The Gays and Tennis Part 112: Miami madness

perfect that Courier is commentating on the Tsitsipas-Wolf match. I wonder how many times he'll mention their physiques especially J.J.'s

Thank you, OP.

I'm so bummed that Garin is in such a massive slump.

Stefanos looks much better when he's got only a light scruff. I don't like the full beard on him. He looks good tonight

now we have both Courier and Goodall talking about Wolf's legs lol

I'm glad the mullet is gone, but Wolf still looks trashy.

haha Courier just referred to Enqvist as "a handsome fella"

Shapo team or Harris team?

Harris team

Which players are trash?

has any reporter asked Shapovalov if he still idolizes Putin and still hopes to meet him?

Shapo blond leg hair.

R11 It is better to idolizes Zhelensky?

Fisting.

I makes handshake.

to idolize

I smilez.

why I keeps losing?

It's better to have a triple-digit IQ and not Vanilla Ice as your other idol.

Is ESL on tennis threads still?

Tsitsy team or 🐺 team?

JJ Wolf looks like he arrives to the courts in a beat up '77 Camaro.

FAA lost.

Not surprised. He is very over-hyped

With The Charlie Daniels Band and Whitesnake blasting out of the amped-up speakers.

Poor Pop is getting destroyed by Cilic. A sad day so far for all of my faves but Hubie. #9 in the world at 21 is not "over-hyped". FAA and Sinner and a few others in that age and hype range just seem to run very hot or cold with not much in between.

Fucsovics team or Alcaraz team?

Menu items linked in the "Finally, a restaurant for Datalounge" thread:

2) The Djokovic $11.50 Warm Turkey, Bacon, Cheddar Cheese & Avocado

3) The Grand Slam $11.50 Turkey, Ham, Roast Beef & Choice of Cheese

14) The Indian Wells $11.50 Marinated Chicken, BBQ sauce & Jack cheese

16) The Serve and Volley $11.50 Warm Turkey, Avocado, Bomb Sauce & Cream cheese

19) The Federer $11.50 Warm Turkey, Prosciutto, Avocado & Swiss Cheese

20) The Rafa $11.50 Roast Beef, Bacon, BBQ Sauce & Cheddar Cheese

21) The French Open $11.50 Marinated Chicken, Hot Sauce, Bleu Cheese Dressing & Pepper Jack Cheese

Woz.

The Djokovic sandwich should be baloney and sour grapes.

R13 what in the world are you saying? You're implying the Ukrainian president is a bad guy? Are you ESL?

How serious are Serena’s migraines? Have they gotten worse since the baby?

Ha ha JJ Wolf comes from my hometown, Cincinnati, and he's a rich kid. His family owns MidWest Sports, and they're a large Catholic brood. His father and uncle have won the Cincinnati Met tournament many times in the past.

How many *aren't* rich kids?

R31, is he gay?

[quote]Has our sweet innocent Tommy Paul gotten rid of that nasty big titted Only Fans chick?

I don't think so, she's in Miami and posting footage from his matches on her Instagram. She was also complaining about having to pay $15 for a cappuccino lol

[quote] is he gay?

Dear lord I hope not.

JJ Wolf is dating some local Christian hoochie (Kat Lyman)

[quote] JJ Wolf is dating some local Christian hoochie (Kat Lyman)

Looks like JJ Wolf's Cincinnati might as well be in Hazzard County.

JJ isn't real pretty, but the boy is thiq

grrrrr

flexible, too!

Mine too.

R32.. i know right...

are there ANY pro tennis players that do NOT come from wealth? and/or connections in one way or another?..

and no, i'm not even talking upper middle class either. i'm talking, the father has a blue collar job, the mother works part time or doesn't work at all, they have a number of kids level of middle to lower middle class...

R43 There's always the Williams sisters but I guess their background isn't the norm for tennis players in the U.S.

R43 Tiafoe. His father worked as a groundskeeper for a tennis club and that's how he got into the sport. Though maybe that counts as a connection? He most certainly didn't come from wealth.

Evonne Goolagong is another player who grew up in poverty.

R45... yes about Goolagong, but I was referring to pros today....

good to know about Tiafoe, don't know how much of a "connection" his father being a groundskeeper at a tennis club is? Did he get free or really cheap lessons at the club from really good instructors? free court time as well? how did he gets his rackets and strings, tournament fees, clothing, traveling and so expenses paid for?

I once read years ago I believe in tennis or world tennis magazine that the average cost for a junior player to make it to the top of junior tennis before they turn pro was 75 THOUSAND! PER YEAR!....

Arther Ashe!

Per his wiki-- Ashe and his brother were raised by their father who worked as a handyman and salaried caretaker/Special Policeman for Richmond's recreation department.

The Ashes lived in the caretaker's cottage in the grounds of 18-acre Brookfield park, Richmond's largest blacks-only public playground, which had basketball courts, four tennis courts, a pool and three baseball diamonds. Ashe started playing tennis at seven years of age and began practicing on the courts where his natural talent was spotted by Virginia Union University student and part-time Brookfield tennis instructor, Ron Charity, who as the best black tennis player in Richmond at the time began to teach Ashe the basic strokes and encouraged him to enter local tournaments.

I find JJ wolf repulsive.

JJ Wolf looks like he's from one of those Southern state truck stop families that just reek of bacon all the time.

you can now play sports in NY if you're not vaxxed but you need to be vaxxed to enter the country so...maybe he should sneak in via the southern border.

Billie Jean's dad was a fireman.

Today's players.....CoCo Gauff did not come from a lot of dough.

Danielle Collins grew up on the public courts with no connections or riches. Part of the reason she went the college route.

Also, the tennis soap opera continues: Is Amanda Anisimova the homewrecker that broke up Ajla and Matteo? She's denying it, but more and more pictures make it look like they're into each other. This is the second time he goes for Kyrgios' sloppy seconds. And Idk why Eugenie Bouchard is even there, she's not in the tournament.

R52 Danielle Collins's father owned a landscaping business and was a tennis player himself, while her mother was a teacher. That's middle class to me. Collins also went to UVA which seems middle class.

Amanda Anisimova is young and very busty. If she shows up at your door, are you gonna turn her away? A red-blooded straight Italian man like Matteo probably wouldn't.

I don't believe that's the first time she's spoken to matteo. She's been on the tour for a while now.

so far we have collins and gauff as examples of TODAY's pros who did not come from wealth or connections...

although, i have to say in regards to Collins, if your father OWNS a landscaping business and your mother is a teacher (2 incomes) your above middle class in my mind...

DID she got a scholarship to UVA? if not, did she take out loans? If her parents paid for her college out of pocket? well there you go...

I"ll have to look into gauff's parent's and any connections....

R56 here. just did some research and coco gauff's parents, the father was a health care executive (big bucks!) and her mother was a educator, once again 2 incomes and both seemingly well paying....

so so far, not a single player in today's game grew up and were raised lower class or low middle class to "make it"...seems like only the william sisters, even though they got PLENTY Of help early on.....

tennis, like golf, like ice skating is a expensive sport to excel at.... the days of ashe, goolagong, king, evert, and so on are i'm afraid long gone...

like the sport itself, it's a rich or well off man's game, from becoming a top junior and being a pro, to ticket prices for good seats at any tournament, and so on....

