The Tennis Thread

[ChitHappens]

Tiafoe is a damn fool

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[ChitHappens]

Best match I've ever seen Foe play!   

[Fevuh]

The Alca match was unreal...I said to some friends while we were watching, I've never ever seen someone with touch like this repeatedly/consistently.  I've seen players that have it, but his drop shots are second to none of anyone I've ever seen.  Already.  Who knows if he'll hold on to that as he ages, but he also basically has an average serve, which will improve.  When this kid gets a serve that is 10% better and gets free points...look out.  

The other thing that made me smile really big was his passing shots...a very old coach told me once - I have no topspin practically, I hit flat.  I was so disappointing to her, LOL because I'm left handed and she so wanted me to have a strong forehand...and I never did.  My backhand was always the best.  But of the flat hitting, she said God if you ever do anything in your tennis life, put some kind of topspin on your passes.  It's deadly if you can do it.  I always remembered that.  She said, it doesn't matter where you put it if you can get that ball to dip, it makes it difficult for them on the other side.  You are forcing them to close on the net or they're volleying UP to clear the net, even by an inch or a centimeter to volley up is difficult.  

I smiled and knew she was watching up there somewhere (sappy I know), but Alca dipped those passes and Tsi couldn't handle it.  Several volleys dumped up into the net, and he was right there.

[Soapsuds]

Now Brad Gilbert is begging tennis fans to root on Novak... not to be against him.

[Faulkner]

Novak looks shaky this tournament. I’m sure not having played since the Olympics has a lot to do with it. Not enough matches under his belt. But Novak is always a bit off at the USO. The heat isn’t the issue this year.

Kei is letting Novak off the hook in this fourth game of the second set.

[Soapsuds]

Both are playing like shiiiiit

[Faulkner]

A mildly interesting stat that I wouldn’t have noticed on my own:

 

[Faulkner]

Wow at Shelby Rogers coming back to beat Ash Barty. What caused Ash to unravel from up 5-2 (double break lead) in the third? I missed it.

Edited September 5, 2021 by Faulkner

[Soapsuds]

Thank You Shelby Rogers!!

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Now I play the theme with a twist!

 

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[Faulkner]

Sock was playing out of his mind that first set, and now he can barely move?

[Soapsuds]

I love how Sasha was freaking out and his double fault yips were returning.

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[Fevuh]

I was rooting for Jack...nice guy.  A friend of mine dated him briefly several years ago.  I was messaging with her last night (she had no idea who he was at the time), she's not into sports at all.  She didn't even know he really was a tennis player at the time, and doesn't follow tennis at all.  She said, wow, I could have been rich!  I said, well no...a lot of tennis players, most really are not rich.  But anyway, had hoped he would win another round.  

[Faulkner]

I hate watching underdog players perform so well throughout the match, and just blow it when victory is in sight. See: Botic van de Zandschulp.

[Soapsuds]

Diego isn't winning it...the other guy is losing it.

Diego looks slow..his shots aren't great at all.

[Faulkner]

This guy is 5-1 up in the fifth, and I’m still not sure he’ll pull it off.

He pulled it off… finally. With a lot of help from Diego, of course.

Medvedev is gonna devour him, but still. Cool story.