by JTContinental New year, old rules--when you're red you're dead.
by JTContinental Please enjoy this information dump while TMQ gets everything set up.
by JTContinental 10Scott : Paolini>>Navarro
161stAndChilla : Danilovic>>Eala
3mlm : Sakkari>>No Pick
Adicecream : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Ostapenko>>Shnaider>>Mertens>>Svitolina>>Osaka
Aggie Rules : Sakkari>>Eala
Aidsasis : Danilovic>>Mertens>>Siniakova>>Svitolina>>Badosa
Airmutable : Raducanu>>No Pick
Ajay.gov : Yastremska
Alvinlimtc : Danilovic>>Bondar>>Wang>>Hunter
Andre8735 : Frech
Ashkor87 : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Mertens>>Muchova>>Keys
Atlpam : Sakkari>>Bouzas Maneiro
Avkesh67 : Raducanu>>No Pick
Bankerb4 : Kostyuk
Bernadette27 : Sakkari>>Bondar>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Mertens>>Muchova>>Osaka
Bestjax : Sakkari>>Noskova>>Siniakova>>Mboko>>Badosa
Blomgren : Pavlyuchenkova
Bluereggie : Sakkari>>Badosa>>Kasatkina
BouchardBoiledEggs : Sakkari>>Badosa>>Birrell
Cantplaytennis420 : Vondrousova
CanuckRaonic : Raducanu>>Jovic>>Kasatkina
Casperpod : Raducanu>>Pegula>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Mertens>>Mboko>>Osaka
Catman : Danilovic>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>Raducanu
Cdavid99 : Sakkari>>Badosa>>Siniakova>>Svitolina>>Mertens>>Andreeva>>Pegula
Chad1 : Kudermetova>>Kessler>>Kasatkina
Charlie02123 : Sakkari>>Mertens>>Siniakova>>Jovic>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Osaka
Chiara : Pavlyuchenkova
Chilld : Pavlyuchenkova
Ckelsall34 : Potapova>>Frech>>Kasatkina
CyborgShoes : Kostyuk
DU Pioneers : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Kasatkina
Dave g : Kostyuk
Deelighted2 : Kostyuk
Dmforever : Sakkari>>Badosa>>Kasatkina
Dollymix : Kostyuk
Douglow3902 : Sakkari>>No Pick
Dowser55 : Kudermetova>>Tauson>>Kasatkina
Ducklynt : Pavlyuchenkova
Elchie : Pavlyuchenkova
Esimons11 : Potapova>>No Pick
Esquared88 : Vondrousova
Fastbackss : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Krueger>>Tauson>>Badosa
Federer70 : Haddad Maia
Federex : Kostyuk
Flowerchild39 : Yastremska
Franchise : Raducanu>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>Jovic>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Osaka
Froch : Kostyuk
G2gaynor : Pavlyuchenkova
Gacritter : Kudermetova>>Mertens>>Bencic>>Raducanu
Gerity : Raducanu>>No Pick
Gff0 : McNally>>Selekhmeteva>>Cocciaretto
Gunner : Blinkova
by JTContinental Hawk99 : Kudermetova>>Kessler>>Cocciaretto
Hoangers : Sakkari>>Mertens>>Joint
HotChocolate : Pavlyuchenkova
Hummingbird : Sakkari>>Frech>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Kalinskaya>>Mboko>>Mertens
IronMike : Danilovic>>Badosa>>Siniakova>>Jovic>>Bencic
JTContinental : Paolini>>Badosa>>Bencic>>Shnaider>>Kalinskaya>>Mboko>>Osaka
Janebowles : Danilovic>>Tauson>>Cocciaretto
JanetB : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Joint
Jatagen : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Cocciaretto
Jazzyg : Sakkari>>Jovic>>Birrell
Jeff from TX : Sakkari>>No Pick
Jennede : Pavlyuchenkova
Jenninlaca : Kostyuk
Jkfinaz : Kostyuk
Joanjettson : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Siniakova>>Muchova>>Badosa
KLB21 : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Kalinskaya>>No Pick
KMF716 : Pavlyuchenkova
Karlovicfanclub : Raducanu>>Eala
Keirules : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Kasatkina
Kknudsen : - Raducanu>>Tomljanovic>>No Pick
Ktothem1 : Danilovic>>Jovic>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Osaka
Kzt123 : Pavlyuchenkova
Lauriejo : Sakkari>>Mertens>>Cocciaretto
Led14pa2 : Raducanu>>Noskova>>Joint
Leosash : McNally>>Badosa>>Osaka>>Svitolina>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>No Pick
Liamvalid : Raducanu>>Kessler>>Kasatkina
Likembrave : Sakkari>>Mertens>>Fernandez
Lokomotiv lemnos : Gibson>>Mertens>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Valentova>>Muchova>>Osaka
