2018 In Between Grand Slam Thread

jr86 · 19-03-2018 12:04am

mickmackey1 wrote: »

I thought Miami was the slow one, Fed seemed to have a lot more difficulty winning there last year.

Both very slow, at IW ball travels through the air a bit quicker though given the weather conditions, but there's a higher bounce - more similar to a clay court than anything

mickmackey1 · 19-03-2018 12:24am

Fed's career has been sooo long that he's now lost 19 times from match point up!!

dominatinMC · 20-03-2018 1:56pm

Just an observation - I watched the match back last night and thought Fed looked quite tired by the end. Some on Twitter are putting the DF's down to choking, I don't believe that for a second, Fed has no issue Vs. DelPo, but I think the DF's could be attributed to fatigue. Which would only be natural for someone going on 37! In any case, it will be interesting to see if there are any signs of fatigue in Miami. If so, I very much doubt Fed will play the clay this year, and jeopardize a near sure-thing at SW19.

mickmackey1 · 23-03-2018 10:06pm

Djokovic is playing so poorly its untrue. Very strange considering he was at a reasonable level in Australia, but seems to have regressed badly since then.

RosyLily · 24-03-2018 7:50pm

It's really weird seeing Djokovic look so average. We're so used to him at his best or close to it. I wonder if his injury is more serious than he's letting on. Or he's trying everything to help and nothing's worked. I think it's a bit like Nadal in that their style of play is tougher on the body. They've spent years bashing the ball, running kilometres on the court....maybe it's catching up.

Floppybits · 24-03-2018 9:55pm

Wozniacki wasn't happy with her and her family's treatment at last night's match. If what she said is true then the WTA and Miami open need to answer some questions.

mickmackey1 · 24-03-2018 11:12pm

And so Nadal is back to No 1 having not finished any of his last 6 tournaments.

dominatinMC · 24-03-2018 11:34pm

mickmackey1 wrote:

And so Nadal is back to No 1 having not finished any of his last 6 tournaments.

ðŸ˜‚ The obsession is real. Isn't the more prescient point here that Fed has just got dumped out of Miami by Kokkinakas, who is ranked 174 places below him?! To be fair, that ranking is not a fair reflection on Kokkinakas, as he has a solid game and has suffered a lot through injuries recently. And I did post after the IW final that I thought Fed looked tired, he certainly didn't look 100% tonight.

Johnmb · 25-03-2018 12:32am

mickmackey1 wrote: »

And so Nadal is back to No 1 having not finished any of his last 6 tournaments.

It's a 52 week ranking, so his last 6 tournaments aren't the be all and end all of that. Federer had a lot of points to defend up to this point, so it was always going to be difficult for him. He has literally nothing to defend during the clay court season, whereas Nadal has the bulk of his points to defend then. It's very possible that Federer could be back as number 1 in time for Wimbledon, without playing another tournament between now and Halle.

jr86 · 25-03-2018 12:15pm

Yeah I do think Fed has regressed a bit from this time last year, and there are signs he's feeling his age. He had a very easy draw at Oz (not his fault before someone jumps in) so it was hard to really gauge his level, but he was taken all the way by Cilic and even before losing to Delpo at Indian Wells he was really pushed by Coric, and now he's lost to Kokkinakis.

I'm surprised he played Miami really, as the conditions don't really suit his game - but I guess if he's taking clay off again it was no harm.

As for Djokovic, I don't think he'll be overly upset, I would imagine he's realistically mainly targetting the latter half of the season to be competitive. All this game time should benefit him overall, you'd think. Still think there's more slams in him

yerwanthere123 · 26-03-2018 2:17pm

Thank the fúcking lord for Kokkinakis breathing a bit of life into the men's game, long may it continue. First masters since Hamburg 2006 that none of the big four made it to the third round. Miami should be anyone's for the taking really, will be fun to see who makes it to the final from both halves.

