Australian Open 2025 [Men] - Grand Slam

[MargaretMcAleer]

Skaking his head as he walks to the net, 10# seed Grigor Dimitrov retires ( groin problem) down 5-7 1-2 against LL Francesco Passaro
Dimitrov had also retired earlier this month in Brisbane

 

[mrzz]

I just went and looked at the Nick K match, he already has had the trainer out for his abs, not moving well at all
Fearnley won the 1st set and has a break in the 2nd set, now a game away from a 2 sets to love lead
Fearnley takes a 2 sets to love lead over Nick K 76(3) 63

He deserves an Oscar. He has an issue, yes, but he is acting like he got shot in the stomach.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

He deserves an Oscar. He has an issue, yes, but he is acting like he got shot in the stomach.

I know, he can be a Drama Queen, he decided to play, as far as I am concerned he was good to go, he picked up this abdominal strain in Adelaide.

 

[don_fabio]

I am sure Djokovic must have one of the best TB numbers out there, and he surely went through patches were his stats should be unbelievable, but I really don't remember this kind of numbers. Anything above 80% over a long stretch is just ridiculous...

You're right, I inflated the numbers. I probably mixed TBs with consecutive wins.

Still in 2023 Novak won 26 out of 31 TB which is 83%. He also had 15 consecutive TBs won on Grand Slams. Sinner's current numbers are also crazy, if he continues like this he'll probably break some records. Once aura of invincibility in TBs is gone, numbers will probably drop down.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well done to Fearnley d Kyrgios in straight sets 76(3) 63 76(2)
That was Fearnley's 2nd GS main draw, kept his focus in the match,.playing Nick in front of his home crowd

 

[El Dude]

Novak's career tiebreak percentage is 65.9% - best all-time. Roger is right behind him at 65.3%. Top 10 of Open Era:

1. Novak 65.6
2. Roger 65.3
3. Ashe 64.2
4. Gomez 63.5
5. Sampras 62.8
6. Sinner 62.2
7. Roddick 62.1
8. Perez Roldan 62.1
9. Newcombe 61.5
10. McEnroe 61.4

The next ten: Alcaraz, Nadal, Raonic, Lendl, Isner, Murray, Escude, Nalbandian, Edberg, Becker.

Interestingly enough, the worst of the ATGs was Bjorn Borg at 54.8, 102nd all-time.

 

[El Dude]

I edited the above because it was through 2023. Sinner jumped into the top 10 after having 75.8 last year and 2-0 this year.

 

[mrzz]

He also had 15 consecutive TBs won on Grand Slams

There are three straight TBs which still give me chills ...

 

[kskate2]

Order of Play for Australian Open, Day 3 Round 1, January 13, 2025

 

[Fiero425]

Novak lost a 1st set, rather disappointing start to a tournament against a rookie. Gives me Federer vibes when he was getting closer to retirement.

You're kidding right? IMO, it's nothing new Djokovic dropping a set to some kid early in a tournament! Sometimes I think he does it on purpose to stay on court longer for the practice! I'm not seeing all this "decline" people are hoping to promote to eliminate the last of the Big 3! He's still crushing the ball & serving well! The delusion is real w/ the haters out there! I'll be the 1st to comment when a true drop in his play occurs! Just b/c he didn't win any events last season outsde of the Olympics, some are ready to kick him off the tour! I think he still has 2 good seasons in him & will definitely get to 25 Majors & 42 Masters, & m/b 1 more YEC! His reecord @ 428 wks. as #1 may not change, but other #'s will get additions mark my word! He now ties Federer at 429 matches played in Majors!

 

[Fiero425]

Ha! Michelson did it! I don't even care that I picked Tsitsipas.

As I've been saying for a while now, we've been spoiled by the greatness & consistency of the Big 3! We're trying to transfer their aura to the next generation of players & it's just not happening! We see them breaking down & unsure from tournament to tournament, not just yr. to yr.! Dimtrov going down w/ a groin injury shouldn't surprise anyone as he made SF in Brisbane just a few days ago! IDK why he just didn't jump on a plane & head back to Bulgaria! He had to know he was going nowhere "down under!" Players are fooling themselves thinking they can keep up this pace of "crushing the ball" & running around like chickens w/ their heads cut off w/ impunity! It's going to catch up w/ them no matter how old or fit! Sinner's been a marvel so far keeping it up, but sooner or later, he'll come back to Earth!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Probably the best matches of this round,
Rune v Zhang
Monfils v Perricard
Musetti v Amaldi
Rublev v Fonseca

 

[kskate2]

Le Monf is 17 years older than his opponent. Is this thing going the distance or will Perricard show him the door in straights?

