• does anyone think Zverev can get past Alcaraz?

    From Sawfish@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, January 29, 2026 18:26:08
    Assuming that Alcaraz play even average, does Zverev have what it takes?

    I have watched Z for years. In a way I like him, but feel sorry for him.
    He does not really like being on the court, like Alcaraz or Sabelenka.
    So he cannot "charge himself up" spontaneously.

    Too, the biggest single weakness I see in his current game is an obvious reluctance to come in. He will, if advised by coaches (it appears)--and
    it can help even if he's not particularly good at it, because it gives
    his opponent an extra thing to think about. Other than that, his game is
    very flat and predictable--uninspired, actually, like a man digging a
    hole with a shovel.

    Right now, all an opponent has to consider is an excellent serve, very competent and forceful ground strokes, and superb conditioning.

    He's mobile for a guy who's 6' 6" (1.98 cm), but this won't win him
    games on its own. I saw him against Learner, and you could see his
    built-in vulnerabilities.

    Jus' sayin'...

    --
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Man! I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!"
    --Sawfish


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From TT@3:633/10 to All on Friday, January 30, 2026 11:39:32
    Sawfish kirjoitti 30.1.2026 klo 4.26:
    Assuming that Alcaraz play even average, does Zverev have what it takes?

    I have watched Z for years. In a way I like him, but feel sorry for him.
    He does not really like being on the court, like Alcaraz or Sabelenka.
    So he cannot "charge himself up" spontaneously.

    Too, the biggest single weakness I see in his current game is an obvious reluctance to come in. He will, if advised by coaches (it appears)--and
    it can help even if he's not particularly good at it, because it gives
    his opponent an extra thing to think about. Other than that, his game is very flat and predictable--uninspired, actually, like a man digging a
    hole with a shovel.

    Right now, all an opponent has to consider is an excellent serve, very competent and forceful ground strokes, and superb conditioning.

    He's mobile for a guy who's 6' 6" (1.98 cm), but this won't win him
    games on its own. I saw him against Learner, and you could see his
    built-in vulnerabilities.

    Jus' sayin'...


    I did think so, that's why I commented on Zverev's "deserve".

    Turns out that maybe "deserve's got nothing to do with it"... Zverev was serving for the match & then lost his next two service games & match. It
    may not just be about unfavourable distribution but mental weakness.
    Carlos did however play well getting those breaks.

    Match was over 5 hours, both seemed to be struggling physically. Going
    to be difficult to recover for Sunday.

    Next up Sinner vs. Djoke.
    I'd favour Sinner bigly as he plays the exact same doped backboard game
    as Djokovic but likely much better atm. Then again I haven't yet seen
    either play in this tournament so what do I know.

    Vamos Alkie!

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Sawfish@3:633/10 to All on Friday, January 30, 2026 08:52:59
    On 1/30/26 1:39 AM, TT wrote:
    Sawfish kirjoitti 30.1.2026 klo 4.26:
    Assuming that Alcaraz play even average, does Zverev have what it takes?

    I have watched Z for years. In a way I like him, but feel sorry for
    him. He does not really like being on the court, like Alcaraz or
    Sabelenka. So he cannot "charge himself up" spontaneously.

    Too, the biggest single weakness I see in his current game is an
    obvious reluctance to come in. He will, if advised by coaches (it
    appears)--and it can help even if he's not particularly good at it,
    because it gives his opponent an extra thing to think about. Other
    than that, his game is very flat and predictable--uninspired,
    actually, like a man digging a hole with a shovel.

    Right now, all an opponent has to consider is an excellent serve, very
    competent and forceful ground strokes, and superb conditioning.

    He's mobile for a guy who's 6' 6" (1.98 cm), but this won't win him
    games on its own. I saw him against Learner, and you could see his
    built-in vulnerabilities.

    Jus' sayin'...


    I did think so, that's why I commented on Zverev's "deserve".

    Turns out that maybe "deserve's got nothing to do with it"... Zverev was serving for the match & then lost his next two service games & match. It
    may not just be about unfavourable distribution but mental weakness.
    Carlos did however play well getting those breaks.

