The Gays and Tennis Part 60: end of the USO and onto the clay!

Thank you for continuing to make new threads! They’re so boring when they’re locked down.

This match is pathetic. It's worse than any other male match I saw in the tournament.

Not compelling at all

Agree, R3. It's not a WTA match.

Hopefully these people who say the Big 3 winning everything is boring can now shut the fuck up...forever!

Because this match is pathetic.

yeah, i d prefer to see Roger-Nadal now

DomiFlop

This is the most embarrassing match of all time.

Even Zverev seems bored by this match

HOW IS IT that a top 3/4 player in the world (thiem) won't or can't change his return stance and getting killed EVERY SINGLE TIME? i mean it's pretty ridiculous how far he stands back and doesn't change, while sasha tees off on his short replies! i'm surprised sasha hasn't hit a drop shot serve more than once for outright winners...i mean he's thiem is worse than wawrinka in this case!

why isn't thiem also dropshotting sasha, since sasha is very suspect on his volleys!... looks like the only way thiem is going to win is if sasha literally and totally becomes exhausted from all the tough matches he had to play and thiem wins by exhaustion not because of better play?

Thiem is gonna have to call up Andy Murray after this loss.

He needs to see a sports shrink stat!

His body language is terrible. He's given up and why doesn't he change? He's all wet!

Commentator: “Maybe they can both play well at the same time.”

It's not hot today at all.

If Thiem doesn't turn this around, among the men AZ will be the least deserving GS titleholder since...Johansson? Korda?

Breaking: Rolex will always be a part of Tennis!

Does it look like thiem's ankle is bothering him?

Actually Sascha is playing amazing tennis. He defends incredibly well and has been aggressive AF. Right now Thiem is struggling to stay in it.

R16 I was thinking the heel

I'm waiting for Domi to start returning from the first row of seats at the back of the court. He was literally invisible receiving serve just a minute ago.

Well he has to try SOMETHING

[quote] This is the most embarrassing match of all time.

Fuck you!

It's quite an achievement how they've made this match so fucking boring.

Zverev melted

It's a championship of who can play less bad

Thiem team!

Domicakes team!

Even the views of Domicakes' ass are not as good as usual thanks to his dark-patterned shorts.

“ Who were/are the white players with yellow skin in the men’s draw?”

WTF does this mean?

Who were/are the white players with yellow skin in the men’s draw?

Thiem needs to keep failing to win slams so he can spiral downward and use that ass how God intended it – bottom up, bareback porn.

I'm having a difficult time staying awake.

Commentator from my country said (when they showed some man in zveres box in the audience ) that he is his partner.

[quote]bottom up, bareback porn

He'll have a Golden Gaytime

Who's the guy with Thiem at R31?

Which male players have feminine asses?

Does Thiem shave/wax? or he's just naturally hairless?

No comments yet on how it looks they divided up the same outfit? AZ got the shorts and headband and DT the shirt.

DT wearing hot pink like he was born to it.

R35 He shaves his legs. I remember when he used to have some beautiful hair on his legs.

Is Thiem going to stay at #3 regardless of if he wins/loses? Interesting that he'll be either finalist/winner of USO, finalist at AO and finalist at 2019 RG but not close to #1 ranking. He also still has the IW championship points

Tsarina Zvereva is falling apart!

Zverev looks like he could go three more sets.

Thiem as always looks like he's about to collapse. His bracelet is a nice complement to his ensemble.

I'd like to see him recreate the "Think Pink" scene in Funny Face in the Kay Thompson role.

Thiem's back is disgusting.

Yes, R37, since Nadal retains his 2019 USO championship points.

How could a five-set match be so boring.

early break !

Who were/are the white players with yellow skin in the men’s draw?

[quote]Thiem's back is disgusting

don't be bitter, Kiki

[quote] Thiem's back is disgusting.

In what ways?

Zverev yells "cmon! let's go!" after Thiem double faults to hand the break back

Zverev has now turned into Murray with the c'mons!

Is Thiem limping?

they're both feeling the mental and physical fatigue now.

There’s no consistency, no fire, no personality.

Thiem sweating like a pig and it’s not even that hot or humid. They just had to send a ball girl running out to mop up a puddle of sweat.

r51 to be fair, the lack of a crowd isn't helping. And both of them have "Misery" beat with the dour personas.

r46, his back is covered with big brown and black spots and even his chest was covered with huge pimples.

That being said, I can even overlook Thiem's 80's Eurotrash highlghts and headband just by staring at that ass. God bless it.

[quote] his back is covered with big brown and black spots

sounds like the bubonic plague

Thiem probably eats lots of sausage and cheese and is sweating out the salt when he plays

Good Lord, never thought I'd see a BORING 5 set GS match!!

Future skin cancers. When it was fresh I'd have gladly helped him with sunscreen but now, no.

[quote]God bless it.

Domi Domi Domi can't you see

sometimes your buttocks hypnotize me

[quote] Very compelling.

My god, he might as well have gone ahead and lost in straight sets at this rate.

lmfao CHOKE

We have 2 chokers playing against each other. How exciting.

This match is just another reason 2020 sucks!

AWFUL.

I'm pulling for Zverev just to put this match out of its misery.

Snickering at Fowler saying "compelling" repeatedly in the last 2 sets

Go Thiem!

[quote] I'm pulling for Zverev just to put this match out of its misery.

Hey! I already lost.

[quote] Snickering at Fowler saying "compelling" repeatedly in the last 2 sets

Why? It's an apt word.

It would be more fun watching them both rifle forehands at Chris Fowler's head.

OK that was a sexy on the run forehand by Thiem especially at this stage in the match

Compelling us to wish Rafa was here.

Zverev should stay away from Thiem's forehand

Thiem whining to his coach is pathetic.

Zverev pushing like he's Amanda Coetzer.

Zverev should stay away.

I think Thiem is gonna win this.

So it's ok for the ball boys to get COVID after cleaning the sweaty court?

Domicakes' sweat is divine, R77.

Chokefest 2020

Tiebreak.

for fuck sake Zverev's luck at this tournament is endless

Thiem serves for the match and his legs cramp

Zverev has this now

Not so fast, r81

[quote] Not so fast, [R81]

Not so fast, von Ryan.

on Thiem's serve lol wtf will happen now

Thiem 6-4 match points

Thiem misses a sitter

Thiem overhits now

Zverev fake limping now.

HAHA Zverev get fucked! I am so happy this happens to him. I hope he has PTSD in GS from now.

Hug!

Thiem team!

Domicakes team!

[quote] HAHA Zverev get fucked! I am so happy this happens to him. I hope he has PTSD in GS from now.

Yay! I'm so happy.

Welcome to the club, Domi.

I’m glad Thiem won, but that wasn’t good.

I hope it's the first of many majors for Thiem.

Thiem didn't win. Zverev lost.

I hope neither Nadal nor Djokovic win the French.

Thiem deserved to win the AO. I’m glad he pulled it out.

I think that Zverev will be like Genie Bouchard after she choked in the Wimbledon final. This may be the beginning of the end for him.

R97, Thiem’s level wasn’t good here because he was not playing a great player.

Zverev cried during his speech.

R99 Oh please, Thiem couldn't even hold his own serves for the first 2 sets.

NextGen and LostGen just suck.

Unfortunately Djokovic and Nadal will still dominate GS for the next 2-3 years at least.

R102, how could they not? We’ve seen what will happen when they’re gone, and it’s not inspiring.

Hopefully this inspires both Thiem and Zverev to want more finals/wins. That's what brings the next generation along--that hunger. Agree, though, this was not a well played final. Uninspiring except for the 5th set, and even that was uneven. Hopefully they overcome their nerves and are filled with desire to win. I'd hate to see Djokovic-Nadal dominate for the next 2-3 years.

Yay Thiem! Was roofing for him.

