PaulM wrote:

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I think as a viewer I want balance. I love to see people bringing their best and springing a surprise, but (a) I want it backed up (not cause a huge upset, lose dreadfully next round) and (b) a good quality final with some sense of stature.


So yes, I don't really was Zidansek to reach the final here and play Krejcikova. Swiatek it's a shame she went out but I think Sakkari has a lot to offer, but would have been better for her to have played Gauff. In the other half, to be honest I'm not sure in the 'real' world there was any difference between the 4 ladies on that side in what they offer the average viewer (us more involved would probably have gone for Badosa from that half).

If we end up with a Pavs vs Sakkari I think that's an ok contest. Not really much removed from 2020 when Swiatek was fairly unknown still and Kenin whilst a GS champ isn't exactly a superstar.

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Agree with most of this, and that is the final I want, and I am of course biased, but I still think Badosa brings far more to the table generally than Zidansek. She obviously was around 70/80 earlier in the year, so it's not as if she was an established force or anything, but there is definite upside to her. Not just the fact she won 17 of her 19 clay matches, or that she was a seed (albeit only just), or that she was heavily backed at the bookies and one of the leading contenders from a very early stage, but just her general growing profile. Little things like Instagram followers, up from around 60k to 141k in the past 5 weeks, or even a demographic thinking I might tune in to see that 'pretty Spaniard' (whether that is wanted/need or not, it still potentially more viewers on the product). If she can establish herself as a top 15-20 player over the next couple of years, without even ever reaching that final stage, like say a Mertens has, then I believe she will be a lot bigger name generally than a typical player in that ranking range, and of course a quarter final as a 1/3 betting favourite would have been an ideal opportunity to enhance that growing profile even more.

JonH comes home wrote:

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flamingowings wrote:

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Sakkari and Tsitsipas for the sweetheart double? (They are dating)

The bun of steel was out in force today. I like Sakkari, she's definitely been 'seen' a bit more than others.

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 sakkari and tsitsipas are dating - that is a bit like dan evans and jo konta dating as a british equivalent

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 ??? 

We've seen many a tennis player relationship, it's rare they are from the same country though I think

Not to forget Svitolina and Monfils (as a pair - but not from the same country)

flamingowings wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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flamingowings wrote:

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Sakkari and Tsitsipas for the sweetheart double? (They are dating)

The bun of steel was out in force today. I like Sakkari, she's definitely been 'seen' a bit more than others.

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 sakkari and tsitsipas are dating - that is a bit like dan evans and jo konta dating as a british equivalent

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 ??? 

We've seen many a tennis player relationship, it's rare they are from the same country though I think

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 i was making a joke. the top two greek players translated to the top 2 british players and the unlikely nature of that particular british match up in real life...