But I am not 100% confident that Sinner will beat
Ruud. Like I have said, all players have bad days,
intermediate days and good days. Given the right
circumstances, Ruud could be the champion on Sunday.
He is a former Roland Garros finalist and has
played well during the whole week.
Kalevi Kolttonen <kalevi@kolttonen.fi> wrote:
But I am not 100% confident that Sinner will beat
Ruud. Like I have said, all players have bad days,
intermediate days and good days. Given the right
circumstances, Ruud could be the champion on Sunday.
He is a former Roland Garros finalist and has
played well during the whole week.
I just googled for some betting odds. The best odds
for Sinner's victory are 1,12 while the best odds
for Ruud are 7,5. So the betting agencies have
strong faith in Sinner becoming the champion tomorrow.
Despite that fact, I believe Ruud is not without
a chance. Perhaps the betting odds are a bit
over-optimistic predicting Sinner's easy victory.
The match against Medvedev showed that Sinner
*can* be vulnerable. Usually Sinner dominates
the baseline rallies, but after the first set
in the semifinal, Medvedev made some bold moves
and was able to dictate many rallies.
But being on his home soil and missing only
the Rome title to win all the ATP1000 Masters
events, I am sure Sinner will be ultra motivated
to play his best on Sunday. Grabbing Rome would
be gold for him and Italy in general.
br,
KK
Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.
[...] winning all the Masters is too much mentally
and physically so this will be his only
opportunity to achieve it imo.
Whisper <whisper@ozemail.com.au> wrote:> Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.Wow, I did not remember that.> [...] winning all the Masters is too much mentally> and physically so this will be his only > opportunity to achieve it imo.Agreed. This is the year to do it if ever. But it willstill be extremely hard.br,KK
On 17/05/2026 3:22 am, Kalevi Kolttonen wrote:
Kalevi Kolttonen <kalevi@kolttonen.fi> wrote:
But I am not 100% confident that Sinner will beat
Ruud. Like I have said, all players have bad days,
intermediate days and good days. Given the right
circumstances, Ruud could be the champion on Sunday.
He is a former Roland Garros finalist and has
played well during the whole week.
I just googled for some betting odds. The best odds
for Sinner's victory are 1,12 while the best odds
for Ruud are 7,5. So the betting agencies have
strong faith in Sinner becoming the champion tomorrow.
Despite that fact, I believe Ruud is not without
a chance. Perhaps the betting odds are a bit
over-optimistic predicting Sinner's easy victory.
The match against Medvedev showed that Sinner
*can* be vulnerable. Usually Sinner dominates
the baseline rallies, but after the first set
in the semifinal, Medvedev made some bold moves
and was able to dictate many rallies.
But being on his home soil and missing only
the Rome title to win all the ATP1000 Masters
events, I am sure Sinner will be ultra motivated
to play his best on Sunday. Grabbing Rome would
be gold for him and Italy in general.
br,
KK
Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.
Should be tougher tonight though, maybe 3 setter or 2 tight sets.-a Ruud will have a game plan and has nothing to lose.-a Sinner has huge
motivation to complete the set and possibly eyeing off a calendar year Masters Grand Slam.-a This would be a huge legacy boost for him, may be impossible to replicate in future, and help his goat discussions down
the track as he builds his slam tally.-a Playing and winning all the
Masters is too much mentally and physically so this will be his only opportunity to achieve it imo.-a Going forward he'll be more selective
and skip some, but he really needs to go for this opportunity.
Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.
Now it was much closer: 6-4, 6-4. Ruud did not
play a bad match, but Sinner was just that much
better today. It is mind-blowing to think about it:
On 5/16/26 7:11 PM, Whisper wrote:> On 17/05/2026 3:22 am, Kalevi Koltton=en wrote:>> Kalevi Kolttonen <kalevi@kolttonen.fi> wrote:>>> But I am not 1= 00% confident that Sinner will beat>>> Ruud. Like I have said, all players = have bad days,>>> intermediate days and good days. Given the right>>> circu= mstances, Ruud could be the champion on Sunday.>>> He is a former Roland Ga= rros finalist and has>>> played well during the whole week.>>>> I just goog= led for some betting odds. The best odds>> for Sinner's victory are 1,12 wh= ile the best odds>> for Ruud are 7,5. So the betting agencies have>> strong=
r tonight though, maybe 3 setter or 2 tight sets. Ruud > will have a game = plan and has nothing to lose. Sinner has huge > motivation to complete the=Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.> > Should be toughe=
kalevi@kolttonen.fi (Kalevi Kolttonen) Wrote in message:r
Whisper <whisper@ozemail.com.au> wrote:> Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.Wow, I did not remember that.> [...] winning all the Masters is too much mentally> and physically so this will be his only > opportunity to achieve it imo.Agreed. This is the year to do it if ever. But it willstill be extremely hard.br,KK
Very hard and somewhat pointless.
It would be incredible but kinda like Wilding's triple world championship title or Rosewall's and Laver's pro slam, incomparable to anything else, either before or after and thus sidelined in history books.