How exhausting for both of them.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

[quote] Look at Z's face

What’s the color of that face?

Green

Poor Sasha.

He's never gonna live this down, bitches.

Mark my words.

R106 lmfao Tsarina Zvereva is not happy

I hope this tournament inspires the other younger players to step up. Not a fan of Thiem off court but he is truly "the best of the rest" at least for now

Tsitsipas should be very eager to make his mark.

Coric had his best showing

Tiafoe reached the second week for the second time at a slam (AO 2019 QF)

Shapovalov not a fan but he played well to reach the QF

Fritz played well until his choke against Shapovalov

FAA first time reaching the second week of a slam

R109 = John McEnroe

No, thanks. These young players are such mental weaklings.

The reason why Djokovic, Nadal, Federer (even Murray, Wawrinka, Del Potro) win a lot is because they're mentally tough.

It was very humid out there during the match. If there was no breeze down on the court, they would get very hot and sweaty.

Hug me Sascha, one more time

Zverev knew he could have just as easily have won that match as Thiem. I think thats what is tearing him apart. As Thiem said, there should have been two winners today. In the end I'm happy Thiem finally got his virgin slam under his belt, I was pulling for him from the start.. Zverez will pull himself together in due course, but yeah, that loss had to sting pretty bad.

R113 you do realize it took Murray a while to get mentally tough and Wawrinka even longer. Wawrinka was a middling player not in contention for slams until his late 20s. His forehand kept breaking down at crucial moments and suddenly when no one expected, he made it much more stable. He has confidence now. I'm sure some of the younger players will mature faster. It took Murray 4 slam finals to finally win one. His record now 3-8

Domicakes in second pic.

Nice message.

I'll be really curious to see how Thiem and Zverev do on clay. They have basically no time to rest and practice. Thiem of course is great on clay and Zverev has shown he can play on it but this final will take a lot out of them. Zverev has had a bunch of long matches this past week

I don't think Thiem is gay...he has zero fashion sense. Look at this sweater! Burn it!

Are you kidding, R116? There shouldn't have been two winners; there should have been two losers.

R117 Thiem is ALREADY in his late 20s! He's 27!

Murray won his first Grand Slam at 25. Younger than Thiem is now. Stan won his first at 28.

At least google some shit before you come for people.

Is it just me or does tennis need some stars? Every big final seems to have random winners

Some said a few threads ago they wanted Vika to win and be the first mom to win the US open and not be Serena.

Clisjters won USOpen as a mom in 2009, 2010

[quote]Are you kidding, [R116]? There shouldn't have been two winners; there should have been two losers.

Same diff, and I think that's essentially what Domi was insinuating

[quote] Is it just me or does tennis need some stars? Every big final seems to have random winners

R122 what are you talking about? Who said Thiem was young? The point is using Murray and Wawrinka as examples of mental toughness is flawed. Both were not known for that until they were older. So Zverev could be 1-3 years away from winning slams. Thiem has been making finals for the last 2 years now, at a younger age than Wawrinka did. Wawrinka suddenly winning slams took everyone by surprise, Thiem's win isn't a shock.

Thiem and Zverev both choked a lot today but maybe Thiem will be mentally tougher now.

We saw mental weakness from a lot of the young promising players at this year's USO but the point is they have time to get tougher. Not everyone comes out Nadal so focused. Federer didn't get it together until his early 20s. Djokovic after winning his first slam had a period of frailty.

LOL!

John Wertheim says Novak should be pitied, evidently because absent someone to tell him no, he's not capable of making good decisions on his own.

I wrote about this after the Adria Tour; and it was in evidence last week as well. Isolation—bubbles within bubbles, as it were—becomes a danger for any star, but especially so in an individual sport. And Djokovic needs a truth-teller to pierce his membrane. Someone to prevent him from holding COVID-superspreader events. (“Hey, even if technically this complies with national policy, the optics here are terrible!”) Or slapping balls in anger (“Hey, if that had inadvertently hit someone, it could really cost you!”) Or making ATP political allegiances that will later cause embarrassment and credibility loss among key colleagues. Or leaving an event that ends in disgrace, and then blowing off an uncomfortable press conference. (“If you want to be a leader in this sport, accountability means taking questions and dialoguing, not simply issuing tweets and posts.”) Clearly no one on staff fills this role. Again, the phrase you often hear with Djokovic: “Novak’s intentions are good; it’s just that…” He is not a figure to be reviled. He is, if anything, a figure to be pitied.

[quote] Or slapping balls in anger

Sounds hot.

That's laughable that Wertheim thinks Djokovic is to be pitied. Just look at how arrogant and entitled and unwilling to listen Djokovic is in his press conferences. Djokovic has nobody but himself to blame for his tunnel-visioned hubris. I bet he shows the door pronto to anyone who tells him anything that he doesn't want to hear.

R129, Wertheim, trying to make a Big Point, conflates things that aren’t really similar. The ball-striking incident was a freak accident. It happened to Novak just then because he was furious at the possibility of dropping a set. I don’t respect the rage, but I respect his perfectionism, something does not plague either Zverev or Thiem. I also think that you would have to be superhuman to hold a press conference after being disqualified under those circumstances. (The ATP political stuff is just too convoluted for me to follow, so I can’t comment on that).

Novak was warned in the past by his former coach, Becker and even asked the question by reporters and people have posted his reaction to the question in previous threads. He didn't think anything bad was gonna happen coz he's so fucking special...Rules don't apply to him, he's arrogant, he thinks he's immune to everything even the virus but well, he's been proven wrong.

He's not a man, a real man faces the consequences of their actions. He ran away...zero respect.

Even Serena had the balls to face the reporters after she threatened a line judge.

John Worthless strikes again

The worst part about the Djokovic incident was cameras picking up that he was trying to debate the tournament official. "At this stage in my career you're going to default me?" and making the excuse that the lineswoman wasn't seriously hurt. He just hit her in the fucking throat causing her to gag and topple over yet he's making it all about his tennis career and records. He needed to be humbled. I'm really curious how the Euro crowds will react to him. Maybe they won't care but that moment turned me off even more than anything else he's said or done

It's funny some people talk about Murray and Wawrinka mental toughness.

Sorry but Murray spend years losing matches he should have won. Murray has more talent than Djokovic and during a while he seemed destined to be a better player but it took him years to go there.

And Wawrinka was always a mental case, able to the best and the worst till he was near his 30, losing a lot of opportunities. But he got older and wiser on court, and now when he is on he is a real danger.

Even Nole was not that tough when he was young, it took him some time.

Anyway, i have the clear vision that Carlos Alcaraz will be a threat in no time if he improves his serve, unlike most top players he is determined, has a great mentality and never surrenders. Most young players lack focus and they seem more interested in social media than in improving their skills

R120 Not all gays are into fashion.

Anyway he talked recently about being single and that he hopes there'll be another girl in his box in a future. If he is gay he is not going to come out

And i'm curious about what Thiem and Zverev will do on clay.

Clay is their best surface, both have his best GS at RG (till recently), but they have not time to rest or practise.

Thiem has a tendency to do really bad after a good tournament, but he is really good at RG. If he keeps the focus on the first rounds he'll be a real threat, because he has now way less pressure.

I'm pretty sure Nole and Rafa prefer Thim for the other part of the draw because the one who face him in semifinals will have trouble (and i don't think Thiem is tough enough to defeat Rafa on a final, but semifinals are a totally different story).

Zverev lost is the type that is really hard to digest because he was really near. People who were defeated the same way (Coria, Andrei Medvedev) crumble really fast after that. In fact Coria should have been a factor on clay but his serve (which is already a headache for Sascha) dismatle in the following years and all his game crashed after that

This was a terrible final. Zverev should have won...he was playing smart serve and vollying and Theim just sat at the baseline bashing the ball. I don't like either of them but was rooting for Domi because he earned it with a better overall tournament.

