US OPEN - Part III

Carlo is snatching Maria's wig currently.

Did someone slip Maria a Mickey? She's playing horrendously.

Dear God! Let that ball bounce.

Maria's game is such a mess.

Jesus Christ, neither of these head cases can hold serve.

The serve game is usually a mess, but the ground game is very solid. Tonight both are off.

Serving to start the 2nd is not ideal. She should've thrown the first 6-3.

Carla sexing up the court!

If there's 1 player up to the challenge of ending Sharapova's 23-0 night match streak, Carlita might be HER

I love that Chris Evert is doing commentary. She is not afraid to criticize a top player who is playing like shit. She's doing that tonight

too bad Renee Stubbs is courtside rather than Pam though. Pam would be funny as hell right now

Nice hold, Chuck!

Seriously, Maria? What the hell was that?! How do you not put that ball away?

Carla plays effortless tennis while Maria is shrieking like she’s barely getting through it.

This is what I talking about in an earlier thread. CSN wouldn't even have thought of going after that short ball Maria was going to hit if it had been Serena hitting it. She would've headed to the back of the court to get her towel. Such a joke.

We make fun of Carla a lot but she actually has a nice game style and can do a lot on the court. Maria not so much.

Carla needs to pound the ball over and over to the Doper's wonky forehand

This is the worst game of hot potato all tournament, nobody can hold serve

I watched CSN play on outside courts a few years ago. She's a very fun player to watch and a really nice girl generally.

Corina Morariu sounds like she's holding her breath during her commentary on ESPN3. Breathe Corina, breathe.

R16 Welcome to the WTA!

r17 = Martina Navratilova

If CSN manages to win this match on her birthday, of all days, the party will last until dawn in the ladies’ locker room (colloquially known as Arthur Gash).

I am too lazy to Google. Is CSN out?

So happy russian whore is almost out!

does this carla have any real friends? they should tell her to get a new hairstyle, this one doesn't look good on her.

R23 = Sharapova

Carla's gotta be family. no way she is straight.

Her hair belongs in 1983.

Well done, Carl, you hot spunk!

She's traveled with a gf before.

I don't like Renee Stubbs' cheek fillers.

rafa tested out an ice vest during today's practice. it's made by nike.

Why are the Sweden threads being shut down? There was nothing hateful on there except facts.

Don't feign innocence, alt-right troll.

Ok bitches listen up! Carla is now an official DL icon. No one is allowed to talk shit about her! She is a sweet girl and took out the biggest bitch! She is our girl!!

I wasn’t going to watch that match since I can’t stand Sharapova’s shrieking but once I saw how well CSN was playing I watched it with the sound off.

What a delight! Bye, Maria!

Ha! Mary Joe actually said "drug suspension" in reference to Maria.

I also think she has a lovely game and she actually does come across as a very nice girl. But there is not a girly bone in her body.

[quote]If CSN manages to win this match on her birthday, of all days, the party will last until dawn in the ladies’ locker room (colloquially known as Arthur Gash).

It's just a seething pit of lady-loving ladies nowadays! These girls need to let Jesus into their lives!

R33 Carlo has been a DL fave for a while now.

Estoy tan feliz!

So I think:

Pliskbot beats Serena,

Stephens beats Sevastova,

Keys beats CSN,

Osaka/Tsurenko is a toss-up.

Final will be Stephens vs. whoever wins Osaka/Tsurenko.

R33 She didn't play Serena tonight!

CSN is a cow-tongued, slack-jawed pain in the ass who can somehow blunt the power of every big hitter on tour until she plays Serena...then she tightens up and shits herself. She's my second least favorite player after Serena. Grease fire for both.

Millman gives good pre-match

R40 Stephens/Osaka would be fun

I just want Carla to get the respect she deserves now! No more snarky comments!

I actually find her quite endearing and love for everything that she is.

Osaka is the one to watch. She got tested today against truly red hot in-form Sabalenka but handled herself incredibly well.

I missed a lot of the US Open Series due to work so I was completely out of loop about that butchtastic Belarusian. She has a good serve. But she looks to be a mental mess. How did she win Cincy? Very strange.

I know we are suppose to be snarky on this site and i don’t know if Carla is lesbian or not and frankly it doesn’t matter. She just seems so sweet we all should adopt her and support her.

R47 She was actually pretty calm until the end of the match when she threw her racquet. Able to reset after losing a big point or making an unforced.

I'm so glad Alfred E. Neuman took out Dopa-pova/Shara-dopa. But Maria looked like she was playing like shit tonight. Still, love the result!

You'd have to be blind to see that Cheatapova doesn't play anything like she did when she was doping. Have to wonder if that's what Chrissie meant when she kept saying Maria lacked confidence. If so, that's some class A shade.

Bill Clinton looking good!

CSN has a lovely game but damn she's ugly. Maybe she could play with a paper sack over her head.

R47 Sabalenka won New Haven not Cincinnati. She reached the SF of Cincinnati though

Sometimes I hate you people. Not everyone needs to be pretty. I just wish you guys could be nice every once and awhile. I guess that’s too much too ask.

R55 is Sam Querrey or Svetlana Kuznetsova

R51, "confidence" = a syringe full of dopamine

Suarez Navarro has a nice game once the point starts. Her problem is her serve is not powerful and a good server can jam her as she has long loopy swings. Carla played well tonight but Sharapova was HORRIFIC (and I'm glad). Sharapova's serving was very poor and she was toast once Carla extended the point.

Sharapova's form looked better against Ostapenko because Ostapenko could barely keep more than 3 balls in a point in play the other night. CSN is the first player at the USO that Sharapova ran into who is actually playing consistent tennis at the moment.

Keys is serving and returning well though so I don't see CSN getting past her unless that changes.

Happy for CSN. I think she's attractive in a butch kind of way, but her attitude is very sweet. Quite the comparison of her icy opponent.

We love you Carla; feliz cumpleaños!

Evert did seem to be shading Maria all night about her doping, like when Evert carried on for five minutes about how Sharapova lacked the confidence to return serve from at or near the baseline like she did “years ago.”

Borna has a beautiful tokhes.

Team Carlo! You're a good man Charlie Navarro!

Roger's jewels are jangling in those Uniqlo shorts.

Small carat jewels. The man is sexless from top to bottom. I can't believe he truly likes pussy.

Where's Ms. Wintour tonight? Was there a spat? Affecting Roger?

I saw that bob in his box.

Anna was sitting next to Father and Mother Federer.

They showed Fed warming up, he looked like a prancing pony, so graceful is she.

So happy for CSN, she seems so sweet and humble. Why or why can't she get invisiline or something for them teefs!

Millman is kind of cute.

I may go out as Anna Wintour this hallowe'en. Such an easy costume.

The one that's true to herself beat the bearding closet case. Vamos!

Federer playing like shit. From double-set point serving for the second to losing it 7-5. Can't buy a first serve, poor shot selection. If he keeps playing like this, he's going to lose.

Omg wtf is wrong with Federer? Self-destructed at the end of the second set.

wow I turned it off with Federer cruising and now he somehow lost the second set?

I do like that color outfit they put him in though

Gramps!

OMFG! Mirka looks so orange and so confused!

That outfit of Roger's is hideous. The matching shoes and bag just make it so much worse but it is bad on its own.

Is that young guy in Journey(mill)man's box his coach?

R78 he's kinda hot and looks gay adjacent.

Who is that cute twink coaching Millman? Jonas Luetjen. Break me off a piece of that!

R78, seems like even know-it-all Brad Gilbert doesn't even know.

[quote] i don’t know if Carla is lesbian or not and frankly it doesn’t matter.

Frank(ly)

I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!

Is J. McEnroe not calling this match because stupid Brad Gilbert is there?

[quote] She just seems so sweet we all should adopt her and support her.

She does seem sweet. I like her.

I can't believe they have the audacity to make it seem like Novak is lucky to have finished earlier and is just able to recover now. Really? Did Roger want to be playing this afternoon when it felt like over 104 degrees?? Jesus. I like Roger but they are laying it on WAY too thick.

