2022 Madrid Masters SF - (2.) Alexander Zverev vs (4.) Stefanos Tsitsipas

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

Zverev growing some balls finally.. ABout time dude. Take out Hanz Klopek tomorrow and win the French for a follow up

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

I believe Carlos will win tomorrow. He has won all of his finals and Zverev folds under pressure - Carlos will give him plenty of pressure! The other thing is their court composure - Zverev slouches and gets down on himself, he could get frustrated and break his probation for all we know! Carlos has a reset button and never ever gives up! He has only had one bad match all year this year, the other two losses were thrilling matches that went the distance.

 

[TheNachoMan]

Me, @tennisbuck and @Jonesy are the only objective tennis observers.

 

[dapchai]

Abs swag chainz @MichaelNadal

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

Sasha wins it in 3 sets. I was certain he would win this match. Carlos will win tomorrow, I really believe it for myriad reasons.

 

[HairyFoot]

GOATrev dispatches midsipas 6-2 in the third.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

I say Zverev takes this one - I think subconsciously Tsits will want to avoid another humiliation against the freak.

LOL at the preposterous trolling here suggesting Tsitsipas would tank tonight in order to duck another Alcaraz matchup. Quite the opposite ambition is more probably spurring him to win tonight: he wants to keep his clay h2h dominance going vs Zed. Then he gets a chance to break the early trend vs Alcaraz. Two of the three losses were close so he’s not far away from stopping the skid.

So apparently this comment is directed at me… even though I never suggested Tsits would be “tanking” nor will you ever hear me make such accusations. I just felt he may not be at his sharpest and hungriest. Because, among other things, the thought of another meeting with Ratz after going to sleep at 4 am may SUBCONSCIOUSLY affect the Greek’s game. Was that the case? No idea. All I know is I felt Zverev would win, which by the way he did. Free to disagree with my insight, but to attack me as a “preposterous troll” seems a bit much. Cheers.

 

[TheAssassin]

Hyped for the final. Hope that both players deliver the goods.

Bye Philosopher.

 

[killerboss]

Time running out for Tsitsipas... Everyone else is improving (including Zverev and results would start showing it in time) and Tsitsipas is staying the same. It's gonna be even harder for him to win a slam with stronger competition.

 

[Fedeonic]

Disgusting performance from Pechipas who was never in the match. I don't like either of the finalist, but whoever wins would be deserved, since Nads and Djoks are out.

 

[Third Serve]

I hope Zverev gives Carlos a beatdown.

he’s certainly got the experience

 

[stringertom]

So apparently this comment is directed at me… even though I never suggested Tsits would be “tanking” nor will you ever hear me make such accusations. I just felt he may not be at his sharpest and hungriest. Because, among other things, the thought of another meeting with Ratz after going to sleep at 4 am may SUBCONSCIOUSLY affect the Greek’s game. Was that the case? No idea. All I know is I felt Zverev would win, which by the way he did. Free to disagree with my insight, but to attack me as a “preposterous troll” seems a bit much. Cheers.

You weren’t alone but if you insist, here’s my take:

There is too much to lose by losing on purpose…a chance at 1000 points instead of settling for 360, a chance at €700K more in prize money AND an opportunity to avenge his three losses to Alcaraz on top of maintaining his winning consistency vs Zed on clay. I don’t think you considered that when you trolled that foundationless proposition, did you? Have you competed at world class level athletics? Do you personally know what it’s like to have pride in this type of competition? I’m thinking not if that trashy thought pattern exists inside your head.

But go ahead and be oversensitive when someone calls you out for insinuating there would be a stronger motivation to lose when there’s that much to gain.

I deal in logic maybe you should get back in touch with the concept.

 

[Omega Mouse]

You weren’t alone but if you insist, here’s my take:

There is too much to lose by losing on purpose…a chance at 1000 points instead of settling for 360, a chance at €700K more in prize money AND an opportunity to avenge his three losses to Alcaraz on top of maintaining his winning consistency vs Zed on clay. I don’t think you considered that when you trolled that foundationless proposition, did you? Have you competed at world class level athletics? Do you personally know what it’s like to have pride in this type of competition? I’m thinking not if that trashy thought pattern exists inside your head.

But go ahead and be oversensitive when someone calls you out for insinuating there would be a stronger motivation to lose when there’s that much to gain.

I deal in logic maybe you should get back in touch with the concept.

Do YOU know what it's like? Probably not. For all we know, at this level of player, maybe a personal rivalry means more than a few ATP points and some more money. You sound just as ignorant - claiming you know what goes on in Tsits' head.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

You weren’t alone but if you insist, here’s my take:

There is too much to lose by losing on purpose…a chance at 1000 points instead of settling for 360, a chance at €700K more in prize money AND an opportunity to avenge his three losses to Alcaraz on top of maintaining his winning consistency vs Zed on clay. I don’t think you considered that when you trolled that foundationless proposition, did you? Have you competed at world class level athletics? Do you personally know what it’s like to have pride in this type of competition? I’m thinking not if that trashy thought pattern exists inside your head.

But go ahead and be oversensitive when someone calls you out for insinuating there would be a stronger motivation to lose when there’s that much to gain.

I deal in logic maybe you should get back in touch with the concept.

I never insinuated he would lose on purpose. What part of "subconsciously" is unclear?

 

[MeatTornado]

Disappointed in the outcome only because I prefer Tsitsipas to Zverev and I wanted to see Tsitsipas get another crack at Alcaraz.

On the other hand, there's not much to indicate the outcome would be any different from Barcelona. Zverev will be a more interesting challenge for him to tackle if he has another good serving day.

 

[stringertom]

I never insinuated he would lose on purpose. What part of "subconsciously" is unclear?

You don’t get to world #3 in tennis by surrendering to the “subconscious,” especially when the fear you suggest hovering under the surface is based off results from just three matches, two of them very close.

World class athletes want to get back on the horse, they don’t shrink from the challenge. They sometimes spend thousands of € to work with sports psychologists to master that dynamic. Are you saying all the time and money Team Tsits has spent with Costas Perangtis (consulting since age 12) has been wasted and he’s going into a shell over bad scheduling beyond his control and an “invincible” opponent in the next round? Preposterous!

Get serious, dude. You said what you said based off an irrational hunch, not on fact. Logic says he would want a win tonight both consciously and subconsciously. Dominant players get to a relative level of success by thriving on competition, not shrinking from it. That’s what any sports psychologist worth his salt uses as a building block in his/her program.

 

[Aabye5]

Time running out for Tsitsipas... Everyone else is improving (including Zverev and results would start showing it in time) and Tsitsipas is staying the same. It's gonna be even harder for him to win a slam with stronger competition.

Did Zverev buy a new serve?

 

[initialize]

Disappointed in the outcome only because I prefer Tsitsipas to Zverev and I wanted to see Tsitsipas get another crack at Alcaraz.

On the other hand, there's not much to indicate the outcome would be any different from Barcelona. Zverev will be a more interesting challenge for him to tackle if he has another good serving day.

Same, wanted Tsitsi to win, but like you said I don’t think Stef would beat Carlos… too many things would be against him in the final. Faster clay court, little rest between matches, plus the psychological fact of knowing he lost every match against him before.

At least Zverev losing (hopefully) in the final will be nice