ATP/WTA 2020 Australian Summer

[BobbyMorri]

Kiki Ml has lost in the qualies of Brisbane. Lost to the world number #120 odd. Beat Barty in the Fed Cup final one day, lost to someone ranked over 100 the next. Sounds like her.

Barty is playing doubles with Kiki Bertens in Brisbane but with Goerges at the AO. Interesting that Serena is also playing doubles this week with the retiring Wozniacki in smokey Auckland.

Also, this made me laugh.



A lot of players have joined Nicks+the Aussies pledge for Aces for charity. Goerges, Pliskova, Kvitova and I am sure I missed some. And there will be a charity game on the 15th, with unannounced players. I still remember the last one for the floods 10 or so years ago. You can bet all the big names will be there.

 

[Redline]

Apologies if this is a stupid question but Iwill ask it anyway.

With the potential smoke in Melbourne for the Australian Open can they play with the stadium roofs closed and use the indoor courts similar to a rain event or would the air moving in and out of those courts via ventilation/ cooling mean that there is no real difference to the air quality.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Apologies if this is a stupid question but Iwill ask it anyway.

With the potential smoke in Melbourne for the Australian Open can they play with the stadium roofs closed and use the indoor courts similar to a rain event or would the air moving in and out of those courts via ventilation/ cooling mean that there is no real difference to the air quality.

It really isnt a stupid question. I don't even think they know what they are going to do yet. Surely if they are quick enough with the roof, they can keep conditions reasonable for everyone. Smoke doesn't just suddenly appear.

Novak was talking about delaying the AO, but that won't happen as the smoke is not always going to be in Melbourne(assuming the fires stay at the same). I reckon we will get more info when they decide how best to combat this.

 

[Hamingja]

Bajin working with Yastremska now.

That must have been why Bertens opened up the underdog in that match.

Market already overrated Yastremska last year, watch for the appropriate fade all year.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Apologies if this is a stupid question but Iwill ask it anyway.

With the potential smoke in Melbourne for the Australian Open can they play with the stadium roofs closed and use the indoor courts similar to a rain event or would the air moving in and out of those courts via ventilation/ cooling mean that there is no real difference to the air quality.

Closing the roof would help but I bet you would still get a bit of the smoke in there, I can still smell it in my house even when I have all the doors closed. Having said that I very much doubt the fires will still be bad by then and the smoke in Melbourne comes and goes depending on the wind and so on. The only really bad day we’ve had (IMO) was yesterday, I doubt we’ll get a day that bad again this summer.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Zverev would want to sort out that 2nd serve, or it won't be an enjoyable Australian summer for him.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Closing the roof would help but I bet you would still get a bit of the smoke in there, I can still smell it in my house even when I have all the doors closed. Having said that I very much doubt the fires will still be bad by then and the smoke in Melbourne comes and goes depending on the wind and so on. The only really bad day we’ve had (IMO) was yesterday, I doubt we’ll get a day that bad again this summer.

So, basically a wet weather policy. Good for fans and players. The AIr con will filter the smoke out.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Just noticed Schmieds is an alternative for qualies for Hobart. She is in the main draw the Aus Open using a protected ranking, so she will play here if she can get into the draw

Come on Hobart, give last years finalist a Wild Card. You know I would turn up to watch. We(I) love her down here.

 

[Redline]

I have to say I am really enjoying the ATP Cup. So far not many withdrawals and the players are really enjoying it. Obviously a few problems to work through but as a first up event it has worked well.

Even if they stick with the woman's event in Brisbane I think it can work. The amount of centre court games will be the same, they have just swapped games earlier in the week for later.

 

[BobbyMorri]

The Kooyong Classic is so irrelevant nowadays, that I completely forgot about it.

Kooyong

Spoiler: Field

Cilic
Kyrgios
Tomljanovic
Wozniacki
Sharapova
Dimitrov
Raonic
Vandeweghe
Gasquet
Kwon
Coric

If Sharapova is playing the week before Q's, it means she has got a WC.

 

[Hamingja]

The Kooyong Classic is so irrelevant nowadays, that I completely forgot about it.

Kooyong

Spoiler: Field

Cilic
Kyrgios
Tomljanovic
Wozniacki
Sharapova
Dimitrov
Raonic
Vandeweghe
Gasquet
Kwon
Coric

If Sharapova is playing the week before Q's, it means she has got a WC.

Coco too maybe, unless she still has a protected ranking.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Coco too maybe, unless she still has a protected ranking.

she has the US Wild card.

 

[JackNah_8]

The Kooyong Classic is so irrelevant nowadays, that I completely forgot about it.

Kooyong

Spoiler: Field

Cilic
Kyrgios
Tomljanovic
Wozniacki
Sharapova
Dimitrov
Raonic
Vandeweghe
Gasquet
Kwon
Coric

If Sharapova is playing the week before Q's, it means she has got a WC.

I completely forgot about Kooyong Classic

I suppose TA werent going to allow Maria to play in the qualifiers play at the AO

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

The Kooyong Classic is so irrelevant nowadays, that I completely forgot about it.

Kooyong

Spoiler: Field

Cilic
Kyrgios
Tomljanovic
Wozniacki
Sharapova
Dimitrov
Raonic
Vandeweghe
Gasquet
Kwon
Coric

If Sharapova is playing the week before Q's, it means she has got a WC.

