Watching the numbers. Stubbs on the AO finals - Men vs Women Viewership

 The Stubbs post declaring that the women's final surpassed the men in viewership was factually incorrect.  Yet, she used them to suggest that women's tennis had finally arrived.   It was a great match but don't pretend that the men's final was ho-hum.  It was a retribution for last year when Novak was arbitrarily confined and sent home due to mass psychosis in play in Australia.   A year later most know he was right to take the stand that he did.  A few holdouts that can't admit a mistake continue on with their attacks.   

She used Australian numbers. Very parochial. No Aussies in the finals. Barty was the previous big draw before on the women's side. Viewership on the women's side dropped the most this time. I'd like to see international numbers.  

Update: she took the post down because of the heavy response to the fake numbers.   

Citizen fact checkers win the day.

 

 

Novak Returns to the Australian Open - No longer a Villain

 This is a nice NYT article that feels balanced in reporting compared to previous accounts by most sports writers last year.  Many are still glued to their anger at Novak for not submitting.

NYT Article

Alcaraz out of AO - Injury

Another out for an injury.

ATP - Alcaraz

Raducanu early exit from injury

It's easy to judge someone at a distance. I remember when Fed and Novak were beset with problems that caused them to quit playing a match. No one would call either of them wimps now with justification. Her problems started with coaching changes that were from advice she took based on her age and inexperience. Hopefully, she'll begin to trust her own counsel.

 

 

Raducanu out

Novak offers help to Nick

 This is a nice act of kindness to help repay that same support Nick game him last year.

Novak

Adelaide tournament director: 'Sharp' Novak Djokovic ready to take on all contenders

Novak Djokovic ready to take on all contenders

Australia Open to Djokovic for 2023 - Considers Banning Russians - Sports Minister

Australian Open

At some point, countries that ban athletes based on bad policy should have their events taken from them.  

Punishing Russian citizens for the actions of their country is bad policy.

Novak - AO Update - Support Increases

 Pushback Drops from Australians

Australia Paying Price for Mistreatment of Novak Djokovic

 Potential tourists don't like what they saw.   I would never visit there based on what they did to a high profile visitor since I would never even be noticed if I were to be hauled away.  

Forget that place.

Australian Gulag

Happy Birthday to Fred Stolle

Happy Birthday to Fred Stolle A great serve and volley player who played and won many international tennis competitions throughout the 1960s. #FredStolle 

 

Tennis Hall of Fame

 

Racket Smash Memorial - Nick Kyrgious

This may signal the end of any thoughts that Nick Kyrgious might win a slam or will ever be a #1 player.  I wanted him to get past his demons. It looks unlikely. It's a sad waste of talent. At least he can still earn a great living. I see now that his "I don't care" approach might be his best coping mechanism for making great money and still never reaching his potential due to this kind of outcome. It still seems good for tennis, either way.

 

Eurosport - Video

 SI.com

They need a racket smashing box where no penalties are assessed and it won't ding up the court surface. They could take bets on how many smashes it takes the player to wear themselves out. Post Match - it should be part of any interview where maybe the winner gets to make observations on the technique involved. They could also have a shredder there for those not inclined to damage their arm smashing a racket on the court.

Tennis Rankings are a Mess - Let Novak. Play

The ATP, Wimbledon Officials, Australian Politicians, and finally, USA CDC; They've all contributed to screwing up Tennis Rankings and tournament participation by Tennis Players who only want to hit tennis balls, make their own health decisions, and not involve themselves in politics when it comes to tennis.

Let Novak Play - at the U.S. Open

Australia to drop vax requirements for visitors

 Six months after treating Novak like a criminal, Australia changes their tune on vax requirements.

The question now is whether they will allow Novak back in since its rules may prevent it for a few years since he was deported.

Novak Playing Indian Wells?

This could become interesting if it's true. One obvious mistake in the article is that he didn't think that he had an exemption in Australia, he had one, and the court backed him up.

Indian Wells  

How did denying Novak the chance to play in the 2022 AO change the outcome? Rock - Scissors - Paper

 Here is how I see it.

It reminds me of the Rock, Scissors, Paper game.

In the Big 3, before 2011 Fed could beat everyone except Rafa. When Novak hit stride in 2011 and forward, Rafa couldn't touch him on HC but Rafa can beat everyone including Fed. 

 Now, Med may become a problem for Novak as he has shown, but it has still been 9 years since Rafa has taken a set from Novak. So, if the draw had Novak facing Rafa anywhere in the draw, even the finals, the odds were his. 

How were the odds changed?

It moved Rafa's chance to win the whole thing from less than 20% to 50%.   And because of how games line up, it took Med's chance from say 40-50 % against Novak to 25% against Rafa.    Against Med, even. Knocking Novak out of it took him from a 50-70% depending on the draw, to Zero.  

 

Novak to speak on AO Saga

 Novak to speak on AO Experience

Mac talks of Gloating from Aussies against Novak

Feeling envy and bitterness toward anyone whose presence reminds you that you aren't free is probably the outcome of being a captive in your own country for two years. It's not a good look for the AO or Australia. Many others in tennis have shown the same response and I wonder if it's for similar reasons.

 Tennis Legend accuses fans of Gloating over Djokovic Treatment

Is Tennis the New Pro Wrestling

  

 

I think this last AO was as politicized as a presidential debate where the partisan moderator joins one side, acting more like a member of a pro-wrestling tag team for one of the contestants. If you remember that happening here in the U.S., you'll get what I mean. 

 It's tough when you have the referee/umpire/judge, and in this case, government, working for the other side. 

 

 Maybe tennis will become the next pro-wrestling where we all know the outcome is fake.

If it weren't for Novak, we wouldn't be deported.

Medvedev disappointed by the crowds at the AO

It would be better for him if he were more stoic but that doesn't fit the pattern nowadays where fist pumps and emotional outbursts are probably part of the seminar they get from their PR managers to gain notoriety. They can't all be Borg, but I think it would help if they'd try to channel him. As for the crowds, I've been in NY for the day crowds that are reasonably well behaved, but it seems that the night crowds are less contained. I imagine that the partisanship of the AO crowds have the added perception that Medvedev sides with Novak and that would offend their sense of servility to the mandates. 

 

Med needs to channel Novak for dealing with hostile crowds if he can't go with the Borg approach. As for bad crowds, I think screaming when a player serves should get you banned from the stadium.

Novak's Coach Speaks Out

 Media drives the narrative in everything, usually for their own purposes.

Novak Djokovic was treated unfairly in his bid for a 10th Australian Open win in my opinion. He met the conditions for entry into Australia by getting an exemption from Covid shots due to a recent infection and was also granted a visa. The court originally found in his favor but a political decision to send him home was based on the #VaxCult mania currently ongoing in #Australia. #AustraliaHasFallen

Here is the opinion of his coach regarding this sad affair that has damaged the credibility of the Australian Open.

Unhealthy and Unjust Decision

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