2026 ATP General News

El Dude

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Bautista Agut is noteworthy for having a relatively late breakout--he didn't reach the top 100 until he was 24--and still a long career that was very consistent: He finished in the top 100 from 2012 to 2025, and top 25 from 2014-22. He won 12 titles overall, his best being an ATP 500. He was pretty much the quintessential "3rd tier" player: A guy who is seeded at Slams and may peak on the edge of the top 10.

Against the Big Four:
Djokovic 3-9
Nadal 0-3
Federer 0-9
Murray 4-3

Yes, he had a winning record against Murray, but to be fair to Andy, those four wins for RBA were all 2019-23 when Andy was a shadow of himself.
 

MargaretMcAleer

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RBA had a pretty good career. Good solid ground strokes No drama Just did not have any weapons which made him the ultimate baseliner grinders..FathertTime will catch up with players like him unfortunately.
AP
He was the ultimate baseliner grinder, to me his best surface was the hard court., coming from Spain, people think clay courters can only play on clay :)
 
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MargaretMcAleer

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Good News,

According to La Verdad, Alcaraz was examined last Friday by Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cottore who confirmed that the right wrist is fully healed.
Carlos and his team are now targeting his return at the Cinncy Masters August 13th.The plan is to gradually increase his training load with the target of returning to Cinncy
Carlos is expected to meet with Dr, Ruiz -Cottore again this week, to receive the official green light to return to Cinncy

Source Dzevod Mesic via tennisworld, July 14th.
 
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El Dude

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^That's good news...hopefully!

I'm very curious how he'll come back, and if he'll struggle with Jannik more than before - at least for awhile. If you look at his run at the Masters this year, then at the end of Wimbledon, Jannik is an improved player from what Carlos last saw. It is small, but at their level even a tiny bit makes a big difference. Great players tend to play off each other, and it might take a bit for Carlos to get back fully to his level, let alone challenge Jannik.
 

MargaretMcAleer

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^That's good news...hopefully!

I'm very curious how he'll come back, and if he'll struggle with Jannik more than before - at least for awhile. If you look at his run at the Masters this year, then at the end of Wimbledon, Jannik is an improved player from what Carlos last saw. It is small, but at their level even a tiny bit makes a big difference. Great players tend to play off each other, and it might take a bit for Carlos to get back fully to his level, let alone challenge Jannik.
I have seen small vidoes of Carlos practicing lightly he is still yet to get the all clear from his doctor even though he has been told from his doctor the wrist is healed
His team still being cautious which is understandable, he dosent need any further set backs, especially the wrist where the power comes from.
 

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I found this interesting from The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast,

16 yo American Jordan Lee ( boys singles champion at Wimbledon ) signed with John Tobias and Joel Cannell at GSE, ( which is a global prominent global sports marketing a talent management agency) got a big Yonex deal, and is going to turn pro officially in 2027, will play junior and no pro tournaments for the rest of the year,
 
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El Dude

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I found this interesting from The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast,

16 yo American Jordan Lee ( boys singles champion at Wimbledon ) signed with John Tobias and Joel Cannell at GSE, ( which is a global prominent global sports marketing a talent management agency) got a big Yonex deal, and is going to turn pro officially in 2027, will play junior and no pro tournaments for the rest of the year,
As you probably heard, Andy Roddick was trying to be very cautious in his optimism about Lee and not jinx or over-hype, but you could hear his hopefulness. Either way, we've got some names to consider from the very young (under 18-19): Lee, Kouame, Hewitt seem most prominent right now. Perhaps Miguel and this Buglarian, Ivan Ivanov. Kids like Blanch, Engel, and Dedura have been on my radar, but still waiting for their big "challengers jump" when a young player starts doing really well in challengers and rises towards the top 100. Engel, I think, hasn't been playing for a couple months. Blanch and Dedura are creeping.

I was hoping to see Bernet really jump this year, but his overall performance is disappointing. He turned 19 in January and just breached the top 400.
 
