AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Melbourne, ATP GRAND SLAM

[MargaretMcAleer]

not really. He blows hot and cold too much. I'm thinking Wawrinka is in there with a big chance but fingers crossed that Roger or Andy can take out the championship.

Stan hasnt impressed me so far,still early days,I would love Andy to win seeing he has been runner up 5 times,I have been live to 3 of his final appearances.Roger has won enough

 

[britbox]

My Draw Challenge is obliterated too

 

[Moxie]

Well, that was worth staying up for, I must say. What a match!

 

[britbox]

Stan hasnt impressed me so far,still early days,I would love Andy to win seeing he has been runner up 5 times,I have been live to 3 of his final appearances.Roger has won enough

Just give me ONE more! :hoops:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think it's blown the draw wide open... A few players you think just wouldn't have got through Novak here are suddenly now in the ball game.

I mainly stated that because Milos is in Novaks half of the draw.

 

[Vince Evert]

Yeah sure but I want to see Roger end his stellar career with one more GS win. He's done a lot for the game Come on ?

 

[Moxie]

My Draw Challenge is obliterated too

I don't think you'll be the only one that didn't pick THIS upset.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just give me ONE more! :hoops:

As long as Rafa can win his tenth RG titles this year,if not no way.

 

[britbox]

As long as Rafa can win his tenth RG titles this year,if not no way.

We have a deal. I'll forward the contract to the tennis gods.

 

[Ricardo]

I think it's blown the draw wide open... A few players you think just wouldn't have got through Novak here are suddenly now in the ball game.

I think Stan can beat Novak on any given day anyway, and Murray with his Lendl mental glasses on would make a match with Novak as well. But surely the odds have changed a lot after this match. I wonder if he should've kept Becker on board, seems like that result is suggesting otherwise. Feel bad for Novak as he is one away from making it 7 (equals Fed and Sampras's 7 wins at Wimbledon), but credit to Istomin, thought Novak would just cruise it with regular score (6-3, 6-4) sets.

 

[Moxie]

I mainly stated that because Milos is in Novaks half of the draw.

On paper, he's the main beneficiary, given his ranking, so you're right to say it. The first one it opens things up for is Dimitrov. Obviously, if not Raonic, it opens the door for Rafa. Or maybe Zverev or Monfils to the SF.

 

[britbox]

They just showed a little of Tiafoe v. A. Zverev. Frances had the much higher first serve pct., and they said it was closer than it looked, but Tiafoe looks to be struggling and Sasha took the first 6-2.

Zverev takes out Taifoe in straights, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 #nextgen. That's Rafa's next assignment if he navigates the Bagman tonight.

 

[Ricardo]

Yeah sure but I want to see Roger end his stellar career with one more GS win. He's done a lot for the game Come on ?

he's done a lot for the game, question is if he's still got game

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

On paper, he's the main beneficiary, given his ranking, so you're right to say it. The first one it opens things up for is Dimitrov. Obviously, if not Raonic, it opens the door for Rafa. Or maybe Zverev or Monfils to the SF.

Well so far Milos out of Dimitrov,Rafa and Zverev has impressed me the most,I know it is early days and things can happen as we have seen in this match

 

[britbox]

I think Stan can beat Novak on any given day anyway, and Murray with his Lendl mental glasses on would make a match with Novak as well. But surely the odds have changed a lot after this match. I wonder if he should've kept Becker on board, seems like that result is suggesting otherwise. Feel bad for Novak as he is one away from making it 7 (equals Fed and Sampras's 7 wins at Wimbledon), but credit to Istomin, thought Novak would just cruise it with regular score (6-3, 6-4) sets.

After Istomin choked the second set away and Novak won the third cruising... I thought it was over... Left work, had dinner and returned to see Istomin up a break in the fifth. I was like..."Seriously?" Kudos to the Uzbek. One of the biggest shocks of all time.

 

[Ricardo]

Zverev takes out Taifoe in straights, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 #nextgen. That's Rafa's next assignment if he navigates the Bagman tonight.

looks like Zverev would beat Nadal if he's on form. Was there to see him play on front row seat today and boy, he hits it hard and clean. The guy can go either direction from either side with ease, is fast and very very fit. can't think of many ways for Nadal to hurt him really.

 

[Moxie]

Zverev takes out Taifoe in straights, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 #nextgen. That's Rafa's next assignment if he navigates the Bagman tonight.

I really would like to have watched more of that match. Cahill was saying that it looked closer on court than the scoreline. I think Frances is making headway.

 

[Moxie]

After Istomin choked the second set away and Novak won the third cruising... I thought it was over... Left work, had dinner and returned to see Istomin up a break in the fifth. I was like..."Seriously?" Kudos to the Uzbek. One of the biggest shocks of all time.

I think we need a thread with a poll on recent upsets. I still think Soderling d. Nadal at RG was bigger. But you were right to walk away and think: "pffft." We all did. Including, I think, Djokovic. I do believe one of his faults is getting ahead of himself, or taking his opponent a bit for granted. He was waiting for Istomin to burn out. His first serve pct. was not great, and he was playing a bit passively. I think he was buying what we all did: that Istomin couldn't play lights-out for that long. I rather believe he thought the same about Wawrinka at RG in 2015. For sure, Novak was sub-par today, but I also think he underestimated Istomin.

 

[Federberg]

Grigor's chances might just be better than people think. If he brings the sort of focus he did in Brisbane (?). He's in Novak's half isn't he?

 

[Denis]

Sad to see this. I remember Istomin giving Novak trouble a couple of years ago, don't recall where though.

In any event, I'll be rooting for Raonic now mainly.