ATP World Tour Finals

indiana · Tennis legend

ATP World Tour Finals - doubles

indiana · Tennis legend

Elegant Point wrote:
Watching the Isner vs Zverev match and wondering how tall is too tall for a male tennis player ? Obviously height is an advantage when serving and I think there's a strong positive correlation between number of aces and height but what about height and return points won? Isner just looks too tall :0)

I certainly think that there is some negative correlation on the rest of the game ( for that he is as you suggest too tall so that has to effect mobility etc ) but I am sure Isner's generally awful return stats are down to more than that like sheer relative lack of ability beyond his serve - ie could be better.

On the other hand while his height very much helps his serve he has then made it the consistent great weapon that it is.

He is what he is, has what he has, and boy he has done well with that. Naomi

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

SF: (4) Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares (BRA) CR 18 (9+9) vs (5) Mike Bryan & Jack Sock (USA/USA) CR 5 (1+4)

indiana · Tennis legend

In the singles with the top 4 seeds through, the remaining finalists, actually ranked 7 to 10, either just won 200 points or in Isner's case 0.

Rather fairer than, as I think it was Jon pointed out, the WTA finals with 375 points (3 x 125) even for losing 3 matches and 500 total if you won just one, meaning they all start 2019 with such an increased gap over their ranking pursuers. The prestige and not inconsiderable prize money should be enough without loads of losing points.

With the ATP #11 Khachanov for starters remains just 320 points behind #10 Isner.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
SF: (4) Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares (BRA) CR 18 (9+9) vs (5) Mike Bryan & Jack Sock (USA/USA) CR 5 (1+4)

Short article by Matt Majendie in yesterday's Standard which I can't seem to find on the paper's site:

Jamie: We've really got a great chance

Jamie Murray put himself on the cusp of a first ATP Finals success this weekend with a third straight win.

Murray and doubles partner Bruno Soares topped their group yesterday, following a 3-6, 7-6, 10-3 win over Henri Kontinen & John Peers - overall winners of the past two ATP Finals - to maintain their unbeaten record here and reach their third consecutive semi-final.

And Murray is confident of his chances of becoming only the second British winner at the event, his brother Andy the previous GB success in 2016.

"We know when we're playing well, we're one of the best teams out there on tour," he said. "Sure, everyone wants to win the tournament and genuinely believes they can, us included, but we've got a great chance. Again, we've played our best tennis at the end, which is what matters."

There is a formidable obstacle tomorrow in the shape of Mike Bryan and Jack Sock a temporary one only formed when Bryan's twin Bob underwent surgery, but one that has warranted [sic] this year's Wimbledon and US Open titles.

And much like in previous years, when the singles matches in London have been one-sided, Murray believes the doubles offers the best spectacle.

"There's been some disappointing singles matches at the O2, but the doubles are always great and competitive," he said. "It's the one tournament where the doubles players feel like they're on a level playing field with the singles guys."

paulisi · Tennis legend

Into a MTB

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Sadly, Jamie's high hopes dashed - yet again! hmm

SF: (5) Mike Bryan & Jack Sock (USA/USA) CR 5 (1+4) defeated (4) Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares (BRA) CR 18 (9+9) by 6-3 4-6 [10-4] cry

Jan · Hall of fame

cry cry

Julia Carrot · All-time great

What a shame - but Jack Sock played amazingly in the tie break bits that I watched.

indiana · Tennis legend

Bah, pity

Jamie and Bruno will individually end 2018 joint 7th on 5450 points, having overtaken Kubot and Melo.

Mike Bryan now goes to 10340 points and will be nearly 3000 points ahead of the new WR 2 Jack Sock, now onto 7425 points, with both adding a further 500 points if they win the title.

That all assumes that the doubles ATP finals points are as usual part of their 18 counters rather than an additional 19th counter as the live-tennis site is indicating ( but previously has happened just with the singles ).

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 17th of November 2018 02:58:05 PM

flamingowings · All-time great

Now that Jamie and Bruno are out I would like Maherbert to win.

wolf · Tennis legend

cry cry cry

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
JonH wrote:
So cilic won. We've had very few 3 set matches this week, singles or doubles. Like many a year before. An event that forest deliver on its promise!?

I think it was meant to say forgets to deliver but predictive texting took me in another direction !

As Jon has said and indeed as Jamie Murray has indictated the singles in particular has been disappointing in just having had one 3 set match.

But then again the big majority of competitive best of 3 set matches ( even with relatively closely ranked players ) are 2 setters, though one would have expected the group stages to produce more than one match that went to 3 sets. And other than that what is the event meant to "deliver"? Contrived closer finishes, and more exhibition than straight play to win as best they can?

But if suspected then that would rightly bring cynicism such as Jon admitted he was showing in wrongly predictinG Bryan & Sock to come through in a MTB in their final group game.

So not the event as such but maybe questioning one or two players' efforts? Or just it is what it is and in a couple of recent years we just happen to have had very few 3 setters?

Proper professional sport comes with no guarantees - an exciting Premier League match, an epic boxing title fight or 3 setters in ATP tour finals.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 17th of November 2018 04:09:42 PM

Elegant Point · Satellite level

indiana wrote:
Elegant Point wrote:
Watching the Isner vs Zverev match and wondering how tall is too tall for a male tennis player ? Obviously height is an advantage when serving and I think there's a strong positive correlation between number of aces and height but what about height and return points won? Isner just looks too tall :0)
I certainly think that there is some negative correlation on the rest of the game ( for that he is as you suggest too tall so that has to effect mobility etc ) but I am sure Isner's generally awful return stats are down to more than that like sheer relative lack of ability beyond his serve - ie could be better.
On the other hand while his height very much helps his serve he has then made it the consistent great weapon that it is.
He is what he is, has what he has, and boy he has done well with that. Naomi

Thank you for reply. No disrespect to Isner intended smile Will be interesting to see how the men's game develops moving forwards, will it be 'land of the giants'' with no room for shorter players?

I hope not as personally I would rather watch some one with the skill of Federa, Nadal or Djokovic than someone who keeps banging down unreturnable serves but struggles on the return.....

JonH · All-time great

Zverev played well to beat Federer in a good match and I thought handled himself very well at the end when some of the crowd booed. And well done to annabel Croft as well in how she conducted it. Zverev came out with credit and went up in my estimation today