2021 In Between Grand Slam Thread

yerwanthere123 · 04-04-2021 2:19pm

Didn't see the women's final but shame to hear how to went. It's been a great return to form for Andreescu after over a year out of the game, hopefully a sign of things to come. I guess Barty's answered a few questions for those who doubt the legitimacy of her being #1... but I still think it's ridiculous she has 2000 points on her ranking for a tournament that she won almost two years ago. Same with Andreescu and her Indian Wells points.

The men's side has been interesting too, baby Korda is a nifty little player. Reminds me of a younger Zverev when he used to try and occasionally hit winners. Hoping the final is good later. I thought one of Medvedev or Tsitsipas might step up to the plate in the absence of the big 3, but not to be. Sinner is first teenager to reach the Miami final since Djokovic back in 2007. He's also the fourth teenager to reach the final overall, the other three being Agassi, Nadal and Djokovic. Bodes well, I wonder how many more masters final he'll reach in the coming years.

06-04-2021 12:47am

Nadal and Djokovic not even bothering to go the Masters 1000 events now in the current climate.

lostcat · 06-04-2021 8:38pm

Well, Hurkacz wouldn't have been my guess as the next new Masters champion but he beat a few bigger names on the way and looks a tidy player. Hard to imagine Sinner not having a much higher ceiling than him however if he keeps progressing.

Talk of the FO being postponed is not what I wanted to hear, maybe they are not willing to (can't afford to?) hold it behind closed doors again. Most of the bigger fish are due to play Monaco next week, with Federer looking to return for Madrid at the start of May.

whiterebel · 08-04-2021 2:09pm

FO back a week. I doubt that is the last move on it though, this new Breton variant isn't good news.
Toni Nadal to coach FAA should be good news for Felix. I'd say Toni still has some magic left for the right player.

whiterebel · 08-04-2021 6:31pm

Musetti beats Evans in a really good match. He is some player, and Alcaraz looks like he could beat Lopez in Marbella. He has some speed around the court.

lostcat · 08-04-2021 10:46pm

whiterebel wrote: »

.
Toni Nadal to coach FAA should be good news for Felix. I'd say Toni still has some magic left for the right player.

That's interesting, I would have thought that the somewhat.....oldschool.....training techniques which worked on a young Rafa might not be entirely acceptable to todays youngsters. Maybe Toni has mellowed in the meantime...

dominatinMC · 09-04-2021 11:58am

lostcat wrote: »

That's interesting, I would have thought that the somewhat.....oldschool.....training techniques which worked on a young Rafa might not be entirely acceptable to todays youngsters. Maybe Toni has mellowed in the meantime...

Acceptable? If these guys want to have any chance of winning, maybe they should ditch the entitlement and embrace the hard work.

lostcat · 09-04-2021 3:02pm

dominatinMC wrote: »

Acceptable? If these guys want to have any chance of winning, maybe they should ditch the entitlement and embrace the hard work.

Yeah, I know, but there's a wider debate/mentality shift out there.

On a broader societal level one keeps hearing about 'millennials' having a very different take on life and life/work balance. Whether they are right or wrong is kind of beside the point, it's a thing. Look at the recent Goldman Sachs issue, look at 'old school' hard nosed football managers not having quite the same success..and so on.

It goes without saying that someone looking to be top 20 in the world in the field of - whatever - needs to be extremely driven/focused as well as extremely gifted. But the US Marines 'break them down to build them up' looks like it only generally works anymore in, well, the Marines.

it will be interesting to see how they get on, it smacks a bit of Murray/Lendl, but Murray is a glutton for punishment in a way that say.. Zverev...may not be.

whiterebel · 09-04-2021 4:00pm

Toni will bring something new to FAA's game, no doubt. Whether it is a mental thing or tweaks to his game he'll improve. He must want it badly to approach uncle Toni, which is a good start. If you want it badly enough you will always be able to bring something better to your game; look at Fed with Edberg, Nadal with Moya, ND with Becker, Massu with Thiem. I think you can see with Zverev he's just not willing to go the extra. I'd love to see Shapovalov get someone to bring him to the next level.

whiterebel · 13-04-2021 3:28pm

Medvedev tests positive. Apparently has been practicing with Nadal and ND for the last 2 days........

josip · 13-04-2021 3:43pm

whiterebel wrote: »

Medvedev tests positive. Apparently has been practicing with Nadal and ND for the last 2 days........

