2023 In Between Grand Slam Thread

dublin49 · 03-05-2023 11:07am

interesting quarter final tomorrow,Karatsev v Zhang,both outside top 100 before this week and playing like top 20 players.Zhang has won 3 final set tie breaks against top players this week and Karatsev beat Medvedev comfortably.Both playing amazingly for their rankings and one is getting to the semi at least.

yerwanthere123 · 03-05-2023 5:00pm

Raducanu will be out for a while due to surgery on both her wrist and ankle.

https://twitter.com/EmmaRaducanu/status/1653787918496854017?t=vw_BUOTeUlLL2trFoee_Ug&s=19

Body already seems pretty frail for such a young age, doesn't bode well.

yerwanthere123 · 05-05-2023 8:53pm

Nadal out of Rome, which isn't good news for RG.

dominatinMC · 06-05-2023 12:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120560353#Comment_120560353

Don't think he's going to make RG at this rate.

yerwanthere123 · 06-05-2023 4:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120562081#Comment_120562081

Probably not. Even if he's able to play he'd be incredibly rusty (hasn't played since January), but if anyone would be able to play his way into form on clay it's obviously Nadal. Think Alcaraz might actually be the slight favourite now, even if Djokovic is playing? Especially if he wins Madrid.

Struff is a surprise finalist in Madrid, making the final as a lucky loser and even beating Karatsev (who beat him in the final qualifying round) along the way. Struff took Alcaraz to five sets at Wimbledon last year so he can feel reasonably confident of giving him a match, but I think Alcaraz will win in a much more straightforward fashion this time around.

Swiatek-Sabalenka final has potential to be good, but Swiatek will likely win handily enough. Leads he H2H 5-2 and 3-0 on clay. Sabalenka having a great year though, very consistent, and would like her to win this to try and develop more of a rivalry with Swiatek.

gmisk · 06-05-2023 5:13pm

Nice to see Murray make a final...it is a challenger but still. Tommy Paul in the final.

gmisk · 07-05-2023 4:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120562986#Comment_120562986

And he has won in three sets, very good result for him

dublin49 · 07-05-2023 4:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120562986#Comment_120562986

not sure.he could end up a crock in later life and not sure hes going to achieve anything comparable to what he has already.Understandable that because he was injured for so long he wants some more but dangerous to write cheques with your future well being .

whiterebel · 08-05-2023 10:19am

Struff gave Carlitos a good workout in the final. He needs matches like that, rather than steamrolling people. Stuff did well for the week, he always memes capable of a big result, but not consistent. Waited until he is 33 to get to his first final.

dublin49 · 15-05-2023 3:20pm

just watched end of the biggest upset of year ,and probably longer ,Marozsan of Hungary just beat Alcaraz ,Marozsan playing his first ever ATP tournament and beat Alcaraz pretty comprehensively,and totally out dropped the new king of the drop shots.If you have prime well worth a look.

Floppybits · 15-05-2023 5:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120599948#Comment_120599948

He drop shot Alcaraz to death today. They were unreal. Speaking of unreal Ostapenko in the 3rd set against Kasatkina just hitting winner after winner. She hit 48 winners in the match.

yerwanthere123 · 17-05-2023 8:53pm

Nadal holding a press conference tomorrow, presumably to announce his withdrawal from RG.

Djokovic lost to Rune today, so his RG fine tuning hasn't exactly gone to plan either.

Surprising loss for Alcaraz earlier in the week but I wouldn't look into it too much, at his age these kind of losses are still going to happen occasionally. Still one of the favourites in Paris.

Girly Gal · 17-05-2023 10:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120609792#Comment_120609792

Don't be surprised to see Djokovic lifting the trophy in Paris, logically he shouldn't, but, there really isn't anyone ( Alcaraz apart) that can match him over the 5 set format. If he survives the early rounds he'll be difficult to stop.

Royale with Cheese · 17-05-2023 10:05pm

It'll be telling alright, 36 years old and on his weakest surface but the rest of the tour just seem to wilt against him over 5 sets. I've never been a big fan of his tennis but his mental strength is just something else.

