Australian Open 2022

HeidiHeidi · 23-01-2022 06:57AM

Don't know which to be watching!!!

Think I'll switch to Shapo, and hope that the Nadal match just peters out (or lasts another 2 hours!)

NoviGlitzko · 23-01-2022 07:22AM

2 sets to Shapovalov!! Literally can't keep up my eyes open any more but hope he gets it done here.

Augme · 23-01-2022 07:24AM

Zverev looks done line kipper. Must be struggling badly with the heat. Kinda looks like he just wants to get out of there no matter what.

HeidiHeidi · 23-01-2022 07:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118519988#Comment_118519988

He really looks like he just wants it to be over. Or like he's absolutely bored out of his tree.

HeidiHeidi · 23-01-2022 07:33AM

Missed the end of the Mannarino match, 6-2 in the 3rd - what a shame it had to end like that.

But I'd say he'll never forget that first set and the tie break!!

Augme · 23-01-2022 07:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118519995#Comment_118519995

Yep, he's decided to take the express route to the exit door now too.

Augme · 23-01-2022 08:01AM

Shapavalov wins it in three. Pretty comfortable you'd have to say. Question marks about Zverev remain. Hard to see where he goes long term.

HeidiHeidi · 23-01-2022 08:18AM

Shapo/Nadal will be some humdinger of a match!

whiterebel · 23-01-2022 10:33AM

Zverev was so passive, it was like he didn’t want to be there. Commentators were struggling to find ways to describe him. Shap played well first set, and again the 3rd, but the double faults are a killer. He’s actually got a worse rate on double faults than Zverev, I think they said over the last year.

whiterebel · 23-01-2022 11:02AM

PCB isn’t holding back in the early games against Berrettini

whiterebel · 23-01-2022 11:36AM

Berrettini saves break point while serving for the set. Takes it 7-5.

yerwanthere123 · 23-01-2022 04:01PM

Watched Barty-Anisimova on record. Barty was tested at times but never really looked under any actual threat. Too many errors from Amanda also, and she'll be having nightmares about that missed smash tonight, but it wouldn't have made a difference anyway. Delighted to see Shapovalov took out Zverev, didn't see it happening so emphatically.

I do wonder if Djokovic's deportation is spurring Nadal on even more, giving him that extra bit of motivation? He's been afforded an incredibly rare opportunity, it's got to be on his mind. He won't have it easy, but he must be the favourite to get to the final from that top half. Will be interesting to see if he can take it all the way. Also, winning another AO at this stage of his career, and standing alone with 21 slams, would do far more for his legacy than winning yet another RG would.

poppy37 · 23-01-2022 04:08PM

I was disappointed to see Badosa lose but the tank was empty. Keys must be one of the most infuriating players around, it will be interesting to see how far she goes but equally she could fall apart in her next match.

I’m afraid it looks like Vika’s race is run, she’s a veteran of the tour now and like Kvitova it may be time to look ahead to a future without tennis.

I did not see that result coming for Zverev, shocking performance, Berrettini had a hard physical battle with Carreno Busta despite winning in straights and faces Monfils next.

End of the first week and it still looks good for Barty and Medvedev.

whiterebel · 23-01-2022 04:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118521204#Comment_118521204

I think its a big incentive for everyone. not only Nadal. All of a sudden your normal suspects like Shap, Gael, Paire seemed to see an opportunity that may not come around again. A lot of these players look more focussed than I've ever seen them as the draws open up.

Medvedev can take World No 1 if he wins, as well another slam.

Girly Gal · 23-01-2022 04:31PM

Hard to see Zverev winning a slam, he just doesn't seem to have the right mentality or drive when the going gets tough for him. He has all the tools to win one, just lacking mentally, I thought after beating Djokovic at the Olympics and pushing him hard at the USO that he had turned a corner. He had a great opportunity here to make the final with Djokovic out, but has blown it. Can't really remember him beating another top player at a slam, which is remarkable considering he's ranked number 3 and has made a slam final.

Rafa on the other hand just keeps going, the polar opposite to Zverev really, he could very well reach the final now, maybe even win number 21, which would be both remarkable and a poor reflection on the current crop of players. I don't think he'll win it, think he'll run out of steam, think Berrettini will make the final from this half of the draw and most likely play Medvedev in the final.

