2019 In Between Grand Slam Thread

Dirkziggler · 27-06-2019 9:45am

I thought fed looked good in Halle

EagererBeaver · 27-06-2019 9:50am

Zverev is allergic to slams

Ha, love this.

Realistically I think it's Djokovic's to lose but Nadal's run last year and then reaching the Australian final (despite the result) and winning the French has given me hope that the 2012-17 results have been consigned to history and there's no Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis or Dustin Brown lurking in the early rounds.

If there are no early slip-ups, I can only see Djokovic, Nadal and Federer stopping each other, with Djokovic clearly a step above the other two.

yerwanthere123 · 15-07-2019 1:40pm

This is always such a weird time in the tennis calendar, we've had non-top tennis for weeks on end and now it just comes to a sudden halt. Well I know there's still tennis on during July, but I don't think too many of us will be rushing to find a stream of Isner in Newport. Three weeks until it kicks into gear again with Toronto/Montreal and six weeks until the US Open!

yerwanthere123 · 15-07-2019 1:41pm

jr86 wrote: »

Finding it very difficult to muster much enthusiasm for Wimbledon this year

No-one outseide the "big 4" has won it since 2002 and can't see that changing this year

Cilic is out of form, Anderson out of form, Del Potro missing, Raonic always injured, Dimitrov/Kyrgios always flatter to deceive, Tsiptisas is too raw on grass, Thiem not great on grass, Zverev is allergic to slams - who else is there?

Think the big 3 will all stroll to the semis, with Djokovic the most likely winner again

Exactly this.

Christy42 · 15-07-2019 1:50pm

jr86 wrote: »

Finding it very difficult to muster much enthusiasm for Wimbledon this year

No-one outseide the "big 4" has won it since 2002 and can't see that changing this year

Cilic is out of form, Anderson out of form, Del Potro missing, Raonic always injured, Dimitrov/Kyrgios always flatter to deceive, Tsiptisas is too raw on grass, Thiem not great on grass, Zverev is allergic to slams - who else is there?

Think the big 3 will all stroll to the semis, with Djokovic the most likely winner again

So are we going with this again for the US? Change it slightly as others have won the US but still seems unlikely.

walshb · 15-07-2019 1:50pm

Wouldn't be absurd if Roger won at Flushing Meadows, 11 years after his last triumph...

Nobody mentioned how they think Nadal would have done yesterday had it been him across the net from Nole?

yerwanthere123 · 15-07-2019 2:04pm

Christy42 wrote: »

So are we going with this again for the US? Change it slightly as others have won the US but still seems unlikely.

I guess so, why wouldn't we? Obviously we'll see how things go in Montreal/Cincinnati, but I can't see too much changing in the next six weeks.

yerwanthere123 · 15-07-2019 2:06pm

walshb wrote: »

Wouldn't be absurd if Roger won at Flushing Meadows, 11 years after his last triumph...

Nobody mentioned how they think Nadal would have done yesterday had it been him across the net from Nole?

I think he'd need someone to take out Djokovic though, this Wimbledon defeat will be quite damaging mentally.

And I don't think the final result would've been any different if it was Nadal in the final.

walshb · 15-07-2019 2:15pm

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

I think he's need someone to take out Djokovic though, this Wimbledon defeat will be quite damaging mentally.

And I don't think the final result would've been any different if it was Nadal in the final.

I think Nole would have beaten Nadal in straight sets...

Christy42 · 15-07-2019 4:44pm

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

I guess so, why wouldn't we? Obviously we'll see how things go in Montreal/Cincinnati, but I can't see too much changing in the next six weeks.

Indeed. Though not too much. The younger generation seem more capable of creating an upset in 3 and don't seem as scared of the big guns during the 1000 series.

lostcat · 15-07-2019 5:04pm

walshb wrote: »

I think Nole would have beaten Nadal in straight sets...

Having just watched this, Djokovic was not at his best yesterday (and that is partly down to Federer yes) and methinks he wouldn't have won in straights against anyone. It was sheer bloody mindedness that won it, and all the more than impressive for that.

mzungu · 16-07-2019 12:16am

I'm looking forward to Montreal and Cincinnati. At the moment Djokovic looks good for the US Open, but he is not in unbeatable form or anything. It will be an interesting few weeks.

lostcat · 16-07-2019 11:25am

mzungu wrote: »

I'm looking forward to Montreal and Cincinnati. At the moment Djokovic looks good for the US Open, but he is not in unbeatable form or anything. It will be an interesting few weeks.

Djokovic has said that he doesnt care about 1000 titles any more (and i'm pretty sure Nadal or Federer will also focus only on the US Open) so these two tournaments should be opportunities for the next generation to gain a bit more confidence and win a couple of titles.

dominatinMC · 16-07-2019 11:34am

lostcat wrote:

Djokovic has said that he doesnt care about 1000 titles any more (and i'm pretty sure Nadal or Federer will also focus only on the US Open) so these two tournaments should be opportunities for the next generation to gain a bit more confidence and win a couple of titles.

