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

[tented]

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!

I didn’t just mean that a LL got to a SF; I meant a LL gets to a SF, then winds up playing the qualifier who took him out in qualies.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

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…

The same Kieran at the WTA, some of these woman are being 'spoon fed' like babies, a great example is a Greek player Maria Sakkari who played in a SF today, looks to her coach at all times, for tactics, then he gives her signals? she is mentally weak and no wonder she has 1 title to her name,

 

[Kieran]

The same Kieran at the WTA, some of these woman are being 'spoon fed' like babies, a great example is a Greek player Maria Sakkari who played in a SF today, looks to her coach at all times, for tactics, then he gives her signals? she is mentally weak and no wonder she has 1 title to her name,

To be honest, the women can have an on court coach, it might help improve their matches - I’ll never forget the cringey feeling watching Safina weeping like a lost child and begging her coach for help in her only GS final. I was shouting at the television, “Will you f*cking shoot her or shoot me, this is too bloody awful to watch…”

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

To be honest, the women can have an on court coach, it might help improve their matches - I’ll never forget the cringey feeling watching Safina weeping like a lost child and begging her coach for help in her only GS final. I was shouting at the television, “Will you f*cking shoot her or shoot me, this is too bloody awful to watch…”

Matches that are no GS for women, tour matches coaches can come on court at some intervals
Dont remind me of Safina that player drove me to drink and drugs,

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

May I say The Young Greek needs to address his bhand and bhand slice if he wants to go deep in the remaining clay tournaments, that was apparent today in his match against Struff, who won many points off it.

 

[El Dude]

This must be the weakest quartet of semifinalists in a Masters in awhile. Only Alcaraz has ever been in the top 10. Official rankings: 2, 20, 65, 121. Live rankings: 2, 16, 32, 51.

Yes, Karatsev has risen 70 ranks in this tournament.

 

[tented]

 

[Moxie]

This must be the weakest quartet of semifinalists in a Masters in awhile. Only Alcaraz has ever been in the top 10. Official rankings: 2, 20, 65, 121. Live rankings: 2, 16, 32, 51.

Yes, Karatsev has risen 70 ranks in this tournament.

If we're fair to Karatsev, he's been as high as 14. We know he's a dangerous player. And to say that Alcaraz has "been in the Top 10" does undersell him a bit. He's been #1, he is currently #2, and he is the defending champion, so there is that, right?

Look at the draw. You could say, I think, that the top half was loaded. Alcaraz has already gone through Dimitrov, Zverev and Khachanov. And Alcaraz still has to play Coric, who we know is a very talented player. But for injuries, I think we all believe he'd have done better, and may yet feature well. In the bottom half, who went out early? In no particular order: FAA, Rune, Ruud, Medvedev, Fritz, Tsitsipas, Tiafoe, oh, and the supposedly dangerous Cerundolo. Did I miss anyone? Out of all that, what you have left is Karatsev and Struff. Who you going to blame for that? I'd blame basically everyone just named above, if you think this underrates this Madrid Open. Or, maybe we just got two dark horses for the French Open.

 

[Kieran]

This must be the weakest quartet of semifinalists in a Masters in awhile. Only Alcaraz has ever been in the top 10. Official rankings: 2, 20, 65, 121. Live rankings: 2, 16, 32, 51.

Yes, Karatsev has risen 70 ranks in this tournament.

I’ve seen Novak win GS titles from as lame a quartet as this, but basically yeah, it’s not a great line up. The second semi is where everyone goes out to the pictures. The first semi is the actual final, I think…

 

[tented]

Fun fact: neither pair of semi finalists have ever played each other.

 

[the AntiPusher]

May I say The Young Greek needs to address his bhand and bhand slice if he wants to go deep in the remaining clay tournaments, that was apparent today in his match against Struff, who won many points off it.

Martina Navratilova said a few weeks ago she could fix it (the young Greek's slice ) with one 15 minutes..I believe her and it may take 30 minutes for this diva of a male tennis player

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Martina Navratilova said a few weeks ago she could fix it (the young Greek's slice ) with one 15 minutes..I believe her and it may take 30 minutes for this diva of a male tennis player

What about his bhand?that will take longer that 15 to 30 minutes, both the bh slice and bh were found wanting at the AO final this year against Novak, quite frankly both have not improved

 

[tented]

It took Coric 12 minutes to hold in the first game …

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It took Coric 12 minutes to hold in the first game …

It seemed longer lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Good composed hands by Coric at the net to win the point
Coric needs to keep this type of play up, taking time away from Alcaraz.

 

[tented]

It seemed longer lol!

Now it’s taking Alcaraz about 8 minutes to try to hold …

 

[tented]

Good composed hands by Coric at the net to win the point
Coric needs to keep this type of play up, taking time away from Alcaraz.

Coric is playing very well. This isn’t going to be easy for Carlitos if Coric can keep up this level.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Impressed by the hands skills of Coric soo far in this match, great nets skills

 

[don_fabio]

Coric showing teeth early on, but things can go south for him very quick if he loses focus.

edit: or Alcaraz brings his best tennis

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Fhand of Alcaraz doing damage now, gets the break of serve