2026 Australian Open (Tennis)

RochLion

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Now that the Bills are out of it (and the Giant are trying to get back into it) I'm turning to the Australian Open. Nice message by Jess Pegula after her first round win at the AO.

 

Midnighter

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Yeah the women can get pretty feisty. Caught this conflict between Osaka and Cirstea. Guess she was pumping herself by slapping her thigh saying "C'Mon, CMon" between 1st and 2nd serves of Cirstea.


Will add the American women are showing out thus far - still in it are Jovic (through to 4th; and has a great all around game for being so young) Keys (in 3rd), Gauff (throguh to 4th) , Pegula (in 3rd), Anisimova, and Stearns (Anisimova and Stearns play each other in the 3rd). Great showing thus far.

Jovic the next Kournikova?

 
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Lion84

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KingLando

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Will add the American women are showing out thus far - still in it are Jovic (through to 4th; and has a great all around game for being so young) Keys (in 3rd), Gauff (throguh to 4th) , Pegula (in 3rd), Anisimova, and Stearns (Anisimova and Stearns play each other in the 3rd). Great showing thus far.

Jovic the next Kournikova?

Jovic was great last night...if she continues that she's a threat. Sabalenka struggled a bit yesterday but I still think it's her tournament to win.
 
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Midnighter

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Sinner gets lucky with the AO Heat rule kicking in while he was struggling against American Spizzirri in 3rd set.


Spizzirri was so inconsistent - really had Sinner on the ropes as Sinner’s legs were giving out. But missed too many easy shots (he framed so many balls) and you can’t do that against Sinner. Heat was brutal. I could feel it though my TV…
 
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KingLando

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Spizzirri was so inconsistent - really had Sinner on the ropes as Sinner’s legs were giving out. But missed too many easy shots (he framed so many balls) and you can’t do that against Sinner. Heat was brutal. I could feel it though my TV…
I really thought Spizzirri had a chance even after the stoppage to close the roof. He had his chances.

McEnroe's comments were interesting...basically saying the tournament should give preferential treatment to the highest ranked players. Not saying he's wrong but I'm sure many won't like them
 
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mh-larch

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I'm beginning to like women's tennis and Yulia Putintseva 😛 This girl has spunk. Crowd was horrible to her all match, so good for her giving a little back after winning. She does have a past history and her treatment of the ball girl at the 2024 US Open was really terrible.

Link: Yulia Putintseva
 

Midnighter

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I'm beginning to like women's tennis and Yulia Putintseva 😛 This girl has spunk. Crowd was horrible to her all match, so good for her giving a little back after winning. She does have a past history and her treatment of the ball girl at the 2024 US Open was really terrible.

Link: Yulia Putintseva

She just got smoked (0, 1) by 18 year old American Iva Jovic (playing very well and faces Sabalenka in the QF). But I also liked her giving it to the crowd a bit.
 
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RochLion

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I'm beginning to like women's tennis and Yulia Putintseva 😛 This girl has spunk. Crowd was horrible to her all match, so good for her giving a little back after winning. She does have a past history and her treatment of the ball girl at the 2024 US Open was really terrible.

Link: Yulia Putintseva
The women's game is much more interesting. The men had the big 3 for a long time and now it's pretty much big 2, with Sinner and Alcaraz. And they are all buddy buddy. The top women's player has varied over the past 8 years and a lot of them despise each other.
 

KingLando

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I'm beginning to like women's tennis and Yulia Putintseva 😛 This girl has spunk. Crowd was horrible to her all match, so good for her giving a little back after winning. She does have a past history and her treatment of the ball girl at the 2024 US Open was really terrible.

Link: Yulia Putintseva
It was a Danielle Collins type moment...I actually like Collins and thought Putintseva's reaction was good for the sport. She does have to back it up more though. Jovic crushed her.

The quarters in both draws look solid on paper but seems like another Sabalenka/Gauff matchup.

Novak getting the walkover win is huge...hot day and he can rest
 
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KingLando

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The women's game is much more interesting. The men had the big 3 for a long time and now it's pretty much big 2, with Sinner and Alcaraz. And they are all buddy buddy. The top women's player has varied over the past 8 years and a lot of them despise each other.
Agreed...I expect (and almost want) a Sinner/Alcaraz final every major though. No one else is even close to them right now. Someone needs to step up. Just no clue who that is.

Sabalenka though is probably just as dominant. 3 major finals last year...the 3 Grand Slam matches she lost were really her just giving them away.
 

Midnighter

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Agreed...I expect (and almost want) a Sinner/Alcaraz final every major though. No one else is even close to them right now. Someone needs to step up. Just no clue who that is.

Sabalenka though is probably just as dominant. 3 major finals last year...the 3 Grand Slam matches she lost were really her just giving them away.

Rooting hard for Jovic.
 
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KingLando

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Bad loss for Taylor. Wasn't competitive. Shelton was solid but now we'll see how he does against Yannick. Still feels like Sinner/Alcaraz for the men.
 
