wendy
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Post by wendy on Aug 27, 2017 18:16:41 GMT
20 years exactly since Queen Vee made her first Grand Slam final... can she do it again!?!?!?
I wanted to start this thread to discuss matches etc.
Anyway, what are our thoughts on this year's draws?
Any predictions? Who are we rooting for?
After spending her entire career eating a bowl of PEDs for breakfast every morning, Maria Sharapova finally returns to tennis after wasting several wildcards earlier this year at multiple tournaments by pulling out. Do we think she has what it takes to beat world #2 Halep in the opening round after so long out of the game? Halep has never beaten her before but I find it hard to believe she'll be walked all over here.
Mens draw:
Nadal is the #1 seed and I like his (and also Fed's -#3) chances... but something in my women's intuition tells me this could be a rare slam that none of the big 4 take? Or at least a newbie in the final. No explanation for that, just sort of a feeling (and hope lol) that I have. Not a lot to discuss in this draw given the way things have been going on the ATP, but it should be interesting to see what outsiders make it into the 2nd week. Kyrgios has been playing well again (finally) but he might be exhausted from New Haven. Dimitrov too. Look i'm probably wrong and it'll just be Nadal/Fed again but a girl can dream!!
Women's draw (aka the one that matters):
- Pliskova (1) is #1 but hasn't been playing like it. Halepeño (2) is #2 but tends to shit the bed when she reaches the big moments of a tournament. I can see either being Semi Finalists but it's hard to expect much of them beyond that given the way they let winnable slam matches slip through their fingers at that stage.
- Smart money would be on Muguruza (3) after the last few months (not only Wimbledon but her title in Cincinnati proved she could play on clay). HOWEVER she has never made it past the 2nd round of the US Open, and often cracks at tournaments when a lot is expected of her. She's in the toughest quarter of the draw as well IMO.
- Svitolina (4) has won so many titles this year but never really done well at slams... she's easily the most consistent player in the top 10 and I would predict her to go all the way, but it's hard to put that expectation on someone who has never done well on a big stage.
- Wozniacki (5) has made 6 finals or so on the WTA this year and has been playing well, but if they both make it that far she faces Queenus Williams in the 4th round and in 7 matches, Venus has won all of them (and all of them on hard courts). After that round she'd have to play Mugu if she makes it that far. I think the tough 3rd quarter of the draw will be her undoing.
- Kerber (6) is the defending champion but i'll be shocked if she makes it into the 2nd week.
- Jo Konta (7) has a good game for HC and probably isn't as tired as the other top 10 ladies, wouldn't be a bad one to bet on either if she had a better record against some of these other ladies.
- Kuznetsova (8) played an amaaazing match the other day against Muguruza, she's definitely slam ready if she can power through the first few rounds. She's quietly had a good year too, slowly improving her game with a few odd losses taking the shine off of that.
- Vee (9) has the best record at Grand Slams this year and I think she's really hungry for it (plus will have home advantage), but her summer clay season has been pretty bad. She usually saves her best for the slams (opposite of Svito and Woz) but it's those first few rounds i'm most worried about as she finds her form. She's in that tricky 3rd quarter as well. Plus potential Muguruza rematch in the QF stage. But she's an killer on hard court (her streak at the start of the millennium was scary) and... 3rd time's the charm?
- Radwanska (10) and Cibulkova (11) have to be tired from slugging it out so hard in the pre-season. Both are covered in tape and I just don't think they have what it takes to factor in here past the first 3 rounds.
- Ostapenko (12) and Kiki Mladenovic (14) had a great run in Paris but seem to have exhausted themselves, (mostly) playing terribly since Roland Garros and struggling to regain their form. They're both young and need to recuperate, but will be on the hunt for points to get them into the Singapore and YEC. Kvitova (13) is still finding her footing understandably.
Oddly I can actually see a newbie making a run to the final here, or at least semis. Americans especially: Maddie Keys (15) has had a superb season, Sloane Stephens is BACK (ranking shooting up like a hundred spots in 3 weeks of playing) and playing her best tennis in years, Coco (20) could have another strong GS run, and young Aussies Barty and Gavrilova (25) have been killing it in the lead up tournaments. Perhaps Carolina Garcia (18) who has good nerves and a steely game when she's focused? If Osaka and Konjuh (21) can keep their injuries and fatigue at bay I think they can take out some of the big names early on (although probably not contenders to go super deep). I see people predicting Sharapova (WC) but...... no.
