Bigger upset: Alcaraz or LAF

[Lleytonstation]

Leylah Annie Fernandez at age 18 beat 2 time uso champ and 4 time HC slam winner Osaka who is ranked third.

Alcaraz at age 18 beat Tsitsisapassy who is ranked third.

Both great wins. Both have potential, but alcaraz likely going to be more consistent. Best of 5 for alcaraz though.

Which one?

 

[James P]

Close, but I'm going with Fernandez.

 

[pj80]

Leylah Annie Fernandez at age 18 beat 2 time uso champ and 4 time HC slam winner Osaka who is ranked third.

Alcaraz at age 18 beat Tsitsisapassy who is ranked third.

Both great wins. Both have potential, but alcaraz likely going to be more consistent. Best of 5 for alcaraz though.

Which one?

both 18 vs both 23 and #3 seed

 

[Jokervich]

I don't know so I voted Nishikori.

 

[Jonesy]

 

[fundrazer]

Alcaraz. Tsitsipas has been in better form than Osaka has.

 

[NAS]

LAF

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

LAF out loud

 

[toby55555]

Was McDonald expected to beat Nishikori?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Leylah Annie Fernandez at age 18 beat 2 time uso champ and 4 time HC slam winner Osaka who is ranked third.

Alcaraz at age 18 beat Tsitsisapassy who is ranked third.

Both great wins. Both have potential, but alcaraz likely going to be more consistent. Best of 5 for alcaraz though.

Which one?

A Seinfeld fan? Eww

 

[Hidious]

Leylah. She beat the defending champion and is ranked lower. Also, she's tiny and looks 14.

 

[Hidious]

The right answer is Seppi though.

 

[Jack the Hack]

It felt like the Alcaraz win was more epic, but I suppose that the LAF upset is just as big. Osaka has been a mess this summer though, so I wasn't that surprised.

BTW, the last professional tennis match I watched in person was Heather Watson verses LAF in 2019 at the Vancouver Open. LAF was just 16 at the time, but had a lot of game. She was the junior French Open champ that year. She lost to Watson that day, but it was obvious she was going to be pretty good.

 

[SonnyT]

LAF by far. Osaka won 4 of the last 8 HC majors; Alcaraz beat Tsisipas, not Djokovic.

She's also the most amazing player in this tournament, man or woman. She reminds me of Seles: fearless, taking the ball off the carpet, redirecting it.

Alcaraz is 18, looks 22 at least. LAF is 18, looks 14 at most.

 

[BumElbow]

Alcaraz. Osaka has not been playing enough to be physically and mentally match tough. In comparison, Tsitsipas was in good form (except at Wimbledon - grass is not his surface). It should be noted that in defeat, both Osaka and Tsitsipas played well. The matches were won by their opponents rather than lost by playing poorly.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Alcaraz. Osaka has not been playing enough to be physically and mentally match tough. In comparison, Tsitsipas was in good form (except at Wimbledon - grass is not his surface). It should be noted that in defeat, both Osaka and Tsitsipas played well. The matches were won by their opponents rather than lost by playing poorly.

How good of form was he in really though? Murray would have had a chance to put him away in straight sets had he snagged one of the SP's in the 2nd of their match.

I really haven't been overly impressed with Tsitsipas since the FO final. He was good for flashes today but inconsistent for large swathes as well. Also was particularly dreadful at net from what I was able to watch of him.


Honestly if that's truly the highest level Tsitsipas can bring to the table, his fans should be quite concerned.

 

[ibbi]

I mean on paper beating a two time champion, the defending champion, the current Aussie Open champion, is a wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy bigger deal than beating some classic choker, but...

Best of five is a pretty big god damn deal. It makes upsets way harder, it takes far more physical and mental fortitude, and we see this kind of performance from guys of this age way, way more rarely than we do from women.

So, while Fernandez might have the BIGGER upset, numbers wise, I'd Alcaraz's is the more impressive a feat.

