2022 In Between Grand Slam Thread

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118958303#Comment_118958303

I've said that she seems a nice girl etc but that she's more a symptom of the state of things than anything else

I said from the start that her game seems very limited even to a relative "lay person" like myself

I'm taking it from the viewpoint that this player won a grand slam, not so much the British press hype

Seeming nice doesn't mean that you'll win matches though (nor should it) as the last 6 months plus have shown.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118958495#Comment_118958495

Yes, it was at the sit down. Choice of 3 colours, he wanted a blue towel. 🙂

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118958149#Comment_118958149

well he can't repeat last year because he'll only have been in two slams as it looks so far

Thought that there was a chance that he might be in serious bother after the Monte Carlo match but the quality is still there as today showed and would now believe what Ivanisevic said about him being ill and not 100% there as the contrast shows.

Even Djokovic needs a few matches to get over the year that he's had, including the lack of tennis matches.

If he doesn't win this tournament he's still on the upward curve to return to a proper level.

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118958571#Comment_118958571

well players winning a grand slam on the woman’s side and then not living up to the hype seems a trend which is what I think you mean but the first sentence. The British press will be ridiculous at Wimbledon this year around her and I wish they weren’t. And yeah Iga Swiatek should easily win tomorrow night because she’s a nice person but has improved and her on clay is scary.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118958651#Comment_118958651

You do have to make allowance for Raducanu not being as full-time a tennis player as someone like Świątek for as long as Świątek has been but then again that just highlights the US Open win even more.

Floppybits

Swaitek very comfortable against Raducanu. She has a much better range of shots and power than Raducanu. Think Raducanu did will to get 4 games in the first set but she hasn't but any pressure on swaitek serve.

Floppybits

Trainer on now for Raducanu. Looks like a lower back issue.

Alcaraz - Tsitsipas on now

With Ruud out it's effectively the final

Both of them playing their second match of the day

Tsitsipas will be looking to even out the h2h a little as Alcaraz leads 2-0

Alcaraz's touch on the drop-shots devastating so far

Such deftness for his age

Woah - things are spicing up in Barcelona

First set to Alcaraz 6-4 and on the last ball of the set Tsitsipas, out of frustration was 100% aiming to take out Alcaraz with a forehand rocket!

Alcaraz gave him the long look and the crowd fired up in his favour.

https://twitter.com/tsitsichard/status/1517585878243287046

That assassination attempt seems to have backfired and sent Alcaraz into double-beast mode

Blistering performance

Looked match over with 2 breaks up

But Tsits has stuck in there and levelled it in the second set

Itssoeasy

Alcaraz 3-0 up in the third set. Oh dear Tsitsipas is arguing with the umpire and saying he should be fired. Great atmosphere in Barcelona.

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118962624#Comment_118962624

Very West Indian 1980s bowling attack.

whiterebel

How can professional athletes not know the rules of their own sport? Tsitsipas didn't know he couldn't take a break in the middle of a set?

Alcaraz into the world Top 10

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118963147#Comment_118963147

He’s a special player.

whiterebel

Spooky. Same day the 18 year old Nadal broke into the top 10 in 2005.

Djokovic - Khachanov match is entertaining.

Djokovic putting on a serve-return clinic here in the second set.

Itssoeasy

Aryna Sabalenka won in straight sets against Paula Badosa in the semi final of stuttgart but badosa was 5-2 up in the first set and somehow lost it 7-6.

Djokovic is back.

No doubt.

Khachanov was playing well but Djokovic destroyed him in sets 2 and 3.

The depth on his shots was insane.

Pinging returns and winners off the racket.

If he can replicate that form against Rublev (assuming he wins) should be a good match.

whiterebel

De Minaur has 2 match points against Alcaraz......Saves one.

whiterebel

And it goes to a tiebreak. Choke from De Minaur, as well as a brilliant shot to save the first MP

whiterebel

Goes to 3rd set. Some fightback from Alcaraz. Surprised at De Minaur giving him so much trouble.

Whoever wins this will be a bit wrecked playing the final later after such a long match (coming up on 3 hours played today)

Carreno Busta will be fresher

Final supposed originally to start in 2 hours at 1500 Irish time - that will have to be changed surely - and it has - pushed out by 90 minutes

Will be scarring for De Minaur if goes on to lose

Alcaraz not the finished article on match management yet by any means

Still think that he will be a threat over 5 though as he keeps going to the end

whiterebel

Looking at around 3.5 hours for 3 sets, blisters on your feet and then having to go against Carreno Busta in the final. Tennis gods not smiling on Carlos today.

whiterebel

De Minaur fights back to 3-3. Some match this.

Rublev has come out firing very well against Djokovic - he's going to take the first set

Rublev trying to complete the Big 3 win-set here today having already beaten the other 2

Huge game there with Rublev serving to stay in the second set at 4-5

Several deuces and some set points for Djokovic

Rublev takes it the end after facing some real pressure

Really hitting the ball cleanly he is

Could be the crucial game in the match

More set points saved by Rublev with big serves and it goes to a tie-break

Feels almost inevitable that Rublev's grittiness might prevail here

But no it's going to a final set.

Hugely draining set there - huge battle.

Both players looking wrecked in the hotter conditions of today. 10 degrees up on yesterday apparently.

Both having to catch their breadth at times. Djokovic more so - he's probably not fully match fit yet.

Will this third set be able to be maintained - even if he loses it has been a big week in Djokovic's comeback.

He has faced tough opponents and got through to the final set of the final.

Rublev playing really well and Djokovic maybe not hitting the heights of yesterday but this is a tougher opponent on form here for sure.

Fair play to the Serbian crowd applauding both players and big contrast to the muppets in the likes of Australia or Paris or New York trying to get to the non-home-town guy on his serve.

Rublev's match now

Djokovic's lack of match fitness has told

He's gone energy-wise

That second set was near an hour and a half

you don't get that in practice

Bagelled in the last set, not the way he wanted obviously!

But he will get the fitness - that's doable.

could do with starting the matches before the second set.

thiagos

Jaysis bagelled in the 3rd. Novak isnt the same player anymore!