re: The Unofficial 2018 Australian Open Thread

I have come around with you a bit on the Wimbledon thing. I have had to suffer through some Isner and Raonic matches in person and the shite is unwatchable. But, I understand the traditionalists who don't like seeing Djoker or Rafa win it from the baseline.

Other than Wimbledon, I don't understand the homogenized courts argument. I don't think AO is really much faster or slower than it has been since they moved off of the grass in the '80's. In fact, I thought the plexipave is a little quicker than Rebound Ace. RG has always been RG. USO has always been fast per reports, except for some anecdotal stuff last year. I do wish there was some carpet in the fall/winter. Not sure what the deal is there, if it's an injury thing or it was deemed too fast.

I have no idea if balls have been manipulated (yeah, manipulate my balls) other than I think RG used a livelier Dunlop ball three or four years ago.