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KingLando

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Jovic tried. She played a really nice first set...early break cost her. Then Sabalenka just decided she wasn't going to waste any energy. Dominated the 2nd.
 
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RochLion

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Incredible stat shown during Alcaraz/DeMinaur match. Career record in 5 set matches; Alcaraz 15-1. DeMinaur 3-7.

DeMinaur gave it his all in an hour long 1st set, but Alcaraz is just bull out there that can play all day.
 

KingLando

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Rough night for the Americans. 0-3 with Gauff completely dominated by Svitilina. Need Shelton to somehow beat Sinner or they'll go 1-4 in the quarters with the only win being a result of Pegula-Anisimova playing each other.

Still think we get 1v2 in both finals though the women's bottom half is wide open. All 4 could reach the final without it being a shock. Maybe small shock if it's Pegula.
 
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KingLando

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Ryabakina destroyed Iga in the second set. She'd probably be the toughest matchup for Sabalenka

I understand why the have to women's matches first today (they play again tomorrow) but would have loved Shelton v Sinner is prime time with Jess/Anisimova first.
 
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Midnighter

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Unreal that Djokovic gets through after Musetti retires up two sets. Ugh. The Gods are clearing a path for Novak but don’t think he’ll beat Sinner…

Also, wanted Anisimova to get her first GS but happy that Pegula is through. Sabalenka is just so powerful hard to see anyone beating her.
 
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KingLando

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Unreal that Djokovic gets through after Musetti retires up two sets. Ugh. The Gods are clearing a path for Novak but don’t think he’ll beat Sinner…

Also, wanted Anisimova to get her first GS but happy that Pegula is through. Sabalenka is just so powerful hard to see anyone beating her.
I thought Anisimova was going to come back and win after she broke to force a tiebreak in the 2nd but she had melted down mentally in the breaker.

Novak has so much luck...basically handed 2 wins to reach the semis.

Still expecting Sinner/Alcaraz. I don't think Shelton will ever win a major. He's young so maybe I'm wrong but he just looks completely over matched in big matches
 
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retsio

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The upper body build on Anisimova is unreal - shoulders and arms - she could be powerful on serves to get her through, But double faults and inconsistent temper forced mistakes. Hope she can find a way to improve and crack the semis against a very talented group of women.
 
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Midnighter

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The upper body build on Anisimova is unreal - shoulders and arms - she could be powerful on serves to get her through, But double faults and inconsistent temper forced mistakes. Hope she can find a way to improve and crack the semis against a very talented group of women.

I don’t say this lightly, but she probably could use a little less ‘upper body’…

 
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RochLion

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I don’t say this lightly, but she probably could use a little less ‘upper body’…


Hah! Simona Halep actually went thru breast reduction surgery early in her career. 34DD to 34C! Actually looked like she left part of her body at the baseline on her forehands!
 
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Midnighter

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Glad Sabalenka destroyed her
Jess put up a fight and had a great tournament
Should be a great final. Haven't had many competitive matches on either side after the 4th round...

I'm neutral on Sabalenka; but, she's clearly the heavy favorite (I would personally be in favor of not allowing athletes from Russia/Belarus from competing but that's a discussion for another day). Men's final should be good no matter who is in it, but praying for Sinner/Alcaraz.

I'll add that I discovered I had access to the ESPN app and their AO coverage has been awesome. They have a four screen multi-cast in 4k and cover everything from the junior tournament to doubles to wheelchair tennis. Good stuff. AO would be nice to attend but it's a hell of a trip. Wimbledon is next for us; then we have three of the four.
 
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KingLando

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I'm neutral on Sabalenka; but, she's clearly the heavy favorite (I would personally be in favor of not allowing athletes from Russia/Belarus from competing but that's a discussion for another day). Men's final should be good no matter who is in it, but praying for Sinner/Alcaraz.

I'll add that I discovered I had access to the ESPN app and their AO coverage has been awesome. They have a four screen multi-cast in 4k and cover everything from the junior tournament to doubles to wheelchair tennis. Good stuff. AO would be nice to attend but it's a hell of a trip. Wimbledon is next for us; then we have three of the four.
I debated going to the AO this year. Seeing the temps I'm glad I didn't. I've been to the French but no Wimbledon. Trying to convince the wife to do that in 2027
 
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RochLion

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I debated going to the AO this year. Seeing the temps I'm glad I didn't. I've been to the French but no Wimbledon. Trying to convince the wife to do that in 2027
Wimbledon would be the next I'd like to get to, and then AO. Someone I talked to said the French was their least favorite. Said you had to go outside the grounds to go to the bathroom LOL! Hopefully that's changed.
 
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Midnighter

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Wimbledon would be the next I'd like to get to, and then AO. Someone I talked to said the French was their least favorite. Said you had to go outside the grounds to go to the bathroom LOL! Hopefully that's changed.

No issues at the French - not sure what that person was saying. It’s a great campus with great facilities. US Open is brutally hot.
 
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