Running tennis thread 2024

As soon as I post that, Alcaraz catches fire and races to a 6-2 second-set win.

 

Tiafoe put up a hell of a fight, but he got back on his bullshit as he tends to do from time to time when things get hard. Credit to Alcaraz, who seems to live for five setters and has conditioning for days.

 

And so it ends the way it always does — Tiafoe plays his best tennis, looks to be in control of the match, gets to the brink of victory (a fourth-set tiebreaker with a two sets to one lead) … then watches Alcaraz lift his game to win it in five.

Amazing stat: Alcaraz is now 12-1 for his career in five-set matches, and has won his past 9 five-setters.

 

Tiafoe appeared to be quite aggressive (I cut in at start of 4th set and Tiafoe was the more aggressive and breaking down Alcaraz's BH) then Francis started playing not to lose (80 mph 2nd serves?? who's that Kournikova serving??). Too bad for him.

While I enjoy upsets at times (when I'm rooting against the villains, e.g. Lendl, Borg, or want someone else instead to win the tourney, e.g. Sampras, Fed, etc.), I don't always want them because I know they're going to flame out and then you don't get the heavyweight matches later in the tournament. I want to see Alcaraz v. Sinner/Djoker/Zverev, not Nakashima v. Sinner.

 

That is studly.

 

Another day, another five-setter for Ben Shelton — all three of his matches have gone the distance. Now up a break on Shapovalov in the fifth.

Kid’s good, but he’s living on the edge.

 

I am totally convinced Ons Jabeur will never win a major.

 

Iga in all sorts of trouble — down 5-1 in the third against Yulia Putinseva.

 

And the ladies’ No. 1 is out. Putinseva wins 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

 

Great line by Putinseva in her post-match news conference:

"Today I'm extra happy because she didn't lose it. I took it."

 

She was fantastic in her interview in studio:

What do you want people to think after today’s match?

“She looks younger than she is “

Gold Jerry,Gold.

 

Feels like it's catching up to him today.