Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Would be a worse final than any 90s serve bot contest or below par murray nole final.
I think a QF would be fun. Not so much a final. Curious onlookers loved the Isner-Mahut match more than the average tennis fan.
Would be a worse final than any 90s serve bot contest or below par murray nole final.
Perricard won 6.6% of all return games played on HC in 2024, i think thats the lowest ive ever seen. Even if he surpasses Karlovic on serve, it wont get him anywhere near of winning slams.Haha, I know. Lost to 40 year old Stan a few months ago...![]()
I think we have to be realistic that these losses are going to be a lot more frequent now. Novak is getting on and these guys are all getting better and have powerful serves and groundies. No shame in losing that. Opelka played better in all departments so fair play to him.I don't care that Opelka performed the performance of his life, Nole should have won this tournament to prove his form before the AO 25. I am disgusted by this loss.
I don't care that Opelka performed the performance of his life, Nole should have won this tournament to prove his form before the AO 25. I am disgusted by this loss.
I think he will find the HC slams the most difficult. As the field is much stronger on them. Opelka played without fear, powerful groundies and serve. He was too good and more players will believe. That said I still back Djokovic to fight and keep up with them I just don’t have the same high expectations at this point. I believe he might have a better chance on clay or grass to win titles as the depth in quality is lower.When Djokovic starts losing like this regularly in slams then it's time to start worrying. A loss in a warm up event to an Isner esque player is not gonna tell us much.
It pains me to admit it since he remains a clown of biblical proportions, but in this tournament so far Kyrgios has been the player who has worried Perricard the most.
Considering that it was the first singles match after more than a year and a half from the last one, I would say that it is a good viaticum for the rest of the season, always injuries permitting.
Kyrgios for the type of player that he is does not need too much running-in to return to being a threat for the vast majority of players.
From this point of view I see analogies with Berrettini, who in turn as soon as he found a minimum of physical integrity to allow him to play with continuity, in a few months won 3 ATP tournaments arriving close to the top 30.
Tennis stats are hidden from general public for no reason. The sport lags so badly in terms of stats available to us.The serve just like class isn’t water one might add in Italian. This is why I was quite positive about Berrettini.
The clash between such players must always hinge on the smallest of margins, a mini break can easily lose you a set. I wonder how much the average weight of shot has gone up in recent years.
If he plays as he did he won’t need to be on the court long, stand and deliver tennisClassic TT hype.
Opelka's best result in AO is 3R. R4 is best slam result. He is not a BO5 player.
Let´s hype them while they are hot.Perricard hype is even worse...
just saw the highlights: GMP looked surprised by mensik's cold handshake... did anything happen during the match?Did anyone see Gio and Mensik? Was it awesome, or just a close scoreline?
Well there isnt that much to hype. Guy has a great serve and a bad return, just like you would expect from a player that tall. Problem with that height is that the disadvantage on the return is bigger than the advantage on serve.Let´s hype them while they are hot.
So he'd win 3 slams this yearIt was exactly 10 years ago that Djokovic lost to Karlovic in Doha 2015. I believe it was also the quarters.
No question. But the lack of highlights from a serve fest would be a short extended compilation on youtube. I can enjoy big servers but they have to be great movers too for me to really care. Opelka got some shots back because of his endless reach when novak actually did some attacking.I think a QF would be fun. Not so much a final. Curious onlookers loved the Isner-Mahut match more than the average tennis fan.
Maybe mensik still being just 19 and gmp being 21 was a factor. Then again a lot of czechs tend to not fake joy at losing at the net.just saw the highlights: GMP looked surprised by mensik's cold handshake... did anything happen during the match?
Nah, the height is just such a huge advantage in pretty much every aspect, as long as you can move at least decently.I like that Opelka rotation on the forehand. I guess he needs it as he is much taller than most so the ball is coming a lot lower at him.
Nah. As others have said, servebots are the worst to watch.Semis between the two biggest servers. Will be interesting.
I only saw highlights but novak looked purposeless and passive. Maybe his reactions are slowing like rafas movement slowed downGreat match by Opelka.
Have high hopes for him improving further.
We don't know how long that benign tumor in his hip and wrist problems requiring surgery hampered him in the past.
He summed it up nicely at the end of the match saying his goal was to achieve tour level fitness and match after match high performance, not just a great performance in the odd match - or words to that effect.
Brisbane was just a tune up and he will certainly try harder at AO.
ExactlyAre you saying he tanked? Is one win enough for a tuneup especially when he was going for his 100th title? I think he just got outplayed and his level was similar to what it was for most of last year where he was vulnerable to opponents playing free and fearlessly. His current game is not scaring anybody.
Maybe a less powerful groundstroker, even a big server and the injury wouldnt happen. Lets see if dimitrov just anticipated the injury before it became serious.Wow what a terrible ending.
Dimitrov has to retire due to injury. Lehecka into the final.
Back to back days of retirement on PRA for the men's. The men's tournament has really been crumby for the fans this year.
Can agree on that, the Gentle Giant is a very nice oke.I'd feel confident betting my life's savings that Novak doesn't care if Riley Opelka gets to tell his grandkids about beating him once.
Someone said it already: Novak wants to, the heart is still in it, but cannot return super goat level anymore like he did pre-2024.I did not expect Djokovic to lose against Opelka. He rarely loses against big servers.
Yeah, I believe once you can't complete full time on the tour for whatever reason, you are pretty much done.Someone said it already: Novak wants to, the heart is still in it, but cannot return super goat level anymore like he did pre-2024.
Against good servers he will still win most matches, but servebots will beat him more and more in best of 3, even 5 setters if they can keep the high level in serving like Opelka did (and Karlovic some years ago) also in 5 setters.
Father Time is consistent and brutal...
It's gonna suck just like those matches. And it does.We all know Novak is not too far away from retirement. The expectations have to be realistic, and he will not pour everything into other tournaments than slams now. Brisbane was just a tune up and he will certainly try harder at AO. It's important for him to stay healthy at this moment. Still, it was a good performance from Opelka. I've always thought he is more athletic and overall a better player than Isner, who was not a bad player as well. Opelka v Perricard is also an interesting match between servebots. Like Ivanisevic v Rosset or Rusedski v Philipoussis.