Miami Open, ATP 1000

[stroke]

Yes Sinner and Alcaraz stand out clearly as the most potential at the top of the game. Rune not too far behind. I really like the Fritz serve. So simple, relaxed, repeatable, and effective. Fritz looks great but he looks have Alcaraz coming up. That will certainly test him. And no one hits with the impactful effortless power off both sides like Sinner.

[stroke]

Adrian Mannarino threw Hurkacz a screwball yesterday. Probably a bunch of screwballs. The ball really comes off his racquet in a deceiving way. He's hard to read. So Christopher Eubanks handled his end of the bargain in fine fashion. Straight sets with a lot on the line proportionally for Eubanks. He hasn't been this deep in the draw before. Good on him. Mannarino is an excellent test for him. Lefty with screwball tactics. He is really good at taking air out of the ball. Eubanks gave me the impression in the little that I saw of him against "Born Again" Coric that he has a couple of gears. Hard and faster. Doesn't play it coy. Doesn't mix it up. Just my first impression. But he is tough to read as well and probably tough to get a rhythm off of. Mannarino had Roger Federer on the ropes in his final Wimbledon appearance but Roger was saved when Mannarino went down hard on the grass and had to default. This is a match of polar opposites...and I like it. Hopefully I can stay awake long enough to catch some of it. He didn't get started until 10 thirty something last night here in Sweden. That was going to be past my bed time and truthfully...the tennis these days doesn't compel me to stay awake for it. Not since you know who left the stadium.

This is certainly the biggest match of Chris' career, as all will be from this point on in this tournament.

[stroke]

Unrelated side note on Taylor. Someone like Nick can only dream about being as cool as Taylor. Taylor is way better looking, has a way higher ranking than Nick will ever have, and he has a much prettier girlfriend. And on top of all that, he actually comes across as likeable.

[jimlosaltos]

This is certainly the biggest match of Chris' career, as all will be from this point on in this tournament.

I believe Chris is now in the top 100 for the first time.

[jimlosaltos]

Yes Sinner and Alcaraz stand out clearly as the most potential at the top of the game. Rune not too far behind. I really like the Fritz serve. So simple, relaxed, repeatable, and effective. Fritz looks great but he looks have Alcaraz coming up. That will certainly test him. And no one hits with the impactful effortless power off both sides like Sinner.

Great, short vid of exchange where Sinner finishes vs Rublev by making a winner out of a tough, low, mid-court volley. Not something I would list among his strengths.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/rublev-sinner-miami-2023-tuesday

[stroke]

Great, short vid of exchange where Sinner finishes vs Rublev by making a winner out of a tough, low, mid-court volley. Not something I would list among his strengths.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/rublev-sinner-miami-2023-tuesday

Agreed there. Sinner has actually gotten much better, adding a good drop shot to his repertoire. But he is never going to be a great volleyer, but he is close already to being a Novak level volleyer, which is plenty good with his weapons.

[stroke]

Paul really played a good match. He is such a good tennis player. Actually very similar to Carlos. They both have great serves for 6 footers or so. Carlos no doubt bigger forehand and better drop shots, as all know. Tommy a great mover, but Carlos probably the best mover on tour. Just a tough matchup, but a very good match.

[seano]

For the second straight year I'm at the Miami Open. I'm incredibly impressed with the maturity and improvements that both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannick Sinner have shown in that time. Both are at another level in terms of power and shot making ability. Holger Rune is also very talented but doesn't have the maturity or shot tolerance of Alcaraz and Sinner.

SeanO

[stroke]

https://share.newsbreak.com/3ftuzomu

Good story on Chris Eubanks.

[stroke]

Match of the day, Carlos is a strong favorite over Fritz, was an implied probability of winning at just over 76%. That is very strong vs a player that has been performing lately as Fritz has. Obviously, Sinner is an even stronger favorite in his match today in the other
quarter being played, vs Ruusuvuori.

[stroke]

Fritz could not have a non major better opportunity to show out than this. I like his chances.

