Talk About Tennis 2.0

Ons We Go

Cuckoo4Coco wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 2:12 pm Maria is trying her hardest to make this 3rd set close. It looks like though that Ons is about to roll ons (on) into the final.

Also it looks like I am gonna miss the Halep and Rybakina match due to my own practice. Sometimes ya just have to sacrifice.

Me, too. Work.

6-3, but it was not that close. Rybakina had break points in two more of Halep's service games.
We talk a lot about strategy, about guts, about finesse. There is something to say about power. Especially power that you don't get by training. These people that simply can crush the ball and keep it in.

Usually Rybakina can't keep it in consistently, but I guess today she can.

Six double faults by Halep can't be helping either.

No sooner I said that she went on and lost serve on four straight UE's that sailed long by a lot. But she seems to have regained the control, and is back on top.
I am also surprised because she is using a Yonex, not famous for power. Yet, the serve is flying, and the BH is also cruising.
One more thing: some pretty bad volleying in both matches. Some easy ones that have been pushed in all directions, by Maria, Jabeur and Rybakina. Halep has not missed many of those.

Simona dismissed 3&3. Well done Rybakina!

Not surprised that Halep lost to Rybakina, whose form entering the match was better than the 12 players Halep had beaten in succession at Wimbledon.

But I'm shocked she double faulted nine times, with most of them ugly and into the middle of the net. No explanation for that.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 3:58 pm One more thing: some pretty bad volleying in both matches. Some easy ones that have been pushed in all directions, by Maria, Jabeur and Rybakina. Halep has not missed many of those.

Did you see Jabeur's backward-facing slice passing shot, though? From the baseline, she passed Maria with a low, short-angle squash shot that she hit with her back to the net. Not a volley but some sweet finesse.

Incredible from Rybakina. Your "other" pick is still alive, and so is mine (Jabeur).

Rybakina played well, but this was about Halep's disastrous serves. She had served better than at any time in her career all tournament until today. I guess this was the evening-out moment.

And it was not that close.
One streak continues. 8th year in a row that we will have a new Slam winner, in the WTA.
Power wise, Jabeur cannot compete with Rybakina. Touch and deftness goes to Ons. It might be a very good final, if they both play at a high level.
But: Elena could blow Ons off court. Ons can't blow Elena off.

How's that ban working Wimbledon? This seemed like it was destined to happen after Rybakina got through her 4th round.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:11 pm And it was not that close.
One streak continues. 8th year in a row that we will have a new Slam winner, in the WTA.
Power wise, Jabeur cannot compete with Rybakina. Touch and deftness goes to Ons. It might be a very good final, if they both play at a high level.
But: Elena could blow Ons off court. Ons can't blow Elena off.

Ons leads the H2H 2-1, but Rybakina retired in their last match. The two completed matches were three sets, with a tiebreak set in each.

meganfernandez wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:11 pm ...

Did you see Jabeur's backward-facing slice passing shot, though? From the baseline, she passed Maria with a low, short-angle squash shot that she hit with her back to the net. Not a volley but some sweet finesse.

Incredible from Rybakina. Your "other" pick is still alive, and so is mine (Jabeur).

Oh, sure. In a Jabeur match, she will produce several shots that are wizardly. But overall, there were some ugly volleys. Maria tried one drop volley that did not even get to the net.

More weird stats: Progress of the WTA. 20 years ago, a Tunisian/Kazak final was unthinkable (and yes, I said Rybakina is Kazak only by passport). Today, the four SF players were Tunisian, Kazak, Romanian and German.

MEANWHILE, Rajeev and Joe had 5-6 match points in the 3rd set tiebreaker SF- some while serving. Not sure either one of them got one first serve in- and this also included a Joe double fault. They, of course, have now lost in 5. VERY ironically, they saved numerous match points against the same team during last year's US Open. Since then, this team has made Rajeev and Joe pay- they also beat Rajeev and Joe at this year's Aussie Open.

Seriously- sometimes- I truly hate this sport.