Topic: The Tennis Thread - Sponsored By Melt-downium

[RedForeverTT]

I think some salty tweet from Andrew Murray is on its way.

[TheShanklyGates]

Brilliant from Alcaraz! I thought he was toast after the 4th set but he rallied superbly. Thoroughly enjoyed that.

Tsitsipas can spend as long as he wants in the bogs now

[Ray K]

Fabulous, fantasy win by Alcaraz. Just a kid, and pulls out a performance like that. Sensational.

[Hazell]

Exciting match. What a comeback from Alcaraz. Hope he goes all the way to dump Tsisitpas out of the tournament.

This young Spanish is going places.

As for Tsisitpas, I think he is feeling that the crowd was against him and possibly sponsors are giving him the pressure to stop that toilet antics. No toilet break, no advantage.

Agree about Tsitsipas but like mentioned above, him and Zverev can be flaky (Zverev to a greater extent).

Great stuff from Alcaraz though, some of the shots he was pulling off were amazing.

[Ray K]

I've been on board the Felix A-A hype train for a long time now. Really like his game and hope he can make it to the very top, competing for Slams. I think getting Toni Nadal on board as a coach can only be a positive thing.

[RedForeverTT]

He was an exciting young prospect but appeared to hit the brick wall after reaching top 20 or 30. His grand slams record weren’t great either and looked short of an X factor to take him into the level of Zverev or Tsitsipas. Maybe the lacked of tournaments due to Covid has stifled his development significantly. It’s unlucky.

Maybe Uncle Toni could bring more intelligence his game and cut down his unforced errors that is killing him at the moment.

[Number 7]

Wow, I really enjoyed that. Alcaraz was just fearless in that match. No nerves whatsoever or affected by the occasion. Took a break in the 4th and just came out all guns blazing in the 5th. This guy is going to be good.

[TheShanklyGates]

Osaka's game has just collapsed here

[TheShanklyGates]

What a performance from Leylah Fernandez! She did brilliantly to ignore Osaka's little meltdown and just kept playing her own game. 18 years old and she's knocked out the defending champion, incredible.

[RedForeverTT]

What a performance from Leylah Fernandez! She did brilliantly to ignore Osaka's little meltdown and just kept playing her own game. 18 years old and she's knocked out the defending champion, incredible.

Treated to 2 wonderful games tonight. What an awesome game of tennis.

Those tantrums from Osaka were unsportsmanlike especially when she should be a role model for young players like Fernandez. What does she expect? That Fernandez lie down to give her a walkover?

[Hazell]

What a performance from Leylah Fernandez! She did brilliantly to ignore Osaka's little meltdown and just kept playing her own game. 18 years old and she's knocked out the defending champion, incredible.

Treated to 2 wonderful games tonight. What an awesome game of tennis.

Those tantrums from Osaka were unsportsmanlike especially when she should be a role model for young players like Fernandez. What does she expect? That Fernandez lie down to give her a walkover?

What did Osaka do?

[Gerry Attrick]

Sorribes Tormo is some kind of price today. She plays a funky kind of tennis compared to other players and I don’t think Raducanu will be able to solve her.

[Andy82lfc]

What did Osaka do?

She threw her racquet down a couple of times when she was losing the second set. Didn’t think it was that big a deal imo but obviously her last year has magnified it. Sounds like she’s having a big problem adjusting to all of the attention since last year which is understandable.

She said post match "I feel like for me recently, when I win I don't feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that's normal."

Think I can relate to that watching Liverpool for the last year or so 

Seriously though sometimes people forget how massive the mental game is, she’s broke it down there to really understand and relate to though. When you’ve stopped looking at adversity as a challenge an now it’s just sheer panic and anxiety then everything changes. Hopefully she gets it sorted soon enough.

[The G in Gerrard]

Do feel sorry for Osaka

[palimpsest]

She threw her racquet down a couple of times when she was losing the second set. Didn’t think it was that big a deal imo but obviously her last year has magnified it. Sounds like she’s having a big problem adjusting to all of the attention since last year which is understandable.