On Rome Davidovich defeated very clearly Moutet 62 61 in the battle of next gens.

In the battle of promising italian players Musetti defeated Zeppieri 61 57 63

On first round of the main draw Ruud defeated Khachanov 63 36 61 and Krajinovic defeated FAA 64 75

Rafa said he is very happy for Domi and that he is a fantastic guy and deserved it.

It seems that Thiem is well liked by he colleagues, Nole said something similar

[quote]The point is using Murray and Wawrinka as examples of mental toughness is flawed. Both were not known for that until they were older.

Wrong! Murray won his 1st GS at 25, showing his mental toughness. That's old to you R127?

[quote]Wawrinka suddenly winning slams took everyone by surprise

Wrong again! No one was surprised by Wawrinka finally winning, other than YOU, obviously.

He showed he could win slams by making multiple QFs. Then in US Open 2013, he almost beat Djokovic in a tough 5-set match. Did you watch that match? Clearly not.

How can one person (YOU) be so wrong so much? The reason why these "young" guys can't beat the Big 3 is because they're mentally weak. That final showed it clear as day. But, sure, keep making excuses for them.

wawrinka will play in france this year?

One thing is clear, R141. You're exceedingly obnoxious.

[quote]Wawrinka will play in France this year?

Yes, he's playing Rome and the French Open

Genie Bikini-Bouchard gets French Open wild card

[quote] Genie Bikini-Bouchard gets French Open wild card

My lead just got hard.

R135, I HATE Nole and life Murray. But saying that Murray has more talent than Nole is just silly.

Name one thing prime Murray does better than Nole?

Serve? Nope.

Defense? It's close, but no.

Return? Not even close.

Forehead? Nope.

Backhand? Lol. Nope.

Murray hits balls at people more strategically.

Murray also received a wild card for the French Open, just like Tsvetana Pironkova (because she's a MOTHER ;)

Kim Clijsters has decided to skip the clay court tournaments

Here's Camila Giorgi's father and his mask in Rome:

R141 you're the only one in this thread who is tightly clinging onto Murray and Wawrinka always being examples of mental toughness. The facts don't support it. No one said Murray won his first slam at an old age. Murray broke out on tour very early and made the second week consistently but could not win until finally his 5th slam final. Until his mid 20s he was mentally tough.

Wawrinka did not reach the QF, SF of a slam until his late 20s. That is a fact. Opponents used to know they could target his forehand and he would panic. He improved that in his late 20s and became a consistent top player. That 2013 match against Djokovic you speak of? Wawrinka was 28 years old. Just stop already.

#NextGen right now is still showing mental fragility but that's not surprising. Again Murray in his early 20s was promising but not able to win slams either. Wawrinka was not thought of as a contender until he was much older. Zverev, Tsitsipas, Shapovalov, Medvedev, Coric, FAA, Khachanov, Tiafoe, Fritz have plenty of time to get tougher

Wawrinka winning GS was a huge surprise.

Stan always was an amazing player but he was known for being irregular and a head case.

He won his first GS against Rafa and that was a huge huge surprise because his h2h is particularly bad against Rafa.

I know Rafa fans says he was injured (the same with Nole fans on his US Open defeat) but Rafa only started to have problems in the second set with Stan was winning clearly. Even with Rafa being injured Stan had problems to close the match and he lost the third set.

So Stan winning GS was not expected at all.

Murray is a different case, he played a lot of finals so sooner or later he was bound to win at least one. Anyway, it was pretty clear that his mentality in some of them prevented him from winning more GS

The NY Times says that the ratings for yesterday’s final were “microscopic.”

Not surprising. USA is irrelevant on male tennis right now, and it has been for so long.

And apart of the big 3, the rest are totally unknown outside tennis.

Atp needs new stars as soon as possible, and the best scenerio will be something like the wta at the end of the 90's with new players and veterans fighting for the titles

Naomi looks so fucking old...she looks like she's 50 years old.

Peak Stan is a pretty amazing thing to behold. He can (or could) beat anyone.

that's the problem with the ATP and why in hindsight the male players who keep wanting to break away from the women look foolish. For over a decade now, the whole ATP has been riding the coattails of Federer, Nadal and to lesser extents Djokovic and Murray. Eventually they're not going to be in slam finals. Osaka is now a superstar she surely commands more ratings than Thiem or Zverev. What will some of those same male players say if the ratings switch back to the WTA as they did in the late 90s/early 00s?

is there a bigger kween in tennis?

What a dram queen...are they allowing fans in Rome?

Paire est fou, n'est-ce pas?

Paire's general mannerisms do suggest that he has little bit of sugar in his tank....

Clay specialist

Benoit is hot though and at least has a personality.

For the person stating Osaka is a "superstar," you need to raise your standards. She is not now, nor never will be, a superstar. Women's tennis is boring as hell.

R158, no fans in Rome.

R162? I'm not even an Osaka fan, but you're clearly just trolling. She's the biggest tennis star on the planet not named Serena, Fed, or Rafa.

Rome day 1 results:

Krajinovic upsets. FAA 6-4 7-5

Nishikori def. Ramos-Vinolas 6-4 7-6(3)

Travaglia def. Fritz 6-4 7-6(4)

Coric def. Garin 6-4 6-4

Ruud upsets Khachanov 6-3 3-6 6-1

Sonego def. Basilashvili 6-3 6-1

Cilic def. Bublik 6-7(4) 6-2 6-4

Humbert def. Anderson 6-3 7-6(5)

Dimitrov def. Mager 7-5 6-1

Sinner pounds Paire 6-2 6-1

Hurkacz def. Evans 6-3 3-6 7-5

Paolini def. Sevastova 6-2 6-3

Yastremska def. Giorgi 7-5 6-7(5) 6-4

Anisimova upsets Vekic 7-6(4) 7-6(6)

Rybakina def. Alexandrova 6-0 6-4

Bouzkova def. Tomljanovic 6-3 6-4

Pavlyuchenkova def. Zhang 6-4 6-7(5) 6-1

Kovinic destroys Goerges 6-1 6-0

Linette def. Ostapenko 6-4 6-3

Mertens def. Hsieh 6-3 6-1

Bolsova upsets Riske 5-7 7-6(4) 6-3

Strycova def. Kudermetova 6-3 6-3

No, r158, no fans in Rome.

The thing is, people might think the women's game is at some given point more 'interesting' or 'attractive' than the men's and all that and this may be actually true, but no real evidence is ever provided that shows it is more popular in terms of audience figures, ticket sales, overall profitability. If the women's game did beat the men's in any of these areas (and this means consistently, not cherry-picked individual matches), there is not the slightest doubt we'd all know about it. Endlessly., It is extremely likely that more (possibly a lot more) people watch and read about men's tennis than women's tennis, consistently and always. And I mean proportionately, taking into account numbers of tournaments, length of matches etc.

r167, men's tennis is just too long and boring.

I came into the 3rd set to watched the end of the men's final. Zverev, couldn't finish off a limping, cramping Thiem.. It only got interesting watching who would suck the least in set 5 to go for the win. If those guys are at the top of the ticket poor men's tennis.

I've enjoyed Stan, Cilic, Kei or Del potro, when we see him, give the top boys a run for their money. But this younger, brash men looming around the top 3 are trash in my opinion. I give Thiem some credit for having the Gravitas if not the fitness to hang in there. Zverev is a joke. Well Sasha is. What ever happened to his brother, the one not as good?

Men tennis has a problem.

They have the same three guys winning big titles for 15 years. They don't attract new fans.

And Federer and Nadal style is not saying anything that could be controversial at all, not showing any oppinion, so everytime a guy show his oppinion a lot of fans have a bad reaction.

