rafa is obv in amazing form, tho prob wont beat novak in the final ~ wrt records, this yr he'll likely further distance himself from every one whose ever lived on clay & thats all
― johnny crunch, Thursday, 24 January 2019 14:30 (five years ago) link
Thinking back to 2015-16 - Nadal lost 34 matches across those two years, to people like Cuevas on clay, first week exits at Slams, only five titles (one Masters). There was no suggestion that he would not only come back to form/peak health, but he'd been routinely battering the very best of the NextGen. Obv, Thiem has pushed him hard over the last couple of years, and Khachanov took him to the limit in NY, and Zverev should've beaten him in Rome, but generally he grinds the kids into the ground. Honestly thought he was in inevitable decline and would barely be top 10, or still playing, by now. Fed was a diff story - change-up in his style w/Edberg bought him a few more years after the 2013 slump and he was playing great before his injury in 2016.
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 24 January 2019 15:29 (five years ago) link
yep well saidhe easily couldve gone out like murray, i think some of it is luck in his knees letting him get back to this level
― johnny crunch, Thursday, 24 January 2019 17:14 (five years ago) link
Also: folks are talking about Nadal's new service action? I need to watch some highlights to see this, I've not seen any live Nadal since the Thiem USO QF last Sept. If he's suddenly, at 32, built himself a first serve that gets him free points then holy moly. Maybe he's been watching those tutorials that play on YT before I get to watch Vilas-Wilander '82 or whatever. ;)
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 24 January 2019 17:54 (five years ago) link
apparently he did and does (serving)
Hmm, he is three Slams, 19 career titles and 114 weeks as #1 behind, y'know? He may take the lot eventually but only the Slam total is under threat in 2019 (and he's not going to do a Laver, I wouldn't have thought). The injuries are getting more frequent too.
this is true, i am not a tennis crack :P
but if he beats Djoko in the final, i think he'll pull that 19 this year.
― Ludo, Thursday, 24 January 2019 18:00 (five years ago) link
I hadn't heard about this change in Nadal's serve but as long as the final is broadcast on Eurosport I should be able to watch it.
So Djokovic was pretty much ruthless in the SF. He has never lost an AUS open final which is quite amazing. Its been depressing how these kids haven't come through to a slam win but I am sure I'll forget about it if its another classic on Sunday.
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 25 January 2019 17:11 (five years ago) link
lol
― imago, Saturday, 26 January 2019 10:34 (five years ago) link
osaka pulling out of the choke with laudable fortitude
― imago, Saturday, 26 January 2019 10:51 (five years ago) link
literally as soon as i type that the choke returns. ffs
― imago, Saturday, 26 January 2019 10:58 (five years ago) link
oh no, saved it. phew
― imago, Saturday, 26 January 2019 10:59 (five years ago) link
Osaka beating Kvitova on the longer rallies
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 10:59 (five years ago) link
just outlasting her, 3x for double break
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:00 (five years ago) link
awesome, all saved last one with an ace
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:01 (five years ago) link
that's a great challenge from Osaka 30-0
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:05 (five years ago) link
5-3, come on Petra hold - want to see Osaka serve this out
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:06 (five years ago) link
Petra gets that back for 15-15
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:08 (five years ago) link
Petra's 2nd serving has been good.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:09 (five years ago) link
Osaka to serve it out
Ace!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:11 (five years ago) link
from my untutored perspective, osaka seems a much better and more versatile player, but with a tendency to make unforced errors. definitely would be a shame if she lost this
― imago, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:12 (five years ago) link
terrific FH!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:12 (five years ago) link
3 CPs!!
done!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:13 (five years ago) link
Poor Petra, wanted her a bit more but its been such a comeback from the double Wimbeldon Champion. But Osaka can properly enjoy after the mad vibes around that US Open win!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:15 (five years ago) link
more untutored thoughts: can they give the women 5-set matches like yesterday ffs
― imago, Saturday, 26 January 2019 11:23 (five years ago) link
they all want it iirc
Really enjoyed that final. I like both of them, but I was happy for Osaka because it’s great for her to get a do over at winning a final without all the weirdness of the U.S. Open. She is still kind of raw, but that’s in her favor – there are a lot of ways she can get better. Also nice to see a young player win back to back grand slams, maybe a sign of some actual generational turnover.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Saturday, 26 January 2019 18:03 (five years ago) link
ok I better not formulate any tennis predictions again :P
― Ludo, Sunday, 27 January 2019 10:09 (five years ago) link
Saw a bit of the 1st set before I went out and yeah basically there is no zip from Nadal's racket on this surface. On reflection, its incredible what he has done on surfaces other than clay.
And men's tennis is boring these days - we need these kids to come through.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 27 January 2019 11:42 (five years ago) link