Australian Open 2023

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120158584#Comment_120158584

Well you were right about Rybakina-Sabalenka for the final.

I was really, really hoping that Azarenka would come through - I haven't seen much of the tennis this time, but I've seen bit of her and really thought she looked like she might go all the way.

I'm not sure I'll be able to watch the match - I've tried dipping in and out of Sabalenka matches, and can't take much more than a game of her shrieking, don't think I could take a whole match. Is she really only 24???

Floppybits

Very disappointing with Azarenka's response to Rybankina winning the first set. Really thought she would have put up more a battle against her.

yerwanthere123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120159749#Comment_120159749

Sabalenka hasn't won yet! Up 5-4 on serve in the first set.

Yep she's only 24, feels older cause she's been around a while already. First final was in Tianjin against Sharapova back in 2017, the sole title Sharapova won after the doping ban.

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120159863#Comment_120159863

Oh!

I was a bit sleep deprived after a night shift - heard on the radio that she was hoping for an all-Belarusian final, so assumed she was through already!! (as, clearly, did she!)

yerwanthere123

Tsitsipas into the final, and will somehow be world #1 if he wins. Not going to happen though.

dominatinMC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120163703#Comment_120163703

Long overdue a final appearance imo, always thought his gamestyle was well suited to AO conditions.

But, ya, he is going to get mauled on Sunday. Don't even see it being competitive tbh, Djokovic will expose that BH wing and break him down.

Floppybits

What is going on with Djokovic? He was 4-1 up at one stage and its now back on serve with Tommy Paul serving to stay in the set.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120163980#Comment_120163980

They seem to be breaking each other for fun over there this evening.

Robert Nairac

It's been an underwhelming tournament on the men's side.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120164437#Comment_120164437

Was just saying this the other night, only stand out matches for me were the 2 Murray matches. The Australian Open is a hard one to gauge because a lot of the matches are on through the night. But yep it has been underwhelming

walshb

FFS, where are the male tennis talents? Nole must be 50 at this stage and still 5-1 on to win title number 10 at Melbourne.. joke.

Girly Gal

Men's tennis is probably at its lowest ebb in a very long time, it would be good for men's tennis if Tsitsipas won, but, doubt that will happen. It's a damning indictment that barring injury, Djokovic and Nadal are likely to share the first 3 slams of the season, with Alcaraz looking likely to be the only serious challenger.

Hoping Rybakina wins, as she didn't get any credit for winning Wimbledon last year and has been virtually ignored since.

Royale with Cheese

Djokovic will win easily on Sunday, he'll win Wimbledon at a canter. If Nadal can get fully fit then I'd have him favourite at Roland Garros but if not then it's Djokovic winning that one again. Alcaraz has a shot on the hard courts, a real shame he's missing at this tournament as his presence is badly needed.

yerwanthere123

It is a real shame Alcaraz couldn't partake, genuinely think he's good enough to challenge Djokovic in Melbourne. Hopefully he's back soon.

yerwanthere123

It's a really interesting matchup later this morning and I'm really looking forward to it.

Rybakina is the favourite but is surprisingly 0-3 against Sabalenka. I don't think Rybakina will be bothered by that, one of the wins was in 2019 when her talents were still in chrysalis, and she's a much better player now than in 2021 when the other two meetings took place.

Rybakina has the experience of a grand slam final and she's already taken down the dominant world #1. This is totally unchartered territory for Sabalenka, someone who a lot wondered would ever break through at grand slam level after so many early career flops. As recently as Wimbledon 2021 she'd never even made a QF.

I think I want Rybakina to win, it would be a super way to back up the Wimbledon title a lot assumed would be the sole grand slam of her career. She's been treated disgracefully since winning Wimbledon, plus I'd like the solidity that the last four slams being won by two players would offer.

I'd equally be happy for Sabalenka to win, she's a consistent year-round force and clearly has the talent to merit a slam title. Also, it'd be a nice response to the Wimbledon debacle.

Hoping it's a great match, the last two women's finals in Melbourne were duds.

Prediction? Rybakina in three.

Furze99

Not inclined to follow this year at all. When you have a Russian (now Kazak) playing a Belarussian for a trophy and the Serbian nationalist pro Russian antics of yer mans camp - professional tennis has lost it's moral compass for me in the present circumstances. Propaganda puppetry.

yerwanthere123

Who's winning now? Feels like a coin flip. Rybakina's serve wasn't quite as potent in the second set, think a lot will depend on whether she finds it again.

Will be interesting to see how they'll gloss over Sabalenka being from Belarus if she does win though. There'd usually be a reference to "everyone watching back home" or something like that.

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168486#Comment_120168486

Thats why I want Rybakina to win because after her winning Wimbledon and not getting the points I felt that wasn’t fair on her, and as you say it’s as if she didn’t win, yet we all saw it.

Itssoeasy

Sabalenka goes up 4-3 in the final set.

Itssoeasy

5-3 15-15 in the final set.

Itssoeasy

5-4 Sabalenka. She’ll be serving for the Australian open title, so let’s see if she can hold her nerve.

Itssoeasy

And she does win on the fourth championship point.

yerwanthere123

A nervy service game, but she got over the line. Delighted for Sabalenka!

squidgainz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120169057#Comment_120169057

She was fully aware there'd be no ranking points , didn't have to play.

Robert Nairac

It was one of the best womens matches I have seen.

Girly Gal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120169212#Comment_120169212

That's not the point, she has virtually been ignored and given little credit for winning Wimbledon, if Ons Jabeur had won that final she would have been rightly lauded for it, Rybakina deserved the same. Getting to the AO final backs up her Wimbledon win, it shows she isn't a flash in pan

HeidiHeidi

Just finished watching the game - what a great match!

A proper ding-dong battle from start to finish, right up to the last point i wouldn't have bet on who would win in the end - it's a testament to the standard of play that I barely even notice the shrieking and howling by Sabalenka, which usually sends me reaching for the remote.

A fantastic final, which I suspect the men will struggle to rival!

yerwanthere123

Is there any conceivable chance Tsitsipas actually wins the final? I think he's got the talent but not the mental strength to get over the line.

Djoko leads the h2h 10-2 and won their last nine consecutive matches. Plus he's already beaten Tsistipas in a grand slam final, and in the most mentally damaging way possible. Even if Tsitsipas were to win the first two sets again the lingering doubt from RG21 would no doubt present itself. On the flip side, Tsitsipas is by far the toughest opposition Djoko has faced so far, but I dunno... this match feels like a formality.

tiegan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120172042#Comment_120172042

Oh I do hope so!! But you're right it does feel like a formality. Been the most disappointing men's grand slam ever - Djoko playing at another level compared to the rest of them, I feel somewhat guilty that I root for his oppo every chance I get🤔 - as someone mentioned earlier the two Murray matches were the standouts of the tournament for me.

HeidiHeidi

Oh dear......

This is not going to end well. And I fear it's going to end awfully quickly.