2021 US Open

Itssoeasy · 13-09-2021 5:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117885963#Comment_117885963

I know.

13-09-2021 6:13pm

Raducanu making some waves in China also.

Apparently she can speak fluent Mandarin (see tweet)

Can't see her representing China at the next Olympics tho 😎

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-58541314

https://twitter.com/CGTNSportsScene/status/1436932312176873472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1436932312176873472%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walesonline.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fother-sport%2Ftennis%2Femma-raducanu-video-shows-speak-21552545

Girly Gal · 13-09-2021 7:20pm

Well done to Medvedev, didn't think he would do it, but, fair play to him and won surprisingly easily too. While it's disappointing for Djokovic, it is a good result for men's tennis overall. It was becoming too predictable over the last few years, at GS level outside of Nadal on clay there wasn't anyone really challenging Djokovic, this is the first GS we've seen first Zverev and then Medvedev really stand up to Djokovic. Medvedev probably owes Zverev for pushing Djokovic in the semi final too.

Looking to next year Medvedev and Zverev too can be seen as genuine challengers to Djokovic now, other players will also gain confidence and belief from this weekend. Djokovic's aura of invincibility at GS level has now been dented somewhat, it'll be interesting to see how he reacts. He will still be a serious contender at all 4 slams, especially AO and Wimbledon(where he'll be strong favourite).

For Djokovic it's certainly not the end, but, the manner of his defeat last night will be of some concern to him, when he looked for answers he came up with very little, a lot of that is down to how well Medvedev played of course. We'll never really know how much his exertions at the Olympics took out of him and if he fully recovered from them, also the pressure of the calendar slam seemed to affect him at the USO, we're so used to him pulling through the slams regardless of circumstances that I expected him to find a way again.

Last night's result certainly sets up an interesting 2022.

Hector Savage · 13-09-2021 8:57pm

I am already dreading watching Wimbledon on the BBC next year - can you imagine the constant **** over Raducanu ? :D

13-09-2021 9:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117886849#Comment_117886849

Maybe it would be some craic if she declared for China after all 😂?

AllForIt · 13-09-2021 9:57pm

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.

AllForIt · 13-09-2021 9:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117885901#Comment_117885901

Yeah all that kind of stuff is insufferable. You can't get away from policies in any area of life these day, and it's not just on Twitter, alas.

Itssoeasy · 13-09-2021 10:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117886849#Comment_117886849

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.

13-09-2021 10:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117887161#Comment_117887161

I think that you're projecting a bit there.

Djokovic was certainly done yesterday but he's not done done.

Medvedev is most likely the next world number one as Djokovic himself said but he himself is number one for now.

Saying that the world number 1 is done is madness.

If you want to put a bet on for any of the slams next year Djokovic is the comfortable favourite each of them aside from the French Open.

He plans on being around for the next Olympics in 2024.

klr87 · 13-09-2021 10:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117886199#Comment_117886199

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.

AllForIt · 13-09-2021 11:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117887442#Comment_117887442

You could be right, but I still think it was an odd thing to say on behalf of DM. Then again it could be the case that he was all over the place mentally after winning his first grand slam. His playing possum thing when he won was certainly a bit odd. I was worried he fractured a bone :D

If you want to put a bet on for any of the slams next year Djokovic is the comfortable favourite each of them aside from the French Open.

No I get that but I'm just taking everything into the equation. Many have said that Fed had it easy that led to his number of wins, but you could equally say Djokovic had it easy in recent years too. I'd totally agree with you that Djokovic has the will to recover from yesterdays defeat and rise again. The fun part is waiting to see what pans out.

Hector Savage · 14-09-2021 8:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117886937#Comment_117886937

I'd be her biggest fan !! :D :D :D

Hector Savage · 14-09-2021 8:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117887161#Comment_117887161

Nah no way, he meant it as genuine respect and a fact ... as it stands he is the GOAT, he beats Rafa and Federer on H2H and double career slam ...

sxt · 14-09-2021 7:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117887442#Comment_117887442

Yes I think that Djokovic will do well again next year. It is unbelievable how he can better every year compared to his rivals who are 10 + years younger and getting better every year also . I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't another level gear change in him

14-09-2021 9:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117891423#Comment_117891423

Probably when he was 25 he wouldn't have lost his legs at the final stage though, notwithstanding the fact that the last few rounds against tough opponents meant he had 5 extra hours over Medved en route.

lostcat · 15-09-2021 11:04am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117891423#Comment_117891423

he had a fairly poor year in terms of winning tournaments following each of his other 3-slam years so if past performace is a sign of future whatever, he probably wont be winning many next year. Or the year after, for that matter, if he is still playing at 36.

It's possible that he was half gassed coming into the US Open. Dropping sets to people he shouldn't be dropping sets to (expecially first sets) would indicate to me that he wasn't feeling fresh.

Girly Gal · 15-09-2021 4:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117892204#Comment_117892204

Would agree, think age was a factor, giving away best part of a decade to Medvedev, regardless of advances in sport science, age is still a big factor. At elite level sport a 25 year old should at the very least match a 34 year old, but most likely outlast them. Recovery also slows with age ( especially after a tough match).

A younger Djokovic most likely wouldn't have dropped all those sets on the way to the final, would recover better from the semi final and be fresher for the final, all those percentages add up, a fresher Djokovic ( both mentally and physically) would have performed better and the match would have taken on a different complexion.

Djokovic is far from done, but, getting to that age when his performances are likely to become less consistent than they have been.

Itssoeasy · 15-09-2021 4:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117895578#Comment_117895578

Well the bookmakers have him favourite for the Australian open in January although the same group of bookmakers have Naomi Osaka as favourite for the women’s crown when it’s not even clear she’ll be playing there.

yerwanthere123 · 15-09-2021 5:17pm

It's mad that some are trying to write off Djokovic or suggest this may be the beginning of the end in a year in which he won three of the four grand slams. He'll be the favourite at three (if not all four) of the grand slams next year. Had he won on Sunday we'd be questioning how many grand slams in a row he'll win!

Girly Gal · 15-09-2021 5:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117895623#Comment_117895623

As I said Djokovic is far from done, I expect him to win a few more, but, it'll get harder for him as he ages, slower to recover, not winning matches as easily as before, it all adds up, a percentage or two drop here or there make a significant difference overall, it's the cumulative effect throughout the tournament.

josip · 15-09-2021 5:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117895785#Comment_117895785

Agree, it does seem mad but I think this was the first time he was actually beaten, while fully fit, in a non-FO GS since his meltdown ?

I found this top 20 list interesting

https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/record?recordId=OldestGrandSlamChampion

15-09-2021 5:36pm

It's a misnomer all this "wouldn't have dropped sets" stuff

Players frequently drop sets going through grand-slams

Djokovic had far harder 1/4 final and semi-final opponents than Medvedev

That's what did the real damage

Two tough 3 and 1/2 hour matches in a row with long sets and long on-court rallies just before the final against the world number 4 and 7

And obviously the fact that he's older meant that he couldn't recover as well from these

josip · 15-09-2021 11:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117896071#Comment_117896071

Federer's peak years (victory-wise) seemed to be considerably younger than Djokovic and Nadal. He won nothing from 31-35, years when Djokovic added on 4 or 5 each.

Federer's 3 titles when he was 35/36 really stand out as an anomaly. Although they were as a direct result of Djokovic's crisis, only 1 other player in history was winning slams at that age.

Winning slams in your 30s is the exception rather than the norm, and Ken Rosewall aside, it's only the Big 3 who have done it.

Nadal is not the oldest Spaniard to have won a GS

Federer was borderline delusional if he thought he could win Wimbledon this year at almost 40 years of age.

Ken Rosewall and Federer's golden twilight aside, nobody north of 35 wins GS, so Djokovic and Nadal only have next year to add to their tally before things dry up.

It's one of the few tennis lists that Borg doesn't show up on, even down on page 5 :)

Girly Gal · 16-09-2021 6:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117897626#Comment_117897626

Winning a slam past the age of 35 is the exception, but, in Nadal and Djokovic you're talking about two all time greats. In Nadal's case if he can stay reasonably fit, he will still be a serious contender at the FO for another few years, likewise for Djokovic at Wimbledon. One thing in both their favours is that they don't have a younger potential all time great like themselves chasing them.

whiterebel · 17-09-2021 12:31pm

If ND hadn't got rid of his team and started listening to a loony he'd probably be on 25+ too. It was a big mistake by Fed, though.

17-09-2021 4:19pm

Djokovic fired his "team" in mid 2017 after not winning a slam in a year and losing to a relative nobody in the Australian Open in 2017 2nd round

Becker was already gone from 2016

It took him until the following year to win slams again because he had to get an elbow operation (missed US Open) but he has won 8 slams since - he has won more than half of all the slams held since the start of 2018

I'd say that that has worked out not too badly for him

It's actually the most successful 4 year period of his entire career for slams!

And he would have won Wimbledon last year if held and was en route to taking the US Open 2020

That would have made 10 of 16 slams

He hired back his main long-term (from a teenager) guy Vajda in 2018 anyways after only 1 year so it was not really a clear-out at all in the end as the long-term principal guy was brought back in

So effectively he only changed his fitness coach and physio

Ivanisevic came in in 2019

2021 US Open

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