2024 WTA Madrid 1000

[Bill Lobsalot]

How’s your pup, buddy?

Still kickin'. Thanks for asking.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Swiatek looking to add her 6th different WTA 1000 tournament after having won Doha x2, Indian Wells x 2, Miami, Rome x 2 and Beijing.

Rybakina looking to win her 3rd different 1000 tournament after winning Indian Wells and Rome last year.

Keys looking for her 2nd different 1000 title after having won Cincy in 2019.

Sabalenka meanwhile is looking for her 3rd Madrid title having won it in 2023 and 2021.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Also, in good news for Sabalenka, when she plays in Madrid she either loses 1R or wins the title:

2023: champion
2022: 1R
2021: champion
2020: not held
2019: 1R
2018: 1R

In the SF.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Keys has actually been woeful in Madrid having never gone past the 3R before. Her past results in Madrid were:

2023: DNP
2022: 1R
2021: 1R
2020: Not held
2019: 1R
2018: 1R
2017: 1R
2016: 3R
2015: 1R
2014: 1R
2013: 2R

Now into the SF.

that's very Madison. No pattern. She reached final in Rome back then and I don't think she ever pass 3R after.

 

[robyrolfo]

so Madison is saying she's playing like 10X better after she switched to Full bed polyester, instead of Gut hybrid. maybe hybrid is no good ??

This is interesting. When did she switch? And if it really is the reason she is playing better, she much be kicking herself for not having done it sooner.

In any case, I wouldn't use her particular case to make a sweeping statement about hybrids being bad, or anything like that. Every player is different and has different needs and preferences. Isn't Dimitrov still using full gut? He played some of the best tennis I have seen in years during his Miami match against Alcaraz, so clearly his strings aren't a hindrance to success or the ability to make certain shots.

Rybakina looked like she was out on her feet. She was spraying balls and having enormous trouble retrieving Putinseva's drop shots. At 2 match points down, Rybakina looked doomed, then she suddenly wins 8 of the next 10 points and breaks back.

That's Rybakina, though. Her tennis is almost like a live demonstration of a mathematical probability. With her power, she is bound to win a certain % of points against some opponents, and bound to miss a certain % through UE. So if she falls pretty far behind in the score, it's like she is due for a good streak to push the numbers back to the norm.

And personality/demeanor wise, she often looks tired or very stressed. It's more of a quiet stress than some other players (like Putintseva), but it's there. Saw her live at the USO last year (losing to Cristea), and it isn't particularly enjoyable to watch her between points.

All good. Her form definitely hasn’t been great, although I know she did miss the start of the year in Australia due to injuries. But a very good run in Madrid.

Keys hasn't been consistently strong for a while now. Seems like she always has one or two really big runs that get her enough points for a good ranking, and the rest of the year is completely bland.

Smashes racket. Cold handshake. No shake for the umpire. Glad Punts lost. No class.

No class? Wait, aren't you a fan of Danielle Collins? Putintseva is a volatile character, but the vast majority of her antics are directed towards herself. If her handshake was "cold" (and people complaining about handshakes is one of my pet peeves) and she didn't shake the umpire's hand, it is only because she is super upset with herself and devastated about the result. It has nothing to do with class. After Putintseva beat your girl Collins in the Australian Open a few years ago, at the end of an epic 3 set battle, Yulia had every right to scream in Danielle's face at the end, but she didn't. Nuff said.

 

[coolcamden]

This will be a quick match. Looks like Mad is still back at the hotel.

 

[MisterP]

Jesus, just when I thought I couldnt stand Coco Vandeweghe any more. Just now When asked about the difference between a 16x19 and an 18x20 string pattern:

“It makes the face a bit bigger on the racquet. Which dampens the pressure of the ball hitting the strings.”

Coco Vandey, expert tennis commentator, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[marc45]

I was warming up a bit to CoCo Vandeweghe on TC until she just said she doesn't consider Iga Swiatek's forehand to be a weapon

 

[MisterP]

The TC+ feed has someone else calling it. Not sure who it is. Eastern European. But mercifully not coco vandeweghe

 

[coolcamden]

The TC+ feed has someone else calling it. Not sure who it is. Eastern European. But mercifully not coco vandeweghe

Andrea Petkovic I think.

 

[robyrolfo]

Jesus, just when I thought I couldnt stand Coco Vandeweghe any more. Just now When asked about the difference between a 16x19 and an 18x20 string pattern:

“It makes the face a bit bigger on the racquet. Which dampens the pressure of the ball hitting the strings.”

Coco Vandey, expert tennis commentator, ladies and gentlemen.

Yes, I have the other woman (Eastern European accent) on my TC plus feed, but that comment about making the face bigger is indeed hilarious.

 

[coolcamden]

1 and 3 in 1:10

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

that last game is VERY mad keys

 

[marc45]

1 and 3 in 1:10

Feliciano was probably dreading the early session today...no Sinner, Iga doing her usual hour on court, and two doubles matches

 

[robyrolfo]

Surely there is some low-level male pro out there that can make a very good living imitating Swiatek's game (or specifically, her forehand), and giving some of the WTA players a chance to practice against it.

