Tennis Prose




Nov/18

8

de Minaur and Tsitsipas Dominant in Milan

Alex deMinaur and Stefano Tsitsipas, both 2-0 in RR play, are crushing the field at the Milan #NEXTGEN Finals.

deMinaur has shredded Rublev and Italian wildcard Liam Caruana and will take on 1-1 Taylor Fritz today.

 

Tsitispas has downed Tiafoe and Munar and will try to roll to 3-0 today vs Hurkarcz, the Polish powerhouse.

AndreyRublev, 2-1 in RR play,Β  just beat Caruana so Fritz vs deMinaur will determine who qualifies for semis between these three.

 

36 comments

  • Tom Sawyer · November 8, 2018 at 6:43 pm

    Disappointing showing from Tiafoe and Fritz. C’mon guys…get to the last four at least!

  • Michael in UK · November 9, 2018 at 6:36 am

    In UK if anyone has Sky sports Mix, the channel is showing this tournament. It’s one of the few Sky channels included in my cable package.

    Anyway, I do agree that De Minaur and Tsitsipas have been excellent all week, highly enjoyable and impressive shots and points. Seems likely y will make the final. Semi finals are today, Friday.
    Have a good weekend all.

  • Hartt · November 9, 2018 at 7:28 am

    It’s a shame this tourney is not getting better coverage. It is not being carried on Tennis Channel, which is a big surprise. My sports channel is carrying the tournament, for which I am grateful. The tennis has been entertaining, and it is a great chance to see some new faces.

  • jg · November 9, 2018 at 8:07 am

    yes I am in London for business and have been watching when I get a chance, the court set up is pretty cool and the in match coaching–especially Fritz who is pretty talkative during the changeovers with his coach and pretty analytical out there

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 9, 2018 at 8:26 am

    Tiafoe not overly impressive in the second half of 2018, Fritz stepped up but losing that first set to deMinaur with all the set points probably killed his hopes for SF. Impressed by the fire that this kid Munar is showing. Very animated feisty celebrations. Kid really wants it.

  • Hartt · November 9, 2018 at 11:23 am

    Apparently Munar’s nickname is “Jimbo.”

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 9, 2018 at 12:15 pm

    Munar uses emotional adrenaline very effectively, the most effective of any of the players in Milan. Based on this I have great expectations now for him, it shows incredible belief, confidence and desire. Go Munar!

  • Dan Markowitz · November 9, 2018 at 4:19 pm

    I’ve been watching on Tennis Channel the WTA event in Las Vegas. Its been pretty entertaining. Last night was a very competitive match between Nara and Louisa Chirico that Nara took in 3 very tough sets. Nara is very small, but she plays right up on the baseline and it’s hard to push her off it.

    Bencic at no. 37 is surprisingly playing the event as is Lauren Davis who has dropped to around no. 250 in world. Scoop, Brydan Klein is climbing back up the rankings at no. 295. He recently beat no. 97, Jason Kubler in an Australian Challenger event.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 9, 2018 at 5:19 pm

    Dan, I thought Bryden Klein was finished this summer, he took a break and came back and had some big wins. He’s the 2019 Comeback Story of the Year waiting to happen. Nara is a tough cookie, she survived Safin’s pick up moves in IPTL a couple of years ago.

  • catherine · November 10, 2018 at 2:22 am

    Not sure where to put this – but Cahill and Simona have parted company. Darren needs to ‘spend more time with his family’.

    Cahill is now free to coach Angelique Kerber πŸ™‚

    Seriously, who’s in line for Simona ? Intrigue intrigue.

  • catherine · November 10, 2018 at 2:35 am

    Cahill says he’s not coaching again for a while but will do commentary. Wonder if he’ll be back to coaching full-time.

    The fulsome messages of praise etc exchanged on social media between Cahill and Halep make a contrast to other recent splits which have been conducted in profound and telling silence.

  • Hartt · November 10, 2018 at 6:25 am

    Cahill said his children are finishing high school and preparing for university, etc., so he wants to be more available to them during this important time in their lives, which makes sense. And presumably to spend time with them before they leave the nest. So this does sound like a sincere reason.

