Love, Balls and Courting: Tennis V

[peibeck]

What an epic battle for Townsend and Krejicokva. Surely the longest ladies match of the tournament at 3+ hours.

Barbora leads over Jess Pegula in head to heads, so I'm sure Jessica is happy that battle lasted so long.

 

[Fiero425]

What an epic battle for Townsend and Krejicokva. Surely the longest ladies match of the tournament at 3+ hours.

Barbora leads over Jess Pegula in head to heads, so I'm sure Jessica is happy that battle lasted so long.

Taylor blew it! I think she had 8 match pts. including many in that 2nd set TB! It was a long match; the TB 25 min. alone!

 

[skatingguy]

Taylor blew it! I think she had 8 match pts. including many in that 2nd set TB! It was a long match; the TB 25 min. alone!

To be fair Krejicikova hit winners on most of those match points including several line clippers.

 

[Fiero425]

To be fair Krejicikova hit winners on most of those match points including several line clippers.

Oh, ITA Krejicikova hit winners to steal this match! Townsend did have a couple chances to attack & played too passively at times! You can't hope a top player will donate the match at the end! If anything, they're more courageous to attack & take the match from you! In my day, the most defensive player around was Bjorn Borg! When threatened w/ a loss, down a set or 2, he attacked & won matches he might have lost if not for being aggressive! Taylor was aggressive to get her lead, but didn't attack a little bit more at the end to close it out! END RANT!

 

[peibeck]

Novak looked surprisingly sharp in his win tonight; he moved and served really well.

Sabalenka won as expected, but she needs to raise the level of her play to win this whole thing, I think. So many silly unforced errors.

 

[peibeck]

Another nice win for Felix A-A over Rublev today. He's playing so relaxed. Of course, Rublev was his normal headcase self.

Vondrousova had the most amazing reaction last night after her win over Rybakina. After two major surgeries in the last few years it's nice to see her healthy and returning to form.

 

[peibeck]

Oh dear, Gauff was a mess today, but nice to see Naomi Osaka smiling and playing well (despite a low first service percentage). Sadly this very anticipated match turned out to be disappointing.

Iga finally looked in prime form today in her win.

 

[peibeck]

You'd never know Bublik beat Sinner earlier this year based on this beat down.

 

[skatingguy]

You'd never know Bublik beat Sinner earlier this year based on this beat down.

Yes you would - that's the reason for the beat down.

 

[Rob]

Pegula looking really good.

 

[eusebius]

Aryna gets a walkover into the semis as Vondroušová is forced to withdraw due to injury. Poor Markéta has played so well this tournament and again her body lets her down

 

[skatingguy]

Yes you would - that's the reason for the beat down.

People are laughing about my response, but Sinner told Anna Wintour, and Rami Malek that it was 'time to revenge' after his practice yesterday.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/comments/1n65x7m/jannik_talking_to_anna_wintour_and_rami_malek

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

Novak wins!!! I was never his biggest fan, far prefer Rafa and Roger, but tennis is not the same for me anymore growing up with these legends along with Serena to see them all retiring and fading away. So I am beyond thrilled for Novak to win!!

I cannot stand (cheating) Sinner, same with Swiatek and am not really an Alcaraz fan just yet. My fandom in the younger generation is with the Canadians, so happy to see Novak progress and would LOVE to see a Novak-Félix USO final where I’d be happy with either outcome!!

 

[Fiero425]

Novak wins!!! I was never his biggest fan, far prefer Rafa and Roger, but tennis is not the same for me anymore growing up with these legends along with Serena to see them all retiring and fading away. So I am beyond thrilled for Novak to win!!

I cannot stand (cheating) Sinner, same with Swiatek and am not really an Alcaraz fan just yet. My fandom in the younger generation is with the Canadians, so happy to see Novak progress and would LOVE to see a Novak-Félix USO final where I’d be happy with either outcome!!

Very impressive by Novak! He's now made all 4 major Semi's! IIRC he's done it 9 times being the youngest in 2008 to being the oldest this season! Normally I'd try pushing people out, but like you, Fedalovic have been a staple for well over 20 yrs.! They owned the tour, taking turns being #1 w/ Djokovic winning out by taking 24 Majors, 40 Masters, 7 YEC's, 8 YE #1's, a triple CGS, a Double Golden Masters, & of course his Nole-Slam ('15 Wimb.-'16 FO)! - https://fiero4251.blogspot.com/2016/08/fan-page-novak-nole-djokovic.html -

 

[skatingguy]

Very impressive by Novak! He's now made all 4 major Semi's! IIRC he's done it 9 times being the youngest in 2008 to being the oldest this season! Normally I'd try pushing people out, but like you, Fedalovic have been a staple for well over 20 yrs.! They owned the tour, taking turns being #1 w/ Djokovic winning out by taking 24 Majors, 40 Masters, 7 YEC's, 8 YE #1's, a triple CGS, a Double Golden Masters, & of course his Nole-Slam ('15 Wimb.-'16 FO)! - https://fiero4251.blogspot.com/2016/08/fan-page-novak-nole-djokovic.html -

7-times (which is the record) - first in 2011 - he did not make all four semis in 2008 because he lost 2nd round of Wimbledon to Marat Safin (Safin having previously said that grass was for cows).

