Week 33 - ATP Masters 1000 - Western & Southern Open - Cincinnati, OH, USA (hard)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RE: Week 33 - ATP Masters 1000 - Western & Southern Open - Cincinnati, OH, USA (hard)

emmsie69 · Top national player

Stircrazy wrote:
Stu Fraser's account of the Alacaraz match. Some interesting comments by Cam on his approach to the match.
A comment by a reader who seems to know what he's talking about & which doesn't appear in the Archive version:
Surely the best match of Norrie's career (if you set aside several sub-slam final wins). Firstly he was playing World #4 who widely is considered to be the best of his generation, destined to become #1 and to win multiple slams. Alcaraz finds himself on the cusp of eclipsing his compatriot Rafa Nadal. Indeed he seems to emulate many of Rafa's best attributes - eg hugely athletic, fighting for every point, though thankfully without the somewhat tedious mannerisms of his idol. Norrie has become one of the fittest professionals on the circuit and that perhaps was the difference last night. It was a truly memorable contest - full of power, finesse and good sportsmanship. Above all Cameron showed he could live inside the top 10 and hopefully is able to make the end of season tournament on merit alone by a deep run at the US Open in a couple of weeks.
Finally I want to praise the automatic line-calling system. Why, oh why can't all slams follow the system? Tennis does not need the ridiculous drama of the challenge system nor its capacity to waste time.
I was intrigued by that last paragraph. I haven't seen any of the coverage of the tournament, so was unaware that an automatic line-callng system was in use.

I quite like the drama of the challenge system

jb288 · Satellite level

emmsie69 wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
Stu Fraser's account of the Alacaraz match. Some interesting comments by Cam on his approach to the match.
A comment by a reader who seems to know what he's talking about & which doesn't appear in the Archive version:
Surely the best match of Norrie's career (if you set aside several sub-slam final wins). Firstly he was playing World #4 who widely is considered to be the best of his generation, destined to become #1 and to win multiple slams. Alcaraz finds himself on the cusp of eclipsing his compatriot Rafa Nadal. Indeed he seems to emulate many of Rafa's best attributes - eg hugely athletic, fighting for every point, though thankfully without the somewhat tedious mannerisms of his idol. Norrie has become one of the fittest professionals on the circuit and that perhaps was the difference last night. It was a truly memorable contest - full of power, finesse and good sportsmanship. Above all Cameron showed he could live inside the top 10 and hopefully is able to make the end of season tournament on merit alone by a deep run at the US Open in a couple of weeks.
Finally I want to praise the automatic line-calling system. Why, oh why can't all slams follow the system? Tennis does not need the ridiculous drama of the challenge system nor its capacity to waste time.
I was intrigued by that last paragraph. I haven't seen any of the coverage of the tournament, so was unaware that an automatic line-callng system was in use.
I quite like the drama of the challenge system

I think the auto calls are superb - tennis can be such a tough mental game, and some players get so wound up and caught up in line calls. Now human error is removed, and all of that mental stress is just wiped out immediately, and the focus is entirely on the tennis - for both players and viewers. I think this is so much better for players' wellbeing. However, I do feel for the very talented umpires who are now reduced to essentially calling the score.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree, jb

I think auto line calls are just perfect, and will come in everywhere, given time.

Instantaneous, 100% fair, no dispute, no fuss, no distraction - yes, we lose a little of the 'drama' - but most of that is drama we could do without

Rich2310 · County player

I didn't expect to wake up to Cam's winning result today.
I admit I thought it would be Alcaraz.
What fight from Cam and now a real chance to make the final.
This man is a real grafter.
What great form he is in for the Open.

seagull · Hall of fame

And a career high for Cam of at least 9, and an almost guaranteed top 8 seeding at US Open.

flamingowings · All-time great

I didn't manage to catch any of this match so not sure if Cam did anything wrong or was simply outclassed and outplayed.

SF: (9) Cameron Norrie WR 11 LOST TO (PR) Borna Coric (CRO) WR 152 (CH=12, 2018) 3-6 4-6

Tsitsipas is a break up in the third against Medvedev.

Edit to put the scoreline the correct way round...

-- Edited by flamingowings on Sunday 21st of August 2022 08:58:02 AM

flamingowings · All-time great

F: (4) Tsitsipas vs (PR) Coric

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coric lowest ranked Cinci finalist ever apparently

Elegant Point · Satellite level

flamingowings wrote:
I didn't manage to catch any of this match so not sure if Cam did anything wrong or was simply outclassed and outplayed.

SF: (9) Cameron Norrie WR 11 LOST TO (PR) Borna Coric (CRO) WR 152 (CH=12, 2018) 6-3 6-4

Tsitsipas is a break up in the third against Medvedev.

I caught some of the match and thought Coric was the better player, found his serve and rhythm, but literally sweating buckets. Cam made a fair few unforced errors. But as Seagull pointed out, Cam in a good place for the US open especially as Zverev still out and Djoko unlikely to play

match stats

https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/stats-centre/archive/2022/422/MS003

indiana · Tennis legend

Great to see Coric 'back'. Just choose your occasion a bit better, mate. Bah.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

It seems like Cam lost this on UEs, and Coric playing well. I haven't seen a presser, so not sure whether Cam just ran out of steam. It must have been a great effort to beat Alcaraz, but then that's what you have to do to be at the top!

In any case, hopefully he can get a good week of recovery/training before the USO.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Amazing result for Coric to win the title here; he can probably stop running his live rankings board now
And focus on tennis! Hahaha

he beat Nadal, RBA, FAA, Cam and Tsitsipas to take the title - that is impressive

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Monday 22nd of August 2022 06:20:14 AM