Lukeorion : Sakkari>>Bouzas Maneiro
Marsny : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Siniakova>>Jovic>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Noskova
Mcbride10s : Raducanu>>Kessler>>Kasatkina
Meganfernandez : Vondrousova
Merdon : Kostyuk
Mhess1 : Svitolina>>No Pick
Michelle_fenlon : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Kalinskaya>>Svitolina>>Noskova>>Muchova>>Osaka
Mikeprice444 : Kostyuk
Mocam57 : Sakkari>>Tomljanovic>>Fernandez
Mr_socko : Potapova>>Jovic>>Fernandez
Mrdarnley : Raducanu>>Badosa>>Kasatkina
Mu_royals : Danilovic>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>Muchova>>Valentova>>Mboko>>Osaka
NatLee : Kostyuk
Naughtyboiosu : Danilovic>>Badosa>>Keys>>Shnaider>>Mertens>>Andreeva>>Pegula
Nelslus : Sakkari>>Badosa>>Siniakova>>Jovic>>Mertens>>Muchova>>Osaka
Net Raider : Danilovic>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Osaka
New England Nitemare : Raducanu>>Badosa>>Bencic>>Svitolina>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Osaka
Noedee : Raducanu>>Kalinskaya
Normanpm67 : Sakkari>>Stakusic
Nyjaney : Sakkari>>Hunter>>Joint
Oliver0001 : Sakkari>>Bouzkova>>Samsonova
Omegadoom : Sakkari>>Badosa>>Siniakova>>Svitolina>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Osaka
Omess : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>No Pick
Oploskoffie : Sakkari>>Eala
Owendonovan : McNally>>Mertens>>Krueger>>Putintseva>>Pegula>>Muchova>>Rybakina
Patmanmo : Pavlyuchenkova
Patrick : Kudermetova>>Mertens>>Kasatkina
Pharmanimal : Potapova>>Kessler>>Krueger>>Muchova>>Kalinskaya>>Mboko>>Mertens
Phatsdawg : Sakkari>>Shnaider>>Kasatkina
Philly10 : Sakkari>>Navarro
Ponchi101 : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Samsonova
Ptmcmahon : Sakkari>>Noskova>>Siniakova>>Jovic>>Mertens>>Muchova>>Pegula
by JTContinental Rashmi : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Kasatkina
Ribbons : Yastremska
Riley371 : Yastremska
Rktct2b : Raducanu>>Eala
Ron@tennisreporters : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Kasatkina
SMC_mom : Danilovic>>Mertens>>Cocciaretto
Seamzten18 : Raducanu>>Kessler>>Kasatkina
Sh79 : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Mertens
Shmrck14 : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Cocciaretto
Skim5150 : Pavlyuchenkova
Sokol : Pavlyuchenkova
Spencerlee : McNally>>Kessler>>Kasatkina
Sportsfan : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>Jovic>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Mertens
Stripes : Raducanu>>Noskova>>Keys>>Svitolina>>Kalinskaya>>Andreeva>>Osaka
Suliso : Raducanu>>Badosa>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Mertens>>Muchova>>Noskova
Sw195ae : Raducanu>>Zarazua
Swaydrian+ : Raducanu>>Mertens>>Fernandez
Tcard : Pavlyuchenkova
Tenedab : Danilovic>>Badosa>>Siniakova>>Jovic>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Osaka
Tennis Baller : Pavlyuchenkova
TennisLover1607 : Pavlyuchenkova
Tennisbrp : Kudermetova>>Badosa>>Stephens
Texasniteowl : Yastremska
Theatre Guy : Raducanu>>Badosa>>Osaka>>Jovic>>Noskova>>Svitolina>>Pegula
Togtdyalttai : Sakkari>>Badosa>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Muchova>>Noskova
TwineTime : Danilovic>>Mertens>>Stephens
Ubermitch : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Kalinskaya>>Muchova>>Osaka
Udaneri : Alexandrova
Valynn : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Siniakova>>Shnaider>>Mertens>>Andreeva>>Pegula
Verbalvolleys : Sakatsume
Webswinger88 : Svitolina>>Navarro
Weefunk : Raducanu>>Eala
Wolfie0890 : McNally>>Bouzas Maneiro
Wolfy333 : Sakkari>>Kessler>>Kasatkina
Zephyrstorm03 : Raducanu>>No Pick
by JTContinental Welcome, current players/future corpses! We are starting off our campaign with 145 participants after sadly disqualifying 2 players for late picks. Don't look now, but today's bandwagon is already down a break.