On 5/16/26 7:11 PM, Whisper wrote:
On 17/05/2026 3:22 am, Kalevi Kolttonen wrote:
Kalevi Kolttonen <kalevi@kolttonen.fi> wrote:
But I am not 100% confident that Sinner will beat
Ruud. Like I have said, all players have bad days,
intermediate days and good days. Given the right
circumstances, Ruud could be the champion on Sunday.
He is a former Roland Garros finalist and has
played well during the whole week.
I just googled for some betting odds. The best odds
for Sinner's victory are 1,12 while the best odds
for Ruud are 7,5. So the betting agencies have
strong faith in Sinner becoming the champion tomorrow.
Despite that fact, I believe Ruud is not without
a chance. Perhaps the betting odds are a bit
over-optimistic predicting Sinner's easy victory.
The match against Medvedev showed that Sinner
*can* be vulnerable. Usually Sinner dominates
the baseline rallies, but after the first set
in the semifinal, Medvedev made some bold moves
and was able to dictate many rallies.
But being on his home soil and missing only
the Rome title to win all the ATP1000 Masters
events, I am sure Sinner will be ultra motivated
to play his best on Sunday. Grabbing Rome would
be gold for him and Italy in general.
br,
KK
Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.
Should be tougher tonight though, maybe 3 setter or 2 tight sets.
Ruud will have a game plan and has nothing to lose.-a Sinner has huge
motivation to complete the set and possibly eyeing off a calendar year
Masters Grand Slam.-a This would be a huge legacy boost for him, may be
impossible to replicate in future, and help his goat discussions down
the track as he builds his slam tally.-a Playing and winning all the
Masters is too much mentally and physically so this will be his only
opportunity to achieve it imo.-a Going forward he'll be more selective
and skip some, but he really needs to go for this opportunity.
The biggest difference emerging between Sinner and Alcaraz is that
Sinner *wants it all* but Alcaraz is looking a lot less motivated.
I sure hope that it doesn't turn out that Alcaraz, the single most
talented player I've seen, begins to lose his resolve to win as it gets
less easy to do so.
Whisper <whisper@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.
Now it was much closer: 6-4, 6-4. Ruud did not
play a bad match, but Sinner was just that much
better today. It is mind-blowing to think about it:
1) Adriano Panatta sitting in the stands watching,
having won in Rome back 1976, exactly 50 years ago
2) Italy's president watching there too
3) New record at stake: to become the second man
to win all ATP1000 clay court events during the
spring (Nadal did it before)
4) New record at stake: to become the second man to
win all nine ATP1000 Masters singles titles
(Djoker did it *twice*)
Somehow Sinner pulled it off. It is rare to see
such a big smile from him when wins a match, but
it is obvious he was glad and also relieved. He
withstood Ruud's attack and lived up to the
expectations to win.
This is fucking *incredible*!
What a time be a tennis fan!
br,
KK
Sawfish <sawfish666@gmail.com> Wrote in message:r
On 5/16/26 7:11 PM, Whisper wrote:> On 17/05/2026 3:22 am, Kalevi Kolttonen wrote:>> Kalevi Kolttonen <kalevi@kolttonen.fi> wrote:>>> But I am not 100% confident that Sinner will beat>>> Ruud. Like I have said, all players have bad days,>>> intermediate days and good days. Given the right>>> circumstances, Ruud could be the champion on Sunday.>>> He is a former Roland Garros finalist and has>>> played well during the whole week.>>>> I just googled for some betting odds. The best odds>> for Sinner's victory are 1,12 while the best odds>> for Ruud are 7,5. So the betting agencies have>> strong faith in Sinner becoming the champion tomorrow.>>>> Despite that fact, I believe Ruud is not without>> a chance. Perhaps the betting odds are a bit>> over-optimistic predicting Sinner's easy victory.>>>> The match against Medvedev showed that Sinner>> *can* be vulnerable. Usually Sinner dominates>> the baseline rallies, but after the first set>> in the semifinal, Medvedev made some bold moves>> and was able to dictate many rallies.>>>> But being on his home soil and missing only>> the Rome title to win all the ATP1000 Masters>> events, I am sure Sinner will be ultra motivated>> to play his best on Sunday. Grabbing Rome would>> be gold for him and Italy in general.>>>> br,>> KK> > > Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.> > Should be tougher tonight though, maybe 3 setter or 2 tight sets. Ruud > will have a game plan and has nothing to lose. Sinner has huge > motivation to complete the set and possibly eyeing off a calendar year > Masters Grand Slam. This would be a huge legacy boost for him, may be > impossible to replicate in future, and help his goat discussions down > the track as he builds his slam tally. Playing and winning all the > Masters is too much mentally and physically so this will be his only > opportunity to achieve it imo. Going forward he'll be more selective > and skip some, but he really needs to go for this opportunity.The biggest difference emerging between Sinner and Alcaraz is that Sinner *wants it all* but Alcaraz is looking a lot less motivated.I sure hope that it doesn't turn out that Alcaraz, the single most talented player I've seen, begins to lose his resolve to win as it gets less easy to do so.
Whisper described it accurately it's Sampras effect.
Alcaraz doesn't seem to need to prove anything to anyone, he knows his best tops everyone's best.
