Tennis Prose




Jan/23

15

AO 23 Begins

Coco Gauff routed Katarina Siniakova but needed about seven match points to finish off Katarina Siniakova 61 64. Team Coco must have banished Patrick Mouratoglou as a coaching figure, Diego Moyano was with the Gauff parents in the box. Good win for Gauff but the forehand and second serve can still get shaky. Next up is Emma Raducanu who beat Korpatsch in straight sets.

Jannik Sinner dominated Kyle Edmund with a routine win but needed about five match points to finish the Brit coming back after three knee surgeries.

Jess Pegula won easily over Jacqueline Cristian 60 61. The 3 seed was picked by Patrick McEnroe to win the tournament.

Last year’s finalist Danielle Collins in a dogfight with Anna Kalinskaya 75 57. Collins has a new attire sponsor in Alo. Looks like Collins has a new agent in Jill Smoller, who previously managed Serena Williams and who also reps Frances Tiafoe.

Martya Kostyuk, now fully sponsored by Wilson, dominating former Nike phenom Amanda Anisimova, who is nearing “bust” status.

Collins won 75 57 64.

Defending champ Rafael Nadal is grunting up a storm early vs Jack Draper and he looks sharp and obsessed, Cahill at courtside for ESPN said he did ten fist pumps in the first four games. Draper hasn’t made a sound yet the whole match, totally silent like Jannik Sinner.

Frances Tiafoe took the court vs Daniel Altmaier wearing the worst outfit in Grand Slam history. The crowd made some gasping sounds upon seeing what Tiafoe was wearing, it’s hard to imagine there ever being a worse looking professional tennis outfit ever again.

Funny quote of Day One: David Goffin on if he will watch Netflix Break Point: “Not sure if I’ll watch. Seeing Kyrgios walk around with his girlfriend doesn’t interest me that much. This series is not interesting for players or people who live on the tennis tour.”

Here is the best tennis film I ever saw… William Klein French 1981

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23 comments

  • catherine · January 16, 2023 at 1:36 am

    Kyrgios w/d with fairly serious injury. Bad for him and bad for box office.

    I think Gauff will see Emma off. They’ve never played. Emma’s ankle was heavily taped but she didn’t seem hampered. Her forehand is emerging as her strongest shot – swinging freely on it.

    Oh – and I think Kenin lost.

    Any dramas in these rounds will be forgotten by the end of the week.

  • catherine · January 16, 2023 at 1:45 am

    Outfits are getting a lot of attention.

    It’s a little ridiculous. Tiafoe was a laughing stock.

    I agree with those who thing Pegula might win. She’s coming into this with the best form of any woman. I have a strong feeling Swiatek will not be in the final – in fact I’d bet on it 🙂

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2023 at 8:39 am

    At least we didn’t have to see Agassi or Kyrgios wearing that clown costume. Nike may have to pay people to buy it out of the stores. Yes Pegula looks sharp. Iga has the tendency to play some really bad or stupid matches in GS – Cornet at Wimbledon. Pay close attention to her interviews. If she starts downplaying her chances to win the title, something is cooking. Emma vs Coco will be a great match.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2023 at 8:45 am

    Had a feeling Draper would roll over for Rafa…Lloyd Harris upset Musetti 76 in the fifth, the S African is back after the injury hiatus… WC Eubanks beating Kwon 64 in the fifth is a big upset… 17 year old Juncheng Shang beat Otte in four sets to become the first Chinese man to win a match at AO. It was also Jerry’s first ATP match win after three previous WC tries last year… Yibing Wu lost 75 in the fifth to Moutet… Mackenzie McDonald beat Nakashima again in a marathon 76 76 16 67 64… Nishioka beat Ymer in 3 sets… Korda over Garin in four sets… Shapo and Felix won.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2023 at 9:04 am

    Azarenka beat Kenin 64 76, she looks in Terminator mode, very focused and fierce. She also did something I never saw before in a Grand Slam. She started the match in the colorful Nike tight outfit with a skirt. But after a few games she removed the short skirt and played in essentially yoga tight shorts and top. Kournikova used to wear this kind of yoga tights in practice, like Anne White famously did at Wimbledon. Azarenka will be a factor in this tournament IMO. She’s there to win not reach QF.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2023 at 9:12 am

    WTA scores… 15 year old qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova lost to Sasnovich 75 62… Caty Mcnally won over Pigossi 75 61… Wimbledon champ Rybakina beat Cocciaretto 75 63… Title threat Qinwen Zheng beat Dalma Galfi 60 62… Ostapenko over Yastremska 64 62.. Kalinina over Coco Vandeweghe 63 61… Bib beat Bouzkova the 29 seed 64 62…

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2023 at 9:27 am

    Jenson Brooksby has suddenly changed racquets from Wilson to Dunlop, it was announced yesterday. Some are saying the Dunlop he will use will actually be a Wilson Blade painted over.

  • catherine · January 16, 2023 at 12:36 pm

    Raducanu/Gauff is a hard one to call. Cori is younger than Emma but has been playing longer as a pro. She may feel that it should have been her there on the podium in 2021 and she wants to prove it.

    Her game still has plenty of holes and she’s vulnerable to emotional pressure. If she plays hesitantly and gets down on herself she’ll lose.

