Topic: Tennis League All Thread - page 42. (Read 201763 times)

Yes I watched the match it was madness! Blinkova managed to save several (many) crazy match points. I feel she wanted to win more, she was more hungry. That was the reason she finally made it plus Rybakina wasn't having her best match of course. The tie break lasted about 37 mintes I guess, longer than some sets. 

Mirra Andreeva is another youngster capable of shocking the tennis world. She is absolutely awesome. She is going to meet a Frenchwoman Diane Parry in R3 and if you ask me she has good chances to progress further.

ah I was thinking any one of them could "eventually" meet him at some stage !!


Yea well I think we are on tha same page about AM, Roger was different, his success
was FAR FAR greater meaning bigger accolades and financial reward so they kind
of dont compare too well in that regard but I know what you are saying, Roger seems
to have realised when the time was up.

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In todays mens matches there was two tough days in the office for Medvedev and
Hurkacz, both had 5 set matches with tie breaks and in the case of Hurkacz against a
much lower ranked player.

Next round is obviously a step up,
Medvedev plays Felix AA and Hurkacz plays Humbert

That's what I was talking about and why I don't understand what the reason for him is to waste more of his health at such a young age. There is no wealth without health, literally. You got the tens of millions in the bank but can't play with your kids anymore.

I think Roger Federer was far more considerate about his decision although I understand that Roger was lucky enough to be able to play for so long, but at some point he knew that the prize he would pay for continuing to play would be higher than any money or fame he could gain from it. There is no point in becoming a loser first when you've already been a winner and then decide to leave the stage.

And the two have set a new record. So far, the match between Lesia Tsurenko and Ana Bogdan has been the longest tiebreak. That was 20:18 at Wimbledon in 2023  and now Rybakina and Blinkova have made it to 20:22. Sensational performance from Blinkova. The tiebreak lasted over 30 minutes.

There were generally a lot of match tie-breaks at the Australian Open. And now also a few surprises.
It seems that the young and wild ones are coming.

Absolutely insane thriller of a match between Rybakina vs Blinkova. the 3rd seed Rybakina was ousted by Blinkova in a nail biting 3rd set which went to tie breaker 20-22 points, while it is first to 11 to win(with a difference of 2 points).

Rune actually lost the match against Cazuax. That was really unexpected result for me. Not in a million years, I thought he was going to lose this match. he also lost the match pretty convincingly in my opinion. Especially when I think about the opponent that he got. For me this was definitely an accident. No I understand that accidents happen, maybe I am just overreacting. But you have to understand that this was really unexpected for me and that's why I am probably reacting like that.

FAA was able to win the match even though he did lose the second set. And I will say that he was able to win the match pretty comfortably in the end. His next match is on the 21st January.

Interesting match. The young and unexperienced players have nothing to lose and can only win. But as you wrote, it becomes more difficult for them the longer the match is. But
these are all experiences they have to make.

FAA also lost a set in the match between him and Grenier. But now it seems he is back on track and leads with 5:1 in set 3. But FAA is always good for a surprise.

Rune(8th seed) in trouble! Down 2 sets to French young Wildcard Arthur Cazaux. Rune is fighting back to win the 3rd as he currently has 2 set points while being up 5-4 and 40-15 up on Cazaux's serve.
Edit: Rune did break and took the 3rd set 6-4. So, the set score currently stands 2-1 in the favor of Cazaux. However, this could be the turn of the tide. It's much harder for unexperienced players to win matches in the long run as they are in unchartered territory of long matches, physically and mentally. Will update how it goes.

Alcaraz, Sinner and Zverev are in the other group than Djokovic. Only Medvedev could face him before the final. But ist seems that Zverev did not got the message. There was almost a surprise in his match against Klein (APT rank 163). He had to go over full five sets and only managed to win the match in a match tie-break. 7:5, 3:6, 6:4, 7:6 (7:5), 7:6 (10:7).
He had already ifficulties in his first match against the German player Koepfer. If he does not improve in his next match, he can fly back home.

Seeing Novak drop two sets in two matches was quite surprising as normally he would be perfect at the Australian Open, and the tie break in the third set was a momentum changer in the fourth set which he could have made a little easier.
Etcheverry is a good player but against top players he looks weak and this could be an easier match for Novak than the previous two.

Iga Swiatek vs Danielle Collins, Good match from Danielle Collins and Iga Swiatek, three hours match and the third set Swiatek was already 1-4 down but managed to handle the pressure well and finished the match 6-4 3-6 6-4, I think this will be a easy for Swiatek because Collins didn't perform well throughout last season, especially when the score was in Collins' favor, but things changed, and Swiatek is again a challenger for the title.

No I noticed that today about Djokovic, another set dropped and the 3rd set was a
tie break. It sends a message to the likes of Alcaraz, Medvedev, Sinner and Zverev that
Novak is potentially vulnerable ATM.


