Washington

[don_budge]

The Skunk of All Time...SOAT

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-harris-washington-2021-thursday

He couldn't play Wimbledon. He couldn't make the Olympics...not that he should have. But he made it to Washington. With a million dollar plus appearance fee no doubt. He played an exhibition against Jack Sock...a player who hasn't won anything in the last umpteen months. He barely got by. Then he shows up and puts on a show...a big time wrestling show against Lloyd Harris who is ranked #50 in the world. Then he loses in a torrent of self gratification of excuses and explanations all adding up to the pathos of a socialpath. This guy is the epitome of all that is wrong in sport and the modern world is so many ways. Yet...he has an adoring audience. Who fawn on every pathetic syllable he utters. Who eat up his torrent of bullshit. Who watch his strange and weird preserve routine without complaint. Who actually pay to watch him play. This is a sick world. Rafael Nadal is "The Skunk of All Time". He is the SOAT. Never mind the GOAT. He is a skunk. A million dollars richer too.

The rest of this tournament. Never mind. The taste in my mouth is too nasty to speak. Modern tennis. Enough said...and unsaid. It sucks.

[stroke]

I think(not that it matters) more likely than not that Rafael has won his last Major. He to me has really slowed down, particularly moving east/west on the court. And vs Harris, the Nadal forehand was not really making a difference in the match except when Nadal really inside the baseline. If he is to win one more, I would think it would have to be at RG next year.

[stroke]

https://jackedward.substack.com/p/jenson-brooksby-up-and-coming-player

Good article on Jenson Brooksby.

[stroke]

So impressive by JB. He has now beaten Kevin Anderson, Tiafoe, FAA, and Millman without losing a set. His win vs Millman may be the most impressive as it came where it was in the tournament vs a player very similar to him, extremely fit that gives you nothing. JB certainly does not play like any American attitude wise since maybe Courier. The grind them into the ground style is a bit like Classic Rock, it is always going to work.

[stotty]

So impressive by JB. He has now beaten Kevin Anderson, Tiafoe, FAA, and Millman without losing a set. His win vs Millman may be the most impressive as it came where it was in the tournament vs a player very similar to him, extremely fit that gives you nothing. JB certainly does not play like any American attitude wise since maybe Courier. The grind them into the ground style is a bit like Classic Rock, it is always going to work.

A must see match: Brooksby versus Sinner.

[don_budge]

Nick goes out in 1st round vs somebody. Oh well.

That "somebody" would have been Mackenzie McDonald. Ranked #107...Mackenzie in prime position to take down a couple more big names in the next couple of rounds. This kid has got a little somethin/somethin. Hmmm...

Somebody is in the semifinals after taking out Nick Kyrgios, Benoit Paire, Ilya Ivashka (defeated Grigor Dimitrov) and Denis Kudla (defeated Brandon Nakashima). MacKenzie has lost just one set in the process against Paire and strait setted, routined both Nakashima and Kudla. Not to mention straight setting "The Bad One". I would say that he is in the running for the dark horse of the tournament along with Jensen Brooksby who has been equally impressive in his section of the draw. Both players have had remarkably similar draws. It looks like Brooksby has drawn the tougher of the two other semifinalists and the match up between McDonald and Nishikori is about as even as it gets...size wise. Both matches potentially are dull affairs played exclusively from the back court. If you are in need of a sleeping agent...take two to these. It should be good for a nap at least.

McDonald and Brooksby keep it remotely interesting being rather new faces to ATP semi final action. Sinner is as dull as it gets.

[stroke]

Oddsmakers have Sinner at about a 60% chance of winning vs JB. Kei at about 64% vs M squared.

[stroke]

Tremendous 1st set, Sinner wins it in a tiebreaker. JB did have 3 set points at 5-6 in 1st set with Sinner serving, but Sinner saved them all. Sinner is so even tempered, as cool as the the other side of the pillow. And he has that Fed like effortless timing pop off his forehand. Cannot teach that.

[stotty]

Tremendous 1st set, Sinner wins it in a tiebreaker. JB did have 3 set points at 5-6 in 1st set with Sinner serving, but Sinner saved them all. Sinner is so even tempered, as cool as the the other side of the pillow. And he has that Fed like effortless timing pop off his forehand. Cannot teach that.

It was...both are great match players. JB has incredible momentum at times...like a locomotive. Sinner has the superior serve which has helped at times and he is starting to dominate here in the second...now 4-1 up.

[stotty]

Sinner ran away with in the end but what a breath or fresh air JB is. He has great ball control and can hit amazing spots on the court...and, wow, can he drill that ball at the critical moments.

[don_budge]

That would have been Mackenzie McDonald. Ranked #107...Mackenzie in prime position to take down a couple more big names in the next couple of rounds. This kid has got a little somethin/somethin. Hmmm...

Jensen Brooksby is history...for the moment at least. But Mackenzie McDonald has capitalised on opportunity knocking in a big way. As it turns out, that precious little victory over Nick Kyrgios got the ball rolling as he has added Kei Nishikori to his list. It's an impressive week for McDonald and now it is the moment of truth. It's a huge opportunity for Mackenzie to be in this final against Jannik Sinner who is being touted as the next...as in "Next Generation". They sure have been taking their time though. Paying too much homage to the Big Three or Big Four. McDonald is 26 years old and his career has turned into one of a journeyman. I think there have been some injury issues as well. Sinner too, is in position to make inroads to validate some of those pesky expectations. He has a perfect opponent in Mackenzie if you go by the rankings...he should win. I imagine the bookies think so as well.

[seano]

I attended 3 days of the CitiOpen this year for the first time in several years (Lifelong Washingtonian). You don't appreciate the heaviness of their shots till you see it up close and personal. I was particularly impressed with the heaviness/ease of all of Sinners shots. His movement could be an issue, if you can stretch him wide on shots but he was fun to watch. One more observation, the height of all these players is impressive. All seemed to be 6' 3" or above. Being 5' 8", I'm very jealous

[stroke]

Oddmakers have Sinner as heavy favorite at 77.5% chance of winning the match.

[stotty]

I only saw the first set and...for a moment...you thought Sinner might run away with things early on. But Mackenzie hung on really well and made a great fight of it. From the scoreline, seems as though the last two sets went along in the same vein.

I like to the look of young Sinner's prospects going forward. He's still very young and is clearly going to improve.

[rathoreshubhamm8]

I really like his work ethic but that serve ain't pretty.. free fire for pcjiofi.local.html