Tennis

[JWags85]

Sabelenka putting together a really interesting 3 year stretch.  In the majors since the start of 2023, she's never finished worse than the QF, has 3 SFs, and 6 Finals appearances.  You'll assume she probably keeps up at least a QF/SF as the defending champ at the US Open cause hard court is her preferred surface.  She's been incredibly dominant consistent and dominant.

But you could reasonably argue it's been disappointing cause she's only won 3 Majors in that time and, except for her 2 losses to Gauff, all her losses in the Majors have been to players outside the top 10 and usually outside the top 20.  Just a fascinating duality.

[Shaka Shart]

Sabelenka putting together a really interesting 3 year stretch.  In the majors since the start of 2023, she's never finished worse than the QF, has 3 SFs, and 6 Finals appearances.  You'll assume she probably keeps up at least a QF/SF as the defending champ at the US Open cause hard court is her preferred surface.  She's been incredibly dominant consistent and dominant.

But you could reasonably argue it's been disappointing cause she's only won 3 Majors in that time and, except for her 2 losses to Gauff, all her losses in the Majors have been to players outside the top 10 and usually outside the top 20.  Just a fascinating duality.

Head case

[MuggsyB]

Sabelenka putting together a really interesting 3 year stretch.  In the majors since the start of 2023, she's never finished worse than the QF, has 3 SFs, and 6 Finals appearances.  You'll assume she probably keeps up at least a QF/SF as the defending champ at the US Open cause hard court is her preferred surface.  She's been incredibly dominant consistent and dominant.

But you could reasonably argue it's been disappointing cause she's only won 3 Majors in that time and, except for her 2 losses to Gauff, all her losses in the Majors have been to players outside the top 10 and usually outside the top 20.  Just a fascinating duality.

I couldn't be happier for Anisimova.  And no, you're not "dominant" if you're 0-3 in the Grand Slams.  I know Sabalenka apologized for her ridiculousness at the French Open.  Great.  Perhaps now she might want to stop double grunting on forehand slice shots? 

[MuggsyB]

That Swiatek score  surprised me.  I guess she figured out how to play on the grass.   

[Uncle Rico]

I couldn't be happier for Anisimova.  And no, you're not "dominant" if you're 0-3 in the Grand Slams.  I know Sabalenka apologized for her ridiculousness at the French Open.  Great.  Perhaps now she might want to stop double grunting on forehand slice shots? 

I love when she grunts

[JWags85]

I couldn't be happier for Anisimova.  And no, you're not "dominant" if you're 0-3 in the Grand Slams.  I know Sabalenka apologized for her ridiculousness at the French Open.  Great.  Perhaps now she might want to stop double grunting on forehand slice shots? 

She's not 0-3 in the Grand Slams.  Shes 3-3 in Grand Slam Finals, literally won 2 in 2024.

[MuggsyB]

She's not 0-3 in the Grand Slams.  Shes 3-3 in Grand Slam Finals, literally won 2 in 2024.

0-3 this calendar season. 

[JWags85]

0-3 this calendar season. 

She's made 2 Finals and a SF.  Won 2 WTA 1000 tournaments and another WTA 500 tournament so far this year.  All while holding the #1 ranking for nearly a year straight.  That's dominant.

If she makes the final at the US Open, which isn't far fetched as she's made the last 2 finals and will be the 1 seed.  She'll have made 3 GS Finals in a year.  Serena only did that twice in her entire career.

[MuggsyB]

She's made 2 Finals and a SF.  Won 2 WTA 1000 tournaments and another WTA 500 tournament so far this year.  All while holding the #1 ranking for nearly a year straight.  That's dominant.

If she makes the final at the US Open, which isn't far fetched as she's made the last 2 finals and will be the 1 seed.  She'll have made 3 GS Finals in a year.  Serena only did that twice in her entire career.

How is not winning, dominant?  Serena has  23 Grand Slams.  I guess we'll agree to disagree. 

[MuggsyB]

The heat could be a big factor today.  Fritz has to go big imo.  Huge bombs on his 1st serve and tattooing Alcaraz' 2nd serves with venom.  It's going to take his A game and for Carlos to struggle with his B- game. 

Sinner/Djokovic is a tough call.  This is Novak's best opportunity to win another major.  He will unload his entire arsenal.  Can he dictate play vs Sinner or will he go to nore serve volley?    Will the heat impact him more or Jannik? Assuming both are full strength It's hard to think Sinner just has too much?  Maybe Novak goes to the slice more?  Sinner's movement on the grass is the only slight question mark. 

[JWags85]

I haven't played tennis regularly in 7-8 years, so I'm not as attuned to/inclined to notice gear as much as when I did.  But Fritz's Head Radical racket is sick.  Ive always been partial to Head rackets, but that orange frame POPS.

[Shaka Shart]

I haven't played tennis regularly in 7-8 years, so I'm not as attuned to/inclined to notice gear as much as when I did.  But Fritz's Head Radical racket is sick.  Ive always been partial to Head rackets, but that orange frame POPS.

It's a nice all around racquet. I've hit with it a couple times out of curiosity.

Fritz's head today however, not so nice

[Shaka Shart]

The three men left all grew up middle class to poor 🤬

[BM1090]

It's a nice all around racquet. I've hit with it a couple times out of curiosity.

