Early US-Open Ruminations

[Carol]

I honesty I don't see any favorite. Rafa is not playing well (he has something to change) Roger and his issue with his back, Dimitrov? I doubt it, Kyrgios? depending how the others are playing, his shoulder and his hip, Andy and his hip issue, Cilic his blister or whatever he has, Zverev? I hope he has rested enough to have a little more "spark" than in his last match, Tsonga and Thiem we have seen their results too. My point is like I said at the beginning, looking the conditions of each one I think is difficult to see a favorite.

 

[herios]

Shapo won in R2 as well. FAA lost to Stakhovsky. Opelka and Ruud also eliminated in R2.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Shapo won in R2 as well. FAA lost to Stakhovsky. Opelka and Ruud also eliminated in R2.

So just one more round till the main draw?

 

[herios]

So just one more round till the main draw?

Yes. And he will play the Czech Satral.

 

[mrzz]

Yes. And he will play the Czech Satral.

...and let's hope he then draws a big name on R1.

(be careful with what you wish, I know, I know...)

 

[herios]

...and let's hope he then draws a big name on R1.

(be careful with what you wish, I know, I know...)

Buddy, do you dislike all Canadians?

 

[Carol]

Is Sapho the new boogie man now? I like this guy, he is brave, I would like to see him playing against Nadal one more time

 

[GameSetAndMath]

At this rate of dropouts, Kyrgios might not be interested in defeating anyone left.

 

[TennisFan101]

Is Sapho the new boogie man now? I like this guy, he is brave, I would like to see him playing against Nadal one more time

Shapo [Denis Shapovalov] just may be the boogie man. He started the year at 250 and now, 8 months later, he is ranked 69. He has taken down Rafa, DelPo, and other high-ranked players. Add to that, he just turned 18 in April.

 

[Carol]

Kyrgios is a phenomenon, he has the ability to choice to whom he wants to beat or not and that's why he has won so many tournaments

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Tomorrow is the draw ceremony. So, they finally officially announced the seeds.

Here they are.


Men’s Seeds

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Andy Murray
3. Roger Federer
4. Alexander Zverev
5. Marin Cilic
6. Dominic Thiem
7. Grigor Dimitrov
8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
9. David Goffin
10. John Isner
11. Roberto Bautista Agut
12. Pablo Carreno Busta
13. Jack Sock
14. Nick Kyrgios
15. Tomas Berdych
16. Lucas Pouille
17. Sam Querrey
18. Gael Monfils
19. Gilles Muller
20. Albert Ramos-Vinolas
21. David Ferrer
22. Fabio Fognini
23. Mischa Zverev
24. Juan Martin del Potro
25. Karen Khachanov
26. Richard Gasquet
27. Pablo Cuevas
28. Kevin Anderson
29. Diego Schwartzman
30. Adrian Mannarino
31. Feliciano Lopez
32. Robin Haase

 

[Moxie]

I think Grigor has to be taken somewhat seriously. Winning a Masters can only improve his confidence and determination. I might even rank him ahead of Zverev because I think he's better in five-setters.

If Roger is healthy, he's the favorite. Nadal is up there, but his recent performances leave a question mark - he hasn't done anything since clay season, not even really gone deep. Andy and Marin depend on health. Then I'd go with Zverev and Dimitrov right there as the dark horses, and Thiem, Kyrgios, and Tsonga a step behind.

I think it's fair to put Dimitrov amongst top contenders, and I agree with where you put him together with Zverev as top dark horses. But GD's record in best of 5 matches is only a little better, though Sasha's sample size is much smaller, of course. And I like Sasha's mentality for them, over Grigor's. I saw the end of his 1st round match v. Kohlscreiber 2 years ago at the USO when he lost 4-6 in the 5th on a blistering hot day. That, when he was 18 and much less fit than now. I agree they should be considered close in their chances at this USO, but I'd still put AZ a hair ahead, and I think he'll be strides ahead when he fills out. Better head.

 

[mrzz]

Buddy, do you dislike all Canadians?

Nope. I just like big clashes at the early rounds. Nothing against the kid, much to the opposite.

 

[Carol]

Venus and Rafa play badminton at the Taste of Tennis even in NY

 

[TennisFan101]

Is Sapho the new boogie man now? I like this guy, he is brave, I would like to see him playing against Nadal one more time

Just a bit of trivia: Sappho was a famous lyric poet of ancient Greece.

 

[TennisFan101]

I think it's fair to put Dimitrov amongst top contenders, and I agree with where you put him together with Zverev as top dark horses. But GD's record in best of 5 matches is only a little better, though Sasha's sample size is much smaller, of course. And I like Sasha's mentality for them, over Grigor's. I saw the end of his 1st round match v. Kohlscreiber 2 years ago at the USO when he lost 4-6 in the 5th on a blistering hot day. That, when he was 18 and much less fit than now. I agree they should be considered close in their chances at this USO, but I'd still put AZ a hair ahead, and I think he'll be strides ahead when he fills out. Better head.

I agree with your assessment re mentality of Dimitrov vs AZ. For AZ, tennis is his chosen profession and he is very hungry to win, win, win. In an interview, he expressed a desire to build up his body in order to compete against the best.

As for Dimitrov, he stated that he does not plan to make tennis his life. He wants to go on to other things, creative endeavors. He comes from a very humble background and does not seem to be phased by the lifestyle tennis has afforded him. Let's see if the thrill of winning a Masters event changes his mind about a full commitment to tennis.

 

[britbox]

Sascha has tunnel vision... he's going all the way to the top.

Dimitrov has made huge strides this year, particularly early on... but he's not going all the way to the top.

Sascha has a champions mentality, Grigor doesn't.

 

[isabelle]

Sascha has tunnel vision... he's going all the way to the top.

Dimitrov has made huge strides this year, particularly early on... but he's not going all the way to the top.

Sascha has a champions mentality, Grigor doesn't.

Sasha is much younger but he already won 2 MS, Grigor 1 at the age of 26 (late bloomer).....hope Sasha'll continue the good job and won't be injured all the time like Kei, Tommy or Juan Martin, he has to stay healthy if he wants to have a good career

 

[britbox]

Sasha is much younger but he already won 2 MS, Grigor 1 at the age of 26 (late bloomer).....hope Sasha'll continue the good job and won't be injured all the time like Kei, Tommy or Juan Martin, he has to stay healthy if he wants to have a good career

I wouldn't put Kei or Tommy in Sascha's league when it comes to potential. Delpo maybe.

 

[Carol]

Talking about Delpo, will he come back to his best level? I doubt it