Also, Osaka hit almost as many unforced errors in 3 sets as Tsitsipas did in 5.

 

[tex123]

It has to be Alcaraz. Osaka has had issues all year and not playing that much.

Tsitsipas-Alcaraz match was a thrilling encounter. Best of the tournament so far. Tsitsipas was projected to get to the semis and he's had a great year. Some dips but it was a high quality game.

 

[El_Yotamo]

It's a toughie. Osaka is a multi-slam champion, but upsets in BO3 are more common than in BO5 and besides Osaka has been struggling with her form recently more than Tsitsipas. Obv Nishikori would easily surpass both should he pull off the upset but I suspect 8 games is more or less what he can accomplish

 

[tex123]

How good of form was he in really though? Murray would have had a chance to put him away in straight sets had he snagged one of the SP's in the 2nd of their match.

I really haven't been overly impressed with Tsitsipas since the FO final. He was good for flashes today but inconsistent for large swathes as well. Also was particularly dreadful at net from what I was able to watch of him.


Honestly if that's truly the highest level Tsitsipas can bring to the table, his fans should be quite concerned.

Clearly you weren't watching the same match!
Tsitsipas has deficiencies which he needs to work on - slice and net play. But his ground game was solid. He does not have the tools to mix up the play and the rhythm allowed Alcaraz to blast winners after winners. Mental toughness is another but that follows from the skill set you have.

In terms of tools he possesses, it was a fine performance from him.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Clearly you weren't watching the same match!
Tsitsipas has deficiencies which he needs to work on - slice and net play. But his ground game was solid. He does not have the tools to mix up the play and the rhythm allowed Alcaraz to blast winners after winners. Mental toughness is another but that follows from the skill set you have.

In terms of tools he possesses, it was a fine performance from him.

I mean you clearly didn't read my post as I said what I was able to watch. We get it though you are the resident Tsitsipas defender. The funny thing is I was rooting for him to win so calm down a little bit.

But thank you for regurgitating what I said ( I apparently didn't watch the match then you say the same thing I just did about his net play).

But if you consider losses to Krajinovic, Opelka, and blowing a set vs Zverev as fantastically as he blew the third set today "in form" then by all means that is your opinion and prerogative. Not to mention again a subpar performance against Murray that he was lucky to escape with a W with.

Tsitsipas is capable of playing better than he has played this summer after the French Open. And if he isn't then the deficiencies as you point out are a big problem if this is supposed to be a multi-slam champion.

 

[tex123]

I mean you clearly didn't read my post as I said what I was able to watch. We get it though you are the resident Tsitsipas defender. The funny thing is I was rooting for him to win so calm down a little bit.

But thank you for regurgitating what I said ( I apparently didn't watch the match then you say the same thing I just did about his net play).

But if you consider losses to Krajinovic, Opelka, and blowing a set vs Zverev as fantastically as he blew the third set today "in form" then by all means that is your opinion and prerogative. Not to mention again a subpar performance against Murray that he was lucky to escape with a W with.

Tsitsipas is capable of playing better than he has played this summer after the French Open. And if he isn't then the deficiencies as you point out are a big problem if this is supposed to be a multi-slam champion.

I'm not even angry? It was a normal response to your post.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

I'm not even angry? It was a normal response to your post.

Clearly you weren't watching the same match! - sounded pretty angry to me. At least enough to result in the fact you glossed over me saying 'what I was able to watch' which implies I did not catch the entire match. I was only able to catch from his capitulation in the third set through to the end of the match.

The rest you just said what I had already said so we agree apparently?

The only thing we disagree on is Tsitsipas being in "good form". If that is "good form" for Tsitsipas... this guy is not going to have a hope of winning any slam except the French Open.

Because I don't personally consider the above mentioned losses and close victories as 'good form'. That's nothing against Alcaraz. He is an exciting player with a great attitude.

