2025 ATP General News

Moxie

Multiple Major Winner
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
44,357
Reactions
15,409
Points
113
I think just the attempt to defend his gold medal will feel like closure for Novak. Kind of like Rafa competing at the Paris Olympics.

Even Roger tried to hold on long enough for an attempt at the Tokyo Olympics, but his body gave out just before at 2021 Wimbledon.

Barring injury/his body giving out on him, I really think Novak goes for it.
You put a lot of stock in tennis players prioritizing the Olympics. In fairness, Novak DID just say that defending his gold medal in LA in 2028 motivates him. However, this is the same guy who hinted at not playing another RG a few weeks ago, when he lost. So he runs hot and cold on these things.

2028 is a long way away for a guy who is 38. You say, "barring injury," which could happen. But I would add: Barring a slow decline in his game, barring sinking rankings, barring lack of results. Still, if he wins another Major, or continues to make SFs and Fs, and he can keep chipping away at the career titles record, why not? IMO, though, Novak will have to stay somewhere around where he is right now, in terms of rankings and results, to stay motivated. And, including healthy. Personally, I don't see him keeping that up for 3 more years.
 

Jelenafan

Multiple Major Winner
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
3,843
Reactions
5,265
Points
113
Location
California, USA

MargaretMcAleer

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
49,199
Reactions
32,051
Points
113
19 yo Mensik, highest ranked teenager in the world (#17) defeats former r/u Cam Norries 76(6) 16 61 to reach the 2nd round in London
Saved 2 SPs in the first set
Hit 20 aces.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Moxie and kskate2

MargaretMcAleer

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
49,199
Reactions
32,051
Points
113
Wimbledon Update:
OUT: Nishikori
IN: B.Harris
Another Update:
OUT: Tabilo
IN: Cilic
 
Last edited:

MargaretMcAleer

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
49,199
Reactions
32,051
Points
113
Boris Becker his book titled " Winning, Losing, Starting Again" available this September, is a reflection of one of the toughest experiences of his life, including time in prison and everything that came before and after.
 

Jelenafan

Multiple Major Winner
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
3,843
Reactions
5,265
Points
113
Location
California, USA
I know a lot of people around here don’t like Djokovic & IMO wish/hope he hangs it up, but as of now…

38 year old Novak has made finals of a Masters & the SF of a slam in the last 3 months, and I do think red clay is his weakest surface.

I think if he can adjust to the new “reality” that he won’t be the #1 player, dominant player and win multiple slams he could play a couple more years

Federer & Rafa’s bodies just plain gave out, Federer’s knees were spent & Rafa’s last comeback from injury never really got off the ground.

Novak can travel the circuit with a multimillion dollar team/entourage of trainers/coaches/‘conditioning/massage, etc personnel and as of now doesn’t have to have any major chronic physical ailment. The endorsements & appearance money can still pour in.

I know it’s a big IF, but….If he can still enjoy playing without the added pressure of having to win every tourney, he could hang Around; who are we to say he’s not got anymore motivation to play?
 

kskate2

Administrator
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
31,577
Reactions
10,643
Points
113
Age
55
Location
Tampa Bay
I know a lot of people around here don’t like Djokovic & IMO wish/hope he hangs it up, but as of now…

38 year old Novak has made finals of a Masters & the SF of a slam in the last 3 months, and I do think red clay is his weakest surface.

I think if he can adjust to the new “reality” that he won’t be the #1 player, dominant player and win multiple slams he could play a couple more years

Federer & Rafa’s bodies just plain gave out, Federer’s knees were spent & Rafa’s last comeback from injury never really got off the ground.

Novak can travel the circuit with a multimillion dollar team/entourage of trainers/coaches/‘conditioning/massage, etc personnel and as of now doesn’t have to have any major chronic physical ailment. The endorsements & appearance money can still pour in.

I know it’s a big IF, but….If he can still enjoy playing without the added pressure of having to win every tourney, he could hang Around; who are we to say he’s not got anymore motivation to play?
Cmon man! That's what we do around here. I really don't give a flying fart if he chooses to stay on tour or not. I understand wanting another slam to break Court's record. The OG is a different story though. But hey, if he wants to try and hang w/ these young guns, he better be prepared when some days he just won't have it. And even if he does have it, will it be enough to defeat multiple top players in the same event.
 

