Cincinnati Masters 2026, Ohio, US - ATP Masters 1000
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Fiero425
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They're droppin' like flies! This is why I laugh when there's talk of Sinaraz overtaking the records of the Big 3! I'm surprised that Sinner already has taken the Masters' record of winning 6 str. & getting his 1st Golden Masters rather early! Novak had a time trying to get past FedalRay in Cincy which delayed the inevitable! Gotta go update the blog! I forgot Jannik & Carlos have to be added to certain records!
the AntiPusher
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the AntiPusher
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Foe was too good.. I think he needs to be tested for something.. Never seen a human being sweat so profusely.. He must be taking something but its not creatine. He goes through at least 10 shirts ..one for every changeovet
Stop reading my mind. I was thinking Jodar r16 here at Cincy is a good finish so he’s not exhausted before the USO.
The kid is 19 years old & # 11 in the rankings. If I were a top 8 seed I’d be nervous where Rafa ends up in the draw…
Oh, I don't know. I sweat profusely and I'm not a world class athlete. Got it from my mom. i'm sure he's being tested, especially after having that procedure. Besides, I heard he drinks a gallon of H20 daily and carries it w/ him.
the AntiPusher
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That's a lot of water. Smart move staying hydrated. He was way too good for Felix last night
El Dude
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FAA has definitely been a study in gradually reduced expectations/hopes. I see expectations as likely floor while hopes are possible ceiling. It went something like this:
FAA first came on my radar when he was very young - 15 years old, I believe, either in early 2016 or late 2015. I can't remember where I heard of him, but it could have been Tennis Abstract's age rankings, specifically their "Not Yet 18" list. As with all such players, I take note of names, but don't make much of them until they start rising up quickly at a young age.
Anyhow, my first thought was "sounds like a kid to keep an eye on." My hopes started skyrocketing in 2018 when he came close to the top 100, but it was in 2019 that I bought hard on Felix: Not only did he jump into the top 100 at 18 years old, but rose as high as #21 just before his 19th birthday. I was certain that he'd be, at the least, an elite player and multi-Slam winner, and had hopes of greatness. 2020 was a bit of a setback, but that was true for a lot of young players (see Jannik Sinner, a year younger than FAA). But still, 2020 was mildly disappointing as he finished #21 for the second year in a row. Doubts began to emerge, but I was mostly still optimistic.
From 2020 through 2022, there was a nice trajectory of improvement that you can see in his year-end rankings: 21, 11, 6. But it wasn't the arc of a great player, so my hopes were reduced somewhat overall. But by the end of 2022, my expectations were as a very good 2nd tier type (ala Tsitsipas in his prime), with hopes of a Slam or three.
But then 2023-24 happened: Two years in a row finishing #29. At this point, my hopes were dashed. I thought he could be, well, what he is now: A solid, but middling, 2nd tier type. Something better than Richard Gasquet but not as good as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
2025 was a bounceback. Whatever was wrong in 2023-24, seemed to be solved in late 2025 when he went on a tear and ended up with his best year-end ranking of #5. My expectations weren't back to 2019 levels, and maybe not even 2022 levels, but it was nice to see him return to the top 10 player, but not really a regular top 5 guy.
In summary:
2016-17: A name to keep an eye on.
2018: Hope rising - this kid could be really good.
2019: Future great, or at least lesser elite. Multiple Slams, a bunch of Masters, and a #1 candidate.
2020-22: Likely elite, possible lesser great. Will definitely win Masters, maybe a Slam.
2023-24: Sigh. I guess he can make it back to the top 10, right?
2025-26: OK, this is who he is. Hopefully he wins a Masters.
Unfortunately, FAA is also a reminder that players like Fonseca don't always reach our hopes for them. FAA was the same age in 2019--the height of his upside (at least in my mind)--as Fonzie was last year, with similar results. Like FAA, Fonzie seems to be consolidating this year, not improving significantly. Meaning, FAA in 2019-20 = Fonzie in 2025-26. This is usually a sign that a promising player's upside is more as a second tier/lesser elite type than a great and/or future #1. I'm not ready to give up hope on Fonseca, as some future greats take a slower path (Federer, Sinner), but I am less confident that he'll be a future great now vs. a year ago.
FAA first came on my radar when he was very young - 15 years old, I believe, either in early 2016 or late 2015. I can't remember where I heard of him, but it could have been Tennis Abstract's age rankings, specifically their "Not Yet 18" list. As with all such players, I take note of names, but don't make much of them until they start rising up quickly at a young age.
