Yes! I knew there was another but couldn’t put my finger on it. Mixed Doubles, Tennys/Volynets! What a time to be alive.
2023 Tennis
- Thread starter jon abbey
- Start date
Fitz: How did you do it?
Murray: I have a big heart.
Fitz (following applause dying down): Some would say you have a big everything!
Murray (following awkward laughter): I’m not sure my wife would agree.
Murray: I have a big heart.
Fitz (following applause dying down): Some would say you have a big everything!
Murray (following awkward laughter): I’m not sure my wife would agree.
Incredible. Hard not to root for the guy. Possibly worst timing of a player of his level.
Match point for those who couldn't see it:
View: https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/1616121561483825154?s=20&t=LPR2cSs4F2CxpIFIHhMfEw
View: https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/1616121561483825154?s=20&t=LPR2cSs4F2CxpIFIHhMfEw
I was at a Nadal match in Oz back in '07 for just as awkward a moment, when on court interviewer (either Mark Woodforde or Todd Woodbridge, but really is there a difference?) asked him:
"So Rafa, we all know you are right handed but Uncle Tony taught you to play tennis with your left hand. We all want to know, is there ANYTHING else you do with your left hand?"
Stunned, awkward silence throughout stadium...Rafa said," no."
Boy, that escalated
Murray has a greater tolerance for suffering than anyone on tour not named Rafael Nadal. And unlike Nadal, he will curse himself to the heavens the entire time, which adds to the entertainment.
I don't know how he's doing it at 35 either, but as long as he's not actually injured, he seems like he's still got what he needs between the ears to compete at a high level. Always liked the guy.
Sinner and Tsitsipas play each other next if they both win today, but Sinner got down two sets to Fucsovics quickly. He evidently matches up badly with Fucsovics, having lost 2 of 3 previously including 2021 WImbledon, but Sinner is trying to come back now, 6-1 in the 3rd and 2-2 in the 4th.
Sinner figured it out, 6-2 in the 4th and 5-0 and serving in the 5th.
This Tsitsipas serve is one of the funnier things you will ever see.
View: https://twitter.com/tedbuddy8/status/1616278336128569344
This Tsitsipas serve is one of the funnier things you will ever see.
View: https://twitter.com/tedbuddy8/status/1616278336128569344
I had no idea Jessica Pegula had had such a big 2022 that she's now seeded (and ranked) 3rd here at the AO. Everyone is light-years behind Swiatek in the rankings, but Pegula's 2022 included 3x GS quarterfinals and 2 tournament wins:
Madrid (May): Final, to Jabeur (8), +650
Rome (May): R16, to Sabalenka (3), +105
French Open: QF, to Swiatek (1), +430
Wimbledon: R3, to Martic (80), +130
DC (August): R16, to Saville (88), +30
Toronto (August): SF, to Halep (15), +350
Cincinnati (August): QF, to Garcia (35), +190
US Open: QF, to Swiatek (1), +430
San Diego (Oct): SF, to Swiatek (1), +185
Guadalajara (Oct): Champion, over Sakkari (4), +900
WTA Finals (Nov): 0-3 in RR, to Sabalenka (7), Sakkari (5) and Jabeur (2)
United Cup (Jan): 4-1 in team play; beat Swiatek, +500
That's a pretty consistent level of performance, good for 5000 ranking points and the #3 rank. The biggest knock on her might be that she's the daughter of the Buffalo Bills owners. If you think that's a tough thing to hold against her, just watch me!
...it also escaped me that Coco Gauff was the #1-ranked Doubles player for about a month in late summer last year; Pegula is, of course, her usual doubles partner, and they ended the year ranked #3 as a pairing.
Anyway, for American women, both Gauff (vs #17 Ostapenko) and Pegula (vs #20 Krejcikova) are favored to win their R16 matches, and qualifier Volynets has her R3 shot vs #23 Zhang tonight, at 9pm ET.
On the Men's side, Americans took some big Ls last night, including Nadal-killer McDonald (straight sets to #31 Yishikori) and of course #16 Tiafoe. Right now in the R16 we have #29 Korda (over #7 Medvedev, the big upset of the night) to face #10 Hurkaez on Saturday night, and tonight we have two domestic matchups for R16 spots: one between Wolf and Mmoh, and the other between the unranked Brooksby and Tommy Paul, where the winner will face the winner of Andy Murray - Bautista Agut. Ben Shelton will also face Aussie wildcard Popyrin, who took out Taylor Fritz in 5 sets the other night.
Madrid (May): Final, to Jabeur (8), +650
Rome (May): R16, to Sabalenka (3), +105
French Open: QF, to Swiatek (1), +430
Wimbledon: R3, to Martic (80), +130
DC (August): R16, to Saville (88), +30
Toronto (August): SF, to Halep (15), +350
Cincinnati (August): QF, to Garcia (35), +190
US Open: QF, to Swiatek (1), +430
San Diego (Oct): SF, to Swiatek (1), +185
Guadalajara (Oct): Champion, over Sakkari (4), +900
WTA Finals (Nov): 0-3 in RR, to Sabalenka (7), Sakkari (5) and Jabeur (2)
United Cup (Jan): 4-1 in team play; beat Swiatek, +500
That's a pretty consistent level of performance, good for 5000 ranking points and the #3 rank. The biggest knock on her might be that she's the daughter of the Buffalo Bills owners. If you think that's a tough thing to hold against her, just watch me!
