Tennis Talk 2024: Vol 1 (United Cup, Brisbane, Auckland, Hong Kong)

Angie got enough match play in really.

yeah I'm more sad for Ajla.

I reported the hissing sound on the Rune match to nando's. They told me they have plenty of other matches where the sound he's working.

"Under tiden vill jag påminna om vårt stora utbud av tjänster. I andra live-sändningar ska ljudet fungera bättre ifall det finns en annan match som kan underhålla dig."

The end of that seems like a thinly veiled dig regarding you looking to them like you only watch and never bet.

true

I couldn't really provide a good comeback to that without owning myself.

But I don't think this particular person was clever enough to have meant that as a dig.

Angie did a hug:
https://twitter.com/SwiatekOOC/status/1743904008098468029

In the new Kasatkina&Zabiiako video it really shows that Kasatkina has some major heat for Rafa still.

Jan 7, 2024 -- 8:32AM, SamuelMertensBertens wrote:

Adelaide International @AdelaideTennis·3mAngelique Kerber (GER) and Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) have withdrawn from the Adelaide International main draw.

hopefully this is just a precaution because they're both really tired after United Cup duties

for Angie it would be madness to play Adelaide. For Ajla it's a home tournament. But yes to your comment.

Grigor wins in HK!

in Brisbane!

HH has really owned Zverev in this TB. it's a shame because I wanted to see one more mixed doubles La La show, bit I'm not going to get my wish

Torben needs to show some authority over this hothead Zverev!

You'll have to wait until the AO for more Laura mixed doubles then.

Jan 7, 2024 -- 9:14AM, wisewords wrote:

in Brisbane!

who's she teaming with?

Grigor wins in a place with a weird time zone!

Her partner is a surprise.

....I simply don't know. Am just reasonably certain she will play mixed doubles there.

Rafa Nadal
@RafaelNadal
Hi all, during my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried. Once I got to Melbourne I have had the chance to make an MRI and I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that’s good news.
Right now I am not ready to compete at the maximum level of exigence in 5 sets matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.

https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal/status/1743922671312867675

Sounds like Rafa will not be her mixed doubles partner in Melbourne.

and there goes my all bets have action bet on Rafa for Aussie Open.

Had him at 21 which I thought was shrewd, but not so much now.

I take it this is why BF messed with the OR market. He has been removed now.

Jan 7, 2024 -- 9:24AM, edy wrote:

Her partner is a surprise.....I simply don't know. Am just reasonably certain she will play mixed doubles there.

...Or maybe not. She plays less mixed doubles than I thought. I had her down as playing mixed at every slam.

she focuses on winning majors with Vera

that is very sad about Rafa not playing the AO

we will likely never see him at the Australian Open again.

I was thinking that. the loss against JT in Brisbane could very well be his final professional match on Australian soil..

putting the home guy over on his way out. What a pro

Rublev wins in HK!

in Brisbane!

don't be such a Sabalenka.

These Poles are way too good at saving break points.

Iga saved 5/5 earlier against Kerber, now Hubi is also currently at 5/5 break points saved.

They are also way too good in tiebreaks. It's just not fair.

Hubi gets to practise them so often as well.

Iga forced to overplaying due to all this mugging from Hubi.

Oh, all the stars are there in the crowd. Zverev's significant other Sophia Thomalla brought former girl band superstar Annemarie Carpendale (formerly Warnkross), who is apparently a friend of hers.

Sascha looking injured.

don't see him retiring here though. Don't think he ever has other than that match against Rafa.

but not a good situation for Germany with victories needed both here and in the doubles.

Think it's more tiredness than injury.

He had two very intense matches yesterday and today hasn't exactly been easy either. I'd assume temperatures/humidity are not ideal and comfy for a Hamburger as well.

let's hope so. It sure has spooked the market. No suggestion of a trainer needed.

I'm hereby introducing a new name for the German ...

BBF

You can't say that on a public forum.

short for Bling Bling Fokina

fairly confident he will take this. Hubi is such a mental midget despite all his practise at TB's.

A russian male without a bunch of gold necklaces is not a real russian.

is Marterer all they have for doubles?

Wehnelt is also on the team.

They should not let Rublev play with bling bling given his history of self harm.

so they need Bling Bling Fokina for doubles then?

... if they seek to win....yes. The real top doubles specialists that Germany has all worked on their rankings elsewhere this week.

Finetuning their partnerships ahead of wanting to win the big one.

I think they seek to win.

Oh boy

classic Hubi

Piter looks a bit down there.

"nice guy" Hubi almost got himself defaulted by throwing his racquet towards a ball kid.

Just now? Didn't see that.

yeah just after being broken. Not sure if it was shown live but they showed this during the replay.

it was sliding, so not sure if there would have been a default.

ww gets to watch Laura after all.

I'm out after this though.

If it was just sliding and had skidded to hit the ball kids shows, no way would it have been a default.

ww probably went to bed

the ball kid's shoes

the racquet could have changed its mind last second and hit the person's knees.

Jan 7, 2024 -- 9:19AM, edy wrote:

You'll have to wait until the AO for more Laura mixed doubles then.

he'll never listen to you again

haha warning!

nice guy Hubi trying to get the warning nullified?

Nice guy Hubi trying to clear up the situation.

He did put up his hand to signal he wasn't ready.

I don't think umpire changed his mind.

Hubi realizing that with all his mugging on court, the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award is his biggest chance of winning any year end season awards.

Doesn't really matter. Zverev will not receive another time violation warning and it will be nullified in the post match umpire report so that Zverev doesn't get a fine (if there even is a fine for this kind of warning)

but I shall not hate, that was nice from him.

Who other than Hubi spent hours upon hours to learn chinese signs to be nice? Hubi is a good lad.

Novak Djokovic and John Cena.

Very exclusive club, that.

Zverev speaking about being exhausted in the post match interview. No talk about injury.

But he said "I don't know yet" when asked if he will be seen during the mixed doubles.

that was super epic! is it Zverev or Marterer that will partner La La?

it's Zverev and La La!!

time to become national heroes!

Laura with a big ol' bandage on one of her thighs. She is meant to play singles and doubles (with Krejcikova!) next week.

Iga with one of those strapping bands below one of her knees. Don't think I've seen that on her before.

....it's been a taxing week for everyone involved.

La La is in her domain!!!!

it would be so epic if Team Germany can seal this victory. I'm not sure if Zverev's legs are going to last it all though

Iga not Polish after all.

Too little pointing out in these speeches of how special and important Laura ended up being.

Good event. Shame that no channel in Germany carried the United Cup.

Jan 7, 2024 -- 2:09PM, edy wrote:

Too little pointing out in these speeches of how special and important Laura ended up being.

tell me about it!!! Angie must have beef with La La