Tennis

[MuggsyB]

I know he's not talked about much anymore as being among the goats, and he's way before my time, but what Borg did is truly remarkable.  It's not something people really discuss much but the grass courts played way faster in the 70's and 80's.  And actually the clay courts generally played significantly slower. 

So to win 6 French Opens and 5 Wimbledons, 3 consecutively, in that era, under drastically different court conditions, is beyond impressive.  And much, much, more difficult than it is today based on the changes in court speed.  You had to serve and volley quite a bit to win Wimbledon back in those days and Borg had this in his game.  When considering the all-time greats he still has to be up there imo. 

[MuggsyB]

Zverev just tossed his racket!  Even big guys can get rattled. 

[Shaka Shart]

I hope Zverev doesn't sleep for weeks

[MU82]

Zverev's mental weakness came out at the worst time for him. Sinner knew how to take advantage of it.

The match's penultimate point was one for the ages.

[Shaka Shart]

Zverev's mental weakness came out at the worst time for him. Sinner knew how to take advantage of it.

The match's penultimate point was one for the ages.

He's a known choker after all

[MU82]

Forgot to mention after the women's championship match how impressed I was with Muchova's composure, sportsmanship and humor after losing to Noskova.

First, she delivered the best line I heard in any post-match interview all tournament.

After wiping away tears of disappointment with the loss, she composed herself and said: "It's really tough to find any words, but I'll start with Linda. My ex-friend."

Her inflection and delivery were perfect, and the crowd responded with laughter and applause.

She followed up with: "I'm kidding ... obviously ... Kind of." More laughter. Then: "You're so young. This was your first final of a Slam. The way you handled it and how you played were really unbelievable. Beyond all this, you're a very kind person and human being."

Incredibly classy, especially given how devastated she must have been.

[MuggsyB]

Muchova is a class act. 

We desperately need Alcaraz back on the men's tour. 

[MU82]

There are reports that Alcaraz is nearly physically ready to play again, and that he is targeting the U.S. Open. He might be able to play in the Cincinnati tournament as a prep to the Open.

Edit to add a factoid I just read on Yahoo Sports:

One of Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer has won 78 of the 92 major titles - 85% - since a 21-year-old Federer won Wimbledon in 2003.

[BM1090]

There are reports that Alcaraz is nearly physically ready to play again, and that he is targeting the U.S. Open. He might be able to play in the Cincinnati tournament as a prep to the Open.

Edit to add a factoid I just read on Yahoo Sports:

One of Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer has won 78 of the 92 major titles - 85% - since a 21-year-old Federer won Wimbledon in 2003.

Yeah, pretty insane. Wawrinka and Murray, two guys who would have probably had more in other eras, won six of the remaining 14.

Sometimes I have to remind myself of the greatness of those two to become 3x major winners in this era. Nobody else has won multiple majors since Fed won his first.

[MuggsyB]

Yeah, pretty insane. Wawrinka and Murray, two guys who would have probably had more in other eras, won six of the remaining 14.

Sometimes I have to remind myself of the greatness of those two to become 3x major winners in this era. Nobody else has won multiple majors since Fed won his first.

Delpo probably would have won a few more if not for his injuries. 

[MU82]

Delpo probably would have won a few more if not for his injuries. 

Unprovable, so I'm going with "Doubtful."

[MuggsyB]

Unprovable, so I'm going with "Doubtful."

Delpo when healthy had a ton of game.  Tremendous velocity and power on his forehand.  He was a better Zverev.  Unfortunately his wrist was a constant problem but he had a number of big matches when he overpowered Fed & Nadal.     

[MU82]

Delpo when healthy had a ton of game.  Tremendous velocity and power on his forehand.  He was a better Zverev.  Unfortunately his wrist was a constant problem but he had a number of big matches when he overpowered Fed & Nadal.     

A lot of guys had a ton of game. Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi both had a ton of game, but they couldn't win squat after the Big Three got going. Taylor Fritz has a ton of game, but he couldn't beat the Big Three, and now he can't beat the Big Two.

