US OPEN 2016 (Read 1st Post)

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

As we often see a lot of new names appear during Grand Slams I'm going to remind everyone of a few basic rules.

1 - NO ACCUSING PLAYER X, Y OR Z OF BEING DOPERS PER BOARDS POLICY.

2 - COULD SERENA PLAY ON THE ATP? IT'S BEEN ARGUED IN NEARLY EVERY THREAD FOR YEARS. NO MORE.

3 - RAFA V ROGER V NOVAK, WHO IS THE GREATEST. ALSO DONE TO DEATH.

IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS ANY OF THESE THINGS DURING THE US OPEN PLEASE TAKE THEM TO ANOTHER PART OF BOARDS.

yerwanthere123

Well done to Laura Robson, into the main draw of a slam for the first time since the Australian Open 2014

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Ryan Harrison's younger brother has qualified too. Has had about 8 surgeries over the past 2 years, terrible time by all accounts. Would be nice to see him have a decent run.

yerwanthere123

Heard about him too, crazy how he could be so injured at such a young age. He probably has a greater chance of progressing than Ryan has tbh

lostcat

mens draw is pretty open if you assume that djokovic has a dinky wrist and murray could be shagged out. Djokovic having a possible (in-form) cilic in QF and nadal in SF isn't straightforward..but if he makes the QF he will have played himself into some form like has done in successful tournaments lately.

murray doesn't seem to have much to worry about until the final...

I think Djokovic needs this one if he is to get past 14 slams overall, loose early and Murray has a reasonable chance of powering on and taking the number one position before the end of the year.

cane seen anyone else making much of an impression (del potro still getting used to life back on the circuit, nadal who knows, stan on vacation for the past few months, none of the 'young guns' have shown much lately...)

mens tennis looking rather flat at the moment if you look at it that way

Gwynplaine

I think Nadal has been using that hair in a spray can stuff that David Gest used. His routine before serve is tiresome. 12 - 15 bounces of the ball, pluck shorts out arse crack, fix tshirt, rub nose, rub left ear, rub nose, rub right ear.

yerwanthere123

Moment of applause for Sabine Lisicki who has now fallen out of the top 100 after her loss to Putintseva :pac: Still she's not defending anything for the rest of the year so I'm sure she'll claw her way back in somehow.

The super talented Naomi Osaka has taken out Vandeweghe, she has a decent draw too, so it'll be interesting to see what she can do with it.

paulie21

Is it only on Eurosport? Thought Sky showed this?

RosyLily

paulie21 wrote: »

Is it only on Eurosport? Thought Sky showed this?

Sky Sports got rid of it. Probably not as popular as other sports they have but I liked their coverage; the red button came in handy.

RobertKK

No heat policy for the men, but there is for the women, and it is not even equal pay for equal work.

The heat was being discussed on Eurosport.

RobertKK

Benoit Paire turned up to his press conference after winning his game with a beer in his hand.

MisterAnarchy

This guy Janowicz has an absolute beast of a forehand ,its Del Potro like.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

RobertKK wrote: »

No heat policy for the men, but there is for the women, and it is not even equal pay for equal work.

The heat was being discussed on Eurosport.

Ugh, again with this.

The women have a heat break rule because the WTA asked for one. The men don't have it because the ATP have not asked for it. If they implemented it on their own tour the ITF would have it at the Slams for them too. It's as simple as that. They don't have it because they don't want it.

RobertKK

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Ugh, again with this.

The women have a heat break rule because the WTA asked for one. The men don't have it because the ATP have not asked for it. If they implemented it on their own tour the ITF would have it at the Slams for them too. It's as simple as that. They don't have it because they don't want it.

Ok but would you agree that having to play up to five sets compared to the women's three sets but for the same pay means the men in theory are paid less?
If this happened to women and they had to do more than the men for same pay it would be an issue.

Djokovic last night didn't look at his best but got the win. Even started to sing some Phil Collins who did a concert before his game.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

RobertKK wrote: »

Ok but would you agree that having to play up to five sets compared to the women's three sets but for the same pay means the men in theory are paid less?
If this happened to women and they had to do more than the men for same pay it would be an issue.
.

