National Bank Open Presented by Rogers, Montreal, Canada - ATP 1000 Masters

[the AntiPusher]

Fils d Norrie 62 76 (8) a tight TB for the 2nd set, but Fils came through

Fils will play against Jodar in the QF.

I had an opportunity to watch the majority of Fils match vs Norrie who is one tough cookie to get pass. Norrie is very underrated. That being said, Fils says that he is playing more aggressively due to the very slow court speed of the courts in Montreal. Fils said a few days ago, its is almost at the clay level. Fils for my money provides more insights to the typical ATP player who gives just post match fluff. This style of play will NOT win him the title in Cincy or the USO especially against the current goats (Novak, Sinner or Carlitos) because those courts are typically lightening fast.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I had an opportunity to watch the majority of Fils match vs Norrie who is one tough cookie to get pass. Norrie is very underrated. That being said, Fils says that he is playing more aggressively due to the very slow court speed of the courts in Montreal. Fils said a few days ago, its is almost at the clay level. Fils for my money provides more insights to the typical ATP player who gives just post match fluff. This style of play will NOT win him the title in Cincy or the USO especially against the current goats (Novak, Sinner or Carlitos) because those courts are typically lightening fast.

I have to agree with you I have watched a few matches in Monteral, it is like playing on a slow clay court in ways
Cinncy is a fast hard court and players in Monteral will have to adjust their play,if they want to go far in Cinncy

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

No No MM.. Dr. Ivo and Giant has won the same amount of grand slams as Kieran, El Dude, Darth, Fiero and myself.. Sampras's serve is by far the greatest of all time.. No need to compare him to to big 6'10 Serve-Bots .. Come on MM, why are you hitting your brother AP with satire. I thought you and I were DOWN like 4 flat tires. jajajajaj

AP
Spoken like a true Pete Sampras fan ( my hubby Peter would also agree with you)

 

[Fiero425]

I had an opportunity to watch the majority of Fils match vs Norrie who is one tough cookie to get pass. Norrie is very underrated. That being said, Fils says that he is playing more aggressively due to the very slow court speed of the courts in Montreal. Fils said a few days ago, its is almost at the clay level. Fils for my money provides more insights to the typical ATP player who gives just post match fluff. This style of play will NOT win him the title in Cincy or the USO especially against the current goats (Novak, Sinner or Carlitos) because those courts are typically lightening fast.

Whenever I hear talk of "being more aggressive" or the court speed affecting their effort to impose their will, usually a prequel to physical injury!

 

[El Dude]

I should probably do an in-depth study, but Jodar's emergence this year is rather extraordinary. He's now #10 in the Race rankings, in his first season of ATP play. I don't think anyone has ever done that. Others have had better years at the same or a younger age, but not with the lack of ATP tour experience. He seems like a legit top 10 talent right now, while Fonzie seems stuck at the 15-25 level...sort of disheartening that he hasn't really improved this year, even if he's shown flashes (he showed flashes last year, too). I'm not tempering my expectations for Fonzie, I just think he's going to take a bit longer to "bake." But Jodar may be the story of the year.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I should probably do an in-depth study, but Jodar's emergence this year is rather extraordinary. He's now #10 in the Race rankings, in his first season of ATP play. I don't think anyone has ever done that. Others have had better years at the same or a younger age, but not with the lack of ATP tour experience. He seems like a legit top 10 talent right now, while Fonzie seems stuck at the 15-25 level...sort of disheartening that he hasn't really improved this year, even if he's shown flashes (he showed flashes last year, too). I'm not tempering my expectations for Fonzie, I just think he's going to take a bit longer to "bake." But Jodar may be the story of the year.

