Running tennis thread for 2023

My takeaway: Dimitrov is a much smarter guy than Rublev.

Also, my eyes aren't too good. I couldn't tell what Dimitrov was apologizing for when he won that "lucky" point at 7-6.

 

I always posited that they should have a PGA tournament with old/modified/random clubs but the equipment manufacturers would never go for that.

 

Great idea - and I love their comments.
But they looked like they were playing against their grandmas. Were those patty-cake serves the best they could do? It looked like 1950s tennis.

And the camerawork suffered like that PGA/Riviera youtube posted here a week ago. We couldn't see the actual points. Too bad they didn't have the camera posted like a regular match.

 

I'm guessing they didn't want to waste time with faults (they can serve just as hard, but it's REALLY tough to get it in the box at max speed with those rackets) and were more interested in just giving fans as much rally time as possible instead of trying to hit aces and service winners.

 

Rafa announces he has withdrawn from the Rome tournament — the last major tuneup event for the French Open — as he continues to recover from a hip injury.

Rafael Nadal Withdraws From Rome | ATP Tour | Tennis

The King of Clay has not yet played a match on his favorite surface this year (he hasn’t played anywhere since Australia) and now it looks like he might not do so until Paris — if he’s even able to play then.

 

Where he will still win seven matches in a row without dropping a set.

 

This week's Sign of Life Award goes to...

Sofia Kenin, who took out No. 2-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in the Rome second round. Sabalenka has had a very strong year and was coming off a win over Swiatek for the Madrid championship.

 

Honorable mention to Taylor Townsend, who beat No. 3 Jessica Pegula in three sets.

 

Andreescu played today. Got murdered, but played. I thought she shredded her ankle in Miami.

 

Speaking of one-sided matches, Swiatek put up a double bagel.

 

In his first tournament back from his short break to improve his fitness, Djokovic made a nice little run to the quarters in Rome but lost in three sets to Holger Rune today. Alcaraz had already lost a couple rounds earlier to someone named Fabian Marozsan, a Hungarian qualifier ranked No. 135.