Official Tennis Thread

ChickenStu · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 2:36 am Post subject:

Djokovic said at his post-match presser that he knew he wasn't playing at his best pretty much all tournament. He mentioned that he felt good playing against Mannarino but other than that, he said he wasn't up to his usual standards.

Meanwhile, Zverev is up 2 sets to none against Medvedev, who is just playing defensive and allowing Zverev to take court positioning from him. Zverev has had some nervy moments -- he was up a double break in the 1st and he lost that lead before winning the set anyway -- but this match is entirely on his racket. If he doesn't physically fall apart, he should win this match.

ChickenStu · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 4:31 am Post subject:

Going to a 5th set now. Both the 3rd and 4th sets went to tiebreaks, and in both of them, Zverev faltered late. Was just up 5-4 in the 4th set breaker with 2 serves coming, and he lost both points, then the next one. Medvedev has changed up his court positioning on the return of serve, not as far behind the baseline, and he's coming to net a bit more (17 out of 20 net points won in the 3rd and 4th sets), and it's given him a chance. Still, Zverev should have won at least one of those 2 tiebreaks.

ChickenStu · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 4:59 am Post subject:

Zverev is melting down. He's down 3-4 after he just held, but he's down a break and the two games he lost from 2-2 were total chokejobs. Missing countless sitters and easy balls. I've watched this whole match and this is like torture. And I don't even have a rooting interest. Zverev absolutely should have won this match and Medvedev is 2 holds away from a most improbable win.

Medvedev won. Really was a meltdown from Zverev. And we've certainly seen that before.

focus · Star Player Joined: 23 May 2012 Posts: 2526

focus · Star Player Joined: 23 May 2012 Posts: 2526

focus · Star Player Joined: 23 May 2012 Posts: 2526

Lastly, also interested in women's final. Hope both play well, but I expect a Sabalenka convincing win.

LongBeachPoly · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 16167

Looks like the next wave is going to be:

focus · Star Player Joined: 23 May 2012 Posts: 2526

LongBeachPoly · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 16167

ChickenStu · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 1:59 pm Post subject:

focus · Star Player Joined: 23 May 2012 Posts: 2526

LongBeachPoly · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 16167

LongBeachPoly · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 16167

ChickenStu · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 4:37 pm Post subject:

LongBeachPoly · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 16167

^

Yup. His edge is slipping that's for sure. Before, he could actually win a grand slam without his A game. Now, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Yesterday definitely wasn't his A game and the match was not close. He never broke Sinner.

Come to think of it, I don't think he ever had even a break point.

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Sabelinka smashed but Zheng is really pretty.
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jodeke · Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 1:31 pm Post subject:

The matches are on too early for me. Coco may be overrated.
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ChickenStu · Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 5:17 pm Post subject:

ChickenStu · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2024 1:41 am Post subject:

Medvedev is ON FIRE. He's come out and stood near the baseline while returning, something he almost never does. He's taking much more initiative during rallies, yet he's not coming close to redlining. He's serving incredible. Sinner is having to do everything he can just to stay in his service games so far. He looks surprised by Medvedev's tactics and his play. Sinner just saved a few break points to get even at 1-1 in the second set, down a set. If Medvedev keeps this up, he'll win this match. But can he? Is there enough in the tank? This is as well as I've seen him play.

ChickenStu · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2024 2:17 am Post subject:

Medvedev won the second set 6-3 and is up 2 sets to none. He did have a nervous final service game to hold for the set, and Sinner even had a break point to get it back on serve, but he held steady and then closed out the game. Medvedev is really taking it to him in this match. He's hitting much harder tonight and Sinner is hitting slower and serving slower, too. It's like Sinner has been unnerved by Medvedev's different tactics tonight. He has to start doing something different or this match will be over in the next 45-55 minutes or so.

ChickenStu · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2024 2:59 am Post subject:

Well, well, well! Medvedev's level started to drop midway through the third set, his first serve percentage dropped, and Sinner started timing the ball better in rallies. He broke Medvedev at 5-4 to take the set 6-4. He did look like the better player in the latter part of that third set. We play on. Only took 2 hours and 10 minutes to play 3 sets though, so it's not like this has been a physical war out there. Still, you do have to wonder about the fuel in Medvedev's tank if this goes another hour or two.

ChickenStu · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2024 3:57 am Post subject:

The fourth set was an exact replay of the third set. Medvedev got broken at 4-5 and we're in a fifth and final set! And Sinner is -275 to win on the live betting odds. Sinner is the fresher and better player right now. Doesn't mean he will win, but he is looking like the better horse right now.

focus · Star Player Joined: 23 May 2012 Posts: 2526

ChickenStu, was Medvedev peak level in the first two sets? Have not seen it yet. From the score, it went slightly aligned with what I thought might happen but I have not seen it yet except for parts of last two and the speeches. I thought Sinner would win. I thought he would have some initial nerves but was not sure how thoroughly it might affect his play. I thought Medvedev would want to do everything possible to win early part because of tiredness from long hours in earlier matches. It's surprising that he did a full comeback down two sets to me though, rather than split first two and lose the third, then comeback.
Sinner is a brick by brick built young player. I wondered a couple of years ago why he was not quite breaking through in big matches even against the likes of Rublev until I saw that Alcaraz Sinner US Open classic, the match of that year. Then it was like we're waiting...Alcaraz is here, Djokovic still here, Medvedev craftily circling around (even got a clay 1000), cmon Jannik join the party. And now, here he is. Not just hard court, got to semi of Wimbledon, lost in tough sets to Djokovic (wouldn't know who to pick now with that serve of his, and experience now. And of course owning Djokovic the last few months). And Sinner got to qf of French four years ago when he was 18 or 19 and I always thought his game and body was wellsuited to that surface. Coaching team deserves a lot of praise too.

This could be a most interesting season for the men, perhaps a season of change. I saw Djokovic said some things about the great sacrifice of missing his kids growing up, his daughter losing his first tooth, and how he said something about how he hopes he gets a chance to come back to Australia. That sounds like retirement thoughts creeping in, and wondering if family time that doesn't come back is worth it after all the Slams and already becoming the GOAT. Lebron has playing with his son out there as a motivating goal. Not the case for Djoker.

Then I still believe Alcaraz is the one who will come out with the best career of the postDjokovic era. It might be like a Sampras to Agassi thing with Alcaraz being considered the best, but Sinner becoming legend too and taking things away from Alcaraz. I believe both of these two, at least, will with health become legends themselves. They have the mind, game, experience, talent of course, stamina, coaching, poise, fans, and the future ahead.

ChickenStu · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2024 1:27 pm Post subject:

^
Medvedev was sensational for the first 2 sets. He would have won in straights if he had kept up that level, even though Sinner did work his way into the match. Medvedev's tank finally started to empty in the middle of the third set. He was still running well, but the explosive movement was compromised, and when that happens, it also affects your ability to hit winners and get control of points. To his credit, Medvedev was fighting hard for every point and it's not like he lost because he got down on himself. It just looked like the long hours he had spent on the court finally caught up to him. And Sinner really was solid over the final 3 sets.