The numbers
Maria Sakkari 39
Emma Raducanu 33
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 16
Olga Danilovic 12
Marta Kostyuk 12
Polina Kudermetova 6
Caty McNally 5
Dayana Yastremska 5
Anastasia Potapova 4
Marketa Vondrousova 3
Jasmine Paolini 2
Elina Svitolina 2
Ekaterina Alexandrova 1
Anna Blinkova 1
Magdalena Frech 1
Talia Gibson 1
Beatriz Haddad Maia 1
Himeno Sakatsume 1
by meganfernandez Fantastic, cheeked by Vondrousova on Day 1, three hours in. I didn't know she withdrew from a tournament earlier this month with a shoulder issue. Taylor Townsend takes her place - silver lining.
by lbk77 I do not see my day 1 pick on this list. I can see my pick in the day 1 picks thread.
Thanks.
by
JTContinental lbk77 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 4:29 am
I do not see my day 1 pick on this list. I can see my pick in the day 1 picks thread.
Thanks.
Unfortunately, your pick was made after the start of play.
by ashkor87 I cant believe I picked Sakkari - and got away with it! She is the flakiest, most unreliable player out there, I really should know better.
by
ponchi101 ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 11:50 am
I cant believe I picked Sakkari - and got away with it! She is the flakiest, most unreliable player out there, I really should know better.
A truly 50-50 pick. You played with fire, indeed.
by Suliso Potapova pickers got really lucky.
by jazzyg Nah, Sakkari was a good pick. She played well in the leadup tournaments but not well wnough to indicate she can make a run.
by
shmrck14 jazzyg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 3:18 pm
Nah, Sakkari was a good pick. She played well in the leadup tournaments but not well wnough to indicate she can make a run.
This was my exact rationale.
by
ponchi101 That was my exact rationale last year, when she was already in decline.
And promptly lost to Osorio and knocked me out in day 1
by ashkor87 Now you have reverse-jinxed her..she will go to the semis and 39 people are going to curse themselves for picking her too early..less one for I would never trust her either to win or to lose!
by JTContinental Welcome, losers (and there are a lot of you)! The Tuesday Morning Quarterback has returned for another year of horrific deaths accompanied by light-hearted snark. I can tell that all of you are very excited for said snark, because nearly a 3rd of you opted to make a terrible pick on day 1 just so that you could get into 2026's inaugural edition. So without further ado, let's begin--was your terrible pick FAIR DINKUM like the perfect Gold Coast surfing wave or CORPSE STINKUM like the locker room after Flavio Cobolli's match yesterday? Find out below!
FAIR DINKUM
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (16 victims): TMQ assumes this was a knee jerk response because he has long contended that sole purpose of the SP playing field is to make me have to type the name Pavlyuchenkova as many times as possible, but the joke's on you this time. In addition to pushing 60, Pavlyuchenkova is facing some health issues and has only won 1 match since Wimbledon, so may not be the reliable choice she once was in the early rounds.
