2020 In Between Grand Slam Thread

Well in terms of weapons (serve, return, backhand...), I can't see anything that Schwartzman has which is better than anyone else in the top 20.

I see him as a solid baseline grinder with a good attitude, and he is far less flaky than many of the nex gen guys. However, those guys have more game when they are on it, which is why Schwartzman is going to find it difficult to win much in the way of titles.


Thats possibly why he reminds me of Ferrer, who was often able to get the better of more flashy, flakey players such as Gasquet Berdych, etc. but didnt have the tools to beat the big 4.

Ferrer had a great career, and i'm sure Schwartzman is going to have a very solid one too, but neither is going to get me out of my seat too often.

mzungu wrote: »

Decent match here between Nadal and Thiem.

Thiem takes the first set on a tie-break. Nadal had a 5-2 lead in the breaker and had two set points.

How Nadal responds to this should be interesting.

Decent match sure enough. I was impressed with Thiem in the TB, Nadal seemed to have swung it in his favour a few times but Thiem came up with a big play each time.

Two very good tie breaks by Thiem to beat Nadal there, Nadal had his chances in both sets but Thiem was very steady when he needed to be.

Nadal will almost certainly have to beat Tsitisipas to go through to the semis at this stage.

glasso wrote: »

Thiem has beaten Nadal here at London and in Australia this year - both on hard courts - can it be said that he has his number on this surface?

somewhat premature id say

This has never been a favorite tournament for Nadal, (nor has Australia for that matter). Having said that he has never came into the ATP finals in fresher shape and will be disappointed if he doesn't at least make it out of the group


Thiem was pretty good today, however and it will stand to him the next time he sees Nadal across the net....which could still be on Sunday!

very solid win from Medvedev here, after a few very tight opening games he really pulled away from Djokovic who looked well rattled by the end.

Something seems a bit off with the Djokovic serve lately, he is losing a far few service games which wasn't the case up to the past few months. He would need to sort it during the off season as he isn't going to win many more slams if he runs out of easy service games.

Both Djokovic and Nadal now have to win their last matches to progress as far as I understand it, and neither is a gimme.

Medvedev and Thiem are through to the semis...

whiterebel wrote: »

Nadal volleying very well. Great touch in his games so far.

he's serving like Sampras too...or was..

Going to a third set, very enjoyable match so far

lostcat wrote: »

Djokovic beats Zverev in straights, semis will be:

Naval v Medvedev

Djokovic v Thiem

Ok, can these youngsters finally stand up here and beat these two old men?!

he did very well to find those six points in the tie breaker, the last cross court shot was vicious!

Good day (good tournament) in terms of what's coming, Nadal and Djokovic both beaten twice despite playing fairly well.
Djokovic won't get a better chance to win another one of these and Nadal might not either ( although it's moving to Turin next year, so might be on indoor clay)

Really like this atp format too, good level throughout with no real blowout results

Cutting off Thiem during his speech was such poor form.

Next season is very nicely set up (assuming it goes ahead on a more or less standard timetable)

- 4 different winners of the 4 biggest competitions this year
- the next gen guys are maturing nicely
- a couple of solid bolters making an appearance from the next generation down (Sinner, Auger-Aliassime)
- apart from Nadal in the FO, I can't see a solid favourite for any of the Slams in 2021
- Draws in general will be deeper and more dangerous for the favourites = more interesting for the viewers
- Will be nice to see a fit Federer back for his farewell tour.

Overall, 2020 was an excellent year for Thiem, with his first Slam, and Medvedev, who looks like he is will be around the top for the forseeable.
Nadal had a good year all things considered, getting to 20.
Djokovic had another year of lost opportunities really, even with getting to 17 Slams and achieving the joint record for year end No 1s. He is running out of road to get to 20+.

I'm glad they got as much of the Tour back as possible post the summer, the availabilty of live sport is very helpful in the current situation.

glasso wrote: »

Djokovic must feel obviously aggrieved I think this year

Was definitely going to go on to win the US open and most probably would have won Wimbledon also.

Nothing definite in sport as Djokovic found out this year, probably the only exception being Nadal winning the FO year after year.

Federer won't make Australia even with the delay, looks like that's definitely it for him now. Maybe a farewell tour for the second half of the season is possible but highly unlikely he'll be competitive after so long out at his age.