Tennis Thread

[BlackberryJam]

Kenin's waist sits up higher than Barty's or Kenin just likes the waistband higher. She just had it pulled up to make it high waisted, which exposed more of her spankies.

Edited January 30, 2020 by BlackberryJam

[Ohwell]

37 minutes ago, BlackberryJam said:

Kenin's waist sits up higher than Barty's or Kenin just likes the waistband higher. She just had it pulled up to make it high waisted, which exposed more of her spankies.

Yeah, I noticed in her interview that she kept adjusting the waistband upwards.  It's like she wants the skirt to be as short as possible.  

This tournament was the first time I'd seen her and she gives off weird vibes, I can't explain why.  It's not that I think she comes off as a bitch, but just...strange.  So I can't warm up to her yet.

[khyber]

I'm happy to see Garbine playing well again and I'm looking forward to the final. I don't understand the issues some have with Kenin, she seems fine to me. For the men, anyone but Djoker. 

[Harry24]

I think Kenin is amusingly odd.  But I can't warm to her yet.  I just feel a bit sorry for her.  She is so effing impressive as a competitor, though.

That said, I'm totally for Garbine.  She's so much fun to watch when she's playing well.

I'm actually very proud of Fed for standing up as well as he did to Djoker, being that Djoker is 1) the best player in the world; 2) on his favorite court, which is now slower than when Fed won his last two titles there; 3) and is super on form.

Roger was not only injured but hadn't been on form at all.  Yet he still played better than I was expecting and put up a decent fight.  I wish he had been able to win that first set, though.

I think Thiem might be able to give Djoker a tough fight.  Not so sure about Zverev.

Edited January 31, 2020 by Harry24

[Spunkygal]

Ok, Dominic, you have one job. We are counting on you! Stay strong, stay focused and don’t get in your head too much. 

[BlackberryJam]

I just can't stand Djokovic. He's so needy and UGH.

[TVbitch]

I am going to be rooting hard for Frosty! He is fighting so hard and coming up with the goods. He has earned it. Having said that, it will kind of take of miracle to beat Dj. 

Speaking of Thiem. What is up with his bloomers? He has some kind of under shorts thing on that makes his shorts bunch up like an adult diaper. And I thought his dad was his slightly older brother!  

Glad to see Zv not crumble. He is gonna be SO MAD at that blown call that would have made is 4-4 in the last tie break. 

Hope Kenin is back to full strength for the final. 

[Spunkygal]

2 minutes ago, TVbitch said:

I am going to be rooting hard for Frosty! He is fighting so hard and coming up with the goods. He has earned it. Having said that, it will kind of take of miracle to beat Dj. 

Speaking of Thiem. What is up with his bloomers? He has some kind of under shorts thing on that makes his shorts bunch up like an adult diaper. And I thought his dad was his slightly older brother!  

Glad to see Zv not crumble. He is gonna be SO MAD at that blown call that would have made is 4-4 in the last tie break. 

Hope Kenin is back to full strength for the final. 

Hey, if he beats Joker, I am fine if he frosts every hair on his body! 😂 Sadly, Joker is in fine form and feeds off the crowd rooting for his opponent, so it will be a battle. Are we all watching live on Sunday morning? I sure am! 

[TVbitch]

Maybe the Duran Duran hair has brought him good luck, but I hope it's a phase. Maybe it is an omage to Agassi! I have to go to bed at 10PM for my sleep hygiene program, but I will watch the replay on ESPN's website as soon as I get up! I make sure I am never spoiled on results.  

[Harry24]

Anyone up watching the final?  It's a great match so far.  There are some nerves, but they're both playing really well, firing away in a lot of great rallies.  

Psyched that Mugu took the first set, but she has to keep up the pressure.  Kenin is NOT going to give in.

**********

Give Chris Evert credit.  She made note in the first set that Muguruza's play had been so poor last year that she only played nine matches in the last six months or so, and so might be physically wearing down.  And, sure enough, Garbine's just not moving as well, and her serve is much weaker.  It's looking like Kenin's going to take it.

