Australian Open 2021

dominatinMC

Floppybits wrote: »

Unbelievable this should have been done in 3 sets with Kyrgios winning but due to Kyrgios being a dope Thiem is going to win.

Thiem is simply a more well-rounded accomplished player. For all his supposed "talent" Kyrgios has never ever produced consistently. Flashes of brilliance do not make a great player. Anyway, had he won, we all know he would have bowed out in the next round. Thiem is infinitely better for the sport

Floppybits

dominatinMC wrote: »

Thiem is simply a more well-rounded accomplished player. For all his supposed "talent" Kyrgios has never ever produced consistently. Flashes of brilliance do not make a great player. Anyway, had he won, we all know he would have bowed out in the next round. Thiem is infinitely better for the sport

That is the frustrating thing about kyrgios, he has the talent to be a winner but his carry on is a joke.

Hector Savage

Djokovic about to retire here,
Well done Nadal, AO 2021 champion ...

Floppybits

Hector Savage wrote: »

Djokovic about to retire here,
Well done Nadal, AO 2021 champion ...

4 games into the 5th set and still waiting on Djokovic to retire.

showpony1

Hector Savage wrote: »

Djokovic about to retire here,
Well done Nadal, AO 2021 champion ...

you owe an apology to Novak.

Joe_ Public

Got a bit lucky with the break when it came but suppose he could've just taken a mto anyway.

Hector Savage

Incredible, what a BEAST!!!!!!

He doesn't have a chance in the tournament as that injury looks bad, but wow he always manages a way to find how to win !!

Gwynplaine

If Rafa wins this, he'll be only player to win all the slams more than once. I hope he does it.

Hector Savage

Gwynplaine wrote: »

If Rafa wins this, he'll be only player to win all the slams more than once. I hope he does it.

That will be the worst thing to happen in tennis that a drug taking cheat get that honour, it will be a black black black black day for the sport when he does indeed win it.

lostcat

Hector Savage wrote: »

That would be the worst thing to happen in tennis that a drug taking cheat get that honour, it will be a black black black black day for the sport when he does indeed win it.

err...mod alert? :O

yerwanthere123

Djokovic runs away with the final set after an 'injury'... feel like I've seen that movie before.

Very surprised that FAA beat Shapovalov in such a fashion! Also thought Jabeur would give Osaka more of a match.

Fair play to the bottom half of the women's draw, practically every tantalising matchup has come to fruition. Just a shame there'll be no crowd to enjoy them

whiterebel

Gwynplaine wrote: »

If Rafa wins this, he'll be only player to win all the slams more than once. I hope he does it.

Apart from Roy Emerson and Rod Laver?

yerwanthere123

whiterebel wrote: »

Apart from Roy Emerson and Rod Laver?

In the open era, maybe?

Floppybits

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

Djokovic runs away with the final set after an 'injury'... feel like I've seen that movie before.

Very surprised that FAA beat Shapovalov in such a fashion! Also thought Jabeur would give Osaka more of a match.

Fair play to the bottom half of the women's draw, practically every tantalising matchup has come to fruition. Just a shame there'll be no crowd to enjoy them

I wonder what they are given during the medical timeout, is it just pain killers and where can I get them? Seen it with Del Potro one year at the US Open was dead on his feet the first set, has a medical timeout and he is given a couple of pills to take and then goes on to win a 5 set marathon.

Hector Savage

Floppybits wrote: »

I wonder what they are given during the medical timeout, is it just pain killers and where can I get them? Seen it with Del Potro one year at the US Open was dead on his feet the first set, has a medical timeout and he is given a couple of pills to take and then goes on to win a 5 set marathon.

Anti inflammatories ..

Hector Savage

Djokovic will retire, he said he knows it's a tear and most likely won't face Raonic, medical scan tomorrow..

Joe_ Public

Presume they're allowed an injection though there would be a restriction on the level of dose. Wilander was saying the extended break was a big stroke of luck as it allowed time for the anti inflammatory to take hold.

RobertKK

RTE never mentions Halep on their TV sports news.

I mean they focus on Serena who has no hope of winning, I seriously doubt it she wins it.
They mention Osaka but nothing about Halep again who won and will now face Swiatek, which is a match that should be so good.

