The Official Tennis Thread (Vol. 2024 Oz Open Nadal Out)

[aepps20]

V did look great out there. I'm glad Serena is taking the rest of the year off.

 

[otakuant]

It was great seeing Venus being able to hang in there and get the win in such a long, physical match. With Halep and Kvitova gone, I think she has a good chance of winning Wuhan.

Her next opponent... Roberta Vinci. Really interested to see how that one goes since a few of us thought that Vee wouldn't have lost to Vinci at the US Open if she had beaten Serena.

 

 

[thadangerousmind]

Lmao at Vinci cursing Venus out in Italian. I'd be more afraid of Venus than Serena any day when it comes down to a fight. It's the always the quiet one who'll kill you.

 

[otakuant]

I'm happy for Pennetta and everything, but man, Venus could've had GS #8 last month.

She was pretty much steamrolling after dropping that first set to Vinci (before Vee hurt herself in the third, anyway).

Venus wins Wuhan after Muguruza retires due to injury. With Serena's withdraw, Venus is actually in 8th place in the race for the WTA Finals.

 

[Sinner]

What an amazing run by Venus...!  I would have been happy with either Venus or Garbine winning this one, but to have it end in a retirement is disappointing.  Both ladies were carrying injuries... war of attrition.  Tricky time of the year.  

 

[Sonny Corinthos]

Congrats to Venus

 

[Sinner]

Regardless of my views on her sportsmanship or the WTA's shameless promotion of her, I do feel for her... tough times.

http://www.si.com/tennis/2015/10/05/ap-ten-china-open

 

[aepps20]

This has been an awful year for Bouchard to say the least.

 

[Sinner]

Some players at the Beijing players' party... 

While Tsonga is dressed for prom...

 

[shogun]

For prom I wore a plain tuxedo like that too without any bright colors on it. One of the teachers thought I was a waiter since they wore the same thing and were also Asian.

 

[Sinner]

Ouch... I wore the same thing too.  Did you have a boutonnière?

 

[shogun]

Yeah but I guess he didn't notice it.

 

[Sinner]

Obligatory Ana pic... great win over Vee...

 

[otakuant]

Welp, I had a feeling this was going to happen... Nadal vs. Fognini Episode 9 in the semis at Beijing.

I'm shocked Nole was able to defeat Isner so easily. 6-2, 6-2 in only 52 minutes.

 

[Sinner]

Nole was on another level vs Isner.  I think he served over 80% first serves and still got broken 3 times (I think).  

Rafa looked a bit tight (again) vs Sock, but was able to settle down while Sock got more erratic.  Will need to tame this Fog madness. 

 

[otakuant]

Rafa gets his revenge on Fognini. The Beijing final is set: Nadal-Djokovic, Episode 45.

 

[champcruthik]

Benoit Paire's in ridiculous form in Japan. Ran through Dimitrov, Kyrgios, and Nishikori (all 3-setters) to face Stan in the final.

This has been an awful year for Bouchard to say the least.

Same for Raonic. Forgettable year of tennis for the Canadians.

I'm shocked Nole was able to defeat Isner so easily. 6-2, 6-2 in only 52 minutes.

Nole's in God mode. Washed Ferrer easily too. He's like 28-0 at the China Open.

 

[Sinner]

Didn't realize Benoit took out Kei!  

Normally, I'd look forward to a Rafole-matchup, but given their respective forms right now, I doubt it'll be very competitive.  I hope I'm wrong. 

 

[Sinner]

Paire literally using medical-tape to patch his kicks up...

 

[thadangerousmind]

Joker > Rafa 6-2,6-2. He's tied with Fed and 1 down to Rafa in the overall head to heads. With no real threat in sight, Novak could be unstoppable for years to come.

 

[aepps20]

So proud of my dude Nole.

 

[Sinner]

The 2 & 2 scoreline wasn't entirely representative, IMO.  Rafa actually show flashes of his old self in the 1st and got to deuce a few times on Nole's serve.  The trouble was sustaining it at that level.  Obvs, Nole's on another level, but had Rafa won a few crucial points in the 1st, it would have been much closer.  He was able to move Nole around and keep the ball deep, which he has been struggling to do so consistently.  Then in the 2nd, he tweaked his foot and after that, he was done.  Not saying Rafa would have beaten Nole, but he's definitely playing better.  

 

[otakuant]

Fed knocked out early in Shanghai...

 

Meanwhile, Venus is playing in Hong Kong in order to secure a spot in Singapore.

 

[Sinner]

Anyone watch Rafa vs Ivo?  That was a pretty good match!  High-quality tennis... Ivo's S&V was spot-on, while Rafa played (and returned) really well.  

His 3 return winners in a row to break was crazy...



Meanwhile, more controversy for NK... 

 

Also... this seemed inevitable... http://www.si.com/tennis/2015/10/14/ap-ten-us-open-bouchard-head-injury

 

[Sinner]

Meanwhile, Venus is playing in Hong Kong in order to secure a spot in Singapore.

Not really happy with my photos cuz there wasn't enough lighting, but oh well!