The women's is still fairly unpredictable, but, Barty seems to be sailing through, will go for a Barty v Halep final with Halep winning (watch her get knocked out in next round now 😂)

yerwanthere123 · 23-01-2022 06:15PM

Here's a Zverev stat for you 👀

https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast/status/1485151132204863488

Didn't realise he still hasn't beaten a top ten player, was sure that had changed inside the last year or so.

23-01-2022 07:30PM

Poor from Zverev and he said it himself that he didn't deserve to go any further here

Nadal unlikely to have a significant chance of winning unless Medvedev has a mishap I think

Medvedev should have beaten Nadal at the US Open in 2019 which was a surface that suited Nadal more (and more than the AO) at the time and Medvedev wasn't the player then that he is now

Wouldn't totally count out Shapo against Nadal as he has a difficult serve to deal with when firing but they are both lefties so doesn't have that advantage that worked well against Zverev, particularly playing the backhand cross court to Zverev's forehand with the one-handed angle heading out very wide off-court

They haven't played each other on an outdoor hard court since 2017

whiterebel · 23-01-2022 07:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118521855#Comment_118521855

And a Shap one; first win against a top 5 since 2017 v Nadal, apparently.

23-01-2022 10:12PM

The Australian Open say they are concerned for Peng Shuai but more concerned about their big Chinese drinks sponsor it seems.

In other Slam-related news Djokovic is back in the French open on news out just today on France's updated rules

No doubt some quite miserable bastards will be even more miserable now this but hey ho, onwards and upwards

In for the French and Wimbledon as it stands, even if he does not go down the vaccine route.

Under the European country’s new rules, vaccine passports can also be used by people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past six months, and since the Serbian returned a positive PCR in December, he will be able to travel to the country unvaccinated until June, which works out perfectly for the 34-year-old as the French Open kicks off on May 22.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/novak-djokovic-news-world-no-143000169.html

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/23/tennis-australia-says-peng-shuais-safety-its-primary-concern-despite-banning-t-shirtssupporting-chinese-player

hamburgham · 23-01-2022 11:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118522999#Comment_118522999

Funnily enough Raducanu who was keen to capitalise on her Chinese heritage silent hasn’t said a word about Peng Shuai. I’m sure she under strict orders from her management to say nothing.

23-01-2022 11:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118523266#Comment_118523266

True, she was really making so many noises about China and how she loved Li Na etc that it was obvious that there was a conscious positioning there and hoping for an Osaka-Japan scenario sponsorship bonanza with a way bigger market.

The Chinese are quite insular and racist tho so I don't see that working out the same way, at all.

Not a squeak about Peng Shuai though - correct on that.

There is no guarantee that Raducanu will win anything big ever again tho so all "commercial options" being taken very seriously and "protected" I would say.

hamburgham · 23-01-2022 11:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118523331#Comment_118523331

I’d love if she was asked about it in a press conference.

HeidiHeidi · 24-01-2022 11:50AM

Oooh, commentators on the Tsitsipas match just now said that Netflix are doing a F1-type series on tennis. Wimbledon (surprisingly, IMO) have said yes to them as well.

Hadn't heard that, will very much look forward to it!!

whiterebel · 24-01-2022 12:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118524599#Comment_118524599

I had heard it was in the making, and they referred to a player in the earlier rounds being followed last week - might have been Tsitsipas?

HeidiHeidi · 24-01-2022 12:07PM

Tsitsipas, Fritz, Sabalenka are the names they mentioned today. And maybe one other but I can't remember!

Filming has started with the AO, so I presume it won't be out for a while - or maybe they'll do it in tournament chunks like F1 was done for each race. Don't know if it's just the four Slams, or other smaller tournaments are included.

Tennis doesn't divide up as easily/evenly as F1 though.....

Anyway, something to look forward to!

bertiebomber · 24-01-2022 12:26PM

Great news Novak can play in the french open.

HeidiHeidi · 24-01-2022 12:37PM

Tsitsipas having to work very hard to keep himself in the 3rd set.... and Fritz has his serve to take it after.

whiterebel · 24-01-2022 12:38PM

Tsitsipas looks like his nerve is completely gone at times

HeidiHeidi · 24-01-2022 01:19PM

And now Tsitsipas serving for the 4th set.....

Talk about up and down (and up and down)!!

HeidiHeidi · 24-01-2022 01:23PM

2 sets all

Tsitsipas has woken up again!

Australian Open 2022

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