But I think Tsitsipas can play better. And do not agree it is as simple as not using his tools well enough. His tools got him to 1 set victory away from a slam. Albeit yes, on Clay, undoubtedly his best surface.

But if he can mentally survive against Nadal and Federer at the Australian Open, he should not be capitulating in matches at the US Open against the likes of Borna Coric or an 18 year old Alcaraz.

Especially when these are big leads he is surrendering. Not even just a break. A double break set blown? That is bad no matter how you slice it. Unfortunately Tsitsipas can't slice either.

 

[tex123]

Clearly you weren't watching the same match! - sounded pretty angry to me. At least enough to result in the fact you glossed over me saying 'what I was able to watch' which implies I did not catch the entire match. I was only able to catch from his capitulation in the third set through to the end of the match.

The rest you just said what I had already said so we agree apparently?

The only thing we disagree on is Tsitsipas being in "good form". If that is "good form" for Tsitsipas... this guy is not going to have a hope of winning any slam except the French Open.

Because I don't personally consider the above mentioned losses and close victories as 'good form'. That's nothing against Alcaraz. He is an exciting player with a great attitude.

But I think Tsitsipas can play better. And do not agree it is as simple as not using his tools well enough. His tools got him to 1 set victory away from a slam. Albeit yes, on Clay, undoubtedly his best surface.

But if he can mentally survive against Nadal and Federer at the Australian Open, he should not be capitulating in matches at the US Open against the likes of Borna Coric or an 18 year old Alcaraz.

Especially when these are big leads he is surrendering. Not even just a break. A double break set blown? That is bad no matter how you slice it. Unfortunately Tsitsipas can't slice either.

That prompted you to write an essay? You must be getting angry all the time then.

I was actually agreeing with you about his deficiencies. You said about his "level of play" which I disagreed with. His level was high with the tools he possesses. He can't do much if he does not have some tools. He needs to work on it.

I don't know why some on this forum get so sensitive. I take that first line back if I offended you.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Guess I'm ultimately just surprised people think Tsitsipas losing is such a big upset. He's been losing matches like this for months now. Barely scraped by Murray. Don't really care about which upset is 'bigger' between Osaka and Tsitsipas loss but I will definitely disagree with anyone saying Tsitsipas was in 'good form' entering this tournament - Stefanos himself would probably say he was not in his best form these past few months.

Do not conflate 'overall form' with 'match form' either. His match form today was better than much of the 'overall form' I have seen from him recently. I will give him that. But still he barely made it out of the 1R? And did this same thing here to Borna Coric last year (though that was probably a little more egregious). Guess I'm just not surprised he lost again.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

That prompted you to write an essay? You must be getting angry all the time then.

I was actually agreeing with you about his deficiencies. You said about his "level of play" which I disagreed with. His level was high with the tools he possesses. He can't do much if he does not have some tools. He needs to work on it.

I don't know why some on this forum get so sensitive. I take that first line back if I offended you.

That constitutes an essay? It was barely a paragraph. I just space it out so it is easy to read. I'm not sensitive at all I just take exception to you telling me I didn't watch the same match. Brother I literally said I didn't watch the whole match. I was commenting on his form entering this tournament moreso than his play in the match itself. But even that was inconsistent.

I don't know why some on this forum call replies 'essays'. I'm trying to have a good faith conversation about it with you. Next time I will just not reply at all then you can be like you are in your other thread about Tsitsipas posting 3-4 times in a row lol.

I hope you are being handsomely rewarded for being his tireless TTW PR guy though. Get that bag my dude.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Clearly you weren't watching the same match! - sounded pretty angry to me. At least enough to result in the fact you glossed over me saying 'what I was able to watch' which implies I did not catch the entire match. I was only able to catch from his capitulation in the third set through to the end of the match.

The rest you just said what I had already said so we agree apparently?

The only thing we disagree on is Tsitsipas being in "good form". If that is "good form" for Tsitsipas... this guy is not going to have a hope of winning any slam except the French Open.