1 - Women have offered to play Bo5 at Slams.
2 - Men have not asked to play Bo3 at slams.
3 - Everyone playing Bo5 would make scheduling impossible, so if men still want to take issue with it they should be the ones to demand they play less.

Not to mention the men don't play 5 sets all the time. Possible for a man to reach the Final having only played 3 sets per match AND for a woman to reach the final also playing 3 sets per match. Then how do you pay them? Man loses R1 match in 0-6 0-6 0-6 over 1hr 20, should he get paid more than a woman who loses R1 match 5-7, 5-7, 5-7 over 3 hours.

I knew I would miss something out in the first post.

lostcat

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I knew I would miss something out in the first post.

the matter is possibly best argued under income generated for the tour, but really if you were to do that over the past 10 years you would probably just give Federer 75.6% of all income, regardless of whether he won or not, and split up the rest between the mens and womens...

agreed though, this topic should have its own thread

djokovic looking thoroughly disinterested at the moment, for whatever reason..

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

lostcat wrote: »

the matter is possibly best argued under income generated for the tour, but really if you were to do that over the past 10 years you would probably just give Federer 75.6% of all income, regardless of whether he won or not, and split up the rest between the mens and womens...

agreed though, this topic should have its own thread

The money generated argument falls apart as quickly as the number of sets one though. Four or five men at the top probably bring in more money than the rest of the ATP tour combined. So how do you work out how much money the guy ranked 134 gets compared to the woman ranked the same? Should he get more money than her on the basis that Federer and Djokovic generate more money than Serena and Kerber?

But yes, been discussed before, to death almost.

RosyLily

lostcat wrote: »

djokovic looking thoroughly disinterested at the moment, for whatever reason..

Looks like he's checked out. Wouldn't be surprised if he loses early. So many rumours flying about his slump. He's probably just burnt out imo.

Heather Watson lost to Hogenkamp. She was suffering from fever and pains throughout the match. She said afterwards they were the same symptoms she had when dealing with glandular fever. Hopefully it's just a bug or something....would be such bad luck if she got a second bout.

MrKingsley

Djokovic was sulky all the way through his match. he doesnt look right. Shaking off his wrist regularly after serving between 75-90mph first serves!

Wawrinka looked good yesterday apparently

cowboyBuilder

Something wrong with Djokovic for sure, more to it then injury/tired - I think he has personal issues atm.

cowboyBuilder

Hope DelPo can make a good stab at this tournament.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Interesting to see Raonic go out to Harrison in R2. He skipped Rio saying he felt he needed the time to prepare for New York and something about how he felt he was closer than ever to winning a slam. Seems he was wrong.

yerwanthere123

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Interesting to see Raonic go out to Harrison in R2. He skipped Rio saying he felt he needed the time to prepare for New York and something about how he felt he was closer than ever to winning a slam. Seems he was wrong.

Indeed, he's got no excuses seemingly.

I don't even have the words to describe that performance from Muguruza last night, just beyond awful. I mean, I can accept that players have bad days at the office, but I can't accept them behaving and acting like they don't want to be there and don't give a a sh*t. At one point she just started slotting the ball into play hoping to draw an error from Sevastova. Just woeful. So a very weird year at the slams for Garbine, she beat the world's best player to win RG, but flopped at the other three, posting losses to Strycova, Cepelova and Sevastova along the way. Hmm.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Konta's match was another weird one. Basically collapsed on court from heat stroke or something, was covered in ice and treated for about 20 minutes, then allowed to continue playing and then she wins the bloody match!

I never have sympathy for a player who can't finish off a clearly injured/ill player but I thought Konta being allowed to continue playing yesterday was a bit of a joke.

cowboyBuilder

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Interesting to see Raonic go out to Harrison in R2. He skipped Rio saying he felt he needed the time to prepare for New York and something about how he felt he was closer than ever to winning a slam. Seems he was wrong.

