CITI OPEN TENNIS IN DC 2022
Hi tennis loving group,
We went up to the Citi Open on the first day-- good thing because the players we wanted to see , Andy Murray and Venus Williams went out in the first round -- Andy to to injury? -- he finished the 3 set match but was favoring his foot and or leg for the last two sets-- and venus to an unreliable serve. We also saw a part of Jack Sock/ Nick Kyrgios doubles (they won 6-4, 6-4 ). Kyrgios serves, 135 mph +.
This is the first we have been to a live match in a while. You don't really see the power in the modern game unless you are there. The power game is largely 6 to 10 shot rallies with many hits over 70 miles per hour (women 60) . It is like a contest to see who can hit it hardest. I was trying for photos that would capture the power.
Note the immense concentration on the ball. Apparently the only way you can return a 135 mph serve , or 80 mph ground stroke, is to have the brain take over -- you see the hit and the brain predicts the speed and tells your body what to do . I'm still not sure why they end up 6 to 8 inches off the ground at the end of a power ground stroke. One photo shows the compression of the ball when a 70mph incoming meets a 70 mph swing. No wonder they replace the balls so frequently.
Ah pickleball!!!
Bill
https://www.wlsphoto.com/CITI-OPEN-TENNIS-IN-DC-2022/
Read MoreWe went up to the Citi Open on the first day-- good thing because the players we wanted to see , Andy Murray and Venus Williams went out in the first round -- Andy to to injury? -- he finished the 3 set match but was favoring his foot and or leg for the last two sets-- and venus to an unreliable serve. We also saw a part of Jack Sock/ Nick Kyrgios doubles (they won 6-4, 6-4 ). Kyrgios serves, 135 mph +.
This is the first we have been to a live match in a while. You don't really see the power in the modern game unless you are there. The power game is largely 6 to 10 shot rallies with many hits over 70 miles per hour (women 60) . It is like a contest to see who can hit it hardest. I was trying for photos that would capture the power.
Note the immense concentration on the ball. Apparently the only way you can return a 135 mph serve , or 80 mph ground stroke, is to have the brain take over -- you see the hit and the brain predicts the speed and tells your body what to do . I'm still not sure why they end up 6 to 8 inches off the ground at the end of a power ground stroke. One photo shows the compression of the ball when a 70mph incoming meets a 70 mph swing. No wonder they replace the balls so frequently.
Ah pickleball!!!
Bill
https://www.wlsphoto.com/CITI-OPEN-TENNIS-IN-DC-2022/