Marta Kostyuk (12 victims) A classic great lead up tournament leading to an early grand slam flame out--there is one every major! One of the streakiest players on the tour, Kostyuk has designs on getting to the top 10 this year, a goal that appears to not be starting off too well.
Ekaterina Alexandrova (1 victim) A setback after celebrating a career year in 2025, although she has never done particuarly well here.
Beatriz Haddad Maia (1 victim) Even though her form has dropped off, TMQ would have leaned in this direction as well, had there not been 14 additional better matches to choose from. Looking at their H2H, all of their matches have been very tight 3 setters, so what do I know?
CORPSE STINKUM
Dayana Yastremska (5 victims) Win or lose, Yastremska is always a terrible pick unless you enjoy sitting white-knuckled through 3 set matches with bizarre scorelines or watching her tank the the second set after getting down an early break.
Marketa Vondrousova (3 victims) Just like Marketa, it appears you forgot to show up for the tournament this year.
Anna Blinkova (1 victim) A rookie move to pick for or against a wild card homer in the first round of a slam. Blinkova and Gibson now have the exact same number of wins at the AO--two.
Magdalena Frech (1 victim) This could possibly have been a good pick had she actually been playing today.
Himeno Sakatsume (1 victim) Winner of worst pick of the day, Caty McNally has lain waste to the challenger-level field since her injury comeback. This pick was dead in the water.
by
Philly10 Suliso wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 3:08 pm
Potapova pickers got really lucky.
As someone who watched this entire match from the first row, I can confirm this statement is 100% accurate. Her game was an emotional roller coaster. I know when (but not how) something just flipped in her head and she went from being thoroughly outplayed to cruising and winning 12 of last 13 games (I think)
by ptmcmahon Like most players there are some very good reasons to pick and not pick Sakkari. No such thing as being able to make safe picks every day!
by andre8735 Shows me red but Frech won
by
JTContinental andre8735 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 1:15 am
Shows me red but Frech won
Yes, but she didn’t play yesterday.
by
lbk77 JTContinental wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 5:37 am
lbk77 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 4:29 am
I do not see my day 1 pick on this list. I can see my pick in the day 1 picks thread.
Thanks.
Unfortunately, your pick was made after the start of play.
I did not realize that. Thanks.
by JTContinental The atmosphere is thick with riffraff! After euthanizing a whopping 11 no picks (including 4 picks made after the start of play) and dispatching 3 zombies, TMQ counts only 97 players remaining
The breakdown
Elise Mertens 23
McCartney Kessler 21
Paula Badosa 17
Alexandra Eala 6
Iva Jovic 4
Linda Noskova 4
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 3
Emma Navarro 3
Ana Bondar 2
Magdalena Frech 2
Clara Tauson 2
Ajla Tomljanovic 2
Marie Bouzkova 1
Storm Hunter 1
Anna Kalinskaya 1
Jessica Pegula 1
Oksana Selekhmeteva 1
Diana Shnaider 1
Marina Stakusic 1
Renata Zarazua 1
by
ptmcmahon JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:28 am
The atmosphere is thick with riffraff! After euthanizing a whopping 11 no picks (including 4 picks made after the start of play) and dispatching 3 zombies, TMQ counts only 97 players remaining
For Day 3 is Siniakova-Udvardy missing from list of matches to pick from?
by
JTContinental ptmcmahon wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:56 am
JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:28 am
The atmosphere is thick with riffraff! After euthanizing a whopping 11 no picks (including 4 picks made after the start of play) and dispatching 3 zombies, TMQ counts only 97 players remaining
For Day 3 is Siniakova-Udvardy missing from list of matches to pick from?
Missed a couple of matches on the schedule--TMQ regrets the error.
That said, you absolutely should not choose from that match as you will also regret the error.
by
ponchi101 We will take your word for that
by
ptmcmahon JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:13 am
ptmcmahon wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:56 am
JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:28 am
The atmosphere is thick with riffraff! After euthanizing a whopping 11 no picks (including 4 picks made after the start of play) and dispatching 3 zombies, TMQ counts only 97 players remaining
For Day 3 is Siniakova-Udvardy missing from list of matches to pick from?
