Wimbledon

[stroke]

Novak is of course the favorite at -188, which is an implied probability of winning at just over 65%. I think Novak just being a solid favorite, rather than an overwhelming one(considering his resume and current form) indicates how much regard the oddsmakers have for Alcaraz.

[jimlosaltos]

Meanwhile, Marketa Vondrousova, 24, became the first unseeded player to win Wimbledon 6-4, 6-4 over back-to-back finalist Ons Jabeur.

After a fortnight of baffling power hitters, Ons seemed unable to adjust to a fellow nerf-and-turf, change of pace artist. You rarely see a stats table like this: Winner 0 aces, 10 winners. Opponent: 48% first serves won.

Marketa had her wrist in a cast during last year's Wimbledon, so a nice comeback. Considering her recovery, "her husband opted not to come watch her play here until Saturday, choosing instead to stay home and take care of their hairless Sphynx cat." Had to catch a last minute flight and find a cat sitter.

[stotty]

Meanwhile, Marketa Vondrousova, 24, became the first unseeded player to win Wimbledon 6-4, 6-4 over back-to-back finalist Ons Jabeur.

After a fortnight of baffling power hitters, Ons seemed unable to adjust to a fellow nerf-and-turf, change of pace artist. You rarely see a stats table like this: Winner 0 aces, 10 winners. Opponent: 48% first serves won.

Marketa had her wrist in a cast during last year's Wimbledon, so a nice comeback. Considering her recovery, "her husband opted not to come watch her play here until Saturday, choosing instead to stay home and take care of their hairless Sphynx cat." Had to catch a last minute flight and find a cat sitter.

I only saw the second half of the second set but the standard looked woeful. It looked a paceless game, which was doubtless a tactic, but it made the game devoid of life and excitement.

Perhaps the first set and half were better.

[stotty]

Men's Singles Draw


Gentlemen's Singles - Projected Quarter-finals

Carlos Alcaraz vs Holger Rune
Daniil Medvedev vs Stefanos Tsitsipas

Jannik Sinner vs Casper Ruud
Andrey Rublev vs Novak Djokovic

Well six of the projected players made it through, which is more accurate than usual. Ruud really let the side down...

[stroke]

Novak comes out in vintage clinical form, squeezing very early. No rope a dope in sight.

[stotty]

Novak comes out in vintage clinical form, squeezing very early. No rope a dope in sight.

Novak has smothered Carlos so far and given him no breathing space whatsoever. Novak seems quite happy to drive the ball straight into Carlos's forehand and seems to have extracted plenty of errors doing it.

[stroke]

I actually felt a little sorry for Carlos out there. Novak just squeezing, giving away nothing, kinda like he does.

[stotty]

Strange lapse by Novak as Carlos goes 2-0 love up in the second. Novak taking an age to serve between 1st and 2nd deliveries.

[stotty]

Carlos has discovered he can milk the crowd. Not that it will worry Novak too much. Carlos certainly picking up his form a little.

[stroke]

Carlos has discovered he can milk the crowd. Not that it will worry Novak too much. Carlos certainly picking up his form a little.

The crowd is no factor for Novak. 2019 vs Fed here in the Final was the most raucous one sided non Davis Cup crowd ever. Novak is like whatever.

[jthb1021]

Interesting second set tiebreaker! Everyone expecting the lockdown mode Novak and then he misses 2 routine backhands, a backhand drop shot, and a double fault.. Yet somehow he had a set point as well!

[stroke]

Carlos wins the 2nd set tiebreaker somehow. I have never heard such a gleeful crowd reaction to a serve time violation called on Novak ha.

[stotty]

Interesting second set tiebreaker! Everyone expecting the lockdown mode Novak and then he misses 2 routine backhands, a backhand drop shot, and a double fault.. Yet somehow he had a set point as well!

Yep...those were surprising misses.

Carlos, here in the third set, is rallying very comfortably with Novak...and moving him around a lot....great use of the sliced backhand.

[stotty]

Carlos wins the 2nd set tiebreaker somehow. I have never heard such a gleeful crowd reaction to a serve time violation called on Novak ha.

Well he's been getting away with murder with that stop clock. I counted 30 seconds a couple of times.

[stroke]

Carlos up 4-1 in the 3rd after a 32 or so minute break of Novak's serve. Carlos is showing exactly what it takes to have a good chance to take out Novak in a Major Final. This has been quite the battle.