The ad with Serena saying "mama said Knock you out"! scared me.

she's an LL Cool J fan...that's an old song of his...

Typical, R86. Mill man is playing his ass off, and all I hear from PMac is how Federer is not himself, he has his head down over changeovers, etc etc etc ad nauseum.

Federer can never lose without it being some byproduct of a hangnail, a canker sore, or a chapped ass from a case of explosive diarrhea.

[quote] Did Roger want to be playing this afternoon when it felt like over 104 degrees??

ESPN commentators vow: "we'll never stop being Roger's PR team!" I mean, I respect Federer and everything he has accomplished but this endless perception management by everybody involved in tennis is getting tired...

lol I love the camera shots going to the dejected Fed fan faces each time he loses a point

Federer in trouble!

Gramps?

[quote] “Journeyman Millman” - ESL

If this was anyone other than Roger, the crowd would be going CRAZY for the huge underdog.

If Millman and his cute coach Lutjen aren't fucking, they should be.

Federer is not playing well. Anyone who knows tennis can see that. But damn, Millman is playing really, really well. He's not giving Federer any cheap points. Federer needs to raise his level if he's going to win this, and at this point I don't see that happening.

espn is forever hoping for a USO Federer-Nadal final as they've never played each other at this slam. They've met pretty much everywhere else that's important

I've never heard of this guy before tonight, but damn, I'll remember him now. Those blue eyes, and his hot coach with the golden tan.

[quote] They've met pretty much everywhere else that's important

Rogers Cup?

Damn, I guess nobody has to work tomorrow, so many people are still watching at the stadium.

Think he's gonna retire after this?

[quote] cute coach Lutjen

Link please.

I want to scream

[quote] espn is forever hoping for a USO Federer-Nadal final

Why? So that Nadal could clean his clock on this surface as well? I'd rather see another epic Nadal-Djokovic five-setter.

Interesting how Fed didn't challenge either baseline shot on the last two points of the third set tiebreaker. Not saying either Millman shot was long, but they were close enough. He didn't look like he considered it, either--like he is desultory and cranky, resigned to losing this (despite having had set points in both second and third sets).

Millman & Lutjen

Federer has a 5 match winning streak vs Nadal. It's not a given that Nadal would beat him these days.

Federer does look resigned and uninspired. He's telegraphing drop shots and trying to get the point over with as fast as possible. I think he's got an injury, so maybe that's why he's resigned. He knows even if he wins this, he's toast against Djokovic in the Quarters.

R100 haha OK not Rogers Cup, Paris Masters or USO but I think every other slam and masters they've faced off

R104 espn doesn't care about that. They care about having the 2 biggest male stars playing at the slams. Most of their commentators openly cheer for a Federer/Nadal final at every slam but especially the USO cuz it's never happened and they know it would get great ratings. Murray and Djokovic don't inspire Americans to watch. This might be shocking but Anderson hasn't pulled in big numbers for his 2 slam finals either

Nadal didn’t flop in the second round so he seems to have gotten a fresh supply of PEDs before the Open this year.

Jonas Lutjen back when he was playing at Ole Miss

R100 lol OK not Rogers Cup, Paris Masters or USO. Every other slam and masters I think they've met at though

R104 because espn only cares about the ratings. They want the 2 biggest male tennis player names to face off at the USO. They know those 2 would draw big numbers. Djokovic and Murray don't inspire more Americans than usual to watch and Anderson hasn't boosted viewership either with his USO and WImbledon finals

Okay, now it's just making me mad that the crowd isn't clearly behind the biggest underdog ever. It makes no sense.

Regardless of whether Fed wins or loss, people seem stunned by how sloppy he is tonight. How many volleys has he netted?

Why do they keep showing the chubby guy in the white "Roger" t-shirt? Are we supposed to know him?

Millman is strutting around the court. I like the swagger.

And how many little piss-ant drop shots has he done?

I still say Roger comes back to win.

why didn't the aussie change clothes during the break?

lol if Federer gets through this he'll be destroyed by Djokovic. Novak will have a meltdown at how much the crowd will be against him

i don't understand, why even buy nosebleeds? I would rather watch at home...won't even be able to see much if you're not seated in good sections.

[quote] I still say Roger comes back to win.

Of course. If needed, USTA will send someone with an iron club to shatter Millman's knees.

[quote] Jonas Lutjen back when he was playing at Ole Miss

Ole Miss? Ewwwwwwww.

I can't believe the kids at the match are still so awake lol.

R120, Novak has lived through that scene already.

[quote] Why do they keep showing the chubby guy in the white "Roger" t-shirt? Are we supposed to know him?

Fuck you! I’m not a “guy”.

Lol, R122, I was thinking more along the lines of Millman not having any experience at crunch time against one of the all-time greats.

[quote] Novak will have a meltdown at how much the crowd will be against him

But I’ve boobs-outed with ball kids so much for you! Why don’t you adore me!

Thank you, R106.

Roger really deserves to lose tonight. Is it an injury? Is he just getting the yips?

he gave back the break

SO UN-ROGER-LIKE

is his back hurting again?

I wonder where Shane Stant is, R122. They'll probably have to swap in Brad Gilbert to do it.

Is that Mirka in the chair umpire seat?

Grandpa Fed is getting tired. it's past his bed time.

If Djokovic or Murray were playing like Roger is tonight, the commentators would be talking about whether they should get fined for tanking.

I'm quite impressed with how Millman's been handling this occasion, regardless of the outcome. Someone like Sascha Zverev should be recording this match and taking notes.

espn cannot handle Sharapova and Federer losing on the same night

SOMEONE DO SOMETHING TO STOP THIS!!!!!!!!!!!

They still have Serena and now they can turn the coverage into "all Serena, all the time."

Roger, have some of my candy and you will feel much better!

In addition, they also cure diabetes and heart conditions.

R135, tanking? Give me a break.

oh c'mon Fed fans STOP CHEERING FOR MILLMAN's FAULTS

Roger looks like he’s not well.

I think his back might be hurting. He's definitely not running at his fastest

Hilarious that Roger, of all people, is complaining about crowd noise during the point.

70 errors, and constant drop shots.

SUEBR = Sneaky Unforced Error By Roger.

And now a double fault in the TB

[quote] I think his back might be hurting.

That’s what he gets for not being a top!

My God, the crowd is acting like their kitten is being strangled in front of them.

Nets a winner, nets a winner, DF, DF

Well, this was... unexpected.

So what is up with Federer? Injury? Brain fart? Just inconsistency now that he's older?

Millman's first ever top 10 win lol

the crowd is muted

WOW. And the crowd can't even give him a decent ovation after winning?! Batch of bitches.

He's old.

Does this mean I'll be the crowd favorite in my next match? I can say I'm avenging Roger's loss!

WHOA.

Sometimes it's just a bad day with the opponent being in the zone.

Both Sharapova and Fed out on the same night - USTA are shitting their pants .

Millman looks a lot older than 29. Nice looking though and nice speaking voice.

I'm rooting for rafa.

Millman is a little rough looking but he's sexy as fuck.

[quote][R135], tanking? Give me a break.

I didn't say Federer was tanking. Clearly, he wasn't well. But when Djokovic was hurting with his elbow injury at the 2017 French, John McEnroe said he was tanking vs. Theim. It's just a different set of rules for Federer, and to a lesser extent, Nadal.

Nobody's talking about Del Potro as a contender even though he's the 3rd seed, but he's been really impressive so far. He could trouble Nadal.

so the GOAT has not won the USO since 2008! Amazing stat

That's crazy. The New York crowd should have been all over this and him. They love an underdog, normally. And it isn't like it was that idiot Kyrgios who was beating him.

He won it last year, R163.

HAHA grandpa was absolutely embarrassing. Errors after errors. I'm happy for Millman. It should be compulsory for all tennis players to wear short shorts like him.

Um, R163, he has 5 US Open trophies, and those were 5 in a row. He has two more than Nadal, three more than Djokovic. And 20 Grand Slam titles. He's going to be just fine.

No. Nadal won it last year.

So they said he didn't even go back to the locker room! went straight back to the hotel!?

R168, he knows.

