Very few players reach stratospheric heights at an early age to avoid the temptations. Del Potro, Djokovic, Federer, Hewitt, Nadal and debatably Murray are probably the only six active players who made it big early enough (before they turned 21). The players that are probably most at risk are those that are ranked between #20 and #50 well in their 20s. It will be interesting to see how this who fiasco plays out.
I’m not a gambler…what I’m having trouble getting my head around is who would care whether number 50 beat number 39. I know some people will bet on literally anything.
I am not a gambler either Snowdog, but I can see how those who like to play the ponies will bet on a match between a consistently good players ranked in the top 30 or 40, and an player that is ranked out of the top 100.
Last night they showed a few points of a young 18-year old named Naomi Osaka. I guess her mother is Japanese, her father is Haitian and she lives in Florida. She is really cute and a great player.
^I saw bits of that match last night, too. They said she was born in Osaka, too.
Just watched Bencic/Bonderanko online. Mess of a match but fun to watch. I’ve a feeling Maria is going to be snacking on those second serves.
We are only seeing the Australians :). Can’t watch Maria (she is probably on, just don’t want to!).
eb, how is your mom doing? Hope all is going better.
@Tiredofsnow - come to Maine this weekend! We aren’t getting any. 
Tennis Channel isn’t showing much of Maria - they have Goffin/Thiem and showed Nishikori/GGC. Raining so only have choice of 3 courts.
They just switched to the Shrieker’s match. 6-1 1st set but down a break in the 2nd.
My mom is doing super well considering the shape she was in. We just can’t let her do too much too soon. I’m still here for foreseeable future but H is coming on the 9th of Feb and my S and his gf are coming the 22nd for a week. They are staying at GF parents home but he’ll come see his Grammy and we’ll do dinner out at least twice, I’m sure.
Weather here has been lousy all winter but at least no blizzards. 
Good report, eb! I did catch some of Shrieky. I won’t spoil the result. Now watching the 2 Frenchmen, Tsonga and Herbert. They have Henri Leconte commentating and he is a goof. He is also doing funny wifi commercials for our local company. I have heard him twice, both when French guys were playing, don’t know if that is a coincidence or if those are the only ones he’s allowed to talk about.
We have Jim Courier, too. I like him.
ML, I picked my screen name when we lived in Alaska - now we’re in Australia, so I won’t be getting any snow, either! But I think my family in VA is watching anxiously. I have only been to Maine once - took the train up to Portland from Boston - and we enjoyed it so much - hope to get back up there someday.
Well the Shrieker’s match went very quickly after that second set. I didn’t think match was really ever in doubt for her.
I fell asleep waiting for the roof to close on Laver during Fed/Dimi. It’s pouring here today so I’m staying in and will watch the rest of day session and night.
Henri is definitely entertaining. He was as a player too.
JC does some GS commentating for TC but not during the AO. I can’t stand the comms on ESPN except Darren Cahill. He’s excellent and very easy on the eyes. I wish I could duck tape Brad Gilbert’s mouth shut.
I think when I watch matches ESPN3 (online only) they pick up the Aussie feed (is it still on Channel 7?) The comms don’t ever talk during the points which makes for much more pleasant viewing.
Stayed up late to watch Fed last night (so am hurting a bit at work today). Dimitrov couldn’t miss in the second set.
Brad is super annoying.
Stan’s outfit is TOO BRIGHT!! Holy cow!
Maybe part of the plan - blinding his opponents.
Left the TV on when I went to sleep and woke up to the medical drama with Ivanovic’s coach (who is also Murray’s father-in-law). Pretty scary.
I fell asleep with the tv on too and woke up right before the end of the second set and heard about Nigel. They were saying they heard he was ok and that news must have given Ana a boost at beginning of the match ( which obviously wasnt sustained. )
Well…that was a mess of a match.
I have never seen Djokovic play worse. 100 unforced errors. Hopefully, he will play much better on Tuesday. He will have to if he is to beat Nishikori. I guess he had to have an off day after winning 23 consecutive sets going all the way back to London he lost to Federer in the round-robin stage of the World Tour Finals.
Roger looked fantastic. Slept through Djoker.
I wonder if the other players will look at how Simon played Djokovic for ideas.