2022 WTA Tour
2022 ATP Tour
Qualies action should begin tomorrow (December 31st) so time to get the thread underway.
Here's to hoping we'll see some great tennis/storylines this year.
In Dubai, Swiatek has beaten Sabalenka 6-2 6-3. Sabalenka was 3-0 up in the second, but Swiatek won the last 6 games.
The semis are Kontaveit vs Ostapenko, and Sakkari vs Swiatek.
EDIT: I keep referring to Dubai instead of Doha. I always get these two mixed up. Not only are they played back to back on the WTA tour, they also swap tournament grades back and forth every two years (WTA 500 and WTA 1000).
Hahahah Novak
Vesely takes down Shapo in an entertaining match in Dubai
Shapo was serving for the match in both the 2nd and 3rd sets but Vesely was like a cockroach that wouldn't die
The guy is built more like a heavyweight boxer or a second-row rugby forward than a tennis player.
Does not look like a tennis player at all. Must be prone to injuries.
Has a pretty unique short backswing shot that he can pull out on either side at times when the ball is close to him and get quite a lot of pace on it and obviously due to the short backswing hit it quickly - caught out both Shapo and Djokovic at times
Having the run of his life here has as has never made a final of an ATP 500 before - big boost up the rankings with 300 ATP points even if loses to Rublev
Cilic, Buatista-Agut, Djokovic, Shapovalov -> pretty impressive and tough path to the final.
Some really terrible line calling in Dubai at times by the line judges - it's just a waste of time as Hawkeye showed during the pandemic when they were removed for a lot of tournaments
Having worked over there a couple of times on short projects every company / organisation has to give a certain number of roles to the "locals" - who are usually really incompetent or actually in some cases are just expected to do nothing as they would only do harm!
A second ATP final in a row for Cameron norrie beating Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4. 8 wins a row now.
Nadal in final.
Nadal takes out the new World No1 6-3, 6-3.
The Doha final is just about to start: Kontaveit vs. Swiatek, Kontaveit beat Ostapenko 6-1 6-4. Ostapenko lost 7 games in a row after she thought she'd served an ace at 1-2 40-0, only for Hawkeye (after a long delay) to show it out. Maybe the last few weeks caught up with her? Actually, she should have made it 5-5 in the second, but Kontaveit had one of the luckiest netcords you will ever see at break point down.
Swiatek had never taken a set off Sakkari before, but won 6-4 6-3 despite being a break down in each set.
The Ostapenko match was wild yesterday. Ostapenko literally turned into an UE machine after that game point at 1-2 40-0 was correctly challenged by Kontaveit. Such a shame that Ostapenko couldn't break back to make it 5-5, think the momentum would have swung irreversibly in her favour. Hoping Swiatek can take the title today, looking good so far.
Bit disappointing to see both men's and womens finals on at the same time today 😏
I watched the highlights of the final...Nadal just that bit too good in final but Norrie put up a decent fight. 6-4, 6-4.
I see that many sports organisations are banning Russian teams and individuals from international events.
Is it different for Medvedev and Rublev? Do they compete as individuals in the ATP?
Bad month for Medvedev, first loses a grand slam final from a winning position, and just as he makes world number 1 and should be celebrating that achievement, he is facing a potential ban for something totally out of his control. It would be harsh on him and all the Russian players if they are banned as what's happening in Ukraine is totally out of their control and are all likely against it, but, would think tennis will follow the example of other sports and kick them off the tour until further notice if legally possible.
Announced today that Russia is banned from Davis/Fed cup but their players are still allowed compete on the tour and at grand slams, at least for now anyway.
Well I for one am happy with that ruling, punishing individual players because of their nationality just doesn't sit right with me. Yes I get the wider point and why it's done, but it's a bridge too far for me, particularly so in an individual sport like tennis where players are mostly representing themselves.
Not surprisingly Svitolina beat Potapova pretty easily, 6-2 6-1
Stakhovsky has signed up to defend Ukraine and swapped his racquet for a rifle.
https://twitter.com/bbc5live/status/1499308421505601537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1499308421505601537%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flive%2Fworld-europe-60582327
It’s very easy for all and sundry to call for the Russian and Belarusian players to denounce Putin and the war in Ukraine. We are privileged to live in a free, democratic country and can call out government every name under the sun without fear of consequences against us or our families. The Russian and Belarusian players have family that live in their home countries and are obviously fearful for their safety.
