Mutua Madrid Open, Madrid, Spain, 2023 - Masters 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

Borna Coric has some tough months before arriving in Madrid, into his 4th Masters SF, 63 63 over Altmaier LL
Borna will play the Birthday Boy on Friday!

 

[tented]

 

[tented]

Borna Coric has some tough months before arriving in Madrid, into his 4th Masters SF, 63 63 over Altmaier LL
Borna will play the Birthday Boy on Friday!

This is a tough one for me. I like both players a lot. But I gotta believe Carlitos will win, even though we have no H2H history to go by.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

29 year old Asian Karatsev reached his first ATP Masters 1000 SF when he defeated Zhang Zhizhen 76(3) 64 to become the second qualifer to advance to the last four in the tournament history, he will either play Tsitsipas or Jan Lennard Struff LL in the SF.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I got the times mixed up thought the 2nd womens SF was on lol!
The Young Greek vs Struff LL about to start

 

[don_fabio]

This is a tough one for me. I like both players a lot. But I gotta believe Carlitos will win, even though we have no H2H history to go by.

Mind says easy win for Carlos, but heart wants Coric to channel his inner beast and give Birthday Boy run for his money. He has done this before with other opponents, but Alcaraz is currently a hardest player to beat, plus the spaniard will have a whole crowd behind him.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Don Fabio,
I see The Young Greek forget to put his 'Duck Tape' in his bag for this match, Dad has been non stop talking since the start of this match lol! also The Poo is not in the box at this tournament.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Struff really plays old style tennis, though it has been effective in crucial points, eg serve and volley

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

6 games all TB for the 1st set
Struff with SP and a high quality return from Struff and wins 76 (5) also The Young Greek's BH let him down in the TB

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Struff executing well, attacking the BH of the Young Greek and getting 4 UFE errors leads 4-3 2nd set
Also neither coach is adhering to the rules of only giving quick coaching tips to their charges when they are up at their end of the court, this is quite embarrassing at this level of tennis. Both coaches have been calling out, this also can go against a player who is trying to focus on court, especially if a match is tight.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Young Greek with 3 BPs
Struff DF, then overplayed a volley wide,
Saves 2 of the 3 BP with great 1st serves
Pressure I feel Struff DF and The Young Greek will serve for the 2nd set 6-5
The Young Greek with 3 SP and won the 2nd set 75, going 3 sets., The Young Greek must be happy he didnt have to go to another TB, another area he needs to work on is his BH slice. Struff having a toilet break

 

[don_fabio]

Too bad for Struff, he collapsed in a crucial game at 5:5. If it went to TB greek would probably be more nervous.

 

[tented]

He did it! Congrats to Struff!

 

[tented]

Crazy stuff this week: a LL gets to the SF, to play the guy who took him out in qualies.

 

[don_fabio]

When you leave problem solving skills to your father, you are doomed on the court.
Well done to Struff who stayed calm at the end.

Fun fact: We will have in SF a R2 match from the qualies.

 

[Kieran]

Struff executing well, attacking the BH of the Young Greek and getting 4 UFE errors leads 4-3 2nd set
Also neither coach is adhering to the rules of only giving quick coaching tips to their charges when they are up at their end of the court, this is quite embarrassing at this level of tennis. Both coaches have been calling out, this also can go against a player who is trying to focus on court, especially if a match is tight.

So this is the new on court coaching regime? A tragedy, and a travesty. The wimps will carry a portable spine on court. I don’t know of a single great player who wants to be disturbed at work…

 

[Fiero425]

Crazy stuff this week: a LL gets to the SF, to play the guy who took him out in qualies.

It happened a few yrs ago; another LL got all the way to the SF B4 being defeated, m/b Rome! After Novak & Rafa retire, it'll prob. be the norm!

 

[don_fabio]

So this is the new on court coaching regime? A tragedy, and a travesty. The wimps will carry a portable spine on court. I don’t know of a single great player who wants to be disturbed at work…

I completely agree. A huge step backwards for tennis.

 

[Kieran]

I completely agree. A huge step backwards for tennis.

You know the old saying, tennis matches are won between the ears and not between the lines. This is going to remove the need for mental toughness, or at least, it bolsters the less gifted in this regard. It’s like offering a free massage to a player who’s just not physically able for a long match……

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

OMG I went for a run before the womens SF and another LL wins
Well done Struff I read he shattered some bones in his foot had to have time off the tour this year