Djokovic would probably be safe enough after contracting Covid during his Adria Tour cock up last year.

whiterebel · 13-04-2021 3:49pm

josip wrote: »

Djokovic would probably be safe enough after contracting Covid during his Adria Tour cock up last year.

You can get it a second time. They say immunity last 3-6 months after having it.

josip · 13-04-2021 4:16pm

whiterebel wrote: »

You can get it a second time. They say immunity last 3-6 months after having it.

I think it's a bit longer than 3-6 months.

As seen in previous studies, the number of antibodies ranged widely between individuals. But, promisingly, their levels remained fairly stable over time, declining only modestly at 6 to 8 months after infection.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lasting-immunity-found-after-recovery-covid-19
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/health/coronavirus-immunity.html

whiterebel · 13-04-2021 5:32pm

josip wrote: »

I think it's a bit longer than 3-6 months.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lasting-immunity-found-after-recovery-covid-19
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/health/coronavirus-immunity.html

Not according to recent examples in Ireland. It seemed to shake the whole immunity belief. They were going on 3 months, now up to 6. 3 in Galway got it a second time, and that has to be within 12 months. Those articles seem to say "May", "hope" "up to" and "hopefully" quite a bit.

I won't be trusting any of them until they have a lot more data. Anyway, back to the tennis....

Floppybits · 15-04-2021 2:27pm

Dan Evans has beaten Djokovic at Monte Carlo. :eek:

josip · 15-04-2021 2:42pm

Floppybits wrote: »

Dan Evans has beaten Djokovic at Monte Carlo. :eek:

Changing of the guard

gmisk · 15-04-2021 3:09pm

Floppybits wrote: »

Dan Evans has beaten Djokovic at Monte Carlo. :eek:

I saw that.
Djokovic must have had a shocker, is Dan Evans not also generally terrible on clay? I think he has only won a couple of matches on it in last few years!

Hector Savage · 15-04-2021 3:17pm

Wow, really at this point Djokovic should just skip clay, there is no point battling to the final of rolland garros to lose badly to a superhuman pumped up machine that will continue to dominate clay for the next decade.

Focus on Wimbledon, Olympics and USO, and all back for AO next year, those events he actually has a shot at winning ...

whiterebel · 15-04-2021 3:51pm

gmisk wrote: »

I saw that.
Djokovic must have had a shocker, is Dan Evans not also generally terrible on clay? I think he has only won a couple of matches on it in last few years!

Evans played quite well, but ND hit 45 UEs. Evans served and volleyed and used the defensive slice and drop shots a good bit. The joys of practicing with Fed I think.

yerwanthere123 · 15-04-2021 4:16pm

Well done Dan :cool:

Hector Savage · 15-04-2021 4:53pm

Meanwhile Nadal double breadsticked Dmitrov , christ this guy will be winning the French Open when he's 60 - I'm not even exaggerating.

camz09 · 16-04-2021 12:22pm

And ze Brits at The Tennis Podcast just collectively ejaculated with that Evans win....

gmisk · 16-04-2021 2:47pm

Dan evans with another big win in 3 sets against Goffin

yerwanthere123 · 16-04-2021 7:28pm

Rublev get his first win over Nadal, and on clay too. Means nothing in terms of RG obviously, but I'm sure Rublev will take it all the same.

Quite the surprising SF lineup in Monte Carlo this week. Dan Evans beating Hurkacz, Djokovic and now Goffin today. Ruud also having a good run, taking out Schwartzman, Carreno Busta and Fognini.

walshb · 17-04-2021 10:23am

Hector Savage wrote: »

Meanwhile Nadal double breadsticked Dmitrov , christ this guy will be winning the French Open when he's 60 - I'm not even exaggerating.

