2023 Tennis Thread

[dash_pinched]

An update regarding the banning of Russian flags in Melbourne Park - Spoiler: It's not going well.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1618211398177423360

[Izzle]

Originally Posted by Nadal Fan

It's time to dust off the Stanimal he's the only one capable of beating Djokovic in Australia.



The way Djokovic is playing in Australia he may complete the Grand Slam this year, I just don't see how anyone can beat him right now. The only two players I have confidence in beating him are both injured right now.

Stan needs to talk to Djokovic on how Djokovic is able to transmutate "Roger, Roger" to "Novak, Novak". Stan has to visualize his opponent as Djokovic to let the stanimal out.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I think Djokovic is beatable at the other three majors. This is just his happy place.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I think Djokovic is beatable at the other three majors. This is just his happy place.

Reminds me of Tiger Woods in his prime when you had Tiger vs. the field at the golf majors. The crazy thing is I would say prime Djokovic were the years 2011 through 2015, it's 2023.

[Nadal Fan]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I think Djokovic is beatable at the other three majors. This is just his happy place.

Djokovic vs Nadal in Paris will be the only match at a Grand Slam this year where Djokovic isn't the heavy favorite. As great as Charlie has been he's still an unknown with his injury and still being a teenager

[dash_pinched]

So I'm looking at the scheduling for the men's semi-finals matches and it appears that both matches are scheduled to start at the same time (Thursday night at 8:30 pm Calgary time). I don't quite understand the reasoning behind making people choose the match they want to watch.

[GirlySports]

it's 8:30pm and 1:30am, they just don't know which one is first yet

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

it's 8:30pm and 1:30am, they just don't know which one is first yet

Okay, thanks for that clarification GS.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Women's semi-finals are set:

Rybakina vs Azarenka
Linette vs Sabalenka

I'm thinking it will be a Rybakina vs. Sabalenka final with Rybakina winning the title

2 for 2 thus far

[Nadal Fan]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

An update regarding the banning of Russian flags in Melbourne Park - Spoiler: It's not going well.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1618211398177423360

Yikes

https://twitter.com/user/status/1618434384004251650

[dash_pinched]

So they made Azarenka remove her PSG shirt she was wearing (probably because of the Qatar logo) yet they will likely still allow Serbian flags into the arena to support Novak? What will happen if it's a Khachanov - Djokovic final? I don't like mixing politics with sports, but who are we kidding, that's been happening since 1936 and the Berlin Olympics.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I think Djokovic is beatable at the other three majors. This is just his happy place.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Stefanos break through this year and finally snag a major title in Australia. I'm fully expecting Tsitsipas to whip silent K as he's owned him in their previous 5 matches, and obviously Novak will take Paul who is more a benefactor or a weak draw than he is a factor at this stage of a major.

The final gets quite interesting as Stefanos and Novak have gone a full 5 sets in each of their previous grand slam meetings (albeit on clay). Stefanos is serving as good as anyone on tour right now with a vastly improved 2nd serve, and he managed to get by one of the best returners on tour already in Sinner.

[Nadal Fan]

Tsitsipas is 2-1 against Djokovic on outdoor hard courts but he's also on a 9 match loosing streak overall against him, including the French Open final 2 years ago.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Nadal Fan

Tsitsipas is 2-1 against Djokovic on outdoor hard courts but he's also on a 9 match loosing streak overall against him, including the French Open final 2 years ago.

Not an easy task anytime you're talking about taking down one of the big 3 at a slam.

However, Stefanos is a student of the game if there ever has been one, and will have certainly learned a lot from those previous grand slam losses. The most recent where he was up 2 sets to 0 is a big one that would offer a lot of lessons to be learned on managing a match against a historically good player.

The way he is serving is certainly better than I can ever remember. If you can push Novak with an aggressive second service (which is probably the number one area where Novak punches his ticket), you give yourself a chance.

[dash_pinched]

Yeah, Greek Yogurt is serving great and his forehand is also looking the best I've ever seen it. I don't give Silent K much of a chance tonight in all honesty (it will have to be a case of him playing great and Stef having a stinker for the Russian to advance to the final).

[dash_pinched]

Tsitsipas has broken Silent K twice in this opening set only to be broken straight back. Not exactly a high level of tennis in this opening set.

[dash_pinched]

Yeesh, Khachanov playing like a steaming pile of poo in this tie-break.

[dash_pinched]

Sllent K failed to put away two smashes (great defense by Stef) and Greek Yogurt breaks.

[dash_pinched]

Oh man, Stef should be home and cooled as he was serving for the match at 5-4 in set 3. Khachanov broke though and then saved two match points in the 3rd set tie-break (was down 6-4 and then won four straight points). We need a 4th set.

Edit: Stef wins set 4 6-3 and awaits the winner of Djokovic vs. Paul

[Nadal Fan]

Is it just me or does the lady doing the out calls sound like Judy Dench