2023 Roland Garros R32: [1] Carlos Alcaraz Garfia vs Denis Viktorovich Shapovalov [26]

[TheNachoMan]

The more you say this, the less I believe it.

Kral has money on Djokovic, this is all part of his plan.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Shaps making a match of it now which is good to see. Nice rally that.

 

[Kralingen]

Damn. That was amazing tennis, credit to Shapo for somehow outwitting the Freak at the net. An absurd get from Carlos to even get that back

 

[ojo rojo]

Tasty point there. Nice

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Helluva point! Carlos still almost miraculously got it.

 

[Hitman]

Tasty point there. Nice

Kind of what I was expecting between these two.

 

[ojo rojo]

Kind of what I was expecting between these two.

Here's hoping for some moar of the good stuff

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Alcaraz ‘s serve is a complete weakness. This could be a match if shapo takes the second set.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Carlos level dropped a bit. Shapo has to take advantage here though as it won’t last long

 

[Hitman]

Shut the front door!!!

He breaks...we have a match.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Shut the front door!!!

He breaks...we have a match.

Let's see if Denis can back up the break and hold serve now. I have doubts.

 

[SteffiGoat]

Can Shapo hold his serve now

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Well now - Shapo hangs in and gets the break......can he consolidate?

 

[nolefam_2024]

Shapo wishes he was Fiasco.

I used to call him this in 2017/2018 and people used to get mad. They said shapo is next Federer. Why is every loser elevated to goat level. None of these shaposinnerskyrgios even play like Federer.

 

[Kralingen]

Wow. Credit to Shapovalov. Carlos does get into these early set lulls occasionally, but still good from Shaps.

I don’t have any confidence that he will consolidate.

 

[Spin Diesel]

Kind of what I was expecting between these two.

With Shapo you just can’t have any expectations. I wouldn‘t have been surprised if the whole match was like the first set and also not if it was more like the start to the second.

 

[zuluzazu]

These lapses will hurt him against Djokovic a lot

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Let's see if Denis can back up the break and hold serve now. I have doubts.

You are not alone.....haha.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Shut the front door!!!

He breaks...we have a match.

Gotta consolidate first. Anyone sold on alcaraz as a consistent player needs to lay down the pipe for awhile.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

DF from shaps. Might undo his hard work here.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Alcaraz needs to hold his serve. The player that holds their serve better has a big advantage.

He also needs to return better.

 

[ibbi]

Well, agree that the zoning front-runner tennis Carlos can display was breathtaking even last year.

But in 2022 he was very vulnerable as shown vs. ARV. I don't think anyone could do that to him now, not even close.

He's hitting with more spin and control off both wings and leaning into his defense more heavily. He will no longer donate 50+ UEs like he did last year.

He's definitely a better and more experienced player than he was at this time a year ago, there's no doubt about that, but he also has yet to beat anyone worth beating at any slam outside the US Open so being cautious in crowning him king is not that crazy.

 

[tudwell]

Have a feeling Carlos will regroup faster here than in the Daniel match.

Gets some help from Shapo with back-to-back double.

 

[jl809]

It’s that awful farce match from earlier all over again

 

[Kralingen]

THREE horrible double faults and it’s now 15-40

RIP Shapo

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Shaps imploding again on serve.

 

[Hitman]

Gotta consolidate first. Anyone sold on alcaraz as a consistent player needs to lay down the pipe for awhile.

LOL true. He goes and DF twice again.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Two guys facing each other with a problematic serve.

 

[ibbi]

Shapo is all "Haha, just messing with you kid. Here, have the break back".

 

[SteffiGoat]

Can Shapo hold his serve now

Oh well he couldn't...

 

[jl809]

Shapo vs ADF would be a ****ing classic

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Shapo? DF......goodness gracious.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Back on serve. ‍

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Alcaraz breaks back. Shaps raging now! Lol

 

[Hitman]

Solid point to break back by Carlos! He deserved to be punished for all those DFs.

 

[Spin Diesel]

Shapo copied the wrong things from Djokovics match today

 

[ojo rojo]

Novak did tonnes of DF's today and won in straights lol

 

[Kralingen]

Back on serve. ‍

Needs to throw more first serves in.

And needs to throw more second serves in imo.

 

[TheNachoMan]

It was fun while it lasted

 

[BeatlesFan]

Can Shapo hold his serve now

Nope.

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Shapo gunna Shapo.....back on serve.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Needs to throw more first serves in.

And needs to throw more second serves in imo.

Lol hold your damn serve!

 

[Spin Diesel]

Needs to throw more first serves in.

And needs to throw more second serves in imo.

On point anslysis!

 

[onyxrose81]

Zverev was so jealous of that game

 

[jl809]

I think Alcaraz’s biggest enemy here is the draw tbh. The way Musetti played today, and the way Alcaraz has these bizarre lulls, makes me think 4R is going to be a bit of a war for him and as much as Tsitsipas is a loser pigeon, I doubt that will be over in a quick 3 either

 

[Hitman]

Another crazy point....

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Lol hold your damn serve!

Thoughts on the Celtics choking to the 8 seed?

 

[Kralingen]

He's definitely a better and more experienced player than he was at this time a year ago, there's no doubt about that, but he also has yet to beat anyone worth beating at any slam outside the US Open so being cautious in crowning him king is not that crazy.

I do agree that there is a certain hollowness to a lot of this, as mesmerizing as it can be.

I’ve noticed, it’s very subtle but undeniably repetitive, Carlos still pauses a beat to aim his shots (and usually, he has the time to do so). When he faces depth consistently and doesn’t have that slight extra time to pause, he can spray a bit or get pulled out of control.

He looks amazing when on top in a rally, and can stay in one remarkably well defensively, but that middle tier of truly neutral rallying is still a bit iffy.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Alcaraz service games leave a lot to be desire.

 

[Benf15harp]

Tiny looks so small out there. Rooting for the little fella.