Tennis Thread

[TVbitch]

Oh, and the look on Dj's entourage's faces... priceless. It was like Game of Thrones... "The wall has been breached!!!" 

[Ohwell]

I'm so happy for Medvedev.  

[Harry24]

Whoo-hoo!  Way to go, Danil!!!!!

And, yes.  You can TOTALLY see what he'll look like when he's 64.  Slightly stooped, thinned hair all mussed up.  Total absent-minded professor.  

He was very charming in his interview.

And shouldn't it be "A Tsar is Born?"

I'm also happy that Madison took out Kenin.  I didn't predict it, but I'm happy about it.  I will be happy with whoever wins the ladies final.  Don't really care about the mens.

[TVbitch]

@Harry24 How can you not care about the mens. I like Goffin a lot too, so I will be good either way, and it will be so refreshing just that it is someone else! But I still think Danil deserves it for toppling the giant.

I hope Keys wins, but am also happy to see Svetlana showing she still has game! 

[Harry24]

4 hours ago, TVbitch said:

@Harry24 How can you not care about the mens? I like Goffin a lot too, so I will be good either way,

That's all I meant, that I'll be good either way.  I like them both, and they're both worthy.  I suppose Medvedev deserves a crown for doing the tennis world such a favor. 🙂

[shok]

Amazing that Rafa bagelled Medvedev just last week and this week Djoke lost to him. Think it shows how smart Rafa is out on the tennis court and he can adjust and adapt his game while Djoke plays pretty much the same way all the time. He plays his style very well mind you but doesn't have the tennis iq that Rafa and even Roger have. I'm rooting for Goffin tomorrow. He's a very smart player too and has had such freaky injuries so I'd like to see him get a big win.

[Ohwell]

I was so disappointed that Medvedev lost to that nut case Kyrgios at the Citi Open, so I'm glad that he's in the finals here.  I like both the men so I'll just enjoy the match and root for both of them.      

12 hours ago, TVbitch said:

I hope Keys wins, but am also happy to see Svetlana showing she still has game! 

Same here!  

[halopub]

Has ESPN provided live coverage of US Open qualies before? I was flipping through the upper sports channels this morning and was surprised to see it on ESPN News. 

So far they've talked about on-court coaching and jumped around a lot between matches.

[truthaboutluv]

Sad news for Anismova. She's pulled out of the US Open after her dad suddenly passed away. Doesn't seem like he was sick or at least the public wasn't aware because the first reports are saying the cause of death is unknown. That's really sad. 

Meanwhile, Kyrgios continues to be a tool and posted a side by side of his service game from the Kachanov match to Rafa's against Medvedev, with a timer showing that Rafa took 42 seconds between serves and he Kyrgios took 21 seconds.

Of course many people immediately pointed out that the context of the Rafa serve that he conveniently ignored is that this was after a 32 shot rally and the umpire, using his discretion, waited to restart the shot clock, especially since the crowd was still applauding. But more importantly, many pointed out that how does that justify Kyrgios' gross abuse of the umpire? 

I am also starting to agree with the comments that he's reaching obsessed levels regarding Rafa. Dude can't keep Rafa's name out of his mouth when I feel fairly confident in saying I don't believe Rafa gives Kyrgios that much real estate in his mind. 

Edited August 21, 2019 by truthaboutluv

[dcalley]

5 hours ago, halopub said:

Has ESPN provided live coverage of US Open qualies before? I was flipping through the upper sports channels this morning and was surprised to see it on ESPN News.

I think it was on ESPN+ and Tennis Channel last year but seems to have expanded this year.

[BlackberryJam]

21 hours ago, truthaboutluv said:

Sad news for Anismova. She's pulled out of the US Open after her dad suddenly passed away. Doesn't seem like he was sick or at least the public wasn't aware because the first reports are saying the cause of death is unknown. That's really sad. 

