A new year has started.
Australian Open - local (Montreal) boy Gabriel Diallo (raked 41st) won the first set off Zverev (ranked 3rd) - but lost the next three.
Looks like a good event.
I came here to start this!
On the ATP side Medvedev, Machac, Bublik and Mensik won the lead-in tournaments to the AO.
In WTA lead-ins it was Svitolina, Cocciaretto and M. Andreeva.
Venus Williams looked good for a long time for a first round win, was up 4-0 in the third before losing six in a row. Game 9 was a looong game, but Venus was just piling up the unforced error by this point.
On the men’s side #20 seed Cobolli went out very meekly to a qualifier. I only saw a few points and he didn’t look injured. Just a bad day at the office, perhaps.
In the women’s side, #11 Alexandrova, #20 Kostyuk and #23 Yastremska all fell on the first day. Sabalenka looked in devastating form. Sakkari looked in good nick as well.
Just watched Coco Gauff win in straight sets. Her double faulting is terrible. Her forehand is lacking. But she still won in straight sets. In the after-match interview, the reporter was gushing how great Coco played. We shook our heads–Coco won’t make it to the quarterfinals playing like this.
Anyway happy to start the new tennis season. Already got my tickets for Indian Wells.
Prediction time:
Will Novak Djokovic win a major this year?
I’m betting…yes. One and only one, but yes.
Maybe retire with his 25 majors?
Not a good day for Canadians. Felix Auger-A. had hamstring problems, and “retired”. He had a good first set, but he was showing weakness in the subsequent ones.
First-timer Marina Stakusic had won all her prelims in straight sets, but this time was pushed off the court in a wheelchair. Easy first set, but leg problems caught up with her.
It was up to Victoria Mboko to save the day. Ranked in the 300’s a year ago, she is now 17th. She won fairly easily against number 153.
Later on - Shapabalov won in straight sets.
First two rounds are done. Players I’m following:
Iva Jovic, #29 seeded American, a local to me and just breaking into the scene. She’s looking strong, but next match is against Jasmine Paolini, #7 seed from Italy, who’s short and plays like a spitsfire. Really looking forward to this match.
Coco Gauff, #3 seeded American, media darling, but painful to watch. Moments of brilliance interspersed with loss of focus. Next match is against Hailey Baptiste, an unseeded American, who already beat another American in the first round. Coco needs to pull it together.
Amanda Anisimova, #4 seeded American, is playing great and consistently. She’s facing another American in round three, Peyton Stearns, who I haven’t really followed.
I’m a big fan of Naomi Osaka, #16 seed representing Japan, who looks like she’s got her mindset back in the groove. Playing Maddison Inglis, an Australian qualifier. This will be a real test for Osaka to ignore the crowd noise, which has rattled her in the past.
Ethan Quinn, an unseeded American, who hasn’t dropped a set yet. Next match is against Jakub Menšík, #16 seeded Czech, and also a rising star.
Botic van de Zandschulp, an unseeded Dutchman, who I follow because he has such a cool name. Next match is against #4 Novak Djokovic, who is favored, but not a certain winner.
Eliot Spizzirri, another up-and-coming unseeded American, but who’s struggling to advance. Next match is against #2 Jannik Sinner, which will be a blow-out.
I think I count seven American women and six American men in the rounds of 32 in singles.
I don’t know when the last time there were that many Americans.
Somehow I feel that the only genuine contender of the 13 is Coco. None of the American men are going to get past Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic. I don’t care what the rankings are, neither Fritz nor Shelton have the intestinal fortitude for the task.