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

[MargaretMcAleer]

Gotta love The Kid who said after his match with Zverev

"This match gives me a lot of confidence" I dont' think he lacks confidence, but he made me smile anyway

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Wow that appeared to be a 'total grind' match
Well done to Coric who grinded it out!

 

[Moxie]

Coric with a little luck on the net cord, but Foki lost his mini-break advantage and that's on him. Tight as a drum that match. Either had a great opportunity, and, to their credit, they fought hard for it. (Sidebar: I like Borna's long hair.)

 

[Fiero425]

I’m rooting for Coric. I hope he pulls through this one.

He did with the help of a lucky net cord in the 3rd set Tie-Breaker! Good for Coric!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Coric with a little luck on the net cord, but Foki lost his mini-break advantage and that's on him. Tight as a drum that match. Either had a great opportunity, and, to their credit, they fought hard for it. (Sidebar: I like Borna's long hair.)

and Coric's beard as well, I didnt recognize him at first, though it as grown on me lol!

 

[don_fabio]

Decent match, it was a touch of luck that decided the match at the end. Good tournament here for Coric, finally he won a few matches.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Decent match, it was a touch of luck that decided the match at the end. Good tournament here for Coric, finally he won a few matches.

Coric plays Altmaier next, a match that is winnable for him

 

[Moxie]

Coric plays Altmaier next, a match that is winnable for him

This is why I was saying it was a great opportunity for both...Altmaier is a LL.

 

[kskate2]

Taylor is the eternal American headcase

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Taylor is the eternal American headcase

Fritz did exactly the same in his match yesterday won the 1st set quite easily then went off with the fairies in the 2nd set and lost

 

[kskate2]

he does the same thing all the time. turns wins into losses or a long trip off of a steep cliff. Just like Keys, he plays down to the level of his opponent

 

[tented]

he does the same thing all the time. turns wins into losses or a long trip off of a steep cliff. Just like Keys, he plays down to the level of his opponent

Well put!

 

[tented]

Wow, I can’t believe Fritz saved that MP!

EDIT: MP #3 for Fritz — and he hits it long. 8-8.

EDIT: Fritz lost — after being minutes away from the win in the 2nd set, he loses in a 3rd set TB. This will hurt.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

OMG ZZ wins!
Well Fritz should have won in SS, what a Head Case!

 

[tented]

Zhang will be the first Chinese player to reach a Masters 1000 QF. Well done.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Wow, I can’t believe Fritz saved that MP!

EDIT: MP #3 for Fritz — and he hits it long. 8-8.

EDIT: Fritz lost — after being minutes away from the win in the 2nd set, he loses in a 3rd set TB. This will hurt.

I CAN'T believe he Fritz saved the MP...he just got a little lengthy on his FH that he kept overcooked...Great job by Zhang. Historical match for the Chinese player. Congratulations

 

[kskate2]

Wow, I can’t believe Fritz saved that MP!

EDIT: MP #3 for Fritz — and he hits it long. 8-8.

EDIT: Fritz lost — after being minutes away from the win in the 2nd set, he loses in a 3rd set TB. This will hurt.

Not really. Won't hurt anymore than his other chokes. It'll keep happening as long as he allows it. Notice the difference in both TB's. When Zhang was down 2 MP's in the first TB, he saved them. When he got a SP he won it. Same thing happened in the deciding TB. Zhang save MP, and then won the match on his 2nd MP. Taylor saves MP w/ a great get, but turns around loses both points on his serve and doesn't win MP. It's completely mental.

 

[kskate2]

But all of this Fritz talk aside. Zhang is straight ballin'. Did you see how he played those points in both TB's. He won because ultimately he was the aggressor. Played to win, came to the net, took control of the points and forced the play. Fritz was content to stay back and wait for errors that may or may not come. That's no way to play a TB.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

But all of this Fritz talk aside. Zhang is straight ballin'. Did you see how he played those points in both TB's. He won because ultimately he was the aggressor. Played to win, came to the net, took control of the points and forced the play Fritz was content to stay back and wait for errors that may or may not come. That's no way to play a TB.

Especially on these fast courts in Madrid, it favors the aggressive player.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Not really. Won't hurt anymore than his other chokes. It'll keep happening as long as he allows it. Notice the difference in both TB's. When Zhang was down 2 MP's in the first TB, he saved them. When he got a SP he won it. Same thing happened in the deciding TB. Zhang save MP, and then won the match on his 2nd MP. Taylor saves MP w/ a great get, but turns around loses both points on his serve and doesn't win MP. It's completely mental.

Fritz's game on clay has matured! He moves so much better..he is a dangerous player on any surface now . Good work by him and his team