2017 Australian Open - Men's Singles - General Discussion Thread

Winner


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Meles

Bionic Poster


New look for Thiem. :eek:
53257123.jpg

The recent doubles partnership with Nishikori has resulted in Thiemja.:D
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
If Istomin goes down hard in the next round, we'll know Djokovic is on PCB's and giving us a snow job in this interview. Far too much peace and love here for a loss to 117 in the world.:confused:

He will probably go out to Carreno just like after every other upset. But that is how it is. Novak knows he should have won the match and is probably very upset with his level. But he has to accept it and give cred where it is due. Istomin followed his match plan very good and was consistent and was the more brave one on key moments. Yes, It's shocking that Novak is afraid and feeling pressure in 2nd round against istomin and allowes istomin to take charge :confused:
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
He will probably go out to Carreno just like after every other upset. But that is how it is. Novak knows he should have won the match and is probably very upset with his level. But he has to accept it and give cred where it is due. Istomin followed his match plan very good and was consistent and was the more brave one on key moments. Yes, It's shocking that Novak is afraid and feeling pressure in 2nd round against istomin and allowes istomin to take charge :confused:
No doubt Istomin played well, but often its the player on the other end that has a lot to do with it. I'd like to see Istomin play well again to get an accurate feel. PCB is no joke atm, so Istomin giving him at least a battle puts this in a better light. Nadal got Verdascoed last year and it is early in the year.:oops: (by the way, almost nobody is picking Berdy in the prediction and power play leagues, so Fed not dead and could win this whole thing which would validate Djoko's slam wins during the "weak era" nicely.:D Dread the Fed.:eek:)
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
No doubt Istomin played well, but often its the player on the other end that has a lot to do with it. I'd like to see Istomin play well again to get an accurate feel. PCB is no joke atm, so Istomin giving him at least a battle puts this in a better light. Nadal got Verdascoed last year and it is early in the year.:oops: (by the way, almost nobody is picking Berdy in the prediction and power play leagues, so Fed not dead and could win this whole thing which would validate Djoko's slam wins during the "weak era" nicely.:D Dread the Fed.:eek:)

Yes, I also think it was more Novaks fault that he lost.

One scenario I remember is in the last set at 2-2(?) I think in the game that Istomin broke him. Novak was 30-40 break point down and they were engaging in a cross court battle. Novak kept going cross court until istomin decided he will be the one to take charge and he finished with a BHDTL Winner. A confident Novak would change direction of play and move him around and take risks. I think that sums up how Novak took on the match. Far too afraid and Unusual to see.

Nah, I think stuff like this proves how tough it is to be the best and to do what Novak was doing for years. A little slip in confidence or problems outside the court or your game etc and you will fall.

Novaks 4 in a row + WTFs is probably the greatest performance in tennis ever.
 
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Meles

Bionic Poster
Yes, I also think it was more Novaks fault that he lost.

One scenario I remember is in the last set at 2-2(?) I think in the game that Istomin broke him. Novak was 30-40 break point down and they were engaging in a cross court battle. Novak kept going cross court until istomin decided he will be the one to take charge and he finished with a BHDTL Winner. A confident Novak would change direction of play and move him around and take risks. I think that sums up how Novak took on the match. Far too afraid and Unusual to see.

Nah, I think stuff like this proves how tough it is to be the best and to do what Novak was doing for years. A little slip in confidence or problems outside the court or your game etc and you will fall.

Novaks 4 in a row + WTFs is probably the grea test performance in tennis ever.
This too just furthers my appreciation of the mental strength he showed then and everything about his game. Istomin had a version of what my friend likes to call the "shot of death" (Nadal.) Deni ran around forehand a lot. Changed direction to doun the line and repeat over and over again. PCB getting a hit right about in a day.
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
This too just furthers my appreciation of the mental strength he showed then and everything about his game. Istomin had a version of what my friend likes to call the "shot of death" (Nadal.) Deni ran around forehand a lot. Changed direction to doun the line and repeat over and over again. PCB getting a hit right about in a day.

What is PCB if I may ask?
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Even the most ardent Federer or Nadal fan wouldn't put their money on one of them to win the AO. Djokovic isn't their only problem anymore. It would be great to see them reach the QF or SF. Even that is going to be difficult, mind you.

I don't think Fed and Nadal are in the same boat, honestly.

Fed reached a Slam final in 2014, and 2 in 2015...losing to Djokovic in all of them while memorably straight-setting Murray in one of the Wimbledon SFs along the way. Then 2 Slam SFs in 2016 before taking the rest of the year off.

Rafa was nowhere near Fed in terms of results the last 2 years so they really are not in the same boat. You could easily argue that Djokovic is indeed Fed's problem since he's really the only thing standing between Fed and 3 more Slam trophies.
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Mixed doubles draw is out. Quite a few top doubles/singles men playing:

Top seeds are Mattek Sands/Mike Bryan.
2nd seeds are Mirza/Dodig.

