2023 Canadian Open Quarter Finals - Carlos Alcaraz Garfia [1] (SPN) v/s Thomas John Robert Paul [12] (USA)

[jimjam]

Well deserved win. Insane level.

Time for a little break for CA. I don't think it will hurt him tbh.

 

[Pass750]

Dang Carlos, a listless dropshot attempt facing match point, not the best choice..

Congrats Tommy Paul, insane level!

An ill timed drop shot is going to cost him a major one day. Such bad decision making sometimes with that shot.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

Oh and by the way... called it!

Maybe Tommy Paul can do us another solid and clean up this draw!

 

[onehandbh]

How is the court speed at the US Open vs Toronto?

If it's fast then Paul could be threat to win it.

 

[middleballs]

Great win for TP, he really deserved it after keeping it cool and steady in the decider.

Alcaraz was off today, played arrogant at times. Let’s see what happens in Cincy.

 

[ultimathule]

Well, can't win 'em all.

 

[Kralingen]

The only thing more impressive than Tommy Paul's game is his roster of women. Looking like he can field an All Star team like Derek Jeter

Dude has a continuous revolving door of IG models

 

[MeatTornado]

Well deserved win. Insane level.

Time for a little break for CA. I don't think it will hurt him tbh.

I didn't really expect him to win either of Can/Cincy due to physical and/or mental burnout. He's played a lot of tennis this year since he returned from injury. So I agree this is actually better for him long term, at least for his USO prospects.

 

[Hamnavoe]

Clicked on one of those Tennis TV segments earlier in the week about what Tommy Paul likes to eat. His famous girlfriend likes to cook apparently. He also eats a lot of steak. So there you go.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Can't believe Jake & Logan Paul's other brother is this good at tennis @TheNachoMan

 

[Kralingen]

Didn’t watch any of it but I did circle this as a potential upset. Paul can execute order 66 (depth, early ball striking, strong serve-return) aka the anti-Alcaraz strategy as well as anyone not named Djokovic rn

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

Didn’t watch any of it but I did circle this as a potential upset. Paul can execute order 66 (depth, early ball striking, strong serve-return) aka the anti-Alcaraz strategy as well as anyone not named Djokovic rn

???

Think you forgot about Jannik Gunther Jurgen Carmelo Sinner

 

[iceman_dl6]

Face it, no top seeds take the Canadian Open seriously because it’s right before Cincy and not too far from the US Open. Remember CA lost to Paul in the first round last year in Montreal but still won the US Open.

Sometimes the Canadian Open feels like an ATP250 event.

 

[MeatTornado]

Face it, no top seeds take the Canadian Open seriously because it’s right before Cincy and not too far from the US Open. Remember CA lost to Paul in the first round last year in Montreal but still won the US Open.

Sometimes the Canadian Open feels like an ATP250 event.

I doubt Alcaraz was giving 110% tonight, but most of the top 10 seeds here would still probably kill to win this event.

For most of the Big 4 era it was taken very seriously. Fed and Novak started skipping it more, but not until they were pretty old. And even when that was happening you still had Nadal winning it.

 

[Kralingen]

???

Think you forgot about Jannik Gunther Jurgen Carmelo Sinner

I want to see him get by La Monf then we’ll talk.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

I want to see him get by La Monf then we’ll talk.

I am somewhat superstitious and always VERY careful with my predictions about matches I am emotionally invested in, but imma go out on a limb here: he'll get by the old clown.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

How is the court speed at the US Open vs Toronto?

If it's fast then Paul could be threat to win it.

Canada is slow as sh..

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Great win for Paul. Credit to him. However, no worry for Carlos.

This could be a blessing for Carlos as he doesn’t want to overplay before us open. He will look to get a few matches in cincy same with meddy too. Both will be set for us open despite losses this week.

 

[NYTennisfan]

I think this is good for Carlos. He needed to be humbled a bit headed into the USO and he should be a bit more rested.

Not to take away from Paul, he played a great match but Alcaraz clearly isn't in top form coming off the Wimbledon celebration.

 

[TheNachoMan]

Can't believe Jake & Logan Paul's other brother is this good at tennis @TheNachoMan

Carlos couldn't handle that Disney channel flow.

 

[onehandbh]

Canada is slow as sh..

Incorrect.

Take a look at the court level footage from the match. The balls move thru the court quickly and bounces stay pretty low.

Even Alcaraz's forehands, which often have a lot of topspin, are not bouncing very high.

 

[tlm]

How is the court speed at the US Open vs Toronto?

If it's fast then Paul could be threat to win it.

Ya right lol, he did play a great match I will give him that but Carlos played poorly.

 

[onehandbh]

Ya right lol, he did play a great match I will give him that but Carlos played poorly.

Either way, beating Alcaraz is no easy task. He doesn't just fold over.

Paul being able to close it out says a lot about Paul.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

Either way, beating Alcaraz is no easy task. He doesn't just fold over.

Paul being able to close it out says a lot about Paul.

He's done it twice - that's no coincidence. Still, this ain't no fast court, and Paul ain't winning no us open.