It’s a very difficult situation and I felt for Potapova in her match against Svitolina, there are no easy answers and life is going to be very difficult for players from Russia and Belarus for a long time to come.
Djokovic has announced he and coach Marian Vajda have mutually agreed to part ways. Ivanisevic to remain as the main coach. Not great news from Djokovic's point of view, its clear I think that Vajda has been a calming, sensible influence on that camp. its not a coincidence that during his only previous break from the team Djokovic went through his worst period results wise (2017). Vajda agreed to come back that time on condition that that guru bloke was shown the road. It will be interesting who, if anyone, he gets in as a replacement.
that had far more down to Djokovic's long-running elbow issues, eventual surgery and recovery to form after tbh
https://www.essentiallysports.com/it-took-me-probably-about-four-five-months-novak-djokovic-reveals-struggles-after-injury-return-atp-tennis-news/
But the reason it took him so long to get the surgery, (loosing the no 1 ranking in the process due in part to hampered performance playing with a gimpy elbow in 2016/17) was the influence that Pepe guy had on him with the 'hugs can heal you' stuff. Its possible Djokovic was coming round to this line of thinking anyway, but Pepe accelerated the process.
Pepes influence on Djokovics choices is large part of the reason Vajda left the first time (diet, liftstyle, etc), he couldn't be dealing with that crap. There's a reason he insisted that Pepe take a seat in the back row before he agreed to come back.
You can't and don't know what impact that guy had on Djokovic's decision on getting surgery and/or what the exact medical advice was and what risks were involved in the surgery.
He said in 2017
"I'm just going to talk with specialists, as I have done in the last year or so, try to figure out what's the best way to treat it and to solve it, to find a long-term solution."
"The specialists that I've talked with, they haven't been really too clear, mentioning also surgery, mentioning different options. Nobody was very clear in what needs to be done," Djokovic said. "Yeah, I guess the break is something that I will have to consider right now."
It's also a fact that Djokovic was also pretty rubbish for almost 6 months AFTER his surgery as the results show.
He was even considering not playing Wimbledon that year (even though he eventually won it).
Sure look, I know that the best coach Djokovic ever had left for the famous 'family reasons', and it is understood that Pepe/Guru was having a considerable influence on Djokovic's activities at that time. This was written about on tennis blogs and the like at the time.
however the leaving might be coincidence. The coach eventually comes back to steady the ship under the condition that Djokovic alters his diet somewhat (against Pepes wishes) and that Pepe takes a few steps back from tennis related matters. might be coincidence.
Regardless, a calm, steadying, extremely successful influence has left the camp, which is not good for Djokovics prospects.
Seems like it wasn't a crystal clear picture medically
Djokovic's biggest issue at the moment is actually playing enough competitive tennis I would say
As expected, Djokovic likely to be able to play Monte Carlo and FO.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/60607367
Not surprising with the current reality of the pandemic
Laver Cup tickets go on sale this morning, being played in London in September. Currently they're only selling tickets to the entire weekend, I had a look there... €1550 or so absolute minimum for two tickets in the nosebleeds.
Murray has Lendl back as his coach.
If he could stop Murray ranting on court it would be a good place to start.
Murray's been ranting on court throughout his career, I hardly think he's going to stop at age 34.
Good to see him back with Lendl. He can't turn back the hands of time, but if he can get his head together somewhat then maybe he can string a few decent results together. Murray obviously wants to try everything before he throws in the towel for good, so fair enough really.
Apparently serena Williams thinks she’d be in jail had she done what Zverev did to the umpires chair with his racket. I mean that’s a ridiculous statement to make because has any tennis player male or female been jailed for actions on the court ?
Serena's escaped largely unscathed for her numerous incidents of appalling on-court behaviour over the years, and in fact had any male done some of the things she has they'd likely have faced a ban. So she's talking shite and has zero self awareness, as per usual.
She's just a moaner, constantly playing the race card, female card and in the last few years the mom card when it suits. She really is full of her own self importance, she was a great player, but, dominated a really weak era from around 2010 onwards where she had very little opposition. Of course the US media in particular are falling over themselves to worship her, some even think she's the best player ever- not just female player- better than any male player too including Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, it's ridiculous.
The Monterrey final is on atm and Leylah Fernandez looked to have the first set sewn up but camila Osorio of Columbia is making her work for it. It was 4-1 to Fernandez but it’s now 5-4 Fernandez and 30-30 in game no 10.
It’s 5-5.
Osorio takes the first set on a tie break. Great stuff to watch.
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