***2025 Tennis Thread***

[GoHawks]

I don't think he has a prayer on a hard court at this point, but the guy is a champion and I wouldn't be shocked if he had one more run in him anywhere.

Although he struggled in his last match, I always like Medvedev on hard courts and Fritz has really shown signs of life lately.

I'm just not a huge believer in Carlos, but he's definitely dynamic and I can't believe in Sasha until he gives me a reason to.

Struggled last night too. His groundstrokes aren't as sharp as what we've become accustomed to.

Carlos is a guy that can kill the elite players in the world when on and lose to a guy outside top 50 when he's not. He's a lot more federer strategically than the djokovic/nadal way he's always attacking.

 

[GoHawks]

I was a Roddick fan and hated Federer because of it. Then I grew to love Federer for his pure offensive skill and relentless aggression. Then I started hating Nadal and Djokovic because of my love of Federer. I saw Federer as a better, more skilled player, and Nadal and Djokovic as basically marathon runners who would simply outlast him physically by playing defensive, low error tennis (boring). Then I eventually grew to appreciate both their increases in skill level. Nadal actually developed a decent serve, had one of the best overheads in the game, and became a really good net player late in his career. Djokovic had similar improvement. Developed a really good serve, the best backhand in the world and just overall pure groundstrokes. I still say Federer is the most skilled to ever play the game though, was just a level slightly below Djokovic and Nadal athleticism wise.

We might be the same person

 

[Letterkenny]

We might be the same person

Are you now a huge Alcaraz fan and want him to become the GOAT?

 

[GoHawks]

Are you now a huge Alcaraz fan and want him to become the GOAT?

I do like him but I wouldn't categorize myself as a huge fan. I'm mostly all in right now on young Americans. Shelton, fritz, tiafoe, paul, and korda. I will definitely be rooting for him in quarters. How do you see that playing out?

 

[Letterkenny]

I do like him but I wouldn't categorize myself as a huge fan. I'm mostly all in right now on young Americans. Shelton, fritz, tiafoe, paul, and korda. I will definitely be rooting for him in quarters. How do you see that playing out?

I think Alcaraz will win, but who knows with Djokovic. Alcaraz's best is better than Djokovic's best now. He plays some bad matches, but usually "gets up" for Djokovic and Sinner. This being a QF match sucks.

 

[legi]

I think Alcaraz will win, but who knows with Djokovic. Alcaraz's best is better than Djokovic's best now. He plays some bad matches, but usually "gets up" for Djokovic and Sinner. This being a QF match sucks.

Yeah I just can’t see Novak win here unless Alcaraz plays at like 75% and Novak is at 90% +. So it’s all up to Alcaraz. Should be a 3 set win at 6-4 a piece if his serve % stays where it’s been so far in the tournament and he plays that drop shot timely and well which will totally discourage Novak. But, you never know…

 

[BigJCy]

The old man has still got it. Djokovic beats Alcaraz in 4 sets.

 

[ClonesFTW]

37 years old, he's still got it!

 

[BigJCy]

Australian fans & announcers have been something this tournament.

Djokovic booed after retiring injured in semifinals

A left leg injury forced Novak Djokovic to retire from his Australian Open semifinal match against Alexander Zverev, leading fans to boo him as he left the court.

www.espn.com

 

[Letterkenny]

37 years old, he's still got it!

Now it looks like he's done. I'm not saying he's going to retire right away, or that he's done winning matches. But I think he's done winning grand slams. He's going to have the same problem Federer and Nadal did at the end of their careers. Talent is still there, skill is still there, ball striking is elite, movement is still good, but he can't stay healthy for long enough.

 

[ClonesFTW]

Now it looks like he's done. I'm not saying he's going to retire right away, or that he's done winning matches. But I think he's done winning grand slams. He's going to have the same problem Federer and Nadal did at the end of their careers. Talent is still there, skill is still there, ball striking is elite, movement is still good, but he can't stay healthy for long enough.

Ya that was too bad, never want to see a legend go out that way.

 

[BigJCy]

Quad Cities (Rock Island) own Madison Keys is now a Major Champ! Beats #1 Sabalenka in 3 sets to win the title.

 

[BigJCy]

I'm not a Dr and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night but I assume this shows damage to Novak's hamstring.



Former NBA player & Aussie:

 

[legi]

Australian fans & announcers have been something this tournament.

