Danielle Collins - tip of the cap! Was ranked 23 in the world a few years ago — needed to have a large ovarian cyst removed — was out of tennis recovering and her ranking dropped.
Seems won 2 WTA titles since 2021 and made it all the way to the final of the Australian Open losing to Ash Barty (who is now a 3 time Major winner).
Barty - first Aussie woman to win Aussie Open since 1978. Barty has won 3 different majors including the French Open and Wimbledon… so she’s won one on every service and just needs the US Open title for a career grand slam.
Barty is not physically imposing - but her skill seems to be a notch above others right now — a little bit like Federer
Daniil Medvedev - 6’6’’ - 25 years old - #2 in the world and US Open Champion. He has also been runner up at 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open.
He’s an elite hard court player - and has made the Quarters in France and 4th Round at Wimbledon.
He’s 1-3 vs. Rafa Nadal but the one win was their most recent match
He beat Novak in US Open when Joker was going for his 21st major title. He’s got a chance to win his second Grand Slam title and to thwart Nadal from winning his 21st major title.
When Nadal and Joker stop winning majors, it’s not going to be because of each other - it’s going to be a combination of a younger player rising above them and/or Father Time taking away their skills and/or health — like it’s finally doing to Roger Federer
Nadal is in his 29th grand slam final — he’s 20-8 in the previous 28.
Joker is 20-11 in his 33 finals
Roger is 20-11 in his 33 finals
The only guys to beat Rafa in a Grand Slam final are Joker, Roger and one time Stan the man Wrawrinka
He beat Medvedev in 2019 US Open Final — Medvedev has improved since then
When Rafa is healthy he’s tough to beat — he seems pretty healthy
When Roger was Rafa’s age now — he had that final burst of GS titles
Who Wins tonight?
Novak is his own worst enemy — he got himself DQ’d at 2020 US Open and got himself deported from Australia in 2022.
If Rafa wins tonight — and wins 2 more French Opens — he’d have 23… Does Joker end up with 24+?
Why don’t older stars focus on doubles and building the doubles game up… it’s almost like being on the Senior PGA tour — but you’re actually still competing at the highest level.
Instead of pedestrian singles players getting toil in anonymity — the right starts focusing on doubles in their late 30s and 40s could grow the sport, grow revenues, etc.
Nick Kyrgios won the doubles title today with a partner i’d never heard of… but Kyrgios is the Dennis Rodman of tennis in many way — lots of flash, not a ton of focus, lots go talent — I only know who won because I know who he is… and he’s not even a consistent winner on tour in singles