Meanwhile, Kyrgios continues to be a tool and posted a side by side of his service game from the Kachanov match to Rafa's against Medvedev, with a timer showing that Rafa took like 42 seconds between serves and he Kyrgios took like 21 seconds. Of course many people immediately pointed out that the context of the Rafa serve that he conveniently ignored is that this was after a 32 shot rally and the umpire, using his discretion, waited to restart the shot clock, especially since the crowd was still applauding. But more importantly, many pointed out that how does that justify Kyrgios' gross abuse of the umpire? 

I am also starting to agree with the comments that he's reaching obsessed levels regarding Rafa. Dude can't keep Rafa's name out of his mouth when I feel fairly confident in saying I don't believe Rafa gives Kyrgios that much real estate in his mind. 

Rafa should never, ever be alone in the locker room with this guy. It’s creepy.

If Kyrgios had a point to make, he would need to show the umpire favoring his actual opponent and not some other guy at another match in a different tournament.

Edited August 21, 2019 by BlackberryJam

[BitterApple]

This is starting to get weird. I hope Rafa doesn't return home one day to find a rabbit boiling on his stove.

[NUguy514]

I don't know, I'm sort of rooting for Kyrgios and Nadal.  They should just admit they're in love and be together!  It would be such an entertaining relationship to follow.

[truthaboutluv]

1 hour ago, NUguy514 said:

I don't know, I'm sort of rooting for Kyrgios and Nadal.  They should just admit they're in love and be together!  It would be such an entertaining relationship to follow.

Cute, except this is pretty much a one-sided beef. I really don't think Rafa gives much of a fuck about Kyrgios except when he has to play him. 

[theatremouse]

Kyrgios is infuriating because even when he has a real point about something, he expresses it in the most obnoxious way possible, completely counter to anyone ever accepting he might be saying something true somewhere in there.

[NUguy514]

10 hours ago, truthaboutluv said:

Cute, except this is pretty much a one-sided beef. I really don't think Rafa gives much of a fuck about Kyrgios except when he has to play him. 

[Sally Chantal Pa]

Who is the main favorite of US Open?

The main favorite of any tournament is the best player in the world Nadal. I think he will win.

Women have players who can endure anyone without injury. The same Andreescu, the same Osaka - there are tennis players who play both healthy and bad. I would like Serena, but her physics ...

If Andreescu without injuries and all the games play out, then she will win. Halep? For me, Simon is not a favorite at the Hard Slam tournament.

[BitterApple]

Watching the Open now. Whoever designed those ball kids' uniforms needs to be fired from Ralph Lauren. 

I wonder if Djokovic is pissed he's playing a midday match as the one seed while Fed gets top billing tonight?

Edited August 26, 2019 by BitterApple

[TVbitch]

I have never said this before... I am rooting for Sharapova. If nothing else, so they will stop discussing Serena and showing Serena commercials, Serena practicing, Serena walking about, and Serena press clips. I would rather see tennis thank you. 

[theatremouse]

Interesting. I've always been very anti-Sharapova - initially because for a long while she was the largest offender of the bird-noise-shriek and later because that meldonium nonsense was bullshit. Bullshit she claimed ignorance. Bullshit that suspension got shortened as much as it did. I'm not sure there's any player she could play that'd make me root for her. ...well some of the men possibly...but that'd be an exhibition match so it wouldn't matter anyway.

[truthaboutluv]

7 hours ago, BitterApple said:

I wonder if Djokovic is pissed he's playing a midday match as the one seed while Fed gets top billing tonight?

You'd think by now he'd just make his peace with these things. There was no way they were going to give him the night match over Federer. 

2 hours ago, TVbitch said:

I have never said this before... I am rooting for Sharapova. If nothing else, so they will stop discussing Serena and showing Serena commercials, Serena practicing, Serena walking about, and Serena press clips. I would rather see tennis thank you. 

Well unlikely to happen, since Sharapova's doing an excellent job of losing this match. I think it may be time for her to hang it up. It's obvious Maria isn't close to the player she used to be and likely never will be again.

On a separate note, that catsuit, Serena boo, just no. Listen, when she first wore the short catsuit in 2002, girlfriend looked amazing because the body was banging. And I know she's putting in the work to get back in shape but Serena's body is clearly not what it used to be. So this look is just um yeah, again, no...