She said post match "I feel like for me recently, when I win I don't feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that's normal."

Think I can relate to that watching Liverpool for the last year or so 

Seriously though sometimes people forget how massive the mental game is, she’s broke it down there to really understand and relate to though. When you’ve stopped looking at adversity as a challenge an now it’s just sheer panic and anxiety then everything changes. Hopefully she gets it sorted soon enough.

That’s a really heartbreaking quote from Osaka. And indicates that something has gone very wrong with her relationship to the game. I hope she can battle through it and reclaim some of the joy.

[Gerry Attrick]

Yet more evidence that getting to the top and having increased stress and scrutiny can really kill a players enjoyment and sometimes their game. I remember making posts about how Gauff shouldn’t be able to play senior tournaments at a ridiculously young age for this reason. In such a lonely sport it should not be deemed acceptable to expose any child to it. I still stand by every bit of even though she’s competing with the top 32. And this with Osaka is why.

[RedForeverTT]

She threw her racquet down a couple of times when she was losing the second set. Didn’t think it was that big a deal imo but obviously her last year has magnified it. Sounds like she’s having a big problem adjusting to all of the attention since last year which is understandable.

She said post match "I feel like for me recently, when I win I don't feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that's normal."

Think I can relate to that watching Liverpool for the last year or so 

Seriously though sometimes people forget how massive the mental game is, she’s broke it down there to really understand and relate to though. When you’ve stopped looking at adversity as a challenge an now it’s just sheer panic and anxiety then everything changes. Hopefully she gets it sorted soon enough.

It’s true everybody does it. Halep, Plishkova were all guilty as well.

I think there is a certain expectation of being a reigning champion and also being home favourite. Tennis fans expect sportsmanship from those they see and support. When Serena Williams went hissy fit against Osaka 2 years ago their home crowd also let it be known.

[RedForeverTT]

Yet more evidence that getting to the top and having increased stress and scrutiny can really kill a players enjoyment and sometimes their game. I remember making posts about how Gauff shouldn’t be able to play senior tournaments at a ridiculously young age for this reason. In such a lonely sport it should not be deemed acceptable to expose any child to it. I still stand by every bit of even though she’s competing with the top 32. And this with Osaka is why.

Completely agree. It’s cruel to expose her to unrealistic expectation at such a young age but yet WTA and her parents deemed it ok. Everyone is looking for the next child prodigy to market.

[Hazell]

She threw her racquet down a couple of times when she was losing the second set. Didn’t think it was that big a deal imo but obviously her last year has magnified it. Sounds like she’s having a big problem adjusting to all of the attention since last year which is understandable.

She said post match "I feel like for me recently, when I win I don't feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that's normal."

Think I can relate to that watching Liverpool for the last year or so 

Seriously though sometimes people forget how massive the mental game is, she’s broke it down there to really understand and relate to though. When you’ve stopped looking at adversity as a challenge an now it’s just sheer panic and anxiety then everything changes. Hopefully she gets it sorted soon enough.

Yeah agreed. Thanks.

[Hazell]

RAWK favourite Djokovic a break down to Nishikori in the first set.

[gerrardisgod]

Someone give us a heads up when Raducanu comes on, please. I know the Seppi match went to a fourth, at least.

[Hazell]

Someone give us a heads up when Raducanu comes on, please. I know the Seppi match went to a fourth, at least.

In about 10-15 minutes, the Seppi-Otte match on that court has just finished.

[gerrardisgod]

Cheers, just threw it on to see Otte knocking some balls into the crowd and an old fella taking it out of a little kids hand.

[Hazell]

Cheers, just threw it on to see Otte knocking some balls into the crowd and an old fella taking it out of a little kids hand.

Classy. Always think the organisers should try and ensure those kinds of things should be specifically targeted towards kids, it'd absolutely make their day.

[TheShanklyGates]

Nicely done by Nishikori. Will switch to Raducanu now so I don't have to watch the inevitable Djokovic comeback.

[TheShanklyGates]

There's some very weird grunting going on from Sorribes Tormo.

Great start for Raducanu.

