Tennis 2019

[Nearly Sane]

Osaka being knocked out in Birmingham means if Barty gets to final she becomes the No1

not quite correct 3 points short for qualifying for final.

[Nearly Sane]

So Murray makes it to the doubles final and Lopez makes both finals after playing in three matches yesterday. Auger Aliassime did well but may just lack a bit of experience and Lopez is an excellent grass court player.

[Nearly Sane]

And Barty hits No1, surely a possibility of a Channel Slam which would make her the first woman to do so since Serena Williams in 2002.

Meanwhile Federer wins Halle for the 10th time. Have to wonder if he can pass Connors for most match wins and most tournament wins in the Open Era.

[Nearly Sane]

Sad that Del Potro has broken his kneecap again. It isn't going to be easy for him to get back.

[Nearly Sane]

I see Mahut has lost in the qualies for Wimbledon. Given he is retiring this year, hope he gets a wildcard. Would be rude not to given Isner vs Mahut

[Nearly Sane]

Nadal to be seeded No3 at Wimbledon - despite being the No.2 ranked player. And various other adjustments. Given the short length of the grass court season now, there is a logic to Wimbledon's approach but it also seems to give rise to decisions that feel unfair. Either the ranking system should be adhered to, or we should come up with something that makes grass less anomalous - which they have done since the days where serve and volley was likely to dominate. Given all of that Nadal not playing any other grass tournaments than Wimbledon means that given the known rules they apply he is in part responsible.

[Nearly Sane]

And close together Zverev and Tsitsipas, the high ranked young hopes gone. And now Venus Williams 39 vs Cori Gauff 15. Extraordinary match up.

[Nearly Sane]

And Gauff wins! That is one of those moments when the new ushers out the old.

[SusanDoris]

I shall be interested to hear what you think of Andy Murray's fitness and ease of movement when he plays.

[Nearly Sane]

So Murray and Serena Williams to play mixed doubles. I suspect that there is a chance for a first round mixed doubles match to be on a show court for the first time I can remember.

[Nearly Sane]

And Gauff in the second round looking great

[Nearly Sane]

The Nadal Kyrgios match living up to billing.

[Nearly Sane]

Not often you will get a packed Centre Court for a first round mixed doubles. I think the draw means that Willams/Murray could play Williams/Tiafoe, and in the final Matthek Sands/Murray

[Nearly Sane]

Wonder what odds you might have been able to get to have Hoyt/Silva the last Brits in the main draws? Yet again in the men's it's a triumph for the older group. Last year's Wimbledon semi finals was the record for oldest average, this years beats it by a year.

Oddly the women's despite having a bleed of high seeds, isn't that much of a shock other than Strycova.

[Nearly Sane]

Big win for Halep. Grass is a surface that's she's been seen as weak on, but this will be her best slam performance so far this year.

[Nearly Sane]

I see Mahut has won in his men's doubles semi final. Very happy about this. Fitting finish to his Wimbledon career.

[Nearly Sane]

Good win for Kyrgios at the Washington Open - of course who knows which Kyrgios will turn up in Montreal

[Nearly Sane]

And the Kyrgios that turned up was the one that loses in the first round to Kyle Edmund after having an argument with the umpire about the towels provided.

[Nearly Sane]

Couple of interesting changes in the rankings this week. Well one certain and one possible. Barty's loss means she won't remain Women's No 1 ranked player - it will either be Osaka or Pliskova dependent on results. Osaka defending a lot of ranking points later in the season.

In the men's if Nadal doesn't repeat his win in the Rogers Cup from last year, Federer would go up to No 2 ranked. With no Djokovic and Federer in the draw, it looks that Nadal could win - there isn't a lot of obvious on form players on hard court at moment.

[Nearly Sane]

So though Osaka lost to Serena Williams , she goes back to No1 since Pliskova lost as well.


And Andy Murray to return to singles in Cincinnati.

[SusanDoris]

So though Osaka lost to Serena Williams , she goes back to No1 since Pliskova lost as well.


And Andy Murray to return to singles in Cincinnati.

I am pleased to hear that second point.
How did Kyle Edmund do after that first round you mentioned?

[Nearly Sane]

I am pleased to hear that second point.
How did Kyle Edmund do after that first round you mentioned?

Lost in the next round badly to Medvedev who is now in semi final.

[Nearly Sane]

So Nadal retains title and the No 2 Ranking - Medvedev not really presenting any problem in the final.

Meanwhile Serena Williams pulled out of the final injured. The last time she did this was also at the Rogers Cup in 2000, the year her opponent and winner this year, Andreescu, was born. Pretty spectacular return after injury by Andreescu, who is now up to 14 in the rankings - doesn't appear to be playing Cincinnati

[Nearly Sane]

Murray out in straight sets against Gasquet who is himself working back from injury but a bit further down the line.

[Nearly Sane]

And Federer knocked out by Rublev - which menas he won't have many matches played on hard courts before the US Open.


Andy Murray though in the doubles to play his brother - apparently only for the second time at tour level,. Interestingly he's now saying that he won't compete in doubles at the US Open but will play singles at the Winston-Salem tournament, and options to be looked at dependent on how well he does.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/49367223


Osaka, Barty, and Pliskova who could all be number 1 ranked at the end of the tournament  all through  to quarter finals, joined by Venus Williams at 39 still winning.