The Tennis Thread

[Bonefish Blues]

What you all said. Historic stuff.

[McGee_22]

I can see Miss Raducanu staying in the States for a while yet; I suspect her showing in the US Open will get her invited to the Chicago Fall competition (WTA500) and then the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells (WTA1000) - she might keep accruing good points and if her form continues could well end up near or inside the worlds top 20 to start next season with invitations to the Grand Slam and WTA1000 events instead of all that time consuming qualifying nonsense and Challenger Circuit stuff.

I hope, really hope, her performance can inspire the other younger British ladies who have been struggling to make an impact on the World Stage and perhaps get some extra fight out of Heather Watson and Johanna Konta who might have otherwise been at the end of the careers at 29 and 30 respectively.

[Leithen]

Remarkably composed and such a complete game. She’ll have tough times to come, but what an achievement.

[Oilchange]

Blimey! Going to watch it on Amazon catch up.
I bet the sponsors will be crawling over each other to sign her up.

[DFLR]

Outstanding.

No other word for it.

The BBC need to televise the final.

[anonymous-user]

Great result. Based on this form she certainly has a very good chance indeed vs Fernandez.

[Blackpuddin]

I know this is an old saw and doubtless it will be poo-poohed as usual but I wonder what level of male player you would need to be to beat her. Obviously she can't compete on service but her ground stroke power, accuracy, retrieving and volleying don't look that different to a good man's.

[Oilchange]

Her return of service is so strong, almost faultless. I reckon it unsettles her opponents after they’ve smashed it at her.

[PhilboSE]

Oilchange said:

I bet the sponsors will be crawling over each other to sign her up.

I was thinking that this morning. Young, pretty, olive skinned, mixture of Caucasian and Asian features, speaks English and Mandarin, achieving unprecedented things in the game (first qualifier in a Slam final), breakthrough in the US and winning fans there. She has truly global appeal.

The sponsors will be sitting down today wondering just how big a cheque to write. Good luck to her.

[DFLR]

Blackpuddin said:

I know this is an old saw and doubtless it will be poo-poohed as usual but I wonder what level of male player you would need to be to beat her. Obviously she can't compete on service but her ground stroke power, accuracy, retrieving and volleying don't look that different to a good man's.

It's not important today.

[eps]

Wow, just wow!

The Final will be amazing, 18yr old vs 19yr old!

[hyphen]

Without wanting to rain on her parade. I just read her route to the final and she has fought no one I have heard of.

Her opponent in the final is ranked 73rd? So did no one else enter this tournament or summat?

In short, is the press hyping it all up?

[eps]

hyphen said:

Without wanting to rain on her parade. I just read her route to the final and she has fought no one I have heard of.

Her opponent in the final is ranked 73rd? So did no one else enter this tournament or summat?

In short, is the press hyping it all up?

You can only play the person in front of you.

[DFLR]

hyphen said:

In short, is the press hyping it all up?

She's not lost a set. No need for any hype.

[ch37]

hyphen said:

Without wanting to rain on her parade. I just read her route to the final and she has fought no one I have heard of.

Her opponent in the final is ranked 73rd? So did no one else enter this tournament or summat?

In short, is the press hyping it all up?

She has beat (amongst others):

The Olympic Champion

The player who beat the world #1 in the previous round

The top 5 players in the world all took part in the US Open, so it's not as though it's been an odd year with injuries etc.

[Miocene]

PhilboSE said:

Oilchange said:

I bet the sponsors will be crawling over each other to sign her up.

I was thinking that this morning. Young, pretty, olive skinned, mixture of Caucasian and Asian features, speaks English and Mandarin, achieving unprecedented things in the game (first qualifier in a Slam final), breakthrough in the US and winning fans there. She has truly global appeal.

The sponsors will be sitting down today wondering just how big a cheque to write. Good luck to her.

She looks to be sponsored by Nike for her clothes, but I don't imagine her contract will have a bonus stipulated for getting to the final of a slam somehow!

[Leithen]

Her tennis has been exceptional. And it’s across all areas of the game. Everyone needs to be cautious, but if she is able to build further on what she already has and stay fit, the game has a new star.

[JagLover]

Blackpuddin said:

I know this is an old saw and doubtless it will be poo-poohed as usual but I wonder what level of male player you would need to be to beat her. Obviously she can't compete on service but her ground stroke power, accuracy, retrieving and volleying don't look that different to a good man's.

Not really relevant as women's sport is its own thing and should be supported as such.

Speed of groundstrokes aren't really the relevant differentiator in any case it is speed around the court and the spin on the ball. It is widely acknowledged that no female player is likely to beat any male player in the top 200-300.

[tarquin274]

Miocene said:

She looks to be sponsored by Nike for her clothes, but I don't imagine her contract will have a bonus stipulated for getting to the final of a slam somehow!

Excellent. Maybe she can now afford to get a new tennis outfit with $1.25m banked...

That said I've never agreed with equal prize money for the best of three sets. Pay per hour played will be massively higher in the womens' game.

[eps]

It's never been done before. Not in the Mens or the Womens. No Qualifier has ever reached the Final of the US Open.

History in the making.

She'll be seeded for the Australian Open!!!

Edited by eps on Friday 10th September 09:57