These are my preferences for quarter final winners:

Thiem team (aka Domicakes team)

DelPo team

Kei team (or Cilic team if he can beat Nadal)

Journeyman Millman team

This year's top prize is $3.8 million. 100k more than last year! Damn, no wonder players try to dope!

[quote] Um, [R163], he has 5 US Open trophies, and those were 5 in a row. He has two more than Nadal, three more than Djokovic. And 20 Grand Slam titles. He's going to be just fine.

And losing H2Hs with both Nadal and Djokovic. But, he's better than Murray. That's something, I guess.

If Federer skips his post-match press conference he'll be fined but will the tennis media get on him like they do other players?

Gee. that russian whore has played like shit ever since she was caught doping. that substance was that powerful?!

Do you think he pulled something during the match? he didn't even call the doctor!

what do you think? did he tank? did he have $ on the match?

R175 meldonium is thought to help with endurance and she became a 3 set machine after she started taking it. Prior to that she was vulnerable in 3 setters

Do you honestly think that Roger is hurting for money?

Did Roger really skip the press conference? I guess Mirka’s blood sugar must’ve taken a sudden nose dive during the match and they needed to find an all night diner asap.

There was always something off about Sharapova's sudden and unexpected excellence on clay courts, the surface on which she had, prior to that point, looked very uncomfortable. That's also the most physically demanding type of surface in terms of endurance where PEDs can really help.

You can never have enough $. Maybe it's blackmail. who knows?

And didn't he say this week that's he's not retiring soon? Bet he's changing his mind...since he doesn't need the money at all.

[quote] that substance was that powerful?!

You must understand: new medicine not as effective at treating heart condition. Tennis playing with heart condition leads to tiredness and lack of endurance.

Roger doesn't do well in heat like this.

wow the losses of Sharapova and Federer inspired over 180 posts for a new thread created just tonight!

Doesn't he have a training base in Dubai and has always boasted that training in those conditions helps him handle high heat?

Then imagine how it would be if he had to play during, you know, the god damned DAY, R184. Also, if you haven't noticed, every other player is playing in the same heat.

yes R186 but Dubai is in the desert so it's dry heat. The northeast of the USO often has humid heat which feels different. I would rather be in dry heat to high humidity

yes, i was just gonna say, it's a different kind of heat. The humidity is oppressive and it's saps your energy.

But he has dominated Cincinnati which is ALWAYS played in high humidity.

Our bedroom is always hot and steamy.

That’s because I like eating those steamed buns in bed. Yummy!

R191 The only bedroom that’s hot and steamy is the one that Roger shares with his Middle Eastern Boyfriend in Dubai if the gossip is to be believed.

What? What gossip?

So Federer shits the bed and loses to some guy no one's ever heard of after being up a set and leading 5-4, 40-15 in the second.

guys, it wasn't humid out there tonight. certainly not when it was in the 3rd set. That's why the Aussie didn't even bother to change clothes or anything. It was pleasant. my guess is Roger pulled something.

In the press conference Fed blamed the humidity. Said it was difficult for him to breath at times. Said Millman obviously handled it better, possibly because he comes from one of the most humid places on Earth.

he just didn't want to face Nole lol. took the easy way out lol.

Plus Johnny M is younger and used to grinding it out. And Roger knew him coz he had picked Johnny to come train with him in Dubai...you cannot make this up, life is so funny.

Roger couldn't breath.

i read a few comments online that they think it's match fixing. "If there is anything like match fixing in Tennis then this match a clear example. Some unforced errors looked staged. How does Federer make a double fault and set point. Not buying it"

Who’s the guy with the beard ? Never saw him

Not only can John Millman beat Federer, he can also tie a snake in a knot with his tongue. And he dislikes Peter Dutton, an asshole politician here in Oz. Lot of things to like about him.

Millman did what Nick K. couldn't hope to do. Love him.

A friend of mine from USTA Coaching said Fed's team spread the word they did not like the prime time 2nd court assignment and spent most of the day trying to get Fed's match switched so he could go 1st and Maria 2nd. The USTA apparently and adamantly said no.

r181 Clay is clearly the best surface for tennis, and it is the best surface for your body, grass is close by, but it is e.g. easy to slip and fall and unsafeto stand, most players love it and most European and South American players have learned on it, it is just that there are many good clay court players and yes it takes a long time to make points often; clay isn't probably partially that dominant in tournaments because Mediterranean and South American and soon Asian players would be too dominant and the still bigger economies in the Northern countries wouldn't have good enough players for it.

[quote]Why do they keep showing the chubby guy in the white "Roger" t-shirt? Are we supposed to know him?

I think it was just a random fan

The entire American mindset of hard court hard court hard court has stunted American players at the top for almost 20 years now. Roddick and Isner were big duds on red clay - not their fault, they were trained with big serves and a big forehand and zilch for a backhand. Connors, Mac and Agassi were all great clay courters. Connors never won the French, but his record on har-tru was commendable. We haven't had an American champ like that - who you could expect to win on any surface. Sampras didn't have that on clay and Agassi squandered so many opportunities you couldn't depend on him. A friend of mine teaches at the new USTA Academy and he came from a stint at Evert's Academy. It's 90% foreigners. And they don't really teach them much about clay.

Dammit, I forgot to pack this in Rog's back.

back = bag

Domicakes and Rafa tonight on Ashe (por supuesto!)

That will be a lot of sweaty cakes! It will give you diabetes just for watching it!

Mmmmmm 🎂🎂🎂🎂

today is gonna feel like 100F! Hopefully it won't be too bad at night.

R187 he played both Kygrios and Paire in day. And every player has that one weak spot that gets best of them.

Yes, Roger was lucky that it wasn't that hot that day. It wasn't that humid last night. At least not in Manhattan.

Hey, they play at 10am but the coverage doesn't start until 12pm. so it's not live?

I love people like R173 who always try to make it about H2H because if they actually looked at overall records, Federer's are simply better than Nadal's and Djokovic's at this point. I do think, however, that because Nadal and Djokovic are 5 years younger than Federer, AND because the younger generation are total pussies, one or both may surpass Federer's Slam record someday.

Millman is kinda hot. I would love to suck his Aussie cock. Are they usually cut or uncut?

My experience down under (three visits to Melbourne) is cut. And, yes, I am a whore, darlin'!

r217....sorry, I meant uncut!!!!

R195, it wasn't hot./humid? The players were drenched in sweat and people just sitting in the stands were fanning themselves.

No, not around 10 pm, Millman didn't even change clothes during the '10 min break, it had already cooled down a lot by then.

Roger blamed the humidity and his soaking wet shorts...oh my

Does anyone think Thiem has a shot against Nadal? I think probably not since he likes to stand 900 miles behind the baseline. I really hope Del Potro takes out Trump-loving Isner.

As for the women, I assume Stephens over Sevastova, but after Federer's defeat last night, who knows? Serena-Pliskova is hard to call. Serena should win that, but one thing Pliskova has that other women don't is a good serve. If she's serving well and Serena's off, Pliskova can take this one.

R51 Sharapova's game is no different than it ever was except that she's getting older. One of the best matches of her career was the US Open 1st round last year against Halep. No meldonium in sight! Not that it's even been proven to have any substantial benefit.

And, no, I'm not a Sharapova fan. I just think it's ridiculous that people rag on her for taking something that would be most beneficial to an endurance athlete when she's usually one of the most efficient winners on tour. The speculation about possible enhancement of reaction time would be controversial, but it's unproven; and caffeine would offer a similar benefit in the right amount (just ask Miss Double Espresso Williams).

R199 Those people are nuts. As if Federer would risk getting involved with a match fixing scheme. Like he needs money!

Sloane Stephens apparently not feeling well, getting drubbed by Sevastova.

[quote]I do think, however, that because Nadal and Djokovic are 5 years younger than Federer, AND because the younger generation are total pussies, one or both may surpass Federer's Slam record someday.

I think that, during his prime years, Federer himself had it rather easy, facing Roddick, Safin, Hewitt, and Nalbandian.