I wouldn't put it past him, I think he'll breeze Wimbledon barring injury anyway.

lbunnae · 17-05-2023 10:15pm

Don't think Rune has played him in a grand slam , would fancy him against Djockovic if they meet in Paris tbh.

Royale with Cheese · 17-05-2023 10:22pm

I've just thrown a tenner on Casper Ruud at 25/1. He'll be seeded 4, can't meet Alcaraz or Djokovic until the semis and there's no Nadal. Worth a punt at that price I thought. Rune would be the player seeded below him to avoid in the draw.

yerwanthere123 · 17-05-2023 10:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120610115#Comment_120610115

Oh definitely, Djokovic is still the favourite that's for sure, but this year there's slightly more intrigue than usual. At least Alcaraz looks like a genuine threat though, and Rune doesn't seem to be afraid of him either.

yerwanthere123 · 17-05-2023 10:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120610209#Comment_120610209

Ruud is finally finding a bit of form after a terrible start to the season, but got to think SF's or another final is his absolute peak. But you never know.

Royale with Cheese · 17-05-2023 10:33pm

I think the plan will be cash out if he gets to the semis and he still has to get through Alcaraz, Djokovic or even Rune. There could be some shocks along the way though, the semi final line up in Madrid was very poor aside from Alcaraz.

dominatinMC · 17-05-2023 10:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120610115#Comment_120610115

I would be surprised tbh. Djokovic has been very unconvincing on clay so far this year. Yes, he is a different beast on BO5, but there are some concerns around his fitness/injury niggles. Not ideal going into the most gruelling slam.

Apart from Rome, Alcaraz has been the form player this spring. He is already a slam winner, and won't be intimidated by Djokovic. Himself and Rune appear to have a different mindset to the "Next Gen".

First week in RG will tell us a lot. The most open FO in a long long time, due to Nadals absence. Feels weird, even slightly hollow, not having him there. But the show must go on.

dublin49 · 18-05-2023 10:01am

The recent success of low ranked players like Cerundolo,Hanfmann,Marozsan and Struff against top ranked players suggests players like Tsitipas,Medvedev and Zverez are much more vunerable to early defeat than the big 3 were in their pomp.I think this will play well for Djock in RG as he is unlikely to be ambushed by a low ranked player over 5 sets but his main rivals might.

Royale with Cheese · 18-05-2023 10:49am

Medvedev will never win anything on clay and Zverev looks a long way off the player he was a few years back, I wouldn't read too much into that. Tsitsipas is notoriously flaky too.

dominatinMC · 18-05-2023 12:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120611473#Comment_120611473

Agreed. That "next gen" contingent are slowly becoming the "lost gen". Bar Medvedev, they have been very underwhelming. Alcaraz, and potentially Rune, looks to have already passed them out.

dublin49 · 18-05-2023 12:49pm

I think Rome and Madrid have demonstrated that there is a definite levelling up of quality,for years watching the big three crush Gasquet/Verdasco/Fognini etc on their inevitable march to the Quarter/Semi Finals got tiresome. Now there is a potential upset in every match.Not sure this will be replicated at the Majors but hopefully it will.

yerwanthere123 · 18-05-2023 3:38pm

As expected no Nadal at RG. Says he'll be out for a few months and 2024 will be his last year on tour.

Barring any crippling injuries, Djokovic should comfortably stand alone at the top of the table when all is said and done.

Girly Gal · 18-05-2023 5:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120611869#Comment_120611869

The next gen were just a poor gen, not able to compete with the big 3 and now getting surpassed by the following generation. They had to wait for time to beat both Federer and Nadal and still not able for Djokovic at slam level.

Itssoeasy · 18-05-2023 6:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120551082#Comment_120551082

I didn’t see this at the time but saw her tweet about her third operation and the two words that popped into my head were Laura Robson, and how she had to retire early after what seemed like a long list of injuries on her shoulder or wrist, I can’t remember exactly.