Seems like Keys came out totally unprepared for Iga's style of play, and couldn't adjust in time (if at all).

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Seems like Keys came out totally unprepared for Iga's style of play, and couldn't adjust in time (if at all).

She has BP to break back, but the lack of confidence displayed throughout.
She beat Iga on hard before in Cincy.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

This will be a quick match. Looks like Mad is still back at the hotel.

LOL! She SHOULD have stayed at the hotel and enjoyed a relaxing buffet.

 

[spystud]

Aryna v. Elena now.

 

[ScottleeSV]

Surely there is some low-level male pro out there that can make a very good living imitating Swiatek's game (or specifically, her forehand), and giving some of the WTA players a chance to practice against it.

Seems like Keys came out totally unprepared for Iga's style of play, and couldn't adjust in time (if at all).

It's probably very hard to imitate someone's style of play and get anywhere even close with it.

Sabalenka is probably the wise pick tonight after yesterday's below par Rybakina, but we'll see.

 

[ductrung3993]

I dont know if this more controlled agression works for Rybakina, maybe long term... But hard to box player into their un-natural style, like telling Tsonga to be less spontaneous

 

[alexio]

good hold from rybka after the break

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Don't get to excited with Elena's 6-1 first set. It's the WTA. Rooting for Rybs.

 

[coolcamden]

Ryan is SLAPPING Saby around, as if she’s not already stressed out herself. She’s forcing everything.

 

[zvelf]

Rybakina totally spanked Sabalenka that first set. Rybakina becomes very difficult to beat if her first serve reaches even 65%. Her serving 75% in the first set makes her untouchable. Often, Rybakina's anticipation is suspect, but today, she is pretty on it and her shot selection has been choice. Sabalenka is only in the second set because Rybakina's first serve percentage has dropped.

 

[tennis4me]

Don't get to excited with Elena's 6-1 first set. It's the WTA. Rooting for Rybs.

Not to fret - WTA no longer has the monopoly on this pattern. Cerundolo d. Fritz 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. It happens on both tours - though may be not as often.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Not to fret - WTA no longer has the monopoly on this pattern. Cerundolo d. Fritz 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. It happens on both tours - though may be not as often.

Fritz actually won, but point taken.

 

[tennis4me]

Fritz actually won, but point taken.

Sorry, I mixed up the score. Ha ha. Fritz d. Cerundolo 6-1,3-6,6-3.

 

[tennis4me]

Love it when I see Rybakina non-chalantly hit winners DTL.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Love it when I see Rybakina non-chalantly hit winners DTL.

Too nonchalant on that volley. Here we go!

 

[spystud]

Fittingly playing 3.

 

[pcplum]

Sound off? Sabalenka screams are absolutely unbearable.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Sound off? Sabalenka screams are absolutely unbearable.

I thought I was watching Animal Planet??

 

[spystud]

Aryna holds to 4-3.

 

[Pheasant]

This match is epic. Sabalenka is clicking huge. Rybakina won’t give up.

 

[spystud]

Elena serving to stay at 4-5.

 

[MisterP]

Somebody needs to get Sabalenka a chapstick deal, pronto.

 

[Pheasant]

Wow was that a terrible shot by Sabs. Break point!

 

[spystud]

Uh oh, Aryna misses a sitter for break point.

 

[MisterP]

Wow. Rybakina Misses the open goal.

 

[spystud]

She gets the hold though, 6-5.

 

[_phantom]

Uh oh, Aryna misses a sitter for break point.

Whoever misses fewer sitters from here on out is going to win

 

[Connor35]

Given Sabalenka is still screaming when Elena is returning serve, how is that not a hindrance.

It's ridiculous.

Like Aryna serves, then screams, and isn't done screaming when Elena makes contact. Call that.

 

[zvelf]

Sound off? Sabalenka screams are absolutely unbearable.

What Sabalenka does isn't a grunt. She just unlooses elongated screams after every swing. Quite annoying.

Rybakina should go after Sabalenka's backhand more. Rybakina has the better backhand, but Sabalenka has the better forehand.

 

[spystud]

Breaker time.

 

[spystud]

One-way traffic so far, 5-1 Aryna.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Given Sabalenka is still screaming when Elena is returning serve, how is that not a hindrance.

It's ridiculous.

Like Aryna serves, then screams, and isn't done screaming when Elena makes contact. Call that.

It's a tactic they're taught and it is a hindrance in my opinion.

 

[MisterP]

On the plus side, the match will be finished soon and with it the blabber mouth Coco Vandeweghe

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

On the plus side, the match will be finished soon and with it the blabber mouth Coco Vandeweghe

Petchey isn't any better with his pompous, lush language

 

[spystud]

Tigress roars to the W. Fun deciding set.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Tigress roars to the W. Fun deciding set.

Not a Sabs fan, but she is a fighter.