Madrid ATP 1000

[stotty]

Great match by Lehecka...brutal. The standard in tennis is just so high at the moment. Rafa and Novak are edging past their best and you have to believe the writing is on the wall. Players are hitting the ball harder and harder. Lehecka's average ball striking speed on both forehand and backhand must be right up there, certainly looks it on TV anyway.

[stroke]

Great match by Lehecka...brutal. The standard in tennis is just so high at the moment. Rafa and Novak are edging past their best and you have to believe the writing is on the wall. Players are hitting the ball harder and harder. Lehecka's average ball striking speed on both forehand and backhand must be right up there, certainly looks it on TV anyway.

Well done by Lehecka. Quite the athlete. Obviously, I Nadal in his prime would continue to rack up the clay titles, but he certainly seems to be at the end. Quite the career. His accomplishments on clay will probably stand forever

[stotty]

Well done by C. Quite the athlete. Obviously, I Nadal in his prime would continue to rack up the clay titles, but he certainly seems to be at the end. Quite the career. His accomplishments on clay will probably stand forever

Rafa had a few spells where his forehand is still the best shot on earth but overall he's a shadow of his former self. I am not convinced he can get to the level he needs to win RG, and to make matters worse, players are losing there fear of him. Lehecka was fearless from start to finish and no trouble closing out.

[stroke]

Alcaraz goes out to Rublev. Sinner withdraws with injury. Fritz has quietly been playing the best tennis at Madrid thus far.

[jimlosaltos]

Alcaraz goes out to Rublev. Sinner withdraws with injury. Fritz has quietly been playing the best tennis at Madrid thus far.

Holy Cow. We could have FAA vs Rublev for a final on clay. { Checking to see if I'm in the right multiverse. Nope.}

[jimlosaltos]

Alcaraz fell short in his chance for an amazing three-peat in Madrid.

Aside from Rublev managing to keep his emotions in check, what stood out yet again, for me anyway, was that Alcaraz's serve is a shadow of what it was when he shone so brightly as he broke in on tour.

Two matches with 59/60 % first serves won, and faced 26 breakpoints in 30 service games over the two matches. Regularly winning more points behind his second serve than his first. Note: Carlos still has a wrap and a compression sleeve on his injured pronator muscle of his right forearm.

In the second half of the loss, Rublev was sitting on the wide kicker to the ad court and last jack-hammering backhands down the line or crosscourt at will.

Sumpppin's wrong in Villena. Two images

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#

[stotty]

Fritz beats Cerundolo. Strange match. Cerundolo seemingly completely in control in the third set, then suddenly loses 8 points in a row to lose the match. Talented young player, though, and nice to watch on clay.

[stroke]

I am picking Fritz to win this tournament. I have always liked his game.

[jimlosaltos]

I am picking Fritz to win this tournament. I have always liked his game.

Wow. Bold move. But Taylor is playing great, and Madrid likes good servers.

Let's check H2H (although I think Taylor's great form coming in is more relevant, and he's only played 1 match against all of them on clay, I think?)

Fritz 0 - Medvedev 1

Fritz 2 - FAA 1

Fritz 3 - Lehecka 0

Fritz 5 - Rublev 3

[stotty]

Wow. Bold move. But Taylor is playing great, and Madrid likes good servers.

Let's check H2H (although I think Taylor's great form coming in is more relevant, and he's only played 1 match against all of them on clay, I think?)

Fritz 0 - Medvedev 1

Fritz 2 - FAA 1

Fritz 3 - Lehecka 0

Fritz 5 - Rublev 3

Not the line up I expected at this stage in the competition but it is what it is. It's really disappointing that Alcaraz lost and he's having such a dip in form after his meteoric rise back at SW19. I have always seen problems with his game and match temperament (shot selection and attitude to risk) but he was so good that these flaws didn't seem to matter. I still believe he is head and shoulders above the rest of the field (Sinner and Novak excepted) if he can get his mojo back.

[jimlosaltos]

Not the line up I expected at this stage in the competition but it is what it is. It's really disappointing that Alcaraz lost and he's having such a dip in form after his meteoric rise back at SW19. I have always seen problems with his game and match temperament (shot selection and attitude to risk) but he was so good that these flaws didn't seem to matter. I still believe he is head and shoulders above the rest of the field (Sinner and Novak excepted) if he can get his mojo back.

Good points. But "mojo" or tactics and confidence? Where have 134 mpg served gone?

[jimlosaltos]

Not the line up I expected at this stage in the competition but it is what it is. It's really disappointing that Alcaraz lost and he's having such a dip in form after his meteoric rise back at SW19. I have always seen problems with his game and match temperament (shot selection and attitude to risk) but he was so good that these flaws didn't seem to matter. I still believe he is head and shoulders above the rest of the field (Sinner and Novak excepted) if he can get his mojo back.

Alcaraz just pulled out of Rome. Arm apparently is bothering him more than he shows on court.

[jimlosaltos]

Haven't yet seen this semifinal, but what happened to Fritz's great service? Straight forward win for Rublev?

No flag wins 83% behind his first serve, Fritz only 69%.

In points won on first its 38 for Rublev to only 18 for Fritz. Was Rublev on fire or bad day at the office for Fritz?


P.S. Yesterday, Fritz responded to an ATP highlight post on social media with "That's 'Claylor" { as clay + Taylor }

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[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eAmvDhZHRsJ52NwDA

I have not watched it yet, but I am going to. It looks like both played well, Rublev just too good.

[stotty]

Alcaraz just pulled out of Rome. Arm apparently is bothering him more than he shows on court.

I am wondering whether Carlos is going to be unlucky with injuries like Rafa. Rafa missed around 11 slams in his peak years, the was rotten luck.