Jelenafan

Multiple Major Winner
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
3,843
Reactions
5,265
Points
113
Location
California, USA
Cmon man! That's what we do around here. I really don't give a flying fart if he chooses to stay on tour or not. I understand wanting another slam to break Court's record. The OG is a different story though. But hey, if he wants to try and hang w/ these young guns, he better be prepared when some days he just won't have it. And even if he does have it, will it be enough to defeat multiple top players in the same event.
Isn’t that basically what I just said, that if he continues to play it’s a new reality?

Fine, if it’s debate, well then there’s more to playing than just getting a 25th Slam or another Olympics, maybe he goes on playing because he enjoys the sport.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Fiero425

PhiEaglesfan712

Major Winner
Joined
Sep 7, 2022
Messages
1,242
Reactions
1,172
Points
113
Federer & Rafa’s bodies just plain gave out, Federer’s knees were spent & Rafa’s last comeback from injury never really got off the ground.
The end of Federer's career was just unfortunate. Roger was still going strong at Novak's age until that injury at the 2020 AO. The pandemic came at the worst possible time for him, and it messed up his recovery from injury. I wonder if the end of Federer's career would have played out more gracefully if we had a traditional year in 2020.

With Rafa, that last comeback was like gravy. I view 2022 as his real comeback, as I thought his career was over after that loss in the 2021 Citi Open. I never expected him to just come back and start 2022 that strong and win the AO (his weakest slam). It would have been if like Federer came back and had won the 2021 FO. The 2024 comeback felt like closure, something we really didn't get from Federer. I just wish that Rafa would have won the Bastaad final (not that he needed it for his legacy, but) as a cherry on top.
 

Fiero425

The GOAT
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
11,729
Reactions
2,676
Points
113
Location
Chicago, IL
Website
fiero4251.blogspot.com
The end of Federer's career was just unfortunate. Roger was still going strong at Novak's age until that injury at the 2020 AO. The pandemic came at the worst possible time for him, and it messed up his recovery from injury. I wonder if the end of Federer's career would have played out more gracefully if we had a traditional year in 2020.

With Rafa, that last comeback was like gravy. I view 2022 as his real comeback, as I thought his career was over after that loss in the 2021 Citi Open. I never expected him to just come back and start 2022 that strong and win the AO (his weakest slam). It would have been if like Federer came back and had won the 2021 FO. The 2024 comeback felt like closure, something we really didn't get from Federer. I just wish that Rafa would have won the Bastaad final (not that he needed it for his legacy, but) as a cherry on top.

Nadal got an assist w/ Novak DQ "down under" & the Pandemic kept him out of tourneys in the United States! Even Biden couldn't help Novak out!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Kieran

El Dude

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
10,713
Reactions
6,598
Points
113
While it is tempting to be (irrationally) disappointed that Fonseca hasn't taken a next step up yet, it is important to remember that he is really in his first go-around on tour. What is impressive is that he's not getting blown out in any losses, except maybe to Jack Draper at Roland Garros. But Draper has ranked as high as #4 and in his prime. This is who Fonseca is now, at 18, imagine what he's going to be a year from now, two, three. In other words, once he does it all once, he can apply what he's learned, feel more comfortable, and take that next step forward.

He reminds me a bit of a top baseball hitting prospect in his first few months. He wows people with his ability, and beats many established pitchers, but then gets wake-up calls when he faces really good pitchers. But like that hitter, Fonseca is learning and he seems OK with that. I imagine that once he plays another few dozen matches (plus or minus), he's going to click and jump a level. While it could happen earlier, my prediction is that he has his "elite breakout"--which I define as either winning a Masters or reaching maybe a Slam SF--in the first half of next year.
 

Kieran

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
17,418
Reactions
7,647
Points
113
Nadal got an assist w/ Novak DQ "down under" & the Pandemic kept him out of tourneys in the United States! Even Biden couldn't help Novak out!
Or he might won in Australia anyway. regardless of whether Novak was there or not, and regardless of if they played each other. It was novak's choice, what happened there. Rafa showed up and performed...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jelenafan and Moxie

Kieran

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
17,418
Reactions
7,647
Points
113
I wish this website had an algorithm where all Fedalkovic Warring was automatically and immediately moved to the Fedalkovic Wars thread. One can dream...
It’s true, but we’re a dying breed, let us have our final futile glories.. :lol6: