Australian Open 2022

20-01-2022 07:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118507568#Comment_118507568

Completely correct re Stephens but elusive does not mean exclusive of.

1 win from 5 WTA 100 opponents since last September does mean that those wins have proved elusive (difficult to achieve)

Also had another loss to a player outside the Top 100

poppy37 · 20-01-2022 07:57PM

i think Tauson is the real deal, her mobility is the only real issue, her serve is improving all the time and her conditioning will get better. She has been under the radar, playing 125’s and 250’s as she has received no wild cards worth talking about and she beat Radacanu in a final last season. I find Radacanu’s game very bland and even if she had pulled out the win today she would most likely have withdrawn anyway.

HeidiHeidi · 21-01-2022 12:55AM

Just watching the highlights of the Kyrgios Medvedev match - Kyrgios looked properly bollixed by the end of it (by the end of the 3rd set even).

Wonder what he'd be capable of if he took his fitness as seriously as he takes the antics?

21-01-2022 01:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118509634#Comment_118509634

he's a part-timer at this point.

the odds of him changing his ways at nearly 27 are very very slim

For every Kyrgios, Tomic or Gulbis who waste raw talent you'll have a Davydenko (aside from the one time the Russian mafia forced him to throw a match) and a Diego Schwartzman who get more out of a tennis career than their raw talent would justify on paper

HeidiHeidi · 21-01-2022 01:37AM

Azarenka running Svitolina absolutely ragged around the place here.

She'll be dead by the end of this match if this pace keeps up!

HeidiHeidi · 21-01-2022 01:45AM

Azarenka absolutely on fire - Svitolina in serious danger of a double bagel here 😱

HeidiHeidi · 21-01-2022 02:02AM

She's hauled herself back from the brink for the moment - but can she get it properly together in time?

HeidiHeidi · 21-01-2022 02:24AM

8 deuces in the final game, Azarenka had 6 match points saved on her serve, but got over the line in the end.

She's looking mighty impressive!

Itssoeasy · 21-01-2022 07:12AM

Carlos Alcaraz is two sets down and 3-3 in the third.

HeidiHeidi · 21-01-2022 07:23AM

He's got the break now, though! 5-4 up

HeidiHeidi · 21-01-2022 07:31AM

And he's taken the 3rd. Game on!

HeidiHeidi · 21-01-2022 08:42AM

2 sets all.

All happening in the 5th, Berrettini took a nasty ankle-turning fall, had the physio out but got back playing fairly quick. Then nearly decapitated Alcaraz three points later with a smash - seriously quick reactions on Alcaraz's part!!

Going with serve so far, 3-2 Berrettini....

HeidiHeidi · 21-01-2022 08:44AM

I see Korda is 2 sets and 3-2 down..... I'm sorry not to have got to see him playing if he can't turn that around, he's a gorgeous player.

21-01-2022 09:31AM

Alcaraz is out.

5th-set tie-break

Berrettini rallied well in the 5th set after letting a two-set lead slip

Alcaraz losing the 2 tie-breakers as Berrettini was pulling out the big serves when most needed

Higher FSP and FSPW crucial in the match

21-01-2022 11:39AM

Osaka is out

Had a match point on second serve and blasted a return wastefully out

Then lost the final-set tie-breaker

Royale with Cheese · 21-01-2022 11:41AM

She'll be very sad now.

☹️

poppy37 · 21-01-2022 12:09PM

Alcaraz is an absolute beast, great match, I was glad Berrettini scraped through though.

Delighted for Anisimova, she is such a clean ball striker with a fabulous backhand. Osaka will take a huge tumble down the rankings now, if she is serious about her tennis career she needs to knuckle down for Dubai/Doha/Miami/Indian Wells because once the clay and grass court seasons come around she’s goosed.

Barty very impressive against Giorgi. I must catch the highlights of Badosa/Kostyuk seemed like a great match.

Eurosport really annoying cutting off Osaka/Anisimova at 5 all in third set to show Nadal’s warm up.😡

whiterebel · 21-01-2022 12:09PM

Shame to see Alcaraz out so early. Berrettini got lucky that he didn't do more damage to the ankle. He seemed to defend much better as well, particularly in the face of Alcaraz' power. Commentators said Alcaraz came forward 32 times as well, which is good to see. Surprised at Korda going out early too.

Giorgi had 3 break points to go 4-3 against Barty from 4-1 and blew it to go 5-3 down.

yerwanthere123 · 21-01-2022 12:24PM

Delighted for Anisimova! Suspect Barty will be too much for her, but wouldn't rule her out either.

Osaka now outside the top 80. Decision time for her really, how much does she value her career? Is she willing to make an effort outside of slams and hard courts? Time will tell I guess.

Disappointed for Alcaraz, but he'll get his moment yet.

poppy37 · 21-01-2022 12:31PM

I would love to see Giorgi get a proper coach instead of her crazy father. She has so much talent but no game plan and her only tactic seems to be going for all out winners. Sadly it seems she will never change and I guess her approach did bring her her biggest title in Montreal last year. She is also almost back up to her highest ever ranking.

Royale with Cheese · 21-01-2022 12:32PM

Osaka's grand slam performance timeline is pretty weird, four wins and her next best result is two 4th rounds.

21-01-2022 01:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118511234#Comment_118511234

yet she has been the most consistent performer (by a long way) on the WTA over the last 4 seasons in terms of grand slam success!

Alcaraz's serve cost him again today - needs to be better there for all his superb talents

He actually came to the net proportionally far less today compared to previous rounds considering the amount of games over 5 sets

Berrettini seems to have improved both his bachand topspin and slice shots and he was pretty mobile for him from what I saw

His forehand was damaging and while he didn't serve a lot of aces, he won a lot of points on first serve

remember the only person to beat Berrettini in the slams all last year was ... Djokovic

HeidiHeidi · 22-01-2022 03:05AM

Cornet was a set and two breaks down 4-1 against Zidansek, but has hauled it back to 1 set all.

Via a spat with the umpire about a second serving delay warning, which she was NOT pleased about, and seems to have fired her right up.

Can she follow through in the 3rd?

Itssoeasy · 22-01-2022 03:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118515859#Comment_118515859

I know it’s a silly reason to root for someone but seeing as Alize cornet and I share a birthday I’m hoping she wins.

HeidiHeidi · 22-01-2022 04:06AM

That was a fabulous comeback by her!!

Considering the support teams in the stands were looking flaked out under towels, I do not know how they played nearly 3 hours in that heat!

Fair dues to her.

Fair dues also to Zidansek, she was the calmest player I've seen in ages - no grunting, or screeching, or histrionics whatsoever. Just got on with it. More of that, please!!

Happy Birthday, @Itssoeasy !

HeidiHeidi · 22-01-2022 04:11AM

Uh oh... wishing for calm and no histrionics..... and Sabalenka is on now.... might check out what's showing on the other channel!

HeidiHeidi · 22-01-2022 04:30AM

Too many red Nike outfits at this tournament. They're all like clones of each other.

Every time I see Sabalenka, I cannot believe she's not an Olympic swimmer!

whiterebel · 22-01-2022 08:50AM

Paire was very disciplined to take the 3rd set. Started coming to the net repeatedly and Stefanos couldn't handle it. Same in the 4th until Paire blew up on his serve, with new balls, and threw in 2 x df to lose. A very uncomfortable day for Tsitsipas who couldn’t cope with being rushed.

gmisk · 22-01-2022 10:41AM

Dan Evans absolutely tonked by Auger Aliassime. Fitness wise he looked terrific.

whiterebel · 22-01-2022 12:31PM

Cilic giving Rublev a lesson in the first set of this one. Rushing the net, tying him up with the serves, going for Rubble's second serves. All close in the second, 3-1 Cilic in the tie-break.

Australian Open 2022

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