Miami Open, Master's 1000

[jimlosaltos]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis...db29af4a707c3c

I'm NOT arguing this point but just sharing ... and, no, the hope that Nick can moderate himself seems sadly unlikely.

But Briggs has a point. With Fedal sadly leaving us, tournaments replacing humans with robots, and courts slowed so much some matches seem like watching a Kentucky derby run in the mud, you'd think that ESPN dumping all tour matches in favor of children's regular season Little League baseball would be a wake up call for tennis bureaucrats.

Simon Briggs at The Telegraph:

Tennis needs to be a bit more Nick Kyrgios to thrive after Federer and Serena

It needs more provocation and more edge, because the dominant mode leaves us with little but forehands and backhands to talk about
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2...-nadal-serena/

"Just to clarify, I said that tennis needs to be a bit more Kyrgios, not to go the full racket smash. He could be the perfect role model for the next generation of players. But only if he turned the dial down, to something like five out of ten. At the moment, it’s all rather too much."

[stroke]

I'm NOT arguing this point but just sharing ... and, no, the hope that Nick can moderate himself seems sadly unlikely.

But Briggs has a point. With Fedal sadly leaving us, tournaments replacing humans with robots, and courts slowed so much some matches seem like watching a Kentucky derby run in the mud, you'd think that ESPN dumping all tour matches in favor of children's regular season Little League baseball would be a wake up call for tennis bureaucrats.

Simon Briggs at The Telegraph:

Tennis needs to be a bit more Nick Kyrgios to thrive after Federer and Serena

It needs more provocation and more edge, because the dominant mode leaves us with little but forehands and backhands to talk about
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2...-nadal-serena/

"Just to clarify, I said that tennis needs to be a bit more Kyrgios, not to go the full racket smash. He could be the perfect role model for the next generation of players. But only if he turned the dial down, to something like five out of ten. At the moment, it’s all rather too much."

Yes, I have heard that argument before. Just don't agree. In fact, the atmosphere for last night's match Carlos vs Stef is a perfect example of the appeal of 2 professional respectful competitors. One thing for sure though, if no one wants to watch tennis, the money will dry up to some extent. If that happens, certainly changes will be coming big time. Right now, purses seem to be only going in one direction(shamdemic excluded).

If this ever happens, the first casualty will be women's tennis.

[johnyandell]

I would prefer if Kyrgios retired. Totally disagree that we need more of him or like him. Zverev too for that matter. Two guys that we have filmed but will never make the stroke archives.

[jimlosaltos]

Yes, I have heard that argument before. Just don't agree. In fact, the atmosphere for last night's match Carlos vs Stef is a perfect example of the appeal of 2 professional respectful competitors. One thing for sure though, if no one wants to watch tennis, the money will dry up to some extent. If that happens, certainly changes will be coming big time. Right now, purses seem to be only going in one direction(shamdemic excluded).

If this ever happens, the first casualty will be women's tennis.

We agree! And "Carlos vs Stef is a perfect example of the appeal of 2 professional respectful competitors. "
That match was both high quality tennis and entertaining.

In part, that was because it seemed as if every point counted. No, or few, throwaway or wasted points, intensely competed over every one.

And, two players that try to win points rather than wait for opponents' errors -- even on a glacially slow court.

[jimlosaltos]

Did anyone see Medvedev vs Brooksby and have thoughts on how Medy turned it around?

Got to see much of it, then had to take care of a mini-emergency.

I was surprised at the degree to which Brooksby was able to keep Medvedev off balance in the first set. I underestimated how effective Brooksby's backhand would be against Medy's own, great backhand and court coverage. The way Brooksby is able to change directions seems on a par with old, Peak Djokovic, perhaps? Medy was constantly struggling to catch up to balls, and off balance. Can't recall anyone else doing that to him.

One thing Med did was obvious -- serve better in a key game near the end of the 1st set (I believe), Med hit 4 consecutive winning serves, 3 unreturned the fourth eliciting a weak return that he put away.

