2025 Australian Open - General Discussion for Men's Singles

[jarko111]

Brad Gilbert: is that a blade? (nishikori)
Darren: I don’t know.
BG: you know your sticks.
D: I think it’s an ultra.

 

[jarko111]

Sinner said the Rod Laver was playing fast

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Is AO playing really really fast?

Possibly just looks that way cause all 3 courts are closed right now due to the rain/storms. Hard to get a real gauge until everything is open and standard.

 

[jarko111]

Yay Kei!!!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Kei Nishikori with a massive fightback from 2 sets to love down and saving 2 match points.

Wins in a 5 set thriller over Monteiro!

 

[NYTennisfan]

Nice to see Kei hitting the ball beautifully again. Very few more fun players to watch when he was in his prime.

 

[Nostradamus]

Nishikori is going to get blown out in 2nd round ,, he can't even walk right now.lol

 

[jarko111]

Daggggon. Casper running all over that court to break for 5-1

 

[Aussie Darcy]

#6 Casper Ruud pulls through in a big 5 set battle.

6-3 1-6 7-5 2-6 6-1.

3 hours and 21 minutes to start his tournament.

 

[tennisjedi]

Kei "5th set" Nishikori does it again.

 

[Down_the_line]

Ruud through in a back and forth 5-setter. 6-1 in the 5th.

 

[tx10is]

looks like they are drying the courts now so hopefully not too long before we get all these matches going

 

[socallefty]

What is Ruud doing playing a 5-setter in the first round? Does Nishikori lose two sets just so he can burnish his spectacular 5-set record?

 

[jarko111]

You want to watch a fun/rowdy match Habib/Bu is the one to put it on if you have ESPN+
There is a huge Lebanese population in Melbourne as well as Chinese and they’re cheering every point like it’s a match point.
And the camera crew is showing the audience every other shot.

 

[clayqueen]

No one is tipping Djokovic?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1878337468690223456

 

[junior74]

What is Ruud doing playing a 5-setter in the first round? Does Nishikori lose two sets just so he can burnish his spectacular 5-set record?

Munar is perhaps the player who knows Ruud best on the entire tour. They trained together at Rafa's academy and know each other's games in and out.
But yeah, if he wants to beat Mensik and FAA in R2 and 3, he needs to step up.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

No one is tipping Djokovic?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1878337468690223456

Didn't win a slam last year while Sinner and Alcaraz split the 4 slams between themselves. Makes sense to me.

Andreeva picking Rublev just cause he's her countryman is kinda lame. But same goes for De Minaur and Tsitsipas picking their girlfriends Boulter and Badosa who are no chance at winning.

 

[Terenigma]

Just woke up and looked at the result so far, Good lord Ruud got tested hard didn't he? Clutch 5th set win for him and Nishikori. Looks like I'm up in time to catch Zverev's first match which should be fun!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Just woke up and looked at the result so far, Good lord Ruud got tested hard didn't he? Clutch 5th set win for him and Nishikori. Looks like I'm up in time to catch Zverev's first match which should be fun!

Fingers crossed Pouille can count back the years and play like he used to and take out the trash

 

[Aussie Darcy]

The Lebanese qualifier Habib ranked #219 has just scored a huge win over #65 Bu of China.

Habib is the first player male or female from Lebanon to qualify for the main draw of a slam. So to get this big win is massive. Well done!

 

[clayqueen]

Didn't win a slam last year while Sinner and Alcaraz split the 4 slams between themselves. Makes sense to me.

Andreeva picking Rublev just cause he's her countryman is kinda lame. But same goes for De Minaur and Tsitsipas picking their girlfriends Boulter and Badosa who are no chance at winning.

I've always believed that predictions are more about who you want to win and who you think is likely to win.

 

[D-Lite]

The Lebanese qualifier Habib ranked #219 has just scored a huge win over #65 Bu of China.

Habib is the first player male or female from Lebanon to qualify for the main draw of a slam. So to get this big win is massive. Well done!

I was hoping Bu would push on from the Asian swing of last year but he appears to be having a tough time transitioning to the ATP tour. You can't be annoyed when a player continues to break new ground for their country so congrats to Habib!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I've always believed that predictions are more about who you want to win and who you think is likely to win.

Yeah that's valid. I'm guilty of it. I voted Alcaraz in the poll to win this but if i'm being honest, it's probably more likely Sinner!

 

[D-Lite]

Darderi has to be the overall worst player in the ATP top 100 - he can virtually only win on clay. Not to mention if you go near enough a year without wins you have to wonder if there will be any confidence come the clay season to defend all your points from the year prior.

