2023 Tennis Thread

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Jan-Lennard Struff takes out Aslan Karatsev in three sets and makes history as the first lucky loser to make a Masters 1000 final. Karatsev came into today's match with a leg injury (hamstring or groin it looks like) and it got considerably worse as the match progressed. It should be a good final versus Charlie.

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https://twitter.com/user/status/1654509752200642562

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Rafa just announced that he will not be playing Rome.

You really have to hope they are just playing it safe at this point, but I get the feeling that we may only see a handful more events out of Rafa before he calls it quits on his career too.

This injury feels like it should have been ready for the sunshine swing, and is just not getting to where it needs be ala Roger last year.

[Nadal Fan]

Carlos Alcaraz turns 20 today.....which means Nadal is still the greatest teenage male tennis player of all time

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The Madrid run for Leylah/Taylor ends in the semi-finals as Haddad Maia/Azarenka win the semi-finals doubles match 6-4 0-6 10-6. Still, this result rises them to #7 in the WTA Doubles race.

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No Shapo in Rome...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1654817063595134978

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

No one cares, Denis. When you're a legitimate threat to win an event it matters when you miss it. Same with Emma. Whatever, get better soon I guess, but your attendance at the tournament you're announcing you're going to miss just... isn't really a factor.

[Nadal Fan]

I still believe Shapo will figure it out and be a threat at Slams. Remember Stan the Man struggled too until he figured it out later in his career. He's far too talented to waste his career, he beat Nadal at 18, the year Nadal won the US Open.

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The folks in Aix-en-Provence, France get a treat at their ATP Challenger event as it will be Andy Murray versus Tommy Paul in the Sunday final.

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Meanwhile, your doubles champions in Madrid...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1654861594889793537

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Originally Posted by Nadal Fan

I still believe Shapo will figure it out and be a threat at Slams. Remember Stan the Man struggled too until he figured it out later in his career. He's far too talented to waste his career, he beat Nadal at 18, the year Nadal won the US Open.

There's been too much tennis related turmoil with Denis over the last while, coaches coming and going, racquet changes etc. He had a good thing going with Youzhny (that's when he was playing his best tennis or at least getting his best results) and he's been struggling to find his form since Youzhny left. It will be interesting to see if he decides to skip RG as well and just take an extended break to get ready for the grass season. He can certainly still cause some trouble at Wimbledon.

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Sabalenka takes the opening set 6-3. Looking to avenge the loss in Stuttgart.

Edit: Going three sets as Iga takes set 2 6-3

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Sabalenka basically in her best possible form, Iga playing pretty well but she'd need to be at peak too to win it seems like. Basically Sabalenka can't miss despite absolutely blasting from both sides and hasn't really DF'd much either. Still a possibility of a classic Aryna meltdown but she hasn't been doing those of late.

EDIT: I think I jinxed her. Double faults and broken at love. Yikes.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

So, from the middle of Set 1, it's been Aryna wins 3 straight games, then Iga wins 3 straight games, Aryna wins 3 straight games, then Iga wins 3 straight games, then Aryna wins 3 straight games, then Iga wins 3 straight games.

So I guess this should be over with in 3 games.

[dash_pinched]

Wow, that was a terrific match. Aryna looked like she might be crumbling in set 3, but rallied well to take home the trophy.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Yeah. They actually need to do something about the hindrance though. It's not just the screaming, she sometimes actually shouts different things when the ball comes off her racket. It clearly distracted Iga on one of the points in that last game. Regardless, this is the best Sabalenka has played in her career and if she can keep it rolling she could very well win a few majors in the next year.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

So, from the middle of Set 1, it's been Aryna wins 3 straight games, then Iga wins 3 straight games, Aryna wins 3 straight games, then Iga wins 3 straight games, then Aryna wins 3 straight games, then Iga wins 3 straight games.

So I guess this should be over with in 3 games.

You are correct, sir.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1654925648983388161

[Inglewood Jack]

Something I’m thinking about, Carlitos turned pro in Feb 2020, which means he’s played the majority of his early career so far during the pandemic. Did covid have any effect at all on his progression? Would a regular tour have allowed him to develop even faster (scary) or did the more sparse schedule give him space to work on things without too much pressure?

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Originally Posted by dash_pinched

The folks in Aix-en-Provence, France get a treat at their ATP Challenger event as it will be Andy Murray versus Tommy Paul in the Sunday final.

Andy takes the title over Tommy Paul 2-6 6-1 6-2.

[Nadal Fan]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Something I’m thinking about, Carlitos turned pro in Feb 2020, which means he’s played the majority of his early career so far during the pandemic. Did covid have any effect at all on his progression? Would a regular tour have allowed him to develop even faster (scary) or did the more sparse schedule give him space to work on things without too much pressure?

I wish he was 5 years older. He is great no doubt (and is on his way to 10+ majors) but would he be #1 if he had to deal with healthy and in form Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Them, Murray, Wawrinka, Del Po? I don't have the answer but I wish I could watch those matches