Tennis 2018

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Pyroblazer said:
Thiem losing a set again against Berrettini. He has been really poor lately except for one outstanding win against Rafa. Zverev and him won't do much here if they don't step it up, expect both to lose against Nishikori atm. Rafa didn't look like all that in the first round either, but it seems like it willl be another walk in the park to the RG title for him. After Rafa I think Nole looks the most solid, stilö not anywhere close to his best, but the performances in Rome and here give me hope that he might be up there on the faster surfaces.
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Djoko is a strange one for me. He seems to have so many levels within matches where he goes from awful and dull to amazing, angry and inspired. I just don't think he's got the consistency yet. Verdasco will be a decent test for him next.
Thiem has still been better than Dimi and Zverev for me (In Paris) and still seems the toughest contender from the bottom half.
 
Pyroblazer said:
Thiem losing a set again against Berrettini. He has been really poor lately except for one outstanding win against Rafa. Zverev and him won't do much here if they don't step it up, expect both to lose against Nishikori atm. Rafa didn't look like all that in the first round either, but it seems like it willl be another walk in the park to the RG title for him. After Rafa I think Nole looks the most solid, stilö not anywhere close to his best, but the performances in Rome and here give me hope that he might be up there on the faster surfaces.
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How fit is he? I fancy him to beat Thiem, but knowing how Nishikori is, it's a lot to for him to beat top players consecutively.
 
Novak will be hoping Monfils beats Goffin.

He'll have Verdasco in R4 then one of Monfils/Goffin and Ceccinato (never heard of him) in the QFs.
 
wr8_utd said:
What about last year then when he made the Aussie final and played a super hectic clay schedule? Zverev hasn't really played any more clay court tournaments than anyone else and going out early in Jan and Feb means he should be fresh too. Exhaustion just can't be used as an excuse. Thiem was playing tough matches till Saturday and he's been more convincing.
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You have to bear in mind that he was just 20 so the expectation that he is somehow going to win immediately and break through at that age is a bit unrealistic. Even Federer didn't have a slam on his CV until he was Zverev's current age. He is well ahead of the curve in terms of career progression at this point and I expect him to start challenging the top two in the next year or so.
 
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saivet said:
Novak will be hoping Monfils beats Goffin.

He'll have Verdasco in R4 then one of Monfils/Goffin and Ceccinato (never heard of him) in the QFs.
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Monfils took the first set but Goffin stabilized after that. I expect him to beat Djoko tbh and then face Kei in the semis.
 
Still think there’s a lot of twists and turns in this tournament.

I don’t think it’s as predictable as people are making it out to be. Nadal played well in his second game. But the first game gave some players hope that if they play high risk then you have a slight chance. The only issue is tennis like that for three sets can be impossible against Nadal.

Dimitrov is a joke. Should just go be a b list celebrity or whatever he wants to be. Clearly doesn’t focus on tennis enough.
 
saivet said:
Novak will be hoping Monfils beats Goffin.

He'll have Verdasco in R4 then one of Monfils/Goffin and Ceccinato (never heard of him) in the QFs.
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Haven't seen him play but seeing his name often this clay season and I think he got some big wins too this year.
 
Khachanov gone a set up against Zverev.

We have a Thiem - Nishikori match to come later which I think will be fun.
 
Zverev was serving for the set at 5-4, had 3 set points but wasted them all. 5-5 in the second set. This set feels crucial.
 
Zverev is just so weird. I know he is still young, but it makes no sense for me that he looks like a completely different player at slams. Winning his first slam or reaching his first GS final usually takes time, but usually a big talent who plays great at other tournaments can show it a slam here and there too. And it's not like Khachanov is playing the game of his life, Zverev just had him in his pocket for 2 points and once he has the chance to win the set he plays like a bottler and throws it away, it's really the mental side and now he will most likely lose the 2nd set and go out.
 
Khachanov is also only a year older than him and hasn't mad a slam QF.

Zverev takes the set in the tie break to make it 1-1
 
saivet said:
Khachanov is also only a year older than him and hasn't mad a slam QF.

Zverev takes the set in the tie break to make it 1-1
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Khachanov isn't really tipped for big things though.

I do think that we are a bit spoiled having gone through the top4 era, but this current crop doesn't really feel special. None of them have that generational talent feel, except for Kyrgios, and he turned out to be pretty much the Balotelli of tennis.
 
InfiniteBoredom said:
Khachanov isn't really tipped for big things though.

