Tennis: All Purpose Tennis Thread XVI

[Ben Grimm]

Rafael Nadal announces retirement from professional tennis, will play last match at Davis Cup | Tennis.com

The 22-time Grand Slam champion released a heartfelt video thanking fans for their support over a career spanning over two decades.

www.tennis.com

 

[Tuggy]

Rafael Nadal announces retirement from professional tennis, will play last match at Davis Cup | Tennis.com

The 22-time Grand Slam champion released a heartfelt video thanking fans for their support over a career spanning over two decades.

www.tennis.com

Huge news, but not really surprising. I thought it was going to happen after the Olympics in Paris, so I was a few months off.

Only one of the big 3 left...

 

[TheTotalPackage]

Federer, Nadal, Djokovic. What an era we lived through with those three.

Father Time and injuries catch up to another one. Enjoy your retirement, Rafael. Thanks for the amazing memories you provided.

 

[MsMeow]

As much as it was expected, Rafa's retirement is still sad.

And Gasquet is retiring after the French Open next year. Gotta figure Stan and Gael aren't far behind.

 

[kihei]

In Shanghai, Sinner defeats Medvedev easily in straight sets, 6-1 6-4. Nothing too intricate tactically, Jannik is now content to play baseline tennis against Daniil and beat him at his own game.

Machac upset Carlos in straight sets 7-6 7-5 with Carlos playing really well, especially in the first set. Machac was hitting forehands on average about twelve miles per hour faster (134 km/h to 114 km/h) than Alcaraz. I wouldn't have thought that was possible but Tomas is one gnarly tennis player to contend with.

Sorry to hear about Rafa, but a little relieved, too. He's asked way too much of his body already.

 

[Vamos Rafa]

Vamos Rafa

 

[Panteras]

The man missed 18 grand slams, withdrew from 5, and still won 22. He’s my goat. He was a force from the start. What a career. What a legend.

 

[kihei]

The Shanghai Open is sponsored by Rolex, J. P. Morgan signage is prominently displayed on centre court, a Mercedes, which will go to the winner, resides just off court, and the ballkids' gear is by Armani.

Mao must be rolling in his grave.

 

[kihei]

Mensik gave it a good try but fell to Nole 6-7 6-1 6-4. Djokovic exposed a lot of weaknesses, though: backhand, ability to go down the line off either wing, inability to stay in long points, fitness. Lots of work to do.

Fritz cruised bast Goffin, 6-3 6-3. Taylor is quietly having close to a career year.

 

[kihei]

I concede it makes no sense. I know in my head that Nole is the GOAT, but to me deep down, Roger and Rafa will always be the greatest.

 

[kihei]

Machac came out playing the same hyper-aggressive game that he played against Carlos, hitting his forehand on average 13 miles per hour faster than Jannik, who wasn't exactly nursing the ball back himself. But Jannik fought fire with fire and Machac's forehand wasn't as consistent as it was in the quarters so he lost the match 6-4 7-5. Hell of a tournament for the guy, though--he looks on his way to being a top 20 player.

I thought Sinner looked really tired at the end of the match. He's played a tremendous amount of tennis. He was walking a little funny, too, like he had a lower back problem. Something to keep an eye of for the final.

 

[kihei]

Nole's toughest match of the week, but he came through with a 6-4 7-6 win over Fritz. Djokovic was in control, if just barely, most of the match, but things got interesting at the end when he needed a medical time out for muscle pull in his hip area. Taylor played very well but wasted what few opportunities he had, including a set point in the breaker.

 

[kihei]

Sinner wins Shanghai over Djokovic impressively. The set scores are a bit deceiving 7-6 6-3. Only the first set was competitive; the second set was a mere formality. Sinner, who keeps beating people at their own game, was slightly better from the backcourt, served so well he never faced a break point, and returned, almost shockingly, better than Nole. Slightly better at net play, too.

It is a win that has implications for Nole's future Grand Slam chances. Now that he has not been able to maintain his #2 ranking, things get dramatically more difficult for Djokovic. Now he faces the possibility in every slam that he will have to beat both Sinner and Alcaraz to gain the title. And he's not getting any younger while in all likelihood they haven't even reached their ceiling yet. Getting #25 seems like a very long shot at the moment.

 

[kihei]

Intersting Rafa factoid: Nadal has used approximately 1250 rackets in his professional tennis career. He has never broken one of them.