Gauff's parents are probably on her payroll now. She has $$ endorsements.

Her father played college basketball at Georgia State University and later worked as a health care executive, while her mother was a track and field athlete at Florida State University and worked as an educator.

When Gauff was seven, her family moved back to Delray Beach so that she would have better training opportunities.[11][12] They initially lived with her mother's parents before getting their own house.[4] While in Florida, she worked with Gerard Loglo at the New Generation Tennis Academy starting from age eight.[10][13] Gauff's parents gave up their careers to focus on training their daughter. Her father later became her primary coach while her mother oversaw her homeschooling.

Tiafoe's parents were penniless immigrants and he only got into tennis because his dad came to some arrangement with his bosses for court time and they saw his talent.

I came from poverty. I had no courts to play on in the winter and there was no money in the Jugoslavija that I grew up in. I had to get out to succeed and boy did I ever? I made myself a superstar and one of the GOATs of tennis.

Aaaaaaaaaa eeeeeeeeeeeeeee......

While I don't like him at all, it could be argued Djokovic doesn't come from wealth - his parents ran a restaurant. Also former player Ivanovic having to practice in an empty swimming pool doesn't really smack of privilege.

Henin's mother was a teacher. Hardly rolling in cash.

Per wiki--Djokovic's parents ran a fast-food parlour[21] and a sports equipment business.

FAA also came from a modest background. His father is a tennis teacher from Togo and has twelve brothers and sisters. His mother is a school teacher.

Me mom is a nurse and daddy an electrician! I'm poor by tennis standards!

Raducanu doesn't come from wealth. She went to the sister school of the one I went to in SE London/Kent borders. It's a state school. Her house is pretty normal too. Her stalker stole a pair of her father's trainers he kept in the porch (British definition).

[quote] I made myself a superstar and one of the GOATs of tennis.

You took a stab at success and made it, until you didn’t.

^ Wow, that's some twisted dark humor even by DL standards. Parche should've been offed in the act.

I guess i'm just venting, because i myself wanted to be a professional tennis player. i will always believe that was what i was suppose to be...

but when you come from a family of 7, whose father worked a blue collar job, whose mother didn't work because she had to take of all the kids... well, there you go. We couldn't afford the cost of tennis... I never had a lesson in my entire life, taught myself how to play when i was 9.. never belonged to a tennis club, played my first tournament when i was 12, and from the age of 12 to 17, i think i played at the most 5 tournaments!.... when i should have been playing at least 5 tournaments a year!... the 25 dollar tournament fees, my 50 dollar racket, shoes were a expense to my family. I did manage to be "all area" in my city my senior year in high school and reached the top 16 in my state at the state championship... i was obsessed with the sport, watched every match on tv, read every tennis magazine and tennis book I could find, knew tennis history and so on.....

but i knew at 18 i would never go any further... sad to realize your ultimate dream in life ended at that age... I simply didn't have the resources, the money or the backing from my family.. your hear about tennis parents pushing their kids, finding connections to get them to realize their dreams, but I had none of this...

you hear about tennis camps and tennis schools, and i would have given my soul to have gone to those, i would have been see you mom and dad and siblings in a few years while i go to school and play tennis for a few years.....

Also i would have been happy if I was 75th in the world, i didn't even have to be a top player. 75th in the world still makes good money, you travel around the world, you get your ego stroked by playing in front of crowds and then you retire when you 30 plus and become a commentator or a tennis magazine contributor...I truly believe if given the chances I could have been a pro tennis player if simply because of desire if not talent?....

it's not that i think about this 24/7 and it tortures me, but still do occasionally wonder "what if" and "why not" and "how come".....

I do think part of the reason tennis has so many douchebags is because they all come from rich / spoiled backgrounds. Justin Gimelstobb for example never would have made it as big as he did without being the son of extremely wealthy parents. I'm sure R68 wouldn't have minded a career like that (and instead we get that moron).

Wow Vika was getting a beatdown from this 16 year old kid but just retired down 6-2 3-0. Didn't look like anything was wrong with her, probably just some injured pride.

There's no question that the kids who came from money and were given every opportunity and preference have an extremely unfair advantage. And those tend to be some of the biggest jerks in tennis too, all entitlement and the biggest egos and the smallest hearts. For every FAA or Tiafoe or Raducanu, there are probably 1,000 who had the talent and the desire but not the means or the luck or the support or the infrastructure to get there.

And the really good sister is the younger one, LInda is very good, but Brenda is amazing.

Tennis is a very expensive sport and it took years to reach (if you ever reach) the level to profit. That's the reason there are so many rich kids.

What's the most expensive thing? Paying coaches, equipment, travel?

R69 and R70 , R68 here... thank you for your replies...

May I also add, I would have been the nicest most humble pro tennis player as well... honored that anyone would want my autograph and spending so much time after a match for anyone who wanted me to sign anything of theirs. I would never have gone off on umpires, thrown my racket (i had that chris evert mentality when i played, never showing negative emotions)... i would have asked the ball kids their names and called them by them. i would have thanked the true fans in the nose bleed sections for coming out to watch all of us play and well, you all get the message...

Just once, though, I would love to see a nice guy like Ruud punch Kyrgios or Zverev in the face, or would have liked to see Venus knock Spirlea out after Spirlea intentionally shoved her. But of course that's stooping to the idiots' level.

Coz horse will HEART???

Hate her but Sharapova didn't come from wealth. Remember the fairytale story about coming to the US with her dad at age 4 or 5 and the mother could only join them a few years later? The father agreed to work odd jobs while she trained at the academy

Henin didn't grow up rich either. Her father was a postal worker and her mother (who died when Henin was 12) was a teacher

You realize that it isn't only tennis, right? Kids from rich families get ahead in all sorts of careers, not just tennis. I don't mean to cast aspersions at all, but, if you had been able to do really well in high school, on the school team, wouldn't you have potentially earned a scholarship to play in college and you could have approached it that way? I went to a very small school (44 in my graduating class) and we didn't have a tennis team at all, so, if you did, you were ahead of many others.

Yes, but it's not that common in sports. A lot of poor athletes succeed on football, soccer and basketball, and of course in athletism, because trainning in those sports is less expensive

I don't think crazy Capriati or Pierce grew up rich either

But those are all team sports. That's a completely different situation because it takes a bunch of kids to form a team. Even those can be expensive if you are on a traveling, non-school-related, team. I just saw a story about competitive skiing on HBO Real Sports and they reported it now takes up to $500,000 to have a junior ski "career."

Andy and Jamie Murray are also from a humble background. Their mother is involved in tennis but they were by no means wealthy and went to school in Dunblane and were there when that terrible shooting happened.

Andre Agassi did not grow up rich, or even well-to-do. His dad was a waiter.

Yep Sharapova came to mind for me as well. I know y’all hate her but girl came from nothing

I'm concerned for Azarenka. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for her after all the shit she went through with the custody battle and her various injuries but she's always seemed like a good person. Now I'm kinda thinking she should just retire as her head just doesn't seem to be in the right place any more. It also can't be great for her to have her country/flag taken away from beside her name considering she lives in the US and barely has anything to do with Belarus these days. She can't help where she was born.