 

[kskate2]

Hair dude said he worked w/ a psychiatrist in the off season to temper his rage. Anger mgmt classes aside, he's in for some schoolin from the Fonz.

 

[kskate2]

Probably the best matches of this round,
Rune v Zhang
Monfils v Perricard
Musetti v Amaldi
Rublev v Fonseca

Dangerous is playing Bublik today. That's a dicey match as well

 

[Moxie]

As I've been saying for a while now, we've been spoiled by the greatness & consistency of the Big 3! We're trying to transfer their aura to the next generation of players & it's just not happening! We see them breaking down & unsure from tournament to tournament, not just yr. to yr.! Dimtrov going down w/ a groin injury shouldn't surprise anyone as he made SF in Brisbane just a few days ago! IDK why he just didn't jump on a plane & head back to Bulgaria! He had to know he was going nowhere "down under!" Players are fooling themselves thinking they can keep up this pace of "crushing the ball" & running around like chickens w/ their heads cut off w/ impunity! It's going to catch up w/ them no matter how old or fit! Sinner's been a marvel so far keeping it up, but sooner or later, he'll come back to Earth!

I wouldn't in any way conflate these talented pretenders/lost souls/and guys with great games and good heads who are the real deal, like Sinner and Alcaraz. It took Djokovic a good while to pull his game together and let Fedal burn a bit less brightly for him to start with his winning ways. He was 24 for most of the year in 2011, when he went 2.0.

Anyway, yes, he does often lose the first set, but I doubt it was him wanting the practice. That's why he's playing doubles. From what I hear, it was Basavareddy who played well. (He featured a bit in the tune ups.) I wouldn't know though because (here comes the annual rant) ESPN has decided to put the entire AO behind an ESPN+ play wall, from what I can tell. This is even worse than in the past. Well, I'm not giving them my money. Excellent choice, rather than getting more people involved in tennis, esp. with so many taking up pickle ball, and with a budding young rivalry in the men's game to involve them in. Short sighted. Well, I have a project, anyway, so I can't be an AO Vampire this year, anyway.

 

[mrzz]

Hair dude said he worked w/ a psychiatrist in the off season to temper his rage. Anger mgmt classes aside, he's in for some schoolin from the Fonz.

Regardless of the actual result, I really don't remember any other time where so many people were so sure a guy ranked outside the top 100 (and who has never been inside it) would handily beat one guy consistently inside the top 10.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Upset Alert
Going 5 in the match between Rune v Zhang, I thought this could be a possible upset

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

You're kidding right? IMO, it's nothing new Djokovic dropping a set to some kid early in a tournament! Sometimes I think he does it on purpose to stay on court longer for the practice! I'm not seeing all this "decline" people are hoping to promote to eliminate the last of the Big 3! He's still crushing the ball & serving well! The delusion is real w/ the haters out there! I'll be the 1st to comment when a true drop in his play occurs! Just b/c he didn't win any events last season outsde of the Olympics, some are ready to kick him off the tour! I think he still has 2 good seasons in him & will definitely get to 25 Majors & 42 Masters, & m/b 1 more YEC! His reecord @ 428 wks. as #1 may not change, but other #'s will get additions mark my word! He now ties Federer at 429 matches played in Majors!

Yeah, people need to chill with Djokovic's demise. Barring injury, I'm almost certain Djokovic is going to win again. I mean, didn't Monfils just win a title? And he hasn't made it to the 2nd weekend of a slam in a while. Djokovic made the final of Wimbledon last year. He's not going to suddenly stop winning unless he has an injury.

I felt Roger had a chance of winning until he suffered that injury at the 2020 Australian Open. I knew it was over when he came back the following year and he clearly wasn't the same player. Same with Rafa post-2022 US Open.

 

[Moxie]

Le Monf is 17 years older than his opponent. Is this thing going the distance or will Perricard show him the door in straights?

Or option 3, old man shows big kid a thing or two.