As for the focus on Serena, I feel like that can be said about her and the Big 3. I adore Rafa and even I rolled my eyes today when at the start of the coverage, rather than show actual tennis, they spent almost thirty minutes going on about Novak, Rafa and Federer again and their dominance. 

And listen, of course we know how amazing they all are and we know that yes, very likely one of them will win again. But we don't need to hear about it all the damn time, especially when there are matches taking place all over the grounds. 

Edited August 27, 2019 by truthaboutluv

[BitterApple]

Okay, so I'm laughing my ass off at Chris Evert saying Sharapova is good for tennis no matter her ranking. Maria's been such a non-factor for years, I almost forgot she was still in tour.

[Ohwell]

I've never been a fan of Sharapova or Serena.  

[TVbitch]

Oh no, Serena looks like she'll be sticking around for the whole tournament. I agee @truthaboutluv, the "big three" chatter is equallly annoying. "OMG, CAN NO ONE CHALLENGE THEM!!!" Um, Medvedev just did. 

I am not a fan of the short catsuit. I think she looks great, I just don't need to see every nook and cranny of her body, and I would say that about any player of either gender. 

[truthaboutluv]

30 minutes ago, TVbitch said:

Um, Medvedev just did. 

Speaking of. I saw an interview with him today with the ESPN team and I have to say, sure I ragged on his looking a lot older than 23 but I found him to be really delightful. He was very eloquent in his answers, warm and engaging, etc. I can see myself becoming a fan. 

59 minutes ago, BitterApple said:

Okay, so I'm laughing my ass off at Chris Evert saying Sharapova is good for tennis no matter her ranking. Maria's been such a non-factor for years, I almost forgot she was still in tour.

Evert has been riding the Sharapova train for years. It was whatever when Maria was actually semi winning shit. But in recent years, it's just sad and embarrassing. Because anyone who is not delusional knows Maria's done. Her days of relevancy in the sport is long over and Evert just sounds foolish, pretending otherwise. 

Oh no, Federer's sporting that awful five o'clock shadow again. Things didn't go too well for him the last time he decided this was a look. And I see he's down a break. 

Edited August 27, 2019 by truthaboutluv

[mojoween]

Yeah Roger should definitely shave during a changeover.

Oh my god you guys did you know that Roger is playing NAGAL, and not NADAL? I NEVER would have known if they didn’t mention it every other point.

[dcalley]

Federer looks puffy and pallid.

[Harry24]

48 minutes ago, truthaboutluv said:

Oh no, Federer's sporting that awful five o'clock shadow again. 

Yeah, it's funny how just one small mistake can turn a gorgeous guy into a much less good-looking one.  Please shave, Roger!!!!

Agree that Medvedev seems really charming.  

I like the cute preppy look Madison is sporting.

[theatremouse]

1 hour ago, truthaboutluv said:

Oh no, Federer's sporting that awful five o'clock shadow again. Things didn't go too well for him the last time he decided this was a look.

I think the causality is the other way 'round. He's not feeling 100%, so he doesn't bother shaving, and then he plays poorly. The five o'clock shadow is...um...foreshadowing. Although he seems to have more energy after that first set.

[TVbitch]

Ouch. Rublev/Tsitsipas was a great match that became hard to watch. I wonder what is going on with Stephanos. In any case, Rublev was out playing him even before the cramps and I hope he goes far. 

[TVbitch]

OMG Theim too?!

I blame whatever is growing underneath his chin. What is that? Did the thing under Zverev's chin escape and take refuge there? Is that a look now and I am just too old to cope? :)

[truthaboutluv]

1 hour ago, TVbitch said:

OMG Theim too?!

I blame whatever is growing underneath his chin. What is that? Did the thing under Zverev's chin escape and take refuge there? Is that a look now and I am just too old to cope? 🙂

lmao,  I do think he was a little sick. But yeah, other than the French, not a great year at the Slams for Dominic. Second round in Australia and First round at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Nice to Zverev not retreat back to type of last year and a half and get things back under control in the match. 

