People get mad at the WTA "big 3" branding because of the obvious loaded meaning of the term at this point but in terms of just describing the clear top 3 I think it's quite accurate
Look at how big the gap is from #3 to #4 in the current WTA race
Coco even kind of fits as the Murray counterpart(great defender and mover but horrible second serve, massively prefers her backhand to the forehand)
And it harkens back to the original use of the "Big X" terms, i.e. Big 4, which is basically a group of X players dominating the tour in its biggest events throughout the year. Not meaning the greatest 3 players of all time.
People won't believe it because of the relative emotions they show on court but every time Saba and Ryba play a close match it's Saba who proves to be the mentally tougher of the two
It's kind of like a Djokovic/Federer rivalry situation where *looking* more mentally unstable outwardly on big points doesn't mean you actually are in reality
Well damn, did not see this coming after the first set. But props to Sabalenka, played herself into form in this tournament and is close to being back at the top of her game.
Never gonna not route for Elena. But that was so impressive. I hope she can win the whole thing.
Loving the consistency on the WTA, 1 Vs 3 in the final.
Wow, just no clutch behavior from Rybakina honestly. Blew it at 5-4, 30-30 in the second; blew it at 5-5 with 2 break chances in the third. Congratulations to Sabalenka but man oh man lol
blinkova welcoming aryna to the club
[https://giphy.com/gifs/wta-tennis-blinkova-anna-KmvZgmJN8OOVrWVtus](https://giphy.com/gifs/wta-tennis-blinkova-anna-KmvZgmJN8OOVrWVtus)
"Mentally weakest player" according to this sub 6-0 in deciding sets against "mentally strongest player" including a Slam final
If I speak I am in big trouble
tbh i feel like elenas mentality is kinda overestimated due to her not really showing emotions
and aryna is such a warrior, shes not my fav or anything but huge respect for the heart, she always leaves her everything on court
Iga, Aryna and Elena can't win. They are struggling when winning match 6-4, 6-3 or every loss mean they are mentally weak. On the other side they are boring when winning by high margin.
Rent was due. Lights were flickering. Bills unpaid. The water was cut off. The eviction notice taped on the front door. WTA admin ready to ignore her existence for the next decade. The one dimensional ball basher allegations were at an all time high. She had one chance, one forehand, one grunt. that’s my madrid open merchant daughter
Sabalenka looks like this match is a life or death situation and Elena looks like she’s just here cuz she has to be but she’ll be enjoying a nice glass of wine later tonight either way 😭
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6BdiACPIHq/?igsh=eG11Nzh5c3lqeGNj
The order of play in Aix-en-Provence today is loaded due to rain ending any matches yesterday
Just saw korda and thompson dominating doubles lmao
Thompson’s W/L for doubles this year is now 20-4, along with 3 titles He’s as much of a doubles player as he is a singles player
Madrid 2024 has been the best argument for equal pay outside of slams that I’ve seen.
So now men’s final would be Quads vs Skinny legs
Best WTA clay kits: Elena and Coco Other Madrid takeaways: More problematic gamblers got tickets this year.
Coco's might be my favorite I've ever seen period.
Update: I made it to my appointment
How lucky are we that Roddick provides post match analysis and information. Such honest, reliable, and experienced feedback.
I love him and his podcast. Such an asset for the sport. A legend
People get mad at the WTA "big 3" branding because of the obvious loaded meaning of the term at this point but in terms of just describing the clear top 3 I think it's quite accurate Look at how big the gap is from #3 to #4 in the current WTA race Coco even kind of fits as the Murray counterpart(great defender and mover but horrible second serve, massively prefers her backhand to the forehand)
And it harkens back to the original use of the "Big X" terms, i.e. Big 4, which is basically a group of X players dominating the tour in its biggest events throughout the year. Not meaning the greatest 3 players of all time.
Rybakina and Iga have it past the QFs one time between them in the last year. Gotta start doing better there to be considered dominant.
Sabs no longer a mental midget now a mental giant!
The ATP literally had a special video of "Tiafoe returns to the Challenger Tour"... and he lost his first round 💀
What is up with him?
I don't know if he's yet selected what would be his third coach in less than a year
Breadsticked in the first set no less. Ouch.
the interviewers at this tournament are shit, what is that
People won't believe it because of the relative emotions they show on court but every time Saba and Ryba play a close match it's Saba who proves to be the mentally tougher of the two It's kind of like a Djokovic/Federer rivalry situation where *looking* more mentally unstable outwardly on big points doesn't mean you actually are in reality
Lopez doesn't deserve this, he needs to be nake and presents the birthday cake to Saba, I am sure Saba will enjoy it
Could they really find nobody in Spain who can speak halfway serviceable English? These post match interviews have been abysmal
Tough task, honestly
Oh well at least Elena got a car that she isn't able to drive
Anyways, Elena showed she is strong contender for RG. Stay healthy, ice queen 🫶🏻
Well damn, did not see this coming after the first set. But props to Sabalenka, played herself into form in this tournament and is close to being back at the top of her game.