Could del Potro have won another slam or two? Maybe, maybe not. To state something as "probable" when there is no way to prove it is just silly.

[The Sultan]

A lot of guys had a ton of game. Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi both had a ton of game, but they couldn't win squat after the Big Three got going. Taylor Fritz has a ton of game, but he couldn't beat the Big Three, and now he can't beat the Big Two.

Could del Potro have won another slam or two? Maybe, maybe not. To state something as "probable" when there is no way to prove it is just silly.

I'll give you Rodick, but Agassi is hardly a contemporary of those guys.

He's 12, 16 and 17 years older than Federer, Nadal and Djokavic respectively. Expecting that he was going to win a bunch more after they came on the scene is unrealistic.

[MU82]

I'll give you Rodick, but Agassi is hardly a contemporary of those guys.

He's 12, 16 and 17 years older than Federer, Nadal and Djokavic respectively. Expecting that he was going to win a bunch more after they came on the scene is unrealistic.

I only included Agassi because he won the 2003 Aussie Open just 6 months before Federer won his first major, but I hear what you're saying. Unlike Roddick, he definitely was at the end when the others were just getting started.

[MuggsyB]

A lot of guys had a ton of game. Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi both had a ton of game, but they couldn't win squat after the Big Three got going. Taylor Fritz has a ton of game, but he couldn't beat the Big Three, and now he can't beat the Big Two.

Could del Potro have won another slam or two? Maybe, maybe not. To state something as "probable" when there is no way to prove it is just silly.

I think you're comparing apples to oranges.  Delpo had the 2nd best record vs the Big 3 behind Murray. He had fewer majors than Wawrinka but was a better player when healthy.  Roddick and Agassi were past their primes vs the B3.  Delpo is often forgotten because of his injuries. 

[MU82]

I think you're comparing apples to oranges.  Delpo had the 2nd best record vs the Big 3 behind Murray. He had fewer majors than Wawrinka but was a better player when healthy.  Roddick and Agassi were past their primes vs the B3.  Delpo is often forgotten because of his injuries. 

I've already forgotten him, and this silly discussion.

[MuggsyB]

I've already forgotten him, and this silly discussion.

It's not silly and the truth is the vast majority of top current, former tennis players, commentators, and aficionados believe very strongly that Delpo would have likely won multiple majors.  You're way off here. 

[Shaka Shart]

It's not silly and the truth is the vast majority of top current, former tennis players, commentators, and aficionados believe very strongly that Delpo would have likely won multiple majors.  You're way off here. 

Who?

[MuggsyB]

Who?

Many people have discussed this in depth.  I recall Rafa's Uncle Toni state Delpo would have had a similar career to Murray.  Pretty much all the former top players in his era believe he would have cashed in a few more times.  Among commentators Courier, Mats Wilander, McEnroe, etc, etc, all thought Delpo would have won more.  The guy in like 2009 or 2010 was #3 in the world and he wound up winning 20 plus tournaments in an injury plagued career.   Universally, those who know the sport of tennis, agree with me 100%.  Stating he probably or likely would have won a few more majors is neither controversial or inaccurate. 

[MU82]

Silliness.

[BM1090]

Can't know because it obviously didn't happen, and injuries did derail his career. But I don't think Muggsy is far off here. He won a major at 20, managed to make another major final at 29, he's still only 37. I don't think it's crazy to say he would have won a few more.

[Shaka Shart]

Many people have discussed this in depth.  I recall Rafa's Uncle Toni state Delpo would have had a similar career to Murray.  Pretty much all the former top players in his era believe he would have cashed in a few more times.  Among commentators Courier, Mats Wilander, McEnroe, etc, etc, all thought Delpo would have won more.  The guy in like 2009 or 2010 was #3 in the world and he wound up winning 20 plus tournaments in an injury plagued career.   Universally, those who know the sport of tennis, agree with me 100%.  Stating he probably or likely would have won a few more majors is neither controversial or inaccurate. 

I think you used AI and it hallucinated

[MuggsyB]

I think you used AI and it hallucinated

Nope.

[Shaka Shart]

Nope.

I disagree