Don't ever recall Djokovic saying that he doesn't care about M1000..

walshb · 16-07-2019 11:38am

mzungu wrote: »

I'm looking forward to Montreal and Cincinnati. At the moment Djokovic looks good for the US Open, but he is not in unbeatable form or anything. It will be an interesting few weeks.

Agreed. He is not unbeatable. Not playing as brilliantly as previous years. But lucky for him, RF and Nadal aren't either.

Can't wait for U.S. Open...

walshb · 16-07-2019 11:39am

dominatinMC wrote: »

Don't ever recall Djokovic saying that he doesn't care about M1000..

Yes, and he is one away from tying Rafa on 34...has to be real desire there.

lostcat · 16-07-2019 12:49pm

dominatinMC wrote: »

Don't ever recall Djokovic saying that he doesn't care about M1000..

He said recently that the only thing he cares about is slams, I'll post a link if I can find it again.
Iirc It was after he won cinci last year to complete the set

Christy42 · 16-07-2019 1:29pm

lostcat wrote: »

He said recently that the only thing he cares about is slams, I'll post a link if I can find it again.
Iirc It was after he won cinci last year to complete the set

I would not believe that. He has been around for long enough to get enough leeway to pick his own schedule for a large chunk of the year and yet somehow the masters just happen to be the best warm ups?

He would prefer slams to masters but he will definitely take any win he can get.

yerwanthere123 · 23-07-2019 6:15pm

Another huge name caught in the fight against doping! Haven't done any research yet as to what exactly the thing that she tested positive for is, or whether there could be an innocent explanation.

Rob2D · 23-07-2019 9:43pm

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

research yet as to what exactly the thing that she tested positive for is

Off the shelf stuff it seems:

https://bodyshock.pro/en/products/ligndrol-lgd-4033-5mg-60-caps-1992.html?utm_source=iai_ads&utm_medium=google_shopping&curr=EUR

Chivito550 · 26-07-2019 3:46pm

Rob2D wrote: »

Off the shelf stuff it seems:

https://bodyshock.pro/en/products/ligndrol-lgd-4033-5mg-60-caps-1992.html?utm_source=iai_ads&utm_medium=google_shopping&curr=EUR

Everytime I hear athletes saying they didn't realise what they were taking contained banned substances I think of Mark English's quote "you've failed the stupidity test".

English also describes the dangers of unwittingly taking illegal substances, but feels that even in such unfortunate circumstances, athletes ultimately have themselves to blame.

“You just need to be sure that the company you’re getting it from is reliable and that all their products are drug tested… You’re responsible for what goes into your body at the end of the day — every athlete knows that. You just need to choose what products you’re taking very wisely.

“Of course it’s unfortunate for those that don’t know what they’re taking… Okay, you might be innocent, but you’ve failed the stupidity test, so I don’t think you should really be in the sport."

https://www.the42.ie/mark-english-doping-gaa-soccer-rugby-2101073-May2015/

mzungu · 26-07-2019 9:52pm

Thiem knocked out of Hamburg by Rublev. A bit of a shock that one.

dominatinMC · 26-07-2019 11:51pm

mzungu wrote:

Thiem knocked out of Hamburg by Rublev. A bit of a shock that one.

Shocked to see that result. Hope Thiem can get it together for the upcoming US hardcourt season. Played well at USO last year

yerwanthere123 · 27-07-2019 1:59am

This has forever been Thiem's problem. Like, what's he even doing playing on clay in the lead up to the US Open?

mzungu · 27-07-2019 5:13pm

dominatinMC wrote: »

Shocked to see that result. Hope Thiem can get it together for the upcoming US hardcourt season. Played well at USO last year

Aye, he has Montreal and Cincinnati over the next few weeks to tune up his game in time for the US. That was a great match with Nadal last year in the QF and it was very close in the end. He has it in him go further this year but the next few weeks should tell a lot.

mzungu · 27-07-2019 11:39pm

Zverev sent on his way today. It was a good match but he didn't convert his two match points so what could he expect? Basilashvili was a worthy winner. He will face Rublev in tomorrows final.

jr86 · 27-07-2019 11:42pm

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

This has forever been Thiem's problem. Like, what's he even doing playing on clay in the lead up to the US Open?

Long time since he played a match - got dumped out of Wimbledon early

Even Federer played clay after Wimbledon when he lost early in 2013

Better than sitting at home I suppose - and there's no better preparation than matches

mzungu · 28-07-2019 10:19pm

Basilashvili wins Hamburg. Some great tennis from both men but it was the consistency from the Georgian that won the day.

whiterebel · 29-07-2019 2:10pm

mzungu wrote: »

Basilashvili wins Hamburg. Some great tennis from both men but it was the consistency from the Georgian that won the day.