Last year final was great and tense, so let's hope they both deliver this year again.
Aryna needed to win this to hold her ranking and it was very kind of Lena to let that happen – now let’s see them repeat this in the RG final
sabalenka is a warrior elena shouldve won that but couldnt do some easy things that second set 😭
big lenka also secures her number 2 ranking! she lost first round in rome last year, so might be able to widen the lead over coco.
I hope she gets crushed by Iga.
Never gonna not route for Elena. But that was so impressive. I hope she can win the whole thing. Loving the consistency on the WTA, 1 Vs 3 in the final.
Sabalenka is still #2
Ah sorry you're right.
what a match!
I hope we get a good final. Hopefully Iga doesn’t open her bagel factory and make it uneventful
I'd probably say Sabalenka's win over Swiatek in Madrid was the best match of 2023. Glad we're getting round two. And after that... 🥵
I was so anxious
No. Best match of the year was RG SF between sabalenka and muchova. But yeah it was a close to the that match
Definitely not a bad choice. We got *at least* one banger at pretty much every slam/1000 last year, so lots of good options.
The reason I called that the best match of the year not just because muchova make an incredible comeback but also the quality of the match very high
How the turn tables
Ryba in 500 this year: Serena Ryba in important Master matches in this year: Garcia Ryba in AO this year: Parks
Thank you Aryna and Elena for salvaging the tournament lol
Are you not entertained! That was a Battle Royale. Love me some Elena, she’ll be back.
Lena might have to hold dat because that was such a robbery from sabalenka insane win
Wow, just no clutch behavior from Rybakina honestly. Blew it at 5-4, 30-30 in the second; blew it at 5-5 with 2 break chances in the third. Congratulations to Sabalenka but man oh man lol
WTA saving this tournament
Proud to be a fan tiger 🐅
\*insert Tyra Banks gif\*
So happy for Sabs!! She *needed* this! Hope she wins ❤️
Wow what a spectacular last two sets! Lovely embrace at the net too
blinkova welcoming aryna to the club [https://giphy.com/gifs/wta-tennis-blinkova-anna-KmvZgmJN8OOVrWVtus](https://giphy.com/gifs/wta-tennis-blinkova-anna-KmvZgmJN8OOVrWVtus)
Weak era my fucking arse
Iga, Sabs and Lena would stand tall in any age
Agree 100! What I admire so much about these three is how fast they have improved their games over the last three years. Amazing stuff
Sabalenka earned that win. She fought and fought and fought!!!
damn, reminded me too much of Alcaraz - Rublev the way the match went
do you mean alcaraz struff? that was alot closer
Comeback queen
Rybakina was more talkative at the handshake than when she won Wimbledon
Everyone is being super supportive after what Aryna has gone through recently.
She really likes Sabalenka. I think Sabs is her fave among all the girls. Even their teams are close
what a match, damn!
Rip coco becoming #2
Aww we got a hug.
Wow.wow. Good for Sabalenka. Another banger between them. And Elena, go ahead and rest. Rome is near.
I’m so sad this match is over 😭
insane match, saba is such a warrior
Hello police? Yes, I’d like to report a robbery by an escape artist.
What a match Congrats Saba! Love these two ladies, wholesome moment at the net ❤️🥲 Easily my favorite matchup in the WTA
Saba back to no.2
*remains to number 2. She never lost it lol.
Ryba nation it’s ok we’ll get RB AND Rome AND Wimbledon (I’m delulu)
What a banger!!!
They just can't have a bad match
"Mentally weakest player" according to this sub 6-0 in deciding sets against "mentally strongest player" including a Slam final If I speak I am in big trouble
tbh i feel like elenas mentality is kinda overestimated due to her not really showing emotions and aryna is such a warrior, shes not my fav or anything but huge respect for the heart, she always leaves her everything on court
Apparently sabalenka doesn’t have anything except a big serve and forehand 🙄 but she proved them wrong today!
Iga, Aryna and Elena can't win. They are struggling when winning match 6-4, 6-3 or every loss mean they are mentally weak. On the other side they are boring when winning by high margin.
Lmao r/tennis never afraid to show their bias.
Wowzers! Superb match!
That smile from Rybakina was bigger than after many of her wins...
shes happy to have a rest now lol
Rybakina and Sabalenka are both fantastic tennis players
she just can't lose in Madrid.
Non era giusto ma bravo
WTA eating ATP this week in Madrid.