Chivito550

Hector Savage wrote: »

So envious of Australia, look at the audience there, we can only dream of this in Europe ...

You were saying...

Chivito550

I got Nadal at 9/1 at start of tournament. 20 quid, so a nice 180 profit if he prevails.

I've gone beyond caring if he breaks Federer's slam record. It's going to happen so I may as well make some money out of it.

That said, I don't think he will win it, regardless of whether Djokovic makes the final or not. No spectators will make his task tougher.

sxt

Hector Savage wrote: »

Djokovic will retire, he said he knows it's a tear and most likely won't face Raonic, medical scan tomorrow..

There is 0% chance he won't turn up lol. I fully expect him to be close to 100%, and he will need to be!

He Knows how tough an opponent Raonic will be, especially with how important serves are proving to be. He knows this will potentially be his toughest match should he go on to win, hence why he is playing mind games to the press

Chivito550

sxt wrote: »

There is 0% chance he won't turn up lol. I fully expect him to be close to 100%, and he will need to be!

He Knows how tough an opponent Raonic will be, especially with how important serves are proving to be. He knows this will potentially be his toughest match should he go on to win, hence why he is playing mind games to the press

Good value on Djokovic with the bookies now at 10/3 if you think he's faking it.

Joe_ Public

Djoko is 6/1 on the exchange now, its very tempting but almost too good to be true. A fair chance he may be exaggerating the severity of the injury but not convinced either way.

Hector Savage

Chivito550 wrote: »

I got Nadal at 9/1 at start of tournament. 20 quid, so a nice 180 profit if he prevails.

I've gone beyond caring if he breaks Federer's slam record. It's going to happen so I may as well make some money out of it.

That said, I don't think he will win it, regardless of whether Djokovic makes the final or not. No spectators will make his task tougher.

Nice!!
I got him at 6.5, also €20 ... I'd be happy to lose that, but I suppose it's a nice bonus when the unthinkable happens and .....

Augme

Even before today's game Novak didn't look too convincing. His fitness will be key, even if he was 100% fit I'm not sure he would get past thiem. I do wonder if father age has caught up with him and if he just isn't on the same level mentality wise.

sxt

Chivito550 wrote: »

Good value on Djokovic with the bookies now at 10/3 if you think he's faking it.

I don't think he is faking, I think raonic is better and there will be an excuse

yerwanthere123

Really looking forward to this match, let's hope it's not a dud. Hard to see Osaka losing this when she's won 3 of the last 5 hard court slams, but you never know. If she lost to a 15 year old last year then I'm sure Muguruza has a shot at least!

Joe_ Public

Interesting opening set, osaka looked in control early, serving and hitting well but mug just grew into it and looking the more confident. Still think osaka can win it but needs to up the intensity a fair bit.

Joe_ Public

Watching a bit of vondrousova, looks like a clone of karolina pliskova, as if she's not too bothered about it. Needs a bit more petra about her, or someone to give her a good shake!

Joe_ Public

Good for hseih, best slam performance of her career and, who knows, maybe not finished yet. Vondrousova was awful in fairness, worst body language i've seen from a top player in some time.

RobertKK

I hope Muguruza wins this and Sabalenka also wins, and of course in the morning Halep.

Augme

2 match points thrown away by Mugruza. Really went into meltdown after that.

Joe_ Public

Shame for her as she played very well, gonna hurt not to have finished it when she had the chance. Credit to osaka though, found an extra gear when really needed in the end. Not sure that level wins the title though.

yerwanthere123

Wow, a Serena-esque escape from Osaka. That is a bitter, bitter pill for Muguruza to have to swallow. It's weird though, even when she was serving for the match I never believed she was going to win it.

Joe_ Public

Books have sabalenka favourite to beat williams. Understandable i suppose but not sure i could trust her to deliver with the pressure on. No real idea what to expect, a lot of quick rallies for sure.

alan partridge aha

I don't care who wins, as long as its not that bully Williams. Keep Margaret Court at the top on her own.

alan partridge aha

The fu5king state of her.

yerwanthere123

alan partridge aha wrote: »

I don't care who wins, as long as its not that bully Williams. Keep Margaret Court at the top on her own.

