Andy Parker wrote:

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You are right HarryGem that injuries that players are already carrying may play a part in who progresses.

I think that the lack of tournaments due to Covid has meant that with less tournaments, a lot of players are less fit than normal, as it is only really when you are playing several really competitive matches in a long tournament full of high class players, that you really push your body to its limits - training is all very well, but I think it is matches that really test players physically - and the amount going out injured or hampered by injuries before they come on court has played a bigger part than usual, I think.

I think the fact that Badosa has a normal rest day should mean she is recovered enough to be OK and Vondrousova has disappointed me before in Grand Slams, by one minute looking good enough and the next match, fading into nothing. Hercog though was in fine form and really battled, so I was do wonder if Vondrousova is on another run, like she was in 2019, when she very unexpectedly made the final. The fact that she did that there should give her some confidence that she can do it again.

I am not sure that the players are as negative about facing Serena in 2021, as she isn't quite the force she once was - I do though also think that she could well beat Rybakina fairly comfortably, but it will have to be a vintage Serena to beat Azarenka, and you are right that Azarenka is the one player in the bottom half who won't be at all frightened of Serena and will fancy their chances.

Logic tells me that Serena's game is declining a bit now and her chances of equalling or even beating Margaret Court's record are much diminished. The fact that clay is a slower surface gives her a bit more time to get shots in, but it also means that her opponents have a bit more time to do more with the ball and make her run around, which at her age is obviously not what she wants to do. I therefore don't necessarily think that the fact that it is on clay gives her an advantage over other surfaces and I tend to think it will be yet another case of coming close but no cigar.

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Hopefully, and you'd generally think so, certainly better than playing the next day. I know you're more coming from a Marketa POV, as you've mentioned her a few times before, and I'm obviously the other way, so more likely to be looking for potential excuses , but I can remember in 2019, a R3 match on the Friday between Mertens and Sevastova, match of the tournament on the women's side, an over 3 hr physical battle, 11-9 in the third, and it was much earlier in the day as well and not ending at 9pm local like Badosa yesterday, and Sevastova had very little left in her R4 match with Vondrousova, and subsequently lost 6-2 6-0, so you never know how they will recover physically and emotionally, but hopefully it's a good match. I'm thinking 50/50, although the bookies have it an average of PB 1.63, MV 2.31, but then Paula has been a pretty big favourite in most of her recent matches, as well as the outright odds, so not too surprising that she is favoured here, although a lot narrow than her last 7 matches.

I'm thinking Serena and Vika prevailing in their mini section, and maybe leaning more towards Zidansek in the final match of this half, although that's a hell of an opportunity for both to make a slam QF, which would be exactly 12 years since Cirstea's one and only to date.

Decent R3 match between Sakkari and Mertens on now, with the former taking a very tight first set.

indiana wrote:

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Completed L16 line-up :

(25) Jabeur vs (24) Gauff
Stephens vs Krajcikova
(4) Kenin vs (17) Sakkari
Kostyuk vs (8) Swiatek

(7) S Williams vs (21) Rybakina
(15) Azarenka vs (31) Pavlyuchenkova
Zidansek vs Cirstea
(20) Vondrousova vs (33) Badosa

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 Personally I think Gauff is nailed on for the semi final.  Swiatek should beat Kostyuk. Stephens against Krajcikova who knows. Kenin against Sakkari is also tough to call. I think Swiatek will get to the semi final too.

In the bottom half I think it will be a Williams v Vondrousova semi final.

What odds on a Gauff v Williams final?

My guesses would be Gauff v Swiatek for one semi and Azarenka v Vondrousova, so we are very much similar in our predictions on this.

Gauff seemed to reach another level yesterday - she no longer looks like a talented child causing ripples in the adult game, but now like someone who is a Grand Slam contender.

It would be amazing if Gauff won or made the final - perhaps the start of someone set to finally dominate the women's game. If any of you have access to re-watching her incredibly quick set against Brady, I would urge you to do so - I think it took around 20 minutes and was the best set of tennis I have seen anyone play for a long time.