Atp, like wta (i'm not that sure Naomi is the saviour of the wta) need new stars with some personality. I know she is overhyped but Gauff has charisma and it would be good if she become a really good player.

Atp needs a child prodigy, someone they could hype like the new Federer or Nadal and attract new fans, the problem is that kind of pressure will be a burden for most players.

The truth is none of the next gen players seem to have a huge following, at least not now. In the future we'll see.

But atp needs young players defeating the big 3 on GS before they retire

Again, opinion isn't evidence, R168, and cherry-picking matches proves nothing. If the figures the various tennis organizations must have showed the women's game was an overall bigger audience pull, we'd know about it and then some. The equal pay advocates would be screaming their heads off.

I don't see anything wrong with men's tennis.

We'll see how Gauff does now that she actually has expectations to win. The way she got down on herself at the US Open does not bode well.

r170, us open gives equal pay.

Who every can sell the most tickets ---err- not now but who gets the most ratings deserves the money. When joker, nadal nor federer are in a final - no one watches men's tennis.

Women usually have superstars. With Maria's retirement and the Williams sister starting to not be able to make finals, new players need to step it up. Naomi, Halep, Barty have. Let's now add Azarenka to the mix and there are plenty of next gen women that are ready to go. Can't say same about the men.

Men shouldn't play 5 sets. I'm all for 3. Olympics is exciting that way. Makes there an urgency to start well. See so many of the top guys (NADAL) who use the first set to tire their opponents and don't care if they win it or not. I won't turn on a men's match till the 3rd set in a slam. I know I am not alone.

None of that is actual evidence, R173. It would not be difficult for a moderately competent statistician to collate all current and recent historic evidence to get a good idea of the relative popularity of the men's and women's games (and it wouldn't cost much), taking into account all the variables. The reason it doesn't happen, to solve all the arguments, is that everyone involved knows what the results would be, as such evidence that does sneak out would suggest. More people want to watch the men's game and will attend ATP events and watch the male draw at slams, than the women's game. This isn't against the women's game, which I agree is sometimes more interesting than the men's. This isn't an argument against equal pay at slams or anything, and I am sure tennis is one of the sports where interest in the women's gain is relatively very high, but male dominance and interest in the male game just reflects general interest in sport.

R168, I think that Misha is injured right now. He posted the following on Twitter a few days ago.

Osaka is still very young, and she's coming into her moment.

The problem I foresee is that tennis (especially in America) is a rich person's sport. Osaka neither looks like them nor is doing the demure, politically-moderate-leaning-right-but-say-nothing thing that seems to be preferred.

The more she speaks out (and grows into an emerging human being), the more she alienates some of the base. And there is a base--tournaments need corporate sponsorship but they also sell very expensive tickets to local wealthy elites. She may polarize enough of those to cause the WTA (even more) financial crisis.

R173 If they go for three sets i quit watching tennis.

What makes a GS special is the fact that they play best of five sets which prevent mediocre players on one good day going too far

R176 She is promoting justice, if that irks some people it's their problem not hers.

She is not pushing her colleagues to do something they don't want like Lewis Hamilton is doing

If you ask on a tennis forum about the 5 or 3 sets you'll find the big majority of the fans are totally against GS being played at the best of three sets

[quote] When joker, nadal nor federer are in a final - no one watches men's tennis.

We are so fortunate to be living in an era where three of the greatest of all time are playing against each other.

The women should play best-of-5 during Slams.

I think if a player simply eliminates one of the members (or several) of the big 3, he'll be seen as legitimate heir.

The problem is most players just crumble when they face one member of the big three. At least Thiem knows what it is to defeat them on GS (he was even close to defeat Djokovic on Australia)

R180 That's not a good idea neither.

I remember the 5 sets finals of the end of the year master and most of the time weren't a brilliant way to end the year.

R182 But it is good idea to earn the same amount of money for playing only 3 sets, sometimes even 2

R183: Women only earn the same at GS.

A man who is 50 of the world earn way more than a woman who is 50 of the world.

Nobody dies because they earn the same at 4 tournaments

R183 Only? GS is the best paid tournament. This id not fair fo risntance when some female tennis player won only in 2 sets, and man had to fight in 5.

* this is not fair, for instance

R185, would the men like it if you penalized players who won in straight sets?

You either like the idea of women’s tennis or you don’t. Plenty of posters here do—some of the best posts purely about tennis happen in debates about various female players.

Oh, yes, it's one of the biggest injustices of this world

[quote]new players need to step it up. Naomi, Halep, Barty have. Let's now add Azarenka to the mix and there are plenty of next gen women that are ready to go.

Ahem,

Novak Djokovic makes no promises after shocking US Open incident

If you were hoping for a heartfelt mea culpa from Novak Djokovic, prepare to be disappointed.

The 17-time grand slam champion shirked responsibility and made no promises in his first press conference since his controversial default at the 2020 US Open for hitting a lineswoman with a ball.

“The rules are clear. I accepted it and had to move on. That’s what I did,” Djokovic told reporters in Rome on Monday in a lukewarm acknowledgment of wrongdoing. “I cannot promise or cannot guarantee that I will never ever do anything similar to that in my life. I’m going to try my best, obviously, but anything is possible in life.”

The Serbian tennis star was disqualified during the tournament’s fourth round for errantly hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball out of frustration after having his serve broken by Spain’s Pablo Carrreno Busta near the end of the first set.

“The ball hits a line judge, it was just unfortunate that I hit the line umpire in a very awkward place,” he said. “There was a lot of speculation and discussions whether it was deserved or not, I accepted it and I moved on.”

Djokovic’s past behavior doesn’t exactly lend itself to clemency. The 33-year-old was recently embroiled in controversy for holding the Adria charity tour in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that many felt had not implemented sufficient social distancing measures which was not unfounded. The tour was shuttered after Djokovic, his wife Jelena and a number of other players contracted the coronavirus.

Retired Slovak tennis star Daniela Hantuchova — who is a close friend of both Novak and Jelena — was highly critical of his actions and said his anger was sometimes “out of control.”

Djokovic even acknowledged that the error was “not completely out of the blue.”

“I’m working mentally and emotionally as hard as I am working physically,” he said on Monday. “I’m trying to be the best version of myself on the court and off the court and I understand that I have outbursts and this is kind of the personality and the player that I have always been.”

He further exacerbated the drama by storming away from Flushing Meadows afterward without addressing the media, but did apologize on social media afterwards.

“Of course it was a shock to finish the US Open the way it was finished,” he said. “It was the first time in my career that something like this happens, of course it could have happened earlier in my career you know, could have happened to many players.”

The USO finals ratings are in! Guess who won?

Women: .32 key demo and 1.855 million total It was #8 highest cable show for Saturday

Men: .23 key key demo and 1.476 million total It was #11 highest cable show for Sunday

For once the women's match was definitely better and of a higher level

Wow, R190 if what Djokovic is showing on court behaviorally is the "best version" of himself, then I can only imagine the worst version of himself.

I found Osaka's whole BLM display at the US Open quite tiresome and supremely try hard. The fucking baby voice is obnoxious to begin with and while at first I thought it was commendable to post something. Disqualifying herself like other athletes seemed kinda hocky and disingenuous when you end up coming back to play and then retire. Maybe it's not her and more the way ESPN tried to portray it like she'd made some grand gesture for the movement when in fact she just followed others. I was never under the impression that Noami found such kinship with the black community considering she plays for Japan and doesn't seem to to be involved with many aspects of black culture. She seems like a nice girl and I'm sure means well but it became an eye roll hearing the ESPN talking heads treat her like now she's a face of the movement. She just seemed like a typical Zoomer following the new trends in social justice. I bet the girl barely know anything about culture and what the marginalized among them have actually faced.

but her bf is typical black

R194 well you're clearly not in the majority. Osaka is very young and is finding her footing. Not sure why you're bashing her. It was good to see her highlight BLM in such a conservative sport. I loved it.