And Cuntadopa ended up nothing (a filthy rich nothing, though).

R85 Yeah. Sharapova, one of the the most famous tennis players of all time ended up nothing. She's practically unheard of now and living on the streets.

She's a household name across the world, you moron.

Tennis players generally grew up upper middle class to wealthy or had a tennis-obsessed parent (Agassi, Serena/Venus, Pierce, Capriati, Sharapova, the Murrays).

Tiafoe is the rare exception but his dad worked as a janitor at a tennis facility and that's how he got a foot in the door.

Why do gays and tennis threads ask about "X team" vs "Y team"?

Trump is also a household name. That's a false equivalence.

Cuntadopa may have all the money she wants, but what she'll be remembered for is a) being a closeted bitch; b) losing constantly to Serena; c) being a drugs cheat cunt.

R89 That's not the topic under discussion though, is it? If you want to discuss Sharapova's reputation and legacy, start a thread about it. We're discussing the origins of various players. Grow up.

r83 declared, "Yep Sharapova came to mind for me as well. I know y’all hate her but girl came from nothing"

So it was perfectly relevant to discuss why she's hated (since r83 made it somehow relevant).

To be clear, Djokovic also came from nothing, and he's pretty loathed these days. There's no real connection between coming from nothing and being a cunt. Djokovic and Sharapova just happen to both a) came from nothing and b) are nasty cunts.

Who's the COAT?

Sinner's fist is endlessly annoying.

R77.. well i went to a junior college for 2 years and played tennis there and got my tuition paid for, but when i went to the next college, a 4 year college, I dropped out because my heart wasn't in it, (eventually i went back to college years later, a different college to get my degree, but by then tennis was long over with)...

when i graduated from high school, amazingly (i thought at the time and now) i only got 1 offer from a college 90 miles away for a tennis scholarship, but at the time I turned it down because i thought i don't want to go to this no name college. My parents neither who had a college degree, didn't help me in this matter either...

Yes, you need money to play some sports, but more importantly, you gotta have talent and motivation to have a little bit of success.

R88, frequently it’s a referendum on which player is hotter and therefore worthy of winning. As it should be.

SPEAKING OF privileged and connections, i give you 2 words on why he has ANY kind of tennis media career: PRAKASH AMRITRAJ!....

SERIOUSLY besides his last name what other experience, education, qualifications does he have to be a tennis channel commentator? ZILCH! and to make matters even worse, comes across as smarmy and self righteous annoying....

oh wait, he played on the challenger circuit for ONE YEAR, won 3 small challenger tournaments and reached the finals of a low grade main tour event the hall of fame tournament on grass and lost that... and this was ALL a decade ago!

he's qualified to be a tennis expert opinion commentator because??? damn at least JIMMY ARIAS who was resurrected as a tennis commentator WAS a top player albeit decades ago..

R88 if both players are Non-Hot it's a referendum on which is the bigger asshole/psycho

R72 -- coaching for sure, then travel.

I'm a hacker and I pay my local pro $100 for 90 minutes. For me it's a hobby. But if you wanna make it in pro tennis, you gotta be out there 5+ days a week for probably three or four hours.

But coaches don't get paid alot...

Sinner is too passive against PCB. PCB is controlling all the rallies.

I think PCB is hot

PCB just choked match point!

I think Jen Brady - where the hell is she btw? - had a similar situation like Tiafoe. Her dad worked at the Evert Academy as a janitor, and Jen got a full scholarship from Chrissie.

OMG PCB just choked again, broken at love, serving for the match!

Gurl aint right.

and another match point, gone

and another

JFC, pull UP bitch!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand Sinner breaks

Sinner defeats PCB in an exciting three setter.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaans Sinne wins

cold as ice!

I can't stand Sinner. I don't know why. I just can't.

R110, is it because Sinner is a ginger

R104 I like Brady but her long injury time out is a bit sus to me. She parted with her coach and team very soon after initially getting 'injured'. I wonder if we'll see her back at around the 1 year mark.

No R111, that has nothing to do with it. I like Rublev a lot for instance. Maybe it's the constant fist pump and scowl and general hostile space alien affect.

I hated jj's fist pump! saw that all over social media after he switched hands to hit the winner against greek asshole.

wow the Marbella challenger this week!

Thiem is the top seed and he could likely face Verdasco in the 2nd round

Wawrinka took a WC

Kohlschreiber also in the draw

Andujar

that's all in the top half

bottom half has Munar and Djokovic dominator Vesely

I wanted PCB for the win but he always chokes.

I want to suck on Karatsev's big thighs and tongue his hairy hole.

Brooksby came back from 0-4 to beat RBA, and the FUCKING Tennis Channel instead switched to Osucka/Riske and Karatsev/Hubie. Jenson is highly thought to be the Tenth Coming of Jimmy Connors, and they give him the shaft? Yet, do nothing CoCo Gauff will get prime coverage today - and her ass kicked by Iga, who she has no chance of beating.

[quote] Brooksby came back from 0-4 to beat RBA, and the FUCKING Tennis Channel instead switched to Osucka/Riske

That’s unfortunate but they were showing the complete match on another of the Tennis Channel alternate channels on my cable system.

R117, don't fall in because Karatsev is a huge asshole, just calling for a physio when Hurkacz is serving for the match and clearly Karatsev is not even remotely injured. The supervisor is ripping into Karatsev, calling him out for what's clearly gamesmanship. The commentators are also appalled.

It didn't mattered, Hurkacz won his serve easily

Hubie team

Did Williams sisters gave any comments regarding last night unnecessary agressive behaviour of Will Smith?

R123 they were rooting him on. He's just like their daddy.

R118, Coco is the new GOAT. Didn't you get the memo?

The slap must have hit close to home. My theory about why Venus and Serena didn’t sign on as producers of King Richard until seeing the final cut is out of fear it would allude to his abuse of Oracene.

Alcaraz takes down Cilic 4 and 4.

Tommy Paul and Daddy Fritz up next!

We need Tommy to sweat a lot in those white shorts because it looks like he's wearing sexy dark undies.

Daddy takes the first in a TB

R128.. we need Matteo to get his shirt together and wear those see thru with sweat white shorts and pale blue bikini undies he wore at the open a couple of years back!...it was so blatant and obvious the crowd and the commentators noticed it....

courier was probably leaking pre-cum in his pants at the sight...

When are Venus and Serena coming back to play tennis?

Are they coming back?

I can't even remember the last time I saw Serena play.

I think Vee & Ree are timing their comeback to coincide with Federer's.

R132 Wimbledon last year before she hurt her ankle (or was it the knee?) and had to default....

Pretty sure it was her knee.

Wozniacki's commentating is unbearable.

Badosa looks like she's going to keel over.

R137 but she is moving so well during the points.

CoCo????? They pretty much gave her the title on TC.

R131. Hopefully never.

Whoever did Serena's makeup for her Oscars appearance should be shot. They made her look like a MTF. Serena has an attractive face and there was no excuse to make her look like that bad.

