ATP Finals

[jimlosaltos]

Tuesday: Djoko vs Sinner. Fireworks?

Djokovic undefeated since Wimbledon
Sinner 14-1 in his last 15 matches, 4-0 in his last 4 meetings vs Top 10 Players
Djokovic leads the H2H 3-0, 8-2 in sets won

[jimlosaltos]

Sinner on Fed:

"I have been lucky in my life, but I miss Federer. I accept it; it's part of the game. Official matches are no longer possible, maybe in the future, we will face each other in an exhibition. However, I wouldn't change anything: I am happy to be a tennis player of this era. The new generation offers different styles, characters, and personalities."

[jimlosaltos]

Losing a set to Rune, Djokovic smashed not one but two rackets.

He smashed one then, calmly went to his bag to meticulously select a second, then smashed that.

Wrong string tension in the first stick? Didn't produce the proper "Pop" tone on snapping?

filedata/fetch?id=102632&d=1699905210&type=thumb

[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/t7EaGK4rpA5L9AkE8

Brutal 1st set win Med over Rublev.

[stotty]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/t7EaGK4rpA5L9AkE8

Brutal 1st set win Med over Rublev.

Just joined the match with Rublev dropping his serve in the opening game of the second set. Doesn't look good for Rublev. Not that I mind as Rublev is the least watchable player in the tournament for me....though he certainly knows how to treat a ball with disdain.

[stroke]

That was a virtuoso performance by the Wall of Med.

[stotty]

One wonders if Meddy is running acres more than other players on the tour? One, his game is so attritional. Two, his deep return position leaves him covering an enormous amount of court as he regroups to the middle. Three, he sits pretty deep at times when he's rallying as well.

[stroke]

One wonders if Meddy is running acres more than other players on the tour? One, his game is so attritional. Two, his deep return position leaves him covering an enormous amount of court as he regroups to the middle. Three, he sits pretty deep at times when he's rallying as well.

Yes

[jimlosaltos]

One wonders if Meddy is running acres more than other players on the tour? One, his game is so attritional. Two, his deep return position leaves him covering an enormous amount of court as he regroups to the middle. Three, he sits pretty deep at times when he's rallying as well.

Surprisingly, no. At least not tonight.

Rublev ran further (per ATP)

Medy vs Rublev

2618 M

DISTANCE RUN

2680 M

this is often (not always) the case.
Once Medy gets the return in he does his goony bird sprint to the baseline and starts play V-tennis.

[jimlosaltos]

Looked up China Open final, which Sinner won.

Don't shoot the messenger

Sinner distance run vs Medy
2911 M DISTANCE RUN 2140 M

[jimlosaltos]

Carlos Alvarez answered my question on the court speed.

Now I know why all of a sudden there are so many aces

"For the world No. 2, adapting to what he described as “the fastest surface of the year” against the German proved to be a challenge Alcaraz couldn't quite solve.
“I don't know why they put this kind of surface at the end of the year because all the tournaments that we have played on hard court is so, so slow,” he told press following his 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 defeat. “Then we come here to the (ATP Finals) and they put this court, so fast. I don't know why.”

[jimlosaltos]

One wonders if Meddy is running acres more than other players on the tour? One, his game is so attritional. Two, his deep return position leaves him covering an enormous amount of court as he regroups to the middle. Three, he sits pretty deep at times when he's rallying as well.

In fairness, even if Medy is not running more than his opponents (and I only checked about 4 matches last night on my phone) that doesn't mean he might not be running more over the course of a season. i.e. If both he and his opponent run more in his matches. I've noticed over the years that opponents tend to run about the same amount, high or low. There usually isn't e a huge disparity, even if matches vary widely.

Tangentially, I remember years ago when people were hyping how Rafa's game style would shorten his career because he put in so much effort on every point, I found that Andy Murray ran far more in the course of a season than Rafa. Miles more.

[stroke]

In fairness, even if Medy is not running more than his opponents (and I only checked about 4 matches last night on my phone) that doesn't mean he might not be running more over the course of a season. i.e. If both he and his opponent run more in his matches. I've noticed over the years that opponents tend to run about the same amount, high or low. There usually isn't e a huge disparity, even if matches vary widely.

Tangentially, I remember years ago when people were hyping how Rafa's game style would shorten his career because he put in so much effort on every point, I found that Andy Murray ran far more in the course of a season than Rafa. Miles more.

Rafa to me was by many miscategorized as a defensive player. To me, no player ever dictated more forehand wise than him. Med to me nothing like Nadal. Murray though, I would say very similar.

[stroke]

Quite the match going on Novak vs Sinner at 4 all in 1st. The Shot Quality Forehand numbers just showed Sinner at 9.5 and Novak at 9.4.

[stroke]

Sinner at the business end of the 1st set slams the door and takes it.