 

[D-Lite]

Machac and Lehecka need to learn to stomp their authority on these early round matches and get through in 3, 4 minimum or they're going to be gassed and not able to fully take it to the top players should they meet them. Both are hotly tipped to rise this year but they both seem to be vulnerable to being drawn into these extended matches even when they've shown good form in the lead up to the major.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Machac and Lehecka need to learn to stomp their authority on these early round matches and get through in 3, 4 minimum or they're going to be gassed and not able to fully take it to the top players should they meet them. Both are hotly tipped to rise this year but they both seem to be vulnerable to being drawn into these extended matches even when they've shown good form in the lead up to the major.

I keep mixing the two up.

I need to remember, Machac wears the short shorts. That's the difference.

 

[Winner Sinner]

 

[Hitman]

What a point by Pouille

 

[MichaelNadal]

Cmon Chainz

 

[Zodd]

Li Tu really impressed against Lehecka, Clearly at a power disadvantage but what a fun player to watch. Clever variation with net attacks and some sneaky short angled shots - and a OHB to boot! Surprise player of the tournament for me so far.

 

[Hitman]

Li Tu really impressed against Lehecka, Clearly at a power disadvantage but what a fun player to watch. Clever variation with net attacks and some sneaky short angled shots - and a OHB to boot! Surprise player of the tournament for me so far.

He badly choked that volley to break back in the third though....he had him

 

[Terenigma]

Was worried Zverev was gonna choke like usual but he's been better lately with that! Zverev 1 set to the good.

 

[Zodd]

He badly choked that volley to break back in the third though....he had him

Agree he unfortunately wavered at some key points in the match but overall impressed with his variation and fighting spirit despite the clear power disadvantage. Also a ohb in today's game always gets a nod from me

 

[Hitman]

Was worried Zverev was gonna choke like usual but he's been better lately with that! Zverev 1 set to the good.

Zed in Red is not Dead.

 

[Hitman]

Opelka is struggling.

 

[Terenigma]

Zed in Red is not Dead.

I don't really like it tbh I think he looks better in more blue/white but he's playing well, hell of a inside-out FH winner to seal the set tho!

 

[Hitman]

I don't really like it tbh I think he looks better in more blue/white but he's playing well, hell of a inside-out FH winner to seal the set tho!

The most important thing for him is to play as efficiently as possible in the early rounds.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Machac looked fantastic in that match.

Wins in straights 6-3 6-1 7-5.

Shook off whatever that thing was that happened in the United Cup with the retirement.

 

[junior74]

Opelka makes three - 3 - consecutive backhands

Takes set 2

 

[Hitman]

Opelka makes three - 3 - consecutive backhands

Takes set 2

The big man has good firepower and is quite fun to watch for guy his size.

 

[Winner Sinner]

Machac is scary, I've been saying it for a while now.
If his physique holds up, he's the tournament's scarecrow.
While Opelka might even take it home today, but even here, as I said during the Brisbane tournament after the victory over Djokovic, it was exaggerated to consider him a possible outsider in view of the Australian Open.

 

[Hitman]

Zverev's tighten the screws.

 

[junior74]

Zverev's tighten the screws.

They’ll losen again, no worries

 

[merwy]

Anyone know why Opelka is having such a hard time? Is he still injured? Can't believe that he got broken multiple times by someone outside of the top 200 unless he's off.

 

[Terenigma]

This has been a good level from Zverev, he's hitting the ball well I feel but just needs to maybe step it on these BP chances. Can't afford to be blowing them against better opponents and maybe be a bit riskier but it's still first round so we'll see.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Anyone know why Opelka is having such a hard time? Is he still injured? Can't believe that he got broken multiple times by someone outside of the top 200 unless he's off.

Considering he retired in the Brisbane final which was only 2 weeks ago, i'd assume still injured. His serve is nowhere near where it normally is too.

His first serves are about 180KMH. Usually he's at least 200+.

And as I say that he finally served a 220KMH serve. But this match has been a lot less.

 

[merwy]

Machac is scary, I've been saying it for a while now.
If his physique holds up, he's the tournament's scarecrow.
While Opelka might even take it home today, but even here, as I said during the Brisbane tournament after the victory over Djokovic, it was exaggerated to consider him a possible outsider in view of the Australian Open.

Yeah I've been eyeing Machac when he was still playing on the challenger's tour. I remember watching a random Challenger's final between him and a guy I was rooting for. My man got blasted of the court and Machac reminded me of Berdych with his offensive ground game.

 

[Arak]

This has been a good level from Zverev, he's hitting the ball well I feel but just needs to maybe step it on these BP chances. Can't afford to be blowing them against better opponents and maybe be a bit riskier but it's still first round so we'll see.

His BP conversion rate has been abysmal. 2 out of 14 I think this far. This match should have been over by now.

 

[edberg volleys]

Courts this year look slow

 

[Terenigma]

More wasted BP chances from Zverev... This is starting to get a little worrying from him. Really needs to clutch up against better opponents.

2/15 on BPs and most of those were not Pouille being clutch, just Zverev failing to capitalize.