2021 In Between Grand Slam Thread

josip · 06-08-2021 10:33am

Even before Federer returned, most/all of us were thinking it was very ambitious/optimistic at his age and given the nature of the operation.

Getting to the quarter finals of Wimbledon and the fourth round of the FO wasn't that bad a return given his lack of match practice.

I think if he can make the 2nd week of the US Open he should be happy with that and call it a day.

lostcat · 09-08-2021 11:10am

Nadal drops out of the top 3 for the first time in 4 years, Tsitsipas enters the top 3 for the first time...Federer turns 40....

someone should write a folk song maybe...

09-08-2021 4:57pm

Sinner becomes youngest ever ATP 500 winner (since category was created in 2009) by taking the Citi Open

It seemed like he had gone off the boil a bit (even though he got to the Miami final earlier in the year)

Still has no real record to speak of in terms of beating current Top 10 players - will have to show that next.

And it was not exactly a stacked field at this event

He's up to number 15 himself now

yerwanthere123 · 15-08-2021 7:46pm

Oh wow, Federer needs more knee surgery and is out of the US Open. I think that's pretty much the death knell for his career tbh.

whiterebel · 15-08-2021 8:56pm

Farewell at Halle and Wimbledon next year then, maybe the US.

yerwanthere123 · 15-08-2021 9:06pm

Camila Giorgi continues her decent form from the Olympics by winning the Rogers Cup. Weird to see her like, constructing points and stuff. Has she finally learned at the age of almost 30 that just slapping the ball back and hoping for the best probably isn't the best way to play?

klr87 · 15-08-2021 10:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117759281#Comment_117759281

Apparently she has been told to play more conservatively and constructively*. She's always had a great record against top players for someone with a much lower ranking, implying her ranking ought to be a good deal higher. That's 3 wins over Pliskova in the last 2 months or so. I'm not sure what was the deal with all the lipstick though.

*Whether she can play as well against someone who really varies the play a lot is another matter.

Girly Gal · 15-08-2021 10:37pm

Very hard to see Federer come back from this, sounds like it'll be next year at the earliest before he attempts a comeback, he'll be heading for 41 and only have played a handful of games in over 2 years. It's a sad way for a great player to end his career, but, it looks like we've probably seen the last of Federer, be very surprised if he doesn't announce his retirement in the next 6 to 9 months or so, but, he's probably holding out hope for a Wimbledon farewell.

Shark7 · 16-08-2021 12:55am

Be great to see Federer back

josip · 16-08-2021 10:21am

I can understand that Federer would like to play a farewell season.

I can understand that his fans would like to see him play one more time.

But let's be realistic, why would anyone expect it to be an improvement on this year?

Many of his fans said he shouldn't have tried to return this year and should have retired a few years ago, closer to the height of his powers.

Nobody took any enjoyment out of seeing him bageled at Wimbledon and I think that whatever participation he'll manage next year will only tarnish our memory of him.

Girly Gal · 16-08-2021 4:29pm

I reckon Federer had planned to retire in 2020, he was probably hoping to win Wimbledon 2020 and have a tilt at the Olympic singles Gold which eluded him throughout his career. If he had had a good Wimbledon and had won the Gold I think he'd have retired, he may even have retired if he'd beaten Djokovic at Wimbledon 19. Then in early 2020 the knee injuries hit and Covid came along, which actually gave him a chance to recover from his knee injuries, that clearly hasn't worked out and he's now back to square one, but, a year and a half older, knees crocked, an unsatisfactory end to Wimbledon for him and not able to even play the Olympics. Even though he's had a brilliant career he still probably feels theirs some unfinished business and can't admit that his career is over.

I think he should retire now, as he will never again be competitive at the top level, but, he has also earned the right to call time on his career whenever he likes, as have both Nadal and Djokovic.

yerwanthere123 · 16-08-2021 4:46pm

No way would Federer have retired if he won either Wimbledon 2019 or 2020 imo, why bow out and let Djokovic overtake you when you're still winning slams? He'll only go when it's patently obvious he can no longer contend at the top level any more, which is pretty much where he's arriving at now. Prediction for next year; he'll play Halle and retire after making the QF's of Wimbledon.

Girly Gal · 16-08-2021 5:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117762917#Comment_117762917

Had he won Wimbledon 2019 or 2020 (if it had gone ahead) or the Olympics 2020 ( had it gone ahead in 2020), he'd have been retiring at the top, on a high similar to how Sampras won the US Open and retired, it doesn't get better than that, winning your last Slam, last match of your career and none of your rivals ever having the opportunity to beat you again, instead he's stuck in a situation where he's no longer able to compete at the top level and when he is able to play is struggling against or losing to fairly average players, not exactly the dream finish to a career.

