Tennis: All Purpose Tennis Thread XVI

[kihei]

Rublev comes from behind in the third set to defeat Rune 7-5 (the tournament must have set a record for 7-5 sets in key situations) and take Monte Carlo--his first 1000 level championship in, (I think) four attempts. Not since Federer's salad days have a rooted for a player to win a tournament more than I did today. Rune had some thrilling mercurial moments, but Andrei was steady as rock when it counted. His sports psychogist deserves a big bonus. Great win for a good guy who worked his ass off for this moment.

Can’t see Rune winning today, he looked cooked after the Sinner game.

Great call.

 

[kihei]

Funny what being emotionally involved does to one's perception. I watched the third set of the Rublev victory again. Somewhat different take. Andrei certainly earned his Monte Carlo championship, no question, but from 4-1 on Rune was just horrible. And increasingly exhausted, Tough lessons, hopefully learned.

 

[Filppula]

O’Connell takes the first set against Zverev in Munich. This return from injury doesn’t seem to be gathering any momentum does it...

 

[MsMeow]

Rafa is still not healed and has withdrawn from Madrid.

 

[kihei]

Rafa isn't even sure he will play at Roland Garros. His injury has just not responded to treatment at all.

 

[kihei]

O’Connell takes the first set against Zverev in Munich. This return from injury doesn’t seem to be gathering any momentum does it...

O'Connell takes it in straight sets. That is fairly amazing. But props to a guy who struggled for a decade before finally cracking the top 100. He sure deserves points for perseverance.

 

[BMOK33]

Gotta figure it'll be a miracle if Rafa plays RG now...would have to lean heavily towards one of Ruud/Alcaraz/Zverv/Novak/Stef to win it at that point though I feel the others will all need Novak to take care of Alcaraz for them because none of those others would I trust to beat him

 

[kihei]

Before the match, I thought Lajovic to be the perfect level test for Nole at this stage of his clay court preparation. Well, Novak flunked the test, losing in straight sets. Not for want of opportunity, though. Nole was 1 for 16 on break points. The ship is moving slower than usual, but I think it is still going in the right direction.

 

[Filppula]

Before the match, I thought Lajovic to be the perfect level test for Nole at this stage of his clay court preparation. Well, Novak flunked the test, losing in straight sets. Not for want of opportunity, though. Nole was 1 for 16 on break points. The ship is moving slower than usual, but I think it is still going in the right direction.

Agreed. Last few clay court seasons have gone on a similar path, so not too concerned. Should have more success on a faster Madrid surface.

On the women’s side, can’t speak highly enough of the rise of Potapova. Consecutive wins against top 10 opponents. I see big things in her future.

 

[Filppula]

I’ve seen patches of Tsitsipas’s best tennis this week, I think he’s finally rounding into form and fitness following his shoulder issues.

 

[Filppula]

Sabalenka in no mood to stick around today, beats Potapova 6-1, 6-2 in 59 minutes.

Djokovic withdraws from Madrid, hmm. Concern for the elbow increasing.

 

[kihei]

Alcaraz dismantled Dan Evans 2 and 2. Evans isn't a great player, but he is #26 in the world currently. There was absolutely nothing he could do. He looked so overmatched it must have been embarrassing for him. Carlos looked as relaxed as he could be--oh, to be 19, and best in the world.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Sabalenka is an absolute unit

 

[kihei]

Alcaraz had a surprisingly easy time with Tsitsipas, 3 and 4. Though he was broken early in the first set, the rest of the match belonged to Carlos who mostly cruised in third gear but was frequently casually brilliant when he needed to be. He tortured Stefanos with drop shots, close to a dozen of which were outright winners. Tsitsipas never really had much more of a chance than Evans yesterday which is saying something when referring to the #5 player in the world.

 

[kihei]

Rune repeated as Munich champ with a three-set win over van de Zandschulp, who served for the match at 5-2, 5-4, and 6-5 and still lost in a tie breaker. Great comeback for Rune who, as Carlos did in his match, made hay with numerous well-executed drop shots against the slow Dutchman.

 

[Tuggy]

Genie got through qualifying in Madrid.

And Andresscu returns this week. I really thought she was going to be out for a long time.

 

[Tuggy]

Marino just got her first ever win at a WTA 1000 clay event!



And for Genie

 

[Filppula]

Mirra Andreeva, one to watch moving forward. What a display.

 

[kihei]

Madrid

Alcaraz over Rublev
Rune over Ruud

Tsitsipas over Etcheverry
Medvedev over Fritz

Alcaraz over Rune
Medvedev over Tsitsipas

Alcaraz over Medvedev

 

[Tuggy]

Not a good day for Fernandez but a MD win for Genie!

 

[Filppula]

Andreeva wow.

 

[kihei]

Musetti is knocked off in straight sets by the other Yannick, Hanffman. Lorenzo is the third youngest player in the top twenty. Pretty impressive.But I have my doubts he makes the top ten. He lacks an elite serve and an elite forehand. Hard to think of any top ten player in the past five years who didn't have one or the other or both.

 

[Filppula]

Musetti is knocked off in straight sets by the other Yannick, Hanffman. Lorenzo is the third youngest player in the top twenty. Pretty impressive.But I have my doubts he makes the top ten. He lacks an elite serve and an elite forehand. Hard to think of any top ten player in the past five years who didn't have one or the other or both.

Ruud?

 

[kihei]

Ruud?

I don't think he is the exception to the rule, but I had to think about this some; having done so, however, I would credit Ruud with an elite forehand. I did so after trying to figure out who my top ten would currently be in this regard, and this is what I ended up with:

Nadal, Nick, Alcaraz, Nole, Tsitsipas, Berrettini, Sinner, Ruud, Fritz, Rublev (with maybe Cerundolo creeping up on these guys).

That's a pretty elite performing group, I would argue.

 

[Filppula]

Shevchenko absolutely giving Medvedev all he can handle right now wow this third set is unbelievable tennis!