He needs the stage and high stakes.
As Picard:
"Whisper's assessment is quite accurate. This is indeed the Sampras effect."
"Alcaraz appears to possess no need for validation from others. He possesses an unwavering certainty that his peak performance surpasses that of any competitor."
"He requires the grand stage and the pressure of high-stakes competition to truly excel."
As Kirk:
"The Whisper's analysis holds true. It's the Sampras phenomenon, plain and simple."
"Alcaraz isn't out to prove anything to anyone. He's already got the data. When he's at his best, nobody else can match it."
"He thrives on the pressure. Give him the spotlight and the highest stakesrCothat's when he operates at maximum efficiency."
As Trump:
"Listen, Whisper said it, and it's true. It's the Sampras effect, a great effect, a beautiful effect, really."
"Alcaraz, he doesn't have to prove anything to anybody. He knows it, I know it, you know it. His best is better than their best, believe me. It's not even close."
"He needs the big stage, the big stakes. Without the pressure, it's not the same. He's a winner, and winners need to win when it counts, when everyone is watching. Tremendous."
Harris
"Alright, listen up! Whisper finally got something right! It's the Sampras effect, and it's obvious to anyone with eyes!"
"This Alcaraz kid... he doesn't need to prove anything to you, me, or anybody! He's got that look, that confidence! He knows when he brings his best game, nobody else can touch him! Not even close!"
"And the stage? The high stakes? That's what he lives for! Back in my day, we called it clutch! This kid needs the spotlight, the pressure, when everything's on the line! That's when he shines brightest! MAHONEY! Are you paying attention? This is what separates the great ones from the chumps!"
Sampras
"You know, it's interesting to hear it framed that way. I never really thought of it as 'my effect,' but I understand what people mean when they say that."
"This kid Alcaraz... he has something special. There's a confidence there that reminds me of how I had to approach things. You reach a point where you stop playing the opponent and start just executing your own game. You trust your preparation, your shots, and believe that when you're on, nobody can hang with you."
"The big stage, the high stakes... that's where it all comes together. Some guys tighten up, but for a certain type of player, that's when everything becomes clearer. The crowd, the pressure, the momentrCoit focuses you. That's when you find out what you're really made of. He seems to have that."
Alcaraz
"I'm just focused on my tennis, you know? I don't really think about 'effects' or comparisons to the greats like Pete. That's for you guys to talk about."
"I don't feel like I need to prove anything to anyone else. The only person I need to prove things to is myself. I work so hard, and when I'm playing my best tennis, I believe I can beat anyone on the other side of the net. That's just the mindset you have to have at this level."
"And yeah... it's true. I love the big moments. The big crowds, the night matches, the Grand Slams... that's when I feel most alive. I want the ball when the match is on the line. It's not pressure, it's opportunity. That's what I play for."
On 18/05/2026 2:31 am, Sawfish wrote:
On 5/16/26 7:11 PM, Whisper wrote:
On 17/05/2026 3:22 am, Kalevi Kolttonen wrote:
Kalevi Kolttonen <kalevi@kolttonen.fi> wrote:
But I am not 100% confident that Sinner will beat
Ruud. Like I have said, all players have bad days,
intermediate days and good days. Given the right
circumstances, Ruud could be the champion on Sunday.
He is a former Roland Garros finalist and has
played well during the whole week.
I just googled for some betting odds. The best odds
for Sinner's victory are 1,12 while the best odds
for Ruud are 7,5. So the betting agencies have
strong faith in Sinner becoming the champion tomorrow.
Despite that fact, I believe Ruud is not without
a chance. Perhaps the betting odds are a bit
over-optimistic predicting Sinner's easy victory.
The match against Medvedev showed that Sinner
*can* be vulnerable. Usually Sinner dominates
the baseline rallies, but after the first set
in the semifinal, Medvedev made some bold moves
and was able to dictate many rallies.
But being on his home soil and missing only
the Rome title to win all the ATP1000 Masters
events, I am sure Sinner will be ultra motivated
to play his best on Sunday. Grabbing Rome would
be gold for him and Italy in general.
br,
KK
Sinner beat Ruud 60 61 here last year.
Should be tougher tonight though, maybe 3 setter or 2 tight sets.
Ruud will have a game plan and has nothing to lose.-a Sinner has huge
motivation to complete the set and possibly eyeing off a calendar
year Masters Grand Slam.-a This would be a huge legacy boost for him,
may be impossible to replicate in future, and help his goat
discussions down the track as he builds his slam tally.-a Playing and
winning all the Masters is too much mentally and physically so this
will be his only opportunity to achieve it imo.-a Going forward he'll
be more selective and skip some, but he really needs to go for this
opportunity.
The biggest difference emerging between Sinner and Alcaraz is that
Sinner *wants it all* but Alcaraz is looking a lot less motivated.
I sure hope that it doesn't turn out that Alcaraz, the single most
talented player I've seen, begins to lose his resolve to win as it
gets less easy to do so.
I think he'll keep getting up for most slams while Sinner looks like he
has hunger to win everything like Fed/Novak. End of the day you want to
be on top of the slam mountain.
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