16-08-2021 7:11pm

Federer would have missed Wimbledon and Olympics 2020 as he was out of action (also with knee surgery - one after Melbourne and had to get a second one not planned)

Girly Gal · 16-08-2021 7:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117763536#Comment_117763536

I know that, I was just saying it was probably his original plan to retire in 2020, he was probably hoping to win Wimbledon or Olympics or at least go close to doing that as he did with Wimbledon 2019 to finish on a high, then the knee injuries and Covid came along to upset those plans and he tried to comeback this year, probably more in hope than anything else, but, as we saw he was no where near competitive as his body is no longer able for top level tennis and is only going to decline further. Time waits for no man.

josip · 16-08-2021 7:34pm

"...Time waits for no man"

And in classic Lord of the Rings style, Federer unties the pony tail to let it all hang down and announces, "I am no man".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrCvgiQGh1o

(Apologies for the digression)

Royale with Cheese · 16-08-2021 8:03pm

I guess if you take Djokovic out of the equation then Wimbledon is the most open of the slams currently given Medvedev and particularly Tsitsipas haven't shown much of a liking for grass thus far. I'd imagine Nadal will go all in for the French again and won't show too much of an interest in the grass court season. If Federer does play next year I'd imagine it will just be as a farewell though, if he made the quarters again he'd have to be happy with that. That's his call. I think he's earned the right to go out this way if he wants, it shouldn't diminish what he's achieved.

pjohnson · 17-08-2021 8:07am

Osaka at it again regarding interviews. Think she just needs to walk away, she can't hack it.

17-08-2021 10:41am

If there are sports psychologists why can't there be press conference psychologists?

Albeit a very niche market.

Maybe some perspective treatment could work - a week in Kabul?

Augme · 17-08-2021 11:55am

The world number two then left the press conference to compose herself, before returning, answering one further question in English and several in Japanese

But according to the resident Osaka experts we have here she can't speak any Japanese? Must be a mistake by the newspaper obviously.

https://m.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/tennis/naomi-osaka-breaks-down-in-tears-in-first-media-appearance-since-pulling-out-of-french-open-40760171.html

17-08-2021 12:40pm

“You’re not crazy about dealing with us, especially in this format, yet you have a lot of outside interests that are served by having a media platform,” Daugherty said. “I guess my question is, how do you balance the two, and also do you have anything you’d like to share with us about what you did say to Simone Biles?”

This set off the waterworks.

It's a crazy situation now where it's a big story about how any reporter asks her a question - whole articles about the "tone" of the question. I wonder how all of this started to get to this preposterous point.....

https://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/naomi-osaka-breaks-down-after-appalling-press-conference-question-as-agent-blasts-bully/news-story/4f443325278ef71380316dc8e8a6bb51

Re answering questions in Japanese haven't seen any footage of that.

She has said before that she can understand Japanese but only speaks it with family and friends?

She has in the past answered a few questions but the responses were very simplistic and broken.

July 2021 article here ->

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/yes-naomi-osaka-knows-japanese-221350847.html

"So much Japanese does Naomi speak? According to The New York Times, Naomi’s sister is almost fluent in Japanese, and while Naomi isn’t fluent yet, she understands most Japanese. She told the newspaper that she’s often too shy and too much of a perfectionist to speak Japanese in public, which is why at news conferences, she often responds to Japanese journalists’ questions in English. “I don’t know if you guys know this, but I can understand most Japanese, and I speak when I want to,” Naomi tweeted in 2018. “That applies to my family and friends.”

Sure I speak Russian myself but only on a 1950's black telephone.

Augme · 17-08-2021 5:56pm

As I said, obviously the newspaper report of her answering questions in Japanese was wrong as the boards experts know more.

Girly Gal · 17-08-2021 7:01pm

Tbh I think press conferences before or after most sports events are a waste of time, very little of value gets said, fine in the latter stages of major tournaments ( across all sports), but, a bit pointless in small, unimportant tournaments.

The primary focus of a tennis player should be their tennis. These days media has to be done and while I'd have sympathy for some players who don't like doing media, it's part of the job and has to be done, but, players can't complain about doing media on the one hand and then going on social media to promote their brand, you can't have it both ways. Osaka could easily have nipped this in the bud by doing the bare minimum media work like a lot of players do, but, instead she threw a hissy fit and has made a rod for her own back now, drawing attention to herself and now every bit of media she does is scrutinised.