    From what they have said before, Darren and Simona like each other as individuals, not purely as coach and player, so it must have been a difficult decision. Once his children are on their own, I can see Darren returning to coaching, but imagine he will be very choosy about which players he works with.

  • catherine · November 10, 2018 at 7:03 am

    Yes – I agree this seems a genuine reason and I imagine Simona knew beforehand – also Cahill made a point of saying that his decision was voluntary – ie not the sack. Probably his statement was purposely ‘transparent’ so as to avoid the unfortunate ambiguities and gossip floating around about other current partings.

    I’m waiting to hear Sumyk has split from Garbine but my crystal ball is currently cloudy on that topic.

    Do women players change coaches more often than men or is it that we just think this because we’re conditioned to expect women to be more flighty ?

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 10, 2018 at 8:11 am

    I know it’s easy to take this Simona Cahill split at face value, you have to wonder if it’s a disguise? You just never really know. All these high profile coach splits from top players always seem to end so amicably and conveniently at 50-50. Color me semi-suspicious πŸ™‚ No doubt Simona is a moody player and not devoid of drama, and no doubt Cahill is a supreme coaching mind, the only coach to lead a WTA and ATP player to the top ranking. I see that record not being equaled.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 10, 2018 at 8:13 am

    Catherine, you open a can of worms by noting that women players seem to go through many more coaches than male players. I think you are opening up a political controversy and will have to suspend your account for 20 minutes πŸ™‚

  • catherine · November 10, 2018 at 8:36 am

    Ha ha I hope the 20 mins are up πŸ™‚

    Actually I’m not saying women do go through more coaches, I’m saying we often seem to perceive things this way. They probably don’t if you do the stats. Somehow women seem to attract more comment.

    Not all the high profile splits end amicably. But I do believe Cahill. Simona’s No 1 and it’s a good time for him to take a break.

    I think Kerber should sack her management, whoever they are. The situation was mishandled and left her exposed to gossip. Your management is supposed to protect you. I bet she’s paying them a hefty percentage too.

    Cahill/Halep is a model of how to split.

  • Hartt · November 10, 2018 at 9:17 am

    It will be interesting to see which coach Simona chooses next. I think she would agree that, with her moods, she is not the easiest player to coach, even though she is ambitious and works hard.

    In other WTA news, Safarova has announced she will retire from tennis at the AO because of ongoing health issues. She will retire from both singles and doubles. Lucie is such a charming young woman that she will be missed from the tour. The news is not a complete surprise, however. I wondered if this was coming when she and Rob Steckley ended their coaching relationship.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 10, 2018 at 9:32 am

    Hartt, Simona should just stick with her team, she really doesn’t need a new coach, surely Cahill told her everything he knows and she applied it fully. Can she get better? Not sure. Maybe if she can find the next Tursunov diamond coach in the rough. Wonder why Mauresmo’s services as a coach are not called upon by any WTA players? Safarova was a great player who could have won a major, she came close but it was not to be. Maybe she was too nice.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 10, 2018 at 9:39 am

    Catherine, The Halhill split is too perfect but it does make sense. Cahill did his job, they can’t go any higher than where they are. It’s the right time to split and move on and take some time off from the tennis merry go round, at least the coaching part. If he stayed on this year it could only go downhill and the relation stagnates. Now Cahill is in big demand and his value increases. I think he sees the writing on the wall…Halep can only go down in 2019.

  • catherine · November 10, 2018 at 10:21 am

    Scoop – I don’t think Mauresmo is coaching anyone now – she has domestic responsibilities.

    Very few women players have women coaches, which is something we’ve discussed before. There are virtually no women coaches at the top level. None really apart from Martinez.

    Sorry to hear about Lucie but it’s probably the best decision on her part in view of her injury history. I remember her playing Fed Cup v Germany in Prague, 2014 – she bt Kerber and then Kvitova bt Kerber in an epic. Amazing atmosphere.

    It’s a shame this current tie in Prague is so downgraded because the top teams aren’t playing for various reasons. (Sloane is on vacation). I’d hate to see Fed Cup fade away.