Not sure why the field has to be behind a spoiler tag Bobby That line up doesn't inspire me, struggling to muster up enthusiasm to go this year but will probably end up going for one of the days. I wouldn't go to watch Nick or Sharapova even if you paid me. There might be some changes however, there usually is.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Not sure why the field has to be behind a spoiler tag Bobby That line up doesn't inspire me, struggling to muster up enthusiasm to go this year but will probably end up going for one of the days. I wouldn't go to watch Nick or Sharapova even if you paid me. There might be some changes however, there usually is.

I do a spoiler tag so it doesn't make one huge post. You can expand or ignore it but still get the other information I post. It is more relevant for the bigger tournaments when I create a thread. i don't know what spoiler tags do for people who use tapa.

Listing a tournament entry list makes for one hell of a large post.

one more thing. Did Germany make it to the quarters in the ATP Cup. Zverev would need some more match practice. He needs it.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

I do a spoiler tag so it doesn't make one huge post. You can expand or ignore it but still get the other information I post. It is more relevant for the bigger tournaments when I create a thread. i don't know what spoiler tags do for people who use tapa.

Listing a tournament entry list makes for one hell of a large post.

one more thing. Did Germany make it to the quarters in the ATP Cup. Zverev would need some more match practice. He needs it.

Ah I see, fair enough

 

[Caesar]

Kiki Ml has lost in the qualies of Brisbane. Lost to the world number #120 odd. Beat Barty in the Fed Cup final one day, lost to someone ranked over 100 the next. Sounds like her.

Mladenovic is a terrible match-up for Barty, I think she leads their head to head. She isn't afraid of the net, moves well, and handles changes in pace quite comfortably.

If the top players start taking cues from her, then Barty may find 2020 much harder than 2019.

 

[brucetiki]

The big names are starting to pull out of Adelaide.

Venus Williams withdrew on Wednesday, and Novak Djokovic just withdrew.

 

[danstar]

The big names are starting to pull out of Adelaide.

Venus Williams withdrew on Wednesday, and Novak Djokovic just withdrew.

Adelaide will be a meh tournament kind of like Hobart has being for a long time. No real big names

 

[Redline]

Adelaide will be a meh tournament kind of like Hobart has being for a long time. No real big names

Not sure what you are talking about. The women's field is one of the strongest WTA events this year with most of the big names playing just like Sydney always was. Last direct entry was ranked 33.

Novak was never going to play. The top male players don't play the week before a Grand Slam which is why we have the ATP Cup in Sydney.

 

[Redline]

I went to the Adelaide qualifying today. They have done really well with the setup. They have all knew playing courts with additional temporary seating. Players are using Adelaide Oval changerooms and one of the ovals function rooms for the players lounge. They have set up a shortcut so it is actually really close. Players can also use the Pool from the next Generation club which is onsite.

I stood by the footbridge over the Torrens waiting for a friend for five minutes and Daniel Evans and Donna Vekic and others walked across. They are staying at the intercontinental so a five minute walk from the hotel to the tennis courts.

The main issue is while Centre Court has a roof there is no shade on the outside court seating areas. The weather this week is going to be perfect but they are lucky as to have a week of high 20 to low 30 degree temperatures in Adelaide in January is rare. They will need to add more shade next year.

 

[Hamingja]

Adelaide will be a meh tournament kind of like Hobart has being for a long time. No real big names

Hobart fields are pretty good these days. I remember as a kid Chanda Rubin being the drawcard every year.

Mertens and Muguruza are top players. Stosur, Kuznetsova and Garcia have all been top 5 players in the past and while they are no longer anywhere near that level there is some name recognition for the casual fans. Ultimately though it is a tournament that is launching up and coming players.

In the last 10 years Kvitova, Vesnina, Muguruza, Mertens and Kenin have all won their first WTA title in Hobart.

 

[BobbyMorri]

We can't really complain down here TBH. We are a small city. To have had Serena Williams plus all those players you have mentioned, down here in the last 15 years is more than enough for me.

For every Muguruza, Kvitova and Mertens champions, we also have a Heather Watson, Alize Cornet or a Schmieds(runner up), so winning here is not always a pathway to glory.

 

[brucetiki]

I went to the Adelaide qualifying today. They have done really well with the setup. They have all knew playing courts with additional temporary seating. Players are using Adelaide Oval changerooms and one of the ovals function rooms for the players lounge. They have set up a shortcut so it is actually really close. Players can also use the Pool from the next Generation club which is onsite.

I stood by the footbridge over the Torrens waiting for a friend for five minutes and Daniel Evans and Donna Vekic and others walked across. They are staying at the intercontinental so a five minute walk from the hotel to the tennis courts.

The main issue is while Centre Court has a roof there is no shade on the outside court seating areas. The weather this week is going to be perfect but they are lucky as to have a week of high 20 to low 30 degree temperatures in Adelaide in January is rare. They will need to add more shade next year.

I think this shows why Adelaide hasn’t been used for a serious tennis tournament for so long. It’s lucky Memorial Drive is sandwiched between a multi purpose stadium (with spare change rooms) and an upmarket gym. Memorial Drive on it’s own cannot host a major tennis tournament.

The recent upgrade has done little more than install the new roof and give the stands a paint job. The public facilities haven’t been touched at all. I’m hoping there’s a long term plan to replace Memorial Drive, but that’ll require a change of government to happen.

 

[brucetiki]

A dud night session in Adelaide tomorrow night - Delbonis (qualifier) v Duckworth (wild card) followed by Wang v Kerber.