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MargaretMcAleer

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As you probably heard, Andy Roddick was trying to be very cautious in his optimism about Lee and not jinx or over-hype, but you could hear his hopefulness. Either way, we've got some names to consider from the very young (under 18-19): Lee, Kouame, Hewitt seem most prominent right now. Perhaps Miguel and this Buglarian, Ivan Ivanov. Kids like Blanch, Engel, and Dedura have been on my radar, but still waiting for their big "challengers jump" when a young player starts doing really well in challengers and rises towards the top 100. Engel, I think, hasn't been playing for a couple months. Blanch and Dedura are creeping.

I was hoping to see Bernet really jump this year, but his overall performance is disappointing. He turned 19 in January and just breached the top 400.
I finally got to watch highlights of Jordan Lee v Cruz Hewitt boys singles match
Lee has an aggressive, high energy style, heavy fhand, likes to dictate points from the baseline and has a competitive spirit, just my observations
Playing junior tournaments for the rest of the year and then turning pro in 2027, is a big jump as you are aware, I understand Roddicks view, personally speaking I dont like to 'over hype' a 16 yo at this young stage of his career, yes Jordan is talented, lets see how he reacts and performs in 2027.
 

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I finally got to watch highlights of Jordan Lee v Cruz Hewitt boys singles match
Lee has an aggressive, high energy style, heavy fhand, likes to dictate points from the baseline and has a competitive spirit, just my observations
Playing junior tournaments for the rest of the year and then turning pro in 2027, is a big jump as you are aware, I understand Roddicks view, personally speaking I dont like to 'over hype' a 16 yo at this young stage of his career, yes Jordan is talented, lets see how he reacts and performs in 2027.
I don't watch much junior tennis but did watch the highlights and was surprised at how hard they were hitting. It was a bit "bashy" - not much finesse, but plenty of power.
 

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Three fun historical facts:
  • Mats Wilander had won his 7th and final GS title at a younger age (by a couple months) than when Ivan Lendl won his first.
  • Bjorn Borg won his 11th and last Slam at about the same age as Jannik Sinner will be at the US Open, when he'll be going for his 6th Slam.
  • Ken Rosewall won his first Slam at a younger age (18) than any Slam won by the Big Three and his last Slam at an older age (37) than any by the Big Three.
 
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MargaretMcAleer

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Three fun historical facts:
  • Mats Wilander had won his 7th and final GS title at a younger age (by a couple months) than when Ivan Lendl won his first.
  • Bjorn Borg won his 11th and last Slam at about the same age as Jannik Sinner will be at the US Open, when he'll be going for his 6th Slam.
  • Ken Rosewall won his first Slam at a younger age (18) than any Slam won by the Big Three and his last Slam at an older age (37) than any by the Big Three.
Still a complete mystery to me that Rosewall never won Wimbledon, had the game for grass, from memory Ken was RU 4 times
Then again Rafter had a great game on grass and he could not win Wimbledon
 
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El Dude

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Still a complete mystery to me that Rosewall never won Wimbledon, had the game for grass, from memory Ken was RU 4 times
Then again Rafter had a great game on grass and he could not win Wimbledon
Yes, four times is right - twice in the 50s and twice in the 70s (which is impressive in its own right). He was runner up to Jaroslav Drobny in 1954 and Lew Hoad in 1956, then John Newcombe in '70 and Jimmy Connors in '74, when Muscles was 39 years old.

So there's no shame in who he lost to - all great players, and Hoad in that window when he was as good as anyone on a good day. But I think it also comes down to missing Wimbledon from 1957-67 - that's 11 years, from age 22 to 32, or most of his prime.

Rosewall is a fun player to look at, because he was pretty much the 2nd best player for the better part of two decades - behind Pancho Gonzales in the mid to late 50s, then Laver for the 60s and into the 70s. I can't remember which one, but I think I have him as the best player in 1963, when he won all three Pro Slams and the last World Pro Tour. He is also one of only two players, along with Rod Laver, to win multiple Amateur, Pro, and Open Era Slams.
 