Him and McEnroe have also split, very strange - he was only coaching him since Wimbledon.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

Him and McEnroe have also split, very strange - he was only coaching him since Wimbledon.

I think McEnroe was only ever on board as an "adviser". Seems to be a lot of that going on though, players hiring former players based solely on the fact that they are former players and then getting rid of them again shortly after.

MrKingsley

I watched the second set of the Raonic match last night and he seemed to have an injury to be fair. He was hobbling on his left ankle for the last 4/5 games of the second set

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

MrKingsley wrote: »

I watched the second set of the Raonic match last night and he seemed to have an injury to be fair. He was hobbling on his left ankle for the last 4/5 games of the second set

He said he was cramping from stress, whatever that means?

RosyLily

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

I don't even have the words to describe that performance from Muguruza last night, just beyond awful. I mean, I can accept that players have bad days at the office, but I can't accept them behaving and acting like they don't want to be there and don't give a a sh*t. At one point she just started slotting the ball into play hoping to draw an error from Sevastova. Just woeful. So a very weird year at the slams for Garbine, she beat the world's best player to win RG, but flopped at the other three, posting losses to Strycova, Cepelova and Sevastova along the way. Hmm.

Jon Wertheim called her last 6 GS results "downright Kvitovian." Since the French Open 2015 she's gone F/2r/3r/W/2r/3r. Definitely some Petra similarities there.

I think Garbine and Petra are two players that can win multiple Slams (5+ imo) but can't seem to string the results together for whatever reason.

cowboyBuilder

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

He said he was cramping from stress, whatever that means?

Can happen .. it's horrible.

MrKingsley

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

He said he was cramping from stress, whatever that means?

I couldve sworn he went over on his ankle or something. Did he say that right after the match? If so sounds like something he had in his head before he went onto the court

cowboyBuilder

Haven't seen the roof sessions yet, does it change the atmosphere much ?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

MrKingsley wrote: »

I couldve sworn he went over on his ankle or something. Did he say that right after the match? If so sounds like something he had in his head before he went onto the court

I saw it quoted from his presser. He might have gone over on his ankle because of the cramps but he said his physical issues were just cramps.

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

Haven't seen the roof sessions yet, does it change the atmosphere much ?

Apparently it makes it really loud, to the point where the tennis is drowned out. Not sure why that would be an issue but some people like the old fashioned quiet.

lostcat

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Apparently it makes it really loud, to the point where the tennis is drowned out. Not sure why that would be an issue but some people like the old fashioned quiet.

it woundn't make much difference at Wimbledon maybe, but that US crowd can get pretty...err...boisterous....

for example, imagine fed djokovic last year with a closed roof?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

^ True, but having watched the beach volleyball at the Olympics I think it's time tennis ditched the "quiet please" attitude and just let the crowd get full on rowdy

cowboyBuilder

Del Potro is such a nice guy ..
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/video/2016-09-02/3e2cf1c-00ab492ad0e.html?promo=right_rail

MrKingsley

He really is. I would love to see him win another GS and get back to the Top 10.

I remember when he won the Us in 2009, after the game he just wanted to thank everyone, he was almost in tears, and they wouldnt let him. They kept banging on about the sponsors car that he was getting. It was so harsh. Id love to see him get that chance again

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

MrKingsley wrote: »

He really is. I would love to see him win another GS and get back to the Top 10.

I remember when he won the Us in 2009, after the game he just wanted to thank everyone, he was almost in tears, and they wouldnt let him. They kept banging on about the sponsors car that he was getting. It was so harsh. Id love to see him get that chance again

Yeah, they cut him off when he tried to speak Spanish to thank his family. :mad:

Rjd2

Water is wet, and Cilic has bombed out early in the US Open, the pressure of been one of the favs probably to much for him. A golden chance for him to reach the final this year, but heh that is Cilic.

Osaki blew 5-1 lead in the third set against Keys.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Djokovic into R4 with a walkover and a 1st set retirement.