Margaret Court is a disgusting human being. I don't like Serena either but really want her to break Court's 'record'.

alan partridge aha

Absolutely not

Joe_ Public

Very good performance by halep. Swiatek didnt do all that much wrong, halep just too focussed and determined today.

Augme

It will be a shocking indictment on the women's game if Serena wins another slam. She's 39 and clearly well past her best. Sabalenka lack of experience showed today. Couldn't deal with the pressure in the third I felt and she needed to be able to adapt a lot better.

Joe_ Public

Augme wrote: »

It will be a shocking indictment on the women's game if Serena wins another slam. She's 39 and clearly well past her best. Sabalenka lack of experience showed today. Couldn't deal with the pressure in the third I felt and she needed to be able to adapt a lot better.

I dunno, she is 39 and unquestionably past her peak but that peak was some way beyond what all the others could achieve, so i think "shocking indictment" is a bit ott. Federer was on the cusp of turning 38 when he came within a whisker of winning wimbledon, i dont recall did people say that was an indictment of the mens game? Anyway, i dont think she'll win it but she'll have earned it if she does.

lostcat

Djokovic certainly not 100% here but Raonic doesn't have the variety or movement to make it interesting.
Raonic is somehow now 30, and carrying a small bit of timber. At once stage I thought he had a slam in him (Wimbledon), alas not to be.

Thiem losing is a big one, if Djokovic continues to labor, that side of the draw is wide open.

Royale with Cheese

Aside from his hairline Federer still looks largely the same as he did 10 years ago, Serena most certainly does not.

Augme

Joe_ Public wrote: »

I dunno, she is 39 and unquestionably past her peak but that peak was some way beyond what all the others could achieve, so i think "shocking indictment" is a bit ott. Federer was on the cusp of turning 38 when he came within a whisker of winning wimbledon, i dont recall did people say that was an indictment of the mens game? Anyway, i dont think she'll win it but she'll have earned it if she does.

I think the discussion of the gap between the big 3 and the rest of the field has often been used has a huge criticism on the state of the other players? I felt the same about Federrer just getting to the final, outside of djokovic the talent in men's tennis at that time was really poor. At the tine the argument was that a lot of good players outside those two were still very young and raw, so fair enough. Those excuses are gone now though. So I think a Nadal and Djokovic final in this years Australian open would be a shocking indictment on the calibre and level of tennis outside of those two tbh.

She will definitely have earned it though, I won't disagree with that. Given her age to win this tournament will be the greatest accomplishment in her career.

Joe_ Public

Augme wrote: »

I think the discussion of the gap between the big 3 and the rest of the field has often been used has a huge criticism on the state of the other players? I felt the same about Federrer just getting to the final, outside of djokovic the talent in men's tennis at that time was really poor. At the tine the argument was that a lot of good players outside those two were still very young and raw, so fair enough. Those excuses are gone now though. So I think a Nadal and Djokovic final in this years Australian open would be a shocking indictment on the calibre and level of tennis outside of those two tbh.

She will definitely have earned it though, I won't disagree with that. Given her age to win this tournament will be the greatest accomplishment in her career.

Yeah, i think that's fair comment. I dont think there's any doubt serena is in decline frankly. Hasnt won a gs in 4 years and been beaten in straight sets her last 4 finals. Thought she moved ok and showed great defence this morning, considering i doubt any female player hits the ball harder than sabalenka, but i think the hard work really starts now. Sabalenka is limited, unless she's able to dominate and bully her opponent, she often struggles and she's nowhere mentally streetwise enough. Halep/osaka/barty - if it goes that way - are all much more formidable tests so if she can negotiate that, then i'd be pretty confident she'll more than have earned it.

whiterebel

Battle of the crocks here. Raonic is definitely carring some weight. Just missed an easy drive volley.

whiterebel

Raoinc 0-40 at 4-4. Gone here i think.

Hector Savage

Augme wrote: »

It will be a shocking indictment on the women's game if Serena wins another slam. She's 39 and clearly well past her best. Sabalenka lack of experience showed today. Couldn't deal with the pressure in the third I felt and she needed to be able to adapt a lot better.

She's a disgusting racist fat pig of a "woman" ...

josip

Williams to beat Halep, and probably Osaka and Barty to win the AO?
Can't see that happening.