Australian Open 2023 [Women] - Grand Slam

[MargaretMcAleer]

Azarenka has come to play
Jess has to play at full pace at present just to win points
Both players using their angles and construction of points well, it is early, this is a quality match
Azarenka still with the early break 3-1
Vika has been taking Jess in and out of the court, Jess I feel has to return the Vika serve better, when under pressure. Vika can DF.
Vika serving for the 1st set, Jess played more offensive tennis and got the break back, she was attacking the Vika serve, it payed off with Vika DF on SP.
Back on serve Jess to serve 4-5
No Jess please stay away from the Vika BH
Azarenka with 2 SP and she wins the 1st set 64

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is Vintage Azarenka early in the 2nd set, she has always been a good front runner, she believes, soo much in her game
I feel Jess has to mix it up more,try to get Vika off balance, I also don't like the body language of Jess at present
Vika 4-1 2nd set, another break from Vika
Azarenka will serve for the match 5-1 and for a place in the SF

 

[kskate2]

This is Vintage Azarenka early in the 2nd set, she has always been a good front runner, she believes, soo much in her game
I feel Jess has to mix it up more,try to get Vika off balance, I also don't like the body language of Jess at present
Vika 4-1 2nd set

This is dismal stuff from the World #3. Hasn't held serve since the 1st set.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is dismal stuff from the World #3. Hasn't held serve since the 1st set.

Yes but Vika has not let her into the game

 

[kskate2]

So the lesson in this match is do not practice w/ a lower ranked player. It always helps the lower ranked player w/ timing, belief and confidence.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is a most impressive match from Vika, I have seen in a long time
Pegula had no answer all match
Azarenka d Pegula 64 61 and now will play Rybakina in the SF

 

[kskate2]

Yes but Vika has not let her into the game

I agree on the Vika serve. She really did defend her serve well. But Jess is in control of her own service games and she didn't take care of her serve at all..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I agree on the Vika serve. She really did defend her serve well. But Jess is in control of her own service games and she didn't take care of her serve at all..

Well considering how Jess was playing, quite frankly I did not see this sub par performance from her, I picked her to win. Jess to me looked lack lustre all match.

 

[kskate2]

Well considering how Jess was playing, quite frankly I did not see this sub par performance from her, I picked her to win. Jess to me looked lack lustre all match.

That's what I mean about dismal. Not just the fact she didn't play as well, but as you mentioned her body language was suspect. Altogether, it was a bad day at the office.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

That's what I mean about dismal. Not just the fact she didn't play as well, but as you mentioned her body language was suspect. Altogether, it was a bad day at the office.

Yes, sad to say this is her 5th QF, she cannot seem to move forward and get into a SF, to me HC is her best surface,.

 

[tossip]

Pegula was very slow and seemed to have low energy.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I told you Pegula was going to choke, like the Buffalo Bills.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Pegula was very slow and seemed to have low energy.

It happens just a bad day at the office. That's what made Serena so great, when it was a bad day at the office, she could just hang around long enough with all her will until her game comes full circle and she could unleash her weapons ( serve, BH and FH), it's what Coco and Keys hasn't figured out how to manage yet

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

It happens just a bad day at the office. That's what made Serena so great, when it was a bad day at the office, she could just hang around long enough with all her will until her game comes full circle and she could unleash her weapons ( serve, BH and FH), it's what Coco and Keys hasn't figured out how to manage yet

Don't lump Coco in with Pegula and Keys. Coco is an 18-year-old on the rise. Barring serious injury, she is guaranteed to win slams in the future. (There are lesser talents in the women's game that have won a slam.)

Pegula and Keys are in their late 20s. If they haven't figured it out by now, it will probably never happen. At this point, they are what they are.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Don't lump Coco in with Pegula and Keys. Coco is an 18-year-old on the rise. Barring serious injury, she is guaranteed to win slams in the future. (There are lesser talents in the women's game that have won a slam.)

Pegula and Keys are in their late 20s. If they haven't figured it out by now, it will probably never happen. At this point, they are what they are.

Keys was guaranteed to win a slam when she was in her teens too. There has been a lot of first time slam winners late in their careers too .

 

[tented]

Pegula / Garcia final?

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

This tweet sums it up best:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Thinking more about Pegula's poor performance last night, her body language was just awful it poises the question playing singles, double and mixed doubles at a major, does this interfere with your singles play, especially when you have a chance to play in your first SF in a major, is Jess over playing? I know many years ago players used to play all 3, though this is a different era,.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

The WTA needs a 2-month mid-season break after the French Open. It would make for a better quality for women's tennis at Wimbledon and during the 2nd half of the season, and reduce potential of burnout for younger players.

 

[tossip]

It happens just a bad day at the office. That's what made Serena so great, when it was a bad day at the office, she could just hang around long enough with all her will until her game comes full circle and she could unleash her weapons ( serve, BH and FH), it's what Coco and Keys hasn't figured out how to manage yet

I am now appreciating the greatness of Rena,and she was a great problem solver even at 16yrs she had the tennis smarts of a veteran.She used to carry notes to motivate herself.I will give Coco a break because she is still very young and her time will come.Pegula is relatively new to tennis success so in tennis years she is 20yrs old.