Miami Open, Master's 1000

[John Yandell]

I would prefer if Kyrgios retired. Totally disagree that we need more of him or like him. Zverev too for that matter. Two guys that we have filmed but will never make the stroke archives.

[stroke]

I'm NOT arguing this point but just sharing ... and, no, the hope that Nick can moderate himself seems sadly unlikely.

But Briggs has a point. With Fedal sadly leaving us, tournaments replacing humans with robots, and courts slowed so much some matches seem like watching a Kentucky derby run in the mud, you'd think that ESPN dumping all tour matches in favor of children's regular season Little League baseball would be a wake up call for tennis bureaucrats.

Simon Briggs at The Telegraph:

Tennis needs to be a bit more Nick Kyrgios to thrive after Federer and Serena

It needs more provocation and more edge, because the dominant mode leaves us with little but forehands and backhands to talk about
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2...-nadal-serena/

"Just to clarify, I said that tennis needs to be a bit more Kyrgios, not to go the full racket smash. He could be the perfect role model for the next generation of players. But only if he turned the dial down, to something like five out of ten. At the moment, it’s all rather too much."

Yes, I have heard that argument before. Just don't agree. In fact, the atmosphere for last night's match Carlos vs Stef is a perfect example of the appeal of 2 professional respectful competitors. One thing for sure though, if no one wants to watch tennis, the money will dry up to some extent. If that happens, certainly changes will be coming big time. Right now, purses seem to be only going in one direction(shamdemic excluded).

If this ever happens, the first casualty will be women's tennis.

[jimlosaltos]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis...db29af4a707c3c

I'm NOT arguing this point but just sharing ... and, no, the hope that Nick can moderate himself seems sadly unlikely.

But Briggs has a point. With Fedal sadly leaving us, tournaments replacing humans with robots, and courts slowed so much some matches seem like watching a Kentucky derby run in the mud, you'd think that ESPN dumping all tour matches in favor of children's regular season Little League baseball would be a wake up call for tennis bureaucrats.

Simon Briggs at The Telegraph:

Tennis needs to be a bit more Nick Kyrgios to thrive after Federer and Serena

It needs more provocation and more edge, because the dominant mode leaves us with little but forehands and backhands to talk about
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2...-nadal-serena/

"Just to clarify, I said that tennis needs to be a bit more Kyrgios, not to go the full racket smash. He could be the perfect role model for the next generation of players. But only if he turned the dial down, to something like five out of ten. At the moment, it’s all rather too much."

[stroke]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis...db29af4a707c3c

[stroke]

To be honest, the Kyrgios bad behavior started well before the tiebreaker. Carlos let him off very easy. But who am I to dispute the ATP company line?

[jimlosaltos]

Who had 3 weeks in the over/under on how long Good Nick would last?

Sinner saves a couple of breakers, then ... point penalty in TB, game penalty to start next set.

ATP: "It all came apart for Kyrgios in the ensuing tie-break. Sinner gave him no free points early on, and the Australian then received a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct following chatter about the chair umpire. Kyrgios was unable to overcome that, eventually hitting a frustrated double fault to lose the set.

"The wild card then smashed his racquet against his bag and the court, which led to him receiving a game penalty. That cost the Aussie dearly, as he was set to serve to start the second set. It essentially gave Sinner a break advantage to begin the second set, which the five-time ATP Tour titlist took full advantage of."

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/sinn...i-2022-tuesday

[stroke]

Well done by Sinner. So cool and professional. His parents have to be very proud of who he is. Sinner and Alcaraz are going to have some massive battles in the future.

[stroke]

Nick has been an absolute jerk out there today vs Sinner, as he always is when not winning. Carlos in the chair has handled him pretty well, but truth be told, Nick should have already been defaulted.

[jimlosaltos]

Streamed Badosa vs the 16 yo Fruhvirtova and it didn't disappoint. Lots of drama but not for the anticipated reasons.

Badosa went to her first NBA game, Miami Heat, and woke up sick. She was either very ill or a better actor than Will Smith

She didn't quite go full Pete Sampras vs Corretja at US Open, though. But it was a gutsy performance. Didn't have her normal first serve pop, so she moved it around more. Played more human-backboard than normal, which surprised me given her presumed lack of stamina, but I guess she retreated to her comfort zone.