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Post by Kirk-Picard on Aug 27, 2017 19:21:43 GMT
Murray pulling out after the draws were announced was an epic troll move
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wendy
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Post by wendy on Aug 27, 2017 19:30:11 GMT
Murray pulling out after the draws were announced was an epic troll move So disrespectful but Sandgren must be cheering lol. |
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wendy
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Post by wendy on Aug 29, 2017 13:59:36 GMT
Happy for Zverev (although he needs a haircut). Pouille too! Tsonga, Cilic as well with clinical wins. I hope they both stay focused. It was sad to see Kokkinakis lose after taking the first two sets... he was always the more endearing of the him/Kyrgios duo. Kyrgios is now pretty much the only Australian hope (although Gavrilova and Barty have been killing it lately on the WTA). A few good upsets in the women's opening round last night!! Jo Konta is out (and deserved to be considering the way she's been playing - regroup girl). I feel for the British though who have now lost Murray, her, and Watson. What else are they going to show on Eurosport when they always oversaturate their media with the home favourites.  Aaand Sharadopa killed Simona Halep. I kind of had a feeling she would after all the hoopla Nike was making about the dress and promoting her, if she had lost it would have been a disaster for that campaign. Poor Halep had to draw the worst player in R1... although she could still end up as #1 if Mugu chokes and Pliskova etc. don't win. I think she needs to work on her serve and playing more offensively. That Lucic-Baroni match destroyed my nerves... I don't know how much longer I can watch her! :/ Venus didn't have a great day at the office either but at least they're through... Vee tends to pick it up in R3 or 4 anyway at a slam. Carolina Garcia had the most convincing win of the night... I wonder if she can put a stop to Muguruza in the 4th round? That would be interesting. Looking forward to tonight: Seppi v Batista Agut Osaka v Kerber Kontaveit v Safarova .... and hopefully a few more upsets in this early stage of the draw. |
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Post by moonman157 on Aug 30, 2017 0:58:36 GMT
Please god let Federer pull off one of the greatest achievements in the history of sports.
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Post by moonman157 on Aug 30, 2017 3:53:43 GMT
Why must you play with my emotions so Fed? What a nailbiter of a 5th set.
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Post by Kirk-Picard on Aug 30, 2017 5:18:06 GMT
Why must you play with my emotions so Fed? What a nailbiter of a 5th set. I legit thought he was losing after tiafoe broke him at 3-5 in the decider He looked great in set 2 and 3 |
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Post by moonman157 on Aug 30, 2017 15:26:44 GMT
Why must you play with my emotions so Fed? What a nailbiter of a 5th set. I legit thought he was losing after tiafoe broke him at 3-5 in the decider He looked great in set 2 and 3 Exact same reaction. After the 3rd I thought he would coast through the 4th. Then with that break at 5-3 I thought it was all over. He got real lucky to squeeze by with the break back. Let's hope the next couple of rounds feature him playing like he was in the 2nd and 3rd. |
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wendy
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Post by wendy on Aug 30, 2017 17:54:43 GMT
Props to Tiafoe for holding his own!! Not gonna lie I would have loved to see an upset. Federer is lovely but he's won plenty and I hate that he ditches the clay season.
A lot of the veterans are having a little trouble in the first round here though.
- I just watched Grigor Dimitrov clean up very succinctly though which is good to see.
- Happy to see Tsonga have a convincing win as well, he's played slightly better this year even if I don't have a lot of faith he'll regain his peak.
- Things are not looking great for Kyrgios (I think he's already overplayed in the pre-season given his injuries), and watching him exaggerate all his ailments and shout at the umpire here re: his swearing is painful to witness.
- Looks like another early exit for sexy Fognini as well.
- I'm just happy my man Monfils is through!!!! With the bigger names out this is EXACTLY the right tournament for him to tighten up his game and make a deep run.
As for the ladies:
- Mladenovic is dead, and good riddance to bad rubbish.
- Bouchard was expectedly steamrolled... disgusted that her team paid enough to get her on Arthur Ashe. The poor crowd probably thought they were watching a practice hit.