Because I don't personally consider the above mentioned losses and close victories as 'good form'. That's nothing against Alcaraz. He is an exciting player with a great attitude.

But I think Tsitsipas can play better. And do not agree it is as simple as not using his tools well enough. His tools got him to 1 set victory away from a slam. Albeit yes, on Clay, undoubtedly his best surface.

But if he can mentally survive against Nadal and Federer at the Australian Open, he should not be capitulating in matches at the US Open against the likes of Borna Coric or an 18 year old Alcaraz.

Especially when these are big leads he is surrendering. Not even just a break. A double break set blown? That is bad no matter how you slice it. Unfortunately Tsitsipas can't slice either.

Tsitsipas could have played better on some important points, but overall against Alcaraz I think he played great, better than against Murray for sure. Only thing is maybe he could have used his FH more often, as Alcaraz was cleary pounding his BH all the time.

I think for example Zverev played a way worst match against Sinner (as far as I remember) at the FO 2020, than Tstisipas yesterday, Zverev was really playing his B/C game, playing passive in rallies, letting Sinner do what he wanted. Here I thought Stef was giving his best.
Still though I believe Tsitsipas's peak is way higher on clay than on fast HC

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Tsitsipas could have played better on some important points, but overall against Alcaraz I think he played great, better than against Murray for sure. Only thing is maybe he could have used his FH more often, as Alcaraz was cleary pounding his BH all the time.

I think for example Zverev played a way worst match against Sinner (as far as I remember) at the FO 2020, than Tstisipas yesterday, Zverev was really playing his B/C game, playing passive in rallies, letting Sinner do what he wanted. Here I thought Stef was giving his best.
Still though I believe Tsitsipas's peak is way higher on clay than on fast HC

I agree with all of this. The main problem that started this needless debate was people conflating what I consider overall form (which I define as the last few tournaments) with in-match form. Namely all the tournaments after Wimbledon since they're at least all on HC. I could have also done a better job at clarifying this. Though I did pretty clearly imply I did not catch the entire match today and was only judging off the 2 1/2 sets I saw. From those 2 1/2 sets I saw I did see flashes of brilliance from Tsitsipas. But also poor serving, poor net play, etc. A guy of Tsitsipas' caliber should not be losing sets from 2 breaks up. And he's done it I believe 3 times this year someone pointed out earlier? That is really, really bad.

This could have been a relatively straightforward win if he doesn't bottle the third set (edited this from second my mistake).

Am I being to harsh on Tsitsipas? I don't think so. Because he's supposed to be this multi-slam champion but the reality is he's average to downright poor at half of the slams if we go based off of just the results/round he has reached.

But part of his being so good on clay is going to all but guarantee him a high ranking throughout his career. So how big of an 'upset' is it really when he loses on a surface that isn't clay? Not as big of one I think we'd all agree right?

 

[tex123]

That constitutes an essay? It was barely a paragraph. I just space it out so it is easy to read. I'm not sensitive at all I just take exception to you telling me I didn't watch the same match. Brother I literally said I didn't watch the whole match. I was commenting on his form entering this tournament moreso than his play in the match itself. But even that was inconsistent.

I don't know why some on this forum call replies 'essays'. I'm trying to have a good faith conversation about it with you. Next time I will just not reply at all then you can be like you are in your other thread about Tsitsipas posting 3-4 times in a row lol.

I hope you are being handsomely rewarded for being his tireless TTW PR guy though. Get that bag my dude.

Let's put this to rest and put it down to misunderstanding. Just wanted to let you know I'm a Nadal fan (not Tsitsipas) and I'm in a different time zone.

 

[SonnyT]

I predicted a FAA-Alcaraz QF all along.

So who wins the battle for the future of the world? I pick FAA.

 

[gadge]

The best part about these upsets is that the favourites were actually playing well. Amazing results by the 2 teenagers.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Let's put this to rest and put it down to misunderstanding. Just wanted to let you know I'm a Nadal fan (not Tsitsipas) and I'm in a different time zone.