[RedForeverTT]

No way is Raducanu ranked 150 in the world. At least top 20 from where I see it.

Seasoned players like Svitolina has nothing over her.

[TepidT2O]

No way is Raducanu ranked 150 in the world. At least top 20 from where I see it.

Seasoned players like Svitolina has nothing over her.

Where is the person she’s playing placed? 40 isn’t it?

Matches don’t always go the way you think, but right now, she looks a class above that.

[TheShanklyGates]

No way is Raducanu ranked 150 in the world. At least top 20 from where I see it.

Seasoned players like Svitolina has nothing over her.

Wimbledon was only her second WTA level tournament so she hasn't exactly had long to accumulate ranking points

Won't be long at all before she's top 50 or even top 20 as you say. Sky's the limit for her.

Where is the person she’s playing placed? 40 isn’t it?

Matches don’t always go the way you think, but right now, she looks a class above that.

Sorribes Tormo is ranked 41st in the world.

[gerrardisgod]

That return, jeez 

[Hazell]

No way is Raducanu ranked 150 in the world. At least top 20 from where I see it.

Early days in this match, Sorribes Tormo is still the favourite. I think Raducanu just came onto the tour this year and was ranked 300-something going into Wimbledon but given her results, it's no surprise she's shot up the rankings. This'll be her biggest win (I think) if she does it.

Her performances have certainly been great when I've seen her but Anne Keothavong made a good point in that she's unknown to most players she's facing and next year will be the key when a lot more players will be aware of her. How she navigates that will be telling. She certainly looks a talent though.

[gerrardisgod]

Bagel!

[Hazell]

Early days in this match, Sorribes Tormo is still the favourite. I think Raducanu just came onto the tour this year and was ranked 300-something going into Wimbledon but given her results, it's no surprise she's shot up the rankings. This'll be her biggest win (I think) if she does it.

Her performances have certainly been great when I've seen her but Anne Keothavong made a good point in that she's unknown to most players she's facing and next year will be the key when a lot more players will be aware of her. How she navigates that will be telling. She certainly looks a talent though.

Can I withdraw my last remark please?

[RedForeverTT]

Early days in this match, Sorribes Tormo is still the favourite. I think Raducanu just came onto the tour this year and was ranked 300-something going into Wimbledon but given her results, it's no surprise she's shot up the rankings. This'll be her biggest win (I think) if she does it.

Her performances have certainly been great when I've seen her but Anne Keothavong made a good point in that she's unknown to most players she's facing and next year will be the key when a lot more players will be aware of her. How she navigates that will be telling. She certainly looks a talent though.

That is true. Players may start to figure out her game a bit more as time goes on. She wouldn’t be finding it as easy.

But her ball striking every ball that goes into her strike zone has a amazingly high success rate of being returned at incredible speed and angle. I have seen Konta in all the years she has played on tour and even she doesn’t have that kind of consistency.

[gerrardisgod]

This is just ridiculous ball striking.

I’ve Jonahed her, haven’t I?

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Sorribes Tormo is some kind of price today. She plays a funky kind of tennis compared to other players and I don’t think Raducanu will be able to solve her.

This aged well 

[TheShanklyGates]

Sorribes Tormo is some kind of price today. She plays a funky kind of tennis compared to other players and I don’t think Raducanu will be able to solve her.

[Hazell]

That is true. Players may start to figure out her game a bit more as time goes on. She wouldn’t be finding it as easy.

But her ball striking every ball that goes into her strike zone has a amazingly high success rate of being returned at incredible speed and angle. I have seen Konta in all the years she has played on tour and even she doesn’t have that kind of consistency.

Yeah agreed, she has more to her than the likes of Konta. And with Konta (and the other British women), I never got the feeling they could seriously challenge for a slam. It's early days of course but have a lot more confidence that Raducanu will be able to.

[DelTrotter]

Incredible performance, she's very, very good, how far she'll go in her career we'll see but should be fun to watch. Hopefully being aggressive on big points isn't coached out of her along the way.

[Gerry Attrick]

Well obviously I didn’t see it coming. Sorribes Tormo has been in excellent form this year.