17-08-2021 7:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117768170#Comment_117768170

Well it's certainly a new development

she hasn't lived in Japan since she was a toddler and obviously doesn't practice it much because her normal modus operandi is to answer questions posed to her in Japanese in English - this has been stated in many newspaper articles

you'll struggle to find any example of her speaking Japanese anywhere up to this date

maybe she has invested some of the lucrative Japanese sponsor money in a few private lessons - it's not as if she can't afford it.

the press conference is online (below) but the Japanese speaking part is not included in it.

I'm sure the "newspaper report" is correct but it's not online for some reason

with all the focus on her at the Olympics and lighting the flame but never speaking the host language in public maybe that spurred her to up her speaking Japanese game!

not that surprising I suppose as was more than a bit of a credibility point for her beforehand.

would actually be interesting to see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-ZJeaIKjKA

17-08-2021 10:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117768459#Comment_117768459

It's a preposterous situation at this stage - it's a bigger story now in terms of media coverage than her playing tennis.

She created it all to begin with and continues to make a big issue of it like the other day with the waterworks and walkout when asked / called out about having her cake and eating it too.

Augme · 18-08-2021 10:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117768497#Comment_117768497

Yes, I'm sure she learn a whole new language in the matter of a few weeks during the olympics.

18-08-2021 10:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770522#Comment_117770522

Don't be stupid.

She was an expert all along but chose not to ever ever reveal this superpower in public heretofore even when there was huge comment about this fact when she was lighting the Olympic flame for Japan.

Naoimi Osaka is just amazing in so many ways

Augme · 18-08-2021 10:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770584#Comment_117770584

Well you think she is amazing does explain your obsession with her alright.

18-08-2021 10:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770599#Comment_117770599

Amazing yes

So amazing

Doesn't even have to play tennis half the season these days on surfaces not to her taste but still in all the headlines

Amazing

Augme · 18-08-2021 1:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770612#Comment_117770612

She's in the headlines because it generates attention. Because people like yourself seem obsessed with her.

18-08-2021 1:17pm

about as obsessed as you with any comment I make on it 🤣 it seems

Osaka created the story and the media do simply what the media do

It was inevitable

She thought that she could have a la carte media but it doesn't work like that - she's not the sharpest tool in the box really as is pretty evident in her communication

yerwanthere123 · 18-08-2021 2:15pm

Thiem shuts down his season, not defending US Open or ATP finals points. What a disaster this year was for him.

Girly Gal · 18-08-2021 2:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117771664#Comment_117771664

You'd have to wonder is he ever likely to add to the US open win last year. Looked for a while to be best placed to challenge the old guard, but, could well be gone as a GS contender before them.

Augme · 18-08-2021 7:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117771277#Comment_117771277

I personally have no interest in disecting her media interviews or social life l. I only care about tennis performances on the court. It's a shame that isn't the case for everyone though.

josip · 18-08-2021 9:21pm

Open to correction, I never realised that most of the trophy replicas that the major tournament winners receive, also have all the names engraved on them.

I say most, because the AO replica doesn't seem to extend to the plinth, so doesn't have any names, unlike the Wimbledon replica which does include the plinth.

19-08-2021 4:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117765730#Comment_117765730

The ball is rolling back towards reality in the head and tone of a certain player it seems.

Quite the change indeed.

It was Covid's fault, can't remember exactly but "wonderings" are going on and Afghanistan events reality-check explicitly mentioned!

She's now grateful again to be a top female tennis player pulling in $50 million sponsorship per annum from Japan.

Maybe it was all a dream.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/tennis/2021/0819/1241624-osaka-felt-ungrateful-for-attitude-towards-tennis/

20-08-2021 10:05am

All of the big guns (except Berrettini (5) ) through to the men's quarters in Cincinnati.

A lot of points on offer to get closer to Djokovic at no.1 who won last year but not there to defend.

Medvedev and Tsitsipas leading the way.

Osaka out to the world number 76

yerwanthere123 · 20-08-2021 12:00pm

Oh dear, Nadal out of the US Open and the rest of the season with the foot injury. Djokovic-Medvedev final then?

Royale with Cheese · 20-08-2021 12:54pm

Aged 35 now, the beginning of the end for Nadal?

Girly Gal · 20-08-2021 6:10pm

Looks like the end of an era, Nadal and Federer missing large chunks of the tour, Federer more or less gone already (might make a Wimbledon farewell next year) and Nadal is playing less and less outside the clay court season.