Missed a couple of matches on the schedule--TMQ regrets the error.
That said, you absolutely should not choose from that match as you will also regret the error.
I can hardly point it out and not pick from it right?
I'll pick from it so others won't have to.
by
noedee Dang! I picked Kalinskaya who is playing tomorrow!
You can Red me!
by
IronMike I am worried about picking from the wrong day too. So I started copying the name of the player I pick from the first page instead of typing it. Seems to work
by
ptmcmahon You guys know there is a drop down box now right?
by JTContinental Greetings, dear loser! Here is today's edition of FAIR DINKUM or CORPSE STINKUM, hot off the presses! Was your losing pick a FAIR DINKUM ripper or a CORPSE STINKUM not worth a bass razoo? Find out below!
FAIR DINKUM
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (3 victims) She beat Coco in the glorified exo that is the United Cup, and had some decent results late last year, so losing to a doubles specialist when it really matters is a setback.
CORPSE STINKUM
Alexandra Eala (6 victims) Eala has a lot of potential, but this current iteration is massively overhyped. Not since Melanie Oudin has a player gotten so much mileage out of one good tournament.
Emma Navarro (3 victims) TMQ does not recommend choosing against a former semifinalist with a player who clearly peaked more than a year ago.
Anna Kalinskaya (1 victim) An excellent choice!...for Day 3
Marina Stakusic (1 victim) It's rare that TMQ has absolutely no comic material on a player at any given time, but congrats, you have managed to stump him with this, the worst pick of the day.
Renata Zarazua (1 victim) While ZARAZUA would make a great Scrabble word, especially if you got it on a triple word score, Zarazua makes a poor opponent for the much-better-at-tennis-but-also-a-good-Scrabble-score Marie BOUZKOVA.
by
ponchi101 JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 9:26 pm
Alexandra Eala (6 victims) Eala has a lot of potential, but this current iteration is massively overhyped. Not since Melanie Oudin has a player gotten so much mileage out of one good tournament.
Quote of the year, so far (yeah, I know it is early).But totally on the money. She played three good matches last year, and a lot of people believe too much on her, including me.
by
ponchi101 IronMike wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 6:01 pm
I am worried about picking from the wrong day too. So I started copying the name of the player I pick from the first page instead of typing it. Seems to work
Mike. Jt is populating the drop down boxes EVERY DAY with only the players that play that day. Can't be safer than that (only the players of the day, properly spelled).
Give it a try
by
ptmcmahon ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 9:54 pm
JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 9:26 pm
Alexandra Eala (6 victims) Eala has a lot of potential, but this current iteration is massively overhyped. Not since Melanie Oudin has a player gotten so much mileage out of one good tournament.
Quote of the year, so far (yeah, I know it is early).But totally on the money. She played three good matches last year, and a lot of people believe too much on her, including me.
To be fair she did just make Auckland semis. I didn't take her but seemed a good early choice.
by jazzyg Oudin had two really good tournaments.
Before her run at the U.S. Open, she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon and nearly beat Radwanska, hitting more winners than her opponents in rounds 2 and 3. I think she actually played better there than at the U.S. Open, when she needed a choke job by Petrova to advance deep.
This is a sensitive subject for me. I was fooled by her big time, and I kept harping on her Wimbledon run when people correctly predicted she was a flash in the pan.
