Roger Federer retires

Warrior, Serena is not even playing at the open lol. She is basically retired.

Very few upsets today, which is surprising. The main one is that Coco Gauff was destroyed by the out of form world no. 110, 4-6 2-6.

Ash Barty now makes it 18 consecutive grand slams without losing in the 1st round. Everyone except her is a chance to flop in the 1st round of tournaments. The real #1.

Rafa had a dominant win in his match. He also got a slice of luck, as an in-form floater who was destined to play him in the 2nd round flopped in round 1. Rafa now gets a qualifier.

See, ya just gotta believe, Chosen One. ;)

Novak could be banned from the French Open with new vaccine laws in Frances.

Rafa ftw!

To be honest I'm a bit baffled why people don't want to get vaccinated. Initially I was a bit weary myself but now hearing that people that have not been vaccinated are literally dying because of it I don't understand their argument. They say they are afraid of the vaccination for whatever reason and they may die from it yet if they don't have it they could die anyway which is happening with greater frequency now to unvaccinated people.

I've now had three vaccinations and haven't had a sniffle since or experience any adverse effects after the first 24 hours. Is there some kind of conspiracy theory I don't know about?

I'll be rooting for Nadal to win the Australian Open, anyone but Novak. I don't think it is a good look image wise for the sport of Tennis for Novak to go down as the best male Tennis player ever. I'd rather it be Federer or Nadal.

Once anti-vaxxers make their mind up, they won't be persuaded. It's like with any controversial topic. Whoever believed one way believes their opinion is correct, and ignores evidence arguing against it.

Surely Novak will have to get vaccinated too. With Australia and France introducing these laws, Wimbledon and the US Open will feel pressure to do the same. Also, there will be many warm-up or 2nd tier tournaments which Novak can't play.

Money will be the determining factor, once Novaks sponsors start pulling the plug he will change his mind. Nobody is going to pay him money for not playing. He will also see his window closing for retiring with the most Grand Slams if his legacy is more important to him than money. Either way he will get vaccinated soon.

Since my grandfather passed from covid I was sort of obligated to get the vaccine, and then the booster came out and my mom sort of urged us to get that too, but I don't think I'll be getting boosters over and over again. Many people simply don't like being told what to do by the government, and feel that locking services behind a vaccination gate sets a bad precedent.

I get that, and understand some people have issues with being told what to do but at the end of the day if it is going to help keep you alive and prevent you from being a danger to others surely it makes sense to just get the vaccination.

Emma Raducanu is out, losing to a horribly out of form player in the 2nd round 4-6 6-4 3-6. She got slightly injured early in the match though, so that didn't help.

World #3 Garbine Muguruza also got beaten easily 3-6 3-6. No major upsets on the mens side of the draw, although Nick Kyrgios did win a set over Medvedev.

Yeah, like Mike said, I think it has more to do with people don't like being told by the government that they have to do something. And now, the virus seems to have gotten to that point with any flu where the new variants will continue to get weaker and weaker. You are not going to convince any people that haven't gotten the vaccine to get it now, especially those that have probably had Covid multiple times and have survived, when the data shows that it will continue to get weaker and only cause mild flu symptoms.

Plus, a lot of younger people have found no need to get poked when they know their immune systems are strong enough to fight it, having nothing to do with being anti-vaccines.

Osaka out. Good.

Next up, Rafa ftw!

Yep. 2019 French Open semi finalist Amanda Anisimova saved 2 match points to beat Osaka 4-6 6-3 7-6. Osaka didn't even play badly, it's just that Anisimova was playing lights out. She now gets a rematch against Barty, who beat her in that French Open semi.

Naomi Osaka is now ranked 84th in the world.

The 4th round onwards is set.

