Early US Open Preview

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Scoop, maybe Nadal will play a light # of matches this summer. He was upset at Wimbledon and felt he was ready to get a third Wimbledon trophy. He's going to be hungry at us open if he's healthy heading in.

 

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

Andrew; Shelton is coaching at Univ of Florida. Or he was last year. He was at Eddie Herr two years ago and did a Biofile and talked about Facing McEnroe. Great interview subject.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Hartt writes:

Several Canadian women are playing doubles at Rogers Cup. Some are teamed together, such as the youngsters Andreescu and Branstine, but there are a couple teams I find quite intriguing. Dabrowski will partner Ostapenko (who was the loser in one of the most entertaining WTA matches I've seen in a long time). Dabrowski is an experienced doubles player who recently won the mixed doubles at RG. Will Gaby be able to guide the emotional Ostapenko? Another team is Bouchard/Ka Pliskova. Am glad to see Genie playing doubles here, she still needs match play and Karolina is an experienced doubles player. But the singles will be very important for the WTA No. 1, so was a little surprised to see Pliskova in the doubles. It could be a very busy week for her.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

scoopmalinowski writes:

Hartt; we should have got you a media credential so you can cover the event as as media filing reports here. Maybe next year?

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Dan Markowitz writes:

Heard from Brydan Klein. He lost 6 and 6 to Millot who I really don't know much about, never seen him play. Izzie playing well against Del Po, but you know Izzie's not facing Matthew Ebden or Ryan Harrison anymore and he's got little to no chance of winning this match. What about Pouille losing to Donaldson. Pouille is the DY of French tennis.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

In Harrison and Donaldson we trust? Only USA men so far to make it to round two. Paire d Young in a tight three setter, Monfils d. Johnson in 3. Maybe Isner and Smyczek will win their matches. On the wta side Dommie Cibulkova advances and so too Sevastova. I guess Ostapenko is enjoying the time off and wondering what's next, only for Lepchenko to answer a third set first round loss is what's next Jelena!!!

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Dan Markowitz writes:

Ostapenko is such a bad sport. She barely gave Lepchenko a hand shake today after her loss. Steve Jo completely fell apart against Monfils 6-1 in third set. On the last point, he played it like a disengaged Kyrgios. I know he's had a terrible personal loss, but if Kyrgios did what SteveJo did today, he'd be lambasted.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Duke Carnoustie writes:

Well Kyrgios is 2-0 against Big Al - both this year in 1000s. But he was a different player in March. Nick on possible 2R foe Tiafoe: "Tiafoe is a great player. He's a young guy, has a huge future ahead of him. He's got a great game. I'm really good friends with him as well." Another brutal heartbreak in a DY loss. Paire was serving at 15-40, 4-4 in the 3rd and won the set 6-4. Sambrero Querrey plays Millot for the second straight week. How about Querrey being 11th in the race to London with Novak and Stan ahead of him and not going. What a milestome it would be for him to make like like Fish. Pouille has lost six of his last seven to U.S. players, including two this year to DY and one to Sambreo and one to Tommy Paul.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Duke Carnoustie writes:

Another Pouille loss - Rajeev Ram last year.

 

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

Millot is one of those talented flaky French guys. I remember Mannarino said he's one of his favorites to watch. Tough loss but good battle by BK.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Cold handshakes unless you're French on the wta!

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

I'm sticking with any wta player who wins a masters this summer in Canada or Cincinatti WILL not win a slam this summer. I think the players are now attuned to the idea that peaking before a slam is not helpful. Maybe fear of injury or something.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Duke Carnoustie writes:

This sums it up... @NickKyrgios Nicholas Kyrgios Retweeted Nicholas Kyrgios Also anyone at rogers cup throughout the week can come on my practice court and chill and hit if u want

 

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

You gotta love how good Nick is with his fans. Borderline unprofessional but if it works for him it's great for him and for the fans. If he can pull off a major with this laid back chill attitude, just imagine how it could change tennis into a less serious, have fun type sport. Right now it's SUPER SERIOUS. If Nick can change that - and he is that good that he has the power to change the game - hat's off to Nick. I really like how Nick is bypassing the media and connecting with the fans on his own terms. He is one player who does not need the media.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Chazz writes:

Always fun to talk about the next Slam winners. I'll go with Nadal. I think he will be on a mission and is hungry for another Slam. He's tired of hearing about Federer and his 19. Dark horse is Zverev. It's only a matter of time. On the women's side, I'll keep saying it until it finally happens, Halep will get it done. Dark horse is Keys. She looked great yesterday vs. Coco and throughout the Stanford tournament.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

I'd argue it's about local media and local fans. Scoop you'd know this better than I do, you said each tournament is completely different. Different characters different fans even if draws are similar from one place to the next. Different courts. There's a lot of good stuff from local press that cover events.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Hartt writes:

Scoop, thanks, I would love to have a media credential to cover Rogers Cup next year for here.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

catherine writes:

Who's fixing the WTA draw ? - Keys out - Simona's path easier - Chazz you could be right but I'm not counting it as a road to the US0. I'm with Andrew on this.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

catherine writes:

Also interesting - Kerber's first match (which won't be until Wed I think) will be v Vekic or Bouchard. Angie has history with Bouchard. Madrid. Hartt - I imagine Pliskova is playing doubles to get match practice - don't know her record on hard courts. But of course if Ka reaches later singles rounds she may drop out of the doubles. If her serve's working she could be a problem for Simona if they meet - S tends not to like heavy serving.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Hartt writes:

Catherine, yea I agree that Ka Pliskova likely is using doubles for match practice. I got to see her working with a hitting partner right under my nose. I was amazed at how much power she generated from that slender frame. The idea that the camera adds lbs certainly seems true in her case - she is even more slender in person than she looks on TV. It was fun to see her serve close-up - power, accuracy and spin.