Dave Smith

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@morganwick @mzemek This is the first time he is a clear favorite though in a GS Final. He's had issues in his career raising his level to beat those better than him but rarely has struggled to beat people he's supposed to beat

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@FlopMerchant Iga is #11 in the year end race, super close to #10 but around 500 points behind #9. Unless she does have a big result at some point this year she might not stay in top 10.

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@DoubleFaultPod I think his fundamental issue hasn't changed though, which is that Sinner and Alcaraz are better than him. Maybe this will give him more confidence, but I feel like until he wins won going through them it doesn't feel like him winning this really upends the status quo or anything

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@Romeo13447 @josemorgado I mean, Cobolli hasn’t played that much tennis so he doesn’t really need the rest. And I feel like players often say getting a retirement like this throws off their rhythm because Cobolli will go into the final not having played in 4 days

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@TheAlexBancila I mean, Sharapova reached 20 grand slams SFs and 10 Fs and only ended up winning 5. Which is very similar to Sabalenka right now, arguably they have the same problem of getting deep consistently and not closing it out.

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@christophclarey If she wins, or maybe even reaches the final, they for sure have to get it to her I think. But if she loses in the semis I don't think they will

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@MP0000015 @JAshley999 @RamoFootball I'm not saying it's inconsistent, just that's it's sort of a stupid practice in general. Given how much tennis this is happening all the time, I feel like the window should be a bit shorter. There's no reason the tournament needs 6 weeks

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@mzemek Her career reminds me a little bit of Sharapova, who made 20 slam SF, 10 finals but "only" ended up with 5 major wins. Obviously Sharapova at least had Serena as an excuse for a lot of those loses.

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@RamoFootball surely if she wins it, they would give her a wildcard at least

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@JAshley999 @RamoFootball I think it quite dumb they do the entry rankings before the french open, given how many points are on offer and how it shifts the rankings so much.

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@TheSinnersDrea1 I've been wondering if he is a bit of a victim of his own dominance. He's so good that he barely even plays 3 set matches during the normal tour, let alone 5 at the slams, that he is never having to push himself mentally or physically in those long battles

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@starchanton @Zwxsh don't get me wrong, I don't want Zverev to win either. But I feel like unless he completely implodes, it's just such an easy path for him

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@starchanton @Zwxsh who's left that can really beat him? Mensik and Fonseca have played even more tennis than Jodar and might beat each other up more physically in quarters.

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@tennisbish At the end of a day, a slam is a slam. Almost no one is going to remember or care that Sinner and Alcaraz weren't there in the later stages, just who the winner was.

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@livbeblossomed It's crazy how I Just Might is like the 40th most streamed song but still in the top 5 because of insane airplay

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@Zwxsh I would say false, simply because he didn't beat either of them to get this title so I don't think he gets the sort of muscle memory or mental boost in those match ups.

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@tommoore770 @pavyg According to Pavy they are never going to win another slam. lmao

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@chatsh3 @ItzzZain10 I think that random Wimbledon win, where she didn't even face a top 10 player, has really skewed people about Iga's current level. She really has dropped off quite a lot

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@villo34 @Zwxsh In the Cerundolo match sure, but what's the excuse for all the other 7 loses in this post?

[Dave Smith @totalobvi]

@nitka15241 It's crazy they think he shouldn't move for a month and then just rock up to a grand slam. lmao