2021 ATP/WTA Thread

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

This chick is 22, has never really done anything, but she’s hot & went stroke-for-stroke with Ostapenko today. Second was one of the most fun sets I’ve seen this season. 

Edited March 17, 2021 by shadow_operative2.0
And the patented Jelena handshake is always fun.

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

8 minutes of highlights. 

 

[Napoleon 8,604]

Jaqueline appeared on my radar last year when she played in something or another.

I may have noticed that she had a cute smile, but she definitely did NOT have a forehand like the one in the match winner.

I am eager to see more of her.

[Napoleon 8,604]

3 hours ago, shadow_operative2.0 said:

8 minutes of highlights. 

 

After several winners, Cristian had the look of a Bond assassin or an Eastern Bloc operative who was about ready to kill her victim. 

Romania is most famous for producing pint-sized gymnasts, but this 5'11" young lady is quite the opposite. She appears to be putting things together in Leningrad.

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

I tuned in at like 2-3 in the second, they just traded bombs the entire rest of the way. The breaker alone was badass, Jelena saved 4 MPs there. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Recent oral surgery, that’s a new one. All the big names saying fuck it. 

Quote

Serena Williams is the latest Grand Slam champion to withdraw from the Miami Open.

Williams pulled out Sunday, citing recent oral surgery. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer announced earlier they would skip the tournament, which begins Tuesday.

Williams, who lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has won the event a record eight times, most recently in 2015.

"Miami is a special tournament for me because it's my home," she said in a statement. "I am sad I won't be able to see the incredible fans this year, but I look forward to coming back soon."

Williams' most recent match was a month ago at the Australian Open, where she lost to Naomi Osaka in the semifinals.

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Leylah Fernandez wins Monterrey for her first career title. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Miami draws, starts tomorrow. 

Men

Women

Believe Naomi can rightfully overtake Barty for the top spot. 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

Are the Covid protected ranking points finally expiring?

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Yeah, looks like Barty finally lost 990 from her ‘19 Miami title. 

https://live-tennis.eu/en/wta-live-ranking

Edited March 22, 2021 by shadow_operative2.0

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

On 3/21/2021 at 7:08 PM, shadow_operative2.0 said:

Leylah Fernandez wins Monterrey for her first career title. 

And less than 24 hours later she flies to Miami and loses straight sets in first round qualifying. 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

I guess the Miami Open is following local curfews and ending play by 8pm. 

[Napoleon 8,604]

3 hours ago, perfectchaos007 said:

I guess the Miami Open is following local curfews and ending play by 8pm. 

The Miami Open is a bit of a shit-show.

The WTA portion is stacked, minus the Williams sister who is a mother.

The ATP portion is a skeleton of a major. Probably half of the Top 10 will NOT be playing and it might even extend to Half of the Top 20.

From:
-Decreased wages, to
-No fans, to
-COVID protocols out the ass, to
-Stupid scoring system that makes it unnecessary to defend points, which makes it difficult (for lower ranked players) to move up in the rankings, to
-Guys probably just wanting to focus on the clay season in order to make as much money as possible in Paris...

There is going to be a very "ATP 500 feeling" to this week & next's ATP 1000 Miami Open.


I want to point out that the DUBAI ATP 500 final was contested between (then) 40+ ranked Aslan Karatsev & (then) 80+ ranked Lloyd Harris.

...while Acapulco's ATP 250 final was contested between two Top 7 players, Stefanos Tsitsipas & Alexander Zverev. Strange flipped script there.

Want to point out that the Russians are EVERYWHERE:

Aslan Karatsev (RUS)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (RUS mom)
Alexander Zverev (RUS mom & dad)

Edited March 24, 2021 by Napoleon

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

27-6 in winners for Danielle against Mladenovic this morning, easy 3 & 3 win. 

[Hefeweizen 5,307]

Zverev annoys the shit out of me.  I wish he’d go away.  Most annoying next gen by a mile.

Karatsev is great to watch and root for.  He’s a hell of a returner and his serve is deceptive.  I’d love to see him make a run in Miami on the men’s side.  On the women’s side I go with Osaka to win.

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Sloane/Dodin on TC now. Will Sloane try? 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

Sloane almost won a set!

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

The 84 MPH first serve on set point was truly impressive. 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

Sloane won a tennis match 😲

[Napoleon 8,604]

2 hours ago, perfectchaos007 said:

Sloane won a tennis match 😲

W T F ?!?!

