Tennis Talk 2025: Vol 19 (London, Halle, Berlin, Nottingham)

If Less Rich Emma ends up hooking up with Carlos it could be great for her game, being around a consistent winner and how he preps and organises his life (minus Ibiza)

It would also generate a lot of buzz which the womens game could do with.

Carlos has always been a fan of Emma (his 2nd choice after Iga).

Jun 21, 2025 -- 5:48PM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

I can see Kessler being the next American late bloomer, in the style of Jennifer Brady and Jessica Pegula.

she's the next Danielle, went the college route. but not as feisty

Jun 21, 2025 -- 4:11PM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

I think it sucks. They should have at least given 8 spots to the top 8 ranked mix teams and then 8 wildcards. If the good singles players then won, that'd be fair enough. But to not even invite the doubles players, I think other than Errani/Vavassori, stinks. Maybe they didn't want to invite lots of doubles players, as incase it would end up with a final between two doubles teams it would go against they are trying to achieve with this concept. Alternatively they could do this gimmick event and still have mixed as usual during the normal two weeks and everyone would be happy.

It definitely sucks balls. as you said, what they should do is run this gimmick event and still have mixed as usual during the normal two weeks. whoever decided to cancel the normal mixed doubles is an idiot who doesn't understand the mechanics of the tour

Jun 21, 2025 -- 4:13PM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

I take it you saw the ice cream video then?

yeah. I found it hilarious they gave Donna picked onion flavour ice cream and she hates pickles. I don't think she would have eaten pickles if they offered her 10k to do it

Jun 21, 2025 -- 5:23PM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

Emma in attendance for Carlos. What if they become a couple? The reporting would be so annoying, there'd be so much hate on Emma for being a gold digger etc.

the media will absolutely lap it up if they become a couple. I don't think it'll happen though

It's started.

Front page of the Sunday Telegraph dominated by a large photograph of Emma watching the Carlos match, presiding over far less important stories about World war 3 and the NHS sending patients abroad.

wang loses the tb from 6-2 up, seems like a cursed score this week

Anyone giving much chance to Lehecka here v Carlos today?

The odds are certainly not giving him much chance?

Sakkari & Yulia just had a full on argument at the net at GSM. I must have rewound and watched it 10 times. surely someone will capture it and post it on Twitter. I think Yulia told Sakkari to "go f yourself" at one stage, and Sakkari wasn't backing off

that was the biggest GSM net drama I've seen for a very long time

"nobody likes you"

Sakkari one of the nicest girls on tour and Poots still finds a way to get into an argument with her.

Jun 22, 2025 -- 10:32AM, Journeyman wrote:

It's started.Front page of the Sunday Telegraph dominated by a large photograph of Emma watching the Carlos match, presiding over far less important stories about World war 3 and the NHS sending patients abroad.

Will they launch it ahead of Wimbledon for maximum exposure?

https://x.com/kostekcanu/status/1936757989895180295

here it is^

Poots is brave I gotta say. I wouldn't pick a fight with someone with arms like that.

meanwhile Super Maky is the Champion!!

Poots gave a terrible handshake, which isn't exactly a shock. Sakkari was really feisty towards her though, there must be alot of previous there

Wang with an awkward Sabalenka type joke.

Eva retired

still raining in Nottingham and Baptiste took an MTO and is probably going to get bageled or retire

hopefully Eva isn't hurt too much and she can be a lucky Lys

edy why did he call Andrea the Director of Excitement? seemed a bit of back-handed compliment

woah that's a big bottle. Marie Bouzkova must be jealous.

as will Amanda.

Jun 22, 2025 -- 1:21PM, wisewords wrote:

https://x.com/kostekcanu/status/1936757989895180295

classic poots drama

Carlos's version of "Try my best" is "Hopefully I can play a great tennis".

Jun 22, 2025 -- 1:48PM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

woah that's a big bottle. Marie Bouzkova must be jealous.

I'd love to know what actually happens to those big bottles of alcohol. they aren't going to transport them around with them. I suspect they open it to celebrate and drink about 25% of it and the rest goes to waste, or they gift it to someone at the tournament who's helped them like a good physio or some really helpful driver

why are players like Jess, Mirra, Iga, Jasmine etc playing in Germany the week before Wimbledon?

who was more in the wrong in that drama; Sakkari or Yulia?

Jess loves to play tennis.
Mirra might want more match time after flopping in Berlin.
Iga, that's an odd one. You'd think she'd choose Berlin instead. Maybe she wanted to get a big practice block on grass in and then chose the final week to get some matches in.
Paolini could use all the points she can get before losing about 1000 pts after Wimbledon.

I think you have to play a certain number of 500's as well.

I'm happy they are playing as it makes this week more interesting.

well of course it makes it more interesting for us because there's a much higher chance of reitrements/tanking/unmotivated performances, especially as the week progresses

I just think from a player perspective the ones who are decent chances to win Wimbledon you'd think they'd want to maximise those chances

Jun 22, 2025 -- 2:37PM, wisewords wrote:

well of course it makes it more interesting for us because there's a much higher chance of reitrements/tanking/unmotivated performances, especially as the week progresses

the risk of retirements I could do without, I just meant I prefer to watch the big names rather than the middle of the pack competing for a title.