Osaka is terrific. Good for her for finding her voice and standing for something.

Wawrinka plays like shit

[quote] Good for her for finding her voice and standing for something.

Like great. Thanks. Okay. Yeah. I know, like my voice is, you know, like strong. Yeah. Okay.

R188 = Darfur Orphan

She's probably head over heels in love with Cordae

Looks like it's time for Stan to be put out to pasture. Musetti, who's half Wawrinka's age, bageled Stan in the first set and took the second in a tie break.

Nole

Wawrinkle...... HAHAHAHAAH!

makes me wonder: what the hell was stan doing all this time when he comes back in his first match and plays like that! losing embarrassingly to a top world JUNIOR player....

Musetti was very impressive. What a shot maker. If he keeps playing this way he'll be top 50 very soon. He was making Wawrinka look pedestrian. Wawrinka was not at his best but Musetti has talent. 6-0 7-6(2)

Other results:

Caruso saves match point, def. Sandgren 3-6 6-3 7-6(4)

Cecchinato def. Edmund 3-6 7-6(7) 6-2

Koepfer def. de Minaur 3-6 6-3 7-6(5)

F. Coria def. Struff 6-1 7-6(5)

Martinez def. Querrey 6-3 7-6(3)

Shavapolov def. Pella 6-2 6-3

Nishioka def. Kecmanovic 6-4 6-1

Millman def. J Sousa 7-5 7-6(2)

Rublev def. Bagnis 6-4 6-4

Raonic def. Mannarino 7-6(3) 6-2

Lajovic def. Davidovich Fokina 6-4 6-4

Putintseva def. Peterson 6-2 6-4

Kasatkina def. Zvonareva 6-2 6-2

Siniakova destroys Kerber 6-3 6-1

Muguruza def. Stephens 6-3 6-3

Gauff def. Jabeur 6-4 6-3

Begu def. Cocciaretto 6-2 6-2

Hercog def. Juvan 4-6 6-4 6-1

Rus def. Swiatek 7-6(5) 6-3

Vondrousova def. Doi 6-1 4-6 6-4

Kontaveit def. Garcia 6-3 7-6(1)

Kuznetsova def. Pera 3-6 7-6(3) 6-3

[quote] makes me wonder: what the hell was stan doing all this time when he comes back in his first match and plays like that!

Based on his stories on Instagram, he practices every day.

Wawrinka skipped the US Open to play some Challenger-level event in Eastern Europe and he got bounced early there, too.

R202 Musetti is one of the most promising young players. He was Australian Open jr champion and number one in the world.

And he has an amazing backhand.

Anyway, he is a little green yet, but he is in good form right now, he made semis in the last two challengers he played

Musetti needs to wash his chin, otherwise he's cute.

Tennis is a sport where your situation can change from week to week, he went from losing to someone younger than him to defeat a GS champion in three weeks

Bublik is one of the homeliest players ever...he can't even grow a real beard. He looks kind of trans.

R212 I don't know, sometimes he looks cute.

His game is totally crazy, and he seems a little crazy too. But the worst part is that he is one of those "i hate to play tennis i only do it for the money" players

Mayot received a wc for Roland Garros. He'll be de second player born in 2002 to play a GS.

Of course this is with a wc like the first one (Svajda), the only player born in 2002 who could play a GS using his ranking is Lorenzo Musetti (Carlos Alcaraz could do it too but he is a year younger)

[quote]Wawrinka skipped the US Open to play some Challenger-level event in Eastern Europe and he got bounced early there, too

He actually won the Prague Open Challenger

Granny V. is on court now vs. Azarenka

Tsitsipas getting destroyed by Sinner.

He is very close to losing the match. Last year he won very easily against Sinner in the same tournament.

Sinner is very irregular but when he has a goo day he is able to give trouble to anyone.

Well Tsitsipas won the second, so we'll see what happens now

Titsy's collapse is complete

Jannik Sinner is a winner

Titsy and Coric should just go to work for Bel Ami

Were Sinner and Rublik separated at birth?

Yes, R209, Musetti is very promising. Stan, however, looked ready for retirement in that first set. He was moving like an iceberg.

While some on this board are bemoaning the domination of Nadole, we're seeing NextGen get more consistent (sometimes very sporadically) and ready to take on the mantle.

And Domicakes has an amazing backside.

Dimitrov wins the first set but he looks like crap. And that outfit!

R215 for a moment I thought Wawrinkle was holding a Franklin Mint Plate.

Team PCB! Vamos, Pablo.

¡PCB team! Vamos, Pablo.

PCB looks like he is tired. He is not going after too many balls at the end of the first set....

Nadal 6-1, first set. A quick (for Nadal) 35 mn.

Nadal 6-1,6-1. That was fast for Nadal.

Rafa!

Rafa demolished PCB. Damm.

Tiene hambre!

Nadal ruthless beatdown of PCB 6-1 6-1

Djokovic def. Caruso 6-3 6-2

Krajinovic def. Cecchinato 6-4 6-1

Berrettini def. F. Coria 7-5 6-1

Travaglia def. Coric 7-6(2) 7-5

Cilic surprising easy win over Goffin 6-2 6-2

Dimitrov destroys Nishioka 6-1 6-0

Sinner upsets Tsitsipas 6-1 6-7(9) 6-2

Halep def. Paolini 6-3 6-4

Yastremska def. Anisimova 4-6 7-6(3) 6-4 Anisimova actually served for the match at 6-4 5-4

Rybakina def. Bouzkova 7-5 7-6(3)

Svitolina def. Palyuchenkova 6-3 7-6(4)

Kovinic def. Bencic 6-3 6-1

Mertens def. Linette 6-2 6-4

Blinkova def. Bolsova 4-6 6-1 7-6(4)

Pliskova def. Strycova 6-3 6-3

Azarenka def. Venus 7-6(7) 6-2

r180, the women's end of the year used to be best of 5 sets. I remember watching Steffi Graf playing one but then the next year It was Davenport and Hingis and they played the best of 3. From 1984-1998, I used to go to MSG and watch. Good times.

Today's WTA priss pots would fall apart.

Here is a full 5 setter of Graf and Huber.

Today's ATP player can barely play 5 sets without cramping give it up to the women of the 90s

I completely forgot about Anke Huber. She was so nice compared to frigid Ice Queen Graf.

Nole.

Gauff and Muguruza is rather boring. Probably there will be a third set. Muguruza is a very frustrating player. She is a head case, isn't she?

That was such an ugly match between Gauff and Muguruza. I think Gauff's game has really regressed from last year. Not sure what happened during the long layoff but maybe she needs new coaching ASAP.

Her parents are obnoxious

I realize this is petty, but why didn't the organizers put something padded on or behind the walls at the end of the courts? Every time a ball hits them, which is often, it makes a horrible sound like something hitting a metal barrel.

I noticed that too R239

Hubert Hurkacz looks like the very cute, but very tall, boy next door.

R237 A young player needs play to develop the game, i'm suprised at how much players like Musetti and Alcaraz (who was destined to receive a lot of wc for big tournaments but he was able to make to top 200 without them) improved this year.

Gauff has a lot of pressure over herself. She has an amazing ranking for a 16 y o girl, but she needs to be cautious and improve her game, because sooner or later players her age will improve too

Azarenka is destroying Kenin

That was ugly. American women not prepared for clay yet.

I was surprised Kenin reached the second week on the US Open, she was playing very bad before the tournament.

And it seems Vika is back for good

[quote] American women not prepared for clay yet.

They aren’t clay specialist?

And Musetti is winning against Nishikori. If he wins he'll be the junior with better ranking

There's something very appealing about Musetti. I was impressed with Hurkacz and, yes, I so would.