Did Granny Vee get a boob job lately? I don't recall her pachongas being as huge as they were in her nip slip photo from the Oscars.

omg Tuesday's matches have the potential to be fun shit shows:

Zverev vs. Kokkinakis. c'mon Thansi, cause him to have another insane meltdown so he'll be banned for a year

Medvedev vs. Brooksby-just imagine the trash talking Danil will do if Jenson's junk balls mess up his rhythm or if he blows a double lead a la RBA today

Osaka vs. Collins-you know Danielle is going to be vocal if she's struggling to cope with Naomi's power

Kyrgios vs. Sinner

Ruud vs. Norrie

Tsitsipas vs. Alcaraz-no way will diva Stefanos handle it well if he loses to the teen phenom 2 matches in a row especially since he just lost to Brooksby at IW

Vee has just gained some weight in her 40s, her breasts don't quite look 'done' to me (and judging by the terrible work on Serena's face, i'm assuming we'd be able to tell lol). As far as I know, Serena was reacting on her IG story with funny 'shocked' faces to try and lighten the mood. Venus looked a little more sad and pensive during Will Smith's speech, and hasn't commented on the incident since. I think she was somewhat upset, especially when he kept comparing his assault to her father's actions. She said in her YouTube Q&A that she will be coming back at some point, still rehabbing that injury from Australia 2 years ago that she shouldn't have played on with.

Kvitova also had a good comeback today from 0-4, 0-40 down in the second set. I wouldn't mind seeing her snatch Iga's wig in the next round and having one more moment of glory after what's been a tough year. Honestly Collins has looked the most dangerous though, I think she will beat Osaka the way she's returning.

Sasha will be banned for 8 weeks if he again throws temper tantrum within one year. The ban will not be for an year.

The probation is for an year and punishment is for eight weeks.

many of the lady tennis players look like line backers on roids.

I think Venus' dress had a pushup bra in it which makes boobs look bigger

A couple of weeks ago I never thought I'd be rooting for usual villain Medvedev over Brooksby, but after the Jensen smashed his racket into the court so hard that the racket bounced off the court, hit one of the ballkids, and Pillsbury Doughboy just snarled and offered no apology, I hope Daniil bakes him.

did you all hear the news that Nadal's injury is healing much faster than expected and he is rumored to already be practicing again with a hope to return for Barcelona?

Awwww. This what we need more of. With less clothing.

R147 He was never injured to begin with. There was no stress fracture in his ribs.

It was a simple case of loser limp

I wasn't impressed with Venus' s dress. Too simple and not suitable for Oscars. She just wanted to show her saggy tits. I also think there was a push up element to it.

It's kind of on brand for her. She presents herself very maturely and graciously on-court, but at the same time she's always worn some of the raciest outfits on the tennis tour. I remember her 'peekaboo' dress at the Australian Open one year that looked like her tits would fly out and knock over Rennae Stubbs. Obviously the Moulin Rouge style dress she wore to the French that year with the lace and nude hose. I agree that her Oscar dress was a bit simple and cheap-looking, but I do love this 'rebellious' side of her personality.

R147... that was brooksby? i thought that was krygios at indian wells that did that? or did both do that recently?

Yeah, the Brooksby incident happened last week

How often does anyone get defaulted for that kind of crap any more? Why are the rules even on the books if they don't get enforced? Last times that I can remember are Moutet and before that Djokovic at the '20 USO. The ATP and WTA have turned into toothless old whores.

R154... he threw his racket, he didn't throw it AT the ball boy with intention to do so... i think there is a context nuance difference....

DID brooksby apologize or anything afterwards, because that would make a difference as well....

i don't think any player should be throwing rackets or even smashing them, because the rackets are so light and while powerful are so fragile, a piece, a char, could fly and potentially hurt someone near by...

Brooksby apologized on social media, I don't think he was given a fine like Kyrgios in Indian Wells

[quote] The ATP and WTA have turned into toothless old whores.

From Marseille.

Is Ruud the homophobe who hid behind his young age?

I think you mean Holger Rune R159

R156, intent has nothing to do with it. Novak didn't INTEND to hit the line woman at the US Open with the ball either but was still defaulted. Brooksby should have been defaulted and fined.

BTW, in Marbella, both Wawrinka and Thiem have lost in two sets. Something is very wrong with Thiem, I am afraid.

stan the man just had a birthday, he's 37...damn he's old

The Kokk has lovely eyelashes. Among other things.

Commentator: "I don't like it when Kokkinakis clutches various body parts..."

Me: "I bloody do..."

I can't stand Sasha but I don't know why I'd still let him get it.

Kyrgios being a fucking little whiney bitch to Bernardes once again.

I swear Kyrgios is mentally unstable. As soon as he starts losing he can't control himself. He needs to be on a psych hold, not a tennis court.

At the AO he was egging the crowd on to abuse his opponents and act rowdy. Now that it doesn't benefit him he's sulking, but it's fine when it's working to his benefit.

I love the way he plays tennis but he lacks so much self awareness it's got to be some kind of condition. I hope Sinner flogs him and we don't see him on court for the next few weeks (wouldn't be surprised, given how he usually tanks clay season).

He's already said he won't play the clay season. Because he knows he's likely to lose.

I'm pretty sure he just said "you are a fucking retard" to Bernardos after the match.

It probably won't get him suspended or anything but that's disgusting behaviour to me.

Brooksby imploded, he was winning 5-3 and now he is losing 7-5 3-0

Tiafoe looks great in white shorts

Kyrgios has mental problems, like fur reel. He's been pretty open about that.

WTF happened to Tiafoe? He collapsed in the 3rd.

R175 he took an injury timeout. Looks like his back

Odrama Team or America's Sweetheart Team?

Odrama team.

Harriia team or Hubie team?

Tsitsy team or Alcaraz (Garfia) team?

Daddy Fritz team or Kecmanovic?

Thiem's opponent Pedro Cachin is a 26 year old journeyman ranked #199. So he didn't even lose to an established player or a young gun up-and-comer. He just lost.

Wawrinka losing to Elias Ymer is much more respectable

Um, I'm like...you know, like happy now. Um, I got like um help and now, you know I ok. I'm, um not like, faking.

mateo had surgery,

Following multiple scans and assessments we decided a minor operation was the best solution to ensure a full and quick recovery. Earlier today I had the operation and I’m happy to report it went extremely well. My doctor and team are already discussing plans for me to get back on-court. I will provide an update as soon as this plan is finalized. Thanks very much as always for all the support

surgery on what?

I've heard he's transitioning!

Came just called Alcaraz a "young stud". Gurrrrrrrrl.

Cames*

R185, during the first set, he described Alcaraz’s serve as “thick” and “hard.” Woof!

[quote] Cames*

Cames came at the sight of Alcaraz’s studliness.

Fritz team anyone?

Horny Daddy Team here!

Kecmanovic (aka Kakeman) has Alcaraz and Wawrinka levels of acne scars.

No sunshine double for Daddy Fritz.

Daddy Cames just needs to come out. He and his beard wife aren't fooling anyone.

wow Tsitsipas' first set collapse was worse than what happened to Brooksby

Something tells me Titsy and his shaky OHBH is bound the slave to Alcaraz's THBH. And thinking he lost his only chance to a grand slam title last year at the French Open before Alcaraz started to shine at the top. Titsy could have been a one slam wonder and now will likely end up a no-slam wonder. Sad.

