Tennis Talk 2023: Vol 10 (Miami)

Only just noticed that Irina Falconi is back. Before this year she had last played in the Indian Wells WTA125 directly preceding the stoppage of all tennis due to covid. This year she's played in two ITFs and is playing in the UTR this week.

Though given that the ITFs she played in and the UTR are all in Florida, maybe she just wanted a hit instead of having any serious comeback plans.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQiHyOjxer/

Poor Nicolas Mahut

classic Mahut

Trevisan wins and goes to #20 in the live rankings

So we hear about nothing about Hopman Cup, but it is apparently going ahead on clay in Nice 19th-23rd of July.
Three teams so far:
France (Cornet & Gasquet)
Spain (Alcaraz(!) & Badosa)
Switzerland (Bencic & Riedi)
https://hopmancup.com/

I'm looking at Sabine's instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckm9imBusnf/?hl=en
What an evening it was! First NHL game at the @nhlflames & we even got to go out on the ice in our New Jersey’s. How cool is that!?!?
An experience I will remember forever!

what a great NHL pun

Felix fighting back now !

Petra POJD into the QFs for the 4th time!

Dulgheru who's commentating on the Bianca match has a touch of the Bartolis about her:
"I placed Bianca once back in Australian Open qualifying. I won 6-1, 6-1. But I could see there was something special about her."
So double pat on the pack. Putting herself over both as a player and analyst.

Baindl not shaking hands with Russians either.

Bianca

wheelchair

Will my Ryba and Saba dutch bet pre Iga pulling out come to fruition or will wiseys J Peg spoil the party?

Irina Bara has started an Ask me Anything if you ever wanted to know things about her

https://www.instagram.com/stories/irina.bara/3068913958694356263/

ask if she dates guys shorter than her

Ask her yourself.

Tiebreak of all the truths and justices!

what did AP ever do to Jess to deserve this?

he edy, can we make a pact?

Saw a dude with a long name and "Dev" in his name on the nando's scoreboard and decided to look what Somdev Devvarman is up to these days. He apparently bought himself a guitar and wrote some songs:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4o0uEXXN9jXLLFlYtIKhJA

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpSjE0pyBDs/

https://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/racquet-rhythms-somdev-devvarman-talks-about-turning-musician-with-his-debut-album-one3two/article66453147.ece

.

SamuelMertensBertens • March 29, 2023 6:26 AM BST
he edy, can we make a pact?

Depends. Does it contain performing satanic rituals?

I changed my mind, it's bad enough that I do this. No need to urge others to join in.

I'm a masochist, so you can at least suggest what you had in mind.

https://i.imgur.com/Ug8h7Me.jpg

Pegula helped dry the court. What a woman!

WOAH, only four matches in Miami today.

Sori!

first 1000 semi since the great run to Toronto final in 2013

cannot believe that was nearly 10 years ago, would have thought one of us would have popped our clogs by now, money would have been on Grant's arteries packing in.

Miami sucks.

José Morgado
@josemorgado
·
2m
No more play today in Miami. All matches cancelled. WTA semifinals postponed to Friday. Thursday OOP soon.

Mar 28, 2023 -- 5:35PM, Angela Rebecchi wrote:

Will my Ryba and Saba dutch bet pre Iga pulling out come to fruition or will wiseys J Peg spoil the party?

Mar 29, 2023 -- 12:52AM, edy wrote:

https://i.imgur.com/Ug8h7Me.jpgPegula helped dry the court. What a woman!

Sousa

"I would like to explain to everyone a reality that many people are unaware of, but unfortunately tennis professionals have to deal with it every week," Sousa wrote via Instagram. "There have already been several professional colleagues who have exposed this problem and the vast majority of us have already learned to deal with it; however, this time I join them.

"I am exhausted from receiving messages from gamblers with threats, insults, provocations and little understanding of what it means to sacrifice to be a professional tennis player. Unfortunately, the world of betting, which has all my respect, has brought this not-so-good side and these people forget that the recipient of these messages, apart from being tennis professionals, we are above all HUMANS!

