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What happened 3-2 tie breaker with Ruud an Garin. from back the ball lands 12 inches in Ruud reacts weird they show replay from the side ball is 3 feet out at least. hmmm
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Really? If anybody gets a link to the replay, please post.Originally posted by bobbyswift View PostComment
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Something weird is happening with first serves today. Weather?.
Ruud won only 69% of his firsts. Zverev won his match but only 66% of his first serves, while on oft troublesome second he won 54%. So ... he's killing the guy off the ground but can't win behind that bomb serve?Comment
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Weather? Something in the water?Originally posted by jimlosaltos View Post
It has been my contention over the years that "something" has been happening to professional tennis player service motions over the past couple of decades. Devolution. Since the game has been "engineered" to be played behind the baseline the motion has been fundamentally changed in its utility. Now the science is to pound and retreat. Before it was like a pitcher to batter type of confrontation. In and out...out and in. Subtle and drastic change and variation of speed, spin and placement. Now it basically the pound the first and spin the second. Tilden once wrote that the big serve was the easiest to get the hang of and return. That still holds true today up to a point.
Most of the motions look to be homemade and residual of the player's junior days. Very little grooming and refinement. One interesting issue is that coaches no longer have the reference point to teach the perfect motion that remains to be the one that has the player moving forwards into the court. Zverev's motion is a perfect example and he has struggled at times through his career. That motion could basically be chucked into the garbage pail and restart from scratch. The sad part about it is that he is the perfect physique to begin with and to build upon. Ruud's motion? More of the homemade, residual junior game. I cannot think of a single fluid, engineeringly perfect, friction free motion on the tour. There are some that have elements of fluidity...yet it always seems that there is an element of friction. In serving...perfection is the goal. It is somewhat attainable too...seeing as the player has the opportunity to "tee it up".
There are a lot of fundamental elements of the service motion that are akin to the golf swing. I call it an upside down golf swing. Instead of teeing it down...you tee it up.Comment
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Alcaraz vs Griekspoor, Murray vs Draper, Stan vs Rune, Fritz vs Baez today.Comment
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Yeah well...still foreplay. Will this tournament ever get to the main course. Hmmm. Murray versus Draper of passing interest. Not much to stay tuned to. Certainly not for the entire match. Certainly not if Murray drags it into a third set. The former world number one and perennial marginal member of the "Big Four" club earns the nickname "Drag Queen" Murray for his ability to drag matches into a third set and for his ability to be the drama queen. He literally is dragging his opponent down and forcing the maximum number of sets. Drag...drag...drag...down...down...down. Ugh...how much can we take? How much can he take? For him there is no limit. He could just go on forever it seems. On and on and on and on...well, you get the picture. Perhaps Jack will have a little mercy on us, the audience, and boot him on to Miami. Anyways...matches in this section of the draw are only for the "honour" of facing Sir Alcarez. Senor Alcaraz.Originally posted by stroke View Post
Stan "The Man" Wawrinka...which is a throwback on Stan "The Man" Musial of the St. Louis Cardinal baseball history...faces off against Holger Rune. Rune showing some signs of the seemingly never ending "deer in the headlights" look. It is that look a young up and coming player gets when he reads too many of his press clippings and begins to feel the pressure and the weight of expectations. It's hard to escape the glare of social media. If you spend too much time there and pick up on the toxicity it is sure to get into your head. Jannik Sinner looks like a zombie when he is being interviewed...measuring every word and syllable. Way too self conscious. But back to Stan...he had an excellent win, at least on paper as I didn't see any of it, against Miomir what's his name. Pefect turn up for young Rune. Rune beat Stan in Paris in a third set tie-break...it may have been there that Holger began to show some signs of expectations.
Expectations are an insidious part of the development of a player. Modern players have to deal with their own obsession of social media. Best to just put the phone down...and leave it down. Wawrinka, being an old school veteran, senses a wonderful opportunity to get into the kid's head just a bit. If Stan can snatch a victory here in this moment this might be the jumpstart he needs at this point in his career. He needs a big injection of confidence building adrenaline to get him over the hump once more. A win here would likely get him a rematch with said Sinner. If he could take out two of the young guns...he would be a new man. He would actually be "The Man". Again. Big ifs though. Both Rune and Sinner have huge advantages down below...in the legs. Stan has a lot of experience...one wonders how the two might fare. I would bet on the legs if I was a betting man. Which I am not. Because if I was...I would want to bet on Wawrinka. You see...I always bet with my heart. Which is why I am prone to loss.
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Rune is a strong favorite over Stan. Draper a slight favorite over Murray. Med a strong favorite to win the tournament, followed by Alcaraz, Sinner, and Fritz.Comment
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Why would Medvedev be a strong favorite over Alcaraz?Originally posted by stroke View Post
Just wondering what the thinking is.
Medy has never done well at IW and on slow courts in general. Alcaraz look good here last year, falling to Rafa in good match wrapped around a sandstorm.
Is Alcaraz healthy?Comment
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When Medvedev is right, he's right, snark & all. Night matches
"I'm going to go to the restrooms at the same speed as this surface, so you're going to wait a little while, maybe 20 minutes."
. - Medvedev
https://twitter.com/WeAreTennis/stat...720436224?s=20
Indian Wells might be on slowest tennis courts in all of ATP, plays slower than some clay courts during day & FAR slower than that at night.
There's more sand in these courts than in the Sahara Desert
Last edited by jimlosaltos; 03-13-2023, 11:35 AM.Comment
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Probably mostly based on recent form. That is just the odds to win the tournament. If Med and Alcaraz end up playing, we will of course see the betting line.Originally posted by jimlosaltos View PostComment
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I have my fingers crossed for that match to happen. Please. Please tennis deities, make it so <g>Originally posted by stroke View Post
So, on seed we now have:
Men's Quarterfinals
Alcaraz vs FAA
Fritz vs Rune/ Sinner
Medvedev/Zverev vs Fokina ! ?
Rublev/ Norrie vs Tiafoe
Semis
Alcaraz vs Fritz/Rune/Sinner
Medvedev vs Rublev/Norrie/TiafoeLast edited by jimlosaltos; 03-13-2023, 02:16 PM.Comment
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On WTA side we have Iga continuing to deal out baked goods (Bagels, breadsticks and half-pretzels) but 5 players that have beaten her in the last year remain.
From memory: Pegula, Barbora Krejč?kov?, Rybakina, Sabylenka & Garcia (I think)Comment
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What great wins today for Stan and PaulComment
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All 4th round matches today. Does not get any easier for Stan, who got past Rune with a great 3 set win, vs Sinner. Alcaraz vs Draper, Paul vs FAA, Fritz vs Fucsovics, Wall of Med vs Zverev, ADF vs Garin, Rublev vs Norrie, Tiafoe vs qualifier Tabilo.Comment
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