R238.... i don't mind coco's dad but yes the mother is annoying, she's like the female version of richard williams..

Rome day 4 results:

Musetti def. Nishikori 6-3 6-4 backing up the Wawrinka win. solid work

Koepfer upsets Monfils 6-2 6-4

Ruud def. Sonego 6-3 6-4

Humbert upsets Fognini 7-5 7-6(4)

Shapovalov def. Martinez 6-4 6-4

Schwartzman def. Millman 6-4 7-6(1)

Hurkacz upsets Rublev 7-6(6) 3-6 6-2

Lajovic upsets Raonic 7-6(3) 4-6 6-2

Putintseva upsets Martic 6-3 6-7(2) 6-4

Azarenka def. Kenin 6-0 6-0 double bagel!!!! tbh I never thought Kenin was that great but this is a shocking score

Kasatkina def. Siniakov 6-2 6-3

Muguruza def. Gauff 7-6(3) 3-6 6-3

Konta def. Begu 6-0 6-4

Hercog upsets Bertens 6-4 6-4

Vondrousova def. Rus 6-3 6-3

Kuznetsova upsets Kontaveit 4-6 7-5 6-3

lots of upsets today

Musetti Team

[quote] Musetti Team

Yay!

WTF are the ball kids doing with their masks in Roma?

Playing with the masks and touching them over and over again is just proving the Orange freak's point!!

Wow Kenin Double Bagel...I kind of love it.

They are touching them frequently because they are not used to wearing them. When I first started wearing them, I was touching and adjusting them a lot as well.

Sorry if already posted or mentioned, osaka not playing french open via CNN

So she is citing the hamstring injury. I guess it got worse recently? Otherwise why not play.

[quote]Otherwise why not play.

Clay hon, clay.

[quote] Clay hon, clay.

She is not clay specialist?

R257 She has zero chances to win RG.

I remember Sara Sorribes trashing her on fed cup last year (and she just won the Australian Open)

most funny thing is that no one wears fucking gloves!they are touching balls all the time, giving them to tennis players while touching the masks

Does anyone know what the deal is with Nadal's ranking points from last year's US Open. He won it in 2019 and didn't play it in 2020. He should have dropped 2000 points but his ranking points haven't changed since March of this year. I understand why he chose not to play, or at least his surface reason because his real reason was to play on clay constantly so he can get his 20th Grand Slam and tie Federer. But how did he get to keep his points from last year's USO? Looks like Djokovic maybe did, too. The WTA rankings were adjusted.

ATP is following a different point calculation formula since tournaments were suspended. From the 2020 clay season on, players keep the better of their two results from 2019 or 2020. If a player has better results from 2019, those points don't fall off until respective tournament results in 2021. Correct me if I've got that wrong, anyone.

Thank you, R263. That makes sense now.

At the Foro Italico around the grounds Djokovic is wearing a tee shirt with his name emblazoned on it in big bold letters just in case nobody recognizes him.

R265, everyone's a "personal brand" now; it's the highest form of human existence.

R266 = Kris Jenner and Kanye West

And the two italian youngster lost today.

Sinner is on the verge of getting a real threat but he is failing at the most important momments of the match.

Musetti played very carefree against Nishikori and Wawrinka but today felt the pressure against Koepfer (that an some injury problems in the second set)

faked injury problems in the second set

I watched Musetti's match. It didn't look like he was faking it. Koepfer is very frowny and robotic, seems to take no pleasure in the game at all.

Azarenka looking after an injured and very upset Kasatkina was a nice touch.

Vika is pretty likable.

Are you kidding, R272?! She has the worst on court shriek going now that Dopeapova is gone. Maybe was worse anyway.

Vika like many athletes has had injuries. Besides seeming to be a good person she can relate to what Kasatkina is going through. She was just starting to play well too after a long slump.

R273 yeah her grunt is annoying but she still seems like a likeable person in interviews and interactions on the court.

Rafa's comb over is very distracting......does he never wash that stringy mop?

Azarenka's "wooo" might be annoying but at her best she's almost unplayable. Plus she's always come across as one of the most decent on the women's tour. She's friendly with most of the players, well-respected in singles and doubles and just seems really nice.

That press conference when the reporter asked her about her custody battle and she just started crying really was horrific.

*sigh*

Azarenka seemed like an immature punk when she first got to #1 but she seems more relaxed and secure in herself now. I still think she’s annoying on court but she does seem like a nice person.

My boyfriend Grigor is still alive

(not so) Young Grigor

Koepfer is pretty hot.

so is Rafa going to win the french when he's 40? 45? and beyond! you know outlasting guys young enough to be his biological sons (even now that is the case) on slow red clay in 3 out of 5 matches? REALLY? RIDICULOUS!...

i have in the past suspected rafa of epo use...

Rafa is doping , as well as Federer and Djoko. They all do.

Lajovic has a first class booty.

I'm glad Chatrier finally has a damn roof. That could help other players against Nadal if they have days when it has to be closed

Are you also offended by Roger’s RF logo all over, and Nada’s bull logo on his stuff?

I wouldn't be offended if Novak had an ND logo or a crazy screaming scarecrow logo on his stuff.

[quote] a crazy screaming scarecrow logo

lol, perfect logo for him!

[quote] a crazy screaming scarecrow logo

[quote] lol, perfect logo for him!

He should have two boobs as a logo.

Will Young Grigor be staying at a private residence in Paris? Just asking for security reasons. I'm checking on all the players.

Koepfer was really bulging the other day

Grigor's outfit is hideous. If he wasn't so cute he would look like a paint pallet.

Palette*

Day 5 results:

Djokovic def. Krajinovic 7-6(7) 6-3 Krajinovic was actually up an early break in the tiebreak

Koepfer def. Musetti 6-4 6-0 Musetti seemed a bit tired which is understandable. He had a great week

Berrettini def. Travaglia 7-6(5) 7-6(1)

Ruud def Cilic 6-2 7-6(6)

Shapovalov def. Humbert 6-7(5) 6-1 6-4

Dimitrov def. Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4

Schwartzman def. Hurkacz 3-6 6-2 6-4

Nadal def. Lajovic 6-1 6-3 Lajovic didn't even play badly. Nadal was just very good today

Halep def. Yastremska 7-5 6-4 Yastremska was up an early break in the first

Putintseva def. Rybakina 4-6 7-6(3) 6-2

Azarenka def. Kasatkina 6-6 ret. Kastakina rolled over her ankle after sliding and her foot went over the tape on the court

Muguruza def. Konta 6-4 6-1

Vondrousova def. Hercog 1-6 6-1 7-6(5) weirdest match of the day. Topsy turvy 3rd set and in the tiebreak almost all the points went to the returner

Svitolina def. Kuznetsova 7-6(6) 6-4

Mertens def. Kovinic 6-4 6-4

Pliskova def. Blinkova 6-4 6-3

just heard that for RG, there are 2 hotels. 1 for the top 50 and the other for everyone else. They might make exceptions for certain superstars though as they're often used to being separated from everyone else. Unfair yes

PARIS -- The number of fans allowed to attend the upcoming French Open was reduced to 5,000 per day on Thursday amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

The French Tennis Federation had initially planned for 11,500 spectators spread over three courts for the clay-court major, which starts Sept. 27 in western Paris, but it reduced the number following consultation with authorities.

"The evolving hygiene situation in the Paris area has prompted the Paris police department to limit the number of spectators who may enter the 12 hectares Roland Garros site on a daily basis to 5,000," the FFT said in a statement. "The FFT is conscious of how disappointing this news will be for those who will not be able to come to the stadium due to the reduction in capacity."

