Tennis: All Purpose Tennis Thread XV

[Tuggy]

Well that was a quick first set. 6-1 for Felix.

 

[Tuggy]

Felix serves it out, into the SF.

16 straight.

 

[kihei]

Tiafoe looked like he missed his wake-up call. What a strange listless performance. Took six match points for Felix to close it out, though.

 

[kihei]

Very impressive opening set from Rune who takes it 6-3

Nothing specific but I think Carlitos would be happy to call it a year and go home and Christmas shop.

 

[kihei]

Early in the second set breaker, Alcaraz retires with presumably a muscle in his side that he had treated at the change-over but to no avail. Anticlimactic end to a good match.

 

[kihei]

Obviously these two are peers, and they may be the next big rivalry if we are lucky. In terms of skills, they are very close. To my eyes, Rune's groundstrokes may actually be technically sounder and he has the better attacking backhand and the better first serve, though both players need to improve their service games. Carlos is faster, hits better on the run, is the better volleyer, has more variety and imagination. greater clutchiness, more maturity, and more resolve. But even in those categories, except for speed, Alcaraz is better but not light years better. I certainly look forward to their next meeting.

 

[MsMeow]

It will be on centre court. Taifoe thrives on centre courts. He lives for them. I'm going with Francis.

Oh, Kihei!

 

[kihei]

Oh, Kihei!

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. But Felix has to get tired some time, doesn't he?

Musetti suffers through a humiliating first set and the second set is only marginally better 6-love, 6-3.

 

[kihei]

Tsitsipas makes quick work of Paul 2 and 4. Paul is a good player and fun to watch, but there is only so far up the food chain that he can consistently go.

 

[Tuggy]

Rune takes the first set.

 

[kihei]

Showing off his touch around the net, a very steady Rune takes the first set, 6-4.

You can tell Felix is a little tired by the fact his unreturned first serve numbers which have been stratospheric in this run all month, as much as 63%, are down in this set to 25%. The bite in his serve just isn't there.

 

[kihei]

Another stat that Felix has been dominating all month is the under five shot category where his plus one game has been absolutely lethal.. Not today. Holger currently has a big edge 31-16

 

[kihei]

Felix service games averaging this set over 6 minutes. Holger's service games averaging less than a minute and a half.

 

[Tuggy]

The streak is over.

Great run.

 

[kihei]

Very clean kill for Rune, 4 and 2. Holger makes the Top Ten I think.

For Felix, that ends the greatest streak in Canadian men's tennis history. He is worthy of tons of respect.

 

[kihei]

Tsitsipas sort of flying under the radar this week. He has had an excellent tournament so far.

 

[AstrophysicalJet]

Very impressed with FAA! I admit, 6months ago, I didn’t think he compared to the other next gens, now, well he does for sure and more.

 

[kihei]

First set to Nole 6-2.Started out very close but sure didn't stay that way.

Nole not so much directly attacking Stef's backhand as exploiting it positionally when he needs a point.

 

[kihei]

Nole's level of play drops precipitously and Tsitsipas nabs the set 6-3.

 

[kihei]

Third set heading for a breaker, not good news for Tsitsipas given Nole's dominance this year In breakers.

 

[kihei]

Tsitsipas can't hold a mini break, so it's Nole in the final.

 

[AstrophysicalJet]

Tsitsipas can't hold a mini break, so it's Nole in the final.

Big test for Rune.

I predicted he would loose to Alcaraz, then FAA, maybe third time is the charm.

Nole takes it, but Rune will put up a fight, I know Nole is one of his favs, so he will want to beat his idol.

Also, have to say, FAA is such a champ, a very graceful loser.

Gave a very good after game interview.

And, to people who dont like Rune - He really is a nice guy, his Twitter is a good example.

He is just dr. Jekyll on the court and Mr.Hyde away from it.

 

[kihei]

And, to people who dont like Rune - He really is a nice guy, his Twitter is a good example.

He is just dr. Jekyll on the court and Mr.Hyde away from it.

Which got me thinking....how many tennis players do I actually like? Roger, Rafa, Felix....than whom? I grant it is probably human nature to want to like the athletes who we follow and root for. But Ilie Nastase was my favourite 20th century player, and I certainly didn't like him. For most tennis players I feel a benign indifference. I, think Rune is a baby, but I don't dislike him for it. He'll grow out of it. I love watching Carlos play, but do I like him? I don't really feel any great need to do so. I dislike Zverev, but no other current player comes to mind. For me having to like or dislike athletes would be a terrible distraction, a filter on their performances that I neither want nor need.

 

[AstrophysicalJet]

Which got me thinking....how many tennis players do I actually like? Roger, Rafa, Felix....than whom? I grant it is probably human nature to want to like the athletes who we follow and root for. But Ilie Nastase was my favourite 20th century player, and I certainly didn't like him. For most tennis players I feel a benign indifference. I, think Rune is a baby, but I don't dislike him for it. He'll grow out of it. I love watching Carlos play, but do I like him? I don't really feel any great need to do so. I dislike Zverev, but no other current player comes to mind. For me having to like or dislike athletes would be a terrible distraction, a filter on their performances that I neither want nor need.

Agreed, this was moreso directed at the influx of hate this kid gets’ on Twitter, Reddit, and Youtube. I have seen actual posters comment on every video of him on yt.

But, for sure, I get what you mean.

 

[kihei]

Pair of double faults by Rune give an early break to Nole, 3-1. Djokovic has that "all business" look.