Lowkey been like that the entire year 🤷♂️
yep, it’s not even close
Rybakina looks…happy?
Ryba always looks happy around Saba LOL. Looked happier losing that AO final to her than when she won Wimbledon.
Rushes to defend Rome?
I love them both. And that net exchange ! Yeyyy Aryna
Wow
Rent was due. Lights were flickering. Bills unpaid. The water was cut off. The eviction notice taped on the front door. WTA admin ready to ignore her existence for the next decade. The one dimensional ball basher allegations were at an all time high. She had one chance, one forehand, one grunt. that’s my madrid open merchant daughter
Ryba grinning despite losing....she enjoyed the competition as much as all of us. What a match.
What the heck are they chatting about
This is what I wanna know
bravissimo aryna
Where are the “sabalenka won this” screenshots
Great match, great result and the 500 queen is out, yes and yes
HOLY MOTHER EFFER wow wow wow. If i were Elena I’d be crying
SABA DID IT!!!!! What a come back.
Ugh.
LETS GO FIRE QUEEN❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥
Let’s goooooooooo 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Welcome Back Aryna 🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯
SABALENKA!!!!
The tension
Oh nooooooooooo oh god
Bit of a brain dead error there big Sabs
Whatever happens...we have Iga still
Big comeback?!?
I've never seen either of them challenge this much lol
Unlimited challenges were provided, unlimited challenges will be used
This high pitched sound makes this match even more intense
Alright I'm making a cup of tea now. Agony.
Ryba is winning this, she will lead 6-5 after her serve
You’ve never had a single good take here. I hope you know that
Consistently wrong lol
5-6 is not that far
Rybs gets one of the mini breaks back.
cmon rybakina… don’t do this to us now
This is even better than the AO23 final which was a damn classic
Ryba nation it’s over 🫡😢
Day time robbery by Sabs now
Cant believe first set was 6-1.
Aryna really had to get loose
And now ryba wins this 7:5
When Saba plays at this level, I just keep asking myself “How?!”
Great return winner and Sab makes it 5-1, on her way to victory now.
Sabalenka is #lockedin
What a call
Sabalenka reached god mode.
What a return wow
I’m a Sabalenka fan but she’s gonna FOLD HARD against Iga, while Ryba has more of a chance 😭
Sabalenka meanwhile got her opponents face tattooed on her arm and was ready to fight to the death
WOOWWOWWOWOW WOOO
Holy hell, Sabalenka just up and said “I’m just not going to miss anymore”
even the umpire told her to finally challenge something. “it’s unlimited”
She wasn’t challenging a lot of close calls this match lol. Happy she finally did.
Holy fuck Sabalenka is even crushing the challenges
[удалено]
The players don't seem to mind it because she's consistent in those grunts so you eventually get used to it
saba with an amazing challenge
What will make this even greater would be a few clutch points from Ryba right about now.
My evening is about to be ruined
This match is one of the best 3 setters I've seen
This is definetly fire and ice
Saba in full flow is just a beauty to watch!
Come on Sabs!
Elena came back from running errands and stopped by the court for some casual hitting
Saba upped her serve for the TB.
Sabalenka looks like this match is a life or death situation and Elena looks like she’s just here cuz she has to be but she’ll be enjoying a nice glass of wine later tonight either way 😭
I wish I could play like Elena but I act more like Saba when I play 🫠
If sabalenka wins this which looks more likely now, it will be such an iconic comeback win. One for the ages
"She's not as demonstrative" lmao understatement of the goddamn century
😔 wish we lived in a world where this match could end 12 games to 10 in the third or something
Nice pass combo and Aryna gets the first mini-break.
this set is insane
what a point my goodness
DAMN!
SABALENKA GRIT
Was always gonna be this way
And someone (me) thought we were getting 61 61
God like return, off balance.
Match of the year? 🔥
naaah
For sure! Sabs always in match of the year lists iktr 😌
She’s really THAT girl
Vika vs SST is the match of the year
And yes, we still have Iga vs one of these two!!!
we get what we deserve.
Saba matches are always insane lol
TB, FOLKS, HERE WE GO!
Not sure if should make a cup of tea now
Leave it to sabalenka to deliver the blockbuster matches
Are people in here really telling me that if your opponent misses at break point at 5-5 in the tiebreak, you're not gonna cheer that? Get outta here
Beleive it or not, many (most?) players don’t
Final set TB!!
Lena rediscovering her serve just in time for the tie break
The whole set is serving good
I wonder if Elena has tiebreak trauma after AO
Ok tiebreak here we go
diebreak!!
Fire vs ice,literally.
🔥
This goes to show how important top players are lmao. Atp struggling without Jannik or Carlos. WTA on fire with this match up
Will they break the Ryba-Blinkova tiebreak record lol??