2021 US Open

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117864863#Comment_117864863

And if leylah Fernandez and her somehow manage to win their semi finals. Sweet Jesus the hype train will need two banking engines to get it half way up the hill.

yerwanthere123

Hoping for a Raducanu-Fernandez final now. If Emma does indeed make the final you've got to think that having played an extra three matches in qualies will be a big factor, but maybe youth/adrenaline means it won't matter.

klr87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117864941#Comment_117864941

Extra matches yes, but they've all been straight sets. 16 sets (many quick) in about 16 days, no doubles matches ... she should be fine.

A Raducanu-Fernandez final would be at least as unexpected as the French Open women's final pairing this year, but would get exponentially more interest.

yerwanthere123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865054#Comment_117865054

Agreed, a complete shock final but totally different circumstances. I think I'm actually rooting for Fernandez here on in, a joy to watch and look at who she's taken out to get this far!

weird situation at the end of the first set in the Zverev - Harris match

Harris had set point in the breaker and blew it and Zverev took it. (Harris also served for the set)

Then threw his two bottles on the ground and they spilled all over the court

Cue both players helping out with towels to clean it up and a leaf blower was called in

https://i.imgur.com/Xwmtg3X.jpg

BorneTobyWilde

The way Raducanu bowed out of Wimbledon was absolute genius, If she had lost that game two sets to zero at Wimbledon no one , except those who watch tennis would know her name, but the way in which she bowed out caused a national debate in UK, and further afield , from Pier Morgan labeling her a quitter, to Boris Johnson wishing her well , it all caused her to become a household name. This led to the wildcard entrances into tournaments in the US and her chance to enter US Open.

Of course you can't take anything away from her, she got her chance through the publicity of what happened at Wimbledon, and the debate over whether she did quit, or was injured. But either way she's amazing, now all we need to see is her losing a set, be 3-0 down in the second, and to stay on the court and take it on the chin.

Harris not doing it at the big moments when Zverev is letting him in

Zverev tightened up a bit also but two sets to love up now - can't see Harris making it back.

yerwanthere123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865236#Comment_117865236

She had generated a lot of hype and pubilicty even before her withdrawal. She was always gonna get wildcards regardless.

BorneTobyWilde

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865318#Comment_117865318

Every year there are those who come from nowhere to do well at Wimbledon, then they lose, and then they are forgotten. Emma is in Vogue magazine this month dude, a nobody, who has achieved nothing...yet, center stage in Vogue. Usually all this comes after success, not on the back of the way her Wimbledon match ended.

Oh its very different than someone who just did well at Wimbledon. It was indeed the whole circumstances and the debate that followed that made her a household name.

Royale with Cheese

She's not just someone who did well at Wimbledon though. She's someone who did well at Wimbledon who is also English, young and good looking. It's not hard to see why the media are creaming themselves over her.

I put Prime Video on mute as soon as match point was done, definitely made things better. I've nothing against her personally at all, she seems quite nice and grounded.

Royale with Cheese

Zverev showing enough of his old self in this set to suggest beating Djokovic in a 5 set grand slam semi is still a huge ask for him.

BorneTobyWilde

Emma has that ability to up her game right on cue . A lot of players get lost in those moments, but she has the makings on a champion in that regards

She upped her game early in the first set, it was getting away from her, then boom 5 games in a row and takes the set. Same in second, 0-30 twice on her serve, wins both games.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865406#Comment_117865406

Djokovic has to get past Berrettini first.

yerwanthere123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865351#Comment_117865351

As stated above, Raducanu getting wildcards is unsurprising given her clear marketability. The exact same happened with Gauff, had achieved next to nothing and was suddenly a superstar because the media wanted her to be. To suggest it's anything to do with the fact that the phone hacker took a swipe at her on Twitter is ridiculous.

Also, there was no "national debate" and she's certainly not a household name either, but maybe that could change if she wins this tournament... dude.

klr87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865148#Comment_117865148

Did Harris get a warning for delaying play/unsporting conduct?

Anyway, I can never imagine Rafa doing that., what with his OCD. A few years ago at the Australian, a stray shot knocked over a couple of his bottles by his chair. A ball kid carefully replaced them as best he could in their original positions, while Rafa watched carefully from the baseline.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865583#Comment_117865583

no actually.

Zverev had made a complaint earlier in a game about the big screen showing video on his serve, putting him off, and Harris was delayed for a time at 6-5 on serve in the breaker due to this being addressed / fixed

losing the set then sent Harris over the edge

Nadal is very OCD indeed - never steps on a line when walking (great accompanying music).

He has so many tics

https://youtu.be/KE2NjuSd7-Y?t=9

Girly Gal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865406#Comment_117865406

It's the biggest question mark over Zverev, can he keep his focus and hold it together at the crucial moments, he has improved this aspect over the last year, but, still prone to lapses in concentration allowing a few games or a set get away from him, can't afford to do that again Djokovic. He's got everything needed, just the mental side still needs more work done.

gmisk

Raducanu playing Sakkari....definitely has a chance!

whiterebel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865768#Comment_117865768

I wonder if the likes of Berrettini, Zverev, Medvedev etc try to keep their power dry, looking forward in the draw rather than playing to their best the whole way. Seems to be some strange lapses with the aforementioned players cantering to a win, and then becoming distracted. Zverev's level fell alarmingly at the end of the 3rd set.