Something tells me Titsy and his shaky OHBH is bound the slave to Alcaraz's THBH. And thinking he lost his only chance to a grand slam title last year at the French Open before Alcaraz started to shine at the top. Titsy could have been a one slam wonder and now will likely end up a no-slam wonder. Sad.

Tsitsipas like Berrettini has so far had very unusual results. So far Tsitsipas has only won titles on indoor hard or clay and Berrettini has only won titles on clay and grass. Tsitsipas has gone deep in certain outdoor hardcourt events but not at others. In his 5 outdoor hardcourt finals, he's managed to win just 1 sett. You can't be #1 until you start winning outdoor hardcourts obviously.

Sad for Daddy Fritz. Surprised that Il Gingio handled Crazy Nick so easily.

Stacked Carlos was pretty amazing versus Titsy. SO fast and his lobs and running groundies have a way of finding the lines like there's a magnet in the ball. Like Rafa. And nice trail! Is that new?

I almost feel for Titsy. I mean, he's a privileged brat who resorts to gamesmanship but it feels like ever since he came on the tour he's been the subject of cynicism from the other guys for being 'different' and 'sensitive.' His weird social media... he has a different personality to the soulless corporate jocks that populate the tour (creative, a bit gay). He really should have won that RG final against Djokovic, he was playing amazing that entire clay court season. And he has by far the more attractive game of the 'little 3' (him, Zverev, Medvedev).

It might be tough to lose to Carlos again, but I think he's going to get all their scalps come sooner or later. The way he's playing, I honestly think he's the title favourite. We haven't seen enough of how his mentality will hold up deep into grand slam events, but right now there are no weaknesses in his game. He defends the court like Djokovic, competes like Rafa, and has the netgame and dropshots of Federer. There's no way through him, and then boom, he hits a winner past you anyway.

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Osaka can't even make it through a press conference, much less five sets of tennis.

Osaka is a dumb cunt.

Naomi is the Dorothy Parker of our time!

[quote] His weird social media... he has a different personality to the soulless corporate jocks that populate the tour (creative, a bit gay).

Those are the reasons I liked him when he first became widely known. Then he became a petulant ass.

Osaka would kill it on Celebrity Jeopardy!

Alcaraz will be #1 before he turns 20.

R205, that's one of the fascinating things about social media now--how these players and their PR machines carefully craft an image and brand, then rip it to shreds when reality rears its ugly head.

Sinner retires against Cerundolo after only 5 games. Nothing that looked obvious.

The retirements are getting ridiculous (especially WTA).

Badosa and Sinner both retire at 1-4 down in the opening set of their QF matches. Fans would have paid a lot of money, and that's the entire day session done. Cerundulo through to a SF, and so is Jessica Pegula (who received 2 retirements in a row).

Zverev's draw to to final is disgustingly easy. I hope he will break his wrist against Casper Ruud.

this is absurd

Cerundolo has played well this tournament BUT

he's had THREE opponents who had physical issuse

Opelka retired

Tiafoe's back started hurting in the second set after he won the first

now Sinner quickly retires

luckiest run ever to a SF

Damn. Feel bad for the spectators with tickets to this crappy day session.

Ruud has gotten better on hardcourts but he's still a clay specialist for now. I'd love for him to defeat the abusive asshole tonight though

looking forward to Swiatek vs. Kvitova. That could well be a great match if both play well

Thiem posted today he has tested for positive for covid and has symptoms

Am I the only one who thinks this Salisbury guy is a tasty dish?

^ no

He's stacked. And should sit on my face.

R215, did he mention got the vaccine?

I bet he isn't vaxxed

R218 no mention of whether he got it or not

does Spain require people to be vaccinated for entry?

here's the post

Just lost all respect for Tsitsipas (what little was left). I can't think of any other sport where I find more than half of the players to be unlikable. It's s shame because I love tennis.

Wait, what did Titsy do?

I watched the match again Alcaraz, and Titsy fought hard and was a gentleman in losing, at least on court. He was outplayed.

well there was 1 shot he hit that almost went at Alcaraz' head but the boy wonder ducked out of the way. He looked for an apology and got none. It happened early in the 2nd set

That was the moment I was referring to. I'm done with ST.

It seems like it's mostly at the very top where the blight is though, R220. Djokovic, Medvedev, Zverev, Tsitsipas and then maybe no more than a dozen or so bad apples in the remaining top 200. It's just that those sociopaths in the top 5 who make it look bad for the rest. And those bad apples are very, very, very, very bad.

Tsitsipas doesn't appear to have many friends on tour except for Feliciano Lopez with whom he often plays doubles. He has a Sharapova-like isolation quality to him which I think is intentional.. Some think if you're too friendly to too many people it will affect your concentration in matches.

Ruud defeats A. Zverev.

Beauty slays The Beast!

I love a happy fairytale ending! A week when Kyrgios, Zverev and Tsitsipas all FLOP is a good week!

Flopos Zverev

F. Zverev

good riddance to Zverev

A. Zverev

Bankrupt Boris Becker ‘wishes’ he still had Wimbledon trophies to show kids

Boris Becker, on trial for failing to hand over valuable memorabilia and other assets in his bankruptcy proceedings, says he wishes he still had all of it.

Last week, the 54-year-old former tennis star went on trial in London for failing to hand over assets such as two of his Wimbledon trophies — including the 1985 championship that he won at age 17 that made him famous — plus two Australian Open championship trophies and his 1992 Olympic gold medal.

“For the player, it’s about winning the title. The trophy is not so much when you are playing,” Becker told the court, according to AFP.

“Nowadays I wish I had them to show them to my children.”

Regarding the Australian Open trophies, Becker said, “is a big tournament to win it, but what you keep is like this” — and cupped his hands together to show the jury.

He continued to refer to the Australian Open trophy as “the smallest” of the grand slams’, and said that other tennis stars “in effect … made fun of them”.

Becker, who earned a reported $63 million in prize money and sponsorships, was declared bankrupt in 2017.

In addition to the memorabilia, Becker is accused of concealing property and $2.3 million, plus having transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to other accounts, including his estranged wife, Lilly, and his ex-wife, Barbara.

If found guilty, Becker faces up to seven years in prison.

Medvedev vs. Hurkacz is rather boring. Tame baseline exchanges until someone makes a mistake is the typical point, or a service winner of some kind. Yawn.

Come oh, Hubie, my sweet! COME ON!

Was John McEnroe gay? His wife Tatum O'Neal and family was. Seemed like lavender

Back off bitches!! Hubie in mine, mine, MINE!!!!

As if my pure, sweet Hubie would ever go with a blown-out old skank like you, R235!

Hurkacz defeated Medvedev 76 63

[quote] He continued to refer to the Australian Open trophy as “the smallest” of the grand slams’, and said that other tennis stars “in effect … made fun of them”.

But it’s the happy slam!

Who is the HAWT guy (hitting partner?) sitting in Osaka's box? Some Dutch sounding name.

Damm. Git it, girl!

What does the DL think of the Isner / Hubie dubs team? Up a set against the Special Ks...

lmao Becker is pathetic. Trying to get some sympathy I see.

solid play from Osaka and her first win over Bencic

the whole tournament I was hoping for an Osaka-Swiatek final.

