US Open tennis

[Screw_Michigan]

You guys been watching the tournament on ESPN+? I absolutely LOVE the Slams on ESPN+. Less talking from commentators, every match, way fewer commercials, beautiful views of Manhattan from the tennis center in lieu of commercials, tons of closeups of the players.

I was flipping between ESPN's traditional cable coverage of a match last night and ESPN+'s coverage of the same match and the first thing I noticed is how much TALKING is going on during ESPN's coverage. I like Johnny Mac as much as everyone else but him and Fowler and one more person is simply too many people. Way too much talking.

ESPN+ coverage is so great. What a novel idea, shutting the fuck up for a few minutes and letting the players and the ambiance and the fans describe the show? Leave them wanting more is always a great idea. 88braincells could take the hint.

[Softball Bat]

What stats do you guys care about in tennis? When you read a "box score", what stats give you the best impression on how a match truly went?

First serves in
First serve points won
2nd serves in
2nd serve points won
Break points

These all seem pretty important. Wondering what you guys think.

One big one that is not listed there is Unforced Errors.

Generally speaking, the player with more unforced errors is the loser.

And of course Break Points Converted tells the tale of a match.

For example, nobody could break Pete Sampras at Wimbledon, and that is why he was a historically great champion there.

[Screw_Michigan]

I find it rather misleading when they show break points won as a percentage. Who cares? What matters is how many break points you won. Even if they're 20% of them, the amount you won is what matters.

Just my $0.02.

[Screw_Michigan]

I don't know who this guy playing Novax is but he's kicking the living shit out of him, so props to him.

[L45B]

I don't know who this guy playing Novax is but he's kicking the living shit out of him, so props to him.

Djoker better not sleep on Popyrin if he plays him in the third round.

I told you, Novak.

[Biggie]

Sinner, Tiafoe

[Screw_Michigan]

Djoker better not sleep on Popyrin if he plays him in the third round.

[Softball Bat]

I find it rather misleading when they show break points won as a percentage. Who cares? What matters is how many break points you won. Even if they're 20% of them, the amount you won is what matters.

Just my $0.02.

Yes, exactly.

[Softball Bat]

Sinner, Tiafoe

I was thinking exactly this tonight.

[Biggie]

Tiafoe/Popyrin will be electric on Sunday.

And RACK L45B on the early call.

[L45B]

As for the Americans, you have in the top half (Sinner’s):

[14] Tommy Paul

… in the bottom half:

[12] Fritz
[20] Tiafoe
Nakashima

Tommy Paul can beat Sinner. Probably wouldn’t put money on it.

Tiafoe might be the fan favorite, and he could catch Popyrin coming down from his cloud. Nakashima has been on fire the last month. And Fritz hasn’t dropped a set yet, and dispatched Berrettini like a parking ticket. Hes fresh and I expect him to beat Casper Ruud on Sunday.

Would love it if even one American could get to the final but I don’t see it, even with Carlitos and Novak metaled out.

I’ll go with Meddie vs Zverev (assuming he can get past Etcheverry tonight.. it’s late) in the final, as of today

[Softball Bat]

Meddie

I think a lot of people are assuming Sinner will make it to the final, but Medvedev has won this tournament before.
The surface is good for him.
And I'm not sure Sinner's psyche is completely intact, considering all that has been going on with him.
It would not surprise me at all to see Medvedev in the finals.

Popyrin has the game to win against Tiafoe, but as you note, he could have a letdown after the big win over NoVax, and the crowd might help pull Tiafoe over the finish line.

Dimitrov in the bottom half is interesting.
He has been rolling, and he has a good game for this surface.

Fritz v. Ruud will be a whale of a battle.
I can see that going 5 sets.

[L45B]

Dimitrov

You and I are on the same page, Bat. Totally agree about Grigor. Hes a little under the radar right now, and is playing some really good tennis. I’d say if Zverev is the fave to make the finals from the bottom half, Grigor is probably the second fave.

He’s got Rublev next, who I’m not sure how to gauge in this tournament but my gut says he’s ready for a meltdown. And I want to watch that dance.

[Screw_Michigan]

Unfortunately JBM's run at the US Open ended today as she lost to the much less attractive Jessica Pegula. I'm sure JBM will be rested and ready for Australia in January.

Here's a great photo of JBM from today in the meantime

[Softball Bat]

Rublev spazzing out again.









Self-inflicted wound.

[Screw_Michigan]

Coco Gauff had 19 double faults today in her loss to the beautiful Emma Navarro, whose legs look amazing in the trophy pose. That's awful. Even I don't double fault 19 times in a match.

Gauff is mentally fragile and immature. She doesn't handle adversity well at all and melts down fast. She was also crying walking off the court. She needs to toughen up fast.

Now watching Tiafoe and L45B's boy Popyrin.

[Softball Bat]

Tiafoe *popped* Popyrin right out of the tournament.

[Screw_Michigan]

Man, Tiafoe rolled L45B's boy. He was melting all night. The polar opposite of his match against Novax.

[L45B]

Man, Tiafoe rolled L45B's boy. He was melting all night. The polar opposite of his match against Novax.

No, I am not an Aussie tennis fan, I just recognized a dangerous player who was playing well this summer. And full of confidence.

Also…

Tiafoe might be the fan favorite, and he could catch Popyrin coming down from his cloud.

I’m hoping for an all American final. Or at worst, at least one American in the finals. I still don’t think we’ll get it though. All three might lose before the semifinals. That’s typically how it’s gone the last twenty years.

[Screw_Michigan]

Ugh, Paolini got rolled by Karolina Muchova. Jasmine didn't even play that bad, but Muchova was hitting all her shots, painting the sideline. Wish Jasmine could have pushed it to three sets, but it was all for naught.