[quote] I think that, during his prime years, Federer himself had it rather easy, facing Roddick

International Tennis Hall of Fame member Andy Roddick.

[quote]Doesn't he have a training base in Dubai and has always boasted that training in those conditions helps him handle high heat?

So why the hell then doesn't he have a 'training base' in the northeast U.S. so precious RF can acclimatize to humidity? You's think with the U.S. Open being one of the richest tournaments he would come prepared!

I can't believe the umpire is in long sleeves.

[quote]The only bedroom that’s hot and steamy is the one that Roger shares with his Middle Eastern Boyfriend in Dubai if the gossip is to be believed.

I've heard that rumor as well.

Sloane girl out

Well Serena is gonna easily make the final. I thought Sloane would challenge her but she just lost

it's over for Stephens.

Bye bye Sloane. She lost 2/6 3/6 to Sevastova.

this girl is tough, she isn't even bothered by the heat.

Sloane's downfall is complete

Damn, Sloane. 😒

Pre game interview: Isner just said he's played in conditions like this and is not bothered. Del Potro said he will try " to do my game and see my body..." he was mumbling...can't really hear.

Wrong, R226. Federer started to dominate in 2004. Yes, he won Wimbledon in 2003, but he really became the great Roger Federer in 2004. In 2005, he already had his rivalry with Nadal going, who beat him in the semis of the French in 2005. He even lost to Nadal in 2004 in Miami, but Nadal was out with injuries until the following year. In 2005 Federer was #1 and won two Slams, and in 2006 Federer was # 1 and won three Slams. Yet in 2005-2006, Nadal beat Federer five times in a row. Nadal was already his rival by 2005. It's a myth that he only faced easy competition in his prime. By 2007, Djokovic was in the mix as well, yet Federer won three Slams again.

Sevastova giving all her secrets away in the Espn booth. and who is that lady with all the tats? eww.

Isner played in college in Georgia, right? He should be used to some heat.

Too bad we haven’t seen Federer and Nadal at Rogers Cup. We can’t talk about it and wouldn’t know where to talk about even if we could.

I like Sevastova.. I think she could beat Serena. I would give the advantage to Isner in this humidity, unfortunately.

yes, If Sevastova can make Serena run side to side, all over the court, then she has a chance.

R239, In 2004, Nadal was just 18 and had yet to find his game outside of clay courts. His first Major outside of Roland Garros wouldn't occur until 2008. And during that time (2004 - 2008), Djokovic was still struggling to reach his potential. So, yeah, Roger had it easy.

Sevastova is very likable

At that time Nadal was a clay court specialist.

Sorry, R245, you're just trying to make it seem like Roger's accomplishments pale somehow. Nadal was a true rival from 2005 on and was beating Roger on surfaces other than clay. Nadal was not just a clay court specialist back then. He made it to the Wimbledon final in 2006 and 2007. But you just keep up with your revisionist history. Your motives are clear.

As are yours, r248.

Wrong., R245. I notice you can't argue with the facts. Just your spin on them.

Isner lives in Dallas Texas! yeah, definitely a trump supporter! and used to hot weather.

Sloane didn't play well today but she has a cold and so it's even harder to breathe in this high humidity. Her attempted defense of her title was decent though as she reached the QF And defeated Azarenka and Mertens along the way. She'll drop some points but won't go crashing out of the top 10 like Ostapenko or Muguruza.

Del Potro is a lethargic player to begin with so I think Isner unfortunately has a great chance to win today.

As for Federer, yeah he really should have a training base in a high humidity area...that's why so many pros, even foreign ones, train in Florida. Murray has a high-rise there and it's served him well.

She calls herself nastysevastova on instagram! lol

Fuck, Isner breaks Delpo. Nooooooo!!!!!

Unless you're posting this from the future, R254, no, he didn't.

My apologies, R255. I've been jumping in and out of the coverage and saw Isner win the point for 6-5 and thought the commentators said something about a break. I've never been so glad to be wrong, though. Phew!

Del Potro had a break point for 6-5 but Isner held

sigh...Del Potro with that 1 backhand error and the mini break went to Isner who didn't lose any service points in tiebreak

this is the year of deplorable John

Ugh!

God I fucking hate Isner. The worst part is that Isner is gonna get destroyed by Nadal if he wins. Playing against a servebot is the worst kind of match up for Delpo since he has fewer chances to unleash his forehand.

Nadal and especially Thiem can struggle against big servers so Isner may even reach the final...I don't want to even think about him winning the whole thing ugh

¡despierta Juan Martin!

Trump would probably try to go to the US Open if Isner reached the final; it'd be great PR.

Ugh, I hate Isner, too, but damn, his serve seems unbreakable these days. I hope Delpo can either find a way to break or squeak out three tiebreaks.

Fuck, Isner's record at the U.S. Open after winning the first set is 24-2.

Del Potro has missed a few crucial points on his backhand side today that would have made the difference like the one just now at 30-30

R244 She won't. She'll miss everything she'd usually handle with ease and endlessly whine. I hope I'm wrong though. Actually, I hope that she's just playing Pliskova instead.

R234 Too bad someone courtside didn't spill their beverage over the railing. Katrina Adams could've stopped play and ordered the roof closed. Ha ha!

DelPo team

finally a break!

All right! Delpo consolidates his break. There is maybe hope after all!

R266 we get it you hate black women. Serena, Venus, Sloane, Townsend, Katrina Adams. Give it a rest. You bash them endlessly for the most absurd shit and sound like an idiot

Get fucked Isner.

Why Del Potro has always red nose?

lol @ Patrick McEnroe advocating that Isner just tank the rest of this set to conserve energy. I thought tanking would result in a fine

Your face gets red from the sun and heat. I certainly do after exercise.

Is ESL back yet?

On ESPN, Brad Gilbert, who's sitting courtside, said the humidity is oppressive. He said it's like they're playing indoors without any air-conditioning.

yeah and Brad is wearing long sleeves.

R215; I doubt Roger record of GS is in trouble, at least not now. If Rafa wins here it would be different. Rafa's days are numbered, his tennis is just too physical and he is a heavy player who runs a lot. It's only a question of time that his level drops a bit. Of course he is quite close of Roger's record and in Roland Garros he is the king.

Novak lost two years, i can see him lasting more than Nadal, but no matter how pussies are the new generation, more sooner than later they'll start to win against the big three (we'll get a better look at Shapo's chances of being a top player next year).

Sharapova never was a bad clay court player, she reached RG Qtr very young. She was not a great clay court player, Henin and Ivanovic (in the days she seemed a very promising rising star) could crush her without trouble. But Henin retired, Kuznetsova and Ivanovic never became the dominant clay court players some people expected and Sharapova became simply one of the few good players on clay. She would never win RG if she was playing in the 90's, Graf, ASV and Seles were better at clay and were mentally simply too strong. But from the 00's only Justine Henin was that good on clay.

And after saying that, Vamos Delpo

Gilbert can change his shirt - I'd watch.

they go inside to change? since when? there is air con in the room, is that why?

yeah, Brad said it's a 3 shirt day for him. I think it's very cold in the media room.

[quote] they'll start to win against the big three

Big four.

Rafa!

Del Potro is unhappy. He wanted to go back to the locker room to change but was ushered into a side room close to the court instead, according to the commentators.

If Brad and Cliff would shut their yaps we could hear what Delpo is saying to the referee.

R280 underwear too

r278 but we have been hearing this since his first FO win...."Rafa's days are numbered, his tennis is just too physical and he is a heavy player who runs a lot. It's only a question of time that his level drops a bit." And he is still winning. I would have never said 10 years ago that he would still be here....but he is.

Rafa!

Nadal can keep playing BUT he needs a lot of rest after a big tournament if he goes deep. It's why he's had knee issues and why it's been so hard for him to do well at both RG and Wimbledon except for a couple years. Isner would be fucked without his serve and Nadal would be fucked without his movement.

I agree, r287. I honestly thought Rafa would have retired by now. His grinding style of play and heavy topspin would surely have done his body in by now, or so I thought. And yet, here he is, still contending for Majors and still the king of Roland Garros. But, as r289 said, it's been awhile since he won RG and Wimbledon back-to-back.

