Topic: Tennis League All Thread - page 294. (Read 202198 times)

Sportsbet are giving Kerber a +6.5 handicap against Swiatek @1.47 and giving
Fernandez +4.5 against Badosa @ 1.57. I've jumped on both with 0.01mBTC each
(I know they are massive wagers!)

I also have Swiatek to beat Kerber and I'm also aware now that I said a few weeks
ago I wouldnt be betting on the womens side again....

Draw looks really weird without all those seeded player. Took a look at the markets today and nothing really strikes me as good opportunity. Will probably take a pass on the games unless I win my early ticket and have some extra cash to throw away

My only bet if handicap on Martić +4.5 @1.6. I believe she will even win the match but decided to opt for more safe option here.

^
I believe Nadal is "making hay while the sun shines".

I said just before the AO when Djokovic was sent home that Nadal will be
driven to win that and claim the first 21st GS. He is still driven specially
when Djokovic remains absent from the majors.

If his for continues and he wins the French Open he will be on 22 GS's and closer
to the #1 spot ^{He's up to #4 as of 7/3/22}

I believe that Nadal is putting in lots of hard work to remain fit, and if he continues on this path then surely he can reclaim the number 1 spot. Lastly while I’m happy that he’s winning matches, but he’s winning them in Djokovic absence and had he been beating Djokovic for the trophies, then it would have been even more entertaining for the fans.

he could be number one before RG, and with winning RG it is almost secured, if he continues to play like this and win Indian Wells (with expected domination on clay surface)
and after RG he does not have any point to defend, so it will be easy to stay on top, if he gets no.1 until then, of course without any injuries in the meantime

this meltdown from Tsitsi, Medvedev and Zverev is building his position even more

Weirdly this means Medvedev actually loses the number one spot again, as he drops the points he had to defend, so falls back behind Djokovic. But I'm sure it won't be log before he's back... although latest news is that Djokovic will probably be allowed to compete at Roland Garros, which didn't previously look likely.

As for Nadal... he just keeps going, and you can't write him off. A phenomenal start to the year. Is there perhaps an outside chance he can take the number one spot by the end of the season? No points to defend at Wimbledon or US Open.

Zverev and Medvedev out, so glad I didn't back the latter (he put me off last GS) but man, Nadal must be licking his chops. My Tsitsi also out, so there goes my outright even earlier than expected. Wow.


If that's all that was said, well, then she really really needs some help, come back stronger, etc. Needs to work on that first before she ever comes back. But like we all agree here I think there is also an unspoken rule about not beating down on someone who can't take it. Eriksen getting hugged after fouling in football to me demonstrates this.

But yeah, good thing tennis because I was 9 playing football and I got a hell lot worse than that. And watching school and college sports too, it gets way out of hand especially with no good officiating.

I think she was already stressed that she wasn't performing up to her lofty standards and while already things not going her way and while suffering mentally, the insult just tipped the balance over. I'm sure she's heard a lot worse criticism on herself but its the situation where she's at and what she's going through made it a lot worse for her to breakdown.

Rafael Nadal is the favorite, but the matches he had was making my heart pound if you are placing a bet on his match, in the match against Sebastian Korda which i thought was an easy match, the second set was a wash and even the third set, i thought Sebastian Korda is going to win until Rafael Nadal pushed through and finally won the match. Even today the start was not that great and then he came back into that mode and won the match.

After Alexander Zverev lost, now came the turn to Medvedev to leave early, the two of them were one of the favorites to win the the title, now Nadal is the favorite to win it, but I somehow doubt it, he played a lot of tournaments on a high level back to back he could get exhausted after some time so I don't think he's going to be the champion of Indian wells, maybe we'll see a new young champion like Jannik Sinner.

^
😯 cant believe Kyrgios said that to Warwinka, its player to player though and after
the match at the net ^{My wife has confirmed that !}.

It was indeed quite a timid heckle but it was the timing, Naomi just after losing her first game and while Kudermetova was seconds away from serve this woman shouted out the abuse while the arena was so quiet.

I'll bet Kyrgios would condone what happened.

---

Just watched Monfils despatch Medvedev in 3 sets. Medvedev out!

Am I crazy here or all that was said was "Naomi, you suck"? I mean I get that Osaka has problems and that it was wrong thing to do but it is very mild insult at worst and I heard plenty worse from players themselves and supporters during the years. Not gonna list them here, but all sort of curse words plus threats and threats even to the family. You suck is junior school insult and that is something she must be able to cope with. I even remember one players offering their racquet to the offender in public with smile on their face and invitation that they try and do better.

Kyrgios said to Wawrinka that Kokinakkis fucked his girlfriend during the match just for good measure. Williams sisters boycotted Indian Wells and that is their home country so that tells you something about the crowd there.