- Wonderful match from Osaka against Kerber yesterday... Kerber has obviously had an awful year but it wasn't just that, Naomi (Slayomi) was hitting brilliant forehands down the line and I think she can get a few rounds into this one. That's three of the top 10 seeds out in the first round.
- Ostapenko survives another three-setter (she's such a Nishikori in that way).
- Everybody pray for Queen Vinas against Dodin later on. <3
Huge day of matches today. Because of the dud weather yesterday they're playing about 1000 matches...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2017 18:55:57 GMT
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wendy
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Post by wendy on Aug 31, 2017 20:49:51 GMT
Not really a Mouzhny fan but i'm glad he's putting himself on the scoreboard now if only because the ESPN commentators were being so douchey/fratty/obnoxious in all their Federer worship. That's not Fed's fault and not to take anything away from his level of play but It reached a nauseating, almost unprofessional point (especially them waxing lyrical about him playing in central park) while they were outright dissing Mouzhny, literally saying that he has no chance etc.... and it's fun to watch them eat even a little bit of crow. I won't be able to watch the full match but I hope it's at least a good test from both players.  Shut those old windbags up. The ESPN coverage in general this year is annoying. Cutting in the middle of Pliskova's break points to go to bloody Del Potro hitting a double fault on court #71?? Just stupid. Monfils is also currently in play and i'm using all my voodoo power to ensure him a smooth victory. We're one set down already but Young is picking up his level here. Hnggg Sexy Dustin Brown is eliminated although not a big surprise, he was never going to make a super deep run in the US Open. Tsonga out as well... it is so frustrating being a fan of his. Very sad for Dimitrov who plain and simple did not play to his own standards today. I don't even know what happened, just a lot of errors and lack of focus. On the other hand Millman continues his nice little surprise run with a solid win over Jaziri. Anyway, world #1 Pliskova was pathetic in her match. She's lucky she scraped by, because world #1957364 Nicole Gibbs completely dictated the matchplay. When she was dominant, the match was in her hands completely, and when she lost focus and let the errors fly, Pliskbot was merely there to hit solid returns. She has the easiest draw ever but she's going to have to step it up. Any one of those unseeded players having a good day can run her into the ground if she continues to let them. Vee killed it today although she still has a long ways to go to even reach her Wimbledon level. She usually finds her form against these scrubs in the earlier rounds, hopefully she continues to rise against my countrywoman Sakkari tomorrow (sorry Maritzas) and gets her power serve back. Praying for Gavrilova to close out this difficult match against Rogers... not just because she's an Aussie but because I think she'll put up a better fight against Pliskova and possibly even take her out. Osaka continues on, although not as in-form as in her first match. Wozniacki is out of the Open and out of the race to #1... Vee would have ended her anyway (or Garcia or someone) but this is an early exit. Love the drama of her complaining about Sharapova getting the Arthur Ashe placement and not her, she's such a whiner. Meldonium pulls out another 3-set win... she also has a super easy quarter to reach the semis. -_- Her vs Kenin is going to be the noisiest fucking match of all time with their grunting. Svito and Ostapenko both get straight set wins, surprising for the latter!! Especially since she hit 14 double faults in the 2nd set or something. That's literally 3 games. She really needs to hit the practice court and work on that aspect of her game. Brady slayed with a double breadstick win and Niculescu knocked out her fellow Roumanian. Tomorrow is going to be fun!! Veesus Christ of course, but also Mugu v Rybarikova, Garcia v Kvitova, Makarova v Suarez Navarro (these are all in the same tough quarter!!), as well as Barty v Stephens which I can see being a very strong match... both have been so watchable in the lead up tournaments. |
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Post by ChairfaceC on Sept 1, 2017 18:39:55 GMT
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Post by moonman157 on Sept 1, 2017 19:32:09 GMT
How far is the tyke going to go?!
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Post by ChairfaceC on Sept 1, 2017 20:07:54 GMT
Mugu just crushed Halep's #1 dreams two tournaments in a row. I'm so proud.
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wendy
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Post by wendy on Sept 1, 2017 21:51:02 GMT
Mugu is in unstoppable form! I'd be very scared to play her.
However, Kvitova made minced meat out of her last year right before Mug won at RG.
Really looking forward to their matchup, I hope it's a close one.
