Australian Open

[jimlosaltos]

Various results from Friday:

Qinwen Zheng, WTA's most improved player of 2023, wins a tiebreak third over Yangfan Wang. Zheng is a potential spoiler or even a dark horse

Jeff Sackman writes about her serve. Cites best 1st serve won % of the top 10 at 73.7%, better than Rybakina, Sabalenka or Garcia.
.

"She hits more aces than almost anyone on tour, and about half of her first-serve points end with either an unreturned first serve or a plus-one winner. The problem is, she doesn’t make many first serves, and when she misses, her second serve is as erratic as her first serve is imposing.

https://www.tennisabstract.com/blog/2024/01/19/qinwen-zhengs-serve-under-construction/

Touted match with Zverev vs 19 yo Alex Michelsen disappoints, straight sets to the German.

Medvedev routines FAA, grounding him in three.

Wild Card surprise Arthur Cazaux still rolling, straights over Griekspoor after upsetting Rune and Deere.

[stroke]

All 4 matches on tap today look intriguing, Tsitsipas Fritz, Demon Rublev, Novak Mannarino, Sinner Khachanov. Match of the day Tsitsipas vs Fritz. Oddsmakers have Tsitsipas and Rublev as very slight favorites in their matchups. Obviously, Novak and Sinner heavy favorites.

[stroke]

Taylor really played his very best tennis the last 3 games of the match vs Tsitsipas to take it. I have thought before he had a good chance vs Novak matchup wise. Last time they played, he just did not bring anywhere close to his best effort. He will clearly be a big underdog vs Novak, but unlike so many who don't, I think he has true self belief that he can beat Novak. I think we could be in for a big surprise here, and some trainer visits for Novak ha.

[stroke]

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsipas-reaction-australian-open-2024-sunday

[stotty]

Taylor really played his very best tennis the last 3 games of the match vs Tsitsipas to take it. I have thought before he had a good chance vs Novak matchup wise. Last time they played, he just did not bring anywhere close to his best effort. He will clearly be a big underdog vs Novak, but unlike so many who don't, I think he has true self belief that he can beat Novak. I think we could be in for a big surprise here, and some trainer visits for Novak ha.

I didn't see the Taylor match but Novak looked close to his best level against Mannarino. I would be surprised if Taylor were to beat Novak. He's 0 - 8 in their head to head contests. Sinner on the other hand looks a potent threat to anyone right now. If Sinner were to get through Novak I think he could win the whole thing.

[jimlosaltos]

Taylor really played his very best tennis the last 3 games of the match vs Tsitsipas to take it. I have thought before he had a good chance vs Novak matchup wise. Last time they played, he just did not bring anywhere close to his best effort. He will clearly be a big underdog vs Novak, but unlike so many who don't, I think he has true self belief that he can beat Novak. I think we could be in for a big surprise here, and some trainer visits for Novak ha.

Trend? After Demon won every first serve point until the final game vs Djokovic in a tune up, Fritz won every single point behind his first serve in the first set, including a tiebreak -- corx/won TB

Now, Tsitsipas's relative weakness is his return, but still that's awesome.

filedata/fetch?id=103201&d=1705860166&type=thumb

[stotty]

Norrie v Zverev 2-2

Tough character that Norrie. You'd back him to win this fifth set if it comes down to gumption.

[stroke]

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/tennis-stefanos-tsitsipas-called-out-illegal-act-match-point-australian-open-loss-230323757.html

[stotty]

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/tennis-s...230323757.html

Strange thing to do when you can't win either way; the umpire will declare the act illegal, and the media are bound to roast you in either event...so pointless. Why didn't he just take a guess and anticipate one side or the other? Strange bloke...not a fan.

[stotty]

Zverez was made to work harder than he should and not for the first time in a slam...that's taxing. He's not the most efficient top player on the tour. I watched him at Wimbledon a few years ago and amazed at his backhand, which is arguably the best two-hander out there, and his first serve, which was enormous. It's his forehand that is lacking, and that doesn't always come across on TV as it does up close and personal. He struggled with low balls, and also when things got tight. And of course he sits too deep a lot of the time. I just wonder how much ground he's covered to get to the last eight? The length of a match is less important than the ground a player has covered in my view.

I suspect Carlos will be the much fresher player when they meet in the quarters.

Roger was the most efficient match player ever. He could dispatch minions in double quick time.

[stroke]

Strange thing to do when you can't win either way; the umpire will declare the act illegal, and the media are bound to roast you in either event...so pointless. Why didn't he just take a guess and anticipate one side or the other? Strange bloke...not a fan.

It is hard to imagine the big 3, or hardly any other players, doing that. I like Tsitsipas, but he needs to not pull that ever again.

[stroke]

Zverez was made to work harder than he should and not for the first time in a slam...that's taxing. He's not the most efficient top player on the tour. I watched him at Wimbledon a few years ago and amazed at his backhand, which is arguably the best two-hander out there, and his first serve, which was enormous. It's his forehand that is lacking, and that doesn't always come across on TV as it does up close and personal. He struggled with low balls, and also when things got tight. And of course he sits too deep a lot of the time. I just wonder how much ground he's covered to get to the last eight? The length of a match is less important than the ground a player has covered in my view.

I suspect Carlos will be the much fresher player when they meet in the quarters.

Roger was the most efficient match player ever. He could dispatch minions in double quick time.

Certainly no one did anything on a tennis court with the efficiency of Fed. Zverev is so dependent on his 1st serve, but his backhand no doubt at the very top of the food chain, with Novak.

[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nXP7a2FrWgcMvxDU9

Speaking of efficientcy....

[jimlosaltos]

Great interview by Jim Courier with Daniil Medvedev, ending in why and how he returns from so far back 5:46 min.

https://x.com/eurosport/status/1749328884338720864?s=20

[jimlosaltos]

It is hard to imagine the big 3, or hardly any other players, doing that. I like Tsitsipas, but he needs to not pull that ever again.

Yeah, that was a dumb move. But as far as intent goes, I see that more like waving a white flag vs a short put-away than an attempt to cheat.

Still wrong, just not malevolent.