Jun 22, 2025 -- 2:38PM, wisewords wrote:

I just think from a player perspective the ones who are decent chances to win Wimbledon you'd think they'd want to maximise those chances

none of the players you mention have played lots of tennis in recent weeks, so I don't think it crushes their Wimbledon chances if they have a deep run in Bad Hamburg. I think fatigue becomes an issue when you've had a Beatriz type of run from three summers ago (W, W, SF) or whatever it was.

although motivation is always an issue a week before a Slam. Iga might be happy with a win or two and then wants some rest. Depending on Jess's knee, she might feel the same. Mirra's young she probably want to win the whole thing and I don't think fatigue would be an issue.

has Kostyuk always been this terrible on the grass? or is she currently slumping hard?

not her best surface, but likely just in a slump.

Jun 22, 2025 -- 2:42PM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

Jun 22, 2025 --  2:37PM, wisewords wrote:well of course it makes it more interesting for us because there's a much higher chance of reitrements/tanking/unmotivated performances, especially as the week progressesthe risk of retirements I could do without, I just meant I prefer to watch the big names rather than the middle of the pack competing for a title.

why? retirements can often mean free money! I agree it's good to watch the big names but they're only going to try so hard in a 500 the week before a slam. it will actually be interesting to see who ends up making the final

I take your point about several of them being undercooked and 2 match wins and a close loss in the SF is probably the sweet spot

with arbing on mixed rules, although in the long run it works out well, retirements can be costly. More piece of mind for me if players just play out their matches.

Jun 22, 2025 -- 2:50PM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

not her best surface, but likely just in a slump.

she slumped at RG too. I feel like her & Sandra's partnership could be on shaky ground if she loses today and has a poor wimbledon

she's fighting like crazy today, but still 2 points away from the exit door

Jun 22, 2025 -- 2:29PM, wisewords wrote:

who was more in the wrong in that drama; Sakkari or Yulia?

what's your view caramba?

I don't care and I don't find it a big deal. No animals were harmed in the production of that movie.

Emma nearly said Bad Hamburg

she knows!

it's one of her favourite stops on tour, apparently

Kessler hype train briefly delayed

McCartney is way stable than Dayana as a player. even though she's mugged a little bit I'll be shocked if she loses

way more* stable than Dayana

The decent year for American womens tennis continues

McCartney clinches seeding for Wimbledon.

carrying herself like a top 20ish sort of player, probs going to make a slam QF run soon

Carlos serving like a beast on grass.

The summer of Bublik continues.

Lukas Rosol winning in Halle but just falling short in Berlin!

it's been amazing following his matches. Sinner, Machac, then first ever win over Karen yesterday and first ever win over Daniil today!

Tadde must have eaten so much cheese after celebrating her win at Queen's.

oh dear Jiri!

what a miss

haha that woman.

cameraman zooming on her twice after her muggery

Leylah bakery opened up for the Queens champion

Jun 22, 2025 -- 3:32PM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

Carlos serving like a beast on grass.

more top jinxing on this phorum.

what a beast Carlos!

amazing tb this.

expect for Carlos's serving.

back to peak serving after having served poorly at the end of that 2nd set.

Lehecka being owned by Carlos

Tommy Paul must be mad that he can't party and and still play like that.

Slaylah mode activated. Now hold, break and send Maria back to her champers.

Queen's remains the most oversized trophy on the tour.

Carlos played a good tennis today.

He seems inspired. Maybe life is going well for him off the court.

Don't you start too!

Wins RG
Goes to Ibiza for a week.
Practices two days on grass.
Wins Queen's.

Queen's Club has always been the tinpot tournament of the lawn tennis season.

very impressive stuff from Carlos. didn't have to beat anyone amazing to win Queen's though. could he go into Wimbledon a bit complacent?

Jun 22, 2025 -- 3:39PM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

Tadde must have eaten so much cheese after celebrating her win at Queen's.

those courts were perfect for her. glad she capitalised on her opportunity

Agreed, Queens is even more tinpot now that they've let the ladies back in to scuff the courts up for a week

Looks like Wimbledon knew what they were doing by not giving Lois a wild card.

early contender for mug of the day... garland. playing grass hating carle and motors through the first set only to go a break ahead twice in the second set and give the break straight back both times. doesn't win a single service game in the set and now into a decider.

now all set to blow 4-0 in the decider with two breaks. one break given back and now its 4-1.

gets the win. was not pretty though

next up for mug of the day is paolini. mp on return for a straight sets win, serves for a straight sets win, 0-40 for a straight sets win and mucks up all of it. second set breaker which she will do well to win after all that

more mugging. mb up which shes given back. cannot see how she wins this set. so many chances blown.

priceless from paolini. from 3-1 ahead to 5-3 down in this breaker

just about falls over the line. again though not pretty. what is it about a nice simple coast to the w once youve got yourself ahead. no fun if its straightforward maybe

Jess is gonna tank at some point this week, right? How else is she meant to find time to try the tube in London?

It's Iga time.

Saturday final, so a tank on Friday SF is probably the sweet spot

wrong thread BTW

oops. Will continue in the correct one.