Mert Ertunga

History Repeating

Her father, the Moldovan flag-bearer at the 2002 Olympics, moved to Spain after visiting the country on vacation.

23 years later, Cristina Bucsa would live her own Olympic dream, winning the bronze in women's doubles in 2024.

She moves on today in Hong Kong.

In the old days, the rule was that your feet couldn't leave the ground. Not exactly sure when that rule was eliminated, but I believe in the 60s. Maybe Nastase stuck with it 👁👁

Yes. And Ashe's serve is amazing, considering the racket!

YouTube video by Tennis All Time Greats Ilie Nastase v Arthur Ashe US Open 1972 Final

Insane skill level by #Ashe and #Nastase in this 3-minute highlight reel from US Open men's final in 1972 !!!

Keep in mind: one plays with a wooden racket, the other with an aluminum composite racket with a sweet spot smaller than a hockey puck.

youtu.be/MstVRyedNFU?...

🎾 WTA Weekly: Gauff beats Pegula to win Wuhan title; Race to Riyadh; Ningbo & Osaka Previews 🌏 YouTube video by Talking Tennis

Enjoyed looking back at Wuhan 1000 (and more) on WTA Weekly with @nickcartertennis.bsky.social on @talkingtennis.bsky.social
⤵️⤵️⤵️⤵️

www.youtube.com/live/y2eeuro...

Solid match by Gauff, def. Paolini 6-4 6-3 and reaches the final at #WuhanOpen

Shaky start on the forehand side by Coco but it seems that Paolini played it too much, and put it into form, and didn't have a plan B once Coco got going.

Gauff did it (hold serve) at 3-3.. Thus, she is up a break now and one game away from the match at 6-4 5-3.
#Wuhan

Let's see who can first hold serve for the break here...
#Gauff #Paolini
#Wuhan

Live long and prosper 🖖🏼
#StarTrek
#NotTennisRelated

Peng Shuai looms over every women’s tennis event held in China since ‘22. If I were a woman playing there I would feel horrible about the abandonment from the WTA of Shuai, whose torture China barely bothered to cover up. @martinanav.bsky.social should speak out on it but she is too distracted

“I'm over it. I just want to fucking play, please,” Bianca Andreescu Bianca Andreescu triggered a wave of support (again) after getting injured (again) in Montréal. Read an exclusive chat with her as she's making her comeback in Beijing.

Exclusive chat w/ Bianca Andreescu as she’s back competing in Beijing following freak injury in Montréal. She wondered, “Is there something wrong with me?” as “u start questioning things.” We talked shape, mind, “Why always me?”,support, inspiring Mboko. tennissweetspot.substack.com/p/im-over-it...

Yes! Definitely check out my guys @saqiba.bsky.social and my fave tennis coach @tennisnerdmert.bsky.social! Great convos on tennis

In case you have not followed Darja #Vidmanova yet --- you should start.

Since dominating the NCAA landscape in her senior year, she has amassed so many ITF and WTA wins and titles that her ranking has skyrocketed to no. 161 WTA.

And...

She is currently in the 2nd round of WTA 500 Guadalajara 📍

YouTube video by Mackolik Sabalenka ve Alcaraz Zaferi, Zeynep Sönmez’in Yolculuğu | Basit Hata

Sevgili Enes Kanbur ve Batuhan Erdem ile Mackolik'te bulustum, US Open degerlendirdik 👇

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPWO...

Thanks Bri.
Yeah, I've been asking myself that question this year several times. A lot of in-form players, it'll be a tough ask to break through 👁👁

Really enjoyed this wrap up. Mert's thoughts at the end make me wonder. Next couple of years could be a wta lost gen or someone pops out thats amazingly good? Either way gonna be tough.

Also on Luminary 👇🏻

luminary.link/hWKsJxGguWb

Sabalenka defends her US Open title

New podcast:
Matt Zemek and I reviewed the women's draw at the #USOpen with focus on performances of #Sabalenka and other standouts, and an overall look at the state of WTA 🤙🏻

open.spotify.com/episode/3ILZ...

Someone please tell Carlos to never stop calling Jannik, "Djannik" 😀😀😁

Soooo... correct me if I'm wrong but....
Since the beginning of 2024, #Sinner is 65-5 on hard courts, with 4 out of those 5 losses coming vs #Alcaraz

Can I get a wut? ⚠️⚠️

#USOpen

That double fault by #Sinner at 2-2, 30-30, was caused by Alcaraz's fierce returning... Sinner went for an ace on that second serve, did not make it.

#Alcaraz up 3-2 and serving in the 4th set..

#USOpen

One of the key differences in this match so far.. Carlos transitions without a second thought, Jannik not so much..

Whom #Alcaraz visited between 2nd and 3rd sets.....

6-1...
5 aces, 0 double faults, 11 winners, one unforced error (my count).

#Panoramix

Agreed, it's the same virus that infected Federer for years, refusal to lob...

Unbelievable defensive lob by #Sinner answered with a first-rate Roger-slice overhead from behind the baseline by #Alcaraz
#SpaceTennis 🌌🎾

After winning a total of 4 points on Alcaraz's serve until 2-1 in the second set, #Sinner breaks with a blank game and doubles that amount to 8 !!

Up 3-1 and serving, total swing of the pendulum..

#USOpen

Too many forehand missiles 💥 by #Alcaraz accompanied by skillful volleys, efficient serving.... well. First set to Carlos, 6-2

#USOpen

Heck of a blank hold by #Alcaraz immediately after...

4-2

#USOpen

Heck of a hold by #Sinner from 0-30 down at 1-3. If he ever comes back to win this set, those four points will be the main reasons behind it.

#Alcaraz serving at 3-2.

#USOpen

Ridiculous. Presidents have attended tennis matches before and none of this had been needed.