Loaded field on the women's side, even without Serena. Azarenka into the fourth round, hopefully she can keep rolling. Good to see Ostapenko winning matches or relevance again, she's played horrible this year so far.

dominatinMC · 26-03-2018 4:37pm

jr86 wrote: »

Yeah I do think Fed has regressed a bit from this time last year, and there are signs he's feeling his age. He had a very easy draw at Oz (not his fault before someone jumps in) so it was hard to really gauge his level, but he was taken all the way by Cilic and even before losing to Delpo at Indian Wells he was really pushed by Coric, and now he's lost to Kokkinakis.

I'm surprised he played Miami really, as the conditions don't really suit his game - but I guess if he's taking clay off again it was no harm.

As for Djokovic, I don't think he'll be overly upset, I would imagine he's realistically mainly targetting the latter half of the season to be competitive. All this game time should benefit him overall, you'd think. Still think there's more slams in him

I would still be slightly wary of Djokovic. I watched his match Vs. Paire, and was taken aback by his performance, or lack thereof. Whilst I expected his tennis to be rusty, it was his physique which really struck me. He looks very thin, almost gaunt, and appeared to be gassed after 6 games. Now I know he is only back from surgery, but I was still surprised at this lack of fitness. Perhaps, more worryingly, was his apparent lack of interest at times in the match. Where was the fight, the resolve, the tenacity which we have all come to expect from Djokovic over the past 6/7 years.

It looks as if Djokovic is going through the same slump which Nadal, and to some extent Federer, went through pre-2017. I think Nadal's slump was more pronounced, particularly during his annus horribilis of 2015, where there are distinct parallels with Djokovic now, in that he was loosing to lesser guys on the tour. I hope Djokovic can turn his situation around, as the tour badly needs him competing at the top...especially given that the "next-gen" have flattered to deceive so far.

jr86 · 26-03-2018 5:10pm

He's certainly an absolute shadow of his former self at this moment in time, but individual sport can be funny, a good run of games in the clay season and who knows - I wouldn't write him off at all at Wimbledon/US Open.

federer 2013, Murray 2014 and Nadal 2015 looked completely finished themselves

yerwanthere123 · 30-03-2018 12:43pm

Stephens - Ostapenko final in Miami, what a fun match that could be. Nice narrative too, two of the current surprise slam champions competing for their first PM title. Hoping Ostapenko can do it, but Sloane is always very dangerous playing in her home country, the only time she wills herself to give 100%

Del Potro into the SF'S, two wins away from completng the sunshine double, what a welcome surprise that would be!

jr86 · 31-03-2018 12:25pm

So Zverev has a golden opportunity at a 3rd Masters, surely it's only a matter of time before this transfers over to Slams

He has plenty of ingredients to be the next big tennis superstar

Isner really is tricky to tame in these conditions though. That was a monstrous win vs Delpo.

Floppybits · 01-04-2018 8:43pm

Cant believe Isner has won an atp 1000 event. Disappointing finish from Zevrev.

Also Djokovic has split from Agassi. Be interesting who Djokovic now brings in.

jr86 · 03-04-2018 9:09am

When you see that attacking play by Isner and that unplayable serve in action, you'd have to wonder how he hasn't achieved a bit more in the game

Floppybits · 03-04-2018 9:59am

jr86 wrote: »

When you see that attacking play by Isner and that unplayable serve in action, you'd have to wonder how he hasn't achieved a bit more in the game

It's only this year that he has started the attacking game. The biggest problem for Isner seems to be his fitness. He was gasping during the third set in Miami, how Zverev didn't take advantage I don't know. I can't see him winning any of the slams until he can sort out the fitness.

lostcat · 03-04-2018 2:57pm

when Del Potro and Isner win back to back 1000's, you know things are a bit up in the air.

With Murray not due back until queens and Nadal kinda-coming-back-maybe-next-week, the clay season is really up for grabs for someone to grab the tour by the scruff of the neck. I don't think anyone will however, and we will have a few of the smaller tournaments won by a player on a week long streak, culminating in Nadal winning the FO.