All of my girls are out of the tournament now. Bummer. I'll root for Muchova or Sabalenka to irritate Poptart.

[88BuckeyeGrad]

Flushing Meadow Haiku

Coco Gauff is toast.
Pegula or Navarro?
The big win is nigh.

[Softball Bat]

Ready for the quarterfinals.


Sinner (1)
Medvedev (5)

Draper (25)
de Minaur (10)

Fritz (12)
Zverev (4)

Dimitrov (9)
Tiafoe (20)


I like...

Sinner: Has beaten Medvedev the last five times they have played on a hard court, including the Aussie Open final this year.
de Minaur: Is 3-0 vs. Draper.
Zverev: I want the American to win, but I suspect Taylor will feel the pressure of trying to finally break through, and on his home turf. Choke incoming.
Dimitrov: Tiafoe may have hit his peak. Grigor is well-rounded, and is a very tough customer. Maybe the crowd can help Frances get the W?

[L45B]

Good calls, Bat. I’m going to retract here a bit, because I saw something happen Sunday that I think will put an American in the semis this year.

Anyways, I’m going with:

5 Medvedev
10 DeMinaur

12 Fritz
9 Dimitrov

Fritz was on the ropes against Ruud on Sunday, and wasn’t playing his best by a long shot. But he found a way to win the second set and then it was lights out. TF has a lot of gas in the tank, he’s beaten Zverev in a major this year. I think the pressure is actually on Sasha, there’s obviously a clear view in sight for a major win. I’m gonna take Fritz in five sets today. Some of that is tennis analysis, more of that is hope.

[Biggie]

L45B- you may be my new go-to prognosticator. PM me if you are an NFL guy. #endlesswire

[FiatLux]

I can't wait until the finals in December.

[Biggie]

The early rounds are the fun part. Unless you're one of those guys that equates the "spurt" with good sex.

[Screw_Michigan]

The early rounds are the fun part. Unless you're one of those guys that equates the "spurt" with good sex.

I think the 3rd round is the sweet spot. The opening rounds involving top seeds can be pretty uncompetitive and there are still plenty of matches taking place simultaneously for you to walk around and check out. And I love small court action. Fans are right on top of the players and fans get lots of opportunities for great views.

[Screw_Michigan]

OMG, Fritz makes his first Slam semi! Congrats to him.

USA USA USA!

[Softball Bat]

Props to Fritz (must feel good) and L45B.
Good call.

the nightcap will be fun!

[L45B]

L45B- you may be my new go-to prognosticator. PM me if you are an NFL guy. #endlesswire

Not an NFL guy, but what I do know when I go to Vegas is to never ever bet on the NFL!

I may end up 50% on my semifinal prediction if I’m lucky. Tiafoe came to play tonight!

If you want a sure parlay bet, I would definitely bet on the upcoming election! Kamala will win in a landslide in ‘24 and ‘28!

[Softball Bat]

Dimitrov has crapped the bed so far.

[L45B]

Dimitrov has crapped the bed so far.

Both guys have. Some great tennis with some shitball tennis mixed in.

The end of the 2nd set tiebreak was pure shitball tennis (Dimitrov with two consecutive double faults, and another by Tiafoe to giftwrap it away )

[Screw_Michigan]

Did either of you guys stay up for the entire match? I went to bed at 11:30. I find it crazy that the USTA has these major matches play so late into the evening. It's one thing when it's the first and second rounds when you have tons of matches to get in, but this is like playing the World Series in NYC at 11 pm. Totally unnecessary. Start matches earlier in the day.

[Softball Bat]

I was up.

Tennis scheduling is complicated by the fact that length of matches vary greatly, especially in men's five set matches.
Game time length in football, basketball, baseball, and hockey is more-or-less standard. It doesn't vary much, except sometimes in baseball.

But yeah, something needs to be done so that at least from the quarterfinals on, matches start early enough so that fans are not sitting there at 11:00, 12;00: 1:00...


I'm halfway surprised that in the ADHD world we now live in, someone involved in tennis hasn't pushed for no-ad scoring to be used.

Doing so would cut down the time length of men's matches by quite a bit.

[L45B]

I'm halfway surprised that in the ADHD world we now live in, someone involved in tennis hasn't pushed for no-ad scoring to be used.

No-ADhd scoring would be crazy. Haven’t seen it since the backdraws (ie losers bracket) of USTA junior tourneys back in the day.

There could also be limits on number of deuces in a game.

[Softball Bat]

There could also be limits on number of deuces in a game.

That is another option I am sort of surprised we haven't heard yet.
A change such as this would be driven by TV needs and wants.

I actually didn't mind no-ad scoring.
I just assumed the better player would win the big points.
And from a fan perspective, a no-ad point is a bit exciting.

But... as a player, I was a grinder, so if a match was going on longer, it was typically working in my favor.
So, I preferred regular scoring.

[Softball Bat]

Draper (25)
de Minaur (10)

Draper cruises in straight sets.

I am 0-3.

[Screw_Michigan]

Why do the women's players wear those obnoxiously big headphones as they walk onto the court? They literally only wear them for 30 seconds, maybe 60. Why do I have the feeling it's because a sponsor is paying them to do it...

[Biggie]

There could also be limits on number of deuces in a game.

Grand Slam Tournament Regulations, Article I(W)(4)(b).

[Screw_Michigan]

Iga-Pegula was a bust, way to go Iga. Pegula kicked her ass from the opening serve and it wasn't as close as the score implied.

Another great thing to like about the ladies' matches--much more reasonable game times! This match was done in less than 90 min.