 

[vgerdes]

His interview with ESPN commentators about 45 minutes after the match made me think he may pull the plug after this season or do an announcement that 2026 will be his final year. He basically admitted his body and mind are at odds with being able to keep up with the younger guys for 7 straight matches in Slams. Which is understandable considering only two years ago he won 3 out of 4 of the majors and was the runner up of the 4th.

Regardless, at 38 (?) it's impressive he's made the semis of every slam so far this year.

I kind of feel like if he could somehow pull off the 25th slam title, he'd pull a Sampras and say "Nope, not gonna get better than this; I'm outta here!"

I halfway expected Novak to retire after winning the OGM. He's been fighting Father Time for a while now. If he wins the USO this year I have every expectation he'll ultimately decide to call it a career. He knows he has nothing left to prove to anyone except himself.

In all honesty, I haven't been a fan, but I do respect him. He's earned the right to be called the GOAT, though he will probably never be as well-loved as Federer or Nadal.

 

[Fiero425]

7-times (which is the record) - first in 2011 - he did not make all four semis in 2008 because he lost 2nd round of Wimbledon to Marat Safin (Safin having previously said that grass was for cows).

Thanks! I wasn't watching much back in 2008! It was the Fedal Show week in and week out! It got old & boring! I took for granted a graphic put up on ESPN saying Novak got to all 4 SF's in '08! I didn't check! Djokovic is who brought me back; esp. watching his run in 2011 defeating Nadal 6 straight times in Major & Masters' finals! Of course, it was 7 in a row w/ 2012 AO Final! Novak's the only player to have 2 runs of "7 victories" over Nadal!

 

[manhn]

Felix!!!!!

 

[eusebius]

Felix!!!!!

Now I’m trying to decide if I have it in me to watch Sinner-Musetti tonight

 

[caseyedwards]

Now that’s a revenge! Anisimova beats swiatek

 

[peibeck]

Because of work and travel yesterday I missed all of yesterday's events. The Djokovic/Fritz match looked great from the 7 minute long highlights reel I watched, and must have had a lot of close games as in the end Novak only won 2 more points overall than Taylor.

Felix remaining so calm and cool and finding a way to win. Uber respect!!! Hopefully he brings it to Sinner (whom I assume will take out Musetti tonight : but will be happy to be wrong!!!) In the meantime, if De Minaur needs comforting, I'm available.

After the Wimbledon double bagel, I am shocked by Anisimova taking out Swiatek, but... dare I say it... also delighted. I love Iga's movement around the court, but otherwise no matter how well she plays she is a bit of a cold fish to me.

 

[Rob]

Muchova played really well despite her leg injury. Osaka took advantage though.

 

[skatingguy]

Because of work and travel yesterday I missed all of yesterday's events. The Djokovic/Fritz match looked great from the 7 minute long highlights reel I watched, and must have had a lot of close games as in the end Novak only won 2 more points overall than Taylor.

The problem with this match was that anytime Fritz was in the match he played terribly - broken in his first service game, broke back for 5-all in the 2nd set, and double faulted twice in the next set, and then serving at 4-5 in the four set he hit 3 unforced errors in the first 4 points, and was eventually broken on a double fault to end the match.

 

[peibeck]

Muchova played really well despite her leg injury.

She has such an under-appreciated all court game. Her net play is sublime.

I didn't know until after the match that Osaka and Anisimova have only played twice against each other as seniors, with Osaka losing both times.

 

[Fiero425]

Muchova played really well despite her leg injury. Osaka took advantage though.

Osaka was just too tough! She looked like the Osaka of old running Muchova to death w/ pinpoint accuracy! It was a great win!

 

[peibeck]

The Sabalenka/Pegula semi was worthy of a final. Great high quality play.

 

[peibeck]

Could only stay up for the first two sets of the other ladies semi, but it was a nervy match with lots of momentum swings. Not my fave, but impressed that Anisimova has somehow put this impressive streak together after that Wimbledon ass kicking. Hopefully she carries that mental strength into the final and it isn't another lopsided ending for her. She's beaten Sabalenka before, so I'm just hoping for a fiesty match.

 

[peibeck]

Didn't get to see any of the semis today, but a bit disappointed that the expected results prevailed. At least Felix took a set of Sinner.

Apparently Sinner is nursing a minor injury, so that will make the final even more difficult for him.

Regardless, it will be nigh near impossible for these two to reach the thrill they produced at the French. It should be good, but that battle on the clay was beyond epic.

 

[Rob]

Felix really came alive, but he should have taken more advantage of Sinner being a bit injured. He didn’t run him around enough. He could dictate more shots/pace of play.

Good ladies final. Anisimova had her chances, but needed to control her power. I do like feisty players so I like Sabalenka, would have been happy with either one winning.

 

[eusebius]

Apparently Sinner is nursing a minor injury, so that will make the final even more difficult for him.

Regardless, it will be nigh near impossible for these two to reach the thrill they produced at the French. It should be good, but that battle on the clay was beyond epic.

@peibeck you nailed it. Sinner had a terrible day on serve and it was probably the very best he could do to win the second set. Not to take anything away from Carlitos who was in excellent form.