BacktoCricaddict Posted January 31 Posted January 31 54 minutes ago, Gollum said: Am totally jealous of these little nations like Kazakhstan and Serbia and Belarus producing tennis stars like we produce power-hitting T20 batters. Where are the Indian tennis players?
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 11 hours ago, BacktoCricaddict said: Am totally jealous of these little nations like Kazakhstan and Serbia and Belarus producing tennis stars like we produce power-hitting T20 batters. Where are the Indian tennis players? Serbia, Belarus, right. But Rybakina isn't from Kazakhstan. She is Russian-born and represented Russia till a few years back. In fact, post Ukraine war, many Russian athletes have switched federations to avoid bans, boycotts. Lot of quaility athletes and chess players being gobbled up by Europe and Central Asia. BacktoCricaddict 1
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 Nole breaks early. Fast court conditions, high quality ball striking by both. Nole FH looks really good.
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 Can't remember the last time Alcaraz was bullied like this in baseline rallies. Insane, insane level from Nole in the 1st set, held serve comfortably, broke twice to win 6-2. Can the old man sustain this level? 2 sets from #25.
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 Nole won 29 pts, Carlos 15 in set 1. Best set from Nole in years. Rafa can only watch from the stands and smile, he was on the receiving end of such beatdowns so often.
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 Alcaraz breaks first in second set, some luck as well with that net cord.
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 Carlos consolidates the break from 30-40. Nole's level has dropped off, unsurprising after that 1st set, not realistic to play like that over multiple sets. Net cord also changed the momentum.
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 Roof closed more, Carlos not happy. Some drizzle in the air in Melbourne it seems.
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 Congrats Alcaraz, youngest ever to have career slam. Nole was his prime self in set 1, then his level dropped off. Set 4 was good in some parts. The match looked like 2016 RG F with Nole at receiving end.
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 Beating Sinner, Alcaraz back-to-back was never possible for this Nole. That too after Sinner took him to 5 sets. He needs help from others, max he can beat one of these guys in later stages. Today, physically he couldn't keep up after that first set.
AKane Posted February 1 Posted February 1 (edited) Now Djokovic fans should realize what it took Roger Federer at almost 38 years old to win SF vs Nadal in 2019 and then lose 3 TBs and that 40-15 game in the final vs a 6 year younger Djokovic. Age matters for the gloating Djokovic fans that day...... BTW the semi-closed and then closed roof helped Djokovic today - Alcaraz does not like to play indoors. Edited February 1 by AKane
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 2 hours ago, AKane said: Now Djokovic fans should realize what it took Roger Federer at almost 38 years old to win SF vs Nadal in 2019 and then lose 3 TBs and that 40-15 game in the final vs a 6 year younger Djokovic. Age matters for the gloating Djokovic fans that day...... BTW the semi-closed and then closed roof helped Djokovic today - Alcaraz does not like to play indoors. 6 years younger vs 16-17 years younger. Hmmmm
AKane Posted February 1 Posted February 1 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Gollum said: 6 years younger vs 16-17 years younger. Hmmmm 6 years younger is a lot - For example 7 years earlier in 2012 Roger Federer beat Djokovic who was then Wimbledon defending champion in the SF 63 36 64 63 Federer declined a lot starting in 2014 - had a brief renaissance with the larger racket in 2017 that though made his forehand less lethal. Edited February 1 by AKane
Gollum Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 16 minutes ago, AKane said: 6 years younger is a lot - For example 7 years earlier in 2012 Roger Federer beat Djokovic who was then Wimbledon defending champion in the SF 63 36 64 63 Federer declined a lot starting in 2014 - had a brief renaissance with the larger racket in 2017 that though made his forehand less lethal. If 6 years is a lot, what is 16 years?
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