2022 Tennis Thread

[dash_pinched]

Well, that's too bad for Bianca, but it's not like she played badly, Zheng was incredible in set 3 and fully deserving of the win.

[Nadal Fan]

Too bad Monfils got injured today the match was starting to look promising. Draper has really impressed me these last two days, kid could really become a player.

Poor showing by Sinner today but PCB played really really well. Really fun day of tennis today as well had a blast at my first big ATP event.

[dash_pinched]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1558090549843869701

[Nadal Fan]

Nadal is also heading to Cincy........hey Siri how much are flights from Montreal to Cincinnati

[Inglewood Jack]

I vote to have the NBO switch spots with Cincy as the final tuneup for US Open. TO and Montreal are bigger metropolitan centres, and are just as close or closer to NYC than Cincy.

if the tournament order were like this, Roger would have been King of Canada for a good while.

[dash_pinched]

I don't know if Kyrgios is playing possum, but he looks like he's got a bad ankle and back to contend with early on in his match against Hurkacz.

[dash_pinched]

I know you are supposed to play to the server's pace, but Kyrgios is really pushing things here and Hubi is doing a great job not letting it get to him.

Edit: Hubi takes the opening set in a tie-break

[dash_pinched]

The rare double touch net tape for Nick in the second set tie-break

Edit: That stroke of luck proved huge as Nick takes set 2 in a tie-break and we need a 3rd set. High quality tennis from both guys today.

[dash_pinched]

A bad service game from Nick and Hubi breaks.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Bianca - band aid curse
Raducanu - one slam wonder, hot streak, perfect draw
Osaka - issues outside of tennis

there's always exceptions, but I don't see Leylah fitting any of the above profiles. if she has a "normal" career, then 24-25 will be the sweet spot between peak athleticism and tactical experience. she may certainly have some big results in the next couple of years, but I am definitely not expecting her career best tennis to be produced at ages 19-21.

in fact this generation of athletes is going to benefit from sports science more than any before it, so the freak primes going into 30's and beyond will become more common, not less. one thing Serena is right about is that women can't have that and a family at the same time the way men can, which probably caps a lot of WTA players at their early 30's even if they're still capable.

That's a fair point, but when you're playing upwards of 40 matches a year against the best competition out there from ages 14-21, I don't really think there's a huge gap to be filled beyond that aside from just being more mature about your strengths and weaknesses on court and maybe being more diligent off the court.

There's always room for growth, but even most of the legends of the sport (men and woman) were already hitting their peak levels by the time they were 21-22 years old. In my books the prime of a high end, major winning player starts at 20 and remains to be seen how long it can last.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Well, that's too bad for Bianca, but it's not like she played badly, Zheng was incredible in set 3 and fully deserving of the win.

Pretty impressive event for Bianca. She played some fine tennis and is finally showing glimpses of the form she showed just a few years ago.

Hopefully the body holds up enough to play at this level at Cincinnati and the US Open as it will do wonders for her in the long run.

[dash_pinched]

Well, a bathroom break and a kit change by Hubi messed with Nick's mind and Hubi breadsticks Nick in set 3.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

That's a fair point, but when you're playing upwards of 40 matches a year against the best competition out there from ages 14-21, I don't really think there's a huge gap to be filled beyond that aside from just being more mature about your strengths and weaknesses on court and maybe being more diligent off the court.

There's always room for growth, but even most of the legends of the sport (men and woman) were already hitting their peak levels by the time they were 21-22 years old. In my books the prime of a high end, major winning player starts at 20 and remains to be seen how long it can last.

for generational players yeah they should probably have a slam or two under their belt by around 20 and racking up big trophy counts from there onwards. as much of a Leylah fan as I am, I don't put her in that class but I can see her having a Wozniacki-like career with consistently deep runs into tournaments and some big finals when the draw lines up right.

[dash_pinched]

I know having a big serve isn't as big a deal on the WTA circuit as it is on the ATP, but if Leylah can turn her serve into more of a weapon (especially if she can spin it out wide on the ad court with her lefty spin), it would be a huge bonus. Anything to help her get a few more free points.

[dash_pinched]

Nice start Felix, breaks Ruud to love.

Edit: Ruud breaks right back - Felix essentially handed that break right to him.

[dash_pinched]

Some worrying signs early as the first serve percentage for Felix is way down.

EditL Ruud breaks again.

[dash_pinched]

Geez, Felix just playing like crap in this opening set. Ruud isn't doing anything special, just getting the ball back.

Edit: I guess since we're in Montreal, it's a baguette that Felix can enjoy courtesy of Ruud.

[dash_pinched]

This is tough to watch.

[EldrickOnIce]

WTF Felix
Sigh

[dash_pinched]

That's nine straight games Ruud has won.

Edit: The run stops at 10 games with Felix's first hold of the match.