That moment between Azarenka and Kasatkina

Nadal seems to be playing with a new Babolat, with a much wider beam than his previous models. Courageous choice, if true—sacrificing a bit of precision for more power at this advanced stage of his career is a bit of a risk, even though he seems to be ploughing through his Rome opponents.

unless you're Djokovic or once in a while Fognini and a couple other shot makers, you need a massive serve to bother Nadal on any surface, including clay. Returning serve is probably his biggest weakness which is why he stands so far back. Standing so far back opens the wide angles and down the T serves, but only if you can consistently hit bombs.

Today Lajovic was rallying really well but he didn't have the power to hit through Nadal and he surely wasn't going to be more consistent. I'll be shocked if Schwartzman has more success today against him

Odd that, even though Rome is a bubble event, there are quite a lot of people in the stands for Berrettini’s match. All those people can’t be part of Berrettini or Ruud’s teams. Probably friends of friends who have been let in on the sly? That, plus the cavalier way the ball kids use their mask to only cover their chin, probably says a lot about how much people are really worried about Covid.

R296 Wimbledon has different locker rooms for seeded and unseeded players, so nothing new under the sun

R300 I don't agree that return to serve is his weakest skill, yes he returns to serve far from the line but he is highly effective doing it, that's the reason even big servers struggle against him. In fact if you don't have a big serve you are going to struggle in every serve, he is not Nole, but he is very effective in his return to serve.

To cause him trouble you need several things, first like you said a big serve, you need free points and not being pressured constantly so a big serve is the bes way to do it (but more than the speed you need a high percentage of first serves), and second and most important you need a good parallel backhand (something most circuit lacks), because Rafa always look for his forehand so he let a lot of the field uncovered. It's not only the points you can make, but the fact that you make him change the way he plays normally.

Anyway, playing against him on clay when he is on top form is a nightmare

Also the US Open had the top players staying in what would have normally been the corporate suites and the rest of the players staying in a hotel offsite. That was why there were so many of the big names sat watching matches and why Mladenovic wasn’t allowed to play as she was offsite when they imposed the travel ban.

Ugh, please not another Nadal French Open victory. I think an in-form Djokovic is the only one who can stop Nadal, or maybe an inspired Thiem. My guess is Thiem is gassed after his US Open win and won't get that far.

Thiem has a tendency, when he does very good at one GS he does really bad at the next. But this is Roland Garros and he was very consistent the last four years.

He decided not to play any tournament before (which is something new for him who use to play even the neighbourhodd championships) so he could suffer a surprise defeat on the first rounds, but if he pass those he will be a contender.

It's utterly ridiculous that nobody is able to even give Nadal a scare in RG. He won 12 finals and never went to the fifth set

Rome will have audience for the semifinals and final. 1,000 people allowed in

LIKE I POSTED PREVIOUSLY, is nadal going to win the french when he's 40 plus! ???? come on! it is indeed getting RIDICULOUS! and no, it's not because nadal is so invincible on the surface, the shame is on the rest of the tour...it would be different if it was grass or a fast surface, but nadal is outslugging and outlasting guys young enough to be his son on SLOW RED CLAY in 3 out of 5 sets matches and 7 matches! is nadal truly that much of a freak of a nature?!

speaking of nadal and him standing way way back, i've always wondered why do the players when serving if they are up 40 love or 40-15 ever EVER not literally try like a drop shot serve just to keep him honest? i mean these are the greatest players in the world surely they could do this! same service motion, but lightly hit over the net...why not? because it's childish and unsportsmanlike?

lastly, WHEN OH WHEN ARE CLAY COURTS going to have hawkeye? it's so so stupid that in 2020 tournaments are STILL STILL using ball marks and the umpires running out of the chair to check the mark, because well clay leaves ball marks! how many times are the umpire and the players themselves confused on which mark the ball landed? how many times is the mark this mark, no, it's this mark, because a identical ball hit nearly the same area in a previous point before they had a chance to sweep the court! i'm sorry but this all makes tennis look amateurish!...

Nadal is gonna win 25+ GS

Ruud wins over Berrettini in a third set tiebreak and he is the first semifinalist

Rafa!

handsome dark haired and fit male model type umpiring the novak match right now! nice..

My mild Azarenka obsession continues.

In the Rome QF against Muguruza she complained to the umpire that her chair was too high (??) and they've just brought out a little footrest for her. She burst out laughing.

r308 Clay is clearly the best surface for playing tennis, and clearly the healthiest and safest. Grass is also good, because it is a natural surface and gives in as well, but you easily fall, even harder to care for, and volleying is bad for your arm and shoulder, and getting shot with 130 mph repeatedly is dangerous as well, et al. The concrete comes on these clay courts eventually, and I guess on grass as well, but it takes time. It is good that there are many tournaments on hard courts and on carpet, and that the US is good in tennis, but clay is clearly the best and the healthiest and the safest surface for tennis, grass the best for many other sports. A problem with clay is that there many clay players and most players like playing on clay, and Northerners can't really be very good at it, even moreso the men, of course.

Then again Ruud just got through to the semis, and you can't get much Northener than Norway.

What is with Azarenka's shorts? And I really dislike Muguruza's attitude

I kind of love Mugu and I love her name

Mugu won, next up Halep.

R296 Will the press be getting to stay in the hotel with the top players? Asking for a colleague.

Shapo team or Young Grigor team?

[quote] I kind of love Mugu and I love her name

Mugurutha

Young Grigor!!! He's so fucking adorable I wish he would stop wasting his dick on these basic bitches he dates and explore the homosex. I wanna rub him to sleep at night.

[quote] A problem with clay is that there many clay players and most players like playing on clay

Are they clay specialist?

[quote] you can't get much Northener than Norway.

R315, are you from North?

Ruud is one of the most underrated next gens. For a while he was the highest ranking player born in 1998 (and ahead of anyone younger) but he stalled when he was at the verge of top 100.

He is very good on clay and he trains often with Rafa because he trains on his academy

[quote] He is very good on clay

Is he clay specialist?

"Why???? Why?? WHY??????"

Casper Ruud is cute. His dad is kinda hot too.

the next thread in advance for when this gets paywalled

Strasbourg and Hamburg draws are out

Shapovalov is not consistent but he's a big enough hitter and shotmaker to bother Nadal. It would come down to Shapovalov's errors

Can’t stand Shapo

Neither can I. He's got all of the charm of a rabid dog.

Why not, R332 and R333? (I'm not a fan either.)

Rafa team or Dwarf team?

[quote] Rafa team or Dwarf team?

Dwarf team aka Lil’ Diego team

Are there or were there any white players with yellow skin in the Rome draw?

R334: Can't rap. Loves Putin. Ugly ball bashing without finesse. Yells every other point. Probably has never willingly read a book in his life. Likes to call his opponents сука.

R331 On hardcourts maybe, on clay Nadal will eat him alive

Lil Diego is on fire! Vamos!

r338, you're going to be bitter for the next decade then, because Shapo's got a good many years ahead of him, and likely quite successful years at that.

Wow look at l'il Diego bring it to Rafa!

I'm hardly bitter, R341. There are always the players to love and the players to love to hate. Lots of champions are in the former category; some fall in the latter.

shocked at how well Schwartzman is playing so far. Usually his backhand breaks down with errors against Nadal

R341 I'm not that sure of that, he is a winners machine but he is not inteligent on court unless he drastically improves certain things of his game he'll win a tournament from time to time and that's all.

Anyway Shapovalov will be top 10 next week

The ATP ranking system is really askew with how they've adjusted for COVID. It would've made a lot more sense to allow 2019 results to remain only for those tournaments that weren't or aren't to be played in 2020.

The one who benefited more of that is Federer who would be out of top 10 by now

Carlos fucking Moya, still full-on handsome!

[quote] Carlos fucking Moya, still full-on handsome!

Whenever I see him I think of one of his ex-girlfriends saying that all he liked to do all day was watch video games and masturbate.

[quote]all he liked to do all day was watch video games and masturbate.

My kinda guy!

