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Reposted by James Hansen

The Athletic | Tennis @theathletictennis.bsky.social · 1d

A few years ago, Sebastian Korda was tipped to lead American men's tennis.

His talent has never been in question. But injuries have left him facing an uphill battle to fulfil his potential.

“You just kind of have to restart. You’ve got to climb that mountain again."

✍️ @mattfutterman.bsky.social

Sebastian Korda’s tennis talent is in no doubt. His body and brain have met plenty of them

After a series of chastening injuries and frustrated comebacks, Korda is hoping to get his body to where it can let his talent speak freely.

theathletic.com

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 3d

Corentin Moutet vs. Bernard Tomic in Almaty? Well of course it is a scene

James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 4d

Tactically inspired performance from Coco Gauff to essentially junk-ball (complimentary) Jessica Pegula into oblivion. The mini-battles leading up to ball changes were fascinating, Pegula got frustrated by her shots not penetrating down the stretch.

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 4d

Arthur Rinderknech cramping up from spending too long on his haunches during his cousin's speech about sums up this Shanghai Masters

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 4d

Not even the cousins final is immune to the prevailing Shanghai Masters dynamic of "one player is just out of gas"

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 5d

You could not craft a more mentally frying, ironclad “that was her chance” set of circumstances, and she won the tiebreak 7-2!

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 5d

Such a huge mental win for Jessica Pegula. Not just recovering from four double faults — her only four of the match! — when serving for it, but snapping Sabalenka's indomitable tiebreak streak after losing to her four times in a row, in one GS final, one GS semifinal and two 1000 finals

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 8d

Feel like we've gone from unforetold levels of upset to more upset than he should be at any given moment, which bodes well for any future matches they play

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 8d

I sort of agree, but don't think the 3-0, 15-40 slide to 5-4 when he broke back had much to do with that. He's talked himself into being at a tennis disadvantage that didn't really exist until the cramps properly took hold

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 8d

Daniil Medvedev saying Learner Tien is "everywhere" while he is barely breaking the sidelines. This has nothing to do with physicality. He has convinced himself Tien is better than he actually is

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 10d

Why Federer's court speed commentary about Alcaraz and Sinner is sort-of-right and sort-of-wrong, and the problem with a metric which is both objectively measured by tournaments, and experienced subjectively by players

With @cdeccleshare.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Tennis court speed: How Roger Federer started an Alcaraz and Sinner conspiracy theory

The tennis great's comments on whether slower courts benefit the two top men's players provoked heated discussion.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by James Hansen

Charlie Eccleshare @cdeccleshare.bsky.social · 15d

After a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis 5 years ago, Eva Lys has to manage her body carefully. Which is one of the hardest things to do as an athlete.

She explains her ‘less is more’ approach, and why she won’t stay quiet on issues like inequality ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Eva Lys’ tennis rise up the WTA Tour is built on a ‘less is more’ approach. She explains why

The 23-year-old German, diagnosed with spondyloarthritis in 2020, cracked the world’s top 50 for the first time this week.

www.nytimes.com

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 16d

Carlos Alcaraz's break-point shot selections in this match against Taylor Fritz and the previous one against Casper Ruud have been ... Interesting

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · 19d

A lot of Carlos Alcaraz's trademark, bullet-time backhand slices to turn points from defense to attack against Zizou Bergs today.
@mattfutterman.bsky.social wrote about the shot — and the negative space in which Alcaraz flips the script — during Wimbledon www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

Carlos Alcaraz’s tennis brilliance on grass and at Wimbledon, explained by two seconds

Alcaraz's tennis is so often a highlight reel but on grass, he does his most devastating work in the negative spaces of points.

www.nytimes.com

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 7

The Carlos Alcaraz experience

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 5

Alcaraz's shot selection today has been frankly abominable

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 5

There we go

James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 5

Anisimova's backhand down the line is her kill shot and she lost all confidence in it after the first game. So many clear opportunities to go into space that she declined on very makeable balls

James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 5

Anisimova's backhand down the line is her kill shot and she lost all confidence in it after the first game. So many clear opportunities to go into space that she declined on very makeable balls

James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 3

Best match of the tournament so far in terms of liquid tennis and it isn't close

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 3

He spent half an Aus Open conference earlier this year dispelling this notion after serving 215 at 40 percent against Michelsen

James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 3

Don't know if it's reassuring or tragic that Taylor Fritz once again knows exactly what he did wrong against Novak Djokovic.

Yes, the break points, but as he points out in his news conference, he made the wrong decision at 0-15, 0-30 and 15-30 several times over.

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 2

If I were a broadcaster I would give Anisimova her chance ;)

Reposted by James Hansen

Charlie Eccleshare @cdeccleshare.bsky.social · Sep 2

The Botic vdZ loss last year feeds into perception that Alcaraz is streaky + inconsistent. But that's the only time in his last 12 slams he hasn't reached the QFs. And he's reached the final of last 7 events.

On misconceptions and how he's improved ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

Carlos Alcaraz’s tennis results and the gap between inconsistency and turbulence in sports

Alcaraz's wavering focus and up-and-down matches have created a false impression of a player who is on a remarkable winning streak.

www.nytimes.com

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 2

I feel like the American organisation which runs this American tournament with an American player and an American crowd could have, you know, done otherwise

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James Hansen @jameskhansen.bsky.social · Sep 2

With Carlos Alcaraz, you simply have to laugh