Going to turn on the Tomljanović match in a minute. This is a big test for her, the #5 seed and will be her top result in a major if she pulls it off. I forgot how much I actually love tennis, I really haven’t watched very much since Sharapova retired.
As happy as I am that Nick lost, I do wonder if it sets up a more boring semifinal. I think Ruud takes it easily. Weirder things could happen, but I hope they don't because as much as a wide open Grand Slam can be fun once in awhile, it would be disappointing to come away with Khachanov being the winner. Maybe it won't matter with the way Tiafoe/Sinner/Alcaraz/Rublev are playing. I'm cool with any of those four winning. Gauff played fine but Garcia is playing on an entirely different level than anyone else. As cool as it would have been to have Serena retire and the torch be handed off to Gauff, there are simply some better players than Gauff right now. And there's nothing wrong with that; Gauff is only eighteen. I hope a narrative doesn't emerge with her that she can't win a Grand Slam. She is close but a few tweaks with her game and she will come away with one here soon.
"ESPN said Tuesday that Williams' expected farewell to Flushing Meadows was the most-watched tennis telecast in the network's 43-year history. Her loss last Friday to Ajla Tomljanovic drew 4.6 million viewers. The previous record of 3.9 million was for the 2012 Wimbledon final, when Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray, in ESPN's first year with exclusivity. The ratings peaked for the Williams match at 6.9 million viewers in the 10:15 p.m. quarter-hour as the match wound down. Through the first five days of the US Open, an average of 1.1. million viewers tuned in to ESPN networks, up 101% versus 2021. These are the most-viewed first five days of the US Open on record on ESPN networks. Williams' second-round victory over Anett Kontaveit averaged 3.6 million viewers."
Tiafoe advances to the semifinals! I feel gutted for Rublev though. He was breaking down during changeovers. This probably felt like his best chance at winning it all given how well he was playing and how wide open the field was.
Yeah absolutely agreed. Tiafoe has been playing an incredibly effective aggressive game. His service his huge and he’s been clutch at the net. But it’s really his ground stoke game being just consistent enough, and him being mentally resilient, which is allowing him to be as clutch as he has. Really fascinating stuff for the semis!!
I'm pissed that I probably missed the match of the year last night/this morning between Jannik and Carlos. The future of tennis is in good hands with those two.
I had Sinner/Alcatraz on in the background while working so I could hear that it ruled but I’m excited for the extended highlights
Even if Frances goes down, he should be proud of the effort he has put forth. I have never seen a 19-year-old so composed. Carlos is a different breed.