Anyhow, my first thought was "sounds like a kid to keep an eye on." My hopes started skyrocketing in 2018 when he came close to the top 100, but it was in 2019 that I bought hard on Felix: Not only did he jump into the top 100 at 18 years old, but rose as high as #21 just before his 19th birthday. I was certain that he'd be, at the least, an elite player and multi-Slam winner, and had hopes of greatness. 2020 was a bit of a setback, but that was true for a lot of young players (see Jannik Sinner, a year younger than FAA). But still, 2020 was mildly disappointing as he finished #21 for the second year in a row. Doubts began to emerge, but I was mostly still optimistic.
From 2020 through 2022, there was a nice trajectory of improvement that you can see in his year-end rankings: 21, 11, 6. But it wasn't the arc of a great player, so my hopes were reduced somewhat overall. But by the end of 2022, my expectations were as a very good 2nd tier type (ala Tsitsipas in his prime), with hopes of a Slam or three.
But then 2023-24 happened: Two years in a row finishing #29. At this point, my hopes were dashed. I thought he could be, well, what he is now: A solid, but middling, 2nd tier type. Something better than Richard Gasquet but not as good as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
2025 was a bounceback. Whatever was wrong in 2023-24, seemed to be solved in late 2025 when he went on a tear and ended up with his best year-end ranking of #5. My expectations weren't back to 2019 levels, and maybe not even 2022 levels, but it was nice to see him return to the top 10 player, but not really a regular top 5 guy.
In summary:
2016-17: A name to keep an eye on.
2018: Hope rising - this kid could be really good.
2019: Future great, or at least lesser elite. Multiple Slams, a bunch of Masters, and a #1 candidate.
2020-22: Likely elite, possible lesser great. Will definitely win Masters, maybe a Slam.
2023-24: Sigh. I guess he can make it back to the top 10, right?
2025-26: OK, this is who he is. Hopefully he wins a Masters.
Unfortunately, FAA is also a reminder that players like Fonseca don't always reach our hopes for them. FAA was the same age in 2019--the height of his upside (at least in my mind)--as Fonzie was last year, with similar results. Like FAA, Fonzie seems to be consolidating this year, not improving significantly. Meaning, FAA in 2019-20 = Fonzie in 2025-26. This is usually a sign that a promising player's upside is more as a second tier/lesser elite type than a great and/or future #1. I'm not ready to give up hope on Fonseca, as some future greats take a slower path (Federer, Sinner), but I am less confident that he'll be a future great now vs. a year ago.
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Fiero425
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Love it! Not sure I'd equate "slower paths" of Fed & Sinner! Federer's game needed more marinating w/ all that flash & skill! Lucky for him, his comp. was nowhere near as tough as Sinner's if you want TBF! Roger dealt w/ the death-throws of Sampras & Agassi, then the near greats (#1 pretenders) in Safin & Hewitt! Roger blew up w/ little true comp. early on, but Rafa changed all that! As great as Roger's thought of, people had to admit Rafa owned him, "lock, stock, & barrel!" We rationalized the dominance; "it's mostly on clay," but that wasn't true! By 2008 even grass couldn't save the so call greatest rivalry! IMO, there has to be some trading of wins & by 2008, if Roger defeated Nadal, it was considered an upset w/ Roger compulsively "wagging his finger" after a MP! The arrival of Novak didn't help! Fed's dominance was over except in the minds of the Tennis Intelligentsia keeping him elevated & above the fray! Many still consider him "The GOAT" in his rivalry w/ Nadal, thought to be "The BOAT!" Roger got a little bit of a reprieve taking several matches over Rafa 2017-18! Real historians will know better!
Sinner had it a lot tougher IMO; starting late as a junior, then having to deal w/ the "end of an era" in The Big 3, Lost Gens. II, & of course Alcaraz! He has a lot more work to do, but his ascension seems to be a lot more impressive! I don't enjoy watching him play, but his results can't be overlooked or ignored! Already w/ a Golden Masters? Just a missed "MP" in completing a Career GS! End Rant!
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I disagree with this. I need to see what Fonzie does in 2027 before any conclusion can be made. What if Fonzie takes a huge leap next year, wins a slam, and ends say #2 in the rankings? Are you going to change your mind and say 2025-26 Fonzie = 2003-04 Nadal and 2027 Fonzie = 2005 Nadal?
