Italian Open, Master's 1000

[stroke]

Stan plays Novak today in the match of the day. Oddsmakers have Novak as a huge favorite with a 93.3% implied probability of winning. Novak has dropped to the #4 favorite to win the tournament. Nadal strong favorite, followed by Tsitsipas, Rublev, and then Novak.

[stotty]

Well Novak pretty much routined Stan and will now face a sterner test in FAA. You'd expect him to get through that, and now Rafa has bitten the dust he should progress to the final. Zverev's route to the final looks tougher with either Tsitsipas or Sinner in the way. I am still waiting for Sinner to make that extra step to become a true contender.

[jimlosaltos]

Rafa cited his foot injury as inhibiting him in the third set of his loss to Shapo.

“What can happen in the next couple of days, I don't know. What can happen in one week, I really don't know now,” he said.

“It’s the time to accept the situation and fight. That's it… I don't know if rest, I don't know if maybe practice. But I still have a goal in one week and a couple of days. I’m going to keep dreaming about that goal."

[jimlosaltos]

On the WTA side, Iga has now won 25 straight matches. If it is possible to do that quietly, Iga has done it quietly.

Anismova and Andreescu might both actually be coming back. Amanda in two half a pretzels over DanYell Collins.

CORRECTION: Even better, Andreescu plays world no 1 Swiatek Friday. Amanda plays Sablenka in a presumed slugfest

[stotty]

Novak dispatches FAA. Not the best player to watch Novak, is he? I find I can only watch him in the really big matches...where suddenly I find him most watchable. FAA is disappointing. He has youth on his side yet still can't make a dent. I find him dull to watch. Much though I dislike Tsitsipas's character he is at least fab to watch.

[stroke]

Yes, Novak another clinical performance. FAA played well, very well, he had 27 winners and 23 errors. There are not many times where a player has that kind of stat line and still loses.

[jimlosaltos]

Meanwhile, on the WTA side Iga just keeps rolling in straights over Sabalenka in the semis. "Swiatek has now won 40 of her past 41 sets and the victory extended her winning streak to 27 matches, the fourth longest of the century. Serena Williams won 27 consecutive matches from the 2014 WTA Finals through 2015 Madrid. "

Iga last lost in Feb to Ostapenko, and the last time a top 10 player beat her was Ash Barty, who she no longer has to worry about, the first week in January.

[jimlosaltos]

If Djokovic & Tsitsipas meet in the Rome finals, it could be compelling. (Novak is schedule to meet Ruud in the second semi shortly as I type this).

In their last 2 Roland Garros meetings, Novak has beaten Tsitisi but it has taken five sets both times, coming back from down 2-0 in last year's final

RG 2021:

676 26 63 62 64

RG 2020:
63 62 57 46 61

And I'll stick my neck out to potentially look foolish here, but I felt as if in their Rome final last year, Tsitsipas was dictating much of the time despite somehow losing in 3 sets;
46 75 75

[stroke]

Stef looking like what he is, the 4th best clay courter in the world. How close is he to the top 3? Well, this tournament a perfect set up for all to find out. Novak looks like he is back to his clinical best to me. No where to go.

[jimlosaltos]

Can't resist sharing this because it made me smile.

Journo Ben Rothenberg charted Iga Swiatek's 27 match winning streak with a "bakery" theme -- breadstick and bagel icons. An ample diet

For anyone that wants a more conventional match list here's a link: https://www.wtatennis.com/players/32...wiatek#matches

filedata/fetch?id=97355&d=1652555232&type=thumb

[stotty]

Can't resist sharing this because it made me smile.

Journo Ben Rothenberg charted Iga Swiatek's 27 match winning streak with a "bakery" theme -- breadstick and bagel icons. An ample diet

For anyone that wants a more conventional match list here's a link: https://www.wtatennis.com/players/32...wiatek#matches

filedata/fetch?id=97355&d=1652555232&type=thumb

Novel way of showing wins...it might catch on.

[stotty]

The last three games against Ruud were Novak back to his very best. Hitting the ball cleaner than anyone else out there. He's great when he's really attacking the ball like that and finishing points rather locking down.

[stotty]

If Djokovic & Tsitsipas meet in the Rome finals, it could be compelling. (Novak is schedule to meet Ruud in the second semi shortly as I type this).

In their last 2 Roland Garros meetings, Novak has beaten Tsitisi but it has taken five sets both times, coming back from down 2-0 in last year's final

RG 2021:

676 26 63 62 64

RG 2020:
63 62 57 46 61

And I'll stick my neck out to potentially look foolish here, but I felt as if in their Rome final last year, Tsitsipas was dictating much of the time despite somehow losing in 3 sets;
46 75 75

I tend to see Novak as the second best clay court player ever. Borg was great as well obviously. Novak won all his clay court matches agains the Greek because he was that bit better. I am expecting it to be the same in the final tomorrow...but let's see what tomorrow brings.

[jimlosaltos]

I tend to see Novak as the second best clay court player ever. Borg was great as well obviously. Novak won all his clay court matches agains the Greek because he was that bit better. I am expecting it to be the same in the final tomorrow...but let's see what tomorrow brings.

Djoko certainly looked like it today. Credit to Stef for coming back in the second back.

With Rafa's foot pain, I assume Novak will be the favorite at Roland Garros, or co-favorite with Alcaraz.

Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek's remarkable roll continues, 28 consecutive matches and yet another straight set victory. Ons was too fatigued to put up a fight, she was struggling to play during her semifinal. But, I remain surprised by how Iga is pulling away from the pack. Granted, Ash's pre-mature retirement opened the door but nobody's even giving her contests now.

She's won five (5) consecutive tournaments, tying a WTA recored shared with the Williams sisters and Henin, and per WTA site: "Swiatek is now 8-1 in WTA finals and has run off 16 consecutive sets in finals. She has not lost more than five games in a final since losing the first WTA final she ever contested at 2019 Lugano (l. Polona Hercog). "

[arturohernandez]

Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek's remarkable roll continues, 28 consecutive matches and yet another straight set victory. Ons was too fatigued to put up a fight, she was struggling to play during her semifinal. But, I remain surprised by how Iga is pulling away from the pack. Granted, Ash's pre-mature retirement opened the door but nobody's even giving her contests now.

She's won five (5) consecutive tournaments, tying a WTA recored shared with the Williams sisters and Henin, and per WTA site: "Swiatek is now 8-1 in WTA finals and has run off 16 consecutive sets in finals. She has not lost more than five games in a final since losing the first WTA final she ever contested at 2019 Lugano (l. Polona Hercog). "

With her extreme western forehand, I figured that Barty would have a field day with Swiatek.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxuXeWfrVok

Swiatek is lucky that Barty retired. Otherwise, she would have had to deal with Ash in Quarters, Semis or Finals. It's like watching a smooth oiled machine as opposed to a herky jerky jalopy.

I mean Swiatek is good but Barty just looks so smooth and kept putting Swiatek in places on the court she would rather not be.

But there are no what ifs, Barty is retired and no one seems able to beat Swiatek at the moment.