He won’t win FO again!

walshb · 17-04-2021 10:47am

Fun fact

2000 - 2021 slams:

19 players have shared the 85 slams..

58 of the 85 owned by the big three!!!

whiterebel · 18-04-2021 2:09pm

Tsitsipas off to a flying start to 3-0.4-2 now, but Rublev not at the races yet

yerwanthere123 · 18-04-2021 2:56pm

First masters for Tsitsipas. Would've preferred Rublev to win though. Nadal still favourite for RG methinks.

whiterebel · 18-04-2021 8:38pm

Fed to play Geneva and the FO

TomSweeney · 21-04-2021 12:03pm

Nadal

Hector Savage · 23-04-2021 5:34pm

walshb wrote: »

He won’t win FO again!

:D:D:D:D:D

That statement might be true after the FO 2024 ...

Sheridan81 · 24-04-2021 2:11pm

Alcaraz, Sinner and Musetti are the future of tennis.

whiterebel · 24-04-2021 3:17pm

Sheridan81 wrote: »

Alcaraz, Sinner and Musetti are the future of tennis.

Hard to disagree. Add Rublev and Tsitispas too, i think.

Hector Savage · 25-04-2021 6:53pm

I see Nadal saved a match point and about 50 break points to robbing another title.

What a disgrace to the game.

They may as well inscribe his name on the next 4 french opens

Hector Savage · 25-04-2021 6:55pm

TomSweeney wrote: »

Nadal

*xnip snip ...

lostcat · 25-04-2021 11:12pm

Hector Savage wrote: »

Can see the f*cking syringe there next to the filthy cheat

Hector you should know better. mod alert

lostcat · 25-04-2021 11:17pm

Nadal not bulldozing everyone this week, but he will have played himself into sufficient form in a few weeks to be in pole for the FO.
Tsitispas was pretty good today, until he was faced with the prospect of actually winning it.

Hard to know where the field (par Nadal) is going to be come the FO, Thiem is not playing much, Djokovic is all over the place, that second final spot is really up for grabs.

yerwanthere123 · 25-04-2021 11:27pm

lostcat wrote: »

Nadal not bulldozing everyone this week, but he will have played himself into sufficient form in a few weeks to be in pole for the FO.
Tsitispas was pretty good today, until he was faced with the prospect of actually winning it.

Hard to know where the field (par Nadal) is going to be come the FO, Thiem is not playing much, Djokovic is all over the place, that second final spot is really up for grabs.

I imagine come Paris Djokovic will have righted the ship, I can't see past a Djokovic-Nadal final. I'd be pretty happy with a repeat of what happened the last time tbh! Would love Thiem to be a factor but he seems a bit mentally shot at the moment, there was some interview doing the rounds on Twitter earlier this week that didn't bode well for the weeks ahead.

I'm struggling with tennis overall at the moment tbh, I guess it's the lack of crowds. It didn't bother me at the US Open last year for some reason but the regular events just feel dead. Stuttgart behind closed doors was just miserable. At least for RG we should have some few fans in attendance, and Wimbledon should have a decent atmosphere also.

Hector Savage · 26-04-2021 8:41am

Pro's should just skip the clay season as it's pointless competing against Nadal, he will always be there ... always always always ...

looking ahead to grass already..

dominatinMC · 26-04-2021 9:34am

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

I imagine come Paris Djokovic will have righted the ship, I can't see past a Djokovic-Nadal final. I'd be pretty happy with a repeat of what happened the last time tbh! Would love Thiem to be a factor but he seems a bit mentally shot at the moment, there was some interview doing the rounds on Twitter earlier this week that didn't bode well for the weeks ahead.

