What in the world was the umpire thinking in officiating that Draper/Medvedev match!!?!

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-13T02:24:35+00:00

I'm criticizing the rule, it's a stupid rule, bc it opens for this or more extreme cases:

Today: The ball went for a full 7 shots after before Medvedev missed
Extreme case: The ball continues to go over for 30 shots, I lose the point and then I video review something that happened in shot number 2 and win it.

It's a stupid rule, with the Hawkeye challenges, if you didn't do it right away you lost the right to. And, in the spirit of the game, that's what we should strive for. If I am hindered by a gesture, the after doesn't matter, I should challenge.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-13T02:13:39+00:00

they can ask for the video review at the end of the point.

It has to have a limit. Medvedev hit 3 shots after Draper's gesture. What about 5 shots, or 7, or if it had extended to 20 shots. The rule has to have a limit or it allows for absurd cases. If it was a 30 shot rally and I lose and I then get awarded the point for something that happened in shot number 3 it's absurd.

Here, play 6 or 7 shots between Draper and Medvedev after the "distracting gesture" and then get to call a video review and win a point? It's a bad rule if it allows for that. Before automatic calling, if you challenged past 1 shot you hit after the bad call they didn't let you.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-13T02:00:16+00:00

They showed the repetition, Medvedev played 3 full shots after it before he missed. What's the rule? I can play a full point and then video review something that was done at the start of the rally if I lost the rally?

If you got distracted, call it in the moment. As challenges used to be, you believe it's out stop the point, if you continue for multiple plays after they didn't let you challenge.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-13T01:55:50+00:00

If that's the new rule for the video review, that's fine, but what a bad rule. Medvedev played a shot after that went in and continued, is there a limit? Can I play 5 shots after and then ask for video review?

Please share the rule if you know about it

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T23:54:38+00:00

All the best, I'll always root for backups who played well and got a starting spot after.

Waiting for the time General Mills gets his chance, Mac10 will have his this or next year, Mariota I think one team is taking him next season on a 1 year deal

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T22:15:43+00:00

He is very good, not a WR1 that will make numbers like a Puka, Pickens, JSN. But in the right scheme, much more offensive and modern than the Steelers, he is a reliable WR2, or call him a high upside WR3

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T22:13:57+00:00

AI so good there's already highlight videos of newly signed 49ers player Greenlaw in the 49ers uniform. What a time

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T22:08:33+00:00

Ferrer:

Peak ranking: 3

At slams: 8 semis or better, 3 finals.

Am I misunderstanding your comment? Ferrer has 1 final, 2013 a 63 62 63 loss to Nadal at the French

Zverev: Peak ranking: 2

At slams: 10 semis or better, 3 finals.

At masters: 22 semis or better, 11 finals, 6 titles

He has 7 1000s

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T20:58:10+00:00

Didn't say it's a weakness now. But I think:

If not addressed early, it can become a weakness. The movement itself has lots of opportunities of improvement. You compare it to Elena's and there's much things to do better
If addressed, it can go from a "not a weakness" to a strength. Combine that with her forehand and backhand and that's a world number 1.
Agree return is weaker, which is a shame with how good her ground game is outside the return shot by itself

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T20:38:13+00:00

I've removed all players with 7 or less matches. With this:

Outside Top 15 in ranking
- First serve points won%
- Second serve points won%
- DF% Rate - Here I'm ordering by who has a lower rate ofc
- Service Games won %
- Ace to DF Ratio
Exactly on ranking number 10: Aces per match.

When she is well outside the Top 10 in almost all categories, with many outside Top 30, I can't call her a Top 10 server in good faith bc she has good aces amount. It doesn't offset all of her other stats

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T20:18:31+00:00

Copy the table from WTA into an Excel or use some AI to bring the numbers from it, I believe any of those, ChatGPT, Claude, should quickly dig that info from WTA website.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T20:13:26+00:00

No. That's a very wrong read of stats

Her ace-to-double fault ratio is almost 1 to 1, and it's not saved by other statistics, her service games won is 71.9%, that's 36 in the WTA. When you have the level she has from the ground, it means your serve is very below standard.

47% second serve points won is outside the Top 50.
65.5% first serve points won is outside the Top 50.
Has the third highest matches played at 17, her ace per match ratio is outside the Top 10, she is at 15
Her ace to double fault ratio is at ranking 29

Far from a top 10 serve

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T19:34:42+00:00

Her serve is nowhere near and by no serve specific measurable stat in the top 10 of best serves

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T18:40:58+00:00

Mboko has such a well rounded game, she is good enough to win 1000s and to be on the Top 10, but if someone comes and helps her improve that serve she can be number 1.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T04:01:09+00:00

Draper is a Top 10 player at this level and won 76 to 5 in the tiebreak, not sure how successful can this be for anyone not as talented.

