Australian Open

[jimlosaltos]

Are They Locusts?

A trio of 16 year olds are creating a buzz on the WTA side. It's the first time in 16 years that more than one 16 year old has won a first round match.

Tennis.com: "The kids did it the hard way: After both won three matches in qualifying (Alina) Korneeva even saved match points in the second round, they won three-setters. In her Grand Slam main-draw debut, Korneeva was a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 winner over Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo, while {Brenda} Fruhvirtova also came from a set down to beat Romania's Ana Bogdan, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, for her first win in her third main-draw appearance after two first-round losses last year." Fruhvirtova subsequently fell to defending champ Arnya Sabalenka.

And "Per the WTA, the last time at least two 16-year-olds reached the second round of the Australian Open was in 2005, when Nicole Vaidisova, Michaella Krajicek and Tatiana Golovin all did it." Meanwhile, the more highly touted 16 yo, Mirra Andreeva took out one of her idols, Ons Jabeur love and 2. So, rude, giving your idol a bagel in public! I admit that I did not see that one coming.

At least the rest of the WTA can assume it will be 16 years before the next batch of eggs hatch yielding the subsequent buzzing swarm of 16 year old tennis prodigies.

[jimlosaltos]

Rublev Eubanks match stats. It is very unusual to see Eubanks clearly 2nd place on the winner tally.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8Pf81z3EWqWMoorX8

Beyond that, Rublev got to the net more than Eubanks and won more points there: 14/17 for the no flag vs only 8/16 for the purported S&V proponent. Both had 10 aces, but Rublev had a much better first serve points won percentage: 85% vs only 66%. With conditions supposedly a bit quick (by today's standards anyway), one would expect Eubanks to do a lot better on serve.

[stroke]

Rublev Eubanks match stats. It is very unusual to see Eubanks clearly 2nd place on the winner tally.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8Pf81z3EWqWMoorX8

[stroke]

Rublev takes out Eubanks in 3 sets of bang bang ping pong tennis. Tsitsipas digs deep to that Jordan Thompson in 4 sets. Both players really competed well. Novak at 1 set all vs Popyrin, now in a highly contested 3rd set. I guess we would all be beyond shocked if Novak did not get the win here.

[jimlosaltos]

Missing Fed?

All this talk about Ben Shelton modifying his forehand to a more Fed-like drop makes he miss the maestro even more

Re-edited one of my Fed pics as solace.

filedata/fetch?id=103157&d=1705448799&type=thumb

[stotty]

I agree with everything you wrote stotty. BUT then how did De Minaur deliver the best ever serving performance against a world number one, winning all but 1 of his first serves in beating Djokovic in, where was it, Brisbane? One of the AO tune-ups.

From my memory only, his serving location was excellent.

Well that would be a mystery to me but then I guess even Raonic and Isner have one or two days a year where they return serve really well. Sometimes even the weirdest strokes can have good days. I can't imagine De Minaur is going to repeat that serving performance too often.

He's bloody quick, though...I'll give him that.

[jimlosaltos]

I watched De Minaur and Raonic today. I am not a fan of any part of De Minaur's game other than his foot speed and spirit. He seems to do everything well but not very well, and he's handicapped by his serve in my view. He doesn't rotate his shoulders away from the net and pull his right shoulder back any where near enough, limiting his power considerably. This is a shame because his racket arm speed is immense, and this is how he is compensating....what a shame. His forehand grip appears quite conservative too by modern standards, not that that's an issue, just an observation.

Nothing wrong with his speed around the court however, which is rather blistering...or his will to scrap and fight.

Meets a supposed mirror-image later today: Alex de Minaur vs. Matteo Arnaldi

Seen Arnaldi 3 times, both in NexGen and once on late European hard courts. He is quick, but limbs like a Number 10 Ticonderoga. I think Ivan Ljubicic was in his box (FTT team shared with Fils) in Germany, was it?

