2020 ATP General News

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ I have no doubt Novak's intentions were good regarding this tour,though in the midst of a global pandemic,regardless if the Balkans had a low rate of coronavirus,this virus is highly contagious,you cannot afford to let your guard down full stop,until there is a vaccine,which could take up to a year plus if it is successful.Packed stadiums,no social distancing,hugs and handshakes at net,also going out to nightclubs is 'not the way to act' full stop.,of course people are going to be critical,especially when players on this tour tested positive to the virus.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I'm getting worried that Rafa is going to skip the USO..no way someone doubles down on a non grand slam tournament the day afterwards the USO unless he has plans a no show in NY. I hope he rethinks it and hopefully his team can let him know how precious an opportunity to get number 20.

 

[Moxie]

Novak continue to have diarrhea of the month in regards to his tournament last month. It was the lack of social distancing and careless that was the issue not "opening too soon".

Novak Djokovic attacks 'witch-hunt' and casts doubt on US Open involvement

Novak Djokovic has accused critics of subjecting him to a ‘witch-hunt’ over his ill-fated Adria Tour event and says he is uncertain whether he will play at Flushing Meadows

www.theguardian.com

I find Novak's willingness to cast himself as a victim in this to be a very bad look. Unlike The Guardian, who calls it a reference to the criticism from Kyrgios, it sounds to me that he's feeling the brunt of much wider criticism, from the media and the tennis world, perhaps, and doesn't feel he deserves to be singled out. Frankly, he isn't, except in tennis terms, which he does deserve. Mainstream articles (in English) cite the elections and a big soccer tournament attended by some 6000 fans as main reasons for the spike in cases in Belgrade and otherwise in Serbia. On the other hand, he hasn't really taken ownership of the choices that they made to ignore protocols being used in what little tennis there has been since the halting of the main tour. He has allowed surrogates (Ivanisovic, his dad, and the Serbian PM) to blame others, or accept blame and absolve him. He continues to say that it was done for the right reasons, and that the followed local regulations. But he hasn't once said that perhaps they used poor judgement, which they did. He's 33 years old and an ambassador for tennis...all of this whining and self-pity is unbecoming. And using it as a threat to boycott (and in this case I do mean "boycott,") the USO comes off as petulant.

 

[Moxie]

^ I have no doubt Novak's intentions were good regarding this tour,though in the midst of a global pandemic,regardless if the Balkans had a low rate of coronavirus,this virus is highly contagious,you cannot afford to let your guard down full stop,until there is a vaccine,which could take up to a year plus if it is successful.Packed stadiums,no social distancing,hugs and handshakes at net,also going out to nightclubs is 'not the way to act' full stop.,of course people are going to be critical,especially when players on this tour tested positive to the virus.

Personally, I'm increasingly convinced that his intentions were not that pure with this tour. Given how aggressively they were doing the polar opposite of what the rest of tennis was doing at the time, and is now, in terms of respecting the virus, I'm beginning to suspect it was meant to stick a finger in the eye of the tennis powers that be. If they'd all come through unscathed, he would have back-up for his claims that the USO protocols are too strict, and that he shouldn't be made to take a vaccine if he doesn't wish to, in order to play on the tour. Either that, or he and everyone who advises him are complete idiots and completely tone-deaf to the moment that we're living in. Even if they didn't think it was necessary, the most minimal eyewash for the sake of decorum and a nod to your PR, even, might have saved a lot of spread of the virus, and averted PR disaster. They went so far in the opposite direction of what everyone was doing that it feels, frankly, a bit pointed.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

I'm getting worried that Rafa is going to skip the USO..no way someone doubles down on a non grand slam tournament the day afterwards the USO unless he has plans a no show in NY. I hope he rethinks it and hopefully his team can let him know how precious an opportunity to get number 20.

Rafa might disagree with you re the "precious an opportunity to get number 20" (although he may not say it in public) if his top motivation is a large perspective of social responsibility rather than a greedy hunger. The worries of his own safety can also play a role. International travel has been shown to be the main means of spreading the virus (e.g. in my state of NSW, the vast majority of cases are linked to overseas alighting) so travelling especially to the hardest hit US without an emergent reason, is irresponsible.
The following tourneys are in his native Spain, so at least said element of international travel is taken away from his decision to attend them.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Personally, I'm increasingly convinced that his intentions were not that pure with this tour. Given how aggressively they were doing the polar opposite of what the rest of tennis was doing at the time, and is now, in terms of respecting the virus, I'm beginning to suspect it was meant to stick a finger in the eye of the tennis powers that be. If they'd all come through unscathed, he would have back-up for his claims that the USO protocols are too strict, and that he shouldn't be made to take a vaccine if he doesn't wish to, in order to play on the tour. Either that, or he and everyone who advises him are complete idiots and completely tone-deaf to the moment that we're living in. Even if they didn't think it was necessary, the most minimal eyewash for the sake of decorum and a nod to your PR, even, might have saved a lot of spread of the virus, and averted PR disaster. They went so far in the opposite direction of what everyone was doing that it feels, frankly, a bit pointed.

