2017 ATP General News

[Carol]

Personally, I think Stan's top-level results are 50% due to Norman. The stabilizing influence he much needed. Without his coach, and at 32-33, I think Stan's best is behind him. I really don't think he'll win another Major, and he'll spoil, at best.

Agreed, Stan always was the Roger's shadow and looked very insecure until Norman gave him what he needed, good training and confidence which works sometimes better than the game

 

[Moxie]

Agreed, Stan always was the Roger's shadow and looked very insecure until Norman gave him what he needed, good training and confidence which works sometimes better than the game

Stan has a really powerful game, but it's all based on confidence. I believe that Magnus Norman was his cloak of invincibility.

 

[Ricardo]

Agreed, Stan always was the Roger's shadow and looked very insecure until Norman gave him what he needed, good training and confidence which works sometimes better than the game

First sensible post from Carol ever? congrad

 

[isabelle]

Thiem pulled out of Paris MS

 

[Carol]

Rafa confirms he will play in Paris

 

[the AntiPusher]

Tiafoe just misses the cut, if it is the case that the #8 slot goes to an Italian WC. It's Daniil Medvedev just swapped places on the list this week. Also in: Rublev, Khachanov, Shapalov, Jared Donaldson, Borna Coric and Hyeon Chung.

That's too bad Frances had a decent year..Roger sure knows who he is.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

WTF Qualification Update: With the finals left in Basel and Vienna, at this time there are six contenders for the last two spots. In order, they are Goffin, PCB, Unlce Sam, Kevin Anderson, JMDP and Tsonga. Interestingly, the two at the tail end are involved in the finals at Basel and Vienna. But, Tsonga has better chances of winning considering the quality of opponent. If he wins, he moves to position 4 in the list, just 15 pts below Uncle.

If JMDP manages to win Basel finals, he vaults to position two, just 10 pts above PCB.

 

[Moxie]

WTF Qualification Update: With the finals left in Basel and Vienna, at this time there are six contenders for the last two spots. In order, they are Goffin, PCB, Unlce Sam, Kevin Anderson, JMDP and Tsonga. Interestingly, the two at the tail end are involved in the finals at Basel and Vienna. But, Tsonga has better chances of winning considering the quality of opponent. If he wins, he moves to position 4 in the list, just 15 pts below Uncle.

That's helpful. I was trying to figure out who the most likely were. Both Tsonga and del Potro stand to improve their chances tomorrow, then Paris will tell the rest, I guess.

 

[isabelle]

Sir Andy'll be back in Brisbane but he'll play 2 exhs with Mr Vavrinec before

 

[GameSetAndMath]

WTF Qualification Update: With the finals left in Basel and Vienna, at this time there are six contenders for the last two spots. In order, they are Goffin, PCB, Unlce Sam, Kevin Anderson, JMDP and Tsonga. Interestingly, the two at the tail end are involved in the finals at Basel and Vienna. But, Tsonga has better chances of winning considering the quality of opponent. If he wins, he moves to position 4 in the list, just 15 pts below Uncle.

If JMDP manages to win Basel finals, he vaults to position two, just 10 pts above PCB.

It is amazing that Sock was not even in the radar 8 days ago and now he made it to WTF.

 

[ftan]

Many Congratulations to Andy and Kim for their second child. It's a GIRL!!!
I didn't even know they were expecting baby no 2.
http://people.com/babies/andy-murray-welcomes-daughter-second-child/

 

[isabelle]

congrats to Sir Andy and Kim, they must be in heaven

 

[isabelle]

La Monf will play Buenos Aires in 2018

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa has officially withdrawn from Basel . However, the reason quoted is more of protection from over stressing of right knee. Hence, I don't think he will miss Bercy or WTF.

Anyway, this opens up a possibility for YE#1 for Fed. In order to get to YE#1 in a sure fire way, Fed needs to win Basel, Bercy and WTF (without losing a match). Even then YE #1 is not guaranteed for Fed. The current lead of Rafa is 1960. If Fed wins all these three events he will accumulate 3000 more. So, Rafa would need to make up 1050 or more in Bercy and WTF put together. If Rafa becomes runner up in Bercy, then he would only need 450 in WTF. If Rafa wins two RR matches in WTF, he will get 400. However, if Rafa is inefficient in his wins and some other player in his group wins efficiently, Rafa may end up as the runner-up of his group. If Fed is the winner of his group, then Fedal will happen in semifinal stage at WTF. If Fed defeats Rafa in SF, Fed can become YE#1 (Note: recall that in WTF you don't get brownie points for reaching SF, You get 400 extra points for winning SF and another 500 extra points for winning F).