    Match was over 5 hours, both seemed to be struggling physically. Going
    to be difficult to recover for Sunday.

    Cripes, it was a whole lot closer than I ever thought it could be!!!!

    Next up Sinner vs. Djoke.
    I'd favour Sinner bigly as he plays the exact same doped backboard game
    as Djokovic but likely much better atm. Then again I haven't yet seen
    either play in this tournament so what do I know.


    I awoke to the giant surprise that Djok had won. I can only surmise that
    the weather somehow got to Sinner.


    Vamos Alkie!


    --
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a
    democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you
    don?t have to waste your time voting."

    --Charles Bukowski ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scall5@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, January 31, 2026 05:20:52
    On 1/30/2026 10:52 AM, Sawfish wrote:
    On 1/30/26 1:39 AM, TT wrote:
    Sawfish kirjoitti 30.1.2026 klo 4.26:
    Assuming that Alcaraz play even average, does Zverev have what it takes? >>>
    I have watched Z for years. In a way I like him, but feel sorry for
    him. He does not really like being on the court, like Alcaraz or
    Sabelenka. So he cannot "charge himself up" spontaneously.

    Too, the biggest single weakness I see in his current game is an
    obvious reluctance to come in. He will, if advised by coaches (it
    appears)--and it can help even if he's not particularly good at it,
    because it gives his opponent an extra thing to think about. Other
    than that, his game is very flat and predictable--uninspired,
    actually, like a man digging a hole with a shovel.

    Right now, all an opponent has to consider is an excellent serve,
    very competent and forceful ground strokes, and superb conditioning.

    He's mobile for a guy who's 6' 6" (1.98 cm), but this won't win him
    games on its own. I saw him against Learner, and you could see his
    built-in vulnerabilities.

    Jus' sayin'...


    I did think so, that's why I commented on Zverev's "deserve".

    Turns out that maybe "deserve's got nothing to do with it"... Zverev
    was serving for the match & then lost his next two service games &
    match. It may not just be about unfavourable distribution but mental
    weakness.
    Carlos did however play well getting those breaks.

    Match was over 5 hours, both seemed to be struggling physically. Going
    to be difficult to recover for Sunday.

    Cripes, it was a whole lot closer than I ever thought it could be!!!!

    Next up Sinner vs. Djoke.
    I'd favour Sinner bigly as he plays the exact same doped backboard
    game as Djokovic but likely much better atm. Then again I haven't yet
    seen either play in this tournament so what do I know.


    I awoke to the giant surprise that Djok had won. I can only surmise that
    the weather somehow got to Sinner.


    Vamos Alkie!


    Pisses me off that I missed (slept because of work) the last four sets
    of this match, Zverev should have won the 1st. I hope his hard work is rewarded with at least a few slams.
    --
    ---------------
    Scall5

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scall5@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, January 31, 2026 13:16:00
    On 1/31/2026 7:17 AM, Pelle Svansl”s wrote:
    On 31.1.2026 13.20, Scall5 wrote:
    On 1/30/2026 10:52 AM, Sawfish wrote:
    On 1/30/26 1:39 AM, TT wrote:
    Sawfish kirjoitti 30.1.2026 klo 4.26:
    Assuming that Alcaraz play even average, does Zverev have what it
    takes?

    I have watched Z for years. In a way I like him, but feel sorry for >>>>> him. He does not really like being on the court, like Alcaraz or
    Sabelenka. So he cannot "charge himself up" spontaneously.

    Too, the biggest single weakness I see in his current game is an
    obvious reluctance to come in. He will, if advised by coaches (it
    appears)--and it can help even if he's not particularly good at it, >>>>> because it gives his opponent an extra thing to think about. Other
    than that, his game is very flat and predictable--uninspired,
    actually, like a man digging a hole with a shovel.

    Right now, all an opponent has to consider is an excellent serve,
    very competent and forceful ground strokes, and superb conditioning. >>>>>
    He's mobile for a guy who's 6' 6" (1.98 cm), but this won't win him >>>>> games on its own. I saw him against Learner, and you could see his
    built-in vulnerabilities.

    Jus' sayin'...