By the way, later in her career she won three qualifying matches and then six main-draw matches at Birmingham to win the only tournament of her career, beating Jankovic in the final, before going back to irrelevance with a straight-set, first-round loss at Wimbledon to a nobody.
by JTContinental Just one no pick and one zombie today, leaving us with 89 remaining players just looking to get out of round 1
The breakdown
Katerina Siniakova 28
Daria Kasatkina 18
Elisabeta Cocciaretto 7
Leylah Fernandez 4
Maya Joint 4
Belinda Bencic 3
Ashlyn Krueger 3
Kimberly Birrell 2
Anna Kalinskaya 2
Madison Keys 2
Naomi Osaka 2
Liudmila Samsonva 2
Sloane Stephens 2
Jelena Ostapenko 1
Xinyu Wang 1
by ptmcmahon That’s why Jt didn’t want us picking Sinikova!
by
aidsasis
I've been playing for a long time, but I don't understand how there can be a zombie this early. I thought a zombie was a player who had no possible way to pick a winner in the final. Anyone care to explain?
by
ponchi101 aidsasis wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 5:24 am
I've been playing for a long time, but I don't understand how there can be a zombie this early. I thought a zombie was a player who had no possible way to pick a winner in the final. Anyone care to explain?
A zombie is a player that already lost (and is dead) but keeps posting picks. What you are talking about is... a worthy contestant.
by
ashkor87 shmrck14 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 4:55 pm
This was my exact rationale.
but can rational logic be applied to Sakari? I think not..!
by Suliso With Kasatkina going down we have 42 or 44 of us remaining.
by ashkor87 I am surprised at people who picked Samsonova..she has never done well at the AO..I think her defense is not good enough on a fast court..I had quoted her poor return win rate earlier..she is a very good player but so is Siegemund
by
ptmcmahon I think you may overestimate the amount of research some of us do for our early picks
I don't usually check historical records of players at slams until much later.
by
ponchi101 ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 2:17 pm
I am surprised at people who picked Samsonova..she has never done well at the AO..I think her defense is not good enough on a fast court..I had quoted her poor return win rate earlier..she is a very good player but so is Siegemund
She is/was the 18th seed, on a first round match, against a player that is crafty but has no weapons.
That was the way I saw it.
by JTContinental Down to just 40 players on Day 4, after subtracting 2 no picks and 2 zombies. Most of us have settled on one of three players
The breakdown
Diana Shnaider 15
Iva Jovic 9
Elina Svitolina 7
Karolina Muchova 3
Emma Raducanu 2
Storm Hunter 1
Victoria Mboko 1
Yulia Putintseva 1
Clara Tauson 1
by IronMike Nice. Didn't know that. Thanks
by Suliso Seems like a low attrition day which is normal for R2 (easier to pick than R1).
by
ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:06 am
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 2:17 pm
I am surprised at people who picked Samsonova..she has never done well at the AO..I think her defense is not good enough on a fast court..I had quoted her poor return win rate earlier..she is a very good player but so is Siegemund
She is/was the 18th seed, on a first round match, against a player that is crafty but has no weapons.
That was the way I saw it.
actually, I am just trolling you.. in retaliation for all the times i have been trolled for supporting Samsonova!
by JTContinental TMQ is combining Day 3 and 4 for a supersized edition of FAIR DINKUM or CORPSE STINKUM. Did your losing pick send you off to a FAIR DINKUM dreamy haze like a night in a luxury Melbourne hotel or did it take you on a walkabout deep into the bush, where you made your transition to a CORPSE STINKUM? Find out below.
FAIR DINKUM
Daria Kasatkina (18 victims) Kasatkina's first AO as an Australian, she may be taking the laid back pace of life too literally--her only win in her past 6 matches has been against Sakkari, which is hardly an accomplishment. Kasatkina made the 4th round here last here, so her already unseeded ranking is going to take another hit.
Leylah Fernandez (4 victims) Get to know Janice Tjen, as she has an explosive game, and TMQ predicts she'll be in the top 20 by the end of the year. She won something like 14 ITF titles last year and dominated the junior varsity circuit. Fernandez's game has really stalled out the last couple of years, and I don't think her stye of play surprises anyone anymore.
Liudmila Samsonova (2 victims) Appropos of nothing, the name Liudmila seems more fitting for an 80-year-old woman than it does for a hard hitting young woman in her 20s. TMQ did not watch this match (TMQ would NEVER watch Laura SIegemund on purpose), but since their winner to UFE rate seems to be equally abysmal, he can only assume that Siegemund annoyed Samsonova to death by tapping the corners of the court with her racquet and running up to the net and barking. Seriously, she is the worst.