Everyone has the right to their opinion regarding vaccines,I disagree with Novak's views full stop,though I have to disagree with your thoughts it was meant to stick a finger in the eye of the tennis powers that be,you also then must include the rest of the tennis players that also attended the tour.,who also thought the USO protocols were too strict, eg Theim who I bet will jump at the chance to go to the USO if it goes ahead? also Zverev disagree's with the USO protocols.Novak deserves the outcry from other players and tennis journalists regarding the Arida Tour,it was inexcusable under the current circumstances.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa might disagree with you re the "precious an opportunity to get number 20" (although he may not say it in public) if his top motivation is a large perspective of social responsibility rather than a greedy hunger. The worries of his own safety can also play a role. International travel has been shown to be the main means of spreading the virus (e.g. in my state of NSW, the vast majority of cases are linked to overseas alighting) so travelling especially to the hardest hit US without an emergent reason, is irresponsible.
The following tourneys are in his native Spain, so at least said element of international travel is taken away from his decision to attend them.

I agree with you, Chris. As to Rafa, he's been responsible about his lockdown and isolation. Given how tight the schedule is, and, (as much as I hate to say this,) how bad the US has been about COVID, his choices are: stick close to home (Madrid, Rome, Paris,) and focus on clay; or risk the US, risk playing too much before clay, and also risk contagion. It seems clear. As to others, I hope some top players will still come to play DC, Cincy, USO, but it may end up being a lot of Americans. Except that we all know that Thiem will be here. I hope NYC can keep going in the right direction in terms of the virus, and that it can still be a good tournament, however odd.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

I find Novak's willingness to cast himself as a victim in this to be a very bad look. Unlike The Guardian, who calls it a reference to the criticism from Kyrgios, it sounds to me that he's feeling the brunt of much wider criticism, from the media and the tennis world, perhaps, and doesn't feel he deserves to be singled out. Frankly, he isn't, except in tennis terms, which he does deserve. Mainstream articles (in English) cite the elections and a big soccer tournament attended by some 6000 fans as main reasons for the spike in cases in Belgrade and otherwise in Serbia. On the other hand, he hasn't really taken ownership of the choices that they made to ignore protocols being used in what little tennis there has been since the halting of the main tour. He has allowed surrogates (Ivanisovic, his dad, and the Serbian PM) to blame others, or accept blame and absolve him. He continues to say that it was done for the right reasons, and that the followed local regulations. But he hasn't once said that perhaps they used poor judgement, which they did. He's 33 years old and an ambassador for tennis...all of this whining and self-pity is unbecoming. And using it as a threat to boycott (and in this case I do mean "boycott,") the USO comes off as petulant.

I was always saying Joker was petulant, irresponsible man, both on and off court' He does not deserve to be the so called "ambassador for tennis" because he is undergrown, immature man. Add that he's been spoiled by attaining the no 1 ranking and the status of one of the "Big 4" (the status I was always saying he does not deserve) and you have a good picture of his psychology. This latest incident is just a confirmation of, nothing new in his operating mode.
The universal criticism of him by tennis fans is not that new: remember how the whole stadium have been rooting against him and for Thiem in the last final? Not that Thiem is particularly liked here in OZ, but simply against Joker who does not deserve to win the coveted price. I expect such attitude of the stands will continue or even intensifies after this later incident, we will soon see. I don't expect Joker to grow up and change his subtle attitude (other than, from time to time, issuing formal apologies for most blatant mistakes, like shouting at the ballgirl, etc.) to change that. I even expect that he may loose some fanship (other than the hardcore ones who are ready to forgive him everything) and even his career may spiral down due to the psychological pressure of now very strong criticism.

 

[Moxie]

Everyone has the right to their opinion regarding vaccines,I disagree with Novak's views full stop,though I have to disagree with your thoughts it was meant to stick a finger in the eye of the tennis powers that be,you also then must include the rest of the tennis players that also attended the tour.,who also thought the USO protocols were too strict, eg Theim who I bet will jump at the chance to go to the USO if it goes ahead? also Zverev disagree's with the USO protocols.Novak deserves the outcry from other players and tennis journalists regarding the Arida Tour,it was inexcusable under the current circumstances.

