2024 WTA Madrid 1000
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ScottleeSV
Hall of Fame
Sabalenka played for 14hrs and 2mins and didn't get the trophy. I wonder if that's a record (?). The top 3 (meaning Iga, Aryna, and Elena, whatever the ranking says) could be gasping for air in Rome. Might be one of those random events that ends up with Ostapenko playing Dolehide in the final.
sortof
Professional
I miss variety in their game. These two elite-level ladies seemingly don´t play droppers or slices at all. Just baseline ball bashing - of admittedly very high quality though.
TheGoldenEra1990’s
Hall of Fame
It’s not the best quality for sure. Saba isn’t very good on the run. Iga isn’t much of an offensive force, I guess it’s the drama that makes it better. No drama on the mens side unless sinner and Carlos and djoker is around
Dominic & Andrey
Legend
Match of the year hands down, the crowd absolutely loved it. The Big 3 thing might be real after all, I hope that none of them will flop in Rome and Paris, I could watch Iga vs Aryna, Elena vs Aryna, Iga vs Elena everyday.
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If Iga goes far in Rome and RG then the grass season will be a non-starter for her since you then need to go back on clay for the OG and they're the main priority for her this season.
Olli Jokinen
Hall of Fame
That game was great! More stuff like that, ladies. Wonderful stuff right there.
tennis4me
Hall of Fame
Great match - tough loss for Sabalenka who had 3 MP opportunities.
Somewhat related (or unrelated?) to the match ... After wondering for a long time, I finally found out who the commentator who seemed to always be paired with Jill Craybas. Lots of IMO cringey comments and constant talking during the points. OTH, Jill usually gives great insights to the match/points. Jill must have lots of patience.
The man of the hour was, apparently, none other than Kevin Skinner. Hard-working commentator who kept going/practicing after the match with his mic left on. Found this 2yo thread from WTA Fort Worth. Quite funny actually ...
Somewhat related (or unrelated?) to the match ... After wondering for a long time, I finally found out who the commentator who seemed to always be paired with Jill Craybas. Lots of IMO cringey comments and constant talking during the points. OTH, Jill usually gives great insights to the match/points. Jill must have lots of patience.
The man of the hour was, apparently, none other than Kevin Skinner. Hard-working commentator who kept going/practicing after the match with his mic left on. Found this 2yo thread from WTA Fort Worth. Quite funny actually ...
Larry Duff
Legend
Sabalenka let one get away there.
ghostofMecir
Legend
Good match, but you’re right here—Sabalenka was SCREAM-GRUNTING at the top of her lungs on just about every shot.
tennis4me
Hall of Fame
Onsite Decibel meter with audible sound when the threshold is exceeded? Similar to the sound that's emitted on serve let calls.
I wish more players would complain to the chair umpire. I must've been quite distracting to some players to hear that for a 3-hr match. Some players probably more affected than others.
As an audience, I certainly prefer a lower decibel scream if it cannot be avoided completely. Lowering my TV volume will lower everything else and not just the screaming.
Similar to the sound that's emitted on serve let calls.I wish more players would complain to the chair umpire. I must've been quite distracting to some players to hear that for a 3-hr match. Some players probably more affected than others.
As an audience, I certainly prefer a lower decibel scream if it cannot be avoided completely. Lowering my TV volume will lower everything else and not just the screaming.
Lauren_Girl'
Hall of Fame
WTA was clearly more interesting than ATP in Madrid this year. Thank you to Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina for these 2 wonderful matches. I don't even ship these 3 players but I love close battles between the top players. Credit where credit's due. WTA is in better hands now than during all the post-Serena era. This final especially, the drama reminded me of Djokoraz in Cincinnati last year. This must be one of the longest finals ever for a WTA1000. With a very high level most of the time!
NaomiKonjuhPotapova
G.O.A.T.
they all start playing Thursday.
zvelf
Hall of Fame
I was out today so had to catch up with this match from recording it. It was even better than the final last year and is definitely the match of the year so far.