Sloane Stephens (2 victims) Back off! Neither player in this match has played tennis in a year, so maybe give them some space.
Emma Raducanu (2 victims) By this point, to TMQ, selecting Raducanu to win a tennis match means you are ok with a premature death.
CORPSE STINKUM
Elisabetta Cocciaretto (7 victims) A player no one would have chosen two weeks ago, Cocciaretto played 7 matches at Hobart prior to this tournament, a fact her opponent used to Grabher by the throat and squeeze the life out of her...and you.
Maya Joint (4 victims) What were you smoking? Valentova was the latest Czech teen flavor of the month before Bartunkova arrived on the scene yesterday, and is a much better player than Joint.
Kimberly Birrell (2 victims) Worst pick of Day 3--if it was possible, both players would have lost this match...
Storm Hunter (1 victim) ...and if it were possible to have 3 players on the court, Hunter would have joined them to also lose. Worst pick of Day 4.
by joanjettson Why on earth did I land on Paula Badosa?
What in her entire Badosity made me think I could trust her with my library card,
let alone my Day 4 pick?
Take it to the Loser's Lounge, I know, I know...
by ashkor87 Badosa and Sakkari..cannot be relied on either to win or to lose..
by
catman JTContinental wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:33 pm
Leylah Fernandez (4 victims) Get to know Janice Tjen, as she has an explosive game, and TMQ predicts she'll be in the top 20 by the end of the year. She won something like 14 ITF titles last year and dominated the junior varsity circuit. Fernandez's game has really stalled out the last couple of years, and I don't think her stye of play surprises anyone anymore.
So, you're saying Leylah has a style of play? You are far more perceptive than I!
by
ponchi101 catman wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 2:04 am
JTContinental wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:33 pm
Leylah Fernandez (4 victims) Get to know Janice Tjen, as she has an explosive game, and TMQ predicts she'll be in the top 20 by the end of the year. She won something like 14 ITF titles last year and dominated the junior varsity circuit. Fernandez's game has really stalled out the last couple of years, and I don't think her stye of play surprises anyone anymore.
So, you're saying Leylah has a style of play? You are far more perceptive than I!
She does. It is: do the chachacha for 10 seconds before a first serve. If she misses, do the Charleston for 10 more before the second.
If returning serve, face the BACK FENCE and shadow play fake returns into the ground. After she hits ONE WINNER, celebrate with a fist pump the size of a grape as if she had converted championship point at Wimbledon, having beaten Martina, Steffi and Serena in a row.
Other than that, she has very little else.
by JTContinental We lost only a handful of players yesterday, so we are at 36 remaining.
The breakdown
Anna Kalinskaya 16
Elise Mertens 10
Paula Badosa 4
Linda Noskova 2
Tereza Valentova 2
Belinda Bencic 1
Jessica Pegula 1
by ptmcmahon Badosa has burned me so many times that she's on my personal Do Not Pick list (not just in SP, but in other contests)... other than that reason I likely would have gone with her.
by Fastbackss Expected to see more Bencic pickers heading with us Badosa pickers to the Lounge
by ashkor87 Yes, very surprised Bencic lost..will have to look up this Bartunkova
by ptmcmahon I was saving Bencic as a possible later pick, not surprised not many had her.
A very scary bandwagon forming for day 6, 17/21 have take Muchova (didn't check if all people who won on day 5 though, actual total probably less.)
by
ptmcmahon
Make sure to post in the day 6 thread instead
by
JTContinental ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 2:16 pm
Yes, very surprised Bencic lost..will have to look up this Bartunkova
She's the new Czech teen flavor of the month
by JTContinental Day 5 was finally on point, as the zombies have shuffled off and all 32 remaining players made a pick today. There is a disturbing large bandwagon that will probably get through without difficulty, but which TMQ is happy to not be a part of.
The breakdown
Karolina Muchova 21
Victoria Mboko 5
Mirra Andreeva 4
Elina Svitolina 2
by ashkor87 Now all 32 will move in lockstep for a couple days...happened at the uso too.. then I Iost patience
by Suliso Not sure about it, I already see divergent choices for tomorrow. Most are taking Osaka, but not everyone myself included.
by
ponchi101 Just gonna say: I hope everybody that picked Muchova will regret doing it so early.