Mens:

Monfils (17) vs Kecmanovic

Berrettini (7) vs Carreno Busta (19)

Zverev (3) vs Shapavalov (14)

Nadal (6) vs Mannarino

-------------------------------------------

Sinner (11) vs De Minaur (32)

Tsitsipas (4) vs Fritz (20)

Auger-Aliassime (9) vs Cilic (27)

Medvedev (2) vs Cressy


Womens:

Barty (1) vs Anisimova

Sakkari (5) vs Pegula (21)

Krejcikova (4) vs Azarenka (24)

Badosa (8) vs Keys

--------------------------------------------

Mertens (19) vs Collins (27)

Halep (14) vs Cornet

Swiatek (7) vs Cirstea

Sabalenka (2) vs Kanepi

« Last edited by Matt77 on Jan 22nd 2022 »

Rafa ftw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some big upsets happening now. As always, mainly in the womens.

Denis Shapavalov stunned title contender & 3rd seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6 6-3.

Daughter of the Buffalo Bills owner Jessica Pegula easily accounted for 5th seed Maria Sakkari 7-6 6-3. She also made the QF last year too.

Madison Keys destroyed 8th seed Paula Badosa 6-3 6-1.

In-form former 2-time champion Azarenka was also destroyed 2-6 2-6 by 4th seed (but underdog) Barbora Krejcikova.

2-time GS winner Simona Halep was also shocked by veteran Alize Cornet 4-6 6-3 4-6, who made her first ever GS QF.

And finally 2nd seed Aryna Sabalenka lost after winning the 1st set, 7-5 2-6 6-7.

Quarterfinals:

Mens:

Berrettini (7) vs Monfils (17

Nadal (6) vs Shapavalov (14)

-------------------------------------

Tsitsipas (4) vs Sinner (10)

Medvedev (2) vs Auger-Aliassime (9)


Womens:

Barty (1) vs Pegula (21)

Krejcikova (4) vs Keys

--------------------------------------

Collins (27) vs Cornet

Swiatek (7) vs Kanepi

Is it just me, or is it looking like Nadal vs Medvedev? lol

I just want Nadal to win so he beats Novak in the Grand Slam table. Plus he is Spanish and learnt to play at Casteldefels which is a few kilometres away from me in Barcelona.

Quarterfinals are done:

Berrettini (7) d Monfils (17) in 5 sets
Rafa (6) d Shapovalov (14) in 5 sets
Tsitsipas (4) d Sinner (11) in straight sets
Medvedev (2) d Auger Aliassime (9) in 5 sets, saving 1 match point and coming back from 2 sets to love down!

Barty (1) destroyed Pegula (21) in straight sets
Keys d Krejcikova (4) in straight sets
Collins (27) d Cornet in straight sets
Swiatek (7) d Kanepi in 3 sets, coming back from a set down

Rafa was extremely lucky. He led 2 sets to love and allowed Shapovalov back into the match. He then got 'injured' (unsure the extent of this 'injury'), but managed to sneak the win. Auger-Aliassime led 2 sets to love and had break point in the 3rd set. He then had match point in the 4th. And throughout the last 3 sets he consistently choked away BP chances. Mental midget. No wonder he is 0-16 in sets in finals he has played.

Barty is the title favourite by far. She destroyed Pegula 6-2 6-0. She is 26-1 in her last 27 matches, and in the match she lost she served for the match twice...

Semis are:

Nadal [6] vs Berrettini [7] (2021 Wimbledon finalist)

Medvedev [2] vs Tsitsipas [4]

-------------------------------------

Barty [1] vs Keys (4-time GS Semifinalist)

Swiatek [7] (2020 French Open winner) vs Collins [27] (2019 AO Semifinalist)

And the women's final is set! Ash Barty and Danielle Collins destroyed their opponents today.

Rafa vs Medvedev is the final, as expected.

Rafa has been pushed to the limit the last couple of matches, but I am hoping hes got one left for history!

Rafa ftw!!!

Medvedev will be the favourite, but Rafa has a chance.

Interestingly enough, the match to get #21 is cursed. Roger choked 8-7 40-15, and Novak threw away the Calendar Slam with a straight sets loss. Will Rafa let slip AO #2 (giving him at least 2 titles at all slams)?

In terms of fatigue, Rafa will be fine. After his 5 set match vs Shapavalov, he got 2 days rest (all other rounds have a 1 day rest). And he easily accounted for Berrettini; who is a servebot with huge shots. The match wouldn't have been taxing, plus he gets another day rest.

Predictions:

Barty in straight sets

Rafa in 5 sets