Roger Cup, ATP 1000

[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QG7x2kC6HwjfKDnJ6

[jimlosaltos]

Bit thinner draw than usual with Alcaraz and Djokovic understandably out.

Good to see Sinner back from tonsillitis. Also, Grigor and Hubi who had knee injuries from Wimbledon's slipper indoor grass.

[stroke]

Yes, things are definitely skewed. It has to be a bit sobering to all these younger guys that they are simply not as good as the big 3, and clearly never will be. They took out one entire generation. Then came Tsitsipas, Med, Zverev. Now Sinner and Alcaraz. That being said, Novak's last hurrah will probably be the US Open and maybe AO. Alcaraz is probably the closest to being in their level, without being there. His forehand is somewhere between Nadal and Fed, without being as good as either. He makes way more errors off it than prime Nadal(and he is not left handed, which really put Nadal's on steroids), and he certainly cannot take it on as early as Fed. He does have some attributes of both. His droppers are sublime, but so was Fed's, and McEnroe's. He is just simply not as good. If he were joining the party in 2007, I don't think much would have changed for the big 3.

[stroke]

All 2nd round today. Korda vs Fritz match of the day.

[stroke]

Tsitsipas just went down rather routinely to Nishikori in 2 sets, and looking decidingly not like a top 10 player.

[jimlosaltos]

Tsitsipas just went down rather routinely to Nishikori in 2 sets, and looking decidingly not like a top 10 player.

On the other side of the ledger, Kei Nishikori has career win 436, first top 20 win since Tokyo Olympics, and first trip t round of 32 at a Masters since 2021

[jimlosaltos]

Diana Shnader beat Coco Gauff decisively, breaking Coco 3 times without surrendering a break.

Her relative weakness seemed to me to be her serve, but she won 83% of firsts today.

When we did a Tour Portrait of Shnader she was a college student playing a WTA 125, now she's top 20, the youngest player on tour with multiple titles, and the first player this year to win titles on all 3 surfaces.

[stroke]

Sebastian just took out Fritz in 2 hard fought highly contested sets. It was clear both really wanted that win. Korda is definitely top 10 talent wise.

[jimlosaltos]

Sebastian just took out Fritz in 2 hard fought highly contested sets. It was clear both really wanted that win. Korda is definitely top 10 talent wise.

It's nice to see. Seb lost over a year to his wrist injury. Hope he is getting his A game back.

ATP stats say Korda served better than Fritz, which is something (rating 301 to 277) Overall serve stats are a push.

[jimlosaltos]

Just for fun, best illegal shot in ages.

Vid: Alexander Bublik IMPOSSIBLE Trickshot On Match Point! | Montreal 2024 1:36 on YT

When he behaves, Bublik is a hoot. Looks like my serve! ?

filedata/fetch?id=105184&d=1723314868&type=thumb

#

[jimlosaltos]

Nice to see. ATP: Kei Nishikori reached his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final since Rome in 2019. The Japanese star beat Portugal's Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-4 to advance to his 23rd quarter-final at this level.

[jimlosaltos]

Looks like Jannik Sinner is back in form, losing his tonsils didn't affect his serve won 92% of first serves 134 MPH max/ 121 Ave.

BUT he has to play two matches in one day because of Friday rain outs. Andrey Rublev up next.

[jimlosaltos]

Defending champion Sinner out in quarters to 5 seed Rublev in 3 sets with a double on match point.

Both had to play two matches in the day due to rain. Sinner was 2/12 break points.

filedata/fetch?id=105188&d=1723344464&type=thumb

[jimlosaltos]

Meanwhile, WTA semifinals in Toronto wing of Rogers Cup features three Americans and one American student but no-flag. Three are semifinalists for the first time, one the defending champ.

Amanda Anisimova, once a teen who seemed destined to be a star, then perhaps went through an emotional breakdown and lengthy withdrawal from tennis after her father died, upset Aryna Sabalenka 4 and 2 to reach a WTA 1000-level semifinal for the first time. It's less of an upset when you realize the H2H is 5-2 Amanda, who had (has again) a remarkable return of serve.

Diana Shnaider, who at 20 yo has already won titles on all 3 surfaces this year plus an Olympic silver medal in doubles, beat Coco, then yesterday Samsonova, joining Emma Navarro as first time WTA semifinals

Defending champ - Jessica Pegula.

Semifinals:

Shnaider vs Pegula
Navaro vs Anisimova

[stroke]

Seb gets past Zverev in 3. Zverev's 2nd serve scar tissue from the past was definitely the cause of his demise. Way too many double faults to win at ATP 1000's at this stage of tournament.