2026 Tennis thread

[jg13]

I don’t think the 4th ranked player in the world winning a Slam qualifies for greatest achievement in sports.

He's 38 which is ancient for tennis. What he just did today is completely unheard of and if he does it again Sunday it will absolutely be one of the great achievements in sports history.

[jg13]

Meh he was gifted a lifeline while being rag dolled by Musetti in the QF and didn't even have to play his 4th round match either. The advantage for an older player to not have to exert themselves one match, and to be saved from certain defeat during the final days of a tournament is massive.

It is nowhere near one of the greatest tennis feats and certainly not in sport in my books. There's no coincidence here that he's finally hanging with Sinner and possibly Alcaraz while both are worn to a pulp and he's relatively fresh by comparison.

Really, it is absolutely gutting for Musetti who was looking like he could have taken the event had he not fallen to injury so abruptly as his level was higher than anyone I've seen from the QF onwards so far.

Nobody is going to care about the earlier rounds. A 38 year old beating a player of Sinner or Alcaraz caliber in a best of 5 is beyond believable. Beating both 48 hrs apart would be one of the great moments in sport history and one of the most memorable.

[RandyHolt]

It's been a weird Australian Open given that everyone was expecting Sinner and Alcaraz to more or less walk to the finals.

If Djokovic can pull it off it'll be another big accomplishment for likely the best tennis player ever. I'm just hoping that both players can recover well from today's matches so that they're close to 100% for the final.

It would be a shame after two great semi-finals to have the final be a dud due to an injury from today.

[Inglewood Jack]

Rafa and Djoker have a few famous cramping moments post match, but I don't remember it being a huge deal in the middle of their battles. Has pickle juice technology gone downhill in the past 10 years?

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Rafa and Djoker have a few famous cramping moments post match, but I don't remember it being a huge deal in the middle of their battles. Has pickle juice technology gone downhill in the past 10 years?

Maple syrup > pickle juice.

[Senator Clay Davis]

It's definitely not one of the greatest accomplishments in sports history lol. Can't possibly consider it that when it required a walkover from 0-2 sets down. Hell of a job if he does it, and he knows he needs a few more majors to sow away the record with Alcaraz likely going 25+. Hopefully a good final, though with how epic the SFs were it probably means dud final.

[Nadal Fan]

I almost forgot happy 4th anniversary to my all time favorite tennis match the Miracle in Melbourne.

[cam_calderon]

Senator brings up a curios question: how many more would it take for Novak to feel comfortable? I think adding another three over the next two years would surely get it done.

[Nadal Fan]

If at 38 Djokovic defeats Sinner and Alcaraz back to back to win the AO then it doesn't matter if Sinner/Alcaraz both get to 30 slams I would never consider them about Djokovic.

[dash_pinched]

Rybakina gets a hard fought three set win over Sabalenka in the women's AO final and now is a 2 time grand slam champion.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Senator brings up a curios question: how many more would it take for Novak to feel comfortable? I think adding another three over the next two years would surely get it don

If Novak gets #25 later today/tomorrow, he will have a 19 slam lead over Charlie who turns 23 in May of this year. Is it a safe assumption that Alcaraz will win/average 2 slams per year for the next 10 years? His two toughest opponents currently are Sinner and staying healthy.

It will be an interesting watch over the years as both Charlie and Jannik add to their grand slam totals as well as the discourse which will likely feature considerable "well of course Charlie and Jannik have all these grand slams, so did Roger and Rafa before Novak arrived on the scene"

Will a young guy step up and stand in the way of these two guys? If nothing else, tennis is in good hands with these two guys and the grand slam race in their attempt to catch and potentially overtake Novak.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Rybakina gets a hard fought three set win over Sabalenka in the women's AO final and now is a 2 time grand slam champion.

She seemed super psyched about it too.

https://twitter.com/user/status/2017555102941192568

[dash_pinched]

My wife is an introvert yet she doesn't hesitate to show her emotions with me lol. In a public setting though, it's completely different.

https://twitter.com/user/status/2017620779647832514

[dash_pinched]

[jg13]

Any predictions? I have Carlos winning in 4 with Djokovic taking the 2nd.

[jg13]

Djokovic breaks early. Up 3-1 in the first set

[jg13]

Djokovic takes the first set 6-2. Playing incredible. He really did no wrong in that set

[jg13]

Alcaraz breaks early in the 2nd set up 2-1.

[jg13]

Alcaraz wins set two 6-2. Tied at 1 going into the 3rd set

[dash_pinched]

It hasn't been a great match thus far, but we're going to go four sets at least.

Edit: Best rally of the match was in the opening game of set 3.