Edited February 1, 2020 by Harry24

[SuburbanHangSuite]

I watched.  And ended up being angry that I woke up 3:30 for that.  

[theatremouse]

Ooph. Kenin had some amazing winners, but I feel bad for GM losing on a double fault...hell, she lost the whole final set because of double-faults. Still, if she wasn't moving well it made sense she started going for more aces.

I still think she might win the French this year though. She's better on clay than hard courts anyway.

[Spunkygal]

C’mon Frosted Flake! Hang on for one more set! And stop with the double faults please! 
 

Edited...well, crap, a fifth set! 

Edited February 2, 2020 by Spunkygal

[Harry24]

Ugh.

[Pallas]

On 1/29/2020 at 11:23 PM, BlackberryJam said:

She’s like an angry tennis bot, or maybe Justine Henin.

Henin: that's a great analogy. To me, on court, Kenin looks like someone with a chip on her shoulder against the world, which in the context of a match comes across as a chip on her shoulder against the spectators, and us. The Djokovic Problem. (Of course Djokovoc sometimes did direct his grudge at the stands --  "Time now, I think, to take on the night crowd at the U.S. Open...") And like the younger Djokovic, Kenin has a father/coach who cheers like a football fan for the visiting team, and whose reactions are intercut with his daughter's play.

[truthaboutluv]

Much like the women's final, the minute Thiem blew that fourth set, I went back to bed because I knew how this was going to go. 

[Ohwell]

Dammit.

[TVbitch]

Dammit Frosty, you were so close!!!! I know you were worn out, but why didn't you start sucking down some snacks and magic juice like Dj was doing. Whatever the fuck that was, where can I buy it! I wonder what was going on with him. For a moment I thought he might quit like in olden days! 

Glad Kenin won, but yeah, she is a bit extra. Can't wait to see her play Serena in a grand slam final. That's gonna be some DRAMA. At least she is not totally emotionless like Dj.  

[truthaboutluv]

9 minutes ago, TVbitch said:

I wonder what was going on with him.

Apparently in his post-match press, he said he was dehydrated. 

[TVbitch]

That's weird. I find it hard to believe an elite athlete such as Dj, who has played many grueling 5 set matches, would not be fully hydrated before a grand slam final. 

[dcalley]

On 1/28/2020 at 6:00 PM, TVbitch said:

Kurious was well-behaved with no shennanigans and no displays of questionable mental health. I hope he can keep it up.

He's still under probation, until sometime in March. Hopefully he's going to be permanently helped by the experience.

espn.com

Quote

The sanctions will be applied only if he commits similar acts of bad behavior in the next six months. He must also agree to receive continued support from a "mental coach" while competing at events and getting additional help in the offseason from a specialist in behavioral management.

The conditions that Kyrgios must observe over the six-month period include no further code violations that result in a fine for verbal or physical abuse of officials, spectators or any other persons on court or on site, and no unsportsmanlike conduct directed toward an official, spectator or anyone else present during or after a match.

 

[Sew Sumi]

So smashing his racket is still okay, because I saw one casualty in the Nadal match.

[Spunkygal]

I’m kind of digging the black court at the New York Open...it’s so chic!

[Spunkygal]

Roger had knee surgery yesterday. Hopes to return in June.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer-right-knee-surgery-announcement

[CouchTater]

Does anyone have an idea of how the Tennis Channel decides to show a match (ATP vs. WTA)?  Often highly ranked women are playing in competitive matches, but they'll be showing some low-ranked men's match.  A few minutes ago I turned to the channel, and theywere  showing the first set of a Kolschreiber v. Safwat (??) match, while Sakkari and Goerges were playing, as were Martic v. Strycova, Kontaveit v. Sevastova, Zheng v. Vondrousova.

