Tennis Anyone

[HoosierHoopster 9,445]

For any tennis fans out there, watching this year's French Open? 

Women's tennis is a blast right now. Love Coco, she's close to becoming genuinely dominant, only thing holding her back is getting more consistent with her serve, just 21 yrs old. 

Women's final of Coco vs. Sabalenka  is only the second no. 1 vs. no. 2 in the French Open final in 30 years, and they're 5-5 against each other. Sabalenka's power and rock solid game vs. Coco's power, speed and quickness. https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/45459558/2025-french-open-women-title-coco-gauff-aryna-sabalenka If Coco keeps her 1st serve going I like her to win -- she beat Sabalenka to end 2024 en route to winning the WTF Finals (and previously to win the US Open), and is now #2 in the World, but Sabalenka is a beast and just beat a resurgent Swiatek to reach the finals - she'll crush Coco's 2nd serve so Coco needs to serve solidly. The French has been such a good tourney, just had this strikingly good French wild card woman, Boisson, who beat multiple top players including two in the top 10 to reach the semi's, where Coco slammed her in straight sets, 

On the men's side thinking we're finally seeing the end of Djokovic but then he goes and beats Zverev in the quarters. Now it's Sinner in the semi's, not slowed by his doping scandal. Alcaraz on the other side against no. 7 Musetti. The level of tennis is crazy, Sinner and Alcaraz will dominate for the next decade, but then the US men finally, after like 20 years, have real contenders going forward in world no. 4 Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul (no. 12) and Shelton (no. 13). 

Really fun tennis to watch right now and likely for the next several years.

[HoosierHoopster 9,445]

And Coco wins the French, on a great 3-setter over Sabalenka — 1st American to win the French in a decade! 

[HoosierHoopster 9,445]

No one else here appears to care about tennis (lol), but seeing Venus, at age 45 (damn that makes me feel old) beat 23 year old and 35th ranked Stearns in a tour-level match is pretty cool.

Oldest player since Navratilova to win a tour-level event, and that was over 20 years ago. 

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/45800257/venus-williams-age-45-dc-open-oldest-woman-win-tour-level-singles-match-martina-navratilova

[moyemayhem 1,814]

I’m also a big tennis fan, mostly on the men’s side.  Alcaraz and Sinner are special, and as you said they will likely dominate for the next decade.  I wouldn’t be shocked if they threaten Djokovic’s major record, which is crazy to say about 2 players that young.  I am not too bullish on any of the American players competing with them outside of Shelton, who is a freak athlete and also happens to have some Indiana ties.

[HoosierHoopster 9,445]

4 minutes ago, moyemayhem said:

I’m also a big tennis fan, mostly on the men’s side.  Alcaraz and Sinner are special, and as you said they will likely dominate for the next decade.  I wouldn’t be shocked if they threaten Djokovic’s major record, which is crazy to say about 2 players that young.  I am not too bullish on any of the American players competing with them outside of Shelton, who is a freak athlete and also happens to have some Indiana ties.

Cool. I like Fritz, though he's not at Sinner's or Alcaraz's level, at least yet, and he's 27 so his window is narrower. Shelton's just 22 so maybe....

[OGIUAndy 1,229]

6 hours ago, HoosierHoopster said:

No one else here appears to care about tennis (lol), but seeing Venus, at age 45 (damn that makes me feel old) beat 23 year old and 35th ranked Stearns in a tour-level match is pretty cool.

Oldest player since Navratilova to win a tour-level event, and that was over 20 years ago. 

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/45800257/venus-williams-age-45-dc-open-oldest-woman-win-tour-level-singles-match-martina-navratilova

I think the most shocking part is it was Venus and not Serena. Venus' last few years were not very good. Her last "good" year was 2017. I think her last singles title was 2016. I know she had a lot of injuries, but to come back after not even really being a top player for close to 10 years and beating a top 50 player is very impressive. 

[HoosierHoopster 9,445]

Just now, OGIUAndy said:

I think the most shocking part is it was Venus and not Serena. Venus' last few years were not very good. Her last "good" year was 2017. I think her last singles title was 2016. I know she had a lot of injuries, but to come back after not even really being a top player for close to 10 years and beating a top 50 player is very impressive. 

Yeah she went through a slew of health issues including a condition that depleted her energy. Great to see her have some success with a return to health and at 45, yeah, impressive.

[OGIUAndy 1,229]

2 hours ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Yeah she went through a slew of health issues including a condition that depleted her energy. Great to see her have some success with a return to health and at 45, yeah, impressive.

I had kind of forgotten about that. Sjögren's Syndrome and she recently had surgery for uterine fibroids.