US Open 2023

yerwanthere123

Final grand slam of the year is upon us.

Most are already locking in an Alcaraz vs Djokovic final, but let's see what happens.

WTA side should be intriguing, Swiatek is still world #1 but looking more beatable this year. Gauff took a huge step forward by winning Cincinnati, including beating Swiatek along the way, so many fancy her to go all the way.

My own prediction is Alcaraz and Sabalenka to win, which will surely be the kiss of death.

Hope it's a good fortnight!

Floppybits

Is the US Open only on Sky Sports or is Amazon showing it as well?

whatever76

No not on Prime - gutted !!! Sky & Now as far as I know is where you need to go to view The US Open on Sky Sports: How and where to watch the final Grand Slam of the year at Flushing Meadows | Tennis News | Sky Sports

Augme

A number of surprises already on the first day. Sakkari knocked and and 4th seed Holger Rune.

Best story has to go to Thiem for beating Bublik in the first round. A brilliant result for him given such a tough opponent and it's his first win in a slam since 2021.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121040041#Comment_121040041

Some start to the US Open, Musetti and Auger-Alliassime gone as well. Ruud had a bit of a battle as well. On the coverage, I was watching yesterday afternoon but they weren't showing any matches from Ashe. Tiafoe was on at the same time on Ashe but they showed Ruud had to switch off for some reason I can't watch Ruud, I just find him a tough watch. Also Taylor Fritz was on as well on Armstrong and they had on a women's match for some low ranking ex-japanese player but not playing for Great Britain on. Hopefully it gets better. Might see if the coverage is better on the US Channels.

CassieManson

Djokovic back to number one after US Open regardless of what happens next. He just needed to win one match.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121037194#Comment_121037194

Shame it's not on prime.

Sky showcase are showing it (I am guessing that might be a taster for today only). Decent battle between Alexandrova and Fernandez on before the Murray match (I am guessing).

Reading the story around Bublik...made a plonker of himself, Thiem hammered him.

https://www.ubitennis.net/2023/08/alexander-bublik-under-fire-over-disabled-comment-during-us-open-match/

Rune (flopped again) not happy with organisers.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/holger-rune-dominic-thiem-atp-casper-ruud-alexander-bublik-b2400793.html

gmisk

Very solid first set for Murray against Moutet takes it 6-2

Garcia seventh seed gone 6-4, 6-1

gmisk

Murray had to save set points in that second set but managed to come through! Never easy with him!

Royale with Cheese

Pretty funny seeing Rune moaning about being on court 5 and then being unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament on it.

Royale with Cheese

Taylor Fritz now the only other top 10 player left in Djokovic's side of the draw 😒

whiterebel

Ruud gone as well. Going to be one of those slams......

yerwanthere123

Wozniacki into the 3rd round, taking out Kvitova along the way. Impressive comeback so far.

gmisk

Very decent win for Draper against Hurkacz, wasn't sure he would have the fitness levels after having to retire at the Winston-Salem open.

Murray looking in trouble down a set and a break to Dimitrov

Royale with Cheese

Five years Andy Murray has been trying to make a comeback now and a handful of grand slam third round appearances is all he has to show for it. Surely he's going to call it a day now.

Jack Daw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121053258#Comment_121053258

I never understood why he didn't go and play doubles with his brother. They'd have a real chance of winning grand slams as a pair and seeing as he's proven himself as a singles player, you'd think coming back and being properly competitive in doubles would be more enjoyable way to play out your career than slogging away in singles with no real hope of winning anything significant.

Floppybits

The highest seed playing today in the Day session is Tiafoe at 10. This side of the draw the seeds have been decimated.

Augme

Given what he said following his defeat at the US open he seems to be more content with probably never competing to win a grand slam again. He said himself that he still enjoys the training and playing and until that stops why would he stop playing. I never understood why he put so much stock in having to compete. He's got a few years max being able to play as a professional tennis player, he should make the most of it and enjoy it.

Also, I'd say the reason he hasn't shifted to doubles is the money. He made $123k making the second round at US. You need to make the final in doubles to better that.

gmisk

Good to see Djokovic getting a decent match, was two sets down but came through in 5

dominatinMC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121059332#Comment_121059332

Agree. And for all the adulation heaped on him for coming through, he won't be winning the open playing like that

gmisk

Jack draper through in 4 sets and in to 4th round very solid.

Evans getting tonked by Alcaraz (two sets down) but has broken in third set, Norrie two sets down.

gmisk

Evans did take that third set against Alcaraz...looks to have had a grand total of one unforced error!

Norrie out...second best.

gmisk

Alcaraz through in 4 really kicked things up in that 4th set again.

Jack Daw

Jabeur was atrocious last night.All she needed to do was just keep putting the ball back into play and let Bouzkova beat herself as she wasn't able to run around much after her injury. Jabeur really needs to improve her attitude on court it's horrific, far too negative getting down on herself all the time.

moby2101

C’mon Caroline !!

Just won the second set

Royale with Cheese

Really low quality match this between Wozniaki and Gauff.

yerwanthere123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121065721#Comment_121065721

Hmm, I thought it was decent enough.