"Humans with feelings, emotions, days like everyone else, who deal with our own problems and give our best despite victory or defeat. I'm not asking you to follow me or like me, I simply demand RESPECT, thank you!"

At the time of writing, Sousa had deactivated his Instagram account in response to the torrent of online abuse. The overwhelming majority will agree it's unfair for a higher-profile personality to feel that's their only escape from such behaviour.

In her instagram stories Arina Rodionova published the insults she received from the same guy after her two losses in the Jakarta W25s of the past two weeks.

In other news: Zavatska retired down 3-6,2-5 against Timofeeva. #CantGiveThatRussianAWin?

Court 1 is a scary one at Murska Sobota today:

First match completed ok
Second match Lulu Sun retires up a set and a break
Third match the Zavatska retirement
Fourth match a walkover

https://www.instagram.com/stories/arinarodio/3069743409951148064/

Rodionova

Sousa's Instagram is active again too and you can find some of the abuse he received in his stories.

Cool of Sousa to acknowledge bettors that aren't being jerks to him.

OMG I have some big news!!!

what happened mate !

Yeah, what happened, mate?

Jennifer Brady hoping to come back at the French Open!
https://twitter.com/SportsTalkPrime/status/1641454151216377856

Cool. I have big news too.

Camila Osorio withdrew from Bogota Slam.

cool. hope Jen makes a successful comeback!

oh wow, is there a rain delay at 2-2 in the tiebreak here?

yay, they're back

Mar 30, 2023 -- 8:59PM, edy wrote:

oh wow, is there a rain delay at 2-2 in the tiebreak here?

it sounds like you're surprised.

resumed play with no warm-up

Sabalenka Aryna @SabalenkaA
·3h
Sad to announce that I have to withdraw from Charleston! I picked up an injury during one of my matches in Miami and I need time to rest and heal. I’m so sorry to the tournament and the fans. I was really looking forward to being back and playing in front of you all! Saby

The following off-season, the stadium’s signature architectural element was added: an open-air canopy was added to provide weather protection and sun shading while also amplifying crowd noise.

“The open roof canopy is definitely the most striking architectural feature–and it’s possible because of Miami’s incredible weather,” says Day.

True, every year anew.

Move it back to Key Biscayne.
Put a roof on the main stadium there.
Keep these colors, that's the only cool thing about the current venue.
This Hard Rock Café roof must have cost a fortune and they're still screwed if there's rain because it's only partially retractable.

José Morgado @josemorgado
·10m
Fritz on the experience of playing Alcaraz for the first time.

"It's impossible to keep up with his rythm. I played the Big 3 and I could breathe better than against him..."

He never played peak Roger (and not really peak Novak or Rafa either), but still ...

It's an onslaught, man.

it's crazy how much better he was in 2022 than 2021. And how much better he has been in 2023 so far than in 2022. And he's still not even turned 20! Roger won his first Slam at 22.

Carlos the GOAT

will be interesting to see him on clay. I wasn't all that impressed by him in South America. But was that just ring rust or is he that superior on hc compared to clay?

Carlos at the sunshine double in 2023 has been different level to anything I've seen from him before.

Noticed something funky with Nando's scoreboards, for hc events anyway.
When it's a rain delay, their blue courts go darker. Then it stays that away after play resumes, unless you refresh or open a new window in which case it will have normal blue.

*that way

Updated caramba rankings.
1) Iga
2) Rybakina ↑
3) Sabalenka ↓
4) BK
5) Pegula ↑
6) Garcia ↓
7) Kvitova ↑
8) Samsonova
9) Gauff  ↑
10 Sakkari ↓

Shame about Bianca. She was making a run for top 10 before the injury.

nice arrows

https://www.instagram.com/stories/majachwalinska/3070682089557374441/

Your faves could never

so disappointing for Jess losing yesterday

Credit One Charleston Open @CharlestonOpen
·2m
Double the trouble down in the #Lowcountry. Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Shelby Rogers are taking over the courts together after receiving a doubles wildcard. This marks the first time the duo will play together since 2021. Catch the fan-favorites in action at the #CharlestonOpen.

