Aus Open Day 5:

Kostyuk (33) vs Svitolina (4)
Dimi (3) vs Rublev (30)
Tsonga (15) vs Kyrgios (17)
Bertens (30) vs Wozniacki (2)
Busta (10) vs Muller (23)
Nadal (1) vs Dzumhur (28) 
Ostapenko (7) vs Kontaveit (32)
Edmund (33) vs Basilashvili (33)
Harrison (33) vs Cilic (6)
Schwartzman (24) vs Dolgo (33)

Kostyuk, Rublev, NKR, Bertens, Muller, Dzumhur, Osta, Edmund, Harrison, Dolgo
bulge: svit, rublev, nkr, bertens, muller, dzum, osta, edmund, harrison, schwartz
T; n/a
Mikey: svit dimi tsonga bertens, busta rafa osta edmund cilic dolgo

Kostuyk, Rublev, Kyrgios, Wozniacki, Muller, Dzumhur, Ostapenko, Balashvilli, Harrison, Dolls

Svitolina (4)
Rublev (30)
Kyrgios (17)
Bertens (30)
Muller (23)
Dzumhur (28)
Ostapenko (7)
Edmund (33)
Harrison (33)
Dolgo (33)

So you guys think Dzumhur is the man? I hope you are right and I wake up to an upset.

If one undertook to build a "ball basher" from scratch, one would end up with Rublev.

summerblues wrote:If one undertook to build a "ball basher" from scratch, one would end up with Rublev.

Ball bashing at this level requires huge talent. Especially taking the ball that early.

Tenez wrote:

summerblues wrote:If one undertook to build a "ball basher" from scratch, one would end up with Rublev.

Ball bashing at this level requires huge talent. Especially taking the ball that early.

Timing is the key, taking the ball early if results in mistiming and playing too early results in UEs. So early or not, timing the ball is the most important.

Rublev's biggest weakness is his serve. Without DFs he would have won that 3rd set. Though it is also one of Dimi's weakest point.

Rublev is not playng well but to be fair noone is under those scorchio conds.

summerblues wrote:So  you guys think Dzumhur is the man?  .

No I don't but he has more chance than Dimi!

Tenez wrote:

summerblues wrote:So  you guys think Dzumhur is the man?  .

No I don't but he has more chance than Dimi!

Dimi won't survive this AO to face nadal, likely going out before that. opportunist top#3 and slam-pretenders don't stand when put in the real test.

This is how he could ever get to top i.e. everyone leaves it due to injury, retirements etc.

Allez Jo!

Wooooooooow!


I just tuned into Nadal Dzumhur and nearly had a heart attack when I saw Nadal’s outfit!

What on earth did he think when he saw himself in the mirror and decided to go out on court like that?


Does he have a mirror?

At least now he is the full ugliness package.

Tenez wrote:Rublev's biggest weakness is his serve. Without DFs he would have won that 3rd set. Though it is also one of Dimi's weakest point.

I didn’t watch the match, but Rubi’s serve reflects his overall game, not much variation and finesse, also quite predictable.

But he’ll keep improving fast.

This time next year he’ll be a millionaire!

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

Tenez wrote:

summerblues wrote:So  you guys think Dzumhur is the man?  .

No I don't but he has more chance than Dimi!

Dimi won't survive this AO to face nadal, likely going out before that. opportunist top#3 and slam-pretenders don't stand when put in the real test.

This is how he could ever get to top i.e. everyone leaves it due to injury, retirements etc.

Dimi is a classic case of: how near yet so far away.

I think he had match points vs Nadal iz oz last year and he was unlucky (or bottled it, can’t remember)
But he played a fantastic, probably his best match then and possibly wore Nadal out for the final. (Yaaaay!)

So Dimi is in my eternal good books after that match, he fought like a lion!

Dzumhur is a massive peasant, but on this occasion only,
Idemo Dzumi Majstoreeee!

BTW, what ugly match....

I fancy Harrison s chances.

Rehabilitated Bernardes looks so nervous as Nadal takes enernity between points...and of course, remains silent.

Good news, Schwartzman is the next opponent for Nadal, but not really for round 4.
We’ll see...

So the crowd pays to watch Nadal, but the best shots and most entertaining points are provided by Dzumhur...

I really cannot see this Nadal beat Federer. The problem is will fed reach the final?

noleisthebest wrote:So the crowd pays to watch Nadal, but the best shots and most entertaining points are provided by Dzumhur...

Do you think they care about the shots? Most Nadal fans will just be happy to say on their social network that they saw Nadal.

Tenez wrote:I really cannot see this Nadal beat Federer. The problem is will fed reach the final?

me neither... but lets see how the tournament developes

Really nice and entertaining match between Kyrgios and Tsonga.

