2019 Australian Open, Melbourne - ATP GRAND SLAM

[DarthFed]

No, they did. I posted it and even complained about it before this season began.

Roger said himself in an interview after the match that they didn't practice together, they just happened to be in Dubai at the same time.

 

[DarthFed]

I'm just saying it would not have been hard for Roger to look good v. Fritz. I still think he has upside, but he's far from dangerous at this moment. I'm hoping he does pick up where he left off, though, and becomes one of the best or the best US player.

It isn't easy getting a huge % of those returns in play and Fritz really wasn't a pushover from the baseline. Anyways it doesn't mean a lot as it's all about keeping up a good level. I remember being hugely impressed with Roger's early matches at last Wimbledon and then he gagged against KA out of nowhere. Roger just has to avoid the mental letdowns and he will be fine.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Why do some players hit a ball across the net after he end of a game?

Very simple: the rule has been set (even tightened recently) that after an out call, in case of challenge and call overturn, the unlucky player must have a "clean play" on the ball, in order for an umpire to call replay. Even if the unlucky player did have a play but missed,the umpire's judgement can still be that the call did not hinder his play and rule a point against him. This judgement call often sparks controversies. So, to avoid controversy players learned to hit "one extra shot" after each out call (when close). We had an example of such judgement that derailed Tsi's matchpoint in 3rd set (and that was just a very bad call by the linesman), fortunately, Tsi regrouped and won TB despite losing a game due to a bad call.
I've been a vocal critic of these judgements that were created as a result of hawkeye. Players have already adjusted to play an extra dead shot as a result. Why can't linesmen also adjust and do not call close out until the player plays the final shot so as to not interfere with the play? Essentially, make all out calls "late". Such simple adjustment would have spared the umpire the difficult judgement decision and would have spared Tsi his frustration. But why do silly linemen keep shouting their out immediately as the ball hits the line, and interfering the play? It's not that difficult to understand why all out calls should be late in hawkeye era, and only a little bit of practice to adjust the calls.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Roger said himself in an interview after the match that they didn't practice together, they just happened to be in Dubai at the same time.

Is this article wrong It even has quotes:

“His coach got in touch with us and he offered good training facilities and conditions before the Aussie swing and we accepted it,” Tsitsipas said.

“I’m hitting with the best and learning as much as I can from the experience.”

 

[AnonymousFan]

Tiafoe saved 3 BPs and won the 4th set!

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Tiafoe with an early break to start the 5th set. I haven't seen any of it up until now. Finally showing all that promise everyone expected of him. Though, Anderson is one of the more vulnerable players in the top 10 and Seppi is slightly more than a career journeyman. We'll see how he goes from here.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Nadal with a serious challenger in the intensity department so far. De Minaur is AMPED! Thought he had a break. Ump called a Nadal shot out on the baseline. Ump was very off. It painted the line. Takes a few deuces. But Nadal gets his hold. De Minaur is all over the court though. Returning well. I'm always excited to see Nadal challenged (and lose). Don't see him losing though. De Minaur probably just not there yet. And I'm not sure he can keep up this intensity for hours on end. Rafa is always intense. But Alex is like.... rarin' to go. Possibly going too hard. Could fizzle after a bit. We'll see.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

So of course Rafa breaks to 15 after his own tough service game.

 

[AnonymousFan]

Bautista Agut up two sets over Khachanov

 

[tenisplayrla08]

And Bautista Agut challenges a call. Definitely long. And Agut has the second set. 2 sets to love. Khachanov could certainly find a set or two to extend it. But Bautista Agut showing why he spent so much time in the top 15 before his injury.

Meanwhile Nadal's run away with the first set. Just WAY too good right now. I mean. He's just got ALL the answers. And De Minaur of course just not quite up to the task. So far.

But while I've been writing and then distracted by the Nadal match Khachanov has broken and held to start the third.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Sorry for posting the ladies matches over here. It's late. I should be sleeping. And I'm going back and forth over here and back and forth between streaming tabs. Lost track of where I was.