Isner / Hubie into the doubles final

Hubie is having a great tournament.

It's nice to see even an arsehole like Kyrgios has respect for Hurkacz.

Hopefully Swiatek beats Pegula. Pegula has had a cakewalk draw with her last 2 opponents retiring quickly. Swiatek vs Osaka could be great if both keep good form.

Medvedev fell 1 match short of being able to regain the #1 ranking at least this time. Djokovic will return for Monte Carlo too

I gotta give Osaka props in that match against Bencic. She dropped the first set and toughened up and fought for that match. Even after she lost serve, serving for the match, she got tougher and broke back at love. That was gutsy. She looked like she really wanted it.

Osaka has now reached every big hardcourt final except for Rogers Cup.

Alcaraz (Garfia) team or Kecmanovic team?

Pegula team or Svee-i-tek team?

now it makes sense why Kecmanovic has improved so much. He's got Nalbandian coaching him. They have similar aggressive groundstroke-focused games. Neither has a great serve or volleys.

This Serbian came out of nowhere. Not sure I'd heard of him much before Indian Wells and I know some fairly obscure players.

he was mentioned a few years ago when he was just joining the tour but he was too erratic and stalled. He took the luck he got when Djokovic pulled out of the AO and has been in-form since.

excuse me, when Djokovic was removed and deported from the AO lol

Oh yeah I forgot he took Djokovic's spot in the Aussie draw and got to the 4th rd.

That was a great match by both players.

really high quality. I wasn't expecting Kecmanovic to match Alcaraz so well but it was nice to see

I'm excited to see how both will do in the upcoming clay season

I think Ruud has to be the favorite in the first men's SF tomorrow. He played well against Zverev and Cerundolo has been in his best form but had 3 opponents who weren't 100% physically

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Nick Kyrgios AVOIDS a ban for his meltdown at the Miami Open where he called the umpire an 'absolute clown' with the controversial Australian given a fine of just £26,500 after losing in straight sets to Jannik Sinner

Kyrgios is headed right down Tomic Road.

Hottie Casper' Ruuds not gay, but he would certainly make The Best Gay!

D'awwww...

Miomir has a nice booty.

UK's sports minister is talking about requiring Russian and Belarusian tennis players to sign a statement that they do not profit financially from Russia/Belarus (sports is political there) and that they won't make supportive comments about the invasion of Ukraine. Thoughts?

Miomir is coached by David Nalbandian . That is why, he is doing so well for past few months.

Unfortunately he seems to be a breeder.

No idea about Carlos A though. Till now he has not given any indication one way or another..

I have on these threads for almost eight years .. And still not even single bi men in ATP tour.

Meanwhile on the WTA tour there are quite a few lesbians

^ They're ALL lesbians. Believe me.

Stupid and coward lt move by by the weasel sport' minister .

He is trying to be a tough guy against Putin by using hapless Russian sportts player as political pawn without even considering safety of family of Russian players.

I've been around since the first The Gays and Tennis thread, r264, and the only semiconfirmed gay male player is Jan-Michael Gambil.

I haven't been around since the 1920s, though, but even I know that Big Bill Tilden and Gottfried von Cramm were gay.

After that? Crickets.

And gossip.

Tsitsipas did have 'interested in: Men and Women' on his facebook page before fame and fans screenshotted it and posted it on LPSG. Don't know if it's still there. I was getting vibes from Hubie, but his effeminate qualities might also just be general facial tics etc. Maybe one day someone from this very young gen will come out, or a doubles player?

I have to believe there are at least 7 gay players in the top 100, that just aren't out. It's actually really sad because tennis has a HUGE gay following and always has, but lags behind other sports in terms of gay male pro athletes.

I'd venture that Grigor, Gasquet, Mannarino and Rafa are all gay. Maybe Rublev?

Former player Brian Vahaly is gay.

Prakash seems ghey.

R266 Russian gymnasts, figure skaters are not allowed to compete at all, so tennis players are getting off pretty easy tbh. They make a lot more money too.

Yes, you're right, r270. So not quite so many crickets, but still a whole shitload.

[quote]Who is the HAWT guy (hitting partner?) sitting in Osaka's box? Some Dutch sounding name.

It's probably Seppe Cuypers (on the left in the picture), a former player from Belgium. Osaka's coach Wim Fissette is from the same country

Reilly pings.

He does, doesn’t he, r275?

Obviously none of you have been in the lofty heights of professional sports.

I wish Cerundolo wouldn't wear the hat. Let that fun curly hair out!

Kecmanovic is a formen junior number one and runner up of the US Open junior (he lost against Felix, curiously he lost all his junior matches against Felix but he defeated him everytime they face on atp tour).

His rise was slower than Shapo or De Miñaur and then he stalled and started to drop on the rankings. Now he hired David Nabaldian and is having a great year. He played amazingly well.

He went a bit nationalistic on the Nole affair on Australia, but i always liked him. He is charismatic and funny, i remember when he interviewed Roger and started the question with "you have been playing before i was born"

Let's Go Darwin!

Casper won the first semifinal very easily

How Ruud!

Come here Ruud boy, boy

Can you get it up?

Come here Ruud boy, boy

Is you big enough?

David Nalbandian looks hawt. He's kept well.

Hubie team or Alcaraz (Garfia) team?

Hubie and Alcaraz make out at the net team

TOUGH one R285.

I'm gonna say Hubie cuz I like him and he's cute and he's playing beautifully.

And let Stacked Carlos wait a month or two. I love him, too.

every time I see Nalbandian I think back to about 15 years ago. I used to post on the chat section (I think it's gone now?) of Tennis.com it was run by Pete Bodo who annoys me but I loved chatting about tennis. Anyway his moderator named Steggy, once posted an infamous story of when she once went to the Indian Wells tournament. She saw Nalbandian and his crew sitting outside eating lunch. Then when they were done, they just left all their trash which started blowing about all over the place since it was a windy day. She was disgusted by how much of a slob he was

yeah but he was deliciously thiq and he had flowing blond locks

still has great hair

Thick in the head absolutely, Miomir certainly won't be getting any valid advice about how to keep your cool on court.

hurrrr

anyone else used to post there? Remember the hardcore Henin fan named Samantha who was originally from Sweden but I think lived in Florida and was a teenager with a middle aged bf? That was fucking wild and she kept sharing stories of her personal life to trollish effect. I don't think she was 18 either

R292 Yes! And I remember Samantha, lol!

[quote] lol!

LoL! :)

R293 and she also had a huge crush on Cliff Drysdale. 1 time Bodo even convinced Drysdale to post but he only made 2 comments, 1 of them being hi before dipping out.

wow the Houston draw is out and it's 1 of the best they've had in years

I'm surprised but Ruud has entered and is the top seed. He has a bye though so likely wouldn't play before Wednesday or Thursday.

Fritz, Opelka and Isner round out the top 4 and have byes as well

#5 slumping Garin will play WC Sock

#6 Tiafoe will play Giron in battle of the best asses on tour.

#7 Paul faces Gojowczyk

#8 Brooksby vs. Wolf should be very interesting especially on clay

other notables::

WC Kyrgios vs. McDonald

Lopez, Cuevas and Munar in the draw as well

[quote] He has a bye though

What’s a “bye”?

