tennis gut

Sincaraz? Alcarinner?  Whatever you call it there’s no denying the duopoly ruling men’s tennis.  They’ve won the last seven slams, and lead the rankings and the points race by huge margins.  They’ve been staging some epic finals this year, Cincinnati’s retirement notwithstanding. Will we be treated to another epic or can someone else worm into the final – maybe a Shelton, Fritz, or dare I say, Djokovic?   First Quarter Jannik Sinner will have been #1 for 65 straight weeks by the time the next US Open champion is crowned.   But that streak is in jeopardy.   If Alcaraz wins this tournament he will regain the #1 ranking.   It’s a little unfair to Sinner perhaps since he didn’t get to play three months in spring.   I suspect his grip on #1 would be firmer if he had.   Both players are brilliant. Sinner is more consistent, and Alcaraz has a higher ceiling with more flash and panache in his game.   But it is Sinner’s consistency that ma...

Iga Swiatek has been ripping up the summer swing, winning Wimbledon and Cincinnati. She seems to be most pundits’ pick for the US Open title, including the bookies.  But are they right?  Aryna Sabalenka has been #1 all year and is still the most consistent performer, leading the yearly points race.  She’s the defending champion and seems at her best on hard court.  And then there’s Coco Gauff, who won here two years ago and added a second slam this year at Roland Garros.  She’s not been showing form, but that has proved little impediment in the past.  These three are the top three seeds and the bookies have them as their top three picks, the only women with single digit odds.  So who will it be?   First Quarter Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed and has a tour-leading three titles from seven finals this year. However the commentariat is looking slightly askance at her since she has not claimed a slam title.   Her biggest titles this year ...