I'm with R287. We heard that for years about Rafa, and for a long time I believed it, but here he is still winning. If it wasn't for Djokovic's extraordinary effort at Wimbledon, Nadal would have won that, too. I still think Nadal is the favorite here. Only Delpo or Djokovic can probably stop him, although I'd be happy to be wrong and see Thiem take him out.

Nadal is not my favorite player, but I have mad respect for him. He is a beast and beating him takes extraordinary effort. You rarely see him wilt like Federer did last night. He makes you beat him, which is one of the toughest things to do in 5 sets at a Slam. But you never know. I thought after the French in 2016 that Djokovic would maybe win a Calendar Year Slam, but then he went away for two years and wasn't much of a factor. Still, unless the younger generation steps up, I see Nadal and Djokovic being the favorites at Slams until someone in that generation does.

not sure if I ever shared this story on DL yet but 3 years ago I had a chance to hit with a gay former D1 college player (it was sort of a date too). I'm about a 4.0 so yes he kicked my ass but it was fun testing myself against someone who played at such a high level. He told me he actually had played and beaten Isner when they were juniors. Isner was much shorter, around 6'2 or 6'3 max so his serve wasn't nearly the weapon it became after he grew to be 6'10. He said his forehand was his best shot back then and now of course it's his second best after the serve. His backhand has improved but it was a liability back then

R270 Again, just Serena, but Katrina is clearly abusing her power. Sorry if you can't handle me calling it out. I have no problem with Venus or Sloane or Madison or Osaka and haven't "bashed" any of them. I mentioned that the Williams sisters' matches are most often poorly played and overhyped: ACCURATE. I mentioned that Azarenka is a better player than Sloane, and if she were playing at her usual level she should win: ACCURATE. I've written nothing negative about Madison or Osaka. The only bad comment was a joke "as Katrina" about Taylor's weight because everybody on here jokingly calls her Townhouse. I apologize for that one. I've trashed Sharapova, CSN, and Sevastova, but you don't seem to care about that. I wonder why? Just because I'm pointing out things you'd prefer to ignore doesn't make them absurd or me an idiot.

Out of curiosity, do you consider Justine Henin a cheater, but not Serena?

Delpo really turned it up in the 3rd set tiebreak. Good for him. Okay, let's close this match out in four sets.

Isner looks cooked. If Delpo gets the ball any distance away from Isner, he should win the point. I think this will be Delpo in 4 sets.

Katrina Adams is a token USTA prez and she loves it. She has accomplished zilch. If she's ballyhooing about the roofs on the stadiums, they were over budget. She likes the rubber chicken circuit and getting invited all over the world as USTA prez. Too bad she doesn't have the balls to admit she's a lez.

DelPo's thighs look delicious.

I was out there running errands, I'm in nyc. it's not that bad out there. It's certainly not as hot and humid like last week when Novak played where he almost threw up.

R297, I never thought Delpo had much of a butt, but these blue shorts are showing off some nice curves.

I noticed them too, R299. He's definitely packed on some mass down in there! :-)

R298, it wasn't until Federer lost that US Open conditions suddenly became a human rights issue. One ESPN commentator actually referred to the "brutal nighttime conditions" of last night's match.

ESPN should just admit what they are: Federer's and Serena's PR team. I get the legacy of those two, I get that they are popular particularly among casual tennis spectators but, come on...

Yay, Isner netted an easy forehand to lose the match. Excellent!

Delpo! The gentle giant.

yes, that old guy just said brutal heat. it's not even that bad out there now, this guy wouldn't know coz he's inside the fucking cool media room.

so happy trump supporter lost!

kudos to Isner, he's signing autographs even though he lost. not a sore loser.

R301, thankfully last night's match didn't go to five sets, or the U.N. Human Rights Commission might have shut down the entire tournament. LOL!

what's wrong with Delpo? he's got cramps?

wow, now he says us open is his fav tournament ?

Well, it's the only Major he's won so he must have a lot of fond memories.

Vamos Domi!

Del Po is not playing to the crowd. He's always said the US Open is his favorite slam, it's where he's won in the past, and has always received the most crowd support.

It was nice how the crowd really applauded for Del Potro. It'll be interesting to see whom people will side for in that semi, Delpo or Nadal (if he beats Thiem).

Look who's in the semifinals.

yeah Del Potro has always said the USO is his favorite tournament which makes sense since it's his career highlight. The South Americans most want to win the USO and RG

so glad the deplorable is out but yes it was nice that he signed for some kids on the way out.

I love Delpo's cheerleading squad! So glad Delpo has them in his corner when he's playing an American.

oh and Miami is their favorite non-slam

Melo (and Kubot) defeats Tennys (and someone called Austin Krajicek) and goes into the semifinals in Double

Kiki has also reached the semis in Ladies Double

Mixed doubles semis are

McHale/C Harrison vs Mattek/J Murray

Rosolska/Mektic vs Zhang/Peers

Thiem practicing in white shorts.

Who is the boss in the Kiki/Domi relationship?

Go Domi!

What the hell is that shirt J Mac is wearing?

Serena vs. Serve-bot Pliskova. Who wins, DL? Make your predictions!

I like Renee Stubbs's 80s lez hair.

I think Serena doesn't look good so far. I hope she loses so I don't have to subject my eyes to the ugly outfit!

I'm good with Serena losing too. Not likely though I guess.

Will no one spell Stubbs first name correctly?

Will no one spell Stubbs’ first name correctly?

Thiem team

Rennae. Love her

Is Goffin an elf or a dwarf?

Goffin is a hobbit but a cute, likeable, talented one.

Rennae AKA Ms. Graf.

Tennis fans can receive free admission to the US Open grounds on Sept. 10, the second Thursday of the event. The action on the courts will include semifinal matches in men’s and women’s doubles, and the USTA American Collegiate Invitational, which will feature top U.S. collegiate players.

In addition to semifinal action in men’s and women’s US Open doubles, other events occurring around the grounds on that second Thursday include junior and wheelchair competition and the semifinals of the Champions Invitational, a showcase of previous Grand Slam legends.

Fans in the evening can watch the women’s singles semifinals on the video screens throughout the grounds, or purchase a stadium ticket to watch live.

I still love RennAe's 80s lez hair, regardless of how you spell her name.

Have we seen the NYT article that blames global warming for Federer's loss (really)? Because apparently he is the only player in the entire world affected by climate change.

Pliskbot

[quote] Goffin is a hobbit but a cute, likeable, talented one.

Great answer.

[quote] and wheelchair competition

How could they possibly play in that heat and humidity. They should have given Roger a wheelchair too given the conditions.

Lil David is cute and talented but those moles! Damm, gurl.

Ils sont toujours après mes porte-bonheur!

Pliskbot needs a re-boot

Are there Jehovah rules about hair?

They just showed conchita! omg!!! she looks like a grandma!!! that neck! and she had both legs propped up! so unladylike!

Conchita has transitioned. It’s Carlos now.

Why is nobody saying that Fed is just getting old? That is the truth..

Gramps 👴🏻

serena won.

did you know that she recently had a baby?

What?! You're kidding. How did she lose the weight so fast?

This was the first match that Serena has played since coming back that made me believe that she could win another slam.

Hopefully Sevastova can channel her inner Roberta Vinci and slice and dice Serena all over the court. I won't hold my breath though. It will in all likelihood be a whine fest.

Can every one just shut up about the baby? so fucking annoying.

What baby?

There was a baby?

Yes, a baby! A one year old baby, but on account of the whole Jehovah thing they don't celebrate birthdays. But still, baby! Have you heard?

Thiem!

shame that Sloane lost. A Serena-Sloane SF would have been a ratings bonanza and twitter would have gone crazy

Hopefully Thiem plays as well as he did against Anderson even though he's facing a completely different opponent. Thiem was surprisingly patient in his last match but he'll obviously be the aggressor tonight. I just don't want to see him hitting the back fence and shank every other ball. If he can keep his shots consistently in, he'll have a shot to win as he can match Nadal physically

Johnny Mac said he spent a lot of time with Thiem at his academy...damn he was in ny this whole time.

