Running tennis thread 2024

That should be worth at least one Grand Slam win.

 

With the U.S. Open on the horizon, Sinner comes in at No. 1 off a win in Cincinnati, but also fresh off a bit of a scandal.

Seems Sinner tested positive twice for a banned substance -- specifically, clostebol, an anabolic steroid that can be used for ophthalmological and dermatological purposes -- back in March, once at the Indian Wells tournament (lost to Alcaraz in the semis) and again in an out-of-competition test eight days later. This ESPN story (No. 1 Sinner avoids ban for positive steroid tests) says it's the same drug that got Fernando Tatis Jr. suspended by MLB.

Sinner was "provisionally suspended", but he appealed, claiming the steroid came from an antiseptic spray used by his physiotherapist for a cut on his finger, and the steroid got into Sinner's body from the physio's hand through "daily massages and sports therapy." The International Tennis Integrity Agency ruled not to suspend him, but did take away the 400 points he earned from the tournament and made him return his $325,000 prize money.

Sinner says he's fired the physio, Giacomo Naldi, and physical trainer Umberto Ferrara, who gave Naldi the spray.

Other players are apparently not happy with the ruling: What players' reaction to Sinner's doping case says about their trust in their sport.

Nick Kyrgios tweeted: "Whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice."

 

So you’re saying Sinner has done some things he’d like to confess …

 

Once maybe….twice?? Shame on you

That’s a stupid excuse that is an insult to one’s intelligence.

 

Well, the two tests were eight days apart, so I'm not sure he knew the result of the first test by then.

 

Meanwhile, on the court...

Sinner is the No. 1 seed and won in Cincinnati. Djoker, who hasn't played in competition since winning the Olympic gold medal, is the 2. Alcaraz comes in at No. 3 off back-to-back losses -- ti Djokovic in the Olympic final and Gael Monfils in his opening match in Cincinnati. During that one, Alcaraz smashed his racket in frustration and afterward said, "I will forget this match, because I think it is impossible to get any good things about this match.”

Usually, Medvedev is a man to watch in hard-court majors -- he's made the finals in six of them, including the most recent two. But he has struggled so far in the second hard-court season, losing his first match in each of his past two appearances -- to Davidovich-Fokina in Montreal and Lehecka in Cincinnati.

What about the Americans, you might ask? Well, Tiafoe has had a rough year for the most part, but he's played much better recently. He got to the semis in D.C. while the big dogs played in the Olympics, then got to the Cincinnati final, beating three top-20 players before losing to Sinner. That finish put him back in the top 20. Sebastian Korda has also made a strong move in the rankings to No. 16, winning the title in D.C. (beating Tiafoe along the way) and beating No 4 Zverev, No. 8 Ruud and No. 12 Taylor Fritz to reach the semis in Montreal.

So the top American men are No. 12 Fritz, No. 13 Ben Shelton, No. 14 Tommy Paul, No. 16 Korda and No. 20 Tiafoe.

Iga Swiatek is a solid No. 1 among the women, but she lost in Cincinnati to Sabalenka, who has reclaimed the No. 2 spot and has a excellent record in hard-court majors -- victories in the past two Australian Opens and semifinals or final in the past three at Flushing Meadows. Defending champion Gauff has fallen to No. 3 after losing three of her past four matches, including her opener in Cincinnati and her meltdown against Vekic in the Olympics. No. 6 Jessica Pegula is on a hot streak, winning the title in Toronto and making the final in Cincinnati (losing to Sabalenka).

Top Americans: Gauff 3, Pegula 6, Collins 11, Keys 14.

 

I tuned out mid-second set. Just found out what happened.

 

That might have been the worst-played match I have ever seen in a major. Burel was brutal in the first set and early in the second, then Stephens completely fell apart. Burel was very shaky in the third, too.

The two combined for 35 winners and 84 unforced errors. Stephens' serve was horrendous after the first set -- she won just 47% of her first-serve points for the match and 39% in the second and third sets combined -- and 21 of her 42 unforced errors came in the final set.

 

This Tiafoe-Kovacevic match, on the other hand, has been great. Very well played.

 

Hard to believe a former champ would get tight at end of match.

 

We're nearing the 17th anniversary of one of Roger Federer's coolest accomplishments. On Sept. 2, 2007, he went 105 consecutive points without making an unforced error against John Isner at the U.S. Open.

Of course, Isner's game always lends itself to weird stats . . . on either side.