Djokovic still looks like he'll be around a few years yet, but, also at an age where injuries will be more difficult to comeback from and age will start to catch up with him, he's not going to improve at this stage of his career (doesn't need to), just try to maintain his level (which is still higher than his challengers) for as long as he can.

lostcat · 20-08-2021 6:48pm

This year is beginning to feel like a wake. With Nadals withdrawal it has (finally) forcibly dawned on me that the big 3 really are almost finished (if Federer and Nadal actually come back at all.. )

I was really looking forward to one last hurrah with a Nadal/Djokovic US Open final for 'first to 21'...(maybe with Federer caught on camera in the crowd or something..🙄)

I don't especially care which of the three ends up on with the most slams and the GOATsh#t stuff. I was invested in them as a group, tethered together in a decade long, 60-act play of excellence, drama, bloodymindedness and supreme tennis. That's over, folks.

Djokovic / Nadal at the French is probably the last meaningful epic we will see for a long long time. Zverev/Tsisipas/Medvedev can't lay a glove on it....getting a bit depressed now 😐️

yerwanthere123 · 20-08-2021 6:51pm

I've never been fans of any of the big three and was looking forward to whenever they'd be out of the game. I always assumed that the game would move on and someone else would be able to take over. Not be as good as them obviously, but good enough to prop up the sport in their absence. Doesn't look like it's gonna happen any time soon though unfortunately, it does look a bit ominous for when they retire.

20-08-2021 11:31pm

Nadal's style is obviously very attritional on the body but he will be back.

He's too dogged not to come back.

But he has a lot of miles on the clock.

Medvedev looking in very good form on the hard courts.

Disposed of Carreño in very short order.

Djokovic taking a month out from playing until the US Open since the Olympics.

He will be hoping for a favourable early draw.

Gave up a lot of ATP points by skipping big tournaments that he won last year also but probably not too focused on the the ranking right now and assuming a deep run at the US Open he will gain there in any case as awarded 0 points last year.

Girly Gal · 21-08-2021 10:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117783134#Comment_117783134

Can't see Medvedev beating Djokovic at the USO, he was on a good winning streak going into the AO final and was soundly beaten, reckon the same would happen if they meet in USO, not sure Medvedev will ever win a slam. I think once Djokovic gets over the first few rounds he'll be very hard to beat, seems he's more vulnerable in the earlier rounds before he's fully up and running.

I think Zverev has the game to trouble Djokovic the most and should take confidence from his Olympic games win, but, he's so flaky even within matches, I wouldn't be all that confident he'll even get as far as Djokovic as he's always liable to a shock defeat. Tsitsipas has a poor record at the USO, so don't see him as a serious contender and hard to see where else a challenge can come from, possibly Berrettini, but, again wouldn't see him as a serious threat.

Would have been more interesting if a fit Nadal was there as he'd probably be the biggest obstacle to Djokovic's calendar slam and would have been great to see them go again at it (would still expect Djokovic to come out on top there).

Royale with Cheese · 21-08-2021 11:37am

Medvedev to never win a slam? Not sure I'd agree with that.

Girly Gal · 21-08-2021 12:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117784091#Comment_117784091

He's 25, and only made a couple of slam finals, he's not going to win a FO or Wimbledon, so only USO an AO are his likely chances to win and until Djokovic slps he's unlikely to beat him in a slam, also it hasn't been Djokovic or Nadal that's stopped him reaching slam finals, he's been losing to fairly ordinary players. Of course his chances will improve when Djokovic does drop his level, but, I still wouldn't be that confident of him winning a slam

21-08-2021 3:46pm

Medvedev is second favourite for the US Open with the bookies and the bookies know their sports very well

He actually has a decent record against Djokovic on the hard courts outside that time they met in Australia

21-08-2021 11:59pm

Rublev takes out Medved in Cincinnati

22-08-2021 12:59am

Zverev and Tsitsipas don't like each other lol

Tsits went off to the jacks after the first set with all his bags / stuff

Did the same thing at RG to Zverev after down 2 sets

Zverev gave out to umpire vocally who stamped down on Tsits at end of second set when he was going to do it again - was told he would be given code violations so didn't move!

Tsitsipas break ahead third now

22-08-2021 1:36am

wow - belter of a match

Tsits up 2 breaks in the third and had another break point to go to 5-1

Looked all over

Zverev looked ill, called a doctor and eventually barfed off court

Then somehow rallied back to level it at 5 apiece

He's served to go 6-5 ahead now

2021 In Between Grand Slam Thread

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