I think you should do an in depth study on Jodar his rise has been outstanding
I read that David Ferrer compares him to a young Rafa and Alcaraz in ways

 

[kskate2]

I had an opportunity to watch the majority of Fils match vs Norrie who is one tough cookie to get pass. Norrie is very underrated. That being said, Fils says that he is playing more aggressively due to the very slow court speed of the courts in Montreal. Fils said a few days ago, its is almost at the clay level. Fils for my money provides more insights to the typical ATP player who gives just post match fluff. This style of play will NOT win him the title in Cincy or the USO especially against the current goats (Novak, Sinner or Carlitos) because those courts are typically lightening fast.

no he's not, you haven't been paying attention. He is annoying as all get out. A dog w/ a bone and a very tough out. It's been talked about ad nauseum.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For the "First Time Ever" all Masters QFs were born in the 2000s,

(18) Fils ( 22yo) vs Jodar (20) ( 19yo)
19 Darderi (24yo) vs Nakashima (28) (25yo)
(12) Tien (20 yo) vs Merida ( 21yo)
(13) Mensik (20) vs Shelton (5) (23 yo)

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I should probably do an in-depth study, but Jodar's emergence this year is rather extraordinary. He's now #10 in the Race rankings, in his first season of ATP play. I don't think anyone has ever done that. Others have had better years at the same or a younger age, but not with the lack of ATP tour experience. He seems like a legit top 10 talent right now, while Fonzie seems stuck at the 15-25 level...sort of disheartening that he hasn't really improved this year, even if he's shown flashes (he showed flashes last year, too). I'm not tempering my expectations for Fonzie, I just think he's going to take a bit longer to "bake." But Jodar may be the story of the year.

The closest one is Jannik Sinner, but that was due to the pandemic. He probably would have broken out at 18 if not for it, but he ended up missing the second half of age 18 due to the pandemic, so his breakout year was age 19. I think he made the Year End final in 2021 and finished 10th that year, in the first full year that wasn't interrupted by the pandemic. Also, if I remember correctly, Jannik finished 2021 ahead of Carlos (but it was pretty clear by the end of that year that men's tennis had found its next greats).

Maybe Fonseca has a 2005 Rafa/2022 Carlos-like breakout year in 2027.

 

[El Dude]

The closest one is Jannik Sinner, but that was due to the pandemic. He probably would have broken out at 18 if not for it, but he ended up missing the second half of age 18 due to the pandemic, so his breakout year was age 19. I think he made the Year End final in 2021 and finished 10th that year, in the first full year that wasn't interrupted by the pandemic. Also, if I remember correctly, Jannik finished 2021 ahead of Carlos (but it was pretty clear by the end of that year that men's tennis had found its next greats).

Maybe Fonseca has a 2005 Rafa/2022 Carlos-like breakout year in 2027.

Jannik was another that took a more gradual, Roger-esque developmental path, with his full breakout in 2024 at age 22-23, just like Roger in 2004.

Roger won his first Masters in 2002 at age 20, a few months before turning 21. I think that's a good "later first big title" barometer for possible greatness: A big title before turning 21, or at latest 22. Joao turns 21 a year from now, so he's got plenty of time to reach that threshold (Jodar, too). I expect both to win one before that, though.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jannik was another that took a more gradual, Roger-esque developmental path, with his full breakout in 2024 at age 22-23, just like Roger in 2004.

Roger won his first Masters in 2002 at age 20, a few months before turning 21. I think that's a good "later first big title" barometer for possible greatness: A big title before turning 21, or at latest 22. Joao turns 21 a year from now, so he's got plenty of time to reach that threshold (Jodar, too). I expect both to win one before that, though.

Lets not forget Jannik really started tennis at age 13, after he gave up competitive skiing to focus on tennis going to the Piatti Tennis Center
Sinner barely played Junior ITF tournaments and never played Junior GS.
He started playing professional ITF futures and challenger events at age 16, accelerating his development by playing against tougher older adults
By 17, he won multiple challenger titles, broke into the Top 100 and won the 2019 Next Generation ATP Finals
2020 reached the French QFs as a teenager, won his first title in Sofia