This did not age well at all.
Yeah, Sabalenka played with all-out aggression the entire match. This is high-risk high-reward tennis and if you have an off-day, it can be disastrous. Sabalenka had the opposite of an off day, and incredibly, still lost. Swiatek absorbed the pounding and played better percentage tennis to squeak it out.
Even more so not to hear Coco Vanderweghe. She kept going on about Iga lacking mental strength and confidence in this match, which was clearly not the case.
Yep. This court is much faster than Rome and RG and so was Sabalenka's best shot.
That's some crazy talk there. One in three of Iga's sets regularly being bakery products isn't because of her defense. And you talk as if Sinner and Alcaraz are sidelined for months as opposed to a couple of weeks.
Bill Lobsalot
Hall of Fame
Sab's scream extends to her opponents swing. Interesting many of the screamers don't scream when practicing. It's obvious it's to distract their opponent.
What a thriller. I could only watch in on delay, and I loved it. The WTA event was hugely entertaining overall, and it was fitting that it was capped off with such an incredible final, on the back of the hugely enjoyable Sabalenka-Rybakina SF.
I prefer Swiatek over Sabalenka (I’d like Sabalenka more if it wasn’t for the horrendous screaming), so I was happy with the outcome.
20 titles, completing the clean sweep winning all of the big red clay events, and 9 WTA 1000 titles to go with her 4 slam titles plus YEC triumph last year, all before her 23rd birthday, is some going.
I prefer Swiatek over Sabalenka (I’d like Sabalenka more if it wasn’t for the horrendous screaming), so I was happy with the outcome.
20 titles, completing the clean sweep winning all of the big red clay events, and 9 WTA 1000 titles to go with her 4 slam titles plus YEC triumph last year, all before her 23rd birthday, is some going.
ScottleeSV
Hall of Fame
Is it a 32 bracket for the seeds? I remember last year Sabalenka lost straight away against Kenin looking more or less exhausted. Swiatek plodded on to the semi finals but got injured against Rybakina.
Yes because tennis nowadays is so much variety - especially Serena, Novak, Sinner
it’s time to get used to tennis becoming serve and groundstrokes game
sortof
Professional
Don´t know about Serena "nowadays". Novak plays great droppers, and even Sinner, who surely doesn´t have the most creative game in men´s tennis, uses them. Really, Swiatek/Sabalenka, while I don´t dispute that they are really great at what they are doing, played just plain and pure ball bashing from the baseline. If I recall correctly they didn´t even play the odd moonball here and there,Yes because tennis nowadays is so much variety - especially Serena, Novak, Sinner
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NaomiKonjuhPotapova
G.O.A.T.
64. 1R play on Tues-Wed. Yeah, last year schedule was a mess tho with rains.
ScentOfDefeat
G.O.A.T.
Magnificent final, congratulations to both ladies.
I have to say it was the one thing that brightened up an otherwise bleak weekend.
What a pleasure to finally see a great rivalry blossoming in the women's game, I really hope they can keep it up.
I have to say it was the one thing that brightened up an otherwise bleak weekend.
What a pleasure to finally see a great rivalry blossoming in the women's game, I really hope they can keep it up.
Connor35
Semi-Pro
Sabalenka has 1 title in the last 12 months.
Iga has 7.
Good tennis players win titles.
Connor35
Semi-Pro
Of WTA players with 5+ matches, Iga has the highest hold rate on tour. 82.4%.
So the data says her serve does not suck.
Connor35
Semi-Pro
Is there a reason why you bring facts into the discussion? Do facts matter or something??
The only important undisputable fact is that Pam Shriver would easily beat them both. P.E.R.I.O.D.Is there a reason why you bring facts into the discussion? Do facts matter or something??
Subway Tennis
G.O.A.T.
I missed it live. I only watched the replay but it was hard not to get caught up in this final.
An insane level of stand and deliver tennis from both players. One of the best non-major finals I have ever seen.
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
Just catching up...