Djokovic booed after retiring injured in semifinals

A left leg injury forced Novak Djokovic to retire from his Australian Open semifinal match against Alexander Zverev, leading fans to boo him as he left the court.

www.espn.com

I still have trouble understanding the reason for booing.

Is it because they thought he was faking an injury, because what possible reason would he have to do that?

Is it because they thought he just quit the match because he lost the 1st set and he was mad about it? That would be insane.

Is it because they are mad they paid lots of money for the tickets and only got 1 set out of it? Then how can you be mad at a player for getting injured which is beyond his control?

Also it was very obvious from the Alcaraz match and then no practice leading up to the semis that something is really wrong with his injury. He even talked about after Alcaraz match how worried he was about it.

What a bunch (small vocal minority) of selfish, entitled, and ignorant group of fans they are. Just stupid.

 

[GoHawks]

Now it looks like he's done. I'm not saying he's going to retire right away, or that he's done winning matches. But I think he's done winning grand slams. He's going to have the same problem Federer and Nadal did at the end of their careers. Talent is still there, skill is still there, ball striking is elite, movement is still good, but he can't stay healthy for long enough.

2 weeks, 5 sets is a toll on the body. I posed this question before tournament and had same answer. He's still capable of being the best player in world on any particular day as evidence by quality in Alcaraz match but the grind eventually catches up. If he wants to maximize his chance at another grandslam I'd skip the French open.

 

[GoHawks]

I still have trouble understanding the reason for booing.

Is it because they thought he was faking an injury, because what possible reason would he have to do that?

Is it because they thought he just quit the match because he lost the 1st set and he was mad about it? That would be insane.

Is it because they are mad they paid lots of money for the tickets and only got 1 set out of it? Then how can you be mad at a player for getting injured which is beyond his control?

Also it was very obvious from the Alcaraz match and then no practice leading up to the semis that something is really wrong with his injury. He even talked about after Alcaraz match how worried he was about it.

What a bunch (small vocal minority) of selfish, entitled, and ignorant group of fans they are. Just stupid.

I think 3rd reason, fans were angry they paid all that money and it was over so quickly. Crowd actually seemed to be favoring djokovic prior to that which is somewhat rare

 

[GoHawks]

Who saw Madison Keys winning down under. I thought her Grand Slam title window was over. That's pretty shocking

Think tonight's match is a good one. Ultimately zverev doesn't win the huge points and Sinner wins in 5.

7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

 

[BigJCy]

Who saw Madison Keys winning down under. I thought her Grand Slam title window was over. That's pretty shocking

Think tonight's match is a good one. Ultimately zverev doesn't win the huge points and Sinner wins in 5.

7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Yeah I never thought she would win one at this point. In her post match presser she said she has recently told herself F it just go out and play and not to put so much pressure on yourself about expectations.

 

[Tornado man]

I still have trouble understanding the reason for booing.

Is it because they thought he was faking an injury, because what possible reason would he have to do that?

Is it because they thought he just quit the match because he lost the 1st set and he was mad about it? That would be insane.

Is it because they are mad they paid lots of money for the tickets and only got 1 set out of it? Then how can you be mad at a player for getting injured which is beyond his control?

Also it was very obvious from the Alcaraz match and then no practice leading up to the semis that something is really wrong with his injury. He even talked about after Alcaraz match how worried he was about it.

What a bunch (small vocal minority) of selfish, entitled, and ignorant group of fans they are. Just stupid.

Sure, because after all Novak doesn’t have a history of “faking” anything…

Novak Djokovic: Doubts over timing of Covid test

The BBC has uncovered fresh evidence questioning the timing of Novak Djokovic’s positive Covid test used to enter Australia.

www.bbc.com

 

[legi]

Sure, because after all Novak doesn’t have a history of “faking” anything…

Novak Djokovic: Doubts over timing of Covid test

The BBC has uncovered fresh evidence questioning the timing of Novak Djokovic’s positive Covid test used to enter Australia.

www.bbc.com

Even if that article is correct in their accusations, that doesn’t explain why would he fake an injury now and retire from a semis match.

You could say he faked his Covid test for the ultimate goal of being able to compete in AO so there is a motive, but what motive would he have to fake injury in the semis and then retire. It’s illogical, and anyone connecting this article to justify doubting his injury (like you are doing) or booing him, is simply either stupid or just a Novak hater. I think you are both.