Australian Open 2022

If you begrudge women getting the same prize money as men (and clearly you do), why not take that line of argument to its logical conclusion? Why does Federer (or Rafa, etc.) get exactly the same prize money for winning a first round evening prime time match on the main show court, as does the winner between (say) the world #94 and a qualifier played first match up in the morning on some godforsaken outer court with about 20 people watching? Or if it's Emma Raducanu playing on Centre Court at Wimbledon, surely she should be getting paid more (perhaps way more) than almost everyone else on that day's order of play, regardless of gender, or the format they're playing, or how long or competitive or their match actually is?

FWIW, I'm a man.

That’s hardly the logical conclusion. The prize pot for each section is determined by level of interest and is distributed based on progression.

But the logical conclusion of the state of affairs you defend is that doubles, wheelchair, etc, deserve equal pay too.

I’m pretty sure that’s not the case. If women tried to play 5 sets you’d have players unable to continue due to cramp and possibly even players vomiting on court.

There is no chance any athlete conditioned to play on average 90 minute matches could suddenly start playing 3 to 4 hour 5 setters.

The fitness would come over time. Sure you see it in the men's game especially when players come onto the tour. It takes time to build up the stanima to play 5 setters. I always see the 5 setters like marathons that till you play a couple players will struggle till they get use to playing them. This is why the likes of elder pros on the tour would have an advantage over the younger pros when it came to the slams.

I really liked Medvedev until yesterday’s outburst at the umpire. I thought it was really shocking and am surprised there hasn’t been more of an outcry over it. To abuse an official like that who has no option but to sit there and take it in front of the world. I think he should have been disqualified. Novak accidentally hitting the line judge was minor in comparison. Also imagine the reaction it had been Kyrgyios who had behaved like that. It was really disgusting.

As much as it pains me to say it as I believe he’ll surpass both Nadal and Federer as the GOAT he did himself no favours here. All he had to do was get jabbed, end of.

As for the crowd having played the game since I was a young fella the one thing that goes against tennis is it’s up it’s own hole’ness.

An interested and engaged crowd is exactly what the game needs. It needs people not to think it’s boring old tennis that’s only for elite snobs.

Same with golf.

Let people have fun, cheer, boo, etc.. let the game blossom into something other than an old foggey game full of snobs.

I’ve played for years as well and I don’t recognize your description. I have no idea how you can say it’s full of snobs.It’s very difficult to play when there’s a load of noise. I don’t think booing is considered good form in any sport.

Yeah I like Medvedev but he definitely crossed the line there. When Serena had her melt down in the US Open final and then played the men do this all the time card (and the tennis world suddenly faced an influx of opinion from people who'd barely ever watched a match) I thought absolutely they do not, I had never seen any player male or female talk to an umpire like she did that night. Medvedev absolutely screaming at the umpire would be up there with it though.

I agree Nadal definitely has to win the first set to have any chance, all those injuries and age are catching up with him now, in his prime he could match any opponent for stamina (Djokovic possibly only exception), so was happy playing long points and wearing down his opponent, he has had to adapt his game in the last few years to shorten points as he can no longer rely on outlasting his opponent.

Medvedev really should win, but, it's definitely not beyond Nadal to do it. Also if Medvedev does win it would be the first time in open history that a male first time slam winner would follow up by winning the next slam.

Medvedev playing a great game at the moment. I think he had this match he moving Nadal around the court, practically doing to Nadal what nadal has done to many opponents. Think Medvedev is going to be man who will domininate the sport.