Svitolina playing with Guccione.. Odd pairing.
Vania King with Qureshi.
Martinez Sanchez plays with Pablo Cuevas
Former champs and now wildcards Hingis and Paes.
Siegemund with Pavcic.
Parmentier-Mahut.
Begu-Tecau.
7th seeds Hradecka with Stepanek (The worm is working his magic with another Czech star I see ;))
8th seeds Krejcikova with Rajeev Ram

Aussies:
Stosur and Groth!
16 year old Aiava and Marc Polmans.
Dellacqua and Matt Reid.
Arina Rodionova/JP Smith.
Sally Peers plays with her top 10 doubles brother John Peers.
Gavrilova plays with boyfriend Luke Saville.
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Oh. That one I'll catch. Midnight here. I've picked counter Tomic to inoculate any defeat he might endure.;) Likely delayed.:p
Some interesting stuff about Tomic and Evans:

Tomic has never lost a match at the Aus Open where he was the favourite. Currently 15-0 as the favourite.
https://twitter.com/sportdw/status/821843992220463104

In the past 6 years, he has lost to the #1 seed twice, the #2 seed twice, the #3 seed and the #7 seed. Only loses to the very best...
https://twitter.com/sportdw/status/821843992220463104

He's the fav to beat Evans by the way.

Tomic and Evans also have some history.
In Miami 2012, Tomic's awful father John told Dan that he was not good enough to practice with Tomic.

This came from Dan Evans after his 2013 US Open 2R victory against Tomic.
"I was there (in Miami) playing qualifiers," said Evans, 23. "His dad said I wasn't good enough to practise with him." He added: "We went to practise, it was all booked, I got to the practice hut. His dad said: 'No, no, he's a qualifier, I'm not hitting with you'. "So it was one of those. A bit embarrassing, but hey.". Evans has known Bernard Tomic since junior days and said: "I don't think it was his doing. He wasn't there." The 20-year-old Australian could do little to contain a rampant Evans after the first set on Thursday, and the man from Birmingham said afterwards it was the best win of his career. Evans was ranked 179th.
.
Since then, Tomic has defeated Evans in the Davis Cup so the H2H is 1-1.

Funnily enough, both men are known for not living to their hype, not trying/not taking tennis seriously and both have a party boy image. Obviously we all know about Tomic's (that lap dance photo, being arrested etc) but Dan is known for bad publicity and was dropped from his sponsorship with Nike in December last year. Funnily enough, he went to Uniqlo and bought a bunch of $20 which is what he wore in his big defeat against Cilic. Talk about a missed opportunity for Nike!

But yes, interesting stuff!
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Wow, Aussie wildcards Alex Bolt/Bradley Mousley knock 15th seeds Bopanna/Cuevas out of the doubles!

The pair are now into the 3R!

Mousley had NEVER PLAYED a main draw ATP doubles match til this AO and now he's won two straight. His doubles ranking is 330th in the world. Huge win! Alex Bolt's doubles ranking is 511th in the world!

Cuevas is ranked 33rd whilst Bopanna is ranked 22nd in the world! And yet the Aussie wildcards won! Crazy.

Mousley's doubles ranking will jump a whopping 144 spots to 186th in the world. Bolt's will jump 227 spots to 284th in the world.
 

gogo

Legend
So, Thiem has opted for a bandana....

it's not a good look

Is it a dare???? Did Kohly have one too?

The two of them and Shapovalov have been working out together. It's not a good look! Is it a pact? (OK, I haven't seen Kohly wearing one yet, but perhaps it's coming.)

shapovalov-rovescio-alto.jpg
 

The Green Mile

Bionic Poster
Similar game plan for both guys here, whoever wins this will be whoever executes it better. Inside out forehands, trying to open up the court as much as possible for the forehand dtl, and coming into the net every now and then, if it's a great forehand. Jo holds for 3-2. 1st serve % will probably be quite important too.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Similar game plan for both guys here, whoever wins this will be whoever executes it better. Inside out forehands, trying to open up the court as much as possible for the forehand dtl, and coming into the net every now and then, if it's a great forehand. Jo holds for 3-2. 1st serve % will probably be quite important too.
I gotta feeling that the Sick Sack of Sock Suck is going to finally deliver Down Under.:eek: He can do this.:D
 
Similar game plan for both guys here, whoever wins this will be whoever executes it better. Inside out forehands, trying to open up the court as much as possible for the forehand dtl, and coming into the net every now and then, if it's a great forehand. Jo holds for 3-2. 1st serve % will probably be quite important too.

This will be a good measure of whether Sock is ready to move up the rankings in 2017.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Is it a dare???? Did Kohly have one too?

The two of them and Shapovalov have been working out together. It's not a good look! Is it a pact? (OK, I haven't seen Kohly wearing one yet, but perhaps it's coming.)

shapovalov-rovescio-alto.jpg
Its symbolic. The Thiem is ready to make a move.:D
 

The Green Mile

Bionic Poster
Jo's serve is still pretty good, but remember when it was deadly back in the early 10's? I remember a few matches where he was averaging 135 mph on the 1st serve.
 

The Green Mile

Bionic Poster
Deuce here on Sock's serve. Jo with only 2 UEs so far. A cheap forehand from Jo, and he roars in frustration. Big serve out wide, and Sock holds for 5-5.
 
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