Granted, after Kolschreiber's first set they switched to a ladies match.  But why the Kolschreiber match at all, with all those quality, higher-ranked  WTA matches going on?

I often wonder about that because it happens fairly often.  And truth be told, it offends me a bit as a women.  Ugh.

Edited February 24, 2020 by CouchTater

[Ohwell]

I just read that Sharapova retired.

I'll be interesting next year to see if Serena and Venus will do the same.

Edited February 26, 2020 by Ohwell

[theatremouse]

Serena's not going to retire until she breaks the record or injuries make it impossible for her continue, whichever happens first. Her personality won't let her.

I don't know why I'm surprised, but I am annoyed the broadcasters are still referring to Sharapova positively or as a future hall of famer. Someone who was ever suspended for doping should not even be under consideration.

[Ohwell]

I watched High Noon on ESPN  today and they mainly talked about her getting her butt kicked over and over and over by Serena, and her suspension.  No mention of her being a future hall of famer.  

[theatremouse]

It was tennis channel giving her the tongue bath, not ESPN.

[roseha]

I dropped in to see comments on Sharapova and Roger.  I read a commentary on Maria in the Guardian that I thought treated her with kid gloves, even though they admitted her best days were long behind her and she wasn't known for "flair" (no kidding).  

I can't imagine that a male athlete, or even a female one without Sharapova's bankable looks, would get such a pass for blatantly breaking the rules for years on end.  Of course, the tennis establishment, particularly the US Open, thought nothing of putting her on show courts after her suspension, even to the detriment of more deserving players.  I know she won 5 slams but whatever tennis decides to do in the future, I agree that her career is tainted.

Roger's second knee surgery doesn't look good.   I think maybe we all have to start thinking that he may officially retire in the next 12 months.  I could see him showing up at Wimbledon in the future to play fun doubles, perhaps with countrywoman Belinda Bencic, but to seriously grind away all year at age 38 plus, with a family and let's face it nothing to prove, is questionable.  There won't be another player like him, that's for sure. 🙂

 

[TVbitch]

Oh dear Lord, I just started watching Friday's Shark Tank and Maria is a new shark!

[TVbitch]

Maria is a terrible shark! She just kept whispering to other sharks to decide what to do. I did not know she already had a business: a company called Sugarpova that sells expensive candy. ...like she eats candy. 

[dcalley]

1 hour ago, TVbitch said:

I did not know she already had a business: a company called Sugarpova that sells expensive candy. ...like she eats candy. 

On meldonium:

Quote

"I was first given the substance back in 2006. I had several health issues going on at the time," Sharapova told a news conference in Los Angeles.

"I was getting sick very often … and I had a deficiency in magnesium and a family history of diabetes, and there were signs of diabetes. That is one of the medications, along with others, that I received."

She had a family history of diabetes and signs of diabetes and started a candy company, as one does.

[theatremouse]

Please take further discussion of Sharapova's Shark Tank appearance to the Shark Tank forum.

[roseha]

By the way, I don't know if anyone else here saw this, but Chris Evert's sister, the former pro Jeanne Evert Dubin, passed away on the 24th from ovarian cancer.  Here is the NY Times:  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/sports/tennis/jeanne-evert-dubin-dies-at-62-tennis-pro-in-sisters-shadow.html

Very sad.  

[shok]

Vamos Rafa! He extended his ATP record of winning at least one ATP tournament to 17 years. Quite an achievement for someone who was supposed to be done for about ten years ago. 🙂 Wish all his victories could be as routine as his match tonight against Fritz.

[Spunkygal]

It was a matter of time. Coronavirus prevention now impacts tennis. At Indian Wells, ball kids will wear gloves and will not handle towels. Players will retrieve towels from a chair and then put the towel back. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-8084809/Players-banned-handing-towels-ball-kids-bid-prevent-spread-coronavirus.html

I haven’t watched that much tennis lately so don’t know if other tournaments have implemented measures.

