Tennis anyone?

Pohjolas Daughter · August 31, 2024, 05:54:19 AM

Quote from: LKB on August 31, 2024, 02:47:19 AMThe remainder of the U.S. Open will be more interesting than expected, both Alcaraz and Djokovic are already out...

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/crkm8gr3ey7o

I know! *Novak ran out of gas--which upon reflection, wasn't really all that surprising to see (after winning the gold medal at the Olympics and no longer being a "spring chicken"--as far as singles tennis goes anyway). Carlos I was more surprised about.

*Still, hard to watch all of those double faults and unforced errors.

In any event, kudos to their opponents.

PD

Pohjolas Daughter · August 31, 2024, 12:41:50 PM

@LKB Have you been able to watch any of the US Open?

Last I heard, the oddsmakers are favoring Sinner to win the men's singles. Haven't heard who is the favorite on the women's side.

Great to see Caroline Wozniacki playing again (and playing well). She decided to come out of retirement after three years, getting married, and having two kids.

PD

LKB · August 31, 2024, 03:15:20 PM

Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on August 31, 2024, 12:41:50 PM@LKB Have you been able to watch any of the US Open?

Last I heard, the oddsmakers are favoring Sinner to win the men's singles. Haven't heard who is the favorite on the women's side.

Great to see Caroline Wozniacki playing again (and playing well). She decided to come out of retirement after three years, getting married, and having two kids.

PD

Without Alcaraz (or Rafa or, yes, Roger ), my interest has mostly evaporated. I may watch highlights but as far as sitting down to watch any matches in real time, that won't happen.

Pohjolas Daughter · August 31, 2024, 06:27:58 PM

Quote from: LKB on August 31, 2024, 03:15:20 PMWithout Alcaraz (or Rafa or, yes, Roger ), my interest has mostly evaporated. I may watch highlights but as far as sitting down to watch any matches in real time, that won't happen.

I miss Rafa and Roger; that said, there are some very talented younger players...women's side, hey what about Iga S.? Jessie Pugula and others?

I believe that there are sometimes "Bad days at the office". Perhaps Alcarez was also tired by the time the US Open began (he did receive the silver medal)?

Edit: Whoops! Something happened/went wrong/I messed up--whatever--with the rest of my posting....anyway!

PD

Pohjolas Daughter · September 01, 2024, 07:20:08 AM

Looking forward to watching Taylor Fritz vs. Casper Ruud a bit later today...also Coco Gauff vs. fellow American Emma Navarro.

Nice to see Serena at the Open yesterday.

PD

Pohjolas Daughter · September 06, 2024, 07:26:05 AM

Congrats to the British posters here: you have a man in the men's singles semi-finals! It's Jack Draper.

He'll be playing the currently No. 1 ATP ranked Jannick Sinner (from Italy). Apparently, they are good friends, so this will be a bit rough.

Two American males will be facing off in the other semi: something that hasn't happened in ages. Taylor Fritz vs. Frances Tiafoe.

And an American woman will be playing in the women's singles final: Jessica Pegula vs. the Belarusian and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

Exciting matches ahead!

PD

Pohjolas Daughter · September 06, 2024, 10:08:33 AM

If you're interested (and can watch it), Draper will be playing Sinner [men's semi-final] starting in about one hour....so, heads up!

3 p.m. EDT.

PD

LKB · September 24, 2024, 09:05:55 PM

Now that the Slams have run their course for this year, I thought a bit of Bahrami might go down well.

Kalevala · September 28, 2024, 12:11:01 PM

Quote from: LKB on September 24, 2024, 09:05:55 PMNow that the Slams have run their course for this year, I thought a bit of Bahrami might go down well.

He's always fun to watch. Thanks for that.

Wondering here what people think about Wimbledon expanding (to build new courts)? Particularly @Mandryka as you live in the area.

K

Iota · October 09, 2024, 06:30:47 AM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/ce3zg3y23v7o

'Line judges are to disappear from Wimbledon after 147 years as the All England Club will adopt electronic line calling from 2025.

The technology will be in place for all qualifying and main draw matches and replace the judges who were responsible for calling shots 'out' and 'fault' on a serve.'

Seems right and proper, but I can't deny there's a certain pang of sadness attached to the announcement for me. Wimbledon's always been such a visual feast as well as a tennis one, and the line judges were part of that. But things must move on etc. Interesting how Umpires emerge from a kind of feeder system from the line judge hierarchy.

Kalevala · October 09, 2024, 08:38:06 AM

Quote from: Iota on October 09, 2024, 06:30:47 AMhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/ce3zg3y23v7o

'Line judges are to disappear from Wimbledon after 147 years as the All England Club will adopt electronic line calling from 2025.