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MargaretMcAleer

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Yes, four times is right - twice in the 50s and twice in the 70s (which is impressive in its own right). He was runner up to Jaroslav Drobny in 1954 and Lew Hoad in 1956, then John Newcombe in '70 and Jimmy Connors in '74, when Muscles was 39 years old.

So there's no shame in who he lost to - all great players, and Hoad in that window when he was as good as anyone on a good day. But I think it also comes down to missing Wimbledon from 1957-67 - that's 11 years, from age 22 to 32, or most of his prime.

Rosewall is a fun player to look at, because he was pretty much the 2nd best player for the better part of two decades - behind Pancho Gonzales in the mid to late 50s, then Laver for the 60s and into the 70s. I can't remember which one, but I think I have him as the best player in 1963, when he won all three Pro Slams and the last World Pro Tour. He is also one of only two players, along with Rod Laver, to win multiple Amateur, Pro, and Open Era Slams.
Your probably right with Ken missing Wimbledon 1957-67, 11 years, in age 22 to 32, most of his prime
I have met Ken personally when he used to live in Sydney,now lives in Queensland, he used to have luncheons at Sydney in a private room in the tennis complex, the main tournament arena that was named after him, Ken Rosewall Arena, and always had a guest speaker from tennis, his lunches always sold out, and he used to visit every table and talk, a humble man, and he was still playing tennis lol!, I attended when Pat Rafter and also Margaret Court were Ken's guest speakers
 
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Yes, four times is right - twice in the 50s and twice in the 70s (which is impressive in its own right). He was runner up to Jaroslav Drobny in 1954 and Lew Hoad in 1956, then John Newcombe in '70 and Jimmy Connors in '74, when Muscles was 39 years old.

So there's no shame in who he lost to - all great players, and Hoad in that window when he was as good as anyone on a good day. But I think it also comes down to missing Wimbledon from 1957-67 - that's 11 years, from age 22 to 32, or most of his prime.

Rosewall is a fun player to look at, because he was pretty much the 2nd best player for the better part of two decades - behind Pancho Gonzales in the mid to late 50s, then Laver for the 60s and into the 70s. I can't remember which one, but I think I have him as the best player in 1963, when he won all three Pro Slams and the last World Pro Tour. He is also one of only two players, along with Rod Laver, to win multiple Amateur, Pro, and Open Era Slams.

I guess we can say Laver, Rosewall, & Gonzalez were the equivalent of the Big 3 extended well over 20 yrs. of excellence! IMO, Rosewall was also hampered by his size! He had lit'l to no serve & on grass at Wimbledon, it helps greatly to have a powerful one! On top of that, his BH was great, but exclusively sliced or flat! All of that contributed to someone not taking a huge grass court tournament like Wimbledon where Connors annihilated him in str. sets in '74! :fearful-face::face-with-hand-over-mouth::astonished-face::exploding-head:
 
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El Dude

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I guess we can say Laver, Rosewall, & Gonzalez were the equivalent of the Big 3 extended well over 20 yrs. of excellence! IMO, Rosewall was also hampered by his size! He had lit'l to no serve & on grass at Wimbledon, it helps greatly to have a powerful one! On top of that, his BH was great, but exclusively sliced or flat! All of that contributed to someone not taking a huge grass court tournament like Wimbledon where Connors annihilated him in str. sets in '74! :fearful-face::face-with-hand-over-mouth::astonished-face::exploding-head:
Sorta...they weren't nearly as cohesive a group as our Big Three. Gonzales joined the pro tour in 1950, seven years before Rosewall and 13 years before Laver. Gonzales and Rosewall were the top two pro players together in 1957-61, and then Rosewall and Laver in 1963-67, but I don't think there was ever a year in which Gonzales and Laver were near the top of their games together. I mean, Laver was ten years younger!

Meaning, the age-gap between Gonzales and Laver was the same as Sampras and Federer. Gonzales and Rosewall was like Federer and Djokovic; Rosewall and Laver was about a year closer than Roger and Rafa, so they were basically peers, especially given Rosewall's longevity.

But there was a "Gonzwall" (~1957-61) and then a longer "Laverose" period (~1963-71) when the pairs were the top two players in the world, and competitors against each other.
 
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