Venus was distracted today and had a bad Sjogrens day (the eyedrops, the lack of knee movement, the lethargy, the cold which is bad for it), not to mention being put on the spot to make a statement about Serena's baby before even Serena really had, 30 seconds before the match!! (fuck you Pam)..... but she still pulled out the win! Seriously needs to boost her level to beat Suarez Navarro though. If her serving at Wimbledon was a 9.5/10 it's currently at like a 6. Come on and rise, girl!!
I'm convinced the winner will come from this quarter of the draw. They've all had stronger opponents and better practice than Plisk, Sharapova and Svito.
Stephens v Goerges is going to be another tough one to pick (although Stephens is killing it so i'd side with her).
I also want to see Maddie Keys' form, I think she could be a dark horse contender to make a deep run too.
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Post by jimmalone on Sept 2, 2017 10:32:53 GMT
From the beginning this was going to be a strange slam. No Djokovic, no Murray, no Wawrinka, no Nishikori, no Raonic. I follow Tennis since around 25 years, but I can't remember such a flood of withdrawals before a Grand Slam. 5 of the Worlds Top Ten not playing at a Grand Slam. Really a shame.
And then the draw obviously didn't help to make the tournament more interesting. Querrey, M. Zverev, Lorenzi, Anderson, Shapovalov, Carreno Busta, Pouille, Schwartzman - one of those eight, of whom only Querrey has ever made it to a semifinal at a Grand Slam, will definitely be in the final. So who? I'd say Anderson right now. Though I would want it to be Pouille, who has great talent and who could draw confidence from this.
As for the women's tournament: Muguruza was my favorite before the US Open started and so far she seems on the right way. Kvitova, who can always play great on a given day, could be her hardest test.
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Post by ChairfaceC on Sept 2, 2017 18:26:24 GMT
If any of Schwartzman, Mischa, Shapovalov or Carreno Busta make the final this will be my favorite slam ever. Especially if Domi or Delpo are on the other side. That's my dream.
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wendy
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Post by wendy on Sept 3, 2017 8:49:37 GMT
jimmalone you're so right about the barren (or should one say 'open') looking competition on the men's side. I thought it might be the other Zverev but he's gone now!! And i'm still crying about Monfils leaving injured when it was more available than usual for him to make a deep run. Top half: One NGNG prediction I want to make is that I don't think we'll see the Fed/Nadal semi that looks expected from the draw. I'm expecting maybe a Thiem or Goffin upset... not sure why, just a feeling I have. - Del Potro did have a very convincing win against Batista Agut though, and when he's playing properly he can always be a threat. Bottom (aka 'interesting') half: - From the bottom half I guess i'm rooting for Pouille or Carreno Busta!! Wouldn't mind seeing Mischa make a run to the semis either. - I don't think Grandpa Lorenzi will continue his dream run. He's still playing doubles and has had an easier draw than the others to make it this far. Plus Anderson beat him in every one of their past encounters. - The winner of (the more handsome of the brothers) Zverev, and Querrey I think will be an almost guaranteed semifinalist, defeating the winner of the above two. I'm - Sopalovalovalov is the bookies favourite after Nadal/Fed, but I can't really see it yet. I haven't watched a lot of his matches so maybe that would change my mind. - If I had to guess it's Pooey or Querrey who will make the final, flip a coin. ******* Bottom half: - Muguruthless is a logical choice but she hasn't reeaally been tested yet. I think Kvitova's gameplay will be a wakeup call. I just hope Petra can sustain this time... her last few tournaments since the attack have been wildly impressive and then just one match she seems to break down and eliminate HERSELF, more than anything. - Aunt Vinas should be able to best Suarez Navarro. She actually knows how to play her, seems confident going in, and has a convincing lead in their head-to head (winning the last two as well). CSN is erratic and Vee probably got to Skype the baby and Serena this time so that won't be a distraction. - Can someone please eliminate Sharapova? I don't have strong faith that Sevastova will be the one to do it but Meldonium was playing horribly in her last round... another easy escape thanks to an inconsistent opponent. The USTA smartly gave her a favourable draw to come back and give them star power now that Serena is out and Nike are losing money on Bouchard. That will end after this round. - The Goerges / Stephens match will probably be the closest of the day just because of their styles and surprise top form lately. Top half: - Pliskova is a ticking time bomb. She has had the easiest draw of any #1 seed in a long time and her gameplay has been flopping left and right. It will just take one player who manages to capitalise on that to defeat her. - Vandeweghe's last match was disgusting (i'm glad she got fined), and her gameplay wasn't too hot either... rooting for Lucie Safarova to destroy her. - Svito vs Keys is a tough one to call... they both had such impressive pre-seasons and have been making solid waves here. Elina has been cleaning them up in 2 sets but not exactly dominating, Keys has the disadvantage of playing one of the most fatigue-inducing and late-finishing matches in US Open history. It will be a tight one. - Kasatkina vs Kanepi is the least interesting match up here even though it has the novelty of being the promising kid vs the veteran qualifier. My money is on Kasatkina who has been finishing her matches faster and with more of a lead. NGNG: I do think we'll get one American in the final. I was so impressed with Maddie Keys fighting back to peak form at 1:40am against Vesnina and taking the match after being down a set and serving poorly in the first/second sets. Vee is probably about to start playing closer to her peak level (which is a danger for any of them) and is the only player to have won this slam remaining, and Sloane Stephens' roll since coming back from injury has simply been unbelievable... she has to be the 'fittest' player still there which is crazy to think about.