Thought that she would throw the first match and then go hang on [Disney World]* with Jozy, or wherever Toronto is basing themselves the first half of the season. 

*Edit

www.wakingthered.com/platform/amp/2021/3/5/22316016/official-toronto-fc-to-start-2021-mls-season-in-florida

Edited March 25, 2021 by Napoleon

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Someone on another board said they split up, no clue if that’s true. 

 

And tomorrow is fucking packed. 

[Napoleon 8,604]

12 minutes ago, shadow_operative2.0 said:

Someone on another board said they split up, no clue if that’s true. 

And tomorrow is fucking packed. 

A break up might explain her malaise. 

I would think that he’s more likely to find a bon-bon than she is to find some athletic millionaire. Maybe not, but she isn’t going to make a Top 10 W.A.G.S. list as she closes in on 30 in a couple of years. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

#149 Kucova should have beat Barty, but blew it. 

Aryna held off hot Tsvetana, 11-9 in the 3rd set breaker. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Coco breadstick’d Sevastova in the first, then won 5 games total rest of the way. 

[Napoleon 8,604]

2 hours ago, shadow_operative2.0 said:

Coco breadstick’d Sevastova in the first, then won 5 games total rest of the way. 

Coco needs a new coach and a shrink and her parents need to just be parents. 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

Yeah Gauff has been struggling this past year. I think her coaches are from the Morataglou academy, but her helicopter dad isn’t helping matters. She’s still just 17 so there’s plenty of time to figure it out

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Anisimova takes the first over Sloane at 3, this will be quick in the second. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

3 & 3, back to the hotel bar for Sloane. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Sofia/Petko on now. Petko never really wins anymore, but she doesn’t appear to age either. 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

kenin needed 3 sets to defeat Petko. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Brady out in 3 to SST, can barely walk. Miami got her. 

[satyanash 14,281]

Wow.

 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Sofia serving at 4-all in the 3rd against Jabeur here. 

http://live.jokerswidget.org/streamvideo13/jabeur-o-tun-vs-kenin-s-usa-live-stream-5407928.html

 

Bianca/Amanda late in the first on TC. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Sofia didn’t win. First tourney back since the appendectomy. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Amanda took the first in a breaker. 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

16 minutes ago, shadow_operative2.0 said:

Amanda took the first in a breaker. 

You mean Bianca

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

One of them two young chicks with all the vowels. 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

We're playing 3

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Knew she was due for a breaker. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

AA serving to stay at 3-5. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Canada wins. 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

The Canadian takes it. I guess her MTO in the 3rd set when she was down 1-2 helped

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Bianca/Garbine next will be fun too, last on tomorrow night. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

 

And SST has gone W/SF in her last two tourneys. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Sakkari saves 6 MPs, 5 with clean winners, to beat Pegula in a third set breaker. Impressive stuff. 

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Garbine up a set on Bianca. 

[perfectchaos007 6,596]

The American men have fared better this tournament than the American women. That doesn't happen often these days. I'm on the Korda hype train

[shadow_operative2.0 15,829]

Damn, Bianca fucking worked her in the second & third. 

[Napoleon 8,604]

2 hours ago, perfectchaos007 said:

The American men have fared better this tournament than the American women. That doesn't happen often these days. I'm on the Korda hype train

Korda has a good personality off the court, but my god it is like he is battling through an overdose of sedatives on the court. 

I like him and Tiafoe, whose forehand wrist action & profusive perspiration I find amazing in an other-worldly kind of way.

Korda will pass all four USA 23 year-olds* by the end of next year, maybe sooner.

*Riley Opelka, Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz, & Frances Tiafoe.

Edited March 30, 2021 by Napoleon

[Hefeweizen 5,307]

6 hours ago, Napoleon said:

Korda has a good personality off the court, but my god it is like he is battling through an overdose of sedatives on the court. 

I like him and Tiafoe, whose forehand wrist action & profusive perspiration I find amazing in an other-worldly kind of way.

Korda will pass all four USA 23 year-olds* by the end of next year, maybe sooner.

*Riley Opelka, Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz, & Frances Tiafoe.

Big Foe is fun to watch.  He does sweat incredibly profusely though.  Korda has a great demeanor and anyone to make Isner go away is a plus in my book.  Can’t stand his game or attitude.  
 

The women’s draw has had some great matches but perplexing score lines.  I don’t understand a three setter with a bagel and a breadstick but it seems to happen a lot.  Jabeur had one in her loss.  If she would get a little more fit she would be a force.