    I did think so, that's why I commented on Zverev's "deserve".

    Turns out that maybe "deserve's got nothing to do with it"... Zverev
    was serving for the match & then lost his next two service games &
    match. It may not just be about unfavourable distribution but mental
    weakness.
    Carlos did however play well getting those breaks.

    Match was over 5 hours, both seemed to be struggling physically.
    Going to be difficult to recover for Sunday.

    Cripes, it was a whole lot closer than I ever thought it could be!!!!

    Next up Sinner vs. Djoke.
    I'd favour Sinner bigly as he plays the exact same doped backboard
    game as Djokovic but likely much better atm. Then again I haven't
    yet seen either play in this tournament so what do I know.


    I awoke to the giant surprise that Djok had won. I can only surmise
    that the weather somehow got to Sinner.


    Vamos Alkie!


    Pisses me off that I missed (slept because of work) the last four sets
    of this match, Zverev should have won the 1st. I hope his hard work is
    rewarded with at least a few slams.

    I only saw the somewhat FFd highlights. Looks like Z pussyfooted it away when serving for the fifth. I think I've seen that before. He is close
    to winning, though. After all, he does have 10 slams on paper.


    Took Lendl a while to brake the dam, but once he did...
    --
    ---------------
    Scall5

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Sawfish@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, January 31, 2026 11:53:46
    On 1/31/26 11:16 AM, Scall5 wrote:
    On 1/31/2026 7:17 AM, Pelle Svansl”s wrote:
    On 31.1.2026 13.20, Scall5 wrote:
    On 1/30/2026 10:52 AM, Sawfish wrote:
    On 1/30/26 1:39 AM, TT wrote:
    Sawfish kirjoitti 30.1.2026 klo 4.26:
    Assuming that Alcaraz play even average, does Zverev have what it >>>>>> takes?

    I have watched Z for years. In a way I like him, but feel sorry
    for him. He does not really like being on the court, like Alcaraz >>>>>> or Sabelenka. So he cannot "charge himself up" spontaneously.

    Too, the biggest single weakness I see in his current game is an
    obvious reluctance to come in. He will, if advised by coaches (it >>>>>> appears)--and it can help even if he's not particularly good at
    it, because it gives his opponent an extra thing to think about.
    Other than that, his game is very flat and predictable--
    uninspired, actually, like a man digging a hole with a shovel.

    Right now, all an opponent has to consider is an excellent serve, >>>>>> very competent and forceful ground strokes, and superb conditioning. >>>>>>
    He's mobile for a guy who's 6' 6" (1.98 cm), but this won't win
    him games on its own. I saw him against Learner, and you could see >>>>>> his built-in vulnerabilities.

    Jus' sayin'...


    I did think so, that's why I commented on Zverev's "deserve".

    Turns out that maybe "deserve's got nothing to do with it"...
    Zverev was serving for the match & then lost his next two service
    games & match. It may not just be about unfavourable distribution
    but mental weakness.
    Carlos did however play well getting those breaks.

    Match was over 5 hours, both seemed to be struggling physically.
    Going to be difficult to recover for Sunday.

    Cripes, it was a whole lot closer than I ever thought it could be!!!! >>>>>
    Next up Sinner vs. Djoke.
    I'd favour Sinner bigly as he plays the exact same doped backboard
    game as Djokovic but likely much better atm. Then again I haven't
    yet seen either play in this tournament so what do I know.


    I awoke to the giant surprise that Djok had won. I can only surmise
    that the weather somehow got to Sinner.


    Vamos Alkie!


    Pisses me off that I missed (slept because of work) the last four
    sets of this match, Zverev should have won the 1st. I hope his hard
    work is rewarded with at least a few slams.

    I only saw the somewhat FFd highlights. Looks like Z pussyfooted it
    away when serving for the fifth. I think I've seen that before. He is
    close to winning, though. After all, he does have 10 slams on paper.


    Took Lendl a while to brake the dam, but once he did...

    Zverev's head is what has kept him from winning majors. I don't see any
    real improvement there in the last couple of years.


    --
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Man! I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!"
    --Sawfish

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)