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Post by jimmalone on Sept 3, 2017 10:25:54 GMT
Well, if we are talking about dreams, it would be a Nadal - Pouille final for me, with Rafa winning it. But I would also be happy with Thiem or Del Potro winning the whole thing.
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Post by ibbi on Sept 3, 2017 11:01:39 GMT
- Vandeweghe's last match was disgusting (i'm glad she got fined) Wha' happened?? |
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Post by jimmalone on Sept 3, 2017 11:07:51 GMT
jimmalone you're so right about the barren (or should one say 'open') looking competition on the men's side. I thought it might be the other Zverev but he's gone now!! And i'm still crying about Monfils leaving injured when it was more available than usual for him to make a deep run. Top half: One NGNG prediction I want to make is that I don't think we'll see the Fed/Nadal semi that looks expected from the draw. I'm expecting maybe a Thiem or Goffin upset... not sure why, just a feeling I have. - Del Potro did have a very convincing win against Batista Agut though, and when he's playing properly he can always be a threat. Bottom (aka 'interesting') half: - From the bottom half I guess i'm rooting for Pouille or Carreno Busta!! Wouldn't mind seeing Mischa make a run to the semis either. - I don't think Grandpa Lorenzi will continue his dream run. He's still playing doubles and has had an easier draw than the others to make it this far. Plus Anderson beat him in every one of their past encounters. - The winner of (the more handsome of the brothers) Zverev, and Querrey I think will be an almost guaranteed semifinalist, defeating the winner of the above two. I'm - Sopalovalovalov is the bookies favourite after Nadal/Fed, but I can't really see it yet. I haven't watched a lot of his matches so maybe that would change my mind. - If I had to guess it's Pooey or Querrey who will make the final, flip a coin. ******* Bottom half: - Muguruthless is a logical choice but she hasn't reeaally been tested yet. I think Kvitova's gameplay will be a wakeup call. I just hope Petra can sustain this time... her last few tournaments since the attack have been wildly impressive and then just one match she seems to break down and eliminate HERSELF, more than anything. - Aunt Vinas should be able to best Suarez Navarro. She actually knows how to play her, seems confident going in, and has a convincing lead in their head-to head (winning the last two as well). CSN is erratic and Vee probably got to Skype the baby and Serena this time so that won't be a distraction. - Can someone please eliminate Sharapova? I don't have strong faith that Sevastova will be the one to do it but Meldonium was playing horribly in her last round... another easy escape thanks to an inconsistent opponent. The USTA smartly gave her a favourable draw to come back and give them star power now that Serena is out and Nike are losing money on Bouchard. That will end after this round. - The Goerges / Stephens match will probably be the closest of the day just because of their styles and surprise top form lately. Top half: - Pliskova is a ticking time bomb. She has had the easiest draw of any #1 seed in a long time and her gameplay has been flopping left and right. It will just take one player who manages to capitalise on that to defeat her. - Vandeweghe's last match was disgusting (i'm glad she got fined), and her gameplay wasn't too hot either... rooting for Lucie Safarova to destroy her. - Svito vs Keys is a tough one to call... they both had such impressive pre-seasons and have been making solid waves here. Elina has been cleaning them up in 2 sets but not exactly dominating, Keys has the disadvantage of playing one of the most fatigue-inducing and late-finishing matches in US Open history. It will be a tight one. - Kasatkina vs Kanepi is the least interesting match up here even though it has the novelty of being the promising kid vs the veteran qualifier. My money is on Kasatkina who has been finishing her matches faster and with more of a lead. NGNG: I do think we'll get one American in the final. I was so impressed with Maddie Keys fighting back to peak form at 1:40am against Vesnina and taking the match after being down a set and serving poorly in the first/second sets. Vee is probably about to start playing closer to her peak level (which is a danger for any of them) and is the only player to have won this slam remaining, and Sloane Stephens' roll since coming back from injury has simply