2024 Tennis Thread

[Inglewood Jack]

Bold prediction: Qinwen is a future #1 player

[dash_pinched]

Gaby and Erin are through to the WTA doubles championship final after a 7-6 6-1 win over Melichar-Martinez and Perez avenging their semi-final loss at this event a year ago. Best of luck in the championship final ladies!!!

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Shapo continues to roll in Belgrade defeating Chris O'Connell 6-2 6-2. Things ramp up tomorrow though as he takes on Jiri Lehecka.

Did I say ramp up? How about Shapo demolishing Lehecka 6-2 6-1 in 56 minutes? Incredible performance from Denis today.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Bold prediction: Qinwen is a future #1 player

That is bold considering you have Iga, Aryna, Coco, and Elena as her main competitors at the moment. I think you could make a strong argument that the women's game has never been stronger with so many players vying for that number 1 spot.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Did I say ramp up? How about Shapo demolishing Lehecka 6-2 6-1 in 56 minutes? Incredible performance from Denis today.

What the heck is going on with Denis this week? He's playing at a level I've not seen since pre-COVID. Hopefully this is a sign that he's back on track. Would be so great for Canadian tennis.

[Inglewood Jack]

The aliens that kidnapped Shapo and replaced him with whoever this is, they need to do the same for Felix. This is the first year the ATP finals have no OHBH representation, it's time for Shapo to rage against the dying of the light.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

That is bold considering you have Iga, Aryna, Coco, and Elena as her main competitors at the moment. I think you could make a strong argument that the women's game has never been stronger with so many players vying for that number 1 spot.

My prediction is based on QZ's age and the rate of improvement she's shown this year. It's not yet a Sinner level transformation but every aspect of her game has grown even since that AO final. Maybe one day she'll even fix that wonky toss and become fully unstoppable on serve.

Coco is the one future rival with an age advantage, it will depend on how much aggression she can add to her game. Aryna is currently at apex, Elena can blast her way to trophies but doesn't have the level of movement needed to consistently dominate, and Iga still hasn't quite figured out the counter for powerful hitters.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

What the heck is going on with Denis this week? He's playing at a level I've not seen since pre-COVID. Hopefully this is a sign that he's back on track. Would be so great for Canadian tennis.

I was saying previously that Gabriel might be the number 1 singles selection for Frank at the upcoming Davis Cup, but Shapo's play of late (not just this week, but even going back to Cincinnati in the summer) has changed my mind. He was the only guy to get a break-point (he actually had 3 break-points total) versus Mpetshi Perricard in Basel and with a little luck could have won that match versus the eventual Basel champion.

The most impressive thing to me though is the focus and mental approach, in the first set today versus Lehecka, he had multiple break points in a game and couldn't cash in. The Shapo of old would have been throwing his racquet and getting down on himself and likely would have been broken in his next service game and the downward spiral continues. Today, he was as cool as a cucumber and didn't let that bring him down. Hopefully, he can win the title on Saturday.

[dash_pinched]

By the way, this kit is fire.

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https://twitter.com/user/status/1854912555229073921

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

By the way, this kit is fire.

this looks a lot like the Hypercolor shirts I wore in junior high

[Erick Estrada]

It's weird seeing him play with an Ezone.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's weird seeing him play with an Ezone.

Yeah it is, but it seems to be a great stick for him. It is certainly helping him out with his return game, Lehecka got very few free points on serve today. It likely is not just the racquet switch, Denis has probably tweaked his approach regarding service returns, but whatever it is, it's working at the moment.

The Ezone also likely gives him more power than his Vcore SV95 so he doesn't have to swing for the fences where he is prone to mistiming his shot and making unforced errors.

[dash_pinched]

I think this is a break as Djere has won previously on tour (beat Felix for a clay title if I recall) and Hamad Medjedovic might be feeling the pressure in front of a partisan crowd.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1854956147146469392

[dash_pinched]

Coco versus Qinwen is your WTA Finals Championship final. The two youngsters are making a bold statement.

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woot woot!! Gaby and Erin run the table going undefeated at the WTA Finals defeating Siniakova and Townsend 7-5 6-3 in the championship final. Awesome week ladies!!

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Going undefeated for the week also means they earned the maximum amount of prize money available which is $1,125,000 for doubles. Not too shabby.

[dash_pinched]

Meanwhile in Belgrade, Shapo breaks late and then consolidates to take the opening set 6-4

Edit: And then Denis breaks at love to start set 2.

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Shapo!! 6-4 6-4 and he is the 2024 Serbia Open champion!! Way to go Denis!!

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Now all we need is the Flames to defeat the Sabres to complete the hat trick.