Rudd and Fritz are just bunch of vultures (specially Rudd)

That is why they never do well in slams

¡I beated white boy!

Alcaraz might have beaten Nadal in IW if not for the crazy winds. Nadal handled those better and Alcaraz' lack of experience showed. He's been so mentally tough this tournament

I think based on form he's the favorite for the title. Ruud is only a normal height around 6' so he doesn't have a huge serve though he's getting more aces in the last year.

What might give Alcaraz a bit of trouble is that Ruud gets a lot of action on his forehand and moves very well so it's a different type of matchup. Alcaraz hits harder though

I love my Rafa, but Alcaraz has It. Not since, well, Rafa, have I been this up on a teenager.

I have the sneaking suspicion he's going to give both Novak and Rafa a run for the French.

This might make Rafa's Aussie win even more important in the slam race. Maybe.

Margaret, sit your white ass down on some court, gurl. There is a new GOAT in town. Bow down to me, bitch ass. I could kick your ass on every Margaret Court in this world, OK?

I am the GOAT of tennis. Greater than Serena, Roger, Covid Man and even that Spanish bald dude.

It would be very cool if Alcaraz has timed his rise to frustrate NoVaxxx's GOAT # of slams ambitions. Carlos's rate of progress could see him dominating by the year's end, and clock is ticking for the PsychoSerb.

R303 many people call him a mini Rafa. I don't think that's correct at all. He's a mini Novak. I cant wait to see them go head to head with Carlos ascending.

Is NaUMi Attention Hosaka ready to win Miami and then disappear for three months until the summer events on hardcourts before the USA Open?

Yes R305, Clay court season is coming back next week and so are Osaka's mental health problems.

R304 His game has things from every big 3, It's true he is closet to Novak than the other three but he is way more entertainning than Novak

Alcaraz’s ascent has been astounding. Earlier this year, one of the hosts of the Tennis Podcast predicted he will win Roland Garros, and I think that’s looking feasible.

He has the big advantage that the doesn't defend a lot of points on clay season so top 10 is a lock for him (unless he gets injured).

Even his game is well suited for hard courts, right now Carlos is more dangerous on clay, when the serve is not so decisive

Russian asshole said on social media--- Hi everyone. The last months I have been playing with a small hernia. Together with my team I have decided to have a small procedure done to fix the problem. I will likely be out for the next 1 - 2 months and will work hard to be back on court as soon as possible. Thanks for all the support.

Good riddance, Snide Cat.

Medvedev isnt great on clay anyway so not much of a loss for him or fans. Bet he comes back to win a lot this summer.

Has Gramps retired yet? Or is he still delusional enough to believe that he can make a comeback and win more majors?

Ben Rothenberg is writing on a book on Naomi Osaka.

Oh dear!

Ben Rothenberg is writing a book on Naomi Osaka.

Alcaraz has that spirit and will to win, something missing from the younger generations that came before him. I've thought all along that the 21 and under generation was going to produce the next consistent Slam champs. Alcaraz, Sinner, maybe Korda--I can see them fighting for Slams.

It's going to get harder and harder for Nadal and Djokovic in the Slams. There are a lot of good players in the draws now, making it more difficult from the 3rd or 4th round on. Nadal got lucky at the Australian Open that they all rolled over like bitches. But unless the draws fall apart moving forward, Nadal and Djokovic are going to have to play top tennis from the 3rd or 4th round on, which could leave them depleted by the semis or final. I hope this is what happens. Tennis needs a new generation of stars who are worthy opponents for the Big 3 (now the Big 2 with Federer's absence).

Speaking of Novaxx. With comrade Medvedev's loss. Novaxx will be No. 1 for 364 weeks or 7 years, 54 weeks longer than Roger and 155 weeks longer than Rafa. That's a stunning statistic.

With Ruud Vs Alcaraz in Miami, and Jack Draper Vs Zizou Bergs in the Challenger at St Brieuc, it's Twunktastic pair of Finals tomorrow.

Ruud served 123 MPH so he can turn it on

And Flavio Cobolli won in Croatia.

'...opens on his love for Novak..."

SOMEONE SLAP THE DUMB OUT OF HIM!

Svee-i-tek team or Osaka team?

Swiatek seems refreshingly unburdened by being a top player and winning a lot.

[quote] '...opens on his love for Novak..."

[quote] SOMEONE SLAP THE DUMB OUT OF HIM!

There have been four links to tennisworldusa.org on this thread. Beyond DL, I've read other articles on that site that have been "recommended" to me by Google News. They have awfully written articles as if ESL translated his thoughts via Google translate into Finnish and back to English. Not a good or credible publication at all.

R324 I'm picturing him spreading his butt cheeks!

As ESL might say "Naomi implossioned". She intentionally gave up.

Sunshine Double.

Cobolli loves Djokovic. Shapo loves Putin. Will Smith, anyone?

[quote] Will Smith, anyone?

I love him. He's my brotha.

Alcaraz has the same spirit and presence and physicality that Nadal had around the time that he won the '05 FO. Not at all bad to mirror that with Djokovic's game.

He's clearly the real deal. I think that FAA is due a place in R316's Next Next Gen contender's. He's no less inconsistent than either Blisters Sinner or SebK have been. And FAA has the best Slam record so far.

Handsome Miami doubles finalist, Neal Skupski's junk looks hot and heavy. Hope it's not too distracting for Hubie.

Love the so pink shorts, no?

Koolhof/Skupski team or Hubie/Isner team?

[quote]Sunshine Double

Pretty impressive Swiatek won both tournaments. She even bageled Osaka

Very impressive 2 weeks from Swiatek and nice to see her embrace being the next #1 player. She had a lot of pressure to play with the entire Miami tournament but didn't choke. She didn't get a lot of first serves in but it ended up not mattering today because she has really developed a kick second serve and Osaka couldn't handle it. I do expect Osaka to work on handling that kick for their next match though.

As for Osaka, she had a good tournament but clearly has some work to do. I didn't expect Swiatek to hit a harder forehand than her today but that is what happened. Glad she seems to be in a better place mentally and I hope she plays several clay events this year

Interesting stat on Swiatek

she is now 6-1 in finals

She has won her last 6 finals and each of them in straight sets

If Osaka dropped the SJW act, got into better shape and focused on her tennis she could be #1 again. She's a great player who is wasting her talent and skills to be an Instaho and Twitter SJW.

If Osaka played regularly and had a psychologist as part of her entourage like Swiatek does, I bet this could have gone another way or would have been a lot more competitive.

Very impressed by Swiatek's FH. Hard, spinny, and precise. She can put it anywhere, and that short angle cross court took Osaka apart. Really a great shot.

Swiatek has overtaken my dear Venus as my fav. I love her game. Her fight. And saying her name is oddly fun too.

[quote] Swiatek has overtaken my dear Venus as my fav

[quote] And saying her name is oddly fun too.

Vee

Svee

Hubie / Isner won the dubs!

Yay boo!

That means Isner won the Sunshine Double as well. He makes Hubi look short

Swiatek will skip Charleston

It’s called the Sunshine Double.

She looked like a little troll.