[jimlosaltos]

Curious, don't know how or from where Tennis.com gets its projections but it says 16 year old Mira Andreeva is a slight favorite over Ons Jabeur, 3x 'Slam finalist.

Andreeva is getting so much hype, I may be forced to watch

[jimlosaltos]

I watched De Minaur and Raonic today. I am not a fan of any part of De Minaur's game other than his foot speed and spirit. He seems to do everything well but not very well, and he's handicapped by his serve in my view. He doesn't rotate his shoulders away from the net and pull his right shoulder back any where near enough, limiting his power considerably. This is a shame because his racket arm speed is immense, and this is how he is compensating....what a shame. His forehand grip appears quite conservative too by modern standards, not that that's an issue, just an observation.

Nothing wrong with his speed around the court however, which is rather blistering...or his will to scrap and fight.

I agree with everything you wrote stotty. BUT then how did De Minaur deliver the best ever serving performance against a world number one, winning all but 1 of his first serves in beating Djokovic in, where was it, Brisbane? One of the AO tune-ups.

From my memory only, his serving location was excellent.

Separately, I'd add that his return seems quite good. I recall a comment by Reilly Opelka aka Mr. Servebot, after he had hit Berrtinni in the chest with a first serve on the bounce, "Anyone crowds the baseline against my first serve I'm going at them. Except De Minaur."

[stroke]

Match of the day Eubanks vs Rublev. Eubanks looked great in round 1, Rublev was extended to 5 in a very tough match.

[stotty]

Good solid win for Raducanu. I am pleased for her. She played really well.

Zverev scrapes through the third set to go 2-1 up. He didn't play all that well but his booming serve can get him of of trouble. He played a decent tiebreak at least. Both players sit far too deep to rally at times. You'd think Zverev would have learned that lesson by now. He's so good when he's red lining it and positively rank when he goes all passive on us.

[John Yandell]

Bill Simon's take on Osaka:

https://www.insidetennis.com/2024/01/naomi-osakas-heroic-journey/

[stroke]

I watched De Minaur and Raonic today. I am not a fan of any part of De Minaur's game other than his foot speed and spirit. He seems to do everything well but not very well, and he's handicapped by his serve in my view. He doesn't rotate his shoulders away from the net and pull his right shoulder back any where near enough, limiting his power considerably. This is a shame because his racket arm speed is immense, and this is how he is compensating....what a shame. His forehand grip appears quite conservative too by modern standards, not that that's an issue, just an observation.

Nothing wrong with his speed around the court however, which is rather blistering...or his will to scrap and fight.

I agree, no part of his game is not easy on the eye. He is though probably one of the best, if not the best mover on the tour, and he is a great fighter. That is a lot.

[stotty]

I watched De Minaur and Raonic today. I am not a fan of any part of De Minaur's game other than his foot speed and spirit. He seems to do everything well but not very well, and he's handicapped by his serve in my view. He doesn't rotate his shoulders away from the net and pull his right shoulder back any where near enough, limiting his power considerably. This is a shame because his racket arm speed is immense, and this is how he is compensating....what a shame. His forehand grip appears quite conservative too by modern standards, not that that's an issue, just an observation.

Nothing wrong with his speed around the court however, which is rather blistering...or his will to scrap and fight.

[stotty]

One of best "reach over the net to the wrong side of the court" shots I've seen. Tsitispas with wrong side of net put away vs Berg. Took a shank, a stab volley popping up 20 feet and a sprint from behind the baseline to set it up.. Watch closely and you'll see Stef swing horizontally back toward himself with the racket face flat toward the ground. Travels alongside the net cord, striking the umpire's chair.

Improv skills worthy of Second City.

filedata/fetch?id=103142&d=1705344863&type=thumb

filedata/fetch?id=103143&d=1705344863&type=thumb

worth a look
https://youtu.be/rllZX3jany8?si=4feODRTQkxHZ4L2j

Bizarre!