Australian Open 2023

To think I once held out such hopes for Shapovalov. It's backwards he seems to be going. Haven't been following much tennis of late, but is there a reason for this? Is he fully committed? Couldn't be if he's worse than he was at a younger age surely?

Djokovic will probably win another slam. You really do have to wonder, is it purely developments in strength and conditioning, and the advancements in the science of it, that can lead to such longevity?

I suppose the same is happening in other sports, and if that's the case, the record books are very inflated for the big 3, in contrast to ex pros. And 20+ slams relatively may not be such a huge feat, if in the future guys are staying at the top till 40.

Sampras looked like an "oldish" man when he retired, 32 was it? These guys still look as good as ever. If Sampras came 10 years later would be still be going too, with the advancements in science and conditioning?

Agassi put in a huge performance in the 05 US Open against Federer and probably should of taken a second set. But it was a huge effort to raise his level at that age, again an "old player", and he looked every bit a player on his last legs. Now lads still in prime at 35.

I don't think the big 3 are 10+ slams better than Agassi, or indeed Sampras, I think the latter were every bit as good, same for the top guys in any era. Natural talent doesn't improve generation to generation, the external factors do. It's just a bit jarring I find looking at the slam count now, completely lopsided and inflated. Hard to know what to make of it tbh, is 20+ slams that impressive if lads now have an extra 5+ years to do it?

Sinner fairly putting it up to Tsitsipas after going 2 sets down.

Some fabulous tennis going on.

Can't pick a winner, think it'll be down to mental strength rather then ball skills.

I see Paul Kimmage has a tennis article in today's Sindo. Behind a paywall. Presume it's his usual topic about drugs in sport.

Impossible to see past him at this rate, hamstring or not.

Tbh, was thinking likewise, but then again what does he have to gain from faking it? Must be some slight issue and he is just being extra cautious. In saying that, none of the scrubs he has played have really tested the hamstring, run him from side-to-side and up-and-down the court. Of course he has done this in spurts, but has been able to play offensively enough to avoid doing it for long periods. Awful shame Alcaraz isn't here, as he would test the conditioning for sure. Of the players left, I don't give them a prayer.

Definitely not Tommy Paul anyway.

Medvedev basically said after last year's final that the fans could go and fúck themselves and he'd only be playing for the money from now on, not hugely surprising to see he's regressed.

Not sure what your post has to do with the points whiterrbel was making.