Tennis

[Mitchell]

He's such a big baby.  "Oh, he's grown so much over this tournament!"  Like fuck he has.

 

😑

[Calashnikov]

He chucked a set against Nakashima. He ain’t don’t yet. Guy bosses 5 set matches 💪🏻 

[Gabzy]

2 minutes ago, Calashnikov said:

He chucked a set against Nakashima. He ain’t don’t yet. Guy bosses 5 set matches 💪🏻 

Against Novak though? I don’t see it.

[Corrogate]

2 minutes ago, Calashnikov said:

He chucked a set against Nakashima. He ain’t don’t yet. Guy bosses 5 set matches 💪🏻 

no way mate, Novak’s momentum is too set I think. Nick’s a great player; just can’t see Djokovic conceding at this stage.

[jonamok]

Kyrgios’s two-handed backhand was shite in that game.

[jonamok]

He’s certainly value.

[jonamok]

And that’s that. Oh dear.

[Gabzy]

Thrown it away here. Shame, but played really well and Novak was his usual Robocop self. Unshakeable

[jonamok]

Implacable evil.

[Calashnikov]

Basturt man 😞 

[Gabzy]

Looking forward to the speeches 👀

[hmm]

Exactly the implosion that I think literally everyone who knows who Kygrios is would have predicted. Djokovic is extraordinary but that was still within Kygrios' control most of the way through. The first set showcased the player he could be and the rest illustrated why he isn't.

[sith]

Just now, hmm said:

Exactly the implosion that I think literally everyone who knows who Kygrios is would have predicted. Djokovic is extraordinary but that was still within Kygrios' control most of the way through. The first set showcased the player he could be and the rest illustrated why he isn't.

 

This is a bit harsh, Novak barely made an error in the last 3 sets. Nick played really well but as always, 2 bad games basically cost him against the robot.

[Mitchell]

 

[Gabzy]

Really sweet bromance brewing. Love it 💞

[hmm]

44 minutes ago, sith said:

This is a bit harsh, Novak barely made an error in the last 3 sets. Nick played really well but as always, 2 bad games basically cost him against the robot.

 

I don't think it is that harsh, really. He had no shortage of opportunities in later sets and it wasn't solely down to Djokovic brilliance that he missed out on them. Multiple service games where he gave up 40-0 leads, numerous break points missed, second serves missed after pointlessly ranting about a call on the first, and generally a lot of errors. I think that his level dropped as much as Djokovic raised his. And it's hard not to blame his continual nonsense from set 2 onwards for that. Not a peep in the first set, when it was going to plan, then the moment that there's some adversity he self-sabotages and loses focus - and as others as observed, this always seems like a way of deflecting responsibility if he comes up short in the end.

 

I liked this comment on the Guardian write-up:

Quote

Great game. Strange format for a singles final - Djokovic and Kyrgios v Kyrgios.

 

[Nick R]

Got quite emotional at that goodbye to Sue Barker.

 

Spoiler

At least until James Corden turned up in one of the clips.  

 

[krenzler]

I’m sure Djokovic could have stepped it up further if needed. Kyrgios could learn a thing or two from Agassi. 

[hmm]

He could learn a thing or two from a good sports psychologist.

[glb]

He could learn a thing or two from Jo 'Supernanny' Frost.

[krenzler]

Dr. Phil could sort him out in a jiffy. 

[sith]

He lost his serve twice and then lost in a tiebreaker and you guys are going on like he was blown off the court. That service game when he was 40-0 up was the key turning point.

 

And let's remember, he was playing against the best returner the game has ever seen.

[glb]

With Nadal on 22, Djokovic on 21 and the Fed Express on 20, but Antivax unlikely to play the US or Aussie Opens as it stands, is that how the Majors end for this triforce of tennis? Would have apt for them to end on equal totals, but 60-odd slams between them is ridiculous whatever the final totals might be (I guess Djokovic looks the most like winning another, but almost a year at his age is a long time at the peak end of elite sport)

[sith]

He will definitely win another at the very least. He looked like the fittest man on the tour these past 2 weeks. He's the clear favourite on any surface outside of clay. The other top names such as, Medvedev, Zverev, Tsispatis etc, are just not consistent enough.

 

I don't think people realise how tough it is to beat Novak in a grand slam where it's best of 5 sets.

[hmm]

Injury notwithstanding, next year Nadal will be the favourite at Roland Garos and Djokovic will be the favourite at Wimbledon. I wouldn't be surprised if it's not the last year where that's true either.

 

The hard court events are a bit more open (not least with Djokovic possibly being ineligible for the AO for the rest of his career!)

[hmm]

Though I'd disagree about Medvedev's lack of consistency. He'd still be staying no. 1 even if Djokovic's Wimbledon points weren't about drop off and he'd have gone plenty deep in this tournament this time around if he could have played.

 

In fact, where is Djokovic going to end up now - 7th?!

[Miner Willy]

With no Djokovic the US is as open a men's slam as I think we've had in 20y. The three favourites - Nadal, Medvedev and Alcaraz - all come in with significant question marks. Looking at the draw, I think you could make a case for Fritz being as likely a winner as anyone, as unlikely as that sounds for a guy who I don't think has ever reached a semi.

 

The women's draw is probably even more open, if anything. I'm just hoping Serena wins at least a couple of matches and can go out on one final high.

[Fry Crayola]

1 hour ago, Miner Willy said:

I think you could make a case for Fritz being as likely a winner as anyone, as unlikely as that sounds for a guy who I don't think has ever reached a semi.

 

None at Grand Slam level (Wimbledon was his first quarter-final) but he did win Indian Wells this year, and was semi-finalist there last year. 

[hmm]

Heck of a step up to a five setter against the top guys though. I agree it's nice and open, but I do think it'll be one of those three that lift it.

 

Wouldn't be surprised to see Norrie make a deep run. He's been incredibly consistent for over a year now.

 

Very tough opening round for Raducanu. She's looked much better in her last two tournaments but I think she might well need a couple of rounds to get into her stride, and Cornet could easily be too much if she's not there yet.

[Miner Willy]

Well, it's entirely conceivable that someone could win this trophy without actually having to play one of those 'top guys' over five sets.

 

I think on balance I'd take those three over the rest of the field, but certainly not with much confidence. And yes, Alcaraz is rightly considered a favourite given his form earlier in the year, but it's not like he himself has much five set pedigree yet: in terms of slam performances to date he's no better than the chasing pack - and worse than some, such as Berretini for example.