I appreciate that Thiem is very fit. Other players who are more lax with training should take note. He's not going to lose because of lack of fitness.

[quote] He's not going to lose because of lack of fitness.

Of course not. He'll lose it because of choking.

damn, look at Rafa's arms. I think Serena's arms is about the same size.

Nice start from Thiem. Flashy but consistent...can he keep it up

2-0 Thiem!

Ben Stiller sitting in Rafa's box (behind Maria/Mary/Xisca or whatever the hell her name is these days).

weak serving from Nadal so far allowing Thiem to set up and tee off on his returns.

Damn! Rafa in trouble!

3-0 DOUBLE BREAK!

Thiem!!!!

Nadal is going to have to hope Thiem comes back down to Earth after this set. He's not putting enough on his serve and Thiem is dictating play from the start of almost every rally

yes, I saw that Ben Stiller went backstage to take pic with rafa last week.

Taking out the trash! My King, Dominic!

Wow, Thiem has come out on fire!

4-0

Thieminator in da haus!

Is that guy in the hat Thiem's coach?

Thiem's backhand is super sweet!

Wow Domi hasn't pounded anyone this hard since I spent that weekend with him in Graz.

lol Nadal moonballing to win a point!

Dominic!!! Hope it goes like this for the next 90 minutes and that should be enough.

At least you don't see me getting bageled like that. I'm still better

Ben Stiller to be kicked out of Rafa's box shortly.

wow, Rafa is in deep shit!

Did you guys hear that Nike has made an ice vest? They should put Serena's baby in it. Yes! She had a baby!!

GO THIEM

Thiem's backside is super sweet!

Damn it would be so embarrassing if Rafa lost 6-0, 6-0, 6-0!

Hope this lasts. Have never seen Dominic better.

R388 = Jana Novotna

I told you it’s too humid!

Thiem team

Damn, what happened? Do they do random drug tests after matches like the do in other sports?

It's really not humid out there at all. Even the guy said nicer weather tonight compared to last night.

Thiem!

rafa puts on the ice vest when he sits down lol

Domicakes team

Rafa demanded a fan or as he said a ventilator be brought out for him. He's too hot!

Rafa was last bageled by Kohlschreiber in Miami last year. Rafa still won the match in 3.

the girl in black and white outfit is Rafa's gf?

yeah if there's a male player who can swallow a bagel and still come back to win, it's Nadal. Thiem is definitely someone who could bagel someone and then still go on to lose.

As I type this, Thiem breaks back to stay in the set

Thiem's coach is fat and calm. I like that. I'd let him fuck me.

annnnd Nadal breaks back to win the set.

Thiem being Thiem

Never let Rafa back into a match. Ever.

stop showing annoying Ben Stiller. I really don't care about which celebs go to watch the matches just like I don't give a fuck when the "royalty" watches at Wimbledon

Rafa is only one of Big 4 not married and not a father. And he has had same “gf” for like 12 years. Ok.

Thiem just needs to stay with Rafa.

[quote] Rafa is only one of Big 4 not married and not a father.

Thank you for counting correctly.

[quote] Thiem just needs to stay with Rafa.

Do you mean he should go to Mallorca and spend quality time together?

Better ass: Rafa or Domi?

Coric

¿Me have better ass than white boy, no? ¿Better player too, no?

When was Rafa's "girlfriend" rebranded? Why is she now "Maria"?

Doesn't Rafa still live at home?

R413 we got bored with the old model. Mary is Xisca 2.0

Big 5 !!!

Michael Keaton cheering on Domi.

There are rumors that Xisca/Mary lived with, or still lives with, Rafa's sister.

Scissor sisters

Domi chokes serving for the third set lol

It may not be humid in whatever cornpone prairie state you’re posting from R394, but I just took my dog out for a leisurely 15 minute walk in New York and came back in dripping sweat. Granted I’m a fat womon better suited to garbage duty, but still, stfu.

I can't get a good feel on who's going to win this yet. I'm leaning toward Nadal but Thiem has managed to match his intensity up until this point, so it's hard to say.

R421 = Shamalama ooohhh, fat lezzie!

The crowd is pulling for Rafa just as hard as they were Roger last night. Hopefully it ends the same way.

Word, R424.

What's the deal with going with the heavy favorites over the underdogs?

and Thiem loses 4 straight games, getting broken consecutively. Strong ATP mentality!

Fuck dis shit.

Damn it.

God, what the FUCK. Thiem bagels Nadal in the first and is going to wind up losing the match in 4?

Nole is gonna win it all!

Yes, Thiem will lose in 4. Welcome to the modern ATP tour. Compelling!

Thiem is a great rep for #LostGen

Domi played such smart, controlled tennis in the first set. Then with a lead he reverts to being a brainless ball basher.

Thiem with an early break again! Can he maintain it???

Short answer: no he can't.

Hey you fat woman who took a dog out for a walk, it's not humid right now in nyc. seriously, there is a breeze too but those guys are running around so of course they are sweating. It is a normal summer night. Not crazy hot, humid and stifling. You can definitely breathe no problems. Roger's excuse was so fake.

Did they take a 10 min break? I went out for dinner and just came back.

Domi, you're killing me!

lol back on serve after having game point

[quote]Can he maintain it?

There, I told you so.

damn, Thiem is gonna lose!

Rafa lives in his own house. His family lives in a house down the road.

Thiem had a chance to go up double break but of course didn't get it done and now he's a game away from losing. I hope he made Nadal more tired though

Del Potro can't run like Thiem even though he's got a bigger and more consistent forehand.

Nadal's mummy on his son : “Deep down, he is a super-sensitive human being full of fears and insecurities that people who don’t know him would scarcely imagine,” says Ana Maria. “He doesn’t like the dark, for example, and he prefers to sleep with the light, or the TV, on. He is not comfortable with thunder and lightning, either. When he was a child he’d hide under a cushion when that happened and, even now, when there’s a storm and you need to go outside to fetch something, he won’t let you.

“And then there are his eating habits, his loathing of cheese and tomato, and of ham, the national dish of Spain. I’m not as mad about ham myself as most people seem to be, but cheese? It is a bit peculiar.

“He’s a prudent driver,” she adds. “He accelerates, brakes, accelerates, brakes, and he is awfully careful about overtaking, however powerful his car might be. If I take the car to drive to Palma, only an hour away, he’ll beg me, always, to drive slowly and carefully.

“I like to light up the fireplace almost every night. If he goes out, he’ll remind me before leaving to put out the fire before I go to sleep. And then he’ll phone three times from whatever restaurant or bar he is in to make sure I’ve done so.”

Jesus, Dominic can really whack the ball, especially on his backhand. He really should have been able to win this one.

R446 that's his problem. Consistency. He can hit some amazing shots and has brute strength but sometimes his control goes haywire. He needs to understand that he doesn't have to hit it as hard as he can all the time and worry about it going in

Nadal’s girlfriend since 2005, Maria Francisca Perelló “Travelling together everywhere, even if I could, would not be good either for him or for me,” says Maria Francisca, who has a degree in business administration and a full-time job with an insurance company in Palma, Mallorca. “He needs his space when he is competing, and just the idea of me hanging around waiting on his needs all day wears me out. It would asphyxiate me. And then he would have to be worrying about me … No. If I followed him everywhere, I think there’s a risk we might stop getting along.”

She remembers a time when they were in Paris and he had to go to a dinner hosted by one of his sponsors. “He asked me if I wanted to go, but I chose not to,” she says. “I stayed in our hotel. When Rafael got back he said, ‘Thank God you didn’t come’. The place had been swarming with photographers. For me to have gone would have meant stepping into that celebrity world. It’s not a world I want to be part of, nor do I think Rafa would have chosen to be with a woman who looked for that in life.

“Even if my family asks me about Rafael,” she adds, “I prefer not to say much. The fact is that I just don’t feel comfortable talking about these things, even in private. It’s what works for me, and what works for Rafael and me as a couple. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Rafa is a modern boy in a modern relationship!