(Yes, I am still sore about Samsonova, and I like Karolina. I say she has a good chance against Coco, despite de H2H).
by
ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 3:54 pm
Just gonna say: I hope everybody that picked Muchova will regret doing it so early.
(Yes, I am still sore about Samsonova, and I like Karolina. I say she has a good chance against Coco, despite de H2H).
Muchova is about 10% below her best this tournament...Osaka is about 20% off..Keys is about 25% off too, which is why I picked her today..don't expect her to go far..
by
ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 3:54 pm
Just gonna say: I hope everybody that picked Muchova will regret doing it so early.
(Yes, I am still sore about Samsonova, and I like Karolina. I say she has a good chance against Coco, despite de H2H).
In the Served bracket I have picked Coco to win this title...she is in that kind of tough resilient form
by
ptmcmahon ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 24, 2026 12:41 am
Muchova is about 10% below her best this tournament...Osaka is about 20% off..Keys is about 25% off too, which is why I picked her today..don't expect her to go far..
Haha, this kind of thinking often backfires.
"See, I was right about her being off... and she lost"
It's funny, it's often better to be WAY wrong than slightly wrong in the SP.
by ashkor87 Keys gets Pegula next - I cant see her getting past Pegula, can you?
by
ptmcmahon I took Pegula in the SP today, so I'll let you guess who I think will win.
I won't be overly surprised either way though. I'm hoping not to have to actually pick that match though.
by
ponchi101 ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 24, 2026 1:55 am
Keys gets Pegula next - I cant see her getting past Pegula, can you?
I can. Consistency? Pegula. Shotmaking? Keys. For sure not a match that is 60-40 in anyway. I say 55-45 Pegula.
by ptmcmahon Plus... .she did ok here last year!
by JTContinental Sorry for the lack of posts tonight—we are having an event at the gallery tonight. Back later.
by
ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 24, 2026 3:33 am
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 24, 2026 1:55 am
Keys gets Pegula next - I cant see her getting past Pegula, can you?
I can. Consistency? Pegula. Shotmaking? Keys. For sure not a match that is 60-40 in anyway. I say 55-45 Pegula.
I am going purely on current form...yes, Keys is a major champion and Pegula is not, but Pegula is playing much better right now
by ptmcmahon Won't be lockstep for day 8! This is a tough one (especially since I used Jovic already.)
by JTContinental We lost one player to a no pick, leaving us with 31 remaining hopefuls looking to make it to the rarified air of the UPDATED Picks & Results Thread.
The breakdown
Naomi Osaka 17
Jessica Pegula 5
Elise Mertens 4
Linda Noskova 3
Madison Keys 1
Elena Rybakina 1
by JTContinental A little birdie just told me that this pool has been decimated
by
Suliso Unfortunately doesn't look like I'll be among those taking advantage
by ashkor87 I did think Osaka was too risky but because of the Aussie crowd..
by ashkor87 This game really warps you! I am actually glad Osaka lost, just because that took out so many people..when I am actually as big Osaka fan !
by ptmcmahon Contest schzio result for me … I added Osaka in AMITS but avoided her here.
I’m going to spend all day going back and forth between Svitolina and Andreeva. I’ve already switched once.
by joanjettson Pegula seemed to have a pretty slumpy 2025 in the Majors, and somehow she's still Top 10.
Happy to see her playing like it again.
by JTContinental Let's all proceed to the UPDATED thread to observe the elite in their natural habitats. TMQ is also aware that he owes several participants recaps on their terrible picks and promises to post them tonight after yet another gallery event.
by
ponchi101 JTContinental wrote: ↑Sun Jan 25, 2026 12:49 am
Let's all proceed to the UPDATED thread to observe the elite in their natural habitats. TMQ is also aware that he owes several participants recaps on their terrible picks and promises to post them tonight after yet another gallery event.
Hey. You can rehash my Samsonova pick, and come up with something even viler. I am still sore of that pick.