That is a wicked forehand at times, he was fairly smacking it past Zverev in the semi.

yerwanthere123 · 29-07-2019 2:32pm

Zverev and Lendl have split, tbh I thought they already had, it never really got going. Lendl said that Zverev has too much off court stuff going on, whilst Zverev said that Lendl spent too much time talking about golf :pac:

Meanwhile, Cori Gauff got a wildcard into the Washington qualies and won both matches in straight sets, into the main draw to play Diyas.

Kuznetsova is unable to defend her Washington title due to "visa issues", which I find a bit strange. Admittedly I didn't look into the story too much, but I find it odd how an athlete of her calibre and as well travelled as she is can have these sort of issues at this stage of her career.

jr86 · 29-07-2019 2:34pm

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

Zverev and Lendl have split, tbh I thought they already had, it never really got going. Lendl said that Zverev has too much off court stuff going on, whilst Zverev said that Lendl spent too much time talking about golf :pac:

Jeez never even knew they were a partnership!

I wonder what he means by the bolded? A dig at his workrate maybe? may explain his lack of fitness in slams...

yerwanthere123 · 29-07-2019 2:51pm

jr86 wrote: »

Jeez never even knew they were a partnership!

I wonder what he means by the bolded? A dig at his workrate maybe? may explain his lack of fitness in slams...

I think what he's referring to is the legal wrangle Zverev is currently embroiled in with an ex manager, something Zverev alluded to after his opening round Wimbledon loss. Apparently the ex manager is trying to insist their contract was supposed to run through until 2023, which seems like bullsh*t to me, nobody in tennis subscribes to those kind of contracts. Probably just someone trying to squeeze a few million out of Zverev, Naomi Osaka is currently going through something similar with an ex coach I believe.

jr86 · 30-07-2019 8:38am

Murray talking about a singles return in Cincinatti

That retirement hint and subsequent tributes in January, not awkward at all now or anything...

Rob2D · 30-07-2019 6:07pm

It'll be interesting to see how he changes his game. Certainly can't play like he did before.

Joe_ Public · 30-07-2019 6:18pm

jr86 wrote: »

Murray talking about a singles return in Cincinatti

That retirement hint and subsequent tributes in January, not awkward at all now or anything...

I dont think he has any reason to feel awkward about it to be honest. Your right that it was a retirement hint, he never said definitively he was finished but left the door open to a possible return, however slim the possibility, and the tributes were obviously foisted upon him as that is not something Murray himself would purposely orchestrate in an entire decade of sundays. Anyway, great to see him back if he does indeed make it.

lostcat · 31-07-2019 1:46pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

I dont think he has any reason to feel awkward about it to be honest. Your right that it was a retirement hint, he never said definitively he was finished but left the door open to a possible return, however slim the possibility, and the tributes were obviously foisted upon him as that is not something Murray himself would purposely orchestrate in an entire decade of sundays. Anyway, great to see him back if he does indeed make it.

Murray doesn't have anything to be embarrassed about. The Press, however...

every time he was interviewed around then the interviewers were falling over themselves to be the one he actually announced his retirement to, i'm amazed he didnt clock someone

jr86 · 31-07-2019 3:12pm

The press got very carried away, but in fairness Murray did say he may never play again (through lots of tears). And more or less presented the "best case scenario" as signing off at Wimbledon this year. Even fellow players were Tweeting about it straight away with Tributes and so on

I wouldn't blame him really though, I suspect he may have said it all in the heat of the moment in fairness, and he can be prone to drama for sure, but it looks a bit awkward overall given he may actually play on considerably more

No harm done though, I'm sure everyone will laugh in a few years when they look back and he's going for his 10th slam

mzungu · 31-07-2019 9:23pm

Murray wears his heart on his sleeve and it was an understandable reaction at the time. Hearing that he may have to retire when he could have another five or so years left in him must have been a bitter pill to swallow. It would be great to see him back on the singles circuit full time again.

Tsonga looking in pretty good form in Washington this week. He got past Khachanov in three sets and now faces Edmund. Cilic, Isner and Medvedev all though to the round of 16 without much hassle either.

mzungu · 03-08-2019 9:10pm

The semi-finals are shaping up nicely with Tsitsipas against Kyrgios and Medvedev against Gojowczyk.

I'm wondering how Kyrgios will fare against Tsitsipas. He has been in fine form all week (even if he doesn't seem to be taking it all that seriously...but nothing new there) but he played quite well in the QF.

As for the other, well you would have to fancy Medvedev, but the lucky loser Gojowczyk has been playing well all week and did very well to get past Edmund in three sets in the QF.