Rjd2

Lovely week for Novak with that news, Vesely who looked a tricky 2nd rounder pulled out before that match and with this and of course Cilic bombing in his side, its a good time to be Novak.

Edmund or Isner next round isn't something to worry him that much either.

RobertKK

2nd last point in the Nadal-Kuznetsov game was special.

Great to see Nadal doing well, hope he is back.

Rjd2

Forgot Raonic also went out in the Novak side, Edmund next which should be easy and then Sock or Tsonga in the quarters neither of whom will put the fear into Novak. Pleasing times for him. It does seem set up for a Novak v Rafa semi at the moment.

cowboyBuilder

Rjd2 wrote: »

Forgot Raonic also went out in the Novak side, Edmund next which should be easy and then Sock or Tsonga in the quarters neither of whom will put the fear into Novak. Pleasing times for him. It does seem set up for a Novak v Rafa semi at the moment.

* serious post


In which case Rafa must be delighted, he is on the upswing again and Novak really is off.

Also, all these "breaks" he is getting might be an advantage for rest - but overall it's worse not finding his rhythm.

If it comes to that I'd fancy Nadal to win.

tinpib

Exciting game with Evans from GB and Warwinka.

Went to a very tight tie break in the 3rd, Evans was maybe 2 points form victory. But Warwinka battled through.

After that Evans collapsed. Giving out the whole time, his head went, got walloped in the 5th.

Floppybits

Great win for del potro over the ultimate grinder Ferrer last night. Great to see him back. To think he is in the US open on a wild card as well.

I don't think djokovic got any advantage with his last 2 matches. If he gets to the semi I would expect Nadal to beat him.

What happened to kyrgios last night that he retired during the match?

lostcat

Floppybits wrote: »

Great win for del potro over the ultimate grinder Ferrer last night. Great to see him back. To think he is in the US open on a wild card as well.

I don't think djokovic got any advantage with his last 2 matches. If he gets to the semi I would expect Nadal to beat him.

What happened to kyrgios last night that he retired during the match?

kyrgios apparently had a hip injury. was shaping up into a nice match too.

djokovic should win his next match, even if rusty. if he can then get past tjonga or thiem (both playing well, heavy hitters) he should be in fairly good shape by the time he plays nadal.

nadal has played well, but he hasn't really met anyone as yet. a tuned in djokovic should beat him if they both get that far.

murray looked a bit tired yesterday, and I don't think he is 100% guaranteed to make the final out of that half any more.

Floppybits

lostcat wrote: »

kyrgios apparently had a hip injury. was shaping up into a nice match too.

djokovic should win his next match, even if rusty. if he can then get past tjonga or thiem (both playing well, heavy hitters) he should be in fairly good shape by the time he plays nadal.

nadal has played well, but he hasn't really met anyone as yet. a tuned in djokovic should beat him if they both get that far.

murray looked a bit tired yesterday, and I don't think he is 100% guaranteed to make the final out of that half any more.

Murray always looks jaded. I wouldn't be writing him off.

Gwynplaine

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/06/rafael-nadal-ritual-tic-pick-water-bottles

Some strange ones there. He needs a size bigger in the shorts. He's bursting out of them.

Halloween Jack

Gwynplaine wrote: »

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/06/rafael-nadal-ritual-tic-pick-water-bottles

Some strange ones there. He needs a size bigger in the shorts. He's bursting out of them.

A gonner now, that was a mad, mad match between himself and pouille, he was lucky to take it to 5 but once he got there was a break up 4-3 in the final set. Pouille got a bit ragged at times but played pretty nicely, has a lovely flat backhand down the line.

As for Rafa, that's a fairly desperate result, any time I've seen him this year he seems wildly inconsistent, might play a game like the old Rafa then 2 or 3 in a row where is forehand is all over the shop, definitely technically not where he was and maybe even less so mentally, choked on some big points tonight when pouille was there to be had. Monfils will be eyeing up a semi on that side now...

cowboyBuilder

Mein God ... did not expect that one