Edited March 7, 2020 by Spunkygal

[truthaboutluv]

I was actually expecting this post to be that they canceled Indian Wells. So things aren’t that bad yet.

[roseha]

1 hour ago, truthaboutluv said:

I was actually expecting this post to be that they canceled Indian Wells. So things aren’t that bad yet.

I happened to read a post - from a site that's rather tabloid-y so I'm not sure how accurate it is - that Fabio Fognini indicated that he didn't think he'd be allowed in the US for the Sunshine Double as he'd be coming from Italy.   This may only be the beginning of a lot of changes though of course we all hope everything in general will improve.

[Mrs. P.]

Halep and Kerber have both withdrawn from Indian Wells, not because of the virus but due to injuries. It'll be interesting to see if other players do the same thing.

[Mrs. P.]

Indian Wells has been cancelled.

USA TODAY: Indian Wells tennis tournament canceled due to coronavirus

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/tennis/2020/03/08/bnp-paribas-open-tennis-tournament-canceled-amid-coronavirus-concerns/4997831002/

[truthaboutluv]

Was just coming in to post.  As I expected. 

[roseha]

Best for all concerned.  One thing I hope the tennis community does for the foreseeable future, if/when they have events, is to have adult "ball kids".   I think it's only right to not put children in the situation of having to decide whether they want to be possibly exposed to the germs of strangers.

Edited March 9, 2020 by roseha
Rewrite

[TVbitch]

My friend is losing a lot of money on the condo she rented for the tournament. NO refund cuz it had a 30-day cancellation policy. I thought it was lame they did not at least give 50% back given the extraordinary circumstances.

I hope instead of wholly cancelling tournaments, they have them without an audience and televise them. They would at least make the advertising revenue, and keep the tennis going. Players may have to settle for a smaller purse, but everyone is going to have to compromise. 

[theatremouse]

I assumed they did the math and tournament honchos are deciding whether it's worth it to them to play to empty stands for just the TV money. Might be overly generous on my part, but I'd think they'd do that if it were at all worth it. So it must not have been worth it. Unless there were also pressure from Palm Springs or California to cancel rather than do that.

I'm guessing the slams would still make sense financially to play to empty stadiums for television (although possibly even the number of people required to be present at the facility for the matches to happen might exceed recommendations....depending on whether it's somewhere suggesting no gatherings of more than 10 people vs 50 people, etc). 

[roseha]

2 hours ago, theatremouse said:

 

I'm guessing the slams would still make sense financially to play to empty stadiums for television (although possibly even the number of people required to be present at the facility for the matches to happen might exceed recommendations....depending on whether it's somewhere suggesting no gatherings of more than 10 people vs 50 people, etc). 

I think part of the reason this has gotten so complicated so quickly, apart from the obvious uncertainty about how long the virus will last, is due to local laws and insurance issues.  The Guardian summed it up this way in part:

"The Guardian understands that tournaments and the game’s main governing bodies – ITF, ATP, WTA, and the grand slam tournament directors – will be heavily influenced not just by public opinion but regional and global politics, as well as the constrictions of insurance policies."

In other words IW may have feared not only for the safety of all involved but for the possibility of being sued by anyone who fell seriously ill over the 2 weeks and/or not being covered by insurance after the warnings.

On a lesser note - if IW and Miami (if the latter also cancels, which is not certain yet) have to to try to make up their place in the schedule later, why on earth don't they play their events over a single week like any other non-slam, five round event?   I've always found it questionable that they both waste an extra week of the calendar that could be used for some other event in this crowded sport.

[dcalley]

 

[roseha]

The BBC is now reporting that the ATP and WTA tours may close down until at least the Madrid Open on May 3:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/51841130

 

[dcalley]

 

[theatremouse]

I realize there are much bigger concerns in the world right now, but I still want to know what this means for points. Does everyone's from the tournaments last year that won't be played this year drop off? Do they keep the last year's points through, since this year's event doesn't exist?