Well he cant be continuing to play for the money because other than sponsorships
he isnt getting much prize money, being on tour is probably costing him money.

I think he got the timing wrong because as a sportsman I believe during the prime time you earn a lot of money and when it comes to the final years of the career, you hope to still be earning a lot of money, but you should start valuing health more than money. Unless you have done a lot of things wrong with the money, why risk the entire future because of health problems that get only worse with every year these guys keep playing? I would stop immediately. The surgeries he had are surgeries that are supposed to preserve life quality and not to preserve the highest level in professional tennis in your mid 30s.

Perhaps he asks himself the same question?
I have already written it several times here in this thread. He is someone who can achieve a lot. But something seems to be blocking him and it seems no one has yet found the reason.

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Djokovic does nott seem to be in perfect form yet too. He also dropped a set against Popyrin. He said that he had a cold. But it also seems he is a bit unstable with his nerves. His next match is against Etcheverry

Totally agree as would many.

The good days are over for him and to look at him playing and losing you would say
he hates the game and is totally frustrated.


Those matches are tricky for all playing IMO.

Draper is playing very well ATM and could indeed trouble Paul who has not been in
his best form

Ruusuvuori can be a dangerous player and has taken down a few top seeds last year,
Medvedev though is seeded #3 but can be beaten especially when he has the wrong attitude.

Dimitrov v Kokkinakis promises to be a great match, Dimitrov is in brilliant form but we
all know the power of the Aussie spectators especially for their own players, I still think
Dimitrov could come out on top.

Here's a brief overview of R2 matches that look promising and fun:

ATP
Paul v Draper
Medvedev v Ruusuvuori  The Russian has been complaining a lot so far about everything (slow balls, heat, crowd etc)
Dimitrov v Kokkinakis  Dimitrov has been playing really well recently. He won a tournament in Brisbane this year, defeating Holger Rune in the final. Kokkinakis is playing in front of his home crowd, which makes him very dangerous for any opponent.
Fils v Griekspoor
Rublev v Eubanks  
Sonego v Alcaraz  Sonego looks much more impressive than the French veteran Gasquet, whom Carlitos defeated in R1.

WTA
Swiatek v Collins
Ostapenko v Tomljanovic Ostapenko has already won a title this year and she's back into TOP10 and hungry for more.
Tauson v Azarenka
Korneeva v Haddad Maia  The Brazilian had already been stunned last year by another Russian rising star Mirra Andreeva. 16yo Korneeva looked very solid in R1.  
Jabeur v Andreeva  Young Russian starlet has a great record against top players and she is capable of shocking Ons as well.
Fruhvirtova v Sabalenka Brenda is just 16 yo but very talented, still she has no chance against Aryna, who is playing her best tennis in Australia.
Badosa v Pavlyuchenkova  Badosa is back after several injuries and psychological issues/depression but Pavluychenkova has improved her tennis a lot lately.

Let's enjoy another round of quality GS tennis!

With two hip surgeries, it was thought murray would never be back to tennis but he came back after years leaving a significant presence. It would be wiser for him to take a break now.
Djokovic who too is 36 is still in great form and now has less and less competition. 

Now he is 36 years old with having good career behind him but sadly due to injury he was not able to achieve things which he deserves but still a good player with good spirit and sportsmanship in this game he was completely outclass by opponent just because of this he announces may be this is his last year in professional tennis which is good decision because after injury he has done good even not able to do anything good but still we can say he tries his best not for money but for his dedication for the game.

Wawrinka is also veteran he is also trying his best for the improvement but sadly now it's time for him to call up because things are going not favourable for him now.

TBH I like that chart and prediction and I think its accurate enough, its pretty much the
top seeds. We cannot discount the odd upset here or there.

We are realistically based on the chart looking at a Djokovic v Tsitsipas, Alcaraz v Zverev,
Sinner v Rublev/de Minaur and Medvedev Rune/Hurkacz quarter finals.

Those two matches in the Round16 draw are real competitive matches and hard to call winners
Rublev v de MInaur and Rune v Hurkacz.

Earlier today Bublik was beaten in straight sets by Nagal of India, thats a bit of an upset there
especially as I had him to win that.

Projected last 16, after 1st round. Djokovic has a favorable draw to make it to at least semis and potentially meat Sinner there. On the otherside, is it going to be Alcaraz vs Medvedev in the semis? Thinking way too ahead, I suppose.
Alcaraz got a mini heart attack early on when Gasquet was playing exceptionally well but Carlos stabilised fairly well and got things back on track, never looked back after the first set. In WTA, Rybakina holds on after being down 3 set points in the first set against Pliskova and somehow manages to turn it around. Took the match with ease after that.

Too bad that 2 ex grandslam winners are already out but Murray should have called it a day about 2 years ago. It must be for the love of the sport that he keeps on trying as money is no real issue for him. To be honest, I did expect that Murray would have won this match but winning a grand slam is not possible for him anymore.