Italian Open, ATP 1000

[jimlosaltos]

Tsitsipas fights back hard to take the 2nd set, after losing the 1st set tiebreaker to an in form Struff and his big game. On to the 3rd. The constant chatter from Stef's dad, I have never seen anything like it. I have no idea how Stef puts up with it.

Tsisipas may have set a record with the earliest ATP temper tantrum yet, going ballistic after losing an opening service game <g>.

Stef and Scruff combined for 78 net points won on slow clay in 32 games.

Doing some higher match -- since there were 225 points that means, cranking the steam engine on my abacus, over a third of the posts were won at the net. Did I mention it was clay?

Meanwhile, Djokovic arrived for his match wearing what appeared to be a bicycle helmet over his tennis cap? He is making light of getting hit on top of the head with a fan's dropped water bottle.

Reminds me when he stopped a London O2 World Tour Final because he lost a contact lens. Next day he walked in, holding hands the ball kid, wearing a patch over one eye. Endearing humor of self-deprecation.

[jimlosaltos]

Meanwhile, on the WTA side, Coco Gauff got bagled and won anyway.

Iga did not bagel anyone and won anyway.

Dan-Yell Collins and Garcia could be a barn burner. Coming up.

[stotty]

I didn't know the part about the AO. Great story.

As if to reinforce your point, Djokovic was hit on top of his head by a fan's full water bottle.
Right half of this image shows him doubled up on his knees. Says he's OK now, fortunately.

An excerpt about the Italian Open in 1978

''This Italian Open was the high—or low—point of the country’s tennis insanity, depending on your point of view. Panatta was at it again, pulling off one of his famous comebacks after going down 0-6, 1-5 to Jose Higueras in the semifinals. The crowd was busy booing the Spaniard and trying to distract him at all times. Higueras finally gestured angrily at them. Which, naturally, made everything 10 times worse. Coins and cans rained down on the court. The chair umpire, an Englishman, tried to award Higueras a let because of the distractions, but he was overruled by the Italian tournament referee. Appalled, the umpire walked off the court, as did Higueras after losing the set. They both vowed never to return.

In the final, Bjorn Borg got the same treatment—coins, distractions, the works; it didn’t matter that he was the reigning God of tennis. It was so bad that Borg actually stopped to complain three times! Of course, Borg being Borg, he still beat Panatta in a fifth set. It may have been his most underrated achievement.''

[stroke]

Novak taken to the woodshed in 67 minute loss to world number 32 Tabilo. A very subdued Novak out there. He did not show any resolve to fight out there after Tabilo got off to a very good start. He in fact received a few jeers from the crowd as he quickly left the court after the loss.

[jimlosaltos]

Novak taken to the woodshed in 67 minute loss to world number 32 Tabilo. A very subdued Novak out there. He did not show any resolve to fight out there after Tabilo got off to a very good start. He in fact received a few jeers from the crowd as he quickly left the court after the loss.

New coach. New physio. Same lackluster play.

This certainly fits with Djokovic's several low-energy losses. After the Aussie, where he was resorting to ice filled towels despite moderate temperatures, Andy Roddick on his podcast asked if Djokovic was out of shape. I wrote it off to his often odd behavior, kind of self-conscious excuse making for poor shots, a bit like Andy Murray acting injured when he shanks a ball, then being fine. Maybe not.

So far this year Djokovic is 11-4 with no titles, without a single win over a then-ranked to 10 opponent.

His four losses have come to:

1. World 31 Alejandro Tabilo today,
2. Rudd (10 in Monte Carlo,
3. Luca Nardi (123) in Indian Wells,
4. Sinner (4) from a set up in the Australian semi, and
5. de Minaur (12) in the United Cup.

His highest ranked win is de Minaur (11) in Monte Carlo.

Today, he hit 8 aces in 9 games, yet faced 7 BPs and was broken 4 times in those 9 games.

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[jimlosaltos]

Some are raising question of whether Djokovic had a concussion from water bottle that struck him on top of his head yesterday.

From his presser.

Novak Djokovic was asked if getting hit on the head with the bottle impacted his tennis today after his loss to Tabilo

“Was this related at all to the bottle incident? Were you feeling anything from what happened on Friday night?”

