US Open

[stroke]

Sheldon probably has the best serve left in the tournament. Tiafoe up 2 sets to 1 on Mannarino. Quite the contrast in outfits of those 2. I like Mannarino's much better. Nike is out of control on some of these kits.

[stotty]

If I'm reading this right, and please correct me if not (it's hard to read US O draw without numbers/ splits for quarters), Taylor Fritz is only two unseeded players away from meeting Djokovic.

Conversely, Fritz is the ONLY top 30 ranked player left in Djokovic's side. Not one single player in Djokovic's quarter was won a single match against him. Feels almost like the old Wimbledon challenge format where everyone else plays to meet the reigning champ, who only has to play the final -- except Alcaraz is the champ.

Hope Fritz makes it exciting.

I think -- think -- Tstisipas was the only player in Djokovic's half that had won a single match against him (2-11 H2H) and his last win was 10 losses ago.

Every other player that was beaten Djokovic was stuffed in the top, Alcaraz half. Medy 5 wins, Zverev 4 wins, etc. for a total of perhaps 29-30 wins vs Djoko in the other half.

Bizarre draw.

Sadly I am seeing very little of this year's US OPEN as I cannot take out yet another subscription to watch tennis. I have four subscriptions already!

I agree about the lopsided draw. It's rather suspicious in my view. Roger got the same easy road time and time again in slams. Seems like organisers are trying to push the big names through at times...put bums on seats I guess. No evidence...just saying.

[jimlosaltos]

Sheldon probably has the best serve left in the tournament. Tiafoe up 2 sets to 1 on Mannarino. Quite the contrast in outfits of those 2. I like Mannarino's much better. Nike is out of control on some of these kits.

And Ben is a lefty !

filedata/fetch?id=102013&d=1693603688&type=thumb

[jimlosaltos]

P.S. The correlation between high service speed and actually winning matches continues to decline precipitously. Which is a mixed bag IMHO.

[stroke]

Tiafoe gets through in 4 before a very raucous Big Foe(as he likes to call himself ha) crowd. Very entertaining match. Mannarino to me a very watchable player. He has such efficient minimalist technique.

[jimlosaltos]

As a change of pace .... apparently the smell of marijuna from the fans and the park is so strong, players are complaining about it.

On court 17, "It's like Snoop Dogs' dressing room."


It’s become a stink at the U.S. Open: a pungent marijuana smell that wafted over an outer court, clouded the concentration of one of the world’s top players and left the impression there’s no place left to escape the unofficial scent of the city. While the exact source of the smell remained a mystery Tuesday, one thing was clear: Court 17, where eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari complained about an overwhelming whiff of pot during her first-round loss, has become notorious among players in recent years for its distinctive, unmistakable odor.

https://youtu.be/7USFQIGlOkQ?si=y9jIIdmZibtOCXRj

[jimlosaltos]

Sadly I am seeing very little of this year's US OPEN as I cannot take out yet another subscription to watch tennis. I have four subscriptions already!

I agree about the lopsided draw. It's rather suspicious in my view. Roger got the same easy road time and time again in slams. Seems like organisers are trying to push the big names through at times...put bums on seats I guess. No evidence...just saying.

That's a shame. Lots of highlights on YouTube, though.

Yes, unbalanced draws aren't new. Some recent ones have been head scratchers, though.

So, I Searched.

Here are the times have the Big 3 gotten to a Slam final without meeting a top-20 foe

Nadal: 3 (2010 RG, 2017 US, 2019 US)
Federer: 2 (2008 RG, 2008 W)
Djokovic: 1 (2019 W)

One can only play who shows up, but Rafa's 2017 US Open win was historic, not in a good way.

"Nadal's 2017 US Open title came against an historically weak field, weakest by rank of opponents, since 32 seed instituted."

Finals - Anderson Rank Dowload your Quicktime message?
Semis - Delpo 28
Quarters - Rubelv 53
R16 - Dolgopolov 65
R32 Mayer 59
R64 Daniel 121
R128 Lajovic 85

[stroke]

Alcaraz vs pugnacious Dan Evans, Grigor vs Zverev, and Stan vs Sinner today. Stricker was impressive again yesterday in his win over Bonzi. He reminds be a bit of Herni Leconte. He is a lefty with not a particularly athletic build and a very live arm.

[stroke]

https://tennis-infinity.com/atp/it-didnt-work-runes-mother-confirms-end-of-coaching-partnership-with-mouratoglou

[stotty]

Interesting that Jiri Vesely is 2-0 in head to head matches against Novak. If both players get through their next matches they will meet again in round four. A slam, of course, is a different proposition altogether but at least it gives spectators a straw to clutch at.

[jimlosaltos]

Djokovic comebacks from two sets down:

2005 Wimbledon 2R - vs Garcia-Lopez
2011 US Open SF - vs Federer
2012 RG 4R - vs Seppi
2015 Wimbledon 4R - vs Anderson
2021 RG 4R - vs Musetti
2021 RG Final - vs Tsitsipas
2022 Wimbledon QF - vs Sinner
2023 USOpen 3R - vs Djere

[stroke]

Djokovic comebacks from two sets down:

2005 Wimbledon 2R - vs Garcia-Lopez
2011 US Open SF - vs Federer
2012 RG 4R - vs Seppi
2015 Wimbledon 4R - vs Anderson
2021 RG 4R - vs Musetti
2021 RG Final - vs Tsitsipas
2022 Wimbledon QF - vs Sinner
2023 USOpen 3R - vs Djere

Federer and Nadal never just let a set go. Novak is a completely different story. But he can lock it down when he wants to like no one ever.

[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sYRCBPToYiXs1QrM9

Latest updated betting odds to win tournament.

[stroke]

The tournament schedulers have done themselves a real disservice putting 2 clearly Stadium 1 matches, Stan vs Sinner, and Grigor vs Zverev, on Stadium 2. It is just embarrassing watching all the fans try to flock to the smaller venue. The whole tournament vibe will be at these 2 matches no doubt.

[stotty]

The tournament schedulers have done themselves a real disservice putting 2 clearly Stadium 1 matches, Stan vs Sinner, and Grigor vs Zverev, on Stadium 2. It is just embarrassing watching all the fans try to flock to the smaller venue. The whole tournament vibe will be at these 2 matches no doubt.

Tend to agree. Organisers don't have too much the play when it comes to box office and cannot afford to make slip ups like those two. There is only one big match in town at the moment (Novak and Carlos) and it's crucial to dovetail the supporting acts on the right courts at the right time so tennis is promoted to the maximum. Wimbledon has screwed up here and there like this too.