It says it all that we call Rafa by his first name. Few players achieve that, and he has earned it.
Who knows if the other three finalists will get to be known on first name terms. Though, I do hear Barty often referred to as Ash.
Medvedev could get there. He seems to be leading the pack of the next in line coming up behind the big 3.
Collins is the newest name on the Grand slam finalists roll call. She reached her first one beating Swiatek in straight sets. It was a mightily impressive and stoic display. Collins said she was so focused during the match that when she won, her celebration was so low key because she was still thinking about her tactics.
Barty also got through in straights, beating Keys.
In the men’s, both Nadal and Medvedev (I will call Nadal by his surname for reasons of equality) got through in four sets. Nadal beat Berrettini and Medvedev defeated Tsitsipas. Both winners were convincing ones and their pretty swift progress to the final means both should be as fresh as any finalist can be.
Tsitsipas almost managed to get through the event with little controversy. But, in his semi-final exit, he once again hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. This time, it was his father coaching him, which Medvedev animatedly complained about in an exchange with the umpire, whom Medvedev oddly called a ‘small cat.’ The tournament though was not treating the Tsistispas coaching issue like a harmless creature. They went to great lengths to put an end to it by getting Greek umpire Eva Asderaki to stand in the player’s entrance beneath the Tsitsipas coaching team and signal to the chair umpire when coaching did take place.
It always says a lot when these stories take up more room than the match, but all the semi finals were a bit of a letdown. Not to take away from the achievement of the players, but this was not a round which will stay in the memory for longer than a couple of hours.
The finals might be different, mind.
Barty vs Collins
Great contrast in styles; two very down to earth and likeable players; one is a home player with the crowd behind her and the other is a real fighter who gets steelier the bigger the occasion. Of the two, it would seem Barty might be the likelier to freeze, and so we could get an upset here.
Nadal vs Medvedev.
Nadal getting 21 after losing his last four finals here would be a huge story. Nadal generally has had Medvedev’s number in their careers. But they are very different stages now, with Nadal out for the last six months and Medvedev winning his first slam. Neither man is playing that well, but they are doing what champs do, winning while not at their best. If neither can raise their game for the final, this match will be up for grabs. Things might get messy, and very, very entertaining. I think Medvedev is the favorite here, but I would not be surprised for Nadal’s coolness and perspective to be the decider.
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