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Friday, September 10, 2021

Can Medvedev Delay Djokovic's Historic Moment?



 Nowadays, when I'm slacking off my work or not meeting my quota for the month, I always think of Novak Djokovic and ask myself, if I were Novak, what would I  be doing to get off my slovenly demeanour.

Mainly because the guy has been incredibly consistent these past few years, winning slam after slam, that in a blink of an eye, he was already on equal terms with the two other GOATS in men's tennis - Roger and Rafa - in terms of number of grand slam tennis.

Without Rafa or Roger challenging him in this US Open, he has basically took hold of the horns of the bull, and in that emphatic semi-final against nemesis Alexander Zverev, basically told everyone, "I'm ready for title #21".

And I am quite pleased, that off all the players in the tour now, it is the Russian Daniil Medvedev who is the last man standing to challenge the overachieving Serb.

Their head-to-head stands at 5-3 but in the past three years, Daniil already has a 3-3 H2H with Djokovic, showing how thrilling this final could be, if  Daniil would just be present.

Interestingly, both players opened the grand slam season earlier this year, in an Australian final where the Russian got a drubbing.  

I just hope Medvedev does not stay passive in this final as he was in Melbourne, because so much has happened the past few months, that I hope he finds it in himself, the weapons as well as the mindset that he can finally win over Novak - in a grand slam setting - and in a finals that is a momentous occasion as well, for the Serb.

I have never really warmed up to Novak, and I love how sly Medvedev plays when he's in form, so it's obvious who I'm cheering for.

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Youth Triumphs in this Year's US Open Women's Final



The fearlessness of youth colors all the columns in this year's US Open women's final as Raducanu and Fernandez come out of nowhere to vie for their very first grand slam titles.

I don't recall a women's grand slam final where both finalists were this young!

Leylah definitely had the harder route to reach the finals, having to beat 2 grand slam champions (Osaka, Kerber) and 2 current top 5 players (Svitolina, Sabalenka).

She SHOULD really win this, hands down making her the second Canadian champion in just 3 years! Canada's Fed Cup team just became very solid!

British player Emma Raducanu's rise is just as spectacular. QF finish in Wimbledon in her FIRST ever grand slam and now a grand slam final in just her SECOND outing!

I could be mistaken, but I think it's only Venus and Serena who made these spectacular debuts during their youth - talagang obliterate the competition.

The only difference is Emma looks so fragile - even model-like with her very slim arms and figure and her gazelle-like movements.

And she looks so relaxed when she's playing, it's frightening. Yun lang, she hasn't ran into a top 10 player in her route to the final - so that could either be a plus or a minus for her preparation.

Either way, it's a boost for women's tennis and to women tennis players of color!