Regarding Djokovic, not surprised about the Agassi break up, he should have been nowhere near the past two tournaments and whomever advised him to play them gave poor advice. His problems are all mental at this stage and, guru or no guru, he is showing pretty clear signs of some kind of depression imo.

mickmackey1 · 03-04-2018 3:06pm

Floppybits wrote: »

It's only this year that he has started the attacking game.

It hadn't been working very well... lost six 1st rounds and won only 2 matches all year before Miami. The way he played in the Final I'm sure any of the big 4 would have taken him out, but have to credit him for more than 50 consecutive service holds I suppose.

Zverev's forehand looked WTA level at times and only 1 backhand winner all match... hard to figure out if he's world-class or more hype than substance.

jr86 · 03-04-2018 4:56pm

To think this time 2 years ago Djokovic was absolutely on top of the world. Won the last 3 slams, hoovering up Masters left right and centre, he looked unbeatable and in a great place to even challenge Federer's slam record

Fully agree that most of this seems mental, he's always appeared a very emotional person and to be honest it's sad to see him sunk to this new low

I think he'll pick up more slams yet, but it goes to show how uncertain sport is and even life in general

The Clay season could be a free for all until the French where I expect Nadal to indeed take the title, although I'd doubt it'll be as facile as last year. Not sure at all who the nearest challenger will be though. Goffin and Thiem perhaps but both are hardly reliable either

yerwanthere123 · 04-04-2018 10:54pm

The Djokovic situation continues to baffle me, even after almost two years. He's claiming a lot of it's down to an elbow injury, he recently said in a press conference that this was the first time in "years" that he's been pain free, but I'm not sure I believe him. As already mentioned, I too believe most of this is mental. I sometimes wonder how different things would be today if he hadn't won RG.

Floppybits · 05-04-2018 11:33am

I see that Djokovic has now parted ways with Stepanek as well.

lostcat · 05-04-2018 7:33pm

Floppybits wrote: »

I see that Djokovic has now parted ways with Stepanek as well.

Bit of a trainwreck atm

Nadal due back next week for Davis Cup

mickmackey1 · 05-04-2018 7:44pm

lostcat wrote: »

Nadal due back next week for Davis Cup

Tomorrow.

jr86 · 06-04-2018 6:43am

What on earth is Nadal playing Davis Cup for. I assume he'll follow it with a full clay season too.

If there's one place federer undisputedly trumps him it's scheduling

jr86 · 20-04-2018 4:16pm

So Nadal who's only back a couple of weeks, beats the 2nd best clay player in the world 6-0 6-2

Should be a fascinating clay season folks! :pac:

yerwanthere123 · 22-04-2018 5:27pm

Nadal injured all season then rocks up on clay and steamrolls the field

mickmackey1 · 22-04-2018 10:37pm

Even Nadal must be getting a bit bored at this stage.

Rikand · 23-04-2018 7:36am

mickmackey1 wrote: »

Even Nadal must be getting a bit bored at this stage.

Nasal is just clearly the GOAT....

*runs*

jr86 · 23-04-2018 9:10am

Barring an injury he's going to win Roland Garros absolutely pulling up.

Not his fault of course but he's "feeling his way back in" this tournament and doesn't even come remotely close to dropping a set. This is a guy who hardly serve-bots his way to easy service holds either

Roll on Wimbledon :pac:

dominatinMC · 25-04-2018 3:13pm

Just when Djokovic appeared to have turned a corner in Monte Carlo, he goes and loses to Klizan today. Truly shocking stuff

yerwanthere123 · 29-04-2018 7:57pm

Pliskova wins Stuttgart, beating Vandeweghe and her surprising run to the final. Stuttgart plays fast so I'm not sure if that means anything for RG. Really excited to see who'll make their mark this clay season.

The Nadal procession continues. If you like watching winning the same players win the same tournaments every year then i guess you'll be excited by that. I'd like to say we can look forward to the grass season, but I've a feeling that'll be similar to last year too.

jr86 · 30-04-2018 8:32am

Hard to believe that only 2 years ago (heading into the French Open) Nadal, Murray and Djokovic all picked up a clay masters each and Wawrinka was coming in as defending champion

Two years on and it's looking increasingly likely that Nadal won't even drop a set all clay season and he still has 3 big events to go

Federer hasn't been as good as last year so far, but yeah I'd still expect him to sweep the grass season. Probably a case of roll on August at this stage!

yerwanthere123 · 09-05-2018 1:21pm

Azarenka able to play straight through until Wimbledon at least, great to see.

Elise Mertens won the title in Rabat last week, didn't actually realise it's her third title of the year. With her Australian Open SF run she's currently #6 in the race.

Looking forward to seeing how Ostapenko fares at RG. Her clay form is a mixed bag so far, lost a good QF match to eventual champion Pliskova in Stuttgart but flopped to Begu in Madrid this week. Might be a bit much to expect her to defend her title but I hope she makes a decent crack at it anyway. Would really like Halep to finally get that first slam also.

Seren, meanwhile, isn't playing Rome, so logic implies she wont play RG either. Perhaps grass was the real comeback target all along?

On the ATP side, Murray likely won't be playing any grass events, apparently targeting a Summer hard court comeback. If this is what it takes to recover properly and get back in contention then it seems like the wise thing to do, especially since Djokovic recently admitted he came back too soon. Or perhaps he was saying that to save face, who knows.

jr86 · 09-05-2018 4:44pm

Didn't think I would ever EVER see the day a non-Murray Brit would beat Djokovic in a competitive match

He seems to be going absolutely nowhere. You'd have to wonder whether he should have come back this season at all?

As for Murray, would be no real surprise to see him skip grass, He may well be better off skipping the USO too as I can't see him being able for major tennis this year

Play a few 250s and 500s to finish the year and then hopefully get a proper pre-season, may be his best bet

lostcat · 10-05-2018 1:54pm

jr86 wrote: »

Didn't think I would ever EVER see the day a non-Murray Brit would beat Djokovic in a competitive match

He seems to be going absolutely nowhere. You'd have to wonder whether he should have come back this season at all?

As for Murray, would be no real surprise to see him skip grass, He may well be better off skipping the USO too as I can't see him being able for major tennis this year

Play a few 250s and 500s to finish the year and then hopefully get a proper pre-season, may be his best bet

Djokovic is mentally out of it (and looks even more thin if possible?) His only chance really to play himself back into some form is to hit a few 500/250s and try to play more that 1 or 2 competitive matches in a week. the players he would meet in a 500 aren't much worse that the players beating him now.....something off about the whole thing and I think it is purely mental at this stage.

pity about Murray also, he might get back at the end of the year but it really looks now like 2015/16 was the end of the big 4.

jr86 · 11-05-2018 8:37am

Novak is currently 75th in the Race :eek: :eek:

Fair enough he hasn't played a load of random tournaments like some above him but he's certainly not operating at top 50 standard that's for sure

Mots of it is mental I agree. He doesn't seem to love the game anymore and he's always struck me as someone who may be prone to depression of some sort

callaway92 · 11-05-2018 9:54am

Is there a way to find the split between Total singles prize fund and total Doubles prize fund for the below tourney?

I can just see $816 000 total

http://www.wtatennis.com/tournament/2018-stuttgart-germany-1051

Chivito550 · 11-05-2018 4:02pm

Woohoo, off to NYC end of August, and the first week of the US Open will be on then. Haven't booked tickets yet but they seem easy enough to get. Looking at getting an evening session ticket for Ashe, and hopefully an all day reserved Louis Armstrong ticket, which will allow us to wander the grounds and still have a seat to come back to, and also guarantee tennis in case of rain.

Australian Open: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Roland Garros: 2016
US Open: 2018

3/4 of the way to the spectator grand slam after this trip. Funny that the closest one is the one that remains.

jr86 · 11-05-2018 4:48pm

Chivito550 wrote: »

Woohoo, off to NYC end of August, and the first week of the US Open will be on then. Haven't booked tickets yet but they seem easy enough to get. Looking at getting an evening session ticket for Ashe, and hopefully an all day reserved Louis Armstrong ticket, which will allow us to wander the grounds and still have a seat to come back to, and also guarantee tennis in case of rain.

