2024 ATP General News

[kskate2]

I'm trying to find a reason to like Hubi, but I can't. He's just a servebot in Red shorts. Boy wouldn't know a return if it smacked him in the gonads.

 

[lomaha]

Looks like Grigor didn't fold today and wins the title in straight sets.

Yeah he played like in the old days. Rune did well but Gregor was just to good today.

 

[kskate2]

So the #1 player and a servebot cannot get it done against a vet doub specialist and a gassed Zed.

Congrats to Germany. Zed single handedly decided they were not losing tonight.

Heartbreak for the Poles. I see Iga shedding tears.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Looks like Grigor didn't fold today and wins the title in straight sets.

I watched the match when it was 4 all it was close, then decided to give tennis a break for the day/night

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the ATP250 Hong Kong Tournament,
Rublev who was the top seed won his 15th tour level title defeating the Vowel Dude ( Ruusuvuori) 64 64

 

[nehmeth]

Looks like Grigor didn't fold today and wins the title in straight sets.

Kidding aside, the first set was played at such a high level; beautiful shotmaking from both guys. Truly enjoyable to watch.

 

[Fiero425]

I see Aukland / ASB Classic started tonight w/ Ben Shelton the top seed! Anyone taking bets if he'll get out of the 2nd or 3rd round? He's been on my bad side acting out and disrespecting Djokovic at the USO last year! Be confident all you like, but you can't be an a-#ole when it comes to the Big 3 of the past gen.! Shap got a WC so it'll be good to see him after all this time! Wolf already upset in the 1st round thanks to Van Assche!

 

[Moxie]

I see Aukland / ASB Classic started tonight w/ Ben Shelton the top seed! Anyone taking bets if he'll get out of the 2nd or 3rd round? He's been on my bad side acting out and disrespecting Djokovic at the USO last year! Be confident all you like, but you can't be an a-#ole when it comes to the Big 3 of the past gen.! Shap got a WC so it'll be good to see him after all this time! Wolf already upset in the 1st round thanks to Van Assche!

Hold on...haven't you been the one dissing 2 of the Big 3 for the past decade? And also been asking for the Next Gen to step up? At least Shelton is a creditable tennis player.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Kooyong Classic
Wednesday 10th January
Starts at 11.00am local time,
J.Sinner vs M.Polmans (AUS)
A.Murray vs M.Cilic
H.Rune vs K.Khachanov
Not before 3pm local time
F.Tiafoe vs Zhang Zhizhen

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Cincinnati tournament is returning to its original name Cincinnati Open. Rebranding of the tournament comes shortly after announcement that the event will remain at the Lindner Family Tennis Center for the next 25 years ( source Michal Samsulski)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Matteo Berrettini joins the field of the Kooyong Classic which starts tomorrow Wednesday 10th January, good to see that he will get some match play before the AO

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New ATP/WTA Scheduling Rule Changes, these new rule changes do not apply to Grand Slam tournaments, hopefully they follow suit.
The new scheduling rules are being implemented as part of a 1 year trial in 2024, with further review to follow.

No more than 5 matches per day per court ( with an 11am start) with 3 matches during the day session and 2 matches during the evening session.
No matches to go on court after 11pm, unless approved by the ATP/WTA Supervisor in consultation with ATP/WTA management
Matches on court by 10.30pm to be moved to an alternative court - no later than 11pm
Night sessions to begin no later than 7.30pm, with a recommendation for 6.30pm

Tennis Balls,
A strategic review of tennis balls used on the tour is underway, and the changes, if any, to be implemented by 2025.

 

[El Dude]

Stop the presses:

Richard Gasquet's 18 years in the ATP top 100 leaves him in esteemed company | Flashscore.com

Richard Gasquet (37) has never won a Grand Slam - only three times during his long career has he reached the semi-finals of one. Yet he has become a respected tennis personality over the years. In April 2005, he entered the top 100 of the ATP rankings for the first time and has remained there...

www.flashscore.com

Richard Gasquet falls out of the top 100 for the first time since 2005 - his 956 consecutive weeks behind only Federer (1165) and Nadal (1029) and ahead of Novak (945).

I guess we've had the third spoke of the Big Three wrong all this time?

 

[Moxie]

Stop the presses:

Richard Gasquet's 18 years in the ATP top 100 leaves him in esteemed company | Flashscore.com

Richard Gasquet (37) has never won a Grand Slam - only three times during his long career has he reached the semi-finals of one. Yet he has become a respected tennis personality over the years. In April 2005, he entered the top 100 of the ATP rankings for the first time and has remained there...

www.flashscore.com

Richard Gasquet falls out of the top 100 for the first time since 2005 - his 956 consecutive weeks behind only Federer (1165) and Nadal (1029) and ahead of Novak (945).

