Running Tennis Thread 2022

Wouldn't be so sure about that outcome.

When they last played in a major, Medvedev took Nadal to the brink before losing. Since then, he's beaten Nadal (in a 2-0f-3 set match) in the 2020 ATP Finals semifinals (an oxymoron if I've ever seen one), and he's taken out Djokovic in a major final.

I don't think anyone's going to get blown out.

 

That's my heart talking, not my head. Medvedev has a tremendous arsenal, no doubt.

 

Medvedev plays incredibly fast (one of the things I like about him). He'll get the ball and go. A lot of times he won't even wait for the crowd to settle down to serve. Meanwhile, Nadal has all those OCD tics and quirks that slow everything down (have you seen how he has to spread his towel just so before he plays a point?). It will be interesting to see how the chair umpire handles that conflict.

And you're right that Medvedev's rants aren't always a bad thing for his game. This morning was a great example -- he went off after his double fault and lost the second set, but he came right back and played his best tennis of the tournament in the last two sets to put Tsitsipas away easily.

BTW, is it a coincidence that after Medvedev blew up at the umpire, claming Tsitsipas was being coached from the stands by his father, Tsitsipas got hit with warnings for a coaching violation and a serve clock violation (which was his beef in the Cressy match)?

 

Caught the replay of the women's final this morning ... super impressed with Barty's ability to dig out of that hole in the second set. Had to be tough for Collins who was essentially playing against the entirety of Rod Laver Arena. Great tournament for her, though, and we'll see more of her deep in tournaments in the future. But this was definitely Ash's time and I'm glad she grabbed it.

 

Medvedev wins the first set easily. Rafa looks flustered and unsure of himself.

 

Wow. Second set was an all-out war. An hour 24 minutes, four breaks, back and forth. Medvedev holds on to win the set in a tiebreaker and Nadal is teetering on the brink.

 

For both players: When you're inclined to hit a drop shot, don't. These two are miserable at it.

 

Rafa is -175 live now, Medvedev +138.

 

Wow. Unbelievable Nadal could come back to win. The McEnroes were calling him done in the the third set.

 

Actually, earlier than that. In the second set tiebreak, they were saying Nadal had to win it, because there was no way he’d be able to come back from two sets down.

 

Got up at 7:30 to take the dog out. Forgot to check and see if it was still on. Arrrgh!