Can't help wondering that if Roger had chosen to play Bercy, may be he would have finished YE#1 (see calculations above) considering Rafa's knee woes. Actually, in retrospect Roger needed only three match wins in Bercy although he would not know it at that time.

However, I must admit there is also the possibility that Roger might have got his back woes back if he had played in Bercy.

Oh well, let us hope that he becomes #1 at least for a few weeks in 2018, even if not YE #1. YE #1 Ship might have sailed for Roger
considering his age and his limited schedule.

 

[Moxie]

Can't help wondering that if Roger had chosen to play Bercy, may be he would have finished YE#1 (see calculations above) considering Rafa's knee woes. Actually, in retrospect Roger needed only three match wins in Bercy although he would not know it at that time.

However, I must admit there is also the possibility that Roger might have got his back woes back if he had played in Bercy.

Oh well, let us hope that he becomes #1 at least for a few weeks in 2018, even if not YE #1. YE #1 Ship might have sailed for Roger
considering his age and his limited schedule.

You mentioned this on the YEC thread. The YE#1 I get, and that didn't happen. But why are you so interested that Roger might get another week or 2 at #1? He's basically miles ahead of everyone on that count.

 

[Moxie]

As to the Djokovic question, and Agassi's comments, I thought I'd direct them over here, rather than bury them in the YEC thread. According to tennis.com, Agassi said basically nothing more than a rah-rah about Novak coming back. Sure. He has faith that Novak will be great again. It's a pointless PR comment. Tells us nothing. On the other hand, there has be intel, even from Novak himself that he's not able to practice properly.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

You mentioned this on the YEC thread. The YE#1 I get, and that didn't happen. But why are you so interested that Roger might get another week or 2 at #1? He's basically miles ahead of everyone on that count.

OH, you missed the pt. It is not about extending his weeks at #1 record. It is about creating a record (?) on being oldest #1.
Actually, I am not sure who holds that record now.

 

[Moxie]

OH, you missed the pt. It is not about extending his weeks at #1 record. It is about creating a record (?) on being oldest #1.
Actually, I am not sure who holds that record now.

I do believe I mentioned that earlier, about that you lot may have been fussed that Rafa is the oldest to hold the YE#1. I actually thought I was being facetious, but you're serious. I won't be bothered about that, but if Roger listens to you and over-plays before the AO, I'll be more than fine with it, for the chasing of really Mickey Mouse records. But I'll bet he won't.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I do believe I mentioned that earlier, about that you lot may have been fussed that Rafa is the oldest to hold the YE#1. I actually thought I was being facetious, but you're serious. I won't be bothered about that, but if Roger listens to you and over-plays before the AO, I'll be more than fine with it, for the chasing of really Mickey Mouse records. But I'll bet he won't.

I agree it is Mickey-Mouse record and Roger does not care for it. But, nobody is asking him to overplay for it. Replacing Hopman cup by Brisbane is not overplaying. He anyway needs to play one warm-up tourney before AO. I agree that the chances of Roger doing that is next to nil.

Actually, talking of entering into "other guy's tourney", Rafa has done several times. From Valencia, he moved to Basel. From Queens, he moved to Halle and so on.

 

[Moxie]

I agree it is Mickey-Mouse record and Roger does not care for it. But, nobody is asking him to overplay for it. Replacing Hopman cup by Brisbane is not overplaying. He anyway needs to play one warm-up tourney before AO. I agree that the chances of Roger doing that is next to nil.

Actually, talking of entering into "other guy's tourney", Rafa has done several times. From Valencia, he moved to Basel. From Queens, he moved to Halle and so on.

I thought it was you that said he was committed to Hopman Cup. Anyway, whatever...I'm sure he'll pick something.

Now, I'm not sure who was talk of "entering into another guy's tourney." That does seem a bit deep in the weeds of Fedal nerdiness. And I thought I was pretty far in. What are we worried about, here?