The Tennis Thread

[Black_Hawk]

 

 

 

[achilles]

Being a Rafan, I was legit anxious for this match. The conditions, the balls, the weather, roof, lack of match time, and a Novak on top of his game & who's lately been getting into opponents', including Rafa's heads. A boss battle was looming. A battle that was aced, literally. 

What he did yesterday is remind us, those guys who've been rooting for him,  why we root for him. He played like a winner, a king, a champion. He played like Rafa. He played like we knew he could, and I hope those mental demons are exorcised for good. 

Was genuinely giddy and was banging on tables on every big point that Rafa turned around, while this played in my head 

Spoiler

 

Oh he played so well. This thrashing was a long time coming. 

It was apparent that Novak was as surprised as the rest of them. I mean, one silly error from Rafa in the first game of the second set let the double bagel slip. Nevermind, and never better. 

 

Thank You Rafael Nadal. Thank you for yesterday. Congrats on 20. Here's to a few more.  

[Black_Hawk]

Roland Garros 2020 Women's Singles Champion - Iga Świątek

 

Roland Garros 2020 Men's Singles Champion - Rafael Nadal

 

Edited October 12, 2020 by Black_Hawk

[Black_Hawk]

And here's a little fun fact...

 

[Black_Hawk]

Anyone else here watching the Paris Masters?

 

Nadal vs PCB going on now, LIVE on Sony SIX HD.

[achilles]

What a match going on. Zverev has taken the first set but Meddy has some plans. Inshallah boys are playing really well  

[Black_Hawk]

Med destroyed Zverev in the final set. The bakery was opened and Zev got a breadstick.

[Black_Hawk]

If anyone wants to watch... Djokovic vs Diego Schwartzman LIVE at the Nitto ATP Finals (London) on Sony Ten 2 HD.

[Black_Hawk]

Looks like this Nadal vs Thiem match is going to be a long one!

[sadge]

Med vs Thiem

 

Both of them beat Nadal & Djokovic in the same tournament. Oof 

[achilles]

The level of tennis in this tournament has been impeccable. Seeds 1,2,3 and 4 qualified for the knockouts, and 3 and 4 (something tells me they won't stay 3 and 4 for long) will fight it out for the trophy. 

 

The anticipation for yesterday's matches had me giddy all day and boy did they deliver. Thiem's backhand feels like a "kaan ke niche bajana" and that DTL slap is a joy to watch. It was like someone activated Thiem's boost button 0-4 in the tie-break and he bludgeoned those last points. There is no one today who plays the big points like Thiem. Like Rusev, Thiem "crush". 

 

Medvedev, the real life incarnation of Drago, and Rafa, who is as close to a Rocky-esque people's champ as you can have. Like in the movie, the first few games were murderous from Med, and Rafa's clutch instinct was working on overdrive. This was such a classic Rafa performance. Hung in there by the skin of his teeth and waited for Med to give an opening. Broke on his first opportunity and closed the set. I was like:

 

 

Rafa is the only one today who gets under the ice calm Med's skin. Though the rooskie's ace in the hole is his ability to abolish the previous point from his attention. He does not change in response to the scoreline, a lost point, game, or even the set. The next point is back to business. That's what he did, and made a couple of smart changes in the second set in his response to Rafa's dagger slices and return of serve, and closed it out.

 

All love to Rafa, but this is the final I want to see: Thiem V Med for the supremacy. Another match that has me giddy in anticipation as both are executing to their absolute limits. Both have lately found their strides, and are stamping their identities on this sport. Let the next-gen begin. Finally. These are two future greats, two future giants playing here, and are taking the sport forward. 

 

Side note: how good has this entire tournament been. What a send-off to London. Even without the crowd, these are some of my favourite matches of all time, with Nadal-Thiem my pick for the match of the year. 

Edited November 22, 2020 by achilles

[Black_Hawk]

Nitto ATP Finals Champion 2020 - Daniil Medvedev

 

I'm not the biggest fan of him but damn he has been playing well in the later part of this season. Should be a real force to reckon with in the AO 2021 if he continues this form there.

[Guest]

 

?

[Black_Hawk]

Why is Djokovic peeved about hard quarantine for Australian Open players?

[Black_Hawk]

Interesting read detailing the quarantining protocols being followed prior to the Australian Open 2021 starting next month:

 

No housekeeping, constant surveillance: Sumit Nagal in Australian Open Quarantine

 

Five hours of regimented ‘freedom’:

 

Apart from the 72 players in strict 14-day quarantine (which ends on January 29), the remaining Australian Open contingent has a five-hour window every day in which they can leave their hotel rooms to train and practice.

 

*The day’s schedule is determined and shared with the player the previous night.

 

*The five-hour spell includes two hours on court, 90 minutes in the gym, a further hour for food, and 30 minutes (15 each) to move from room to court and back.

 

*The player needs to be ready when the Justice and Community Safety Department official (in charge of security) knocks on the door.

 

*The player and his/her coach will wait near the lift, where an official will signal to another official in the lobby that they are ready to board the lift.

 

*The group of four – two players and their respective coaches – must assemble in the lobby before they enter the vehicle that will take them to the venue. Each vehicle will have a Justice Department official.

 

*Once they arrive at the venue, an official will meet them at the drop-off point and take them to their designated court.

 

*At the venue, the group has to sanitize their hands after every 50 meters, and when they leave or enter any building.

 

*An official will be present during the entire two-hour spell the players are on court. The players cannot leave even if they are done before the allotted two hours.

 

*Once the time is up, the group will then move to a gym bearing the same number as the court used.

 

*The court and gym are immediately cleaned once players vacate.

 

*Players then move to a food area for an hour. It is only here that they can request to leave early.

 

*A similar procedure follows when heading back to the hotel.

 

*Nobody is allowed to open the room door unless there is a knock – either by an official or food delivery service.

Edited January 25, 2021 by Black_Hawk

[Vamos]

Being the best next gen talents, beating an aging Nadal at his fortress is an uninspiring ‘goal’ to pursue. 

 

 

[Black_Hawk]

Nadal vs Thiem LIVE Exhibition Match from Adelaide at 1PM (IST) on Sony SIX HD.

 

That match will be followed by Halep vs Barty.

[Black_Hawk]

WTA tournaments starting tomorrow in Australia. Both Gippsland Trophy and Yarra Valley Classic. From 5AM (IST).

[Black_Hawk]

Over 500 Australian Open Players, Staff to Quarantine After Covid-19 Case in Melbourne

 

 

WTA - Yarra Valley Classic, Gippsland Trophy, Grampians Trophy and ATP - ATP Cup all on hold. All matches for today are cancelled. Lets see what they do now.

[Black_Hawk]

 

AO has started!

Upset of the day for me was Angie Kerber defeated by Pera in straight sets, worse getting a bagel in the first. Her post-match PC shed some light on her loss:

 

 

Guess the Hard Quarantine really affected her detrimentally.

 

It was good to see Bianca Andreescu back on court and healthy after 467 days of absence from Tennis. Buz gave her a good competitive match as well. Nice warm up for the later rounds, she'll need it.