Quite the turnaround in that match. When Wozniacki broke early in the third it looked like she had the momentum - and then she didn't win another game.

yerwanthere123

Swiatek-Ostapenko should be an interesting one later, Swiatek has lost all three matches they've played. Got to think that Swiatek will right the ship this time, but if Ostapenko's hammer blows are finding the lines..

yerwanthere123

Ostapenko takes out Swiatek to make their h2h 4-0, Sabalenka is the new World #1!

gmisk

Decent tournament for Draper but looked a bit wrecked by the end against Rublev, battled but out in 4 sets.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121069806#Comment_121069806

He was just coming back from injury and hasn't played much. For this younger guys coming on the tour and new to the 5 set matches, it takes a while to get the stamina and knowledge to compete and win in them. As they said on commentary Draper would need to play a 5 setter when fully fit to get the benefits on it. This is always the advantage the more seasoned players have over the younger ones when it comes to the 5 format unless they are an Alcaraz.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070950#Comment_121070950

I read there was only a 70/30 chance he would actually play the US open so yeah he did very well, I just hope his body can hold up long term, don't want to see him going the way of some other young players.

Jack Daw

A nice vintage GAA jersey on the guy who caught one of the balls Djokovic hit into the crowd.

poppy37

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121074197#Comment_121074197

Michael O’Leary from Abbeydorney, former Kerry hurler.

yerwanthere123

Really hoping at this stage we get a Gauff-Sabalenka final. Would be an incredible atmosphere with an American in the final plus both players having so much on the line. Gauff would obviously be desperate to win her first, whilst Sabalenka would be vying to win her second and back up her new #1 status.

However, I think there's actually a decent chance we could get an all-Czech final.

Surprised Tiafoe lost to Shelton, makes Djoko reaching the final even more inevitable. Men's half hasn't had a lot of tension really, feels like we're just going through the motions until the inevitable Alcaraz-Djoko final. Of course either one could lose before they get there, but not very likely.

dominatinMC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121075748#Comment_121075748

Think Zverev might give Alcaraz a scare. He's playing well from the bits I've seen

yerwanthere123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121077514#Comment_121077514

A scare is grand with me, as long as he doesn't win! It's been a poor enough tournament anyway, last thing we need is the champion being decided in the QF's.

Sabalenka into the SF's first woman since Serena in 2016 to make all four SF's in the same year. Will be interested to see how she gets on against (presumably?) another tricky Czech tomorrow. The SF's have been something of a stumbling block for her this year, any more losses and it might become a 'thing'.

Royale with Cheese

Fairly poor stuff from Medvedev and Rublev thus far. Can't see either of these troubling Alcaraz playing like this, not sure they'd even beat Zverev.

whiterebel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121078243#Comment_121078243

In fairness the heat was a killer, you could see Rublev visibly wilting in the 2nd set. Medvedev said he was struggling after the first set.

whiterebel

Sky’s commentators are awful. Who told them Konta could commentate? Lopez is knowlegeable, but hard to understand.

I like Bertoli, but man, after 10 minutes you expect her to break into full “I shall say zis only wernce”‘Allo, ‘Allo ,mode.

al87987

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121078613#Comment_121078613

Yeah not great, a stat came up about unreturned 1st serves in the 1st set and Konta couldn't wrap her head around it "Who served what? I'm not a stats woman". It's one of the most basic stats out there and is shown very regularly.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121078613#Comment_121078613

I was going to post to say how much I like Bertoli commentating. She is great and picking up on the little things as well. Gives great insight, I heard her talking about Gauffs forehand and says that she has made some small changes to how she is hitting it that is making the difference. Pity they didn't have the time to go into what those changes are.

hayrabit

done Gauff @10/11 to break serve first, win 1st set and win match

short odds tho - better than taking 1/2 for win only methinkes 😂

GWAN Coko !!

:)

MisterAnarchy

Djokovic through to the final with one of the easiest draws you are likely to see in years.

yerwanthere123

Alcaraz-Medvedev not exactly going to plan 😐

whiterebel

I had a feeling Medvedev would turn Alcaraz over. Wouldn’t surprise me if he wins it now.

yerwanthere123

Disappointed with last night's result, not just because I like Alcaraz but I felt he had the best chance of making a match of the final, complimented by a more visually appealing game.

Obviously we know Medvedev can beat Djoko in the final, but I don't see it happening tomorrow night. He's never been quite the same mentally since losing to Nadal in Melbourne last year. Obviously though, I hope he wins.

Jack Daw

Really enjoyable match between Alcaraz and Medvedev , some great tennis played by both players at times.Thought Medvedev was going to choke in that final game , he struggled big time closing it out.

BorneTobyWilde

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121088806#Comment_121088806

Novak needs to beat this Russian on US soil . Medvedev simply can't be allowed to win

dominatinMC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121088849#Comment_121088849

Medvedev beat Djokovic in the 2021 final when Djokovic was going for the calendar GS. But I think that had more to do with the pressure on Djokovic than anything Medvedev did. Without that level of pressure, I expect Djokovic to avenge that defeat tomorrow night.

Also agree that Medvedev has regressed since that Nadal match. Hopefully he can turn the corner tomorrow though.

BorneTobyWilde

Gauff playing with a chip on her shoulder, a '' poor me'' look in her eyes, this is not the stuff of champions