Classic BMS, latching on to popular players Chris Jericho style. This time the hometown girl Shelby Rogers.

Mar 31, 2023 -- 10:55AM, wisewords wrote:

so disappointing for Jess losing yesterday

this will cheer you up
https://twitter.com/ninjaga20/status/1641808267868516352

tough news about Sabalenkas injury. she has been in great form lately

tough news about Sabalenkas injury. she has been in great form lately

Some news on Hsieh!
https://twitter.com/Chris_A_Fisher/status/1641855523711483926/photo/1

Daniil gets another shot at Carlos on Sunday.

Bianca & Coco
https://twitter.com/Bandreescu_/status/1641886516313042944

Sabine playing Charleston qualies

haha, Robbie loved that point.

as did Anne.

Mar 31, 2023 -- 2:39PM, SamuelMertensBertens wrote:

Some news on Hsieh!https://twitter.com/Chris_A_Fisher/status/1641855523711483926/photo/1

Not falling for that one with her possibly having been in an asian timezone when making the post.

I know, silly timezones.
It's the lamest of April fools jokes anyway.

Sinner did well to lose the TB so emphatically there when 4-2 up!

Mar 31, 2023 -- 11:04AM, SamuelMertensBertens wrote:

Credit One Charleston Open @CharlestonOpen·2mDouble the trouble down in the #Lowcountry. Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Shelby Rogers are taking over the courts together after receiving a doubles wildcard. This marks the first time the duo will play together since 2021. Catch the fan-favorites in action at the #CharlestonOpen.Classic BMS, latching on to popular players Chris Jericho style. This time the hometown girl Shelby Rogers.

Sabine, Lutsie, Sonya, Iga, Leylah, Shelby.... classic BMS

Carlos with one leg again.

Double break Sinner !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvRnVzMBnLA

Kasatkina's girlfriend uploaded the 2nd part of the Miami vlog and it's a blockbuster episode titled "OSTAPENKO FASHION. PLAYERS CONTRACTS. KHACHANOV, PUTINTSEVA. MIAMI OPEN PART 2"

Sabine!

Get ready for the loudest POJD ever!

wins the breaker 16-14 and doesn't even do a big POJD.

Petra

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjzUOIGvmyL/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqhHBy5vus0/

Some...fan letters Priscilla Hon received from gamblers. Language might be considered expletive in some parts of the world.

I'm a bit amused by a group of children probably randomly deciding they wanted to be the world's first Elisabetta Cocciaretto fanclub here.

Lots of byes in this Burundi W25 qualies draw, but there are three first round qualies matches - each featuring an indian woman called "Yadav" by surname. Family trip I guess.

who sends abuse to Priscilla Hon ffs

People that bet on her

She plays in biggish ITFs regularly and in them is often quite big favourite (and has had a few bad losses in them)

Sabeen winning already.

was a rhetorical question

just played my first football game since the time I fractured my finger 7 months ago. No injuries this time I did make sure to wear gloves this time though. Save percentage 0/1 so that's down compared to 7 months ago where save percentage was 3/3.

no jinxing Sabine please.

Fracturing the finger made you subconsciously fear the ball. That's why you didn't save the shot.

You need to channel your inner Tsubasa Ozora and remember that the ball is your friend.

Daniil takes the 1st set !

Apr 2, 2023 -- 1:10PM, edy wrote:

Fracturing the finger made you subconsciously fear the ball. That's why you didn't save the shot. You need to channel your inner Tsubasa Ozora and remember that the ball is your friend.

I don't think that's it. The ball just came at me in a spot where I'm useless.

Daniil reigns supreme !!!!

Pegula getting her big party in Miami too !!!

not as big as Petra pojd's party! pojd!!!

Apr 1, 2023 -- 10:13PM, edy wrote:

I'm a bit amused by a group of children probably randomly deciding they wanted to be the world's first Elisabetta Cocciaretto fanclub here.

I'm in this fanclub

Apr 3, 2023 -- 4:31PM, wisewords wrote:

not as big as Petra pojd's party! pojd!!!

that was an unreal party ! ryba was the perfect outright trade too, done us so proud recently !