    Coincidence: No 1 and No 2 WTA ranked players have both dropped their coaches. Neither player is a walk in the park to coach so it’ll be interesting to see who takes up the challenge(s). I suspect Simona may choose a Roumanian.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 10, 2018 at 11:52 am

    Which women player is “a walk in the park” to coach? πŸ™‚

  • Hartt · November 10, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    Maybe it wasn’t a “walk in the park” but Safarova and Steckley seemed to enjoy working together. I will miss the fun videos Rob used to do. He has done some Instagram pics with Shapo, but it just isn’t the same.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 10, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    Venus seems to be a pleasant player to coach, together with David Witt for what is it a decade now? Never saw a hint of any drama or Muguruza Sumyk nonsense.

  • Thomas Tung · November 10, 2018 at 12:21 pm

    The rumor I heard, re: Safarova, was that she was “retiring” because her b/f, NHL player Tomas Plekanec (of the Montreal Canadiens), was also retiring … marriage plans, perhaps? Naturally, her numerous injuries would also be a contributing factor (making the retirement decision a lot easier).

  • Thomas Tung · November 10, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    Also, cute little commercial, starring Petra Kvitova, with a surprise at the end:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWmQEeI9eYc

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 10, 2018 at 2:17 pm

    It is a surprise Safarova is saying sayonara, she was still dominant in doubles with Sands. But by age 30 a lot of WTA players have had enough, if they haven’t already. Didn’t know Safarova was with Plekanec, Duke Carnoustie’s services are missed. πŸ™‚

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 10, 2018 at 2:21 pm

    Berdych wins the 2018 Battle of the Sexes! Berdych manhandles Kvitova! πŸ™‚

  • jg · November 10, 2018 at 3:01 pm

    maybe berdych should go to the wooden racquet, he looked pretty good out there–especially with the one handed backhand

  • Hartt · November 10, 2018 at 3:52 pm

    Posters on reddit immediately made the connection between Plekanec retiring and Lucie’s announcement. Their relationship is obviously well-known. As soon as I googled “Safarova”, “Safarova Plekanec” appeared. Lucie turns 32 in February and with health issues these last few seasons she may feel there isn’t much point in continuing to struggle.

  • Doug Day · November 10, 2018 at 4:32 pm

    I thought the fast4 scoring was the best part of Gen. X. Turns out it’s the instant calls! 5 sets in 1:28 with suspense galore called decision points. Welcome to tennis for the best of us.

  • catherine · November 11, 2018 at 2:52 am

    Petra can play better than that Scoop – she’s got an injury and doesn’t want to risk anything for a watch promotion. Unfortunately I knew the ending earlier but it was fun.

    NextGen is a novelty tournament. I’m interested in how these boys play when it’s the real thing.

  • catherine · November 11, 2018 at 11:21 am

    Prague never fails – Siniakova bt Kenin 7-5 5-7 7-5 in 3 hours 45 mins (Steve Simons will be grinding his teeth) to take the Fed Cup to the CR for the 11th time.

    In the end both teams lacking their top players didn’t matter at all.

    Petr Pala is a magic captain.

  • Hartt · November 11, 2018 at 11:54 am

    The Czechs have so many good women players, that even without their top players they are tough to beat.

    Just saw Kevin Anderson beat Dominic Thiem in SS. It went to a 2nd set TB that Kevin won 12-10. Kevin is playing well at the net, that was good to see. During the on-court interview he asked the fans to sing Happy Birthday to his wife, Kelsey. So he had an extra incentive to win today, to have a nice present for Kelsey.

  • catherine · November 13, 2018 at 2:48 am

    I’ll stick this comment out of sight here to avoid controversy. Serena Williams on another cover – GQ this time – reworking US Open and sticking her nose into politics.

    I’m surprised Serena’s head can fit through a door these days, any door.

    I wonder how her colleagues (on court) feel. Bet they can’t wait for Her Greatness to start playing again.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 13, 2018 at 8:25 am

    Catherine, I would not be surprised if the puppetmasters try to shoehorn Serena into politics someday or even the White House. Given their knowledge of rigging elections and stealing elections, Serena as president is possible.

  • catherine · November 13, 2018 at 8:57 am

    Lol Scoop.

    Seriously, life around Serena is getting to resemble a medieval court with favourites kowtowing and fawning.

    And why was she GQs Woman of the Year? In tennis (which is her day job) Serena reached the W’don final and caused chaos at the USO. Did nothing much else that I can recall.

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