2024 Wimbledon - Women's Discussion

[nolefam_2024]

Elena Rybakina has turned on the after burners the last few matches - think BK has one run in her left....perhaps. Better hurry though, or this match will continue to get away from her.

Make it hurt
6-1 6-0 or something

 

[bluetrain4]

4-16 before this season, as a 28 year old, straight to 15-2 with two straight slam finals. Has there ever been a more remarkable career turnaround this late in a career? It's unreal

Eubanks Miami QF, Mallorca win, and Wimbledon QF in 2023. Not the same - it doesn't include Slam finals, and the timeline is a little longer with more losses in the time frame. But still, that stretch was just massively better than anything he had ever done before - and since. He completely reverted to his former self after Wimbledon 2023 and never made a splash again and is now back to 125ish in the rankings. Paolini may not keep this pace of winning up, and I don't think she's destined to always go super deep in every Slam, but I think she'll still be having good results at least semi-consistently.

 

[ibbi]

She's getting sloppy all of a sudden.

 

[Hitman]

That is the first set

 

[bluetrain4]

90% or more certain rybakina is winning this Wimbledon.

She has no threat

Paolini has to get points started in at least a neutral position - difficult with (1) Rybakina's serve - because it's so good, and (2) Paolini's serve - because it's attackable. So it's really how many points can Paolini get into. Even if she can get into the rallies, I'd favor Rybakina. But Paolini has good strokes and variety, and awesome fight.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Yes, there has: Stan Wawrinka. He never made a slam semifinal until age 28 at the 2013 USO and then won 3 major titles in 2014-2016. Late career emergence is rare, but it happens.

Wawrinka is who I always think of but he had made multiple slam QF’s and won titles, one QF was at the 2010 USO so 3 years earlier.

Kerber was similar too. However she had the one slam SF at the USO in 2011 but then 2016 was like bam. 2 slams, an extra slam final, runner up at WTA Finals and a silver medal and #1.

 

[dapchai]

@Dominic & Andrey takes 1st set

 

[nolefam_2024]

Paolini has to get points started in at least a neutral position - difficult with (1) Rybakina's serve - because it's so good, and (2) Paolini's serve - because it's attackable. So it's really how many points can Paolini get into. Even if she can get into the rallies, I'd favor Rybakina. But Paolini has good strokes and variety, and awesome fight.

Rybakina can also hit the ball paolini makes. I don't think the Italian is even an elite defender.

 

[Boxbeams4ever]

I felt this way as they were heading into the 3rd set match tiebreak for the Paolini-Vekic match and now I'm wondering how does someone who has a 2-0 h2h and in tight 3 setters come out and play like that? Like what happened to her variety?

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

One set away for Ms. Rybakina - first set is hers, 6-3. Looking good so far.

 

[Boxbeams4ever]

That was a really good shot of Rybakina's racquet there. Been meaning to ask something about that

 

[Hitman]

Krejcikova playing a little better.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Wow vekic choked today

You're repeating yourself. Only child craving attention? You didn't watch the match.

 

[Nate7-5]

I am watching the reason that Rybakina won this in 2022

 

[ibbi]

I felt this way as they were heading into the 3rd set match tiebreak for the Paolini-Vekic match and now I'm wondering how does someone who has a 2-0 h2h and in tight 3 setters come out and play like that? Like what happened to her variety?

She's using some variety, but it's not really working she is getting a lot of errors, but because she's not being aggressive behind the variety and is just junking she's getting just as many winners coming back too when Rybakina decides the junk isn't bothering her.

The two matches were so long ago that I wouldn't read much into them. The first one particularly. They're both completely different players since then.

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Krejcikova playing a little better.

Agree, Hitman. This is where she can be dangerous.....figures a few things out.....changes pace, perhaps wins a close set to get even, and before you know it - you're in a battle, especially if there's any level drop from the opponent.

 

[helterskelter]

Point count in the first semi was 118-111 in Vekic's favor.