Open, non-calculating tennis, winners galore.

naxroy wrote:

Tenez wrote:I really cannot see this Nadal beat Federer. The problem is will fed reach the final?

me neither... but lets see how the tournament developes

Welcome back Naxroy.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:So the crowd pays to watch Nadal, but the best shots and most entertaining points are provided by Dzumhur...

Do you think they care about the shots? Most Nadal fans will just be happy to say on their social network that they saw Nadal.

So true
My club is full of those.

wow...Tsonga furious. Asking a guy in the crowd to come down to "him square". Probably a racial abuse...

Against Nadal's I'd fancy Tsonga more than Kyrgios cause Kyrgios' mouvement is poor.

Tenez wrote:Against Nadal's I'd fancy Tsonga more than Kyrgios cause Kyrgios' mouvement is poor.

if nadal were to get to the semis...

kyrgios is not that clear to beat dimitrov based on h2h
tsonga on the other hand has an impressive h2h with dimi


My bet is dimitrov to repeat semis

Wow, I liked the
“get the f*** up” to his box from Kyrgios.

Shows his passion and 100% commitment to his full on tight-rope walking style.

I don't mind who wins this one,  great match!

naxroy wrote:

Tenez wrote:Against Nadal's I'd fancy Tsonga more than Kyrgios cause Kyrgios' mouvement is poor.

if nadal were to get to the semis...

kyrgios is not that clear to beat dimitrov based on h2h
tsonga on the other hand has an impressive h2h with dimi


My bet is dimitrov to repeat semis

Have you watched Dimi this year? He has not got a BH. If he plays against Nadal...he is cooked.

Dimitrov is not at a good level... but still, slams let you grow your game if one advances through.

Kyrgios looks like the inform player in his quarter, but still I wouldnt rule dimi out


As for Nadal, I dont see him quite as sharp as last year here, so lets see how it goes in the next rounds

I don;t understand this need to talk nonsense, or be agressive if not insulting at your camp.

This is a new thing and I am not sure what the purpose. Pressure release maybe but I don't think it helps.

Tenez wrote:I don;t understand this need to talk nonsense, or be agressive if not insulting at your camp.

This is a new thing and I am not sure what the purpose. Pressure release maybe but I don't think it helps.

Pressure release.
Though I didn’t get the idea Kyrgios was abusive towards the box.
Not the way Murray is.

In Kyrgios’s case, it’s also the crowd reaction he feeds on. He goes full on and needs fuel of that kind to keep going.

He is wild and untamed and that is just his modus operandi.

I found him bearable and not irritating today.

Tsonga, on the other hand bottled it...maybe if he was a little wilder he wouldn’t have.

But it’s a thin line.

I just had a look at the draw, Schwarzman looks the best bet to take Nadal out before the quarters (but didn’t they play recently though and Schwatzman was pathetic? ), Cilic is traditionally useless. 

Dimi-Kyrgios will be a very close one mainly because Dimi is a first class competitor.

One part of me would love to see a replay of last year’s semi Nadal-Dimi (with Dimi winning this time ), the other one Kyrgios as he is more dangerous but at the same time also more volatile...he could easily pack the match in if Nadals standing a mile behind the baseline starts returning his serves and putting pressure on Kyrgios’s fragile nerves.

Bottom half - Fed looks in cruising position until Delpo.

Nole, providing his elbow is holding ok, Ramos is his toughest match before the semis.

I don’t think Zverev has a chance in the best of 5.

dont think schwartzman can take nadal out really...

Anything but Dimi v Nadal. Dimi has not got what it takes to beat Nadal.

I think Kyrgios will beat Dimi, who looks rubbish. 

It’s hard to judge where Nadal is; partly because I find his tennis so offensive I watch anything else, partly because the commentators w@nk off like nobodies business regardless of performance, and because he’s not playing anyone.

What’s the view boys & girls?

Like you, I avoid watching Nadal at all cost, only saw a few games vs Dzumhur today.

Firstly, Nadal is not injured and is juiced to the gills, it’s no coincidence he has gone back to the sleeveless look.

He looked beatable, except his joke draw is full of weak players who aren’t able to exploit it.

I am expecting Schwarzman to wear him out at least.

Kyrgios has beaten Nadal twice, both times on fast surfaces, so he has the best chance in that half.

Shame Nole is in Federer’s half, but I am not surprised.

I think Fed is winning this AO.

I’d take that. Don’t ignore Cilic, he’s a player.

I saw the first three games of Nadal vs Dzumhur. Dzumhur had nothing to hurt Nadal. I would not have been shocked if he had lost with a triple bagel.

I cannot see Schwartzman hurting him either. Cilic has the game but not the nerves to make Rafa's life difficult. Kyrgios, if he can keep his head straight, has the best shot.

noleisthebest wrote:Nole, providing his elbow is holding ok, Ramos is his toughest match before the semis.

I don’t think Zverev has a chance in the best of 5.

From what I saw of Nole (the first set vs Monfils), he looked very shaky.