Tennis Thread

[gouki88]

Rafael Nadal wins his 21st Grand Slam by beating #2 in the word Daniil Medvedev in a five set 5.5 hour match. Nadal surpasses both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic for the most majors of all time at 21. It was one of best matches that I’ve ever seen.

Incredible comeback effort.

Medvedev had one of the weirder post-match press conferences afterward

[Moranis]

Ash Barty fresh off her Australian Open victory has decided to retire at age 25 and ranked #1 in the world. 

[Goldstar88]

Ash Barty fresh off her Australian Open victory has decided to retire at age 25 and ranked #1 in the world.

It’s disappointing as she was a great ambassador for the sport and is such a likable person. Have no idea who will be the face of women’s tennis with Barty retiring. I’m not shocked regarding the news as she has stepped away from the sport in the past. Seems like all the traveling and the daily grind burnt her out. Ash is an incredible athlete and hopefully she comes back to Tennis one day.

[Moranis]

Djokovic and Nadal are playing in the quarterfinals at the French.  Nadal won the first set.

In the women's game, Iga Swiatek, the 21 year-old Polish star ranked #1 in the world, has now won 32 consecutive matches.  She is 2 away from tying Serena Williams' best of 34 (though a very long way from the all time record of 74 by Navratilova in 1984).   If Iga can close this out, she has a real chance to really extend her streak and start getting close to the all time greats as she has no real clear challengers at the moment after the sudden retirement of Barty following the Aussie Open.

[Goldstar88]

Djokovic and Nadal are playing in the quarterfinals at the French.  Nadal won the first set.

Nadal played super aggressive first set, wins 6-2, then decides to go into passive mode halfway through the second and let’s Novak take it. All even going into the 3rd and Djokovic has the momentum.

[footey]

Djokovic and Nadal are playing in the quarterfinals at the French.  Nadal won the first set.

Nadal played super aggressive first set, wins 6-2 and then decides to go into passive mode halfway through the second and let’s Novak take it. All even going into the 3rd and Djokovic has the momentum.

How could the seedings be such that they would meet in quarters?

[Goldstar88]

Djokovic and Nadal are playing in the quarterfinals at the French.  Nadal won the first set.

Nadal played super aggressive first set, wins 6-2 and then decides to go into passive mode halfway through the second and let’s Novak take it. All even going into the 3rd and Djokovic has the momentum.

How could the seedings be such that they would meet in quarters?

Nadal was injured for 6 weeks with a fractured rib and missed out on a ton of tournament points. His ranking is currently 5 and should move up to 4 after this event. Novak is the number 1 ranked player. Ranking determines seeding so they ended up being in the same half of the draw.

[Goldstar88]

Incredible match. It’s pretty rare in any sport when you have the #1 and #2 greatest players of all time facing off against each other. It didn’t disappoint. Have to give Novak a lot of credit, he’s not only playing Rafa, but the crowd as well. He got zero support throughout the match.

[Moranis]

Djokovic back tied with Nadal after winning his 7th Wimbledon and 21st Grand Slam.  He'd probably be a couple ahead had he just got vaccinated but he will probably end up a few clear of Nadal anyway.  Men's tennis needs some new blood as the old guys just keep on winning everything.

[Roy H.]

I was hoping that Celtics fan Kyrgios would somehow pull it out.

[Goldstar88]

Djokovic back tied with Nadal after winning his 7th Wimbledon and 21st Grand Slam.  He'd probably be a couple ahead had he just got vaccinated but he will probably end up a few clear of Nadal anyway.  Men's tennis needs some new blood as the old guys just keep on winning everything.

Novak was only banned from the Australian Open. He played and lost to Nadal at the French Open. Djokovic may not be able to play at the US open due to his vaccination status. Rafa is injured with a torn abdominal muscle; so he could potentially miss the last major of the year as well. I’m hoping they are both there and healthy. These two legends aren’t going to be around for much longer.

[Roy H.]

Djokovic back tied with Nadal after winning his 7th Wimbledon and 21st Grand Slam.  He'd probably be a couple ahead had he just got vaccinated but he will probably end up a few clear of Nadal anyway.  Men's tennis needs some new blood as the old guys just keep on winning everything.

Novak was only banned from the Australian Open. He played and lost to Nadal at the French Open. Djokovic may not be able to play at the US open due to his vaccination status. Rafa is injured with a torn abdominal muscle; so he could potentially miss the last major of the year as well. I’m hoping they are both there and healthy. These two legends aren’t going to be around for much longer.

Also, doesn't Nadal have 22?

[ozgod]

Djokovic back tied with Nadal after winning his 7th Wimbledon and 21st Grand Slam.  He'd probably be a couple ahead had he just got vaccinated but he will probably end up a few clear of Nadal anyway.  Men's tennis needs some new blood as the old guys just keep on winning everything.

Novak was only banned from the Australian Open. He played and lost to Nadal at the French Open. Djokovic may not be able to play at the US open due to his vaccination status. Rafa is injured with a torn abdominal muscle; so he could potentially miss the last major of the year as well. I’m hoping they are both there and healthy. These two legends aren’t going to be around for much longer.

Also, doesn't Nadal have 22?

Yes, Rafa has 22 and Djoker has 21. Soon to be 23 probably if Rafa is out for the US and then the Aus Open next year.

[Moranis]

Djokovic back tied with Nadal after winning his 7th Wimbledon and 21st Grand Slam.  He'd probably be a couple ahead had he just got vaccinated but he will probably end up a few clear of Nadal anyway.  Men's tennis needs some new blood as the old guys just keep on winning everything.

Novak was only banned from the Australian Open. He played and lost to Nadal at the French Open. Djokovic may not be able to play at the US open due to his vaccination status. Rafa is injured with a torn abdominal muscle; so he could potentially miss the last major of the year as well. I’m hoping they are both there and healthy. These two legends aren’t going to be around for much longer.

Also, doesn't Nadal have 22?

yeah. I forgot the number

[Moranis]

Djokovic back tied with Nadal after winning his 7th Wimbledon and 21st Grand Slam.  He'd probably be a couple ahead had he just got vaccinated but he will probably end up a few clear of Nadal anyway.  Men's tennis needs some new blood as the old guys just keep on winning everything.

Novak was only banned from the Australian Open. He played and lost to Nadal at the French Open. Djokovic may not be able to play at the US open due to his vaccination status. Rafa is injured with a torn abdominal muscle; so he could potentially miss the last major of the year as well. I’m hoping they are both there and healthy. These two legends aren’t going to be around for much longer.

yeah but Nadal won the Aussie without Djokovic and I kind of feel like the whole Aussie ordeal cost Djoker the French. Even if he would have still lost the French, he almost certainly would have won the Aussie and would be in the lead right now.