Again, I know it is mental problem and I can't even think how it must be tough for her but I can guarantee that all players heard worse during their careers. Good thing she is in tennis, every time I play or watch lower league football I learn new curses

It was a woman who heckled Osaka, She or people she is connected to probably
had a massive wager on Kudermetova to win! I agree that Osaka and all players
should be able to deal with something like this but I dont think this happens all
that often in professional Tennis

Maybe I wrote it a bit wrong with one tournament wonder. I meant it more in a way that it is unrealistic to expect her to play like that every week. She is a big hitter and almost all big hitters are very form dependent. When everything is going their way they are unplayable and when those same balls start to go out, unforced errors get a bit out of hand. She does look strong mentally and that is maybe most important, especially on WTA.

Did not watch her enough since she is very young and it is too early to tell but so far I am thinking maybe she is a player for big stages sort of like Wawrinka. Prone to loosing against weaker opponents in early rounds, especially in smaller tournaments, but when they get to later stages of the grand slam nobody can be called favorite against them.

I also believe she is top 10 for sure but probably not this year. Still a lot to learn, mostly how to grind out a win on bad days.

@Trofo
Yeah, actually I just put Petra's game tomorrow on an acca with Tsitsi to get 2 legs up on Champions League football. Don't know much about her but I picked the best-looking 2/1 player after what should be a morale-boosting victory to get the better of Samsonova (and she's beaten her not too long ago).

@Cnut237
She's too young, I think, yeah, physically as well and that's not at all a criticism from me, just a matter of physics. Really important consideration for the rigours of a tournament, match fitness and conditioning hasn't quite had the time to set in. I know I say it without any real basis but I really do think her fantasy run was fantastical and sporting miracle that I doubt we'll see again soon. I always say there's a need to protect young talents and realign expectations. For the future this one, but it must be great times to be watching British Sports.

I expected her to drop out early, yes. She has been struggling since the US Open. I would not recommend betting on her to win matches at the moment.


I'd disagree with this, though. People forget that the US Open wasn't her first ever slam, it was actually her second. Her first slam was Wimbledon a couple of months earlier... in which she reached the last 16, and retired (rather than being beaten). That in itself was quite an extraordinary performance, it's just that the US Open eclipsed it so it's not really remembered. I may be biased being British myself, but she has been on the radar as the next big thing for quite some time now, and her breakthrough was more a question of when, than if.

I think her struggles since the US are certainly partly the weight of expectation, but also partly due to getting used to the rigours of the tour. Remember, due to lockdowns and restrictions on international travel, she hasn't really been seasoned in the lower-tier circuit before breaking through at the top level... she's new to professional tennis.

Her struggles in 2022 are I think partly the aftermath of her catching Covid over Christmas, and then maybe her trying too hard, rather than not hard enough. A couple of times this year she's come back earlier than expected, and indeed she was advised not to play Indian Wells. Also some of the problems such as the blistering that forced her out of the AO may be due to over-practice (although I'm speculating on that).

Mentally she seems very grounded, and she certainly has the game to be at the top. She went through 10 matches (including qualifying) to win a slam without dropping a set, and that doesn't happen by accident.
But it will take time for her to get used to the tour, and that includes when to play and when not to. I certainly think that once she gets settled, she should be a solid top 10 player. Again, for me, it's when, not if.

Actually yes but I did not play it. To be fair I expected a though match but was not sure who will go through. Petra Martić is very versatile player. She has all the shots and mixes them sevaral times in any point. That is something that leaves a lot of players in problems how to respond. Her problem is blackouts throughout the match. Check yesterday match and you will see that Martic was better player and then she will loose 2 games in a row without winning a point.

Raducanu is one tournament wonder for me and she will have to work hard to get constant reaults.

Professional sports can be ruthless, and at the top level opponents will look for any way to beat you, any chink in your armour. Unfortunately for Osaka, her opponents will always know that she can be destabilised mentally, and I would not be at all surprised if some of them started to exploit this and try to work it to their advantage. Osaka is hugely talented, and the work she is doing highlighting mental health is really important... but the downside is that she is easier to beat.

It seems to me that Raducanu still doesn't have enough stability in her game and does not know how to cope with the pressure of high expectations after winning the GS last year.
She also changed the coach with whom she achieved the greatest success in life and after that she is not able to repeat that result.
Maybe she needs psychological support as well.

As for Osaka, judging by her statements and reactions, she is a very emotional and vulnerable girl, who is having a hard time coping with a lot of public pressure.
If she fails to overcome this, perhaps with some professional help, I don’t see her being able to return to the top of women’s tennis.

Thanks, @2.34 I will take that win anytime of the day. I didn't watch the match though, time difference, but I'm glad that I won my bet.

Zverev and Carreno-Busta is out, both are favorites to win their respective match, tough lost for both of them as the match was extended to a 3rd set and in a time break.