[Edit] Deleted them.

 

[Vince Evert]

The kid's in huge trouble. The way he's going he looks like he'll be lucky to win a game in the second set.
Nadal's found the range, Damn.

 

[britbox]

And Bautista Agut challenges a call. Definitely long. And Agut has the second set. 2 sets to love. Khachanov could certainly find a set or two to extend it. But Bautista Agut showing why he spent so much time in the top 15 before his injury.

Meanwhile Nadal's run away with the first set. Just WAY too good right now. I mean. He's just got ALL the answers. And De Minaur of course just not quite up to the task. So far.

But while I've been writing and then distracted by the Nadal match Khachanov has broken and held to start the third.

Big step up for De Minaur. Hoping KK can turn this around against RBA.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Nadal fights for the break to start the second. De Minaur may be able to match his intensity. But he hasn't found a way to win these games yet. Plenty of deuce. Not winning the final points. Nadal of course always so clutch in big points.

De Minaur's intensity has certainly waned now though, 3 games into the second. I mean, how could it not. Nadal is there for everything. Handling his own serve now very well. But De Minaur still getting in some solid returns and good winners.

And I missed it but Bautista Agut broke back and is serving for 5-4. 40-30.

 

[AnonymousFan]

Khachanov has saved three MPs

 

[britbox]

Damn - KK's gone. I was hoping he could eek out the set and turn it around.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

5-1 Rafa. Match point RBA.

I'm going back to bed. I would like to watch Cilic v Verdasco. Verdasco loves it here. Always finds some of his best form. So he could certainly make it a tussle. Could be another 5 set classic for him. Or a 3 set win. Or a 3 set loss. Really not sure how it's gonna go.

But I don't foresee some miracle comeback for De Minaur. If so. Well I'll be annoyed I missed it. But ya gotta sleep. I already missed the best ladies matches of the tournament tonight so I'm used to it. Hoping Khachanov can get to and win a tiebreak and extend it. But I like RBA too. So I'd be fine with him winning it now.

Khachanov saved it. Then went up. But RBA took it back to deuce. Match point numberrrrr 2.... And hits a winner to take the match. RBA to the fourth round! Two Spaniards through tonight (assuming Rafa continues his dominance). Can Verdasco make it three? What is this 2008?

De Minaur managed a hold.

Good night and farewell.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Khachanov has saved three MPs

Oh I guess it was match point number 4...

I don't know. I missed some.

 

[britbox]

5-1 Rafa. Match point RBA.

I'm going back to bed. I would like to watch Cilic v Verdasco. Verdasco loves it here. Always finds some of his best form. So he could certainly make it a tussle. Could be another 5 set classic for him. Or a 3 set win. Or a 3 set loss. Really not sure how it's gonna go.

But I don't foresee some miracle comeback for De Minaur. If so. Well I'll be annoyed I missed it. But ya gotta sleep. I already missed the best ladies matches of the tournament tonight so I'm used to it. Hoping Khachanov can get to and win a tiebreak and extend it. But I like RBA too. So I'd be fine with him winning it now.

Khachanov saved it. Then went up. But RBA took it back to deuce. Match point numberrrrr 2.... And hits a winner to take the match. RBA to the fourth round! Two Spaniards through tonight (assuming Rafa continues his dominance). Can Verdasco make it three? What is this 2008?

De Minaur managed a hold.

Good night and farewell.

Have a good sleep mate. I can't see De Minaur making any miraculous comeback - he's overmatched, plain and simple.

Cilic / Verdasco could be fun though.

KK was one of my three younger guard players that I've been pinning hopes on to make a splash this year. Zverev and Tsipitas being the other two.

 

[DarthFed]

Is this article wrong It even has quotes:

“His coach got in touch with us and he offered good training facilities and conditions before the Aussie swing and we accepted it,” Tsitsipas said.

“I’m hitting with the best and learning as much as I can from the experience.”

Well one of them is lying or Roger is coming down with Alzheimer's in his old age.