 

[JMR]

Point count in the first semi was 118-111 in Vekic's favor.

That's likely to happen with a 6-2 set in the mix. But we all understand the peculiarities of tennis scoring ....

 

[helterskelter]

That's likely to happen with a 6-2 set in the mix. But we all understand the peculiarities of tennis scoring ....

Yes. Just a very frustrating loss for Vekic, though. You'd have to imagine it would be hard for her to come to terms with.

 

[Hitman]

Barbora has sunk her teeth into this one now. Elena needs to stay focused.

 

[ibbi]

Should never have let her get away with that one, Ryba.

 

[Boxbeams4ever]

She's using some variety, but it's not really working she is getting a lot of errors, but because she's not being aggressive behind the variety and is just junking she's getting just as many winners coming back too when Rybakina decides the junk isn't bothering her.

The two matches were so long ago that I wouldn't read much into them. The first one particularly. They're both completely different players since then.

True Rybakina was playing then like I pretty much expected her to play her whole career, then became some sniper shooter. Just the lack of change of pace or slice from Krejcikova threw me off

That's likely to happen with a 6-2 set in the mix. But we all understand the peculiarities of tennis scoring ....

7 points still sounds like a lot for me haha, most of the time aren't they still like 1-3 points?

Hope Vekic can remember how well she played and shots she made

 

[Carax]

Barbora has now escaped from 3 breaks in this set. This can get complicated for Rybakina very fast.

 

[Hitman]

Rybakina is about to get into serious trouble here.

 

[a10best]

I wouldn't know personally but being vegan wouldn't mean you had to lose some muscle, she does look a little slimmer in her cheeks, maybe she lost some body fat instead
Eh who knows? I would only be concerned if she too went on that trending weight loss medication, like literally no sensible reason to do that loool

both of my sisters did and another young woman, the weight loss in their arms and legs was obvious. No worries, it could simply be the TV picture aspect ratio.

 

[Nate7-5]

Rybakina is about to get into serious trouble here.

Already is, but can she get out??

 

[ibbi]

YOU SEE YOU LET HER KEEP ESCAPING WITH HER HOLDS OF SERVE AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS!

 

[Oval_Solid]

interesting turn of events

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Barbora coming alive and gets a break in the second. Not what Elena needs.....this suddenly got more interesting.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Paolini lost the first set 2-6. Babs isn't done, yet.

 

[Hitman]

Looks like a decider to me. Rybakina is off her game at the moment.

 

[bluetrain4]

I wrote Babs off and had Rybakina penciled in to the final too quickly.

 

[Cage Rattler]

Pretty low level of tennis overall

 

[Nate7-5]

Looks like a decider to me. Rybakina is off her game at the moment.

You will not win every match 2-0

 

[ibbi]

This chick is icing her ass at every sitdown and you're letting give you the run around.

 

[Boxbeams4ever]

Yay at least it's a match now haha! Elena has to do it the hard(er) way now

 

[Mark-Touch]

Oh my goodness. Is Ryba losing the plot?

 

[Hitman]

Babs will fancy her chances for the title if she gets by Elena here.

 

[ibbi]

I swear to god if she screams once more my balls are going to recede further than her hairline.

 

[bluetrain4]

Chris and Chrissie are killing me. They're an odd pairing.

 

[Boxbeams4ever]

How many damn set points do you need ffs ughh

 

[Mr.Lob]

Tentative play from both.

 

[Hitman]

Lol

 

[ibbi]

She really makes the most awful noises.

 

[Hitman]

Roar and then roar some more.

Final set

 

[bluetrain4]

I think Paolini could beat Babs. Not surely, but a much better chance than beating Rybakina - though if Rybakina plays like this.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Jesus Christ how clutch was Krejcikova in that set.

 

[Hitman]

Is Babs going to scream after every point?

 

[Kralingen]

Rybakina oh no

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

When she is servebotting Krejcikova is almost unplayable, just a nightmare to play against.