Novak: “I don't know, to be honest. I have to check that. Training was different. I was going for kind of easy training yesterday. I didn't feel anything, but I also didn't feel the same.
Today under high stress, it was quite bad - not in terms of pain, but in terms of this balance. Just no coordination. Completely different player from what it was two nights ago. Could be. I don't know. I have to do medical checkups and see what's going on.”

“Can you tell us more what happened the night where you received the bottle. How did you understand it?”

Novak: “I mean, I think in the video you saw it very clearly. It was a very {unfortunate accident]

[stroke]

Some are raising question of whether Djokovic had a concussion from water bottle that struck him on top of his head yesterday.

From his presser.

Novak Djokovic was asked if getting hit on the head with the bottle impacted his tennis today after his loss to Tabilo

“Was this related at all to the bottle incident? Were you feeling anything from what happened on Friday night?”

Novak: “I don't know, to be honest. I have to check that. Training was different. I was going for kind of easy training yesterday. I didn't feel anything, but I also didn't feel the same.
Today under high stress, it was quite bad - not in terms of pain, but in terms of this balance. Just no coordination. Completely different player from what it was two nights ago. Could be. I don't know. I have to do medical checkups and see what's going on.”

“Can you tell us more what happened the night where you received the bottle. How did you understand it?”

Novak: “I mean, I think in the video you saw it very clearly. It was a very {unfortunate accident]

Nonsense to me, not that it matters. I do not think Novak has the resolve to grind as necessary to win the FO at this point in his career. He really has nothing left to grind for. He resume is unquestionably the best ever. Wimbledon, who knows, that to me his last hurrah as far as lapping the field a bit more.

[stotty]

Novak has looked a little unmotivated and disinterested a number of times this year. He's had spells where he's played as well as ever, which is encouraging for the up coming slams, but he's also had some real dips in form. I think he would settle for one more slam to eclipse Margaret Court's record to be the stand alone winner of 25 slams. Wimbledon will be his best bet to do that.

It's hard to look past Sinner at the FO, assuming he's fully fit by then.

[stroke]

Novak has looked a little unmotivated and disinterested a number of times this year. He's had spells where he's played as well as ever, which is encouraging for the up coming slams, but he's also had some real dips in form. I think he would settle for one more slam to eclipse Margaret Court's record to be the stand alone winner of 25 slams. Wimbledon will be his best bet to do that.

It's hard to look past Sinner at the FO, assuming he's fully fit by then.

Hard for me to believe Margaret Court is on his radar. He has already eclipsed the 2nd and 3rd best players of all time, Rafael and Roger. I think he is pretty much satisfied.

[stotty]

Hard for me to believe Margaret Court is on his radar. He has already eclipsed the 2nd and 3rd best players of all time, Rafael and Roger. I think he is pretty much satisfied.

Apparently someone told him all this but he replied, no, he wants Magaret's record too.

[stroke]

Zhang is playing a very impressive match thus far vs Sheldon. Zhang is definitely an under the radar guy.

[stotty]

Zhang is playing a very impressive match thus far vs Sheldon. Zhang is definitely an under the radar guy.

True...and to an almost empty stadium. Those that were there were rowdy males.

[stroke]

True...and to an almost empty stadium. Those that were there were rowdy males.

Lol, they were rowdy. A bit late in the day, extenuating circumstances no doubt.

[jimlosaltos]

Nonsense to me, not that it matters. I do not think Novak has the resolve to grind as necessary to win the FO at this point in his career. He really has nothing left to grind for. He resume is unquestionably the best ever. Wimbledon, who knows, that to me his last hurrah as far as lapping the field a bit more.

I suspect you're right. I'm trying to be a bit balanced, even if this is social media

Djokovic fans online were even saying the water bottle incident was planned. They've got a whole "Second Shooter/ Zapruder film " theory with one guy setting Djoko up .... etc.

[jimlosaltos]

Zhang is playing a very impressive match thus far vs Sheldon. Zhang is definitely an under the radar guy.

Indeed, good enough to win.

Zhang tops Shelton 2 and 4. Neither is known as a clay courter, but Zhang served big and Ben's return didn't stand up.

Zhang's return rating (not to confused with the ATP's "Return Effectiveness" numbers) was 159 vs Ben's at 50.

To my surprise, Zhang averaged faster on his fist serve at 129 MPH vs 125 MPH, although Ben's max of 142 MPH topped Zhang's 138 MPH. Not our grandpa's clay court tennis.