Nadal’s sister Maribel, five years his junior

“One time when he was away in Australia my doctor ordered me to have some tests done – nothing too serious – but in all the messages I exchanged with Rafael that was the one thing I didn’t mention. It would freak him out; it would risk throwing him completely off his game,” says Maribel, whose pride in her brother’s achievements does not blind her to “the truth”, expressed with teasing affection, that he is “a bit of a scaredy cat”.

“He’s always talking about buying himself a boat. He loves fishing and jet-skiing, but he won’t jet-ski, nor will he swim, unless he can see the sand at the bottom. Nor will he ever dive off a high rock into the sea, as his friends do all the time.

“Most boys growing up see their younger sisters as irritations,” she adds, “especially when they are teenagers but that has never been the way Rafael has treated me. He’s always urged me to come along when he goes out with his friends. It’s natural to us, even if others might sometimes find it strange, and it’s part of the secret of our special bond.”

Thiem is like the new Fernando Gonzalez. Amazingly strong shotmaker but can make as many wild misses as he does glorious winners. He can be streakily good or bad or vary from point to point. You just don't know. Despite how much topspin he hits with, his big take-backs on his strokes still make them risky.

God, he is frustrating.

Nadal's gonna win, no doubt.

tiebreak!

hard to imagine Domi being consistent enough to win this and bring it to a 5th set

Thiem is Tommy Haas v2.0

No, but he'll be good enough to get it to 6 - 3 before Nadal comes back and wins the tiebreak.

Well, there's the 6 - 3 start. Now...

It's a miracle!!!!!!!

Domicakes!

Best match of the tournament thus far.

wow I'm impressed he held his nerve to bring it 5 especially after choking the 3rd set

I still expect Nadal to win but hopefully Domi will have drained him of energy

No, the Cilic/De Minaur was the best by far...except for the final result.

Thiem's ass is huge and showcased so well by his tight shorts riding up on him.

Now shirtless and barefoot.

Damn...he changed everything else, why not his shorts?!

Now, if he could just duplicate the first set again...

Damn Nadal uses so many towels! Even sitting down, he's got to do his OCD shit. I wonder if he's gotta do that while fucking too.

THIEM

I'm sure he has to do OCD things with every single thing he does, R466. Can you imagine the fishing rituals? I'll bet it takes 15 minutes for him to bait his hook and cast a line.

Rafa is the greatest autistic athlete ever.

he's gotta call his mommy 3 times every night about the fireplace. No wonder his gf doesn't travel with him, it would drive the girl crazy with all the shit he's gotta do.

Nobody’s watching?

If I don’t see another shot of an audience member recognizing they are on tv on the big screen ever it will be too soon.

Damn, these people don't have work tomorrow lol

[quote] Damn, these people don't have work tomorrow lol

LoL! :)

I do, R473, but not giving up at this point!

Are any of you on Thiem team?

Of course, R476. The only reason I'm still up!

I'm really curious about Nadal's eating habits and what ocd shit he does

You know that he has to be a super picky eater and probably only eats three things and has to make sure the silverware is lined up just right.

According to his mommy, he doesn't like tomato, cheese or ham.

Moya is aging well for all the years he spent in the sun.

yes, esp the water bottles lol.

Moya keeps touching his nose...hmmm

Go Thiem go!

R480 surprising given that they're prevalent in a lot of Spanish food. Maybe not in Mallorca though. I only heard Nadal talk about shrimp several years ago and that he only likes it with "Spanish paprika" not any other kind of paprika. He also likes chocolate but I want to know more. He obviously has to eat a lot because he's in great shape and not bony like Djokovic

When Nadal played the tournament i used to work on, we were sent a list of foods he did/didn't like. It wasn't an obnoxious list of "Rafa will not eat ... " etc but a guideline. I'll see if i still have it. I seem to remember he hated olives which we were all surprised by.

He likes fish in olive oil. He cooks for his family sometimes. He eats rice and pasta. Likes to eat choc cookies

Sweet God...that was a miracle.

Thiem!!

Damn this match is epic.

Ugh. God. Damn. It.

Poor sweetcakes.

Rafa still shakes the sweat out of his "hair" out of habit.

Rafa, gotta hand it to him, he was tough! Mentally so strong!!! Thiem played a great match, his future is bright!

lol of course Thiem missed the overhead. Great effort overall though

Nadal was more clutch at the end. He got lucky too at 4-5 when he hit a weak second serve that Thiem netted.

I hope he's worn out for Del Potro though

R486 oh please do!

Thiem looks like he doesn't care. That's probably the reason he hasn't won shit.

Thiem looks doesn't look the talkative type.

Nadal loves chocolate. Hates tomato, ketchup and caviar. He has to sleep with the light or TV on coz he hates the dark! No wonder he's not married!

He’s not married because he’s a legendary pussyhound!

And another "Match of the tournament/year" for Nadal. I did not watch it until the end but first, the Wimbledon matches with DelPo and then Djokovic. Last week it was the match with Karen, now with Thiem. He is exhausting but exciting, but not after midnight.

Can Delpo stop Nadal?

[quote]Nadal loves chocolate

Did someone say chocolate?

I like both Thiem and Nadal. Both great attitudes and fighters. Rafa should win the whole thing based on this performance. He is a beast! Albeit a OCD/Crazy one. The anecdotes above are why I like Rafa. He is not comfortable with the celebrity element of his success. He doesn't seem to need it like Djokovic.

I think Delpo can win easily if he is in the mood and feels fine. However, he has lost their last three meetings (US Open, W, and FO) and Rafa is Rafa. Their H2H is 5-11 for Rafa.

IMO Delpo has a good shot at Rafa, who should be gassed after Thiem and Khachanov.

But Rafa is Rafa, so you can never count him out. Think pink!

I hope Kei shows up for today's match v Cilic. It could be a great match with beautiful ball striking. I hope Kei is hungry for revenge after his loss to Cilic a few years ago. Kei is purdy.

Kei is sexy. Until he smiles. But nevermind

Kei will do the repeat of Wimbledon where he looked great until he ran into Djokovic and folded mentally. Cilic is the more consistent and conditioned one right now. I'd love to be proven wrong but we'll see.

Fran(k) Schiavone is having a press conference later today....probably announcing her retirement?

Rafa will probably have until Friday evening to play so I am sure he is gonna be well rested.

weather on Friday and Sat is good. much cooler.

I really do not want a Novak/Rafa final and if it happens ...Vamos! Go Rafa!!

Sweet Cakes needs to work on his legs a bit to shore of that big ol caboose. I love Coric's legs. Perhaps Porna can give him some tips.

[quote] I really do not want a Novak/Rafa final and if it happens ...Vamos! Go Rafa!!

It'll happen and you'll deal.

I’m no fan of Djokovic, but if it’s a Nadal/Djokovic final I’d want Djokovic to win.

every slam I keep thinking "this is the time someone new will win and take out the big 3" but again that doesn't seem likely. Even if Del Potro manages to beat Nadal (who's going to have 2 days rest), I doubt he'll be able to repeat against Djokovic. It's so annoying that no one else has broken through.

Cilic is too much of a choker to def. Djokoivic and Nishikori hasn't beatean him in a big match in forever.

We're most likely getting another fucking Nadal/Djokovic final.

I#LostGen is still a joke and #NextGen isn't ready yet

What if Osaka wins the whole thing? She looks more solid and less error prone lately.

I'm hoping for a Keys-Osaka SF. that would be fun to watch with all that power.

too bad Sloane ruined a potential sf with Serena

R517 I hope she does. She HAS to be in the final.

Who would have a better chance of beating Serena in a final between Keys and Osaka? I'm thinking Osaka.

I think Osaka the way she is playing. I am still rooting for Keys though

Osaka. No question.

I wish these dummies would stop talking about the "depth" in the women's game. Just because the top 20 is full of streaky, whiny, choky losers does not me that there is depth.

Osaka - Tsurenko looks more like a 1st round match

Osaka doesn't seem to be intimidated by Serena, so I think she has a better chance.

R5223 and you think there's depth in the men's game? The same 3 players have been winning everything for about 10 years now with cameos by Murray and Wawrinka. No one new has broken through since Cilic in 2014.