I'd call that well-rounded.

This is the worst I've seen Rafa play. He looks like he's put on some pounds which is affecting his movement. Diego is also playing amazingly well.

What i don't understand is if Lil Diego is able to push him that way why the two first opponent were bashed without a problem. I think some players just don't even try when they face Nadal on clay

omg 5 breaks in a row!

can Diego finally close it out now?

Dwarf team!

Lil’ Diego team!

Dwarf wins

lil Diego does it!

too bad Djokovic didn't also crash out today. He had a tough match

LIL DIEGO DID IT!!!

Shapo team or Dwarf/Lil’ Diego team?

love them both but Shapo team

Rafa better step it up if wants to have a chance of winning #20

Lil Diego all the way for both upcoming matches!

I am happy.......Diegito beats the man who picks his butt.

Now we won't have to look at that poor man's homely face until the next tournament.

Hurray!!!! The best man won!

Well, Rafa's not the first man to discover that marriage is the road to ruin!

Andreescu pulls out of RG

so no Osaka, Barty or Andreescu

100% Diego team

# 24!

At this point, it wouldn't surprise me if we never see Andreescu play tennis again.

I should have been so smart.

lmfao did anyone see Djokovic? He broke his racket today in anger during the second set when he lost his break lead

after the match, a reporter hoping to get a rise out of him said he lost control of his anger again and asked if he looked into seeing a psychologist lol. Djokovic offered a wry smile and didn't take the bait. Instead he said he knows it's bad but that it's probably not the last racket he'll break. He knows it's not the best example for kids

[quote]At this point, it wouldn't surprise me if we never see Andreescu play tennis again.

The decidedly fabulous Mother Andreescu's absence will be a disappointment as well.

If it's not for Covid but because of injury regarding Andreescu then I wonder what her injury is. If she cant heal after not playing for so long then will she ever?

Silent ban.

She is serving a drug ban. No matches in almost a year.

Welcome to tennis!

She's delightfully plump and butchtastic like Jen Brady who is looking slimmer these days.

[quote]She is serving a drug ban.

Someone accidentally put Meldonium in her poutine!

Is she gonna have a breast reduction surgery like Halep?

QF results:

Djokovic def. Koepfer 6-3 4-6 6-3

Ruud upsets Berrettini 4-6 6-3 7-6 (5)

Shapovalov def. Dimitrov 6-2 3-6 6-2

Schwartzman upsets Nadal 6-2 7-5 coming into the match, Nadal led 9-0 and had lost just 2 sets

Halep def. Putintseva 6-2 2-0 lower back injury

Muguruza def. Azarenka 3-6 6-3 6-4

Vondrousova upsets Svitolina 6-3 6-0

Pliskova def. Mertens 6-3 3-6 6-0

Are there 2 tennis threads now? I get lost with the constant changes in threads. Can some kind non bitchy bitch please send any new additional links. TIA

R382, see R329 "or when this gets paywalled".

Another reason to like Murray....

I bet Murray is probably a decent lover. He seems like he'd be passionate and excited but still wanna please.

R376 That is ridiculous.

The truth is she was injured a lot even before breaking in the circuit. There are players who have a lot of injuries when they are young and then the recover well and are healthy most of their career but Bianca's case doesn't look well. She is not playing for a lot of time right now.

We'll see if she is back before the end of the year

YES to Diego's win over Nadal! Maybe there is hope that he won't lift the trophy at RG once again? But I still put Nadal in as the favorite, although not as overwhelming a favorite as he was before this match. I watched the highlights. Diego looked like he was in the zone. Nadal, though, didn't look like he was at his peak. I think Nadal likes a lot of matches and tournaments to prepare for RG. He's certainly not going to get that this year.

The problem here is not the preparation for clay, Nadal makes transition between surfaces pretty fast unlike others, the problem is he is not playing for more than 6 months.

Anyway, the weather can be his ally or his enemy this year. If they put him in the nights season, or with the closed roof against a dangerous rival he could be in danger.

Anyway, i think Nole's anxiety has a lot to do with the fact that he knows for sure their time is ending. It's not like they will be out of the equation it's that there will be a lot more players in the equation. The big 3 still has a big advantage in mentality, but if they are forced to play long matches before the final their chances of win will reduce considerably

And Muguruza recovered from a 5-1 only to lose her serve when she was serving for the 5-5

Let's face it, Big 3 is history. Federer at nearly forty is no longer a factor. He has maybe one last Wimbledon triumph in him, but I'll be amazed if he comes back at the same level as 2017 unless he got some bionics installed.

R390 He was clearly injured at Australian Open this year and he was able to reach semifinals and give Djokovic a good fight.

They should be history (maybe one of the contenders but not the big favourites anymore) but the truth is young players, with the exception of Thiem, didn't show that they can beat the big 3 on GS.

In tennis things change fast (or they did before the big 3) so maybe RG will be the point of no return, but right now there's no sign they can not dominate for a while

R390 Have you watched the USO? Any of the big 3 would have destroyed them.

R392 No the way Nole was playing the same tournament.

The final was pretty bad, but that doesn't change the fact that Thiem was playing way better than Nole before reaching the final

Yes, R391, but his GS results have dwindled since AO 2018: skipped 2018 RG, 2018 Wimbledon quarters, 2018 USO 4R, 2019 AO 4R, 2019 FO semi, 2019 Wimby final, 2019 USO quarters, 2020 AO semi. He's averaging getting to the quarters. That's already not Big 3 territory, and when he comes back pushing 40, he can't expect to be as quick or inexhaustible as he used to be.

r379 that's fucking hysterical!

And Ruud failed at the moment of truth.

That's the reason they keep winning, most players seem unable to serve well when they have to close the match (or the set) against a big 3.

Diego won yesterday because Nadal was playing really bad (part was Diego's merit), but he lost his serve twice when he was serving for match

This crowd really doesn't like Djokovic.

Ruud is missing too many opportunities

And as expected Ruud lose a set he should have won

[quote] This crowd really doesn't like Djokovic.

And Italians are usually quite accommodating (unless there’s an Italian on court, and then they’re ruthless unless it’s Federer or Nadal). Just imagine how he’s going to be received by the French. Can’t wait.

God, he’s revolting. His boobs out shtick is now preceded by a deep bow with his hand on his heart and accompanied by a look up to heaven before he seems to pull down his love from on high before he throws it out into the crowd from his boobs. What a dick.

Already 4 COVID-positive players at the French and the qualifying hasn't even started yet!

Istomin, Zapata, Kristin and Escobedo tested positive. Dzumhur and his coach too.

I put it in Pt 61 but it seems to have disappeared.

[quote] Istomin, Zapata, Kristin and Escobedo tested positive.

¡Viva Zapata! (Literally)

Here's part 61, R403:

Shapo team or Dwarf/Lil’ Diego team?

Li'l Diego all the way!

The Dwarf is up 2 games love.

You never know with this guys but Shapo is not that good at clay and Swartzman is a good clay courter and he is full of confidence right now.

Ruud wasted too many opportunities on the first set and he payed for that

R409, is Dwarf clay specialist?

Not if Diego wins today, R346.

This thread has been paywalled. Please go to Part 61 at:

This thread hasn't been paywalled. I'd know as I wouldn't be able to post.

Simmer down, missy.

Its frustrating to have a new thread started in 'anticipation' of the current thread being paywalled. I'm sure the OP of the new thread means well, but why not just wait until a thread is verifiably paywalled? The true thread followers will know to look for a new thread.

I'm am not the OP of Part 61, but here's what I get for this thread when I click on it in other browsers:

[quote] Only subscribers can post to this thread. Click Here to update your subscription information.

It's been that way for a few hours now.

The problem with that R414 is that with the worthless search function, it can be impossible to find a new thread. One can only scroll the main page for so long before giving up in frustration.