2023 Tennis Thread

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Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Of course, that match was just an appetizer for the main course in about 3 1/2 hours from now when Charlie takes on Novak.

Send the main course back to the chef as it was undercooked. Novak dominates Charlie 6-3 6-2

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Not really a Shapo update, but it looks like a return is close. It also looks like he's enjoying life these days.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1726278812852478314

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Meanwhile, Novak is playing this match like he's got a plane to catch. No messing around and serving big as well as hitting huge forehands (one measured at 100 MPH).

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In retrospect, maybe Jannik should have lost that match to Rune a few days ago that would have knocked Novak out of the ATP Finals.

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Well, that's it, Sinner had Novak at 15-40 on his serve courtesy of a sloppy few points from Novak and then Djokovic closes out the game winning four straight points.

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Novak takes the ATP Finals (the 7th of his career). Only Charlie prevented a calendar grand slam in 2023 which is incredible for a guy at the age of 36. We might see another clash between Novak and Jannik next week at the Davis Cup if Italy play Serbia.

[Inglewood Jack]

Ha, silly me thinking this was going to be the competitive final we were looking for. I wonder where Djoker ranks on the list of greatest athletes of all time.

Dash, thanks again for being CP tennis MVP for yet another year. With the rise of the younglings, Olympics, Rafa’s comeback, Canadian storylines, and Novak slapping Father Time across the face, looking forward to a phenomenal 2024 season.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Ha, silly me thinking this was going to be the competitive final we were looking for. I wonder where Djoker ranks on the list of greatest athletes of all time.

Dash, thanks again for being CP tennis MVP for yet another year. With the rise of the younglings, Olympics, Rafa’s comeback, Canadian storylines, and Novak slapping Father Time across the face, looking forward to a phenomenal 2024 season.

My pleasure, Jack. It's been a weird season, the first eight months of this year were pretty disappointing, but then Gaby and Erin win the US Open women's doubles, Leylah wins a WTA title, then Felix wins an ATP title, the Canadian ladies win the BJK Cup and the Canadian men are back to defend their Davis Cup title this week in Malaga.

I agree about 2024, Naomi Osaka is coming back, Bianca is scheduled to return (Kerber I think as well). Hopefully, Shapo will be back on the men's side and we have some exciting young Canadians making a charge (Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau, Marina Stakusic, and Victoria Mboko).

Let's go guys in Malaga!!

[Erick Estrada]

I'm generally curious to see how far Djokovic can continue his reign. Earlier in the year he wore a sleeve for a bit but otherwise there really hasn't been a lot of signs that father time is becoming a problem for him. He's getting into that Tom Brady kind of stratosphere. Sinner was playing the best tennis of his career last week and he just took care of business in the final.

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Reading that Vasek is dealing with a bad elbow so he could just be in the Shapo role of cheerleader this week. You never want to count out Mr. Davis Cup, but with Diallo also on the limp pulling out of challenger events, it's likely Felix, Milos, and Alexis that will do the heavy lifting in Malaga.

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The big man is kicking things off...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1726976230824804748

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First game of the match (Milos serving) - Ace, Ace, Ace, second serve ace

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Milos breaks and is serving for the opening set at 5-3 in set 1.

Edit: No problem on the consolidation.

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Milos breaks late in set 2 and is serving for the match at 6-5 in set 2. Time to close things out, big man.

Edit: Done and done. Canada leads Finland 1-0

[Nadal Fan]

Best male Canadian tennis player ever does it again. If this is his last year, a Davis Cup title is a hell of a way to go out

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This is going to be an interesting match between Gabriel Diallo and Otto Virtanen. Virtanen has had a very good season on the Challenger Tour and will provide a stern test for Diallo, I can easily see this match going three sets.

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Well, we need to go the distance if Gabriel is going to post a win as Virtanen takes the opening set 6-4. One break of serve was the difference.

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Virtanen played some fine tennis today and Gabriel was not at his best and the end result was a 6-4 7-5 win for Virtanen. Doubles will decide who advances to the semi-finals.

[dash_pinched]

Does Frank stick with Alexis and Vasek in the doubles or does he possibly team Milos with Vasek? The way Milos is serving today it has to be a tough decision for coach Dancevic.

Edit: Finland makes a change and puts Virtanen into the doubles decider, Frank sticking with Vasek and Alexis.

[Nadal Fan]