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Ruud just played insane tennis 1st set and lost it to Sinner 7-5. Mens pro tennis ain't easy. -
What a stunning match going on Berrettini vs Alcaraz. I am seeing Alcaraz as a top 5 in the conversation for winning the FO next year.Leave a comment:
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Really good matches today particularly for a 250, Berenttini vs Alcaraz, FAA vs Zverev, Tiafoe vs Diego, Ruud vs Sinner. Zverev vs Sinner could be on tap for a very interesting final. Sinner really looking good.Leave a comment:
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Have to say that I laughed my ass off through the 3rd set of Tsitsipas's loss to Tiafoe. I realise it's petty of me, but it will take a long time to forget Stephanopoulos's toilet break against Murray.Leave a comment:
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I just find it remarkable that Murray played to such a good level after all he's been through. He was right at his zenith before that labral tear cut him down...very unlucky, as he was due his spell at the very top of the game.
Alacraz is going to be a hell of player (he's already pretty darn good) if he continues at his current rate. He's so aggressive and so fast and strong. You can see by his demeanour that he feels like he belongs with the best already. He had no respect for Murray's former glory...just wanted his scalp.Leave a comment:
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What a great win for Tiafoe. Stef in full fight the 1st set, Tiafoe stayed mentally strong and took the match in 3. And a great atmosphere from the crowd.Leave a comment:
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Quite the match going on Tsitsipas vs Tiafoe. Small margains at their best.Leave a comment:
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Great quality tennis in the first set of Murray vs Alcaraz. Terrific battling with both players pulling off winners just when you thought they'd been beaten. Alcaraz hit a lot of lines to Murray's disgust. I had to smile after a 28 (I think) shot rally that Murray won, leaving Alcaraz bent double gasping for air. But even in that moment of triumph I was thinking 'yes, but can you keep that up for another hour?'. He couldn't, but a hell of a fight. Probably, as always, it came down to slightly low 1st serve percentage from Murray - he could break Alcaraz, but couldn't hold on to his own. Agree with don_budge's assessment of relative trajectories of these two, but I bet Alcaraz was grateful that Murray is still around to pull such a great performance from him (Alcaraz).Leave a comment:
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Yes, all know it no doubt. I would have been very surprised if Andy could have consolidated the previous win over Carlos.Leave a comment:
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Yep...as much as I positively hate modern tennis...I can still appreciate the irony and paradox of life. It was only recently that Sir Andy put a bit of a mild ass whipping on young Carlos Alvarez. Alvarez, being young, positively hates to get his ass whipped. So here you have players at completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Andy is trying to hold on to what was once his...an elevated status on the ATP tour. He beat Carlos 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 a couple of weeks ago on the other side of the planet at Indian Wells. In the desert. Wonderful contrast now to the indoor venue in Vienna. So we meet again. Little Carlos must have a thought or two going through his head about this rematch. He just loves the fact he gets a chance to take grandpa down after Indian Wells. Andy on the other hand is gritting his teeth once more. Trying to summon the dragon after nearly blowing a cog two days ago. You know...it is the contrast in life that makes it interesting. Compelling even. Trust me...these two are going in opposite directions. They both know it too.
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Just one more thing...how about Nikoloz Basilashvili and Matteo Berrettini. Two guys that just pound the ball. Just fucking rock it. Matteo leads in the H2H 3-1, but that is not counting a Basilashvili win in 2014 for Nikoloz at a Challenger event. He looks to even the score with Matteo and he is in as good a form as he has been in years. Currently ranked #25...Matteo fits right into his wheelhouse at the moment. Matteo weighing in at #7 is a prime target for Basilashvili. It could be another feather in his cap. A notch on his holster. This match should produce some really big hitting. Right up stroke's alley I would think. He likes both of these guys. Me...not so much.
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That's right glacierguy...with Andy Murray you get the whole package. If you can stomach the stuff...and look past it, there is a very, very clever modern tennis player by any standards. The tour has sorely missed Sir Andy since his injury trevails and his victory over Hurkacz sort of validates his comeback and all of the pain he has endured. That speaks well for him. All the grimacing and the "clutch and grab" of the past is neatly in the dust bin. What we see today is testimony to his survival skills. Afterall...it isn't the strongest or necessarily the smartest, it is the one who adapts the best. Per Charles Darwin in the "Survival of the Species". The species in this case is the ATP Tour and the related "food chain".
Andy is climbing the ladder once more. He did it once upon a time when he was a young man. This climb is more symbolic and perspective filled. Yesterday it was an aspiring top ten player and today it is the future of tennis it seems...Carlos Alcaraz. Murray currently at #158 in the world and young Carlos at #42 and climbing. He is eating his way up the food chain just like Andy did so many years ago. It is the cycle of life...and death. All being played out on the stage of the tennis court. As much as I hate modern tennis...paradoxically I love the drama. The metaphors one can draw from the game as to life. And death for that matter. We come and we go...that's a thing that I know.
Stefanos Tsitsipas saw off Grigor Dimitrov in a match of almost identical strokes. Grigor had the first set all wrapped up and all he had to do was capitalise on a match point on his serve in the tie-breaker. But those little glitches...the tiny little flaws that spark friction in the service motion if it isn't perfect rear their ugly little heads just when you need them the least. A very good win for Tsitsipas to start his tournament. Hopefully we will get to see him play Lorenzo Musetti in the quarters if Lorenzo can get by "The Amazing Mr. Monfils" today. This afternoon here in Europe. In Vienna. The home of Amadeus Mozart. I once slept in an inn that was the home of the young prodigy. He's dead of course...leaving the earthly plane many, many years ago. He was young and great for a moment. Thought that he would never die. But alas...no one here gets out alive. So said Jim Morrison of "The Doors". He's dead too.
So it goes. The little death. That's what the French call the orgasm. That is what tennis players call it when you lose in a third set tie-break. Be that as it may...WE ARE THE LIVING!!! At least for the moment. So let's act like it. There will be plenty of time for the dumb shit...when we are gone and forgotten.
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