2024 US Open Day 2: No. 1s Swiatek, Sinner Plus Favorite Alcaraz

@Chrisford1…….. It is a big beautiful world out there!! Might not agree on all things tennis, but I will agree with you regarding planet earth!! 😊😊

August 28th, 2024 at 12:29 am

Juan Carlos Ferrero I think said in the past that hard courts were Alcarazs best surface. I’m not seeing that. His best surface is grass. I’m actually shocked how good he is at Wimbledon. The court speed index at the US Open is Medium Fast. The balls fly through the air this year. They are a lighter ball compared to when Alcaraz won in 2022. Botic played amazing tennis. If a player can hit hard and flat from both wings on a faster hardcourt and somewhat indoor conditions, Alcaraz can struggle. A rematch of last years final won’t surprise me. But Djokovic has to get his back injury under control. The parts of different practices I saw leading up to the tournament were not good. He was serving long past the box and into the net. He was struggling to get his first serve in during practice from what I saw. I don’t remember him ever serving 47% 2 matches in a row at a grandslam for first serve percentage. I actually don’t see Sinners hip holding up. Plus the Djokovic side gets and extra day of rest. Zverev has overplayed I think. It’s been awhile since I can recall a player already playing 70:matches at this point of the season. Medvedev vs Djokovic final won’t surprise me. I hope Tommy Paul can beat Sinner. Ben vs Francis should be a good match. I have no idea how they didn’t get the night session. Djokovic has definitely gotten his way so far this US Open. Avoided the daytime heat. And gets the night session against a player who would prefer day conditions with his game style.

August 30th, 2024 at 10:58 am

Dave,
You saw the match? Clearly burnt out mentally. He is great on HC. Needs a break imo.

August 30th, 2024 at 1:05 pm

I saw the majority of the match. Botic won the match. The only hard court tournament Alcaraz has won since winning the US Open is Indian Wells twice, which apparently plays differently from other hardcourts and has been referred to more like clay with how slow it is. In the other 15 hard court tournaments Alcaraz has played in he’s won zero titles. His titles to hard court tournaments won is not good recently. Grass he’s won 3 titles in 4 tournaments the last 2 years. And 4 titles on clay in 11 tournaments. Right now it’s his worst surface. He can still play amazing on hardcourts. But he’s definitely got growing to do on the surface. When I say Botic won the match, he didn’t wait around too much. He took control. He played spectacular at the net. He was sooooo composed and played a brilliant match from what I saw. He deserves huge credit. Him playing at such a high level beat Alcaraz more than Alcaraz playing so poorly.

August 30th, 2024 at 2:54 pm

Alcaraz definitely needs a break though. His schedule needs to be adjusted. Way too many tournaments to finish the year. He will burn out even more than he already is if he plays according to his upcoming schedule.

August 30th, 2024 at 2:57 pm

Agree Boltic won the match, don’t want to take that away from him. He played stellar, but Alcarez usually gives a better fight in a match. To my eyes, especially towards the end, he was checking out.

August 30th, 2024 at 5:30 pm

That’s one difference with Alcaraz and Djokovic. Alcaraz tried to be patient and stay in the rally at times when he wasn’t playing his best and the aggressive shots were missing too often. But Botic shut it down. Where Novak when he’s not at his best can go into lockdown mode and because he hits with so much consistent depth and can change direction into both corners so well, he can get back into matches on off days. Alcaraz at peak level is as high as anyone. But on his off days his level is not as high as the big 3 yet. And he doesn’t need to worry about pleasing the crowd. He’s super exciting to watch. Probably more exciting than any player that’s ever played. But he needs to focus more on winning each point.

August 30th, 2024 at 6:04 pm

Djoker developed lockdown mode later in his career. Comes with experience. Of which the 21 yr old has plenty of time to develop. Fans forget the kid is only 21, and has achieved so much. There will be ups and downs, but he has shown he can learn from it all. Looking forward to his future.

August 30th, 2024 at 7:27 pm

Well, Nole is on his way out too, and looks in straights too.

August 30th, 2024 at 9:57 pm

So much for “Lockdown” mode🤣

August 31st, 2024 at 12:32 am

From Ed Grogin: “For the first time since 2002—twenty-two years ago—neither Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal nor Roger Federer will win a Grand Slam title.”
22 years is a long time in sport.

And while Djokovic won the the Big Title in 2024 he cared most about, he repeats the folly of Federer and Nadal in claiming he can do a light to non-existent playing schedule at other events to “Save Himself” for the Holy Slam coming. The outcome in fact was/is all 3 show up outside top playing form and lose the Holy, Sacred, All-Important Slam they claim they were saving themselves and their ‘energy’ for.

Play the other events like the Masters seriously, train seriously – or make way to newer younger players willing to work themselves in shape.

August 31st, 2024 at 2:40 am

Sooo Popyrin popped faker’s cork/cock!!! Gonna have a delightful Sunday. 🎹🎹🎹 to my ears. Hahahahaha

August 31st, 2024 at 4:50 am

Go on now and win the whole dod damn thins Popy, JMO but I think it would be amazing to see the player that beat the defending champion would go on to win the championship now 😁🎾

August 31st, 2024 at 2:15 pm

Auto correct god damn thing

August 31st, 2024 at 2:16 pm