Australian Open: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Roland Garros: 2016
US Open: 2018

3/4 of the way to the spectator grand slam after this trip. Funny that the closest one is the one that remains.

Cool

You were living in Oz I assume? Am humming and hawing about doing melbourne in Jan.

Chivito550 · 11-05-2018 4:53pm

jr86 wrote: »

Cool

You were living in Oz I assume? Am humming and hawing about doing melbourne in Jan.

Yeh I lived in Melbourne for 3 years and 3 months, but was there for 4 Januarys. I went 2 days for each of the first 3 years, but only once the last year as I only arrived back from Dublin mid way through the championships.

Australian Open has become my favourite of the 4 slams now. It' an incredible event, and wipes the floor with Roland Garros IMO (still a great event don't get me wrong). You only live once. Do it.

jr86 · 11-05-2018 5:08pm

I'll definitely get there some year for sure! Would love New York aswell

Nadal in danger of losing his first set on clay since Rome last year. If there's anywhere on the dirt he's half vulnerable it's at Madrid

Royale with Cheese · 11-05-2018 7:24pm

Nadal actually lost :-o

mickmackey1 · 11-05-2018 10:26pm

callaway92 wrote: »

Is there a way to find the split between Total singles prize fund and total Doubles prize fund for the below tourney?

I can just see $816 000 total

http://www.wtatennis.com/tournament/2018-stuttgart-germany-1051

Click on 'draws' then download the respective draw pdfs on the right hand side. A quick calculation gives 460,000 (euro) for the singles and 120,000 for the doubles. The total probably includes hospitality etc.

Meanwhile Federer returns to World No 1 at 36 years 276 days.

jr86 · 18-05-2018 9:04am

Well what a run Alex Zverev is on at the moment, 11 straight wins and 22 straight sets, the media fawn over the big 4 for doing similar

Surely only a matter of time before he starts contending in, and then winning, slams

Would be great for the game imo as he's marketable and could be a huge draw in the post big 4 era

NoviGlitzko · 18-05-2018 12:12pm

Alex Zverev's tennis style is boring though IMO. Ironically I think brother Mischa has a beautiful game.

If Kyrgios, Shapovalov, & Chung can be consistent tennis will be in a very healthy state post golden age.

jr86 · 18-05-2018 1:46pm

Nadal and Djokovic have boring games in theory but they are obviously huge draws Marketing wise. I don't think the casual grand slam fans go for quality of tennis, they'll turn up to watch big names and big draws

He's photogenic, has a bit of character to him and is now pulling up a seat at the top table. He's a dream for men's tennis if he can generate consistency and start going deep in majors.

Otherwise ticket sales and ratings are in line for a huge decrease when Federer and nadal pack it in

mickmackey1 · 18-05-2018 8:21pm

Djokovic beats Nishikori in 3 with his best performance since I don't know when. Hope he recovers to give Nadal a good scrap tomorrow.

jr86 · 20-05-2018 11:41pm

Very strange match today, Nadal thumps Zverev in set 1, the reverse happens in set 2, and it looks for the world like Zverev is going to push on and win but then a rain delay allows Nadal regroup and Zverev's momentum is halted and Nadal coasts to victory after the break...

As we head into RG, I definitely do think Nadal looks much more beatable this year than last on the dirt. After cruising at Monte Carlo he's lost to Thiem, lost sets to Zverev and Fognini and was really pushed by Djokovic at stages on Saturday

I'd expect him to win RG but it may not be the procession some expect

Thiem and Zverev may have a huge say

And this was definitely Djokovic's best showing in a year. Encouraging signs for him and if he can keep it up over the next few months, he may become a contender at the US Open. Would you ever write off such a champion?

2018 In Between Grand Slam Thread

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