I remember in the early 2000s when we had a small group of dominant women. The critics said "oh women's tennis is boring because you always know who's going to win" nd the "men's game is so much more fun because you never know who'll win". Now it's the opposite but the women still get bashed and the men still being praised. Pure hypocrisy

Osaka and Keys are always going to be in the mix now for big titles

[quote] Osaka and Keys are always going to be in the mix now for big titles

I misread that. I may need to get a new prescription for my bifocals!

R526 No one mentioned the men's game, so chill. But 4 incredibly good players who consistently perform well whenever they show up (and are healthy) is more depth than the women's tour has seen for like 15 years.

I think Osaka would have a better shot against Serena than Keys would. Osaka seems to handle her nerves better, but of course we've never seen her in a final or semi at a Major.

R528 how is that great depth? It means hardly ever do all of them lose in 1 tournament. That happened briefly in the early 2000s and critics thought it was boring. This has been going on for 10 years now in the men's game

You have players like Dimitrov who rose to #3 only to be exposed when the big boys were all back in action

Great depth means you have a top tier who is consistently threatened by the 2nd tier and even the 3rd tier gives them hell. We know what's likely going to be the SF at every men's tournament that's not depth. That's dominance

[quote]of course we've never seen her in a final or semi at a Major

Didn't she win Indian Wells this year?

It's not great depth, but at least the top players aren't waltzing through the later rounds of tournaments when the matches are supposed to be more difficult. On the WTA we have someone winning a slam and then losing first or second round at the next three tournaments.

R531 When did that ever exist?

And hasn't Nadal, the top seed, played two 4+ hour matches while Osaka, the 20 seed, just won her quarter 1 and 1. Tennis is about match-ups of course, but it seems like more depth on the men's side to me. Not that I even care to discuss this.

R529 Except that she cried after her 4th round win and just told everybody that she was so nervous her whole body was shaking before the quarters. Way to show your cards, Naomi! At least she still won easily.

and in the late 90s/early 2000s you'd have some male slam winners crashing out in multiple tournaments before or after their big win. Now it's happening to some of the women. Back then critics said the men's game was more exciting and many of those same ones are saying the same thing now even though the situations are reversed.

Nadal has had tough matches at this USO but the point is no one has beaten him so far and he's got a great shot at winning the whole thing. He also won RG handily and was only stopped at Wimbledon by fellow big 3/4/5er Djokovic. Where are all the other men in their 20s who should be peaking now to stop them? The mid-20s guys just don't have it and the young guys aren't ready yet. That's not great depth when the same few guys are expected to win every slam

The Nadal-Thiem match was great and fun to watch but the press won't call out Thiem for choking his 5-3 lead in the 3rd. He lost that set 5-7. The WTA gets called out for stuff like that "lack of mental toughness" whereas critics will just say Nadal is such a warrior he fought back. Thiem choked that set.

There was more surface variety in the Slams in the late 90s and early 2000s, which helped produce some exciting tennis; they certainly weren't slowing down the courts at the U.S. Open or at fucking Wimbledon to help clay-court specialists like Nadal have a shot at winning.

Ok. So I guess we'll just agree that there's poor depth on both tours and that the commentators will say all sorts of stupid shit just to hear themselves talk.

R538 Wimbledon's always been a very distant fourth of the slams for me. Why do people buy into that "The Championships" horseshit? The surface is awful for player injuries and the tennis usually sucks even after they slowed down the courts. Who wants to watch serve practice for God's sake?!!

After this slam, there will be a very good chance that for the first time we'll have no active slam winners under 30. Del Potro and Cilic both turn 30 later this month. Only Nishikori and Millman will still be in their late 20s and it's unlikely either will win.

That means every single active slam champ will be 30+ (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Wawrinka, Murray, Del Potro, Cilic)

A clear sign of no depth

Keys has zero chances against Serena on a final. Well, she has close to zero chances against anyone because the level of her game drops a lot when she has to play a big match, and against Serena that's a blood bath.

Osaka game has more to do with male tennis, yes she hits the ball hard but she selects the shots instead of bashing the ball on every single shot like most women do.

compelling first set from Nishikori!

Nishikori seems not to care

Nishikori lost the first set 6-2

the colors worn by Nishikori are so ugly, green with poo brown.

Cilic is going to smash Nishikori like he did in that final. Back then i though Cilic would choke (he is talented but a head case since the beginning of his career) but Nishikori outchoked him by far

I smell tanking!

Cilic from a set and break up now split sets

YES!

What happened in the second set? Did Nishikori play better or did Cilic fold?

If Rafa and Osaka win, we'll have two autistic champions.

NO!!!!!!!!!

Team Kei!

Kei team

Mmmm, like it when Kei lifts his shirt to wipe his face...

is it 4-2 for Kei in 3th set? i am late

Go Kei and Naomi! Let's have two Japanese champions!

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cilic totally choked away the 3rd set tiebreaker.

Too bad that Nishikori is coached by that damned Fundie, Chang.

🎤 🎤

Damm, Kei has gams.

It's so gross out there. Really humid, yesterday was much nicer.

omg, i can't stand osaka's interview. so cringe!

Osaka's crushing on Kei.

Kei just won the match.

Kei just wanted to drag it a bit longer to increase the chances of getting injured. It's been a while since his last withdrawl. He shouldn't lower his stats

Towards the end, I was wondering: "Do either of these two dodos want to win it?"

A Nishikori/Delpo match would be fun but unlikely to happen.

Not everyone can be as snippy and condescending and icy as Sharapova, or as arrogant and dismissive as Serena, R566.

yeah Nishikori will likely be dead for the SF. He'll either enter the match already injured or he'll sustain one during the match. Chang has tried to build his body up but Nishikori is just not the physical warrior that Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka and even Dimitrov and Thiem are.

on another note, I've never seen Cilic get so testosterone-fueled angry before. It was kinda hot

Testosterone-feuled or drug-fueled?

Kei said afterwards he was really tired during the match...i'm sure both were.

we were tired of the match too

for the new thread can I be the poster boy? I'll give Datalounge my heart!

Fuck what are the chances of Kei beating Djoko?

R578, he’s done it before.

As an Australian I'm hoping the question is can John Millman beat Djokovic, and that the answer turns out to be yes! With the likes of Tomic and Kyrgios it's good to have a decent hometown 'hero' to go for.

Kei: I love to play here. Great tournament. My favorite slam.

LOL R580 - that would be cool.

Oh, Del Potro *sigh*

What a pair of lovelies we have up first on Ashe tonight!

Vamos Carla!

what a beauties!

Keys is overpowering CSN so far. CSN can not control the rallies like she did against Sharapova. Keys hits even flatter than Sharapova and with more power

CarlO!

The Keys-Carlo match is a dull dud.

I am on CarlO team, but he’s a goner. Bobby Riggs now him.

Why does Osaka play for Japan, isn’t she American?

[quote]Why does Osaka play for Japan, isn’t she American?

She'll make more moolah in the Japanese market. Apparently Kei is worth a fortune.

She's half Japanese, half Haitian but has lived in Florida for 90% of her life and is only semi-fluent in Japanese. She says she's only Japanese though.

I like Keys but I want Osaka cause i think she'll give Serena more of a challenge

Osaka is the real deal. That girl is going places. It may not happen here, at this US Open, but she will be winning slams.

If her dad is Haitian, how can her last name be Osaka? Must be made up name.

It’s her mother’s name. She used it when she was growing up in Japan.

She must take her mother's name. Are the parents separated?

Naomi's coach is sasha, Serena's former hitting partner, he was in that documentary Venus and serena, can't remember if that's the name of it but I remember watching it years ago.

I love Osaka. When is the last time we had a sweet, sly-humored, airheaded smart cookie winning slams? Seles?

Read the Wikipedia article - she was born in Japan and it was "advantageous" for her to have a Japanese last name. Not sure about the Japanese citizenship law, but i think your last name must be transcribable in Japanese.

Oh sure, the bitches will cheer on the underdog when he is against Novak but God forbid they do the same thing when he was playing Roger.