 

[iceman_dl6]

Canada is slow as sh..

Agreed! Montreal as well, but I do like playing on it as it bounces to the right height and the slowness gives me time to setup and load on my shots.

 

[vokazu]

Tommy won the battle at the net. Alcaraz did too many unsuccessful drop shots and unsuccessful lobs, Tommy just smashed them away for winners. Tommy also successfully put away drop shots with great deep placement of the ball.

Tommy sent Alcaraz left and right and even made Alcaraz fell on the floor, one when he was running to the backhand and the other when he tried to lunge to the left service box to volley (unsuccessfully). Tommy's fh dtl passing shots was incredible, as well as his bh cross court passing shot.

 

[onehandbh]

He's done it twice - that's no coincidence. Still, this ain't no fast court, and Paul ain't winning no us open.

It's a lower bouncing court.

 

[Mike Sams]

Great performance from Tommy Paul!
Always saving his very best for anything outside of the majors.

 

[Mike Sams]

If Sinner can't win his maiden Masters title here with no legends like Djokovic, Nadal, Federer or top players like Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Zverev, or Alcaraz around to stop him, he may as well quit tennis.
This is the best draw he could ever receive in history.

 

[chrischris]

The court seems fairly low bouncing so maybe a factor in keeping Carlitos spin from taking toll.

 

[Rattie]

Great play from Tommy who deserved the win! Can’t say I was in the least bit surprised. Carlos has been spotty throughout the tournament and was due a loss. He gets the chance for a few days rest and reset now with JCF on his way over for Cincinnati.

Notable that other than Sinner, none of the top 10 have had a good tournament here.

 

[sortof]

I didn't really expect him to win either of Can/Cincy due to physical and/or mental burnout. He's played a lot of tennis this year since he returned from injury. So I agree this is actually better for him long term, at least for his USO prospects.

Actually, the little rat didn´t play that much - he dropped Monte Carlo, we had this early 2nd round exit in Rome (deliberately so, we should not forget this) and his last match before Toronto was in fact on July 16th. Still, regardless of what he is going to show us in Cincy, he will be the clear favourite to win the USO.

 

[vokazu]

Carlos' left wrist was bandaged. Is he having problem with his left wrist?

 

[vokazu]

Incorrect.

Take a look at the court level footage from the match. The balls move thru the court quickly and bounces stay pretty low.

Even Alcaraz's forehands, which often have a lot of topspin, are not bouncing very high.

Probably the night time contributed to the low bouncing of the ball. There was no sunlight on the court when the match started, because the sun was already very low. When it's hot and sunny the ball tends to bounce higher.

 

[Rattie]

Carlos' left wrist was bandaged. Is he having problem with his left wrist?

It was bandaged in the same way during Wimbledon as well. He wasn’t wearing a sweatband on that wrist because of it. As he sat in his chair at the end of the final he was removing it.

 

[acintya]

i wonder who would give such a long triple name to his small newborn baby.

imagine the looks in the hospital

 

[Rina]

Well, can't win 'em all.

I thought he was the savior of tennis?

 

[HopeHawk76]

Wow, Paul took it right to Alcarez. That was some aggressive tennis. Definitely not a slow court- not the fastest we've seen, but not slow.

 

[Eureka]

What a superb performance by Tommy! Excellent serving, diligent strategy and shot selection and supreme focus. His timing was often first class as was his ability to read the ball. He had Carlos on the back foot sufficiently to dictate terms and outplay him. Very well done to get to the SF. He has had a lull after reaching the SF at the Aussie Open earlier this year and it is good to see him competing so well again. I like the chap - I hope he can go on and win the title.

This article from the ATP site was interesting:

Tommy Paul Upsets Carlos Alcaraz In Toronto | ATP Tour | Tennis

Tommy Paul ended Carlos Alcaraz’s 14-match winning streak when he upset the World No. 1 in Friday’s quarter-final at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.

www.atptour.com

Carlos was simply not playing well here at Toronto, it has been obvious that he is out of synchrony with his game. The fact that he nevertheless got to the QF and took Tommy to a deciding set - fighting to the end, shows yet again the lion-hearted spirit of the youngster. Well done to him for his effort, despite the lack of form. I liked his take on the loss to Tommy in this article from the ATP site:

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/alcaraz-toronto-2023-friday-reaction

 

[sliceroni]

Rooting for Tommy. Most of the other US players (Fritz, Brooksby) are just not likable.

 

[ultimathule]

I thought he was the savior of tennis?

He just stripped the GOAT of his most cherished title. Have you forgotten already?

 

[Rina]

He just stripped the GOAT of his most cherished title. Have you forgotten already?

He did not strip him of anything. Novak did not have the 2023 Wimbledon title to be stripped off.

 

[ultimathule]

He did not strip him of anything. Novak did not have the 2023 Wimbledon title to be stripped off.

Grow up.

 

[Rina]

Grow up.

LOL! You joined TTW 2022; please show respect for your elders.

 

[Aabye5]

The Tommy Paul vs Carlos Alcaraz Rivalry -- the one no one saw coming