[don_budge]

Adrian Mannarino threw Hurkacz a screwball yesterday. Probably a bunch of screwballs. The ball really comes off his racquet in a deceiving way. He's hard to read. So Christopher Eubanks handled his end of the bargain in fine fashion. Straight sets with a lot on the line proportionally for Eubanks. He hasn't been this deep in the draw before. Good on him. Mannarino is an excellent test for him. Lefty with screwball tactics. He is really good at taking air out of the ball. Eubanks gave me the impression in the little that I saw of him against "Born Again" Coric that he has a couple of gears. Hard and faster. Doesn't play it coy. Doesn't mix it up. Just my first impression. But he is tough to read as well and probably tough to get a rhythm off of. Mannarino had Roger Federer on the ropes in his final Wimbledon appearance but Roger was saved when Mannarino went down hard on the grass and had to default. This is a match of polar opposites...and I like it. Hopefully I can stay awake long enough to catch some of it. He didn't get started until 10 thirty something last night here in Sweden. That was going to be past my bed time and truthfully...the tennis these days doesn't compel me to stay awake for it. Not since you know who left the stadium.

Not since you know who left the stadium. Which brings me to...Christopher Eubanks. See how I tied in that last thought with the present. It's sort of like reading the Bible...isn't it? Keep on reading...you'll get it in the end. Connect the dots. From the beginning...to Roger...to the end. Ah yes...Christopher Eubanks.

Christopher "Take it to the Bank" Eubanks? As in "show me the money" from "Jerry Maguire". Or...Jim Morrison sang, ‘The Negroes in the forest brightly feathered. They are saying, "forget the night. Live with us in forests of Azure. Out here on the perimeter there are no stars. Out here we is stoned, immaculate". What did he mean? Black athletes have this thing. A natural affinity for some connection with their bodies. It's primal. Stoned. Immaculate. I remember this black guy who was a rival of mine when I was competing for my club. We had some doozies. A lot of back and forth. No backing off now. Thrash talk? Show me the money. What you got? Show me. So it is with Christopher Eubanks. A star is born. Out here on the perimeter...there are no stars. Just me. Look at me.

He came out of nowhere this week and he has hit some sort of stride. Nothing astrophysical yet. These guys were all on his radar. But it's a bigger setting and maybe more people watching. I read the article that stroke posted and I was like...Christopher, just keep your mouth shut. Don't give yourself away. Be a bit of a mystery and don't say anything. Because he hit the limelight and he is suddenly starting to reveal himself. Don't do that. Just shut up and continue to let that racquet do your talking. You talk and blablabla. The media gets their hooks in you. Like the whores that they are...well you get the picture. Just keep hammering that serve. Don't let Medvedev know anything about you. Just take him by surprise and grab him by the lapels and start pounding.

Eubanks showed me something. I didn't see the match with Mannarino but last night I caught some highlights of it on Eurosport. This was a different cat than I saw in the first set against "Born Again" Coric. This cat was in stride. Man...he lost that awkward look and he was all stealth. Immaculate. The forehand no longer looked like a shot in the dark...it was a laser. You have got to like that backhand too. It didn't appear as if he were stumbling into his volleys...he took them in stride. Jeez Eubanks...don't give Medvedev a clue about anything. Just get it rolling on that serve and close in on the net. Take him by surprise. Medvedev has yet to see an opponent who could take advantage of his deep receiving position. Hmmm...just take it to the bank Eubanks! I'm pulling for him. Exactly what this tournament needs to shake some life into it. If all there is are the remaining cast of characters...then it is time for a nap. All of them cast from the same mold. seano is right...the two youngsters have taken it up a notch. But a notch above what? It is still the very same...same old. But in Christopher Eubanks...we have a bonafide dark horse. And I mean that with all due respect!

[don_budge]

"Take it to the Bank" Eubanks came up a bust in the first set. I only caught the last game but Medvedev broke a meek effort by Christopher on his own serve. Medvedev ran the table from 2-3...Daniil serving. Ugh...not the kind of performance I was hoping for. But hold on...stroke opines that this fellow doesn't go away during matches. We'll see about that right now.

[stroke]

Med just such a tough ask to get through his defense as we all know. Chris does not hit drop shots or volley well, so his forehand has to carry a huge workload.

[don_budge]

Med just such a tough ask to get through his defense as we all know. Chris does not hit drop shots or volley well, so his forehand has to carry a huge workload.

Well...they don't call it the "Wall of Med" for nuttin. And I don't call him "Mr. Pencil" for nothing. Medvedev knows how to set up his opponent and then knock him down. He is doing just that to Eubanks. Eubanks looks as if his legs are disappearing on him and he cannot get his feet under him. I really don't like the pin point stance in serving. Too many moving parts for such a big fellow. Oh well...on with Medvedev. I have checked out of this one.