The psychology of Davis Cup and Fed Cup interests me.  Who cracks under pressure vs. who steps up.  If there's a team where I like most of the players (which is rare), I may actually be interested in the actual competition.

Oy at Madison losing that Fed Cup tie. She was totally overpowering Ash at the beginning. 

 

But what’s going on with Gavrilova? She’s a disaster right now. Same as the other Dasha.

9 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

Oy at Madison losing that Fed Cup tie. She was totally overpowering Ash at the beginning. 

 

But what’s going on with Gavrilova? She’s a disaster right now. Same as the other Dasha.

 

Ashleigh is very talented and capable of winning big matches, so I'm not questioning the fact that she won but it's the way that she won, with a seeming collapse by Keys.  6-1 in the second...unless Keys was injured, there's no excuse of that score, after she was dominating early.  But I've noticed this about Keys years ago, when the pressure is on.

 

As for Gavrilova, I've seen her lose too many match to answer that one.  

6 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

Ashleigh is very talented and capable of winning big matches, so I'm not questioning the fact that she won but it's the way that she won, with a seeming collapse by Keys.  6-1 in the second...unless Keys was injured, there's no excuse of that score, after she was dominating early.  But I've noticed this about Keys years ago, when the pressure is on.

 

As for Gavrilova, I've seen her lose too many match to answer that one.  

Madison’s trend line certainly isn’t going in the right direction. Hopefully she’s not injured, as her previous injuries really derailed a lot of potential momentum. But she does crumble a bit under pressure. I wonder what it will take to give her some belief.

 

I suppose Novak played them both into form in Melbourne. Lol. (I think Mitchell Krueger, who played Novak in R1 in Australia, is in the finals of the Dallas Challenger.)

 

 

6 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

Madison’s trend line certainly isn’t going in the right direction. Hopefully she’s not injured, as her previous injuries really derailed a lot of potential momentum. But she does crumble a bit under pressure. I wonder what it will take to give her some belief.

 

A bit???  

I once witnessed Madison dissolve into tears after losing a first set.  That incident right there convinced me not to get too invested where she's concerned.

 

Looks like Gavrilova may take this tie to a 3rd set.

I also think Medvedev is being pitched as a villain against Golden Boy Tsitsipas. Still, he can come across as a jerk, both on and off court.

1 hour ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

A bit???  

I once witnessed Madison dissolve into tears after losing a first set.  That incident right there convinced me not to get too invested where she's concerned.

 

Looks like Gavrilova may take this tie to a 3rd set.

Has she ever done the sports psychologist route? I would love to see more commitment to moving past those mental hurdles. She may be a lost cause, but we’ll never know if she doesn’t try.

 

She’s still very young and could have many years ahead if her body holds up.

Edited February 10, 20196 yr by Faulkner

It's all coming down to the doubles.

 

Meanwhile Mackenzie McDonald is in the Dallas Challenger final vs. Mitchell Krueger. 

Krueger is best known for playing that infamous challenger match vs. Frances Tiafoe where the sounds of that amorous couple could be heard on court.  Well, that's how I remember him anyway.

The runner-up trophy is cooler than the champion’s!

 

 

This is a crazy story, given how many players who’ve been on the tour for YEARS without a single ATP tour title at ANY level.

 

 

I don't know what Londero's draw was like but beating Pella on clay is nothing to sneeze at.  

 

I don't get it.

I'm the first to watch loads of tennis but all these tournaments and TC going from one place to another is too much. And none of the matches are even entertaining with all these players I could care less about. The NY tourney is worst!

52 minutes ago, Soapsuds said:

I'm the first to watch loads of tennis but all these tournaments and TC going from one place to another is too much. And none of the matches are even entertaining with all these players I could care less about. The NY tourney is worst!

 

TC and that lousy ESPN+ like the ITF, ATP & WTA are just doing a big money grab.  TC didn't even have to show the Challengers from Dallas as there is a dedicated website where one can stream it for free. 

Also, if you have a streaming device like Roku, you can watch on your TV set from their Livestream Channel. Again, without a paid subscription, as long as you have the Roku box.

The Challengers on TC is just another event that will compete with, and take time away from matches from the other Tour events.  Doesn't make any sense to me.

But none of these entities/companies actually care what tennis fans and subscribers want, they care about chasing dollars.

 

1 hour ago, ChitHappens said:

I don't get it.

 

It is a listing of who is the tenth ranked player from each country.  Who is ranked number 10.

 

For example, who is the #10 ranked player in the USA? Bradley Klahn is the 10th ranked American player.

 

Don't ask me what significance it is to see who is ranked at #10 in their respective countries (shrugs).

Tennis loves to create milestones and markers that bear no significance to anyone but stats-crazy people.

Edited February 11, 20196 yr by DramatistDreamer

10 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

 

 

Don't ask me what significance it is to see who is ranked at #10 in their respective countries (shrugs).

Tennis loves to create milestones and markers that bear no significance to anyone but stats-crazy people.

And they were just at it on TC. Tracy Austin gushing over how many American males were in top 100 and then mentioning those outside the 100 and how great American male tennis is looking...gag me.