Paris Masters Begins

[stroke]

If anyone is interested in Holger Rune's stroke, here' a short video on Twitter at the link.

This is simply practice hitting, but several swings on both sides.

Very compact forehand IMHO.
https://twitter.com/holgerrune2003/s...32609804177410

I am interested. BG would have to confirm, but it looks like a model type 3 forehand to me.

[stroke]

Novak looked clinical as only he can it seems in dispatching Khachanov. Alcaraz, Rune, whoever has tough ask. It will be interesting. Great QF's, Alcaraz vs Rune(match of the day), FAA vs Tiafoe, Novak vs the stylish Musetti, and one to be determined, which appears to be the least appealing of the 4, but still a good one.

[stotty]

If anyone is interested in Holger Rune's stroke, here' a short video on Twitter at the link.

This is simply practice hitting, but several swings on both sides.

Very compact forehand IMHO.
https://twitter.com/holgerrune2003/s...32609804177410

Lovely forehand. Just love the follow through...extension...really impressive. The goal as a coach is to achieve that with all one's aspiring juniors.

[stroke]

Rune routinely wins 1st set vs Alcaraz. This is obviously very interesting. Too many bh errors from Alcaraz.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/s5VGKmCTAe3fj64D6

[stroke]

Rune wins in 2. In the 11th game of 2nd set, Alcaraz called for the trainer with an abdominal issue. After treatment, Rune held serve and it went to tiebreaker. Alcaraz appeared ok. In 2nd set tiebreaker, Alcaraz retired down 3-1.

Rune could almost be termed an Agassi 2.0. He returns aggressively and plays close to the baseline, not wanting to give up court. He has good volleys(better than Andre certainly) and drop shots. Hits the ball so well off both sides. His serve is plenty good. Obviously moves better than Agassi ever did. His backhand is looking like the best since Novak. Rune, because he is so intent on hugging the baseline and moving forward when he can, the Alcaraz drop shot was completely ineffective vs him.

[jimlosaltos]

Rune wins in 2. In the 11th game of 2nd set, Alcaraz called for the trainer with an abdominal issue. After treatment, Rune held serve and it went to tiebreaker. Alcaraz appeared ok. In 2nd set tiebreaker, Alcaraz retired down 3-1.

Rune could almost be termed an Agassi 2.0. He returns aggressively and plays close to the baseline, not wanting to give up court. He has good volleys(better than Andre certainly) and drop shots. Hits the ball so well off both sides. His serve is plenty good. Obviously moves better than Agassi ever did. His backhand is looking like the best since Novak. Rune, because he is so intent on hugging the baseline and moving forward when he can, the Alcaraz drop shot was completely ineffective vs him.

Very interesting. (Haven't gotten to watch any of today's play, so doubly appreciate the summary).

Do you have any idea how the courts are playing? Last I knew they had made Paris/Bercy quite slow to match London O2, after it being one of the few remaining quick courts. Might make a difference in this match up.

[jimlosaltos]

Ah, thanks!

Not sure Kane from Tennis Channel is a good source, given what I've seen from him. Aside from claiming Stan called Rune a "big baby" on court, it doesn't say why -- nor how anyone could know given Stan was whispering in Rune's ear. Guess Stan hasn't said afterwards. Curious.

Here's coverage of Rune's alleged behavior from Steve Tiger, a more reliable source than the Gen Z TC producer.

https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/holger-rune-melts-frosty-reception-begins-rivalry-with-carlos-alcaraz-in-paris

Excerpt:

Rune does have a juvenile quality at 19. He stamps around the court between points, and lets the full range of his emotions flash across his face. After losing a point, he might look pleadingly at his mother. After losing a testy affair to Casper Ruud at Roland Garros, he accused Ruud of shouting at him in the locker room; Ruud then accused Rune of lying. Last week in Basel, Rune unleashed a profanity-laced tirade at chair umpire Mo Lahyani, and continued to defend his actions and disparage Lahyani on Twitter.

If Alcaraz is shaping up as a tennis hero of the future, Rune may have the makings of a villain—or least someone isn’t all that popular with his opponents. You could see it in his win over Andrey Rublev on Thursday. When Rune won a big point late in the second set, Rublev exploded with an extra layer of rage and frustration, even for him. At the net, the Russian gave him a quick and cursory handshake, rather than his usual brotherly congratulations. The match had a tense, amped-up atmosphere that Rune seems to cultivate.

More important is the fact that Rune already thrives in that kind of atmosphere, and in those tense moments. Down set point against Rublev, he did what any seasoned veteran would do: He reached back and fired a winning serve down the T, enraging Rublev even more. By now, that kind of clutch play is the norm for Rune. This year he has won two titles (one on clay and one on indoor hard courts) and raised his ranking from No. 103 to No. 18. Stefanos Tsitsipas describes him as “fearless.” That fearlessness against older and higher-ranked opponents may be his best attribute as a player, but also the one that rubs some people the wrong way.

[jimlosaltos]

Here's a pair of odd stats about Paris: So much for pedigrees.

Paris Masters was the first men's event since 2018 US Open to feature SEVEN Grand Slam champions (first Masters tournament since 2017 Indian Wells).

FIVE of these seven Grand Slam champions lost their opening round matches.

[stroke]

Very interesting. (Haven't gotten to watch any of today's play, so doubly appreciate the summary).

Do you have any idea how the courts are playing? Last I knew they had made Paris/Bercy quite slow to match London O2, after it being one of the few remaining quick courts. Might make a difference in this match up.

I kinda got the feeling Alcaraz just did not want to play any more. Very surprising.

[stroke]

FAA getting the same treatment from Rune that Alcaraz got yesterday. Winners off both sides equally, no where to go.

[stroke]

Rune just playing bully ball, big off both sides, always looking to move forward. Very good serve for a guy about 6'2". I hope Novak wins so they will play tomorrow. Novak obviously the ultimate test for someone who likes to bully opponents.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tG2JMzAQSxvfmkju9

[stotty]

A close to errorless set by Novak. Not sure Stef can make a dent unless he can find plenty of forehands and force the issue.

[stroke]

Stef playing well now, 3rd set looks could go either way. If Stef wins, I will be very interested to see rhe oddsmakers betting line on Rune vs Tsitsipas. Alcaraz has pulled out of the Season Ending Final 8 Tournament in Turin, Fritz is now in first alternate. If Rune wins this tournament, he may have to make a decision if he wants to go to Turin as an alternate. He is really fast tracking up the rankings.

[jimlosaltos]

Wow, what a turnaround by Stef. First serve has been a weapon since Novak got that early break in the first.

Did you know that Stef can become world number 1? If Stefs wins finals set today and wins the Turin WTF -- and event he has won before -- (even losing one RR match) he is year-end No. 1), even if he loses the Paris final, I believe.

[stroke]

Novak gets through in 3rd set tiebreaker. Novak to me is going to have to play much better than that to beat Holger bully boy Rune. Tsitsipas had 1 backhand winner(on a drop shot) and 18 backhand errors. I would say that is his biggest problem.