Really awesome first round match between Gauff and Potapova. Kind of sad one of them had to lose because they clearly both have some serious talent. Potapova I felt was playing too desperate at times. Being aggressive is one thing and that's great. But there's aggressive and there's desperation that makes you almost erratic. 

3 hours ago, TVbitch said:

In any case, Rublev was out playing him even before the cramps and I hope he goes far. 

Well he's gone far before. Made it to the Quarterfinals two years ago and had to play Rafa where he just got destroyed. I assume he's gained a little more confidence since then. 

[topanga]

Watching a replay of the Kyrgios/Johnson match. Why does Steve Johnson look like he’s wearing a fake porn mustache? He looks like a young Dr. Phil. LOL 

ETA: It’s not a replay. Just a really late match. It’s almost one in the morning, and they’ve just started the 3rd set.  

Sloane Stevens played inconsistently tonight. Mentally, she just wasn’t into the match. It’s sad to hear that she struggles with loneliness and depression as a tennis player, especially when traveling for matches. I hope she has a good therapist and good friends. And I hope her fiancée is supportive. 

But great win for Kalinskaya. She’s a qualifier who got her first victory in a Grand Slam match. 

Edited August 28, 2019 by topanga

[TVbitch]

10 hours ago, topanga said:

Why does Steve Johnson look like he’s wearing a fake porn mustache?

I thought he looked like a Mario brother. 

Kurios kind of held it together. I haven't watched an actual match of his in a long time, cuz it makes me uncomfortable waiting for his inevitable breakdown. His serve is bananas, and the ESPN3 guys were saying he never practices it. Ever. He is clearly some kind of tennis savant.

I was trying to diagnose him, he can be very dualistic. He seems to not care and be playing around, but when he misses a point it can also send him into his negative chattering, spasms and acting out. He displayed some paranoia, repeatedly asking the chair why he was looking at him.  This quickly escalates into hostility. It doesn't help that people in the audience seem to want to see him implode. Those buffoons behind him were egging it on. In conclusion, tennis probably brings out the worst of him and his disorders. 

I really enjoyed the Sabalenka/Azurenka match!

[dcalley]

On 8/16/2019 at 1:16 PM, Harry24 said:

Anyone know anything about NK's family, if they're enablers of his behavior?

This is from 2015 and certainly left me with that impression. 🍎🌳

[topanga]

3 hours ago, TVbitch said:

I thought he looked like a Mario brother. 

Kurios kind of held it together. I haven't watched an actual match of his in a long time, cuz it makes me uncomfortable waiting for his inevitable breakdown. His serve is bananas, and the ESPN3 guys were saying he never practices it. Ever. He is clearly some kind of tennis savant.

I was trying to diagnose him, he can be very dualistic. He seems to not care and be playing around, but when he misses a point it can also send him into his negative chattering, spasms and acting out. He displayed some paranoia, repeatedly asking the chair why he was looking at him.  This quickly escalates into hostility. It doesn't help that people in the audience seem to want to see him implode. Those buffoons behind him were egging it on. In conclusion, tennis probably brings out the worst of him and his disorders. 

Your mind is much cleaner than mine despite your handle. You saw a wholesome videogame character, and I saw a porn star.

I'm an internal medicine doc, not a psychiatrist or a psychologist, but Kyrigios seems bipolar to me. His mood shifts on a dime--from calm and focused to irate and impetuous. I wonder if he's getting any treatment. Probably not, given what I've heard about his camp/training team.

But this kid is amazing on the court. He could be one of the next great talents if he stays focused and has positive people in his corner. 

And he's so handsome. I hate saying that because he's usually such a jerk. But my eyes can't lie, unfortunately. Those Greek and Malaysian genes mix together perfectly. 

[BitterApple]

56 minutes ago, topanga said:

And he's so handsome. I hate saying that because he's usually such a jerk. But my eyes can't lie, unfortunately. Those Greek and Malaysian genes mix together perfectly. 