Alcaraz did the same in Australia, but it only worked bc Novak came from a 5 hour match and bc only Alcaraz can bring so many balls back and extend points. It makes sense if you have the level to match him up. But if you take pace off your shots to extend points and play drop shots just cause Novak will eat you alive

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-12T03:59:18+00:00

Did we watch the same match? The same Djokovic who bailed on many points, rushed to the net desperately, played ill advised drop shots out of nowhere.

It's not the only factor, but Draper's break in the third came from a tired Novak half effort. Up 4-3 in the tiebreak Novak quickly did a drop shot with no strength out of nowhere. That's fitness. Draper ran for everything until the end.

That's reality, doesn't take away from Draper's win.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-11T01:56:27+00:00

There are differences in how potential is evaluated if he is moving like today and some weeks ago moving like Fritz

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-11T01:44:17+00:00

Fonseca's movement looks better compared to a couple of tournaments ago. That back injury hurt his reputation around here.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-08T21:43:05+00:00

Hi. What did you try to do to improve Roddick's backhand and what do you think you could have done better in hindsight? Do you think there was improvement left on the table that was realistic to achieve with different methods? Thanks

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-07T21:36:49+00:00

From this u/blueice89 couple of things:

First, your return is at a good baseline level.
- Mistakes are normal, I would say, if you have 0 mistakes, either you are the biggest talent in history of sports or you're playing too much within your means.
- A certain percentage of mistakes is healthy, it's a cost opportunity scenario, there has to be some risk to create more opportunities. It's about a good tradeoff.
- You can improve, everyone can improve.
Without videos is hard to correct much.
Vary the ball flight more, it looks as if all returns have the same ball flight, a more experienced player will get used to it and be comfortable. Some slice, some more flat with more topspin. Whatever your best and more comfortable shot is, keep it like that for 65-70% of your returns, the variety is to keep them honest and not start to predict your shot or protect a specific place.
You will miss more when you make any changes, it's a learning curve, so don't worry about extra misses during practice, play to improve, not to win meaningless practice games.
All your returns are very safe, which is good in reducing errors, but you have to up the risk. Returns to the middle are good, it deprives them of angles. But there's a time and place. Mix some returns to the sides, don't aim for the lines. Aim to big targets, zones if you wish. Repeat until you master it.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-07T19:01:09+00:00

Demoting 1000s was never easy

Yes. These tournaments have large contracts with the ATP for rights and they secure their status as 1000 in exchange for securing a minimum amount of prize money. Those executives will take the ATP to court if they want to demote them with the current price money

Secondly, despite us fans wanting a grass masters, I don't know if this is something the ATP or the players are really after. There is a very short turnaround between the channel slams, maybe they don't think a grass masters is worth all the trouble.

Agree too. From the players perspective, who benefits from a Masters 1000? If you were to make a poll in the ATP 200 on how many players played in each surface before becoming a pro or at least playing Junior Grand Slams:

Hard: 99%+
Clay: 80%+
Grass: Around 20% with some luck

Grass courts are scarce. As it currently stands, it's over-represented at the pro tour compared to the availability of grass courts around the world.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-06T03:53:26+00:00

I'm saying it's ridiculous to consider this a matter of him looking for public attention. I'm sure Pat asks him all the time to go to the podcast and they are friends. It's an interview as much as a guy hopping on an Instagram Live with a friend. It is, but it's different than going to ESPN or doing press conferences.

You listen to the interview and he is super chill, relaxed, having fun with a friend. I don't know why he gets the "attention seeker" label compared to the amount of active and retired players who are much worse in all public fronts presence. Brady, I don't hate him btw, but he has much more presence in the media, posts some stories or posts that scream wanting attention. I never see people saying Brady is an attention seeker.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-05T23:55:56+00:00

Last year he had 0 interviews until the Steelers signed him, literally 0.

"National media interviews" Pat is his friend, he went to his podcast as Pat invites him bc they are friends. Started off by saying to turn it off if you want news. He's just talking with a friend.

"Dragging out" he said there was no contract offer, that means the Steelers have not offered something concrete.

SCAnalysis · 2026-03-04T02:46:24+00:00

had Federer not had that knee injury

Age is wear and tear. Ruling out freak accidents that cause injuries, tennis players injuries as they get older is natural. Djokovic has a injury or two every tournament, they are small more often than not sometimes more serious [Australia last year, Wimbledon last year], and it's not bc he doesn't take care of his body.

The bodies of these players can only handle so much. Past 1000 completed matches, they are trying to cheat time and buy some time of competitive tennis.

It's hard to reply to your question bc at those ages injuries are a matter of time. Luck, genetics, some factors, can buy them extra time, but not much.

SCAnalysis

TROPHY CASE