Fruhvirtova has a big forehand at 16 yo and seems to have competitive drive. Also hit a handful of great winners off body-backhand serves. Has that Djokovic "slide out of the way/ hit inside out" return down.

Here's a short vid of a 35 shot rally from their match last night:
https://twitter.com/WTA/status/15086...Q9Xj06jJ2kzf2A

[jimlosaltos]

I was at the Miami Open yesterday. Saw JB take RBA in 3, Hurkacz beat Karatsev, Alcaraz over Clic, and Fritz defeat Paul. JB has a wonderful bh and weak serve. RBA is just what all expect, just a rock solid worker. Hurkacz has a great serve, the best 1st and 2nd I saw yesterday. It was definitely the difference maker in his win over Karatsev. Alcaraz on cusp of very big things, court coverage unmatched, mentally strong, great hands, great technique on all shots. Fritz seems to really have come to terms with his enormous talent.

Alcaraz vs Tsitsipas looks like the match of the day. I like Alcaraz. Great matches today.

You're making me jealous. Enjoy !

[stroke]

I was at the Miami Open yesterday. Saw JB take RBA in 3, Hurkacz beat Karatsev, Alcaraz over Clic, and Fritz defeat Paul. JB has a wonderful bh and weak serve. RBA is just what all expect, just a rock solid worker. Hurkacz has a great serve, the best 1st and 2nd I saw yesterday. It was definitely the difference maker in his win over Karatsev. Alcaraz on cusp of very big things, court coverage unmatched, mentally strong, great hands, great technique on all shots. Fritz seems to really have come to terms with his enormous talent.

Alcaraz vs Tsitsipas looks like the match of the day. I like Alcaraz. Great matches today.

[stotty]

Greeting from Seville, Spain, where I am taking a well earned break. I watched a little of Karatsev last night against Hurkacz. Hard to understand why he hasn't done better during his career so far. He has the guns, the physique, yet never makes a consistent run in the bigger events - save his semi-final Aussie Open achievement.

Nick versus Sinner...yes, interesting. A bit like good versus evil and as always evil is way more interesting. With a game like Nick's the outcome of that match is on his racket as there is zero a player can do it he on his best serving form. I don't rate Nick's 'bunt' backhand as highly as most though agree on return of serve it can be an asset. I rather liked the way Roger disarmed Nick a few year's back at SW19. Once he got beyond Nick's serve he picked Nick apart quite easily. I notice Nick pays respect to Roger and clearly respects a greater talent above the industrious work ethic of Rafa and Novak. He respects talent above greatness it would seem.

Met a Ukrainian whose parents live in Kyiv and who haven't set foot outside the city for 40 years. They refuse to leave whatever the outcome. You have to admire that kind of resolve.

[jimlosaltos]

If I already posted this, I apologize. I'm getting punchy from staring at my monitor editing tennis photos from Indian Wells.

Jannik Sinner vs Nick Kygrios could be an interesting barometer for each, albeit in different ways.

On form, Nick should win readily IMHO. But in my imperfect memory, Nick has never continued a stretch of concentration and quality play for this long before. Can he maintain his composure and motivation?

It's New Improved Nick!

Meanwhile, Sinner fought off match points against Pablo Carre?o Busta yesterday but I fear, if "New Nick" is for real, Sinner is in for a tough day. I believe their match will be tomorrow. Note: Interesting commentary by the broadcast analyst (not sure who): "Pablo is following the book vs Sinner by hitting behind him. Sinner's legs are not yet as strong as the tour veterans' so he can't change directions the way they can."

[jimlosaltos]

Naomi Osaka is causing with zero drama, which for her is huge. Hope she maintains this. Just signed on with a therapist. Causation?

6-3, 6-4 over Alison Riske

[jimlosaltos]

Coco Gauff vs Iga Świątek seemed deserving of hype but was disappointingly one-sided,

Straight sets to Iga: 6-3, 6-1, total points Ig 67 to 43 or plus 24 !

Can one consider this a referendum on the "liner, flat forehand" vs the "ATP forehand"?

IGA's relative weakness is her second serve but she won 58.8% behind seconds. Yikes.

Iga won 4 of 10 break points, Coco 0-2.

And auto-correct keeps changing Iga to IPA.

(No, I did not see the match. I've been glued to my photos from Indian Wells. You don't know how much drudgery there is in part of dealing with that many photos. Click. Delete, Click edit, no delete, Click Hmmmm. Click, click, click. Yes ! <g> )