So last Davis Cup Final is over. Croatia def Frenchies 3-1. I’m very sad there will be no more home and away ties, except for 1st round for countries trying to get into field that don’t get a bye.
Next year it’ll all be played over one week at the end of the season at the Magic Box in Madrid.
Then in a few short weeks after that there is going to be a 24 country team event (ATP Cup) in Oz and no more Hopman Cup.
And we are off…2019 season starts today! I’m so glad as I am in desperate need of a good distraction.
2019 is going to be interesting. Will players like Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Karen Khachanov, Denis Shapavalov, Stefanos Tsitsipas etc…finally live up to their potential and disrupt the stronghold that the Big 3 have held in Grand Slam events for the last 2 years, or will the Big 3 continue to corner major events? It is unbelievable to think that no man under the age of 31 has won a major since Murray won Wimbledon in 2016.
It would be nice if one of the youngsters broke through. If I were a betting person I’d put money on one of them winning at least one slam this year. Best bet is either AO - which used to have a history of one off winners and USO when late season exhaustion/injuries can lead to surprises.
Domi will eventually win RG but not this year.
The draw for the AO is out.
I think this is a bottom heavy draw, with Federer, Nadal, Cilic, Anderson and Khachanov all in the bottom half of the draw.
The top half has Djokovic, Zverev, Shapovalov, Medvedev, Goffin, Thiem, Coric and Nishikori.
It may be just me, but I think Novak and Zverev have been handed a slightly easier hand.
Links to the draws:
https://ausopen.com/draws#!mens-singles
https://ausopen.com/draws#!womens-singles
Some very interesting 1st rd matches on men’s side and a lot on “anybody can win” women’s side. I’ll look closer at the draws when I go to put my picks in on Sunday. I think the men’s look fairly balanced. Nadel pulled out of Brizzy with an injury and I think Cilic is nursing and injury too. Kei just won in Brizzy and Mevedev got to final so he’s playing well. Zverev looked pretty good at Hopman Cup - even though he lost to Roger - who looked really good.
Halep drew Kanepi, who beat her in 1st rd of USO.
I saw her play her 1st match of year this week in Sydney, where she lost to Ash Barty. She didn’t look bad, just rusty. But she had a long lay off due to her back injury and with only one match going into the AO, s tough first round won’t give her opportunity to play herself into form.
Really enjoyed the first two weeks of Aussie summer tennis on TC. So nice they are showing WTA matches again after several years in the wilderness.
Can’t say I’m surprised that Sir Andrew will be hanging it up.
It is unfortunate, but he had a successful career by any measure. He won 3 majors, 15 masters, 1 World Tour Final, 2 Olympic Golds and he had 30 wins against the Big 3, and a year ending #1 ranking in 2016.
I’ve never warmed to him, but felt very sorry for him at the press conference. How sad to have your body refuse to do what you love and have worked your whole life for.
Andy Murray always was kind to kids when I’d see him at Indian Wells, signing autographs and taking photos on his way to and from the practice courts. There was no media around to record it, no PR about it.
The pain must be really bad to have him retire.
His mad run to number 1 in the last half of 2017 destroyed his hip.
His 1st rd match is against RBA. No way he gets through that.
Yesterday in a practice match he was only able to win 2 games against Djoker.
Small gripe. My old eyes hate when both players have same kit?
But at least I like it. Especially the top. I liked Maria’s outfit but, as much as I love Serena, I don’t like her outfit. I did like her Hopman Cup outfit.
Would like to see Murray play Wimbledon one more time at least. Wouldn’t mind him making his finale in Flushing either.
Last of the Big Four to win a Grand Slam tournament and the first to punch out.
Nike is just awful. Genie looks like she is wearing a diaper. Serena’s is unflattering, and that’s being kind. The only Nike I liked is the black and white kit Alja wore and Maria’s.
Not loving the pink candy shop Fila’s, either.
I like all the variations of Adidas kit.
Venus’s dress is lovely and looks beautiful on her.
Worst men’s kit was Berdy’s. I’m happy to see him back but not in that dreadful kit.
I was listening yesterday to the Tennis Podcast and Catherine Whittiker (British comm) had a sit down with Andy after the match. Said he could barely walk and was in excruciating pain. Told her his hip is basically destroyed, so he decided during the match to just go for it.
I doubt he is even going to play again, not even at Wimby.
As for the matches - good ones few and far between (aside from RBA/Andrew) though it was still NiD. JoKo/Alja the most compelling on women’s side. Still haven’t watched the Tuesday’s evening session yet - hopefully some good matches to come.
I would love to see Djokovic or Nadal surpass Fed’s number of Major wins. I don’t want to see Fed win another Major and put that out of reach. Wanna see Osaka whup everyone and keep improving because she definitely has a chance to be a dominant force and can be a better player than even Serena when she’s playing at the highest level. Osaka is the first female player who can beat Serena even when Serena is playing well.
I also think men should get paid a little more for playing more sets, maybe 15% more. Basically, they are working longer hours and more advertisements are being shown on their matches. I am for equality but don’t see this as being equal.
Serena’s romper was extremely unflattering. You could see what kind of bikini wax she’s had. After being told not to wear the cat suit at the French Open, it’s as though she is purposefully flouting the usual dress etiquette.
She wore practically same kit in 2002 at USO.
Also, WTA changed their rule. Leggings w/o skirt over them now allowed. Don’t know if ITF changed their rule, though.,
“She wore practically same kit in 2002 at USO.”
You remember what Serena wore at the USO 16 years ago?
“I would love to see Djokovic or Nadal surpass Fed’s number of Major wins.”
I would prefer if they all finished with the exact same number of majors. For one, it would make for great GOAT debates, and besides, it would truly validate how great each of them is. All three are off to a great start.