I do apologize if anything I said was over the line. Just a bit frustrating to give my opinions and then have them be called essays. I'm just trying to give you a thoughtful response. That is all. I'm not saying I am always right. I am just trying to give context to my opinions.

I am one of the few people on here that actually wants to see Tsitsipas succeed. But I have not been impressed with him post FO and am disappointed in his play, holistically.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

I agree with all of this. The main problem that started this needless debate was people conflating what I consider overall form (which I define as the last few tournaments) with in-match form. Namely all the tournaments after Wimbledon since they're at least all on HC. I could have also done a better job at clarifying this. Though I did pretty clearly imply I did not catch the entire match today and was only judging off the 2 1/2 sets I saw. From those 2 1/2 sets I saw I did see flashes of brilliance from Tsitsipas. But also poor serving, poor net play, etc. A guy of Tsitsipas' caliber should not be losing sets from 2 breaks up. And he's done it I believe 3 times this year someone pointed out earlier? That is really, really bad.

This could have been a relatively straightforward win if he doesn't bottle the second set.

Am I being to harsh on Tsitsipas? I don't think so. Because he's supposed to be this multi-slam champion but the reality is he's average to downright poor at half of the slams if we go based off of just the results/round he has reached.

But part of his being so good on clay is going to all but guarantee him a high ranking throughout his career. So how big of an 'upset' is it really when he loses on a surface that isn't clay? Not as big of one I think we'd all agree right?

From what I watched from Tsitsipas in Canada/Cincy/USO, I will say that for me his level is quite high, but his confidence is not there all the time, which is why he is prone to choking (and he choked, arguably against Opelka, Zod and here in the third set). Great level overall but his mentality fails him in crucial moments. So I agree. His BH is a concern on HC too (but we already knew that). Carlos was smart yesterday at at pounding restlessly this side to get easier balls to attack and breaking Tsitsi's defence. His topspin/flat BH not being at the level of Tim or Stan, he absolutely needs a great slice.
Tim was able to develop a good slice on HC in 2019, so Stef should also be able to progress there with time

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

From what I watched from Tsitsipas in Canada/Cincy/USO, I will say that for me his level is quite high, but his confidence is not there all the time, which is why he is prone to choking (and he choked, arguably against Opelka, Zod and here in the third set). Great level overall but his mentality fails him in crucial moments. So I agree. His BH is a concern on HC too (but we already knew that). Carlos was smart yesterday at at pounding restlessly this side to get easier balls to attack and breaking Tsitsi's defence. His topspin/flat BH not being at the level of Tim or Stan, he absolutely needs a great slice.
Tim was able to develop a good slice on HC in 2019, so Stef should also be able to progress there with time

Definitely agree on the mental bit. I think that gets glossed over a lot on here. I think the FO final loss to Djokovic was every bit as mental as it was physical. He thought he had his hands halfway on the trophy once he went up 2 sets to love. By the time he played with a similar intensity to the 1st and 2nd sets...it was already late in the 5th and the trophy was all but gone at that point.

I like Tsitsipas - not a big fan of his personality, or the toilet controversies etc. But I think he is a good player. So as such, I am harsh on him. Because I think mentally, physically, game wise etc he can be better. He can be an elite player. I do believe that. Even off of Clay. We've seen flashes at the Australian. We've seen flashes of mental fortitude. He is capable. He is just not consistent.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Definitely agree on the mental bit. I think that gets glossed over a lot on here. I think the FO final loss to Djokovic was every bit as mental as it was physical. He thought he had his hands halfway on the trophy once he went up 2 sets to love. By the time he played with a similar intensity to the 1st and 2nd sets...it was already late in the 5th and the trophy was all but gone at that point.