Yes, this was a very exciting match, and fun to watch. But no, it wasn't some sort of all-time classic, or a delight for lovers of good tennis. The match was good because it was close throughout, and the momentum kept shifting. Makes for a really good event in the moment.
But let's be clear, there was not a hint of variety in sight. No drop shots to speak of, nor net play, unless it was forced upon the players (and it was never well executed). So the tennis itself wasn't anything to get overly hyped about.
Case in point: Iga's point to break in the first set at 5-5. She hit's a decent (but not amazing) return to Sabalenka's backhand. Sabalenka doesn't have enough time to wind up for a big swing (her only weapon) due to the depth of the return and her position post-serve. But she is in a perfectly fine position to hit a defensive backhand slice to neutralize the point. Thing is, she can't hit that shot. Yes, she hit a few in the match, but they were all high, looping balls that just sat up to be smacked. On this occasion she decides to push her usual 2 handed backhand back, pretty central and short, and Iga steps in on it for the easy winner. Meh.
Yes, this was a very exciting match, and fun to watch. But no, it wasn't some sort of all-time classic, or a delight for lovers of good tennis. The match was good because it was close throughout, and the momentum kept shifting. Makes for a really good event in the moment.
But let's be clear, there was not a hint of variety in sight. No drop shots to speak of, nor net play, unless it was forced upon the players (and it was never well executed). So the tennis itself wasn't anything to get overly hyped about.
Case in point: Iga's point to break in the first set at 5-5. She hit's a decent (but not amazing) return to Sabalenka's backhand. Sabalenka doesn't have enough time to wind up for a big swing (her only weapon) due to the depth of the return and her position post-serve. But she is in a perfectly fine position to hit a defensive backhand slice to neutralize the point. Thing is, she can't hit that shot. Yes, she hit a few in the match, but they were all high, looping balls that just sat up to be smacked. On this occasion she decides to push her usual 2 handed backhand back, pretty central and short, and Iga steps in on it for the easy winner. Meh.
I guess you missed the Dimitrov v Alcaraz match in Miami? A super high level overall, and what Dimitrov was doing with was pure poetry in motion, with huge doses of power thrown in (all sorts of shapes and speeds on the forehand, lovely slice, topspin and half-volleys on the backhand, top notch volleying, dropshots with true touch and feel...) I'd re-watch that match 10 out of 10 times over this, now that we know the results of both.
Top 4? Coco hasn't been a rival to any of them, especially in 2024.
How many long rallies did you see in this match? Sabalenka moving well? It may seem like it, because they are barely reaching balls that the men would hit back with time, but we need to be objective. No long and grueling rallies. They were on the limit after just 3-4 shots, and then going for broke.
Exactly. They were both bashing away. Nothing wrong with that, and they were doing it pretty well, but this wasn't a celebration of tennis.
TL;DR Pam Shriver would easily beat both finalists.
But do you think if swiatek + sabalenka played together against Shriver they would have a chance? Of course Shriver would still have to hit into singles lines, otherwise there would be no contest.....
What I do think is that Pam's serve was so fast there would hardly be any rallies.
Purestriker
Legend
Not necessarily. The courts are slower today than when Pam played. Also, she couldn't beat Martina (40-7) or Chris (19-4 against her) so this is moot. Are you married to Pam?
Bloody hell, where was my sarcasm button...
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
What's your obsession with Pam Shriver? Seriously.
Graf would have easily beaten both of them, that much is certain. Martina probably too, even though it was clay.
Ha, exactly.
Come on Roby, you forgot to add that Pam would beat them too like you used to claim. You're disappointing me now.
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
Nah, I have no obsession with Shriver, and never brought up her name. That was all you. But hey, maybe she is reading this and will send you an email or something.
You actually did Roby.
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
Oh dear, there you go again, failing to read things carefully. I said I didn't bring her up. YOU, the guy who is clearly obsessed with her, brought her up. I simply responded to your hypothetical. See how that works? See how words work?
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
Bias towards or against what?
