Cincinnati Masters 2025, Ohio, US - ATP Masters 1000

[Moxie]

I am not sure he has asthma? I am aware he has diabetes I will have to check, anyway it helped
No he dosent have asthma, I know he suffered from pneumonia that was back in 2024, which of course affects your lungs and breathing capacity

I got the answer to the inhaler from the commies today. Sascha was having breathing problems, in the heat, and it was the trainer that gave him the inhaler. So it was a one-off. @Front242 can relax, in case I riled him up.

 

[Moxie]

First set to Alcaraz. ¡Vamos!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I got the answer to the inhaler from the commies today. Sascha was having breathing problems, in the heat, and it was the trainer that gave him the inhaler. So it was a one-off. @Front242 can relax, in case I riled him up.

Great minds I was going to post that news earlier, it was the heat, well all the players in Cincy have suffered the heat conditions as well, you have to prepare the night before especially if it is going to be hot and humid
Zverev back to me looks okay he was serving around 89% first serve, the thing with a good serve is what you do after the first serve goes in that matters

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Okay I will pay that Sic cross court fhand bullet passing shot from Carlos!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Memo to Zverev
Stay away from the net!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

4 DFs Carlos and Zverev is not moving to return your serves
Wake Up Carlos'
Broken
Zverev has called for the doctor

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Zverev has gone off court for treatment for a MTO
Carlos should be 3 love up in the 2nd set
Carlos has to remained focused and not worrying about what his opponent is doing over the net
Play has resumed

 

[Moxie]

Zverev looks rough. I'm sure he doesn't want to give up on this match, but if it's his back, he should look forward to his fitness for the US Open.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I still cant believe it is 3 games all, 2nd set with Zverev can hardly move

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Zverev looks rough. I'm sure he doesn't want to give up on this match, but if it's his back, he should look forward to his fitness for the US Open.

He can hardly move what is the point staying on court it is now love 40 on his serve
I am mad with Carlos for losing his focus

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Carlos wins 64 63

 

[Moxie]

That was unfortunate. Clearly Sascha was hampered. Kudos to him for sticking it out.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

That was unfortunate. Clearly Sascha was hampered. Kudos to him for sticking it out.

I do have to give him credit for sticking it out

 

[kskate2]

Yeah, Carlos could do with spending half a day with Pete Sampras, learning the benefits of being economical - and cruel. But he’s also a player with a big target on his back, for a long time now. He’s a notch on the bedpost. Players raise their games against him, and the nature of his game is that he gives them shots…

This match w/ Zed is a prime example. He saw dude wasn't right, but he lost his focus even more than he already does on a normal day and drug this out. Finally after Zed pretty much donated the last 3 games, Chuck decided to put him out of his misery.

 

[Kieran]

This match w/ Zed is a prime example. He saw dude wasn't right, but he lost his focus even more than he already does on a normal day and drug this out. Finally after Zed pretty much donated the last 3 games, Chuck decided to put him out of his misery.

Reminds me of the Australian Open match with Novak. Carlos won the first then played at Novaks pace for the rest of it.

 

[Kieran]

I think the final is a bigger match for Carlos than it is for Jannik, with regards to heading to New York. After Wimbledon, the rivalry became Advantage Sinner, and he’s won the last three hard court slams.

But though I think Carlos is the much better player, he’s also less consistent. He’ll focus, and destroy.

7-6 in the third.

 

[El Dude]

I think the final is a bigger match for Carlos than it is for Jannik, with regards to heading to New York. After Wimbledon, the rivalry became Advantage Sinner, and he’s won the last three hard court slams.

But though I think Carlos is the much better player, he’s also less consistent. He’ll focus, and destroy.

7-6 in the third.

Much better? Come, now. I do think his best level is better - he's got more magic, more awe-inspiring moments. But much? Seems like Irish hyperbolic poetry to me. I mean, look at Roland Garros. Carlos is a more established clay player, but he still just barely beat Jannik.