...it also escaped me that Coco Gauff was the #1-ranked Doubles player for about a month in late summer last year; Pegula is, of course, her usual doubles partner, and they ended the year ranked #3 as a pairing.
Anyway, for American women, both Gauff (vs #17 Ostapenko) and Pegula (vs #20 Krejcikova) are favored to win their R16 matches, and qualifier Volynets has her R3 shot vs #23 Zhang tonight, at 9pm ET.
On the Men's side, Americans took some big Ls last night, including Nadal-killer McDonald (straight sets to #31 Yishikori) and of course #16 Tiafoe. Right now in the R16 we have #29 Korda (over #7 Medvedev, the big upset of the night) to face #10 Hurkaez on Saturday night, and tonight we have two domestic matchups for R16 spots: one between Wolf and Mmoh, and the other between the unranked Brooksby and Tommy Paul, where the winner will face the winner of Andy Murray - Bautista Agut. Ben Shelton will also face Aussie wildcard Popyrin, who took out Taylor Fritz in 5 sets the other night.
I am hoping for some American blood deep into this tournament with Korda, Shelton and Brooksby.
Right. At this point who can even challenge Djokovic (with the "any given sunday" caveat) outside I guess Tsitsipas? I dont think Rune is ready yet to do that in a best of 5...maybe Hurkacs or Rublev? But I think they'd both have to take the Soderling approach vs Nadal at the French when he upset him, aka go for broke as soon as a window opens slightly every point.
Rune is the second fave when I checked a little while ago, Tsitsipas and Sinner play each other next round. I think the only thing in between Djokovic and a 10th Aussie title (!!!!) is his health.
That shocks me at first glance. I guess given Tsits has to go through Sinner it makes some sense. But head to head I have to imagine Tsits would have better odds than Rune against Djokovic right? Rune has made it to the 2nd week of a slam once so far (should be many more in his future)
Medvedev and Fritz were #2 and #3 a few days ago, it's almost like a women's field behind Novak as to how open it is.
Sabalenka through easily, she looks awesome and is probably the favorite to come out of the bottom half of the draw.
if it ends up as a Swiatek/Sabalenka final they split three setters late last year, Swiatek winning in the semis at the US Open and Sabalenka winning in the semis of the WTA Finals in November, so anything's possible. Still hoping for Coco though!
if it ends up as a Swiatek/Sabalenka final they split three setters late last year, Swiatek winning in the semis at the US Open and Sabalenka winning in the semis of the WTA Finals in November, so anything's possible. Still hoping for Coco though!
Also you'll all be happy to know that my longtime irritation with John McEnroe's lazy announcing is now totally gone, because he was the entertaining narrator in Mindy Kaling's Never Have I Ever show which we watched all of recently, complete with crucial cameo and very occasional old tennis highlights.
It works, good show, so he is OK again with me now (I rooted very hard for him as a kid, loved the obnoxiousness combined with him being so damn good). So my quarterly complaints about him are done, phone it in from now on if you want, big John.
It works, good show, so he is OK again with me now (I rooted very hard for him as a kid, loved the obnoxiousness combined with him being so damn good). So my quarterly complaints about him are done, phone it in from now on if you want, big John.
17 year old Linda Fruhvirtova on to the 4th Round. Won 16 of the last 19 points down a break 2-3 in the 3rd. Linda has a winnable match in the 4th Round against Vekic. I expect her to win Slams within the next 5 years. Her 15 year old sister Brenda may be an even brighter prospect (made it through the qualifying).
That is impressive, but it should be noted that her three wins are against two qualifiers (#160 and #167) and today's opponent was #86, she was actually the higher ranked player in all three at #82.
Ugly day of tennis so far, the Fruhvirtova win is the only singles match out of 8 completed that wasn't a straight sets win.
Promising night session though, Djokovic, Murray and Caroline Garcia (#4 seed, highest seed left in the bottom half after Jabeur lost).
Promising night session though, Djokovic, Murray and Caroline Garcia (#4 seed, highest seed left in the bottom half after Jabeur lost).
Yes, the first two rounds were two tomato cans. Vondrousova isn’t a normal # 86 ranked player though. She was injured most of last year. Made a French final a few years ago, Olympic Silver medalist. Coming off a good win over Jabeur. The betting line had Vondrousova a little under -300.
Ben Shelton into the 4th round in just his second major ever. He will face American JJ Wolf another former college player for a spot in the QF. American Tommy Paul dumps fellow American Jenson Brooksby in straight sets and will face the Murray/Agut winner in the 4th round. Along with Korda on the top half those are the last 4 Americans standing on the men’s side.
Swiatek and Coco both drop their first set to former Slam winners. Have to think at least one of them rallies to win in 3 sets, but will both?
She sounds like she is vomiting on every serve, not sure I can watch her again. She did play incredibly though.
Pegula has to be happy with Swiatek and Coco out of her half of the draw.