I do think that we are a bit spoiled having gone through the top4 era, but this current crop doesn't really feel special. None of them have that generational talent feel, except for Kyrgios, and he turned out to be pretty much the Balotelli of tennis.
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I think Khachanov will be similar to the Berdych's or Raonic's of the game. I think he'll have a decent career but nothing special.

Given that there doesn't seem like there will be a collection of elite players, he may well win a slam.
 
Strong first set from Thiem, Nishikori surprisingly poor so far, doesn't offer much and his movement and judgment is really poor today.
 
Zverev needs to go to 5 sets for the third match in a row if he wants to progress here.

Looked flat in that set.
 
6-2 6-0 Thiem. Don't know what's wrong with Nishikori, but he looks completely shot today, easy training session for Thiem so far.
 
Pyroblazer said:
6-2 6-0 Thiem. Don't know what's wrong with Nishikori, but he looks completely shot today, easy training session for Thiem so far.
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Did worry he might get gassed, but thought he'd be able to get through one big match but then go out on a wimper
 
Zverev saved a few break points and goes onto break Khachenov in the next game.

Should take it to 5
 
Zverev take the set, but Khachenov should have broken him there. Two poor misses on break point.
 
Zverev with yet another shit match here. Thiem/Djoko will demolish him.
 
I really hope Thiem doesn't bottle that, I get some Del Potro Us Open 2017 vibes here :nervous:
Nishikori is in the game now and Thiem with more errors, 5 double faults isn't really great in a game like this so far.
 
Pyroblazer said:
I really hope Thiem doesn't bottle that, I get some Del Potro Us Open 2017 vibes here :nervous:
Nishikori is in the game now and Thiem with more errors, 5 double faults isn't really great in a game like this so far.
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On twitter, I've seen someone say it looks like Kei has hurt his wrist. Does it look serious?
 
There was a game in the 4th set where Khachanov was up 40-15 on Zverev's serve and Zverev came back to win it. The next game Kachanov was up 40-15 on his own serve and Zverev came back to win that as well. Momentum seems to have shifted since then.
 
Finally Zverev makes a slam quarters! Lad loves a five setter:lol:
 
Dom hasn't been playing too well but the way Zverev is playing, Thiem will smash him.
 
Raoul said:
Should be a good match between him and Thiem. Zverev just beat him a few weeks ago on clay.
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Very comfortably too.

It's a difficult one predict, though I think Thiem will take it in 4. He's already faced two good players and beat them fairly well.

One of those matches that I won't be surprised at any result though.
 
saivet said:
Very comfortably too.

It's a difficult one predict, though I think Thiem will take it in 4. He's already faced two good players and beat them fairly well.

One of those matches that I won't be surprised at any result though.
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Yes...I like Thiem here although if Zverev plays more as he did in the final two sets today then he has a good chance of taking it.
 
Goffin would have been a tough test for Djoko but he's about to go 2 sets to 1 down. Good thing only one of Novak/Thiem and Zverev are the ones Nadal can play, he's gotten lucky with a good draw.

The bottom half of the draw seems to indicate the inconsistent state of tennis that's going to follow post the decline of the Big 3 imo. There's a huge drop in quality from Novak, Rafa and Roger to the rest of the field. Can see lots of absolutely random winners of Slams and no one really dominating.
 
This Djokovic match has been a bit of a shocker. Hopefully someone from the bottom half kicks on in the second week, all the big names have been pretty unconvincing thus far.
 
wr8_utd said:
Goffin would have been a tough test for Djoko but he's about to go 2 sets to 1 down. Good thing only one of Novak/Thiem and Zverev are the ones Nadal can play, he's gotten lucky with a good draw.

The bottom half of the draw seems to indicate the inconsistent state of tennis that's going to follow post the decline of the Big 3 imo. There's a huge drop in quality from Novak, Rafa and Roger to the rest of the field. Can see lots of absolutely random winners of Slams and no one really dominating.
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Rafa has the tougher half of the draw imo. He has the kid that beat Shapovalov next, then potentially Kevin Anderson, followed by the likes of Del Potro, Fognini (who is playing very well at the moment) or Cilic.
 
Giggsy92 said:
This Djokovic match has been a bit of a shocker. Hopefully someone from the bottom half kicks on in the second week, all the big names have been pretty unconvincing thus far.
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You don't think Novak has been playing well of late ? He seems to be back on track to challenge for the top 5 again from what I've seen.
 
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