Tennis 2022

[Nearly Sane]

3rd set to Murray

[Nearly Sane]

And Murray wins, bagelling Nava in the last set. Up to 40 in the provisional rankings.

[Nearly Sane]

But Dart also bagelled in the 2nd set against Galfi, and so out. Only caught the last couple of games but she just didn't look focussed.

[SusanDoris]

It all sounds good and I heard about Murray's win on FiveLive and it was nice to hear no mention of pain or difficulty.

[Nearly Sane]

And Serena does it again! Putting out second seed Kontaveit.

Also out third seed Sakkari. Both Kontaveit and Sakkari are little known outside of tennis circles, and illustrate that the women's game has some issues if Serena retires. With Barty retiring, and both Raducanu and Fernandez from last year's final out, it feels an odd tournament 

Impressive win for previous champion Andreescu, who was a surprise then, over the in form Haddad Maia. And another easy win by the in form Garcia.

The writer's choice wouid surely be a Gauff - Serena semi final but there are some tough matches before that.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/62747297

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/62745538

Huge win for Draper over Auger Aliassime, who was a reasonable chance for champion. Straight sets as well.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/62734089

[Nearly Sane]

Evans and Norrie through. Second time in the Open Era that 4 UK men have reached the 3rd round in a Slam.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/62747788

[SusanDoris]

I listened to some of the Morrie match and the two commentaters were talking about the weight of tennis balls, and it appears that in the NY Open the balls are heavier. That seems an odd idea- what do you think about that

[Udayana]

I listened to some of the Morrie match and the two commentaters were talking about the weight of tennis balls, and it appears that in the NY Open the balls are heavier. That seems an odd idea- what do you think about that

The controversy is that some women want the women's tennis balls to be heavier .. to match the men's tennis balls ... It is unusual for the women to have lighter balls .. probably affects their game ... But not the men's.

Don't know how ball weight varies between different venues .. (but can't they just treat it as a game?)

[Nearly Sane]

The controversy is that some women want the women's tennis balls to be heavier .. to match the men's tennis balls ... It is unusual for the women to have lighter balls .. probably affects their game ... But not the men's.

Don't know how ball weight varies between different venues .. (but can't they just treat it as a game?)

The difference between the venues is to do with the surfaces. The men are using tennis balls that are designed for hard courts, the women ones designed for clay courts.

[Udayana]

The difference between the venues is to do with the surfaces. The men are using tennis balls that are designed for hard courts, the women ones designed for clay courts.

So, the request for heavier women's balls seems entirely reasonable.

[Nearly Sane]

So, the request for heavier women's balls seems entirely reasonable.

The temptation to go full Finbar Saunders and his double entendres is calling.

Resisting that I've not heard of a similar decision before but one of the issues here is that the lighter balls seem to suit certain styles of play so not all of the women are opposed. I've seen a couple of articles on this but none where the US Open provide an explanation of the decision.

Both Kasatkina and Saville, who played in the final of the last women's tournament on the weekend before the US Open started, were knocked out in the first round. At the time I wondered if it was just fatigue but perhaps the balls in the Granby tournament were the more normal choice and they had issues adjusting.

[SusanDoris]

Whatever is the decided weight of the balls, whoever has to use them should be given plenty of warning and time to practise with them on different types of court.

[Nearly Sane]

So Murray out in 4 sets to Berrettini, and Draper out in middle of match through injury.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/62761689

Serena bows out in 3 sets, and having lost in the doubles the ptevious day, says farewell.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/62775664


After Serena's match, reigning men's champion Medvedev won in straight sets to move into next round where he will play Kyrgios in what looks like it's between 2 of the favourites.

In both men and women's, there is a strong line up of Russian players left. Reasonable possibility that Putin will have a PR triumph of winners in the US Open.


Today Norrie plays Rune, and is a slight favourite. Evans plays Cilic and will be the underdog. Cilic has been having a return to form and as one of the 3 previous winners left in the men's is a definite contender.

[Nearly Sane]

Interesting article on Serena.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/62777986

[Nearly Sane]

Norrie through in straight sets but I was watching the Muguruza vs Kvitova match which Kvitova took 12-10 in 3rd set tiebreak. Match of the championship so far for me.

[Nearly Sane]

Evans knocked out by Cilic in a very tough match.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/62782835

[Udayana]

Matches sound good but have no way of watching (except after the event on YouTube) and R5 just sends me to sleep.

I suppose streaming would be possible but decided to limit channels to one paid for service each year/contract.
 

[Nearly Sane]

Matches sound good but have no way of watching (except after the event on YouTube) and R5 just sends me to sleep.

I suppose streaming would be possible but decided to limit channels to one paid for service each year/contract.

I'm much the same but that one service I have is Amazon Prime and it's on there.

[Nearly Sane]

I raised earlier the possibility of a PR coup for Putin. Now the last 16 have been reached, 2 Russian, Kudermetova ans Samsonova, and 2 Belorussian players, Sabalenka and Azarenka, remain in the women's draw.

In the men's 3 Russians, Medvedev, the reigning champion, Khachanov, and Rublev who plays Norrie, and 1 Belorussian, Ivashka.

[Nearly Sane]

Kyrgios beats Medvedev in 4 and made it look easy. Not convinced Medvedev was quite at his best but not sure it would have mattered. Kyrgios was stunning.

It means though that Medvedev loses the number 1 ranking, and that no one since Federer in 2008 has defended the men's US Open.


The number 1 at the end of the tournament will be one of Nadal, Alcaraz, or Ruud. I think few people could name Ruud from a picture, and he's never won a Masters 1000 tournament but it's a very consistent season.

[Nearly Sane]

Already in the women's, a new champion is guaranteed. Given last year's final was Raducanu v Fernandez, the US continues as the most open of the Slams over the last 15 years.

[Nearly Sane]

Norrie loses first set to Rublev

[Nearly Sane]

Rublev takes 2nd set and is break up

[Nearly Sane]

Norrie out in straight sets. Rublev looked steady

[Nearly Sane]

Tiafoe takes 1st set against Nadal. There was some discussion last night on Amazon Prime's coverage about whether Kyrgios was now the favourite. The general feeling was that Nadal was the favourite but given his recent injury and that Kyrgios had win 1 more match that didn't feel right to me.