Fritz's head today however, not so nice

A shame. He played really damn well and just made some bad decisions at key times. He could have won that match.

[JWags85]

A shame. He played really damn well and just made some bad decisions at key times. He could have won that match.

That's kind of his whole career, isn't it?  Another sort of puzzling player.  Top 5 in the world right now, rightfully.  Top 25 all time in career ATP earnings...but he's never really won ANYTHING.

He's been a high level (top 40ish) pro for 6 years now.  But he up until today, he had one other GS SF appearance (US Open final last year).  He only has 1 ATP 1000 win and 1 ATP 500, and neither are in the last 3 years.

Jack Draper for example, right behind him in the rankings, has a 1000 and 500 win in the last year.  Zverev, right in front of him, has 2 1000s and 2 500s in the last 2 years, plus 2 GS SF and 2 GS F.

Fritz has the goods but he just needs to figure out how to finish a tournament.

[Shaka Shart]

That's kind of his whole career, isn't it?  Another sort of puzzling player.  Top 5 in the world right now, rightfully.  Top 25 all time in career ATP earnings...but he's never really won ANYTHING.

He's been a high level (top 40ish) pro for 6 years now.  But he up until today, he had one other GS SF appearance (US Open final last year).  He only has 1 ATP 1000 win and 1 ATP 500, and neither are in the last 3 years.

Jack Draper for example, right behind him in the rankings, has a 1000 and 500 win in the last year.  Zverev, right in front of him, has 2 1000s and 2 500s in the last 2 years, plus 2 GS SF and 2 GS F.

Fritz has the goods but he just needs to figure out how to finish a tournament.

Yeah, honestly a lot of the American men suffer from the same issue. They're inexplicably horrific at closing out matches.

It's way harder than it looks of course but when you've trained that hard for that long it's very odd they all seem to suffer from the same brain lapses in big moments.

It was over a longer period of time but Shelton employed a pretty inexplicable strategy vs sinner which made absolutely no sense for the whole match. Maybe their coaching? I dunno

[MuggsyB]

A shame. He played really damn well and just made some bad decisions at key times. He could have won that match.

Disappointing to hear.  It sounds like Fritz should have won the 4th set and that Alcaraz wasn't in top form. 

[MuggsyB]

Yeah, honestly a lot of the American men suffer from the same issue. They're inexplicably horrific at closing out matches.

It's way harder than it looks of course but when you've trained that hard for that long it's very odd they all seem to suffer from the same brain lapses in big moments.

It was over a longer period of time but Shelton employed a pretty inexplicable strategy vs sinner which made absolutely no sense for the whole match. Maybe their coaching? I dunno

I think Fritz and Shelton are in much different spots in their careers.  But you're right, closing has been a problem.  Taylor's foot speed is nowhere near the very top players, nor are his volleys.  Shelton still has a very vulnerable backhand.  From my observations shot selection and strategy has also been a bit dumbfounding at times.  Shelton is the better athlete.  He has to improve his backhand.  As for Fritz?  He seems to have the game to get a major but can he improve at the net?  Because he's very reluctant to come in even when he controls points. 

[Shaka Shart]

In funnier news. Sure thing bud

https://bsky.app/profile/eoinhiggins.bsky.social/post/3ltpguebik226

[Shaka Shart]

In funnier news. Sure thing bud

https://bsky.app/profile/eoinhiggins.bsky.social/post/3ltpguebik226

They're playing at like 1/3 pace. Incredible

https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/comments/1lwhf57/bill_ackman_playing_at_newport_challenger/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[MUBurrow]

They're playing at like 1/3 pace. Incredible

https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/comments/1lwhf57/bill_ackman_playing_at_newport_challenger/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

It watches like a Make a Wish.

[MuggsyB]

Who ya got? Sinner or Alcaraz?  I hope I'm wrong but I sorta think Sinner is due.  And he's gotten a couple of huge breaks after being down 2 sets to Dimitrov, along with Novak not being at full strength today.  Anyway, we're lucky to get to see these two battle once again. 

[Billy Hoyle]

The three men left all grew up middle class to poor 🤬

And on the opposite end of the spectrum:

https://x.com/goodworkmb/status/1943715402204237950?t=Kywe4kTO4A5wlUzOaR37XA&s=19

[BM1090]

That's kind of his whole career, isn't it?  Another sort of puzzling player.  Top 5 in the world right now, rightfully.  Top 25 all time in career ATP earnings...but he's never really won ANYTHING.

He's been a high level (top 40ish) pro for 6 years now.  But he up until today, he had one other GS SF appearance (US Open final last year).  He only has 1 ATP 1000 win and 1 ATP 500, and neither are in the last 3 years.
Jack Draper for example, right behind him in the rankings, has a 1000 and 500 win in the last year.  Zverev, right in front of him, has 2 1000s and 2 500s in the last 2 years, plus 2 GS SF and 2 GS F.

Fritz has the goods but he just needs to figure out how to finish a tournament.

I mostly agree, but Fritz has really improved the last 1.5 years. I don't think it's a coincidence he's made two of the last four grand slam semis. And his finishes at the Australian and French last year were his best ever at those events.


He's a consistently great player now. He's just a solid step behind the top 2. And he obviously dominates Zverev.

I could make a pretty good case that he's the 3rd best player in the world right now.