I wonder if that's a factor in all the enabling? I hate to say it, but pretty people get away with a lot more.

[Ohwell]

Wow, I don't think Kyrgios is at all handsome.  It really is in the eye of the beholder.  Plus, he's humpbacked.

[truthaboutluv]

Nice to see Serena remembered her skirt tonight. Guess she saw herself from that first round and realized the mini-catsuit was not the way to go. Nice win tonight. Mcnally gave her all in the first set and a half but once Serena pulled ahead in the second set, it was over. 

Edited August 29, 2019 by truthaboutluv

[BitterApple]

14 hours ago, truthaboutluv said:

Nice to see Serena remembered her skirt tonight. Guess she saw herself from that first round and realized the mini-catsuit was not the way to go. Nice win tonight. Mcnally gave her all in the first set and a half but once Serena pulled ahead in the second set, it was over. 

I thought McNally did some smart things, but I knew it was only a matter of time before Serena figured her out and started dominating. Despite the loss though, it's great to see a young player mixing it up, using the slice and coming to net. If Katie keeps improving her game, she should have a bright future.

[Ohwell]

Ugh.  Too bad for Tiafoe losing to Zverev.

[TVbitch]

I was so worried for Medvedev! But will he make it through the rest of the tournament? 

Argh, ESPN is doing a great job of putting all the matches I want to see on ESPN+!

Do they not know that it is not exciting to watch Dj kick someone's ass every other night. 

[Harry24]

Yay, Taylor!!!!!!!  I've always really liked her.  I love her game.

[Ohwell]

Yay Coco!!!

[Harry24]

I'm watching Coco's match on DVR, and WHY IS EFFING KOBE BRYANT BEING FORCED DOWN OUR THROATS, ESPN?  He's just there promoting himself.   Ugh. (I mean, I gather there's some sort of connection with Osaka, but ... ugh.)

[crimsongrl]

Is Mary Jo Fernandez sick? There's been too much Chris Evert commentary for my liking!

I saw a little of the Ostapenko match and her serve is horrendous! The toss and the serve were all over the place. The first point took 9 minutes and she had 7 double faults. Once the rally started she looked good so I hope she can get her serving issues under control. I want her back in the top 10 contending for titles.

Great matches from Townsend & Gauff and my bb Rafa gets some extra rest! 😁

[BlackberryJam]

The male announcer, and I’m not going to bother finding out who it was, I recognized Pam and Chris, so random dude can remain nameless, but anyway, I wanted to strangle him. Look Coco is good. Really good. But she’s 15 and unseasoned. He was all “is she on par with the best players? rank her among the world’s best? Is she the best on tour at X?” Even Chris, who I kind of loathe, was all “back that truck up a bit, Sparky, give her time to grown.”

Every Kyrgios win annoys me. Why isn’t he on a six month ban for his Cincy behavior?

I hate to see a walkover in any major, but I’m happy for Rafa’s knees.

[TVbitch]

The Coco hype is a bit much, and I wonder if that is even "good" for her. She does know fans/media can be fair-weathered, right? For now, she seems to be handling it well. She was great fun to watch. ...unless your name is Danielle Collins and then probably not so much. 

I'm not a fan of Danielle, but that must have sucked as her match featured a ranked player and an American, and they did not even bother to cut over to it during the big points as they often do. Ouch. 

[Ohwell]

Looks like Taylor Townsend lost some weight, she seems to be moving much better.  I saw her a few years ago at the Citi Open and she looked like she was struggling to move around on the court. 

[BitterApple]

11 hours ago, Harry24 said:

I'm watching Coco's match on DVR, and WHY IS EFFING KOBE BRYANT BEING FORCED DOWN OUR THROATS, ESPN?  He's just there promoting himself.   Ugh. (I mean, I gather there's some sort of connection with Osaka, but ... ugh.)

For real. Promote your wares on your own time, Kobe. I'm here to watch tennis. I thought it was incredibly distasteful to hawk his book. Like he doesn't have a big enough platform to do that on his own.