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

[aepps20]

SP I THOUGHT THE SAME THING. Cilic and this run reminds me of Delpo

 

[Sinner]

Here we go...

 

[aepps20]

Cilic was a beast today

 

[Sinner]

He's been a beast since the QF's! 

 

[aepps20]

This run mirrors Delpo so much. He beat Fed like Delpo beat Rafa that year.

 

[illmaticsoulchild]

Utter domination. Hopefully this will be just the start for Cilic. Good tourney by Kei, but even at 100% he still would have lost.

 

[otakuant]

Welp, at least Kei moves into the top 10.

Congrats to Cilic.

 

[The_Isomotion31]

Congrats PED user...lololol. i'm kidding. Cilic did his thing.

 

[aepps20]

Is anyone else disappointed in Nole's performances in the later stages of majors this year?

 

[Sinner]

Well, he was out-played by Stan in Oz and it's always tough to beat Rafa at RG in a final... he won Wimbledon... so I guess it was just the USO which really left us feeling puzzled by his performance.  But, overall, yes, I do think his level hasn't been where we'd expect him to be.  With his marriage and new child on the way, I guess it's understandable. 

 

[aepps20]

Nole will play lights out tennis then he will fade in the last two rounds.

 

[Sinner]

Also, this happened today...

 

[aepps20]

Weren't fans in Hong Kong angry that Genie pulled out of the tournament?

 

[Sinner]

Not the fans... the organizers.  They were really upset and released a pretty strong press-release.  To be fair, I could understand why they were so upset.  I think when Genie originally negotiated with them to play here, she hadn't had her 2014 results yet (It was negotiated in late 2013, I think).  Her agents wanted more $$ (appearance fee) if she made it into the top-10.  The HK organizers eventually agreed.  

Fast-forward to last week, after she lost at the USO, the HK organizers were desperate to contact Genie's people, but she didn't reply to them.  Instead, they see these IG pics of her at NY Fashion Week.  She eventually confirmed that she wasn't coming.  So basically, after giving all these demands, she decides to not show up.  

Peng was supposed to come too, but with her USO, it was understandable that she had to withdraw.  She will, however, come and do some media & charity events.  The HK organizers praised her for that gesture.  

So all in all, I don't think the organizers needed to release such a harsh press-release (you can guarantee that Genie will never come), but I could understand why they were so upset. 

 

[The_Isomotion31]

mmmm Boom Boom.

 

[Sinner]

The sound on her 1st serve was really something.

 

[shogun]

I want to see her in the gym on leg day. Watching her do squats must be nice.

 

[aepps20]

This happens quite often on the WTA tour. Didn't she not fill out the paperwork confirming she was coming?

 

[aepps20]

I want to see her in the gym on leg day. Watching her do squats must be nice.

Sabine Lisicki on Getting Fit and 2013 Form:

 

[Sinner]

Before I forget...

It's been fun, guys...

 

[The_Isomotion31]

Great year.

 

[britkicks]

There is a lot of talk here in the UK media today that the days of the big 4 are over. I'm sure you hear the same thing in your countries too.

In my opinion the big 4 is now a big 2 of Novak and Rafa both still being favourites for every tournament they enter (except not Rafa for Wimbledon or Novak for FO). I then see a group below consisting of Fed, Murray, Stan, Cilic as the next most likely. We still have our group of seasoned top pros who never quite get to the big one (Berdych, Ferrer and Tsonga) and then the young guns knocking on the door of Raonic, Grigor and Kei.

Just my opinion but exciting times for men's tennis.

And spare a thought for DelPot

 

[aepps20]

I agree about there being a big two.

 

[thadangerousmind]

I hope the WTP enters an inconsistent period like the WTA.

 

[otakuant]

Is anyone else disappointed in Nole's performances in the later stages of majors this year?

 
Well, he was out-played by Stan in Oz and it's always tough to beat Rafa at RG in a final... he won Wimbledon... so I guess it was just the USO which really left us feeling puzzled by his performance.  But, overall, yes, I do think his level hasn't been where we'd expect him to be.  With his marriage and new child on the way, I guess it's understandable. 

I have to pretty much agree with SinnerP... I think it's just the US Open loss that was truly disappointing. With Nole winning the second set easily against Nishikori, I expected him to put up more of a fight. I only watched that tough 5th set he loss at the Australian Open against Stan, so I guess I can't comment on the whole match... With the French Open, it was disappointing in the fact that he had the momentum going into the tournament. He had 4 or 5 consecutive victories against Rafa before heading into the final, including a win on clay in Rome. He obviously wasn't 100% then (vomitting, wasn't moving around well, etc), so I can't really blame him on that one. He won Wimbledon, but I guess you could say that losing the 4th set after being at match point at 5-2 was a letdown. Then again, he was playing Fed on grass...

Disappointing losses or not, Nole's had a better year than most. He's the only player (male or female) to make it to at least the semis at every Grand Slam this year and two of his three GS losses were against the eventually champion. And of course, there's Wimbledon title #2.