Week 35 - US Open Main Draw Hard

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 35 - US Open Main Draw Hard

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

theemptyvessel wrote:
tony_orient wrote:
[...]

Bencic did [end] the match smashing racquets, ranting at herself and her box and generally very out of sorts. [...]

Not all that unusual, Bencic can get a real petulant streak of temper when things don't go her way on court. Even one perceived bad call against her can set her off, and she has often been in tears in matches for the slightest provocation.
She in fact did the same sort of thing last year at the USO: http://www.espn.com/tennis/usopen15/story/_/id/13569414/2015-us-open-belinda-bencic-1vercomes-meltdown-advance (Edit: Activeboard automatically corrects this URL to include an emoticon! I can't tinyurl or bitly it, or it will get designated as spam Remove the *'s http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/usopen15/story/_/id/13569414/2015-us-open-belinda-bencic-*1*8*-*overcomes-meltdown-advance)
And this year in Dubai (injury a factor in that one): https://www.beinsports.com/en/wta-tour/news/emotional-bencic-and-vinci-crash-out-in-dub-1/199699
Also last year on her way to the Eastbourne title, and again at one of the Australian events this year.

They always seem to come early in the tournament. It seems to be the pressure she puts on herself.
I agree though, Bencic did look good in Connecticut and then imploded, but built on that again in her rounds here, especially the last one, where she was back to opening the court up through careful and thoughtful shot placement and without needing power, as is her wont. All other things being equal it could be a good match.

-- Edited by AliBlahBlah on Thursday 1st of September 2016 04:27:10 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Peter too wrote:
On Laura's issue of ball tosses, I don't remember any occasion when Laura failed to hit the third ball toss, though there were several occasions when she caught the ball twice.

On the Konta issue of setting fixed time limits for delays, that would not have worked on court 13. It seems to be a long way from all other facilities as the medical staff took many minutes to arrive and it was also a long walk to the players' changing rooms.

Whatever rules are applied some delays are inevitable. It would not be good for the sport to see players dying on court. With matches lasting 3 hours and upwards and the need for players to stay hydrated bathroom breaks are essential.

I've not watched that much of Laura lately but I am sure that she beat 3 in the final game of her Landisville final triumph.I think that she reached five on one occasion ( either failed tosses or total including the one she hit ).

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes. I watched several of Laura's matches at the 25k and there were several 4 - 5 ball toss serves.

Re medical timeouts, I don't think one can say delays are inevitable, whatever the rules. That just means the rules are wrong.

Someone suggested before having different time allowances for different courts. As they said, it's maybe not ideal but it is a perfectly logical solution.

As I'd said, you could also just have a mandatory warm-up after any long delay. Which would get round one part of the problem.

Everyone accepts that the answer isn't obvious but what I think the article was saying was that the authorities have seemingly refused to address the problem, in any shape or form.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Here's one of the instance with 4+ fluffed tosses: youtu.be/vc9hkN-k5VI
Watch the extra couple of minutes to the end, and you'll see another 4+ fluffed tosses, on the MP.
In total in that game there were 8 points, and 14 fluffed tosses. It was excessive in that game, but a number of other games were more than a fluff a point.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
The article focuses on the fact that JoKo's opponent had not hit a ball for 22 mins and the disadvantage that put her under (rather than the actual unfairness of the time-outs as such).

I suppose one way to minimise that would be to say: if play has effectively been suspended for more than ten minutes (whether due to delay in doctor coming, toilets being miles away, etc. etc. etc.) then a warm-up has to be played (exactly as one does if players are called off for rain for over a certain period of time).

Don't think the crowds would really like it, and it is admitting that the current laid-down rules of time limits are not being respected (so the authorities probably wouldn't like it) but it does have some logic.

allow their coach on to hit?

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

PaulM wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
The article focuses on the fact that JoKo's opponent had not hit a ball for 22 mins and the disadvantage that put her under (rather than the actual unfairness of the time-outs as such).

I suppose one way to minimise that would be to say: if play has effectively been suspended for more than ten minutes (whether due to delay in doctor coming, toilets being miles away, etc. etc. etc.) then a warm-up has to be played (exactly as one does if players are called off for rain for over a certain period of time).

Don't think the crowds would really like it, and it is admitting that the current laid-down rules of time limits are not being respected (so the authorities probably wouldn't like it) but it does have some logic.
allow their coach on to hit?

I was just about to write exactly the same thing. If there was a delay of say, over 5 minutes, caused by one player, then allowing the waiting player's coach on to give advice/keep them focussed/hit some balls seems fair. Would avoid a situation where a player is sat waiting for ages not knowing what to do.

Onto the other issue of the day... Laura's ball toss. It is irritating for her, to watch and probably for opponent too, but I don't think it's any more than that (tennis players are pretty adept at switching on and off and Laura aborts her action fairly early on). It was a big disadvantage for her against Naomi, as once Naomi and the umpire were on her case, she lost all rhythm on it and her average speed was about 10mph down and double faults flowed. Laura has at least got her serve working to the extent where it is not quite a liability and in the first set against Naomi showed how good it can be - she needs to put in lots of work in the off season to get both the serve and ball toss working properly.

On a more positive serving note, Naomi sits 2nd in the fastest serve list at 122mph. In today's conditions she might struggle to hit a 126mph to get to the top though. I was initially glad of the rain delaying her match today but now I'm finally back from work I hope it stops soon.

the addict · Tennis legend

Naomi due on court shortly, as Nishikori has just won.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Naomi's match will start soon - a relatively new experience for her playing a top opponent on a big Grand Slam court. She has nothing to lose and hopefully Naomi's serve will be working and allows her to get a few games on the board early on and settle into the match. Aga has been in ominous form though.

jb288 · Satellite level

One of my favourite Brits vs probably one of the most entertaining players currently around...should be a good one :D

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

I see the new Mrs Fitzy is watching.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

A rare sighting of a visor-less Aga!
Commentary on R5LSX: www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_five_live_sports_extra

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Dream start for Naomi winning the first 6 points and holds again for 2-1* after reality set in for a few points.

jb288 · Satellite level

Naomi volleying beautifully today! Helps that Radwanska is barely landing any 1st serves too.

And breaks! Never seen Naomi look so confident with her groundstrokes; wonderful to see. Playing out of her skin at the minute and Radwanksa doing nothing but defend.

-- Edited by jb288 on Thursday 1st of September 2016 10:18:45 PM

rebel_rebel · Lower Club Player

Excellent start from Naomi