Controversy! Johnson-Medvedev Grudge Match at Citi Open

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Dan Markowitz writes:

Talking about hard to see...the WTA multi-color courts make it real hard to see the ball on tv.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Alex Zverev wins another title over Anderson. If he won it and complained that would be kind of funny.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Mmoh beats Millman for the Lexington challenger. Nice win. Smyczek downs Dancevic in Canada. Opelka beats Escobedo to make the main draw. Escobedo has really been in a rut! That's how it goes in a sport decided by inches. One minute you're on the verge of the top 60 and a hair behind your peers, the next you are bottoming out of draws in Mexico and qualies in Canada and booking flights unless you are in the dubs.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Vickery and Cirstea both make the Montreal (?) draw?! Glad to see Cirstea do well after departing early in a tournament in the home country of Romania. Sometimes playing in front of a home crowd is tough...especially against another player from the home country! If you think Canada stocks the draw check out Romania.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Scoop I'm stunned you haven't hit the international tournaments. I bet you'll enjoy it when you get to them.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Catherine Muguruza smashed through all the criticism of her game with the Wimbledon title. She could run off and join the circus and return to the sport in Melbourne and probably get the same results. I doubt she feels much pressure, she likes the big stage. Seems like for her it matters how much she likes a tournament. She likes the French (storied past with winners like Aranxta Sanchez Vicario) and Wimbledon (same thing with Conchita Martinez). She probably wants a koala bear too down in Oz. I think she's like that, if it isn't a big venue she doesn't care much. I watched the highlights again of the Coco vs Muguruza match from the Australian, she wasn't THAT much off the pace, just that Coco was playing great. Muguruza was playing just slightly worse, and for whatever reason the lawns of Wimbledon were more to her liking. And she was more enthusiastic in Wimbledon.

 

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

Andrew, You are right. I like each and every one. They are all unique and different. On my list is Monte Carlo and Melbourne. Oh, I forgot, I did cover Hamlet Cup on Long Island in about 93 or 94 a long time ago. That was cool too. Actually saw Marc Rosset playing basketball there and Michael Chang do a perfect imitation I mean perfect of Jimmy Connors in an exo night match after Connors pulled out late because it was his birthday. Chang all the sudden in mid point against I can't remember started doing a Connors imitation DURING the point and it was hilarious and spot on. Very funny LOL moment by the usually dead serious Chang. So all tournaments are special and have different qualities.

 

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Hartt writes:

Rogers Cup is the only chance for these young Canadian players to get a WC, unless they happen to have an agent, like Abanda, who might get them one at another tourney. So I don't blame Tennis Canada for stocking the qualies. The players who get WCs for the MD usually deserve them.

 

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Chazz writes:

Seems like Madison Keys is finally over her wrist issues. Good for her.

 

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Duke Carnoustie writes:

Why did Kokkinakis not get a SE into Montreal, anybody?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Duke Carnoustie writes:

Why did Kokkinakis not get a SE into Montreal, anybody?

SE into ATP 1000 events can only be given to a player who reaches SF or above at an ATP 500 event or above in the previous week.
Kokk played in a 250 event and so he is not eligible. If Kokk had played in DC and reached SF or better, he would have got SE into Montreal.

 

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catherine writes:

Sparse crowds for women's final in DC. WTA can't split the tournaments, ie with Stanford this week, no marquee names and expect to draw. I wonder why they bother with a women's event in Washington. Let's hope things perk up a bit in Toronto.

 

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Hartt writes:

I don't know how it works at other tourneys, but I will buy a very cheap ticket for the main stadium in order to get access to the grounds. So although my seat will be empty for the most part, I will be at the tourney, enjoying tennis at the other courts or watching practices. Judging from the crowds at the outer courts a lot of people do this. Of course by the time you get to the SF and F all the singles action is taking place on centre court. But earlier in the week sparse crowds in he main stadium are not indicative of the number of people at the tourney.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Hubert writes:

Excellent blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol

 

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catherine writes:

Hartt - don't know if you were answering my comment, but I was only referring to the final in DC, which as far as I could see was sparsely attended, a pity because I'm sure the players try just as hard. But it must be disheartening. I suppose my point is that the women's circuit can't afford to be diluted - in a way I think of it as the men's tour cut in half. And when the tournaments are mixed, as at Citi, and the women's event is smaller, the gap in drawing power really shows up. Toronto is pretty stacked with top 10 so probably good crowds and some good matches. Seems from the draw, if I read right, that Simona's first match could be v Keys, which was actually the final last year I think ? Look forward to your reports

 

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catherine writes:

Scoop - Yes, Muguruza does have to be stimulated I suspect, which is why I suggested 1 GS per year, because that kind of performance usually only happens once unless you are something exceptional - so no USO but maybe AO in '18 ? (of course Garbine may turn out somerthing exceptional as she grows and develops) You know of course that koala bears aren't bears ? Agree with Hubert that this is a very good blog, tolerates disagreements : ) and it does load fast even on my computer.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Tommy Paul's run was no fluke. I realized this this morning. We now have a legit USA next Gen future masters winner at minimum. Querrey with his performance and Isner both looking like second week us open. All of the above is just a thought. But it's pretty amazing Paul came out of the dungeon of tennis. It's like he's reclaiming a spot that Fritz and others were playing hot potato with. The kid has courage and cant fake it.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Hartt I agree grounds pass is way to go.

 

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Hartt writes:

Andrew, you were asking about the Montreal venue. Just read an interesting stat about Coupe Rogers there. In 2011, the last time Fed played in Montreal, the tourney achieved the world attendance record for a one-week event on the ATP tour. The tournament director thinks, that if the weather cooperates, they could break their own record this week. He does not say so, but you have to think having Roger and Rafa playing is the key to that.

 

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Hartt writes:

Catherine, your post is what made me think about the empty seats in stadiums, but I understood your point about the women's tour being diluted by two tourneys in the same week and agree with you. We have often talked about so many empty seats in tennis tournaments and I wish there were a way to know if attendance on other courts is good, so the tourney as a whole is doing OK.