Wow!  Congrats Flav!

Yeah, that didn’t feel like your typical “hit and giggle” exhibition match between Rafa and Stefanos.

He and Flavia are really enamored of the word "F" and names that begin with that letter, I guess.

 

Benvenuta piccola Farah 💓💖
FF87 ❤️ FF23 pic.twitter.com/4ENAsNDDwO

— Fabio Fognini (@fabiofogna) December 23, 2019

Didn't I once mention how injury-prone she was/is?  I also mentioned that I believed it would impact her character as she ages, as she is still only a teenager. She's having physical problems that I would associate with players who have been in the grind of the Tour for a much longer period of years. It reminds me of Ana Konjuh unfortunately.

 

 

Bad news: Bianca Andreescu isn't ready to start her 2020 season in Auckland.

Bibi played six tournaments in the last 9 months of 2019 and retired from the last on in Shenzhen. She is worryingly injury prone.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) December 24, 2019

Next Thursday is the ATP cup. 

 

Serena will be playing doubles with Carolyn in pre warm up tournament before Australia. 

 

Kim will make her return in March. I am assuming at IW.

Edited December 24, 20195 yr by Soapsuds

Tennis Channel’s linear audience grew 33 percent in 2019, one of the few channels, broadcast or cable, to show any growth at all. A tiny audience, certainly, but notable. Maybe the return of WTA play brought back lapsed viewers?

https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/network-ratings-top-channels-fox-news-espn-cnn-cbs-nbc-abc-1203440870/

Hawaiian open exhibition tournament begins tonight on tennis channel.

Well hello Diego

 

 

19 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

Hawaiian open exhibition tournament begins tonight on tennis channel.

 

From what I've read, there's been a stampede of withdrawals from the tournament.  I know it's something of an exhibition now but still, not good.  I think I preferred it when it was a $125K WTA tournament, at least then, the WTA site provided free streaming and kept it cute. 

This year, The Hawaiian Open pretty much seems like an indoor Challenger tournament.  The one match I managed to see did bring a smile to my face though, to see MAGA-ite Christian Harrison gets his butt beat by Brandon Shinakawa, who literally just left college and whose only previous experience was in a few summertime Challenger tournaments. 

3 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

From what I've read, there's been a stampede of withdrawals from the tournament.  I know it's something of an exhibition now but still, not good.  I think I preferred it when it was a $125K WTA tournament, at least then, the WTA site provided free streaming and kept it cute. 

This year, The Hawaiian Open pretty much seems like an indoor Challenger tournament.  The one match I managed to see did bring a smile to my face though, to see MAGA-ite Christian Harrison gets his butt beat by Brandon Shinakawa, who literally just left college and whose only previous experience was in a few summertime Challenger tournaments. 

That was an embarrassing loss. He should find another hobby. He sucks at tennis. 

 

@Faulkner He has a nice chest...seen it before but he looks like a midget....lol...his body is weird looking.

Apparently Nakashima also beat Taylor Fritz earlier.

Apt conclusion to this injury-plagued exho.

 

Good morning! Join us in congratulating 2019 Hawaii Open Women's Champion Danielle Collins! Unfortunately Angelique Kerber sustained an injury during warm up & has withdrawn. We will now feature a surprise mixed doubles match featuring our #HawaiiOpen stars & a celebrity chair! pic.twitter.com/NyaGGghPZN

— Hawaii Open (@hitennisopen) December 28, 2019

Saw that Nakashima took a set off Sam Querrey, which is no small feat for a young player facing a huge server.

 

Saw this too:

 

 

Edited December 29, 20195 yr by Faulkner

Can Andy Murray retire already? 

Kei at his most lethal over the years.