I guess we've had the third spoke of the Big Three wrong all this time?

Well, no, but Gasquet was one of the stalwarts. Think of Feliciano Lopez, or Tomas Berdych. Given that he's only 2 weeks younger than Nadal, and that they played juniors together, and were both touted early, Gasquet has always been an interesting case study in the difference between an excellent, and lucrative career, and a HOF one.

 

[El Dude]

Well, no, but Gasquet was one of the stalwarts. Think of Feliciano Lopez, or Tomas Berdych. Given that he's only 2 weeks younger than Nadal, and that they played juniors together, and were both touted early, Gasquet has always been an interesting case study in the difference between an excellent, and lucrative career, and a HOF one.

You know I was joking, right?

I think he's between those two. Lopez had similar longevity, but was half a step below Gasquet. Berdych had a bit less longevity, but was a much better player.

By PEP, he's at 41. Here is every player in the Open Era with 40-49 PEP:

48 Clerc
46 Monfils, Mayotte
45 Costa, G Mayer
44 A Medvedev, Ferreira
43 Isner
42 Dimitrov, Gonzalez, Higueras
41 Gasquet, Soderling, Rusedski, Cash
40 Coria, Panatta

Three Slam winners, but all pretty much definitive "one-Slam wonders" (Cash, Panatta, Costa). Lots of what could be called "third tier" guys, or very weak "second tier" types. OF that list, only Gasquet, Gonzalez, and Monfils didn't win at least one Masters equivlaent,and Gasquet and Gonzalez only won ATP 250s, but Fernando reached a Slam final.

Lopez is all the way down at 22 PEP, Berdych way up at 86.

 

[Moxie]

You know I was joking, right?

I think he's between those two. Lopez had similar longevity, but was half a step below Gasquet. Berdych had a bit less longevity, but was a much better player.

By PEP, he's at 41. Here is every player in the Open Era with 40-49 PEP:

48 Clerc
46 Monfils, Mayotte
45 Costa, G Mayer
44 A Medvedev, Ferreira
43 Isner
42 Dimitrov, Gonzalez, Higueras
41 Gasquet, Soderling, Rusedski, Cash
40 Coria, Panatta

Three Slam winners, but all pretty much definitive "one-Slam wonders" (Cash, Panatta, Costa). Lots of what could be called "third tier" guys, or very weak "second tier" types. OF that list, only Gasquet, Gonzalez, and Monfils didn't win at least one Masters equivlaent,and Gasquet and Gonzalez only won ATP 250s, but Fernando reached a Slam final.

Lopez is all the way down at 22 PEP, Berdych way up at 86.

Sorry, it's possible that Nadal's injury and withdrawal from the AO has shaved something off my sense of humor.

I picked Lopez and Berdych off the top of my head. Lopez, for longevity, and Berdych for being a good all-but-Slam player. I wonder if he'll retire this year.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Watching Kooyong Classic Day 1,
Jannik Sinner got a good work out especially in the 1st set by Aussie Marc Polmans, who has received a wild card into the AO. Jannik got his timing and rhythm more in 2nd set and handled the windy conditions well Sinner 64 60

Cilic v Murray,
I thought Cilic would have shown more rust, he served well as well as his trade mark fhand, he has to be happy with that performance defeated Murry 63 75

H.Rune v KK, played in a good spirit, and it was closely fought match, but Rune when it mattered stepped up and has much more variety in his overall game than KK, winning 64 75

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Kooyong Classic Thursday 11th January
Starts at 11.0am local time (Melbourne)
Womens singles match,
Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) vs Taylah Preston (AUS) Taylah has received a wild card at the AO
Followed By,
Jannik Sinner vs Casper Ruud
A.Murray vs Dominic Thiem
S.Wawrinka vs Zhang Zhizhen

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Watching Kooyong Classic Thursday 11th January,
Sinner far too strong for Casper Ruud defeating him 62 63, too strong from the baseline, and his return game was on song

Watching Murray v Thiem,
Thiem is struggling, Murray has won the 1st set 64 and is leading 4-1 in the 2nd set, as Paul MacNamee Former Aussie doubles player) pointed out Thiem is a former shadow of himself, he needs to win a tournament, challenger, any tournament, he keeps getting horrid draws, being unseeded, your ranking is soo important especially in tournaments, and GS consistency is the key in making you keep your seeding.
Murray d Thiem 64 62....well done Murray

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Kooyong Classic Friday January 12th,
Starts at 11am local time,
Tiafoe v Raonic
Theim v Berrettini
Collins v Andreeva women's singles match
Not before 3pm,
Kokkinakis v Polmans

Matteo Berrettini has withdrawn, I have not further details why? Cerundolo will now take his place against Theim