ATP article:

“Jenson has the potential to be a top player,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “He is really good and plays better than his ranking. I knew it was not going to be an easy match. I had no solutions at the beginning. The crucial moment was when I managed to make him serve for the set and he got a little bit tight and I played a bit better.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/brooksby-medvedev-miami-2022-tuesday

[jimlosaltos]

I was surprised at the return stats. Tsitsipas actually got more returns in play off both 1st and 2nds, but Alcaraz had a bit more pace and depth on his backhand returns 110.3 kpmh/ 68.5 mph.

filedata/fetch?id=97011&d=1648745251&type=thumb

[stroke]

Alcaraz vs Tsitsipas, the most telling stat to me was the difference in their backhands. Carlos had 12 winners and 8 unforced errors off that wing, Stef had 5 winners and 15 unforced errors. Carlos also outplayed him on the forehand side, but it certainly was not the glaring difference of the backhand.

[stroke]

Hurkacz really making Medvedev feel uncomfortable out there. Medvedev hanging in there, really competing well as he always does, but he definitely looks like the 2nd best tennis player out there.

[seano]

I was live at the Alcaraz/Tsitsipas match. Both players are incredible. Alcatraz is at another level, he's supersonic. Tsitsipas's backhand couldn't handle to long-term assault of Alcaraz's ballistic groundstrokes. Great match to watch, one of the best I've seen.

[jimlosaltos]

I was live at the Alcaraz/Tsitsipas match. Both players are incredible. Alcatraz is at another level, he's supersonic. Tsitsipas's backhand couldn't handle to long-term assault of Alcaraz's ballistic groundstrokes. Great match to watch, one of the best I've seen.

Hmm. Tried to give you a thumbs up emoji but the BBS doesn't like that <g>.

Agreed on all accounts. Very different but I enjoy both players' games.

[stotty]

I'm NOT arguing this point but just sharing ... and, no, the hope that Nick can moderate himself seems sadly unlikely.

But Briggs has a point. With Fedal sadly leaving us, tournaments replacing humans with robots, and courts slowed so much some matches seem like watching a Kentucky derby run in the mud, you'd think that ESPN dumping all tour matches in favor of children's regular season Little League baseball would be a wake up call for tennis bureaucrats.

Simon Briggs at The Telegraph:

Tennis needs to be a bit more Nick Kyrgios to thrive after Federer and Serena

It needs more provocation and more edge, because the dominant mode leaves us with little but forehands and backhands to talk about
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2...-nadal-serena/

"Just to clarify, I said that tennis needs to be a bit more Kyrgios, not to go the full racket smash. He could be the perfect role model for the next generation of players. But only if he turned the dial down, to something like five out of ten. At the moment, it’s all rather too much."

I think tennis needs to stand on its own two feet rather than rely on so called personalities - who according to Martin Amis 'are merely players behaving like assholes' anyway. I tend to agree with Martin. If the tennis is good enough it needs no further support. I rest my case with Alcaraz. Currently the most exciting player in tennis who seems to carry himself awfully well for a teenager.

[stroke]

I think tennis needs to stand on its own two feet rather than rely on so called personalities - who according to Martin Amis 'are merely players behaving like assholes' anyway. I tend to agree with Martin. If the tennis is good enough it needs no further support. I rest my case with Alcaraz. Currently the most exciting player in tennis who seems to carry himself awfully well for a teenager.

Certainly agree, and as I said earlier, it is all about money bottom line. If people are truly no longer interested in tennis because the big 3 are no longer around or whatever, the market will reflect that. Tennis to me is not sports entertainment, al la WWE. These folks who write these articles saying stuff like tennis needs a 5 out of 10 Kyrgios to me are just beyond clueless. And Serena, no words on that.

[stroke]

Crazy level of tennis going on Alcaraz vs Kecmanovic.

[tennis chiro]

The Alcaraz/Kecmanovic match was the perfect antidote for dropping tennis ratings. Alcaraz is absolutelly electric and Kecmanovic played a beautiful match. He will soon be in the top 20. The match would not have been improved by more histrionics; it would not have been improved by broken rackets; it would not have been improved by bathroom breaks; it would no have been improved by more ball bouncing before the serve; it would not have been improved by more trips to the towel basket; it would not have been improved by either player taking the full 25 seconds between points whenever they could. Perhaps Alcaraz could have had a few less missed returns, but then he might not have had the same number of electrifying winners. He did have more winners than errors. And having more of Kygrios's personality traits definitely would not have improved the match. the only noise the players made was during the points hitting the balls and grunting as they did. the fans made plenty of noise between the points. And the fans looked very happy. Carlos shows that you can work your way to the net effectively and finish points. Players need to study what he is doing and learn to transition and end points and they could be exciting too, even if they are not quite as fast as Carlos.

[johnyandell]

It was tennis.