been unbelievable... she has to be the 'fittest' player still there which is crazy to think about. Monfils was in the not so easy half of the draw though. Unlucky as so often. For me it was Cilics early exit that baffled me the most. When I saw the draw I felt he was the heavy favorite to make another Grand Slam Final (I still don't trust Alexander Zverevs body in two weeks of Best-of-5-matches at this point), but he was pretty dull against an inspired Schwartzman. What I think in the top half right now is, that Federer has the best chances to make the final, but I feel that Del Potro also could go the whole way. Didn't like what I saw from Nadal yesterday and he has a tricky opponent now with Dolgopolov. Also Thiem isn't playing his best, but it should be a very interesting match against Delpo, a rematch of last years Fourth-Round-Game, if I remember right. (Delpo won) For the bottom half I also don't echo the bookies placing of Shapovalov as the favorite there. Too unexperienced in Best-of-5-matches, even in this half, especially if he sees Anderson or Querrey at the other side in the semis, if he's making it thus far. I'd even say Shapovalov is one of the most improbable players in that half to make it through. Let's not forget he is just 18, it's only his second slam (I'm not sure on this, but would he be the first player since Becker to reach the quarterfinals already in as early as his second slam? Becker did it already on his first, but then this was at an mid-eighties Australian Open...) Pouille is the best player in that half, I think, but he wasn't in great shape lately. But it probably could be anybody in the final except Lorenzi. As for the women: Kvitova, though I think she only has one gameplan at all (hit the ball early and try to attack), is always tricky. So much depends how many mistakes she makes. Tough task for Muguruza, who can be a bit more patient than Kvitova though. Still make Muguruza the favorite. Right now she is playing what I expected her to play already right after her French Open win. Her week months were mostly a mental thing and while this can occur again, right now she seems so confident, that you just have to make her the tournament favorite. Because obviously she also has the game. For me the down half seem predestined for a Muguruza - Sharapova semi. Though I'd love Sevastova to come through somehow. While I clearly prefer mens tennis I've to say that today the four women's matches look much more interesting than the men's ones. The other half is a bit weeker though it's till better than the already emptied chocolate box, that is the men's bottom half. For me Svitolina is probably the final favorite here, though she has a tough opponent with Keys tomorrow. The winner should reach the semifinal. Happy about Kasatkina's win over Ostapenko. Also her reaction to the Latvians "handshake" was classy. Somebody really should teach Ostapenko some manners. |
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Post by jimmalone on Sept 3, 2017 11:14:25 GMT
Predictions for today:
MEN:
Querrey over M. Zverev in 5 sets
Anderson over Lorenzi in 3
Carreno Busta over Shapovalov in 4
Schwartzman over Pouille in 5
WOMEN:
V. Williams over Suarez Navarro in 2 sets
Muguruza over Kvitova in 3 sets
Stephens over Görges in 3 sets
Sharapova over Sevastova in 2 sets
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wendy
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Post by wendy on Sept 3, 2017 14:28:49 GMT
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wendy
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Post by wendy on Sept 3, 2017 14:53:16 GMT
Monfils was in the not so easy half of the draw though. Unlucky as so often. For me it was Cilics early exit that baffled me the most. When I saw the draw I felt he was the heavy favorite to make another Grand Slam Final (I still don't trust Alexander Zverevs body in two weeks of Best-of-5-matches at this point), but he was pretty dull against an inspired Schwartzman. What I think in the top half right now is, that Federer has the best chances to make the final, but I feel that Del Potro also could go the whole way. Didn't like what I saw from Nadal yesterday and he has a tricky opponent now with Dolgopolov. Also Thiem isn't playing his best, but it should be a very interesting match against Delpo, a rematch of last years Fourth-Round-Game, if I remember right. (Delpo won) For the bottom half I also don't echo the bookies placing of Shapovalov as the favorite there. Too unexperienced in Best-of-5-matches, even