Isner looks like an acromegaly victim.

Doha + Indian Wells + Miami = Sun & Sand Triple

Iga is a bad bitch! She's the real deal.

Charleston draw:

Sabalenka took a WC and replaces withdrawn Swiatek as the top seed. Badosa is #2, Pliskova #3, Jabeur #4, Rybakina #5, Pegula #6, Fernandez #7 and defending champ Kudermetova #8. All top 8 seeds get a bye

notable other players:

#9 Keys, #11 Kvitova, #10 Bencic, #12 Cornet, #13 Stephens, #15 Anisimova,

notable 1st rd match:

Kanepi vs. Rogers

Marrakech draw is out:

no byes

#1 FAA

#2 Evans vs. Andujar

#3 Fognini withdrew last minute and replaced by #9 Griekspoor

#4 Ramos-Vinolas vs. Musetti

#5 Delbonis

#6 Van De Zandschulp

#7 Davidovich Fokina vs. F. Coria

#8 Djere

other notable players:

Gasquet Goffin

Verdasco is in the qualifying draw

That's a great field for Charleston after three consecutive 1000 tourmanets for the WTA. It's their 50th anniversary, I believe they are the longest running female-only event. I miss the old mini green-clay swing with Amelia Island. Venus, Mary Pierce, etc. used to always play great on the surface.

I also love the Moroccan tournaments (both the ATP one in Marrakech and the WTA one in Rabat, I believe both used to be in Casablanca and Fez). With the overload of identical blue hard courts on the tour, it's one of the few stops that actually feels unique and as if you're watching tennis in a specific exotic location which always fascinated me as a kid. Almost like video game tennis stadiums. Mallorca Open has a similar appeal.

Can Asics at least design Swiatek some nicer kit?

During 90s it was played at Hilton head Island. Leter it shifted to Amelia Island and then Charleston. Steffi ,ASV and C Marttinez use to play there.

Late 80s and Whole 90s were best days of women. tennis.

Hubi is too adorable.

I remember Mary Pierce telling a story about the first time she was starstruck. She ran into Martina Navratilova riding her bicycle around Hilton Head Island when she was very new on the tour and Martina talked to her and gave her some advice.

I always found it funny to imagine Martina casually riding around the local streets.

Yep, bike riding, classic recruitment technique. Rosie Casals once asked me ride with her to the beach. I didn't fall for that trick after the third time.

Skupski and Koolhof would make hot boyfriends

Wesley Koolhof is actually dating German former player Julia Goerges

I need to provide services to Hubie ASAP.

Man, as much as I detest Isner's politics, and as often as I've rooted for his opponent, I have to concede that watching his joy in doubles is infectious. He's having a genuine blast, and seems so earnest...and then, I look at some of his posts, and I get conflicted.

Alcaraz (Garfia) team or Ruud team?

Oooh, that's tough.

Ima say Ruud just b/c of his adorable dimples and his lovely, wavy hair.

¿Will I ween against white boy?

^ probably, but I'm still cheering for Casper

Hubie's sister was at the doubles final, and she looks like a little, female version of Hubie.

I know there's a strong right-wing element in Poland, but Hubie seems too nice to be partnered with Isner.

RuudBoy Team.

Mainly to just temper the media hysteria around Alcaraz. They annoy me when they go into hype overdrive.

Alcaraz breaks.

Carlos wins first set 75

personally I'd love for there to be a mini 3-week green clay "season" to transition from hardcourt to red clay but that would never happen now

1. Some of the non-US players would complain about spending more time in the US

2. It would interfere with the Central and South American events (they'd have to move Indian Wells and Miami up a couple weeks)

3. Players like Nadal and Djokovic would never go for it given how much they whined the ONE year Madrid was played on faster blue clay (Federer of course loved it)

I just think green clay is unique and it's sad that the women now only have 1 pro event on it while the men have NONE anymore

Surprised to hear, in r354, that Hubie’s English is peppered with as many “likes” and “I means” as Osaka’s.

He has a very shy, almost awkward, personality, and English not his first language. Not surprising at all, really.

Will we have two bagel final sets - men and wo-men?

Is it pronounced "Hew-bie" or "Hoo-bie"?

I love everything about Alcaraz's game and mentality, but I can't help but laugh at the soap opera stares he gives to his box after a gruelling point or a big winner. These tennis players all do so much vamping these days lol. Iga does it a lot too actually.

R366 there is a reason for the hype. Alcaraz truly has the best skill and tenacity combo in a young player since the big 3 were younger.

I'm here for Ruud's nips.

Alcaraz wins.

Third title for Carlos (one 250, one 500, one masters 1000 and the next gen finals of course) and the first male spaniard (Arantxa won it twice) to win Miami

I think Juan-Carlos and Carlos might be bumming...

Terrific match from both guys and well-deserved for Carlos. This feels like a very big deal.

Ferrero in tears at the end, so sweet. His father passed away last week. JCF was always so classy. And sexy.

[quote] His father passed away last week.

Carlos' message on the camera: "Eduardo always with us"

and Alcaraz already does something Nadal could never do by winning Miami. Will Carlos win the WTF too? Surely he'll be top 8 if he keeps going at this pace. He might even be top 4

I wonder if Ruud will play Houston now that he is not 100% physically. I realize he has a bye and wouldn't play until Wednesday or Thursday. Curious if he makes the trip at all. It has to be disappointing to lose your biggest final.

Love both Carlos and Casper bigging each other as 'nice guys'. Clearly a subtle swipe at Pyscho Sasha and Nutjob Nick.

Carlos is cute.

E. Mertens/ova, Kudermet team or eva, Zvonar/Siegemund team?

Mertens/ova, Kudermet team or eva, Zvonar/Siegemund team?

AMAZING to hear newbies talk about Charleston. It was The Family Circle Cup for 30* years. Chris Evert won it for years.

Yeah, Carlos is the real deal. He really does have a remarkably complete game for 18 years old. He should be contending for majors for many years. And he's fuckable. Especially if he fixes those teefs.

[quote] Especially if he fixes those teefs.

And skin.

Is Tennis Channel covering US CLAY in Houston? All I see is streaming on ESPN 3. The best All American field in years.

Not that anyone here cares, but eva, Zvonar/Siegemund team won.

women's dubs is kinda a big yawn around here

Someone pass Carlos the vitamin B5 (works wonders for acne). But otherwise hot. Also, his treasure trail went missing sometime since the beginning of this week. He should also take lessons in shorts from Ruud rather than hiking his up all the time.

Still, very cute finalists for this tournament. I would've been fine with either winning it but wow Carlos did really well.

Justin Bieber looks like a woman in a suit

[quote] Justin Bieber looks like a woman in a suit

Wrong thread?

There was a very good looking, presumably Norwegian, blond guy in the stands rooting for Ruud. His only apparent facial flaw was a prominent mole on his cheek.

Carlos needs some teeth whitening too

I think he's on medication for the acne, he has really dry lips in all his matches and this is one of the main side effects of high-strength acne medications like acutane.

Good grief he's 18, leave him the fuck alone you asshats!

He can be 18 and have horrible acne. Both things can be true

[quote] Good grief he's 18, leave him the fuck alone you asshats!

He's also past peak ripeness.

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