2021 US Open

The way the American fans stand up an clap, the men, is just weird. Just the way they do it. Kinda reminds me of these types: https://youtu.be/EffPnse4WQs?t=38

Medvedev isn't really an aggressive player and Djokovic was poor enough tonight that he didn't have be. He played well enough to win however which is the main thing, he is mentally a bit ahead of Tsitsipas and Zverev at the moment.

Well Done Daniil Medvedev

He's far from finished but his era of complete domination might be coming to an end alright. I'd still fancy him to pick up a few more, on paper he has little competition at Wimbledon next year anyway.

Zverev biggest problem has been his flakiness and we saw in the US open that hasn't changed 5 setters vs 3 are a much different beast.

Medvedev definitely has the game but you also sense they'll.be a lull from winning his first GS. The young pretenders really haven't shown anything as GS level to make me thing they could beat Novak.

Given his age, it's Novak's route in GS is what will decide his outcome. In a one off 5 setter Novak is still a cut above everyone else. But if you throw in a lot of 4 setters and one big 5 setter on route then it's a different beast. I think how he realises that and adapts will be interesting.

Future routes to a final key to Djokovic winning more slams.

Medvedev had a pretty easy route to this final, his side of the draw fell apart once Tsitsipas lost to Alcaraz and then Alcaraz got injured. He still of course got his business done without dropping many sets.  He doesn't appear to warm to grass or clay which may limit his overall slam total, but he looks good for 3 or 4 more hard court slams at least.

Djokovics side of the draw played to its seedings (until the final of course). I read that that this US Open was the most sets he had lost on route to a final all year and his legs finally went (maybe partly down to nerves/stress too, but part of it was undoubtably physical).

He is sinking back ot the level of the rest of the field and will lose more sets earlier in slams as a result. As he drops down a few ranking places he will get trickier matches earlier. The accumulation will start to tell.

Screw that Hector 🙂

I thought when DM said of ND that he's the best player ever in this victory speech - that's like an indirect self compliment to say when you've just beaten 'the best ever'. And it was also like saying - your're done now.

Well it’s always bad when any British player male or female shows any kind of promise and after the way she went out this year, there was going be this redemption storyline that the BBC would flog because that’s what they do, and if you’ve watched enough Wimbledon tournaments on TV over the years they can’t wait to ramp it up. The difference is unlike most a British player has actually done what they normally expect will happen. And it helps she seems very likeable.

It's a pity that the Chinese swing has been cancelled again this Autumn because of Covid, but I don't think she's got too much to complain about right now. She was originally supposed to be playing qualifiers over the weekend for the WTA 250 indoor tournament in Luxembourg this week. I don't think she'll ever be playing qualifying again.

As for the hype at Wimbledon next year (... and the year after, and ... etc.), she needs to have a chat with Andy Murray sometime.