenka has won 20 straight sets to start 2023.

Big serves, big hitting, lots of movement from both.

The Brooks Koepka of Women's Tennis but not an a-hole?  Didn't Rybanika struggle after Wimbledon? 

[shoothoops]

The Brooks Koepka of Women's Tennis but not an a-hole?  Didn't Rybanika struggle after Wimbledon?

I don't understand your first question.

2022 Rybakina.

QF Cincinnati
Finals Ostrava
Semis Portoroz

Round of 16 or better in 6 events prior to Wimbledon last year.

2 slam finals in the last 3 slams.

[MU82]

Nice effort by Paul.

Djokovic is Djokovic. Nuff said.

Spasibo.

[MuggsyB]

Nice effort by Paul.

Djokovic is Djokovic. Nuff said.

Spasibo.

Does Tsistsy have even a puncher's chance?

[MU82]

Does Tsistsy have even a puncher's chance?

I haven't seen any of his matches. Obviously, he must be playing well. Having said all that, and then multiplying it times the hypotenuse of a triangle ...

No.

[MuggsyB]

I haven't seen any of his matches. Obviously, he must be playing well. Having said all that, and then multiplying it times the hypotenuse of a triangle ...

No.

Djoker is throttling dudes in this tournament similar to what I would do in the DNBA (Diminutive National Basketball Association). 

[shoothoops]

The Brooks Koepka of Women's Tennis but not an a-hole?  Didn't Rybanika struggle after Wimbledon?

I think I figured out your question. Are you saying that Rybakina has a demeanor similar to Koepka and asking if she is not an a-hole like Koepka???

Some players are similar on and off of the court, and, some players are different on and off of the court. Some players are a mix.

As for Elena, she doesn't show emotion often on court because she was taught that as a strategy. (Chrissie Evert would be a past example of something similar). Here, enjoy Elena playing with Daria Saville's dog Tofu:

https://twitter.com/bastienfachan/status/1618646696510263296?s=46&t=NCIdwGQc2tPq-N9gszcN3Q

As for rankings points, there are a variety of ways (and ages) to achieve them. Jessie Pegula didn't win her first main draw slam singles match until she was 26. She's been in the quarters in 4 of the last 5.

[BM1090]

Nice effort by Paul.

Djokovic is Djokovic. Nuff said.

Spasibo.

I thought Paul played pretty well. And he got smoked.

[MuggsyB]

Damn.  I was rooting for Rybakina