The technology will be in place for all qualifying and main draw matches and replace the judges who were responsible for calling shots 'out' and 'fault' on a serve.'

Seems right and proper, but I can't deny there's a certain pang of sadness attached to the announcement for me. Wimbledon's always been such a visual feast as well as a tennis one, and the line judges were part of that. But things must move on etc. Interesting how Umpires emerge from a kind of feeder system from the line judge hierarchy.

Yes, it's hard to see people losing their jobs to technology--and the technology isn't always perfect (like false "lets" during service?). Didn't know that about chair umpires, but they have to emerge/learn/get experience from somewhere.

What do you think about the expansion plans at Wimbledon?

Speaking of chair umpires, did you know that this is Carlos Bernardes' last year?

Trying to watch a bit of tennis from Shanghai, but the time difference is pretty brutal. Have you been watching any of it?

K

Iota · October 09, 2024, 10:48:41 AM

Quote from: Kalevala on October 09, 2024, 08:38:06 AMWhat do you think about the expansion plans at Wimbledon?

I don't have any strong opinions on it really, though if I lived close by I'm sure they'd be stronger.

Quote from: Kalevala on October 09, 2024, 08:38:06 AMSpeaking of chair umpires, did you know that this is Carlos Bernardes' last year?

To show you how little I know about tennis, I'm not even sure who he is .. is he the one with the very deep, resonant voice?

Quote from: Kalevala on October 09, 2024, 08:38:06 AMTrying to watch a bit of tennis from Shanghai, but the time difference is pretty brutal. Have you been watching any of it?

No. A little bit of Wimbledon each year does me fine.

Kalevala · October 09, 2024, 10:58:38 AM

Quote from: Iota on October 09, 2024, 10:48:41 AMI don't have any strong opinions on it really, though if I lived close by I'm sure they'd be stronger.

To show you how little I know about tennis, I'm not even sure who he is .. is he the one with the very deep, resonant voice?

No. A little bit of Wimbledon each year does me fine.

Re voice: yes! Interesting to read about his tennis beginnings and career. A good and short read. https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2024-09-01/retiring_us_open_umpire_carlos_bernardes_reflects_on_40year_tennis_career.html

K

Kalevala · October 09, 2024, 09:23:01 PM

Quote from: Iota on October 09, 2024, 10:48:41 AMTo show you how little I know about tennis, I'm not even sure who he is .. is he the one with the very deep, resonant voice?

Thinking again, wondering if you might be confusing him with another chair: Kader Nouni?
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/sports/tennis/us-open-kader-nouni-umpire.html

K

Iota · October 10, 2024, 02:26:46 AM

Quote from: Kalevala on October 09, 2024, 09:23:01 PMThinking again, wondering if you might be confusing him with another chair: Kader Nouni?
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/sports/tennis/us-open-kader-nouni-umpire.html

K

Yes, that's the guy I was thinking of! Hard to forget a voice like that ..

Kalevala · October 11, 2024, 10:20:51 AM

Hard to read, but also expected soon. Rafa Nadal will retire after this year's Davis Cup (country/team related for those who don't follow closely).

One of the greatest male tennis players. I'll miss him. And truly "the King of Clay".

Hoping that he enjoys his next life after tennis professional and thankful for all that he's given us.

K

LKB · October 11, 2024, 08:39:31 PM

Quote from: Kalevala on October 11, 2024, 10:20:51 AMHard to read, but also expected soon. Rafa Nadal will retire after this year's Davis Cup (country/team related for those who don't follow closely).

One of the greatest male tennis players. I'll miss him. And truly "the King of Clay".

Hoping that he enjoys his next life after tennis professional and thankful for all that he's given us.

K

Rafa did a lot for the game, as much as Federer Imho. May he find his measure of post-tennis fulfillment.

Kalevala · October 23, 2024, 09:32:45 PM

Well, latest news: Novak has withdrawn from the Paris Masters and he was the defending champion. https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/c2k0jnq4wqpo

Hard to see the big three reaching (or having reached) the end of their careers.

Also, recently, Dominic Thiem retiring after the event in Vienna--which unfortunately I either missed or couldn't watch.

And the young guard has already been making their mark(s). Well done to them.

K

Kalevala · November 17, 2024, 09:03:50 AM

The men's ATP final is on now (in Turin, Italy). Glad that I still had the t.v. on (watched a bit of the doubles' final). A friend of mine told me (incorrectly) that the men's final was supposed to start at 2:30--and it started at noon here! Very close so far. Sinner just won the first set 6-4.

Sinner is the crowd favorite as he's from Italy. Interesting to find out yesterday that this is the first time that an American player has been in the final since James Blake; and that was 18 years ago!

K