Christy42 · 03-08-2019 10:31pm

mzungu wrote: »

The semi-finals are shaping up nicely with Tsitsipas against Kyrgios and Medvedev against Gojowczyk.

I'm wondering how Kyrgios will fare against Tsitsipas. He has been in fine form all week (even if he doesn't seem to be taking it all that seriously...but nothing new there) but he played quite well in the QF.

As for the other, well you would have to fancy Medvedev, but the lucky loser Gojowczyk has been playing well all week and did very well to get past Edmund in three sets in the QF.

Tsitsipas and Kyrgios were a doubles team here as well. Wonder if they learned anything about themselves. Likely they have a fair idea about each anyway but it adds to it.

mzungu · 04-08-2019 10:21pm

Christy42 wrote: »

Tsitsipas and Kyrgios were a doubles team here as well. Wonder if they learned anything about themselves. Likely they have a fair idea about each anyway but it adds to it.

Maybe Kyrgios learned the most?

Very entertaining match and quite close in the end. Medvedev steamrolled through with no real problem which sets up a good final.

In other news, Thiem wins on home clay in Kitzbühel, the first Austrian to do so since Thomas Muster in 1993. His hardcourt season begins in Montreal in a few days.

05-08-2019 12:47pm

Krygios wins and moves back into to 30.

His tournament performance being remarkable in that his tennis did the talking rather than on-court antics.

Which is good to see but never guaranteed to last.

whiterebel · 05-08-2019 6:04pm

No shortage of on court antics either, in a good way. I’d love to see him win slams combining both.

yerwanthere123 · 05-08-2019 7:01pm

Everyone gets so excited when Kyrgios wins a few matches, seeing so much talk of him "turning things around" online. I expect he'll be back to his usual tanking form soon. I've willed him on for five years but I'm kinda past caring now tbh.

Floppybits · 05-08-2019 11:19pm

Just watching Ostapenko against Garcia and ostapenko doesn't look fit. Maybe it is just the clothes but she looks to have put on some weight.

Joe_ Public · 06-08-2019 2:45pm

Ostapenko is a nutcase. I dont mean personally, but in a game sense. Last time i saw her play was against Petra Martic in Birmingham, hit 70 UE, 20 DFs and lost 5 match points. As crazy match stats as you'll find i think. Problem is she seems to only have one gear, choke out all the way and a sorry sight when she crashes. Good to see her win yesterday, has the talent and the shots, but just not the tennis head to go with it i fear.

yerwanthere123 · 06-08-2019 3:50pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Ostapenko is a nutcase. I dont mean personally, but in a game sense. Last time i saw her play was against Petra Martic in Birmingham, hit 70 UE, 20 DFs and lost 5 match points. As crazy match stats as you'll find i think. Problem is she seems to only have one gear, choke out all the way and a sorry sight when she crashes. Good to see her win yesterday, has the talent and the shots, but just not the tennis head to go with it i fear.

The serve is the biggest problem that needs sorting asap, giving away so many free points is crazy. A good coach could teacher her patience and point construction, but not sure she'd be willing to take it on board. Still, she's only just turned 22 so lots of time to turn things around.

Joe_ Public · 06-08-2019 4:37pm

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

The serve is the biggest problem that needs sorting asap, giving away so many free points is crazy. A good coach could teacher her patience and point construction, but not sure she'd be willing to take it on board. Still, she's only just turned 22 so lots of time to turn things around.

Thats true. 22 is old enough to have plenty ingrained bad habits, but its still very young when you consider players can now go into mid or even late 30s if they desire and stay injury free enough. The serve thing seems like a technique issue, should be eminently capable of being addressed. She's running nearly double figures in DFs on average per match and that's no good. Sort that and she could be top 20 or higher again, otherwise she'll continue her slide and it'll get more difficult to reverse it. Never seems to lack for confidence though, i'll say that much for her anyway.

06-08-2019 10:47pm

Floppybits wrote: »

Just watching Ostapenko against Garcia and ostapenko doesn't look fit. Maybe it is just the clothes but she looks to have put on some weight.

the playing outfit looked more like a dress than a skirt and made her look like a porker. awful get-up although she has always been pudgy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9lGUfKcU5k

"world no.1" Barty out in the second round at the Rogers - plus ca change.

Krgios does actually seem to be making an effort, again could change due to his mood swings - he has won 6 ATP titles now - that's not bad.

(more titles than Barty has won on the WTA!)

mzungu · 06-08-2019 11:20pm

glasso wrote: »

Krgios does actually seem to be making an effort, again could change due to his mood swings - he has won 6 ATP titles now - that's not bad.

He has been playing well. How long before the next implosion, though?

2019 In Between Grand Slam Thread

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