I like Tsitsipas - not a big fan of his personality, or the toilet controversies etc. But I think he is a good player. So as such, I am harsh on him. Because I think mentally, physically, game wise etc he can be better. He can be an elite player. I do believe that. Even off of Clay. We've seen flashes at the Australian. We've seen flashes of mental fortitude. He is capable. He is just not consistent.

I like him too as a player, great game, great FH and great netgame sometimes. I like Zverev's game too when he is on, but man, those two guys's personnalities off court makes it tough for me to really root for them. Tsitsi's attitude was borderline for me before, but I really can't stand his toilet breaks, that's too much for me. And yep he can be mentally strong, like yesterday in the fifht set TB, he delivered three aces, which is quite impressive

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

I like him too as a player, great game, great FH and great netgame sometimes. I like Zverev's game too when he is on, but man, those two guys's personnalities off court makes it tough for me to really root for them. Tsitsi's attitude was borderline for me before, but I really can't stand his toilet breaks, that's too much for me. And yep he can be mentally strong, like yesterday in the fifht set TB, he delivered three aces, which is quite impressive

I feel the same way about Zverev and Tsitsipas. I can separate the game from the personality but not always. But it also makes it really easy to not care when they lose either.

And that by extension makes it even easier to heavily criticize them.

But I feel like I am fair to Next Gen too. I don't spend all of my time here dunking on them or rooting for their demise. I'll definitely meme them a bit. I'll definitely criticize them.

But I was being serious when I said I think Tsitsipas can play better than he has been - the deficiencies can certainly be debated about. But I think most people would agree Tsitsipas is capable of better than this. And if they don't agree then I don't see how they could think he is a future multi-slam champion then. Because he will need to be better to bag those. With or without Djokovic in the draw.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

I feel the same way about Zverev and Tsitsipas. I can separate the game from the personality but not always. But it also makes it really easy to not care when they lose either.

And that by extension makes it even easier to heavily criticize them.

But I feel like I am fair to Next Gen too. I don't spend all of my time here dunking on them or rooting for their demise. I'll definitely meme them a bit. I'll definitely criticize them.

But I was being serious when I said I think Tsitsipas can play better than he has been - the deficiencies can certainly be debated about. But I think most people would agree Tsitsipas is capable of better than this. And if they don't agree then I don't see how they could think he is a future multi-slam champion then. Because he will need to be better to bag those. With or without Djokovic in the draw.

Stefanos can definitely be better on HC, as of now on the surface Med and Zverev are clearly superior to me. This is why I am a bit worried for Alcaraz if he faces Med in the semis, the Russian would certainly be too consistent for him, a tougher opponent than Tsitsipas

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Stefanos can definitely be better on HC, as of now on the surface Med and Zverev are clearly superior to me. This is why I am a bit worried for Alcaraz if he faces Med in the semis, the Russian would certainly be too consistent for him, a tougher opponent than Tsitsipas

I admit from about Cincy onwards I am excited to see if Zverev and Medvedev can finally give Djokovic a proper challenge. By proper I mean a match that at the very least goes the entire distance.

If neither of them can do it here given their form of late I won't even know what to say. I'll probably be easy on them just for the fact I can't lie - I'd like to see history. I'd like to see the CYGS.

But for anyone rooting against that? I won't be able to blame them dunking on Next Gen for that.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Alcaraz. I mean both were kind of on the cards in that Tsitsipas and Osaka are very flakey lately. But we just don’t really get the next gen pulling through like that on the men’s’ side. I felt Osaka was due a loss and Fernandez is good. I felt Tsitsipas was vulnerable but he’d eventually overcome Alcaraz.

 

[BumElbow]

How good of form was he in really though? Murray would have had a chance to put him away in straight sets had he snagged one of the SP's in the 2nd of their match.

I really haven't been overly impressed with Tsitsipas since the FO final. He was good for flashes today but inconsistent for large swathes as well. Also was particularly dreadful at net from what I was able to watch of him.