Anyhow, I'm of two minds about the importance of the final. On one hand, it is big for both: For Carlos, it will be a huge boost in confidence that he can beat Jannik on hards and stop the momentum swing. For Jannik, it is less about winning it and more about not losing. Winning would be nice for momentum, but losing might plant a seed of doubt.

On the other, both of these guys are true champions, not just in terms of their physical talent but their mentality. When Cincy is over, the winner will celebrate, the loser reflect, but both will quickly move on to prepare for the US Open and bring their best there.

Think for a moment about what Jannik did just a month ago: After losing a heart-breaking squeaker in which he was the clear underdog at Roland Garros, he turned around and beat Carlos at arguably his best Slam. Or think of how Carlos will go AWOL in a given match, or even period of a season, then focus in and blow everyone away. The point being, regardless of tomorrow's outcome, both will be focused and ready for the US Open.

 

[El Dude]

Or to put it another way, I kind of see it like this. If we imagine tennis ability on a scale of 100, then:

ALCARAZ:
A+ Game (very best level): 100
A Game (typical top form): 90
B Game (not best form): 80

SINNER:
A+ Game: 97
A Game: 92
B Game: 85

Or something like that (with possible adjustments for surface and health). The numbers themselves are just illustrative of the point: Carlos's A+ game is truly astonishing - really, as good as any I've seen, but Jannik's is still amazing, and his A and B games are a bit higher.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Or to put it another way, I kind of see it like this. If we imagine tennis ability on a scale of 100, then:

ALCARAZ:
A+ Game (very best level): 100
A Game (typical top form): 90
B Game (not best form): 80

SINNER:
A+ Game: 97
A Game: 92
B Game: 85

Or something like that (with possible adjustments for surface and health). The numbers themselves are just illustrative of the point: Carlos's A+ game is truly astonishing - really, as good as any I've seen, but Jannik's is still amazing, and his A and B games are a bit higher.

I give the edge to Sinner on a fast hard court, he has been 'clutch' so far at Cincy where the court suits him. where Alcaraz has had dips in his game and lost his focus at Cincy, I know in the final he will 'step up' he will have to.

 

[Kieran]

Much better? Come, now. I do think his best level is better - he's got more magic, more awe-inspiring moments. But much? Seems like Irish hyperbolic poetry to me. I mean, look at Roland Garros. Carlos is a more established clay player, but he still just barely beat Jannik.

Anyhow, I'm of two minds about the importance of the final. On one hand, it is big for both: For Carlos, it will be a huge boost in confidence that he can beat Jannik on hards and stop the momentum swing. For Jannik, it is less about winning it and more about not losing. Winning would be nice for momentum, but losing might plant a seed of doubt.

On the other, both of these guys are true champions, not just in terms of their physical talent but their mentality. When Cincy is over, the winner will celebrate, the loser reflect, but both will quickly move on to prepare for the US Open and bring their best there.

Think for a moment about what Jannik did just a month ago: After losing a heart-breaking squeaker in which he was the clear underdog at Roland Garros, he turned around and beat Carlos at arguably his best Slam. Or think of how Carlos will go AWOL in a given match, or even period of a season, then focus in and blow everyone away. The point being, regardless of tomorrow's outcome, both will be focused and ready for the US Open.

Okay, "much" is slightly partisan, but I think Carlos just has so much more gift than Jannik. it's like McEnroe and Borg - Mac was so much more gifted, whereas Bjorn had endless patience and consistency, which are precious gifts in themselves, winning qualities, but I wasn't talking about them qualities. One thing Sinner has over Carlos is that the younger man is less consistent, and he gives opportunities which Sinner doesn't really give. Meanwhile I think they're both mentally tough. There's a stage Carlos has to reach where - like Sampras in 1993, he owns his ability and forces it on others with more cool. More cruel.

I don't think he's there yet, but I hope that in the next 12 months we see him live in that rarefied air where only the very best live. He's good enough, and if he does, then Sinner will be Agassi..