I'm struggling with tennis overall at the moment tbh, I guess it's the lack of crowds. It didn't bother me at the US Open last year for some reason but the regular events just feel dead. Stuttgart behind closed doors was just miserable. At least for RG we should have some few fans in attendance, and Wimbledon should have a decent atmosphere also.

Don't see Djokovic making the final. I think that, despite making the FO final last year and winning the Italian Open, he has actually regressed on clay. Tsitsipas and Thiem (if okay) will pose much more of a challenge.

I know what you mean regarding the crowds, sport in general is a duller spectacle without them. But Barcelona looked to be operating close to full capacity, which was a sight to behold, really added to the tournament I felt.

yerwanthere123 · 02-05-2021 3:21pm

Gonna be interesting to see how Osaka makes the improvements she needs to become a factor on clay. So far she's actually doing worse than her last clay season back in 2019. Has slight echoes of Serena and Venus' earlier career, never played clay as a junior and consequently didn't fare well initially on the surface as a senior.

What I don't understand though is how Osaka isn't great on grass either, I'd have thought it suits her game well. I guess it must be to do with the grass being significantly slower than it used to be.

yerwanthere123 · 05-05-2021 4:24pm

Well at least there wasn't any bagels! Alcaraz wins just three games against Nadal on his 18th birthday. The potential is clear to see though, should be interesting seeing how he progresses over the years. Potential Nadal-Sinner 3rd round looming, but Sinner currently down a set and a break to Popyrin.

Badosa having a nice little run in Madrid, first ever Spanish woman to make the SF's. Has Barty up next, who she's already beaten on clay this year.

whiterebel · 07-05-2021 4:25pm

Zverev takes out Nadal in the QF 6-4, 6-4. Nadal looked ok in the early part, but then couldn't hit a ball after the first set. Very strange performance.

yerwanthere123 · 07-05-2021 4:29pm

Only caught the tail end of it but saw Nadal spraying a few wild UE's. I'm sure he'll be grand next week and in Paris.

lostcat · 10-05-2021 7:52pm

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

Only caught the tail end of it but saw Nadal spraying a few wild UE's. I'm sure he'll be grand next week and in Paris.

He will be probably be grand, but he hasn't had such a poor clay court prep in I don't know how long. It may not overly impact his playing level at the French, but he has dropped to no 3 in the rankings, meaning he might end up in the same half of the draw as both Thiem and Djokovic. While I don't think either (or anyone else) would beat him in a final, maybe the possibilities are somewhat more open in a quarter or a semi?
If he loses early again this week, a few eyebrows will be raised, he generally used these tournaments as a springboard. At the same time, I won't be putting money on anyone else....

yerwanthere123 · 10-05-2021 8:18pm

Ooh I hadn't thought about the fact he could play both Djokovic and Thiem before the final. Even if he lost in the first round of Rome and got the worst possible draw in Paris he'd still be my pick for the title. Time will tell I guess.

Surprised nobody commented on the Madrid final yesterday, thoroughly engrossing match. Would've preferred Berrettini to win but at least he'd a good week. Great win for Sabalenka too, that's a rivalry that's ripening nicely. Surely she's on course to finally reach a grand slam QF?

TomSweeney · 14-05-2021 8:34am

Nadal is guaranteed to win the French Open - I would say at a minimum 3 more.

TomSweeney · 14-05-2021 9:06am

https://twitter.com/Carretero77/status/1392411245748310017?s=20

ah beautiful!!!

Rob2D · 14-05-2021 10:31am

TomSweeney wrote: »

https://twitter.com/Carretero77/status/1392411245748310017?s=20

ah beautiful!!!

Dude stole my serve technique! :pac:

whiterebel · 14-05-2021 11:01am

Nadal starting to look a bit shaky on clay. Shapovalov had him on toast yesterday and blew it. Someone should tell Nadal to cop on with his time wasting tactics though. Regular occurrence now to put the hand up because he's not ready. Giving out to the umpire that they have to get their own towels......yeah, a good while now Rafa. So does everyone else.

2021 In Between Grand Slam Thread

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