Djokovic was truly playing tennis from another planet last night

Berrettini came out firing down aces and big forehands, really playing his best stuff

The pressure was palpable

And he managed to take it with a break for 7-5 at nearly 1h20 for the set

Berrettini was surely going to really trouble Djokovic here

Then Djokovic was able to instantly put it behind him and just literally went to another level - it was truly exceptional tennis of the highest standard

If he can play like he did in sets 2, 3 and 4 it's hard to see anyone stopping him

He'll probably have to reproduce it though to be able to win

Serve went up a level, backhand was immense, forehand cross-court whips from the corners ... everything

Despite the scores Berrettini never gave up. Set 3 was actually very tense and Berrettini was fighting hard and managed to have to break-back points and it was only one break until the last game of the set.

Djokovic has beaten Berrettini in 3 slams this year. The other slam Berrettini withdrew with injury.

Another Federer record went by the wayside - Djokovic now has most career wins over ATP Top 10 players

He will be clear on most year-end World Number 1 years also (joint with Sampras currently)

Taking a first set off Djokovic be like

monophy.gif

Crazy stat

Of the 2021 WTA Grand Slam and Olympic Semi-Finalists

So 20 places, 4 each in each of the 5 tournaments

18 different people.

Only Sabalenka and Sakkari have more than one appearance with 2.

josip

You'd really have to wonder about Djokovic losing an early set against all bar one of his opponents so far and then dialling it up another level. If it's genuine, then it's slightly worrying that he's giving his opponents a free set and he hasn't managed to rectify it by the quarter finals. Zverev might take more than 1 easy set if it's on offer.

Federer still owns lots of other records :)

There is a very detailed Wiki page to keep track of them all.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Roger_Federer

including:

"Most powerful sports star"

"Most playable real-life characters in a tennis video game"

Interesting stat for Zverev -> he has never beaten a single Top 10 player at a grand slam in the 25 main draws at slams that he's played at so far

Djokovic here would be some way to break the duck

Girly Gal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117867364#Comment_117867364

Heard that stat at the FO and was surprised, but, when you think about it, he has been in the top 10 for a few years, so not going to meet another top 10 player before the QFs which he has struggled to make himself, also in the QFs he's won the players he was seeded to play were knocked out earlier. It's still amazing that he hasn't been another top 10 player at a slam, not the best omen with Djokovic next up.

ireallydontknow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117867182#Comment_117867182

Depends on your opinion of women's tennis...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117867237#Comment_117867237

You'd really have to wonder about Djokovic losing an early set against all bar one of his opponents so far and then dialling it up another level. If it's genuine, then it's slightly worrying that he's giving his opponents a free set and he hasn't managed to rectify it by the quarter finals. Zverev might take more than 1 easy set if it's on offer.

He's not giving them a free set for sure.

But he doesn't panic.

With lesser opponents he does probably view it as a warm-up set in 5 set matches.

Berrettini expended so much mental energy in that 1h20 first set last night that he just couldn't maintain his level fully or respond when Djokovic moved from 4th to 6th gear in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sets.

The last 2 matches are likely to be tougher again but if Djokovic is able to hit that level again for the majority of the match it's going to be hard to live with him.

But it's not guaranteed that that level can be consistently achieved.

I think that playing at night favours Djokovic against most players - he plays well under the lights in the stiller air and cooler temperature and the slightly lower bounce of the ball off topspin groundstrokes and kick serves probably suits him - he will have that for the semi-final but not the final if he makes it through.

Medved is not a heavy topspin hitter of course if they are both in the final so may not want to be facing him at night anyways.

Girly Gal

I expect Djokovic and Medvedev to make the final, assuming that happens it'll be interesting to see how both Zverev and Medvedev perform against Djokovic over the next few days. I'd like to see both perform well and push Djokovic to play close to his best in order to win. The worst result would be if Djokovic has a straightforward win over both, which I don't think he will, but, is a possibility.

Zverev and Medvedev have no real excuses now, yes Djokovic is the ultimate challenge, but, both are now in the prime years of their careers, both playing well, both have had favourable draws, both have beaten Djokovic outside the slams and both have a good level of experience now and made slam finals before. At a minimum they need to give a good account of themselves (not necessarily win) against Djokovic.

yerwanthere123

I don't know who's more likely to take out Djokovic, Zverev or Medvedev. Yes Zverev has never beaten a top 10 opponent in a slam, but that stat is on borrowed time. Hoping for Zverev to win his SF and then the winner of FAA/Medvedev to take the title.

Nobody seems to be giving FAA a prayer at winning, and given his track record in finals that's fair. Getting over his finals duck in a grand slam final would be a nice time to do it though. The only conceivable chance he probably has is for Zverev to take out Djokovic, no way he'll be able to beat Medvedev and then Djokovic. He's 0-1 against Medvedev and 1-3 against Zverev. He did take Zverev to 5 sets at Wimbledon though so at the very least we know he's capable of pushing him.

Going to say that I see the teenagers' runs likely ending tonight.

Both Sakkari and Sabalenka can both hit a running forehand (unlike Bencic it seems) at least and must be the top two WTA players in the world this year as they made it to the last 4 of at least two of the big events, unlike anyone else!

Itssoeasy

Martina Navratilova for what it’s worth just picked a Raducanu vs Sabalenka women’s final when asked on prime video with Sabalenka winning it in her opinion which given how much she won in her career, maybe counts for something but tennis like most sports isn’t won on paper or by people’s opinions.