Honestly if that's truly the highest level Tsitsipas can bring to the table, his fans should be quite concerned.

Your points are well made but take into consideration that Osaka left the French Open after 1 round and did not play Wimbledon at all. In contrast, Tsitsipas made the FO final and lost in the 1st round at Wimbledon.

Osaka's timing on her ground strokes at the Olympics was way off and she was spraying the ball. In comparison, Tsitsipas going 5 sets with former USO champ Murray is no disgrace.

Ultimately, with his topspin off both wings game, Tsitsipas may be recognized more as a clay court threat than on other surfaces. Shapo has a similar game but his shots have a lower trajectory and his being a lefty is a boost too.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Your points are well made but take into consideration that Osaka left the French Open after 1 round and did not play Wimbledon at all. In contrast, Tsitsipas made the FO final and lost in the 1st round at Wimbledon.

Osaka's timing on her ground strokes at the Olympics was way off and she was spraying the ball. In comparison, Tsitsipas going 5 sets with former USO champ Murray is no disgrace.

Ultimately, with his topspin off both wings game, Tsitsipas may be recognized more as a clay court threat than on other surfaces. Shapo has a similar game but his shots have a lower trajectory and his being a lefty is a boost too.

Well said. Honestly I will admit I know next to nothing about the WTA so I genuinely appreciate your counterpoints. I guess ultimately - heading into this tournament I just didn't have very high hopes for Tsitsipas. Then after the Murray match I really really really didn't have high hopes anymore.

I'll let everyone else say their piece on this thread now since apparently I've talked about it too much already. Appreciate your take though.

Alcaraz is definitely a promising player though. I'll leave it at that. How big this win ends up being I guess remains to be seen. But it is an undeniable feather in his cap.

 

[ttbrowne]

Fernandez....no question about it. She beat a two time major champion.
The rest beat also-rans.

 

[duaneeo]

Easily Fernandez. She beat a two-time AO champion, and two-time/defending USO champion. Alcaraz beat a one-time slam finalist who has never gone beyond the 3rd round of the US Open.

 

[StifleYourself]

I don’t know. Yes, Osaka is a more accomplished player than Tsitsipas, but she did at least partially self destruct last night. After Osaka failed to serve it out in the second, the wheels came off. The same thing happened in Cincinnati. In both cases, when the adversity set in she just sort of checked out. Alcarez had to beat an on-form Tsitsipas. Steph played well, but in the key moments the kid blew him away. Tsitsipas said as much after the match.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

It felt like the Alcaraz win was more epic, but I suppose that the LAF upset is just as big. Osaka has been a mess this summer though, so I wasn't that surprised.

BTW, the last professional tennis match I watched in person was Heather Watson verses LAF in 2019 at the Vancouver Open. LAF was just 16 at the time, but had a lot of game. She was the junior French Open champ that year. She lost to Watson that day, but it was obvious she was going to be pretty good.

Monterrey. I watched also! Personally I think LAF has bigger success chance than Alcaraz in their respective tour, but Alcaraz success has been meteoric this year!

 

[duaneeo]

Alcarez had to beat an on-form Tsitsipas.

Big wow, lol. Since when did this become a nearly-impossible task?

Alcarez's win was exciting, but many are going overboard on how big an upset it is (especially considering Tsitsipas' record at the USO).

 

[racquetreligion]

Osaka FH was no where near her level compared to Citybus
and Osaka BH is better than Citybus for the WTA.

Equal pay for WTA and ATP, therefore BO5 sets is the only way to make comparisons

So until the WTA play BO5 like the ATP
the bigger upsets are always for ATP matches
where BO3 even in for ATP are all over the place.

Osaka also has as many upsets on court as she dramatizes off it

 

[Lleytonstation]

LAF > Alcaraz

 

[James P]

Beating two former #1s in the same tournament. Not bad.

 

[Sorry_to_tell_you_mate]

Alcaraz, of course. Women's tennis is second-rate compared to the men's.