    Across the net Emma has an ankle weakness and is still a very young woman and an unfinished player. She’s in the process of discovering her game.

    The best result would a tight 2 or 3 setter. The worst ?

    1 1/2 sets and Radacanu (ret).

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2023 at 1:46 pm

    Catherine, thanks for reminding us of Coco’s real first name, I had forgotten it ) Dream match up, I think Emma’s foot is perfect. It will only be a problem if she loses. Like McEnroe once said, “It’s been scientifically proven, everything hurts more when you’re losing.” Hard to predict this one, but I’ll go with Emma 75 in the third of a thriller. If Coco is up a set and a break I’ll go with your prediction )

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    Here is the best tennis film I ever saw The French 1981 by William Klein, wish he made many more like US Open 1992, Wimbledon 1996, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vDUIk70_kk

  • Krzysztof · January 16, 2023 at 2:48 pm

    Draw for Novak is an absolute joke – his most dangerous opponents, including Nadal, Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Auger-Alliassime are in a different half… First test can be Carreno Busta in the 4th round…

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2023 at 5:32 pm

    Krzysztof, but you know how everybody who plays Djokovic in a major suddenly plays the best match of their life. But with Rafa so many of those same players appear to roll over or take dives. I think Draper gave up and tried to use fake cramps on Rafa but Rafa is too smart for that. That’s why Rafa never stopped grunting or using his rituals – he didn’t believe Draper was really hurt.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2023 at 7:51 pm

    Draper had a big opportunity last night to make a statement. But his energy and intensity were flat, like he didn’t come to win, just to be a sparring partner. A true fighter would have played to win, fought tooth and nail full intensity. Like teenager Connors vs Roy Emerson at the Southwest in 1969, Jimbo told me he would have died to win. Like young Rafa vs Federer at Miami Open their first match. Draper didn’t show that kind of burning desire, he was a zombie, just playing to give Rafa a good workout. Disappointed in Draper. He’s much better than he showed last night. Rafa wanted it much more last night.

  • catherine · January 17, 2023 at 3:51 am

    Talk about burning desire – Murray won 5 sets v Berrettini (sp?) – hurling himself around on his metal hip.

    Probably his last AO as a player.

    I hope Emma was watching. Andy’s her hero. Most of the British have now departed I think.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 17, 2023 at 8:09 am

    Shocking win for Murray, feared he had a bad draw and would get routed routinely by Berrettini. It’s amazing he still has the desire and belief he can still have one last hurrah. Thought the bad early loss at Wimbledon last year to Isner – first time ever losing to Isner – would have broken his spirit. A lot of bad losses last year. Beating Berrettini means he can make a deep run.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 17, 2023 at 8:32 am

    Leylah looked really good beating Cornet 75 62… Cirstea with new coach Thomas Johansson lost 1R to Putintseva 62 46 36… Bencic cruised to an easy win… Giorgi crushed Pavlyuchnenkova 60 61… Muguruza lost to Mertens in 3… Rublev dominated Thiem in 3. Rublev is now 5-2 vs Thiem having won the last five matches dating back to 2019, eleven straight sets, Thiem won the first two meetings.. Fritz in four over Basilashvili… Medvedev absolutely crushed Giron 60 61 62…Fognini getting crushed right now by Kokkinakis…. Djokovic cruising.

  • catherine · January 17, 2023 at 8:59 am

    I don’t know the figures but it seems an age since Garbine has advanced beyond the early rounds of any tournament. I suspect she’s distracted by her hunky boyfriend. Her best days are in the rear-view mirror because everyone knows her game and she never offers anything different.

    Leylah has a tendency to play a good match and then follow that with a below-par performance.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 17, 2023 at 9:12 am

    Muguruza has not recovered from having those match points on Osaka at AO and then Osaka ended up winning the match and the title. She was playing great tennis back then but that loss killer her. She never got back on track unfortunately.

  • catherine · January 17, 2023 at 11:06 am

    Re my previous post here’s Garbine’s stats:

    Garbiñe Muguruza:

    – 11-19 in the last 52 weeks
    – currently on a 5-match losing streak
    – will leave the top 80 after ten years
    – 0-8 and 1-12 vs. top 50 players

    There doesn’t seem any particular reason for this fall from grace. Did Conchita give up on her ? Were those GSs just flukes ?

  • catherine · January 17, 2023 at 11:10 am

    Scoop – yes you may be right. Example of how one bad loss can turn everything around.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 17, 2023 at 4:22 pm

    Catherine, Mats Wilander once said when a player stops treating every match like it’s life and death, that player will fall down the rankings. This probably applies to Murguruza and maybe some other factors also involved. But that loss with the two match points on Osaka in that AO when she was playing incredible surely did some mental and confidence damage to her.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 17, 2023 at 4:24 pm

    Catherine, look at the permanent irreparable mental damage Djokovic inflicted on Federer by saving those 2 and 2 match points at US Open and then finally tragically the 2 more at the Wimbledon final 2019. Muguruza knows the feeling.

  • catherine · January 18, 2023 at 5:45 am

    Gauff wins 6-4 7-6 and as one reporter said, a ‘scratchy’ match – both hit around 40 UEs. But Coco showed her experience (at 18) and Emma finished without injury. So there’s that. But I don’t think Emma will be thrilled. What she needs is just a ton of match play.

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