in this half, especially if he sees Anderson or Querrey at the other side in the semis, if he's making it thus far. I'd even say Shapovalov is one of the most improbable players in that half to make it through. Let's not forget he is just 18, it's only his second slam (I'm not sure on this, but would he be the first player since Becker to reach the quarterfinals already in as early as his second slam? Becker did it already on his first, but then this was at an mid-eighties Australian Open...) Pouille is the best player in that half, I think, but he wasn't in great shape lately. But it probably could be anybody in the final except Lorenzi. As for the women: Kvitova, though I think she only has one gameplan at all (hit the ball early and try to attack), is always tricky. So much depends how many mistakes she makes. Tough task for Muguruza, who can be a bit more patient than Kvitova though. Still make Muguruza the favorite. Right now she is playing what I expected her to play already right after her French Open win. Her week months were mostly a mental thing and while this can occur again, right now she seems so confident, that you just have to make her the tournament favorite. Because obviously she also has the game. For me the down half seem predestined for a Muguruza - Sharapova semi. Though I'd love Sevastova to come through somehow. While I clearly prefer mens tennis I've to say that today the four women's matches look much more interesting than the men's ones. The other half is a bit weeker though it's till better than the already emptied chocolate box, that is the men's bottom half. For me Svitolina is probably the final favorite here, though she has a tough opponent with Keys tomorrow. The winner should reach the semifinal. Happy about Kasatkina's win over Ostapenko. Also her reaction to the Latvians "handshake" was classy.
Somebody really should teach Ostapenko some manners. Yeah the Cilic match was bizarre… I watched confused, he just didn’t seem to be trying and yet he was obviously kind of zeroed in on making a comeback and seemed emotional. Totally agree with you on Shapovalov. He’s untested and inexperienced, it’s very rare that those newbie players crack through upon debut (although like in the video in my OP, it did happen to Vee in her 3rd slam). I usually root for Pouille and am often disappointed, and you’re right in that he’s been in better shape, although the draw in this case is a bit more generous. I think his hardest test will come in the form of either Querrey or Nadal. ***** Top half: I’m also glad Oyster-Pancake was eliminated. I know Meldonium would have LOVED to put her in her place after all her comments over the years (even pre-doping) about her. Her handshakes are arguably the worst on the tour. I remember people predicting her to repeat her Roland Garros win at Wimbledon… it was delicious to watch classy Queenus put her in her place. I am still unsure about Svito here… I mean she’s won 6 other titles this year but seems to crumble under Slam pressure. I like her consistency (super rare in the women’s tennis at the moment), but I also worry for her in big matches. Probably prefer her more than Keys and I have her as the final favourite, but I think Keys will be her biggest hurdle. I’ll go slightly further and say the winner of their match will be the top half finalist. As for the bottom half finalist, ATM i’m still tossing up between Veesus Christ / Muguruthless / Kvitova / Sloane. At a push i’ll say Mugu, who is easing into the role of fearlessly dominating with few nerves. I’m gonna say: MEN: Querrey over M. Zverev in 5 Anderson over Lorenzi in 3 Carreno Busta over Shapovalov in 4 Pouille over Schwartzman in 4 And then exactly the same as you (WOMEN: V. Williams over Suarez Navarro in 2 sets Muguruza over Kvitova in 3 sets Stephens over Görges in 3 sets Sharapova over Sevastova in 2 sets) I do think there’s a chance Gorges can top Sloane, and I don’t have 100% faith in Mugu either… she can get frustrated and implode a little, especially against an attacker like Kvitova. |
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ibbi
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Post by ibbi on Sept 3, 2017 15:16:50 GMT
LOL to be fair, pretty much any time Radwanska gets her ass booted out of a major tournament that's the exact same handshake anyone gets, I wouldn't put that on Coco. Otherwise not surprised by her general obnoxiousness. What would you expect?  |
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Shut those old windbags up.
