2025 ATP General News

[MargaretMcAleer]

It will be a TB for the 2nd set 6 all
Fonseca to serve first
Paul (11) d Fonseca 76(7) 76(3) Paul played the big points better when needed in this match

 

[kskate2]

Agree Novak lacks match play, what happens if he goes out again early in Rome? the youngsters are not afraid of him, I was proud of my young Italian holding his nerve served out the match., maybe playing a small clay tournament before Rome or after, before RG
BTW Novak has now lost his opening match 4 of his last 5 events
If Novak thinks he can just turn up to RG with a couple of clay matches under his belt he is 'delusional' the surface expects a player to be in their top form physically and mentally at present Novak is showing none of those quailities

This is what I was saying at MC. He needed to enter Munich or Barca because there's a big likelihood that he loses R1 of all these tourneys and shows up at RG unprepared. Gone are the days of playing his way into form and yes, there is no more fear in the locker room.

 

[kskate2]

It will be a TB for the 2nd set 6 all
Fonseca to serve first
Paul (11) d Fonseca 76(7) 76(3) Paul played the big points better when needed in this match

Yep. Wiley vet had the answers today even though he gave Fonz too many chances w/ all those 2nd serves he offered. It's a lesson I'm sure he'll learn and be better because of it.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yep. Wiley vet had the answers today even though he gave Fonz too many chances w/ all those 2nd serves he offered. It's a lesson I'm sure he'll learn and be better because of it.

Good learning curve for Fonseca, though he did have Paul on his toes from the start of the match, missing 0/6 BPs in the 1st set from Fonseca,wont be happy about that and had a lead in the 1st set TB, though too many ufe in the latter part of the TB cost him, and Paul snatched it from him

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is what I was saying at MC. He needed to enter Munich or Barca because there's a big likelihood that he loses R1 of all these tourneys and shows up at RG unprepared. Gone are the days of playing his way into form and yes, there is no more fear in the locker room.

Maybe he can do a Naomi Osaka and asked for a wild card into a lower clay tournament? cant go into RG of all surfaces with just a few clay matches under your belt and expect to do well.
BTW FAA who was R/U to Rublev last year in Madrid has accepted a wild card into Estoril
There are 2 ATP outdoor clay tournaments Novak could play after Rome, if he goes out early, ATP500 Hamburg or ATP250 Geneva Open

 

[kskate2]

Maybe he can do a Naomi Osaka and asked for a wild card into a lower clay tournament eg Estoril? cant go into RG of all surfaces with just a few clay matches under your belt and expect to do well.
BTW FAA who was R/U to Rublev last year in Madrid has accepted a wild card into Estoril

I think Courier said he already signed up to play Estoril in the event he went out early here

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think Courier said he already signed up to play Estoril in the event he went out early here

Light bulb finally has been switched on in his head lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just looking at then entry list for Estoril, this year it is a challenger 175 event 26th April - 4th May
Next year it will be upgraded to an ATP250 event held after Wimbledon July 20-26 for the first time
Michelson, Borges, Giron, Etcheverry, Kecmonovic, Steff, Martinez, Jarry, Fonseca, Nishikori Tien
FAA has accepted a wild card into the tournament

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Confirmed Joao Fonseca will play Estoril Open, Estoril was the first European event to give him a main draw wild card in 2024!
( source Jose Morgado@jose morgado)

 

[El Dude]

Disappointed with the loss for Fonzie, but it is pretty clear what we're seeing: an elite player in the making who simply has to gain experience. He's still very much a rookie: let's not forget that he just played his 36th ATP level match. Here's where various players were at, at the same time:

Alcaraz: US Open, 2021. Carlos started it #55, ended it #38. Carlos was about five months younger than Fonzie is now.
Sinner: Rome Masters, 2020. Sinner's 36th match was his last in that tournament, which he finished #75. He was about five months older.
Djokovic: Rotterdam, 2006. Novak finished #67 and was about the same age as Fonzie.
Murray: Memphis, 2006. Andy just won his first title, and was #47. He was about the same age.
Nadal: Australian Open, 2004. Rafa finished #40 and was about a year younger.
Roger: Adelaide, 2000. Roger finished #62 and was a few months younger.

Meaning, all the recent greats were pretty similar in terms of where they were at in the rankings and age - though Carlos and Rafa were a bit further ahead and younger, but not hugely so.

 

[kskate2]

Light bulb finally has been switched on in his head lol!

I'm sorry MM, I was referring to Fonz not Djoke. Besides, can Djoke play there? He's still in the top 10

 

[Fiero425]

I see I'm not missing much! I'll keep my repetitive & boring "sleep making ick" to myself! Paul overcame the Fonseca-hype!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I'm sorry MM, I was referring to Fonz not Djoke. Besides, can Djoke play there? He's still in the top 10

No worries, I was just about to correct it lol! Fonseca has confirmed he will be playing in Estoril
No Novak cannot play in challenger events being still in the Top Ten, there are 2 tournaments after Rome, if Novak dosent do well, Hamburg ATP500 or Geneva Open ATP250

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ATP1000 Madrid
Sunday 27th April, matches starting at 11.00am local time
Top seeds in action,
Zverev (1) Fritz (3) Rublev (7) Shelton (12) Ruud (14)

I wish all Masters 1000 events would be 7 days, dragging it out to nearly 2 weeks like Madrid and Rome dosent do the players any favors especially the players that go deep into either tournaments, most players agree, these days it is all about 'bums on seats' and the revenue it brings in regardless.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Defending champion Rublev lost to the 'Unpredictable Bublik' you never know what version you will get, 64 06 64.Rublev will lose 950 points and will fall to 17th in the live rankings
Rublev will leave the Top 15 for the first time since January 2020

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Bonzi forced to retire after the 2nd set, sending Fritz into the round of 16, 46 75
Bonzi with a lower back problem

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Mensik d Shelton 61 64
Won 7 consecutive games at one point
Beat Shelton both times they're played this year. Won 8 of his last 9 matches
Mensik improves 5-0 v top 20 players this year
3rd Masters R16

 

[El Dude]

I'm thinking we're starting to see the decline of "Next Gen" - Medvedev, Fritz, Tsitsipas, and Rublev are all having off years, and for at least three of them (not Fritz) the "wobble" goes back to last year.

I'm not saying that these guys can't rebound, but they're all in that late 20s window when a lot of players have a bit of a lull (Medvedev just turned 29, Rublev and Fritz turn 28 late in the year, Tsitsipas 27). Some just keep falling, though a lot have an "Indian Summer" of some kind, even for several years.

Poor Next Gen. Second generation in a row with no truly great players. The following gen has two greats (Sinner, Alcaraz), and a few top 10 types (Draper, Rune, maybe Shelton and Musetti); and the post-Alcaraz gen is also starting show some promise (Fils, Mensik, Fonseca).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Francisco Cerundolo earns his 22nd win of the season and now leads the tour in clay court wins with 14 ( I hope I havent jinxed him)
Defeats Comensana 64 64