I DO include the other players in that criticism, but they didn't organize the tour. But they also all clearly believed that the strict protocols were BS. You have to say there was a certain feeling of "we'll show them!" about the absolutely egregious choices they made. The only options are that it was designed to show-up the protocols, or that the pack of them, and all of their advisors, coaches, agents, managers, parents, etc. are complete "boneheads" (I believe was Kyrgios' word.) I personally have a hard time believing that absolutely everyone involved was that stupid or incautious about optics. Which is why I find it willful. But I respect your opinion, as always.

 

[Moxie]

I was always saying Joker was petulant, irresponsible man, both on and off court' He does not deserve to be the so called "ambassador for tennis" because he is undergrown, immature man. Add that he's been spoiled by attaining the no 1 ranking and the status of one of the "Big 4" (the status I was always saying he does not deserve) and you have a good picture of his psychology. This latest incident is just a confirmation of, nothing new in his operating mode.
The universal criticism of him by tennis fans is not that new: remember how the whole stadium have been rooting against him and for Thiem in the last final? Not that Thiem is particularly liked here in OZ, but simply against Joker who does not deserve to win the coveted price. I expect such attitude of the stands will continue or even intensifies after this later incident, we will soon see. I don't expect Joker to grow up and change his subtle attitude (other than, from time to time, issuing formal apologies for most blatant mistakes, like shouting at the ballgirl, etc.) to change that. I even expect that he may loose some fanship (other than the hardcore ones who are ready to forgive him everything) and even his career may spiral down due to the psychological pressure of now very strong criticism.

Look, I don't like the guy, but I initially felt a bit bad for him as to how he must have felt crushed that things went so badly wrong with his Adria Tour, which was meant to raise money for charity, and highlight his beloved homeland. But his presenting himself as an aggrieved party in all of this is too much. He does like to see himself as a paragon of virtue and good intentions, even though his behavior sometimes belies that. And then when it falls apart, he and his fans fall on the old trope: "You just don't like him because he's an Eastern European." Well, no...we don't like him because he's a man-baby.

I have no idea if or how the fallout from this might affect him, but there won't be crowds at the next tournaments, so he will feel neither the support nor the sanction. It's going to be all about if his focus suffers from it.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

I have to say that this pandemic has showed the world that even Kyrgios is a more responsible human being than Djokovic.

 

[Jelenafan]

At this rate John Isner will finally win the USO.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

At this rate John Isner will finally win the USO.

Objectively I think THiem has better chance but I would definitely prefer if Big John took it.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

I have to say that this pandemic has showed the world that even Kyrgios is a more responsible human being than Djokovic.

Kyrgios has always been "more responsible human being" than Joker (off court when emotions of the moment don't hinder one's judgement), in fact Kyrgios is one of the most socially mature person among current elite tennis players. This event only confirmed that.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

At this rate John Isner will finally win the USO.

I rather watch wet paint dry than watch John Isner lol! though I can't stand Theim so I will root for John all the way.

 

[Moxie]

I rather watch wet paint dry than watch John Isner lol! though I can't stand Theim so I will root for John all the way.

Sort of hilarious that we've whittled it down to Thiem and Isner. Personally, I like Thiem well enough, and if Rafa doesn't play, he's the one I think will win. Though I have several favorites that I'd put in. Isner is rather old news. We know that Federer is done for the year. Let's say Rafa and Novak don't play. If Tsitsipas, Zverev, Medvedev and Berrettini show up, to name a few, they could all be solid contenders. What about JMDP, Murray, Cilic and Wawrinka? They've all won it before. OK, maybe only Cilic is the one not injured/past his sell-by date, but you never know. Could be interesting.

 

[Jelenafan]

Sort of hilarious that we've whittled it down to Thiem and Isner. Personally, I like Thiem well enough, and if Rafa doesn't play, he's the one I think will win. Though I have several favorites that I'd put in. Isner is rather old news. We know that Federer is done for the year. Let's say Rafa and Novak don't play. If Tsitsipas, Zverev, Medvedev and Berrettini show up, to name a few, they could all be solid contenders. What about JMDP, Murray, Cilic and Wawrinka? They've all won it before. OK, maybe only Cilic is the one not injured/past his sell-by date, but you never know. Could be interesting.

My slightly tongue in cheek response was per , with Tiafoe potentially Covid compromised, and the US not an inviting place to visit if we’re in our 2nd/3rd COvid wave by then , perhaps all the non NorthAmericans you’ve mentioned would opt out.

A raging pandemic versus a plateaued European circuit.

Isner versus Shapovalov, who knows?

 

[the AntiPusher]

Rafa might disagree with you re the "precious an opportunity to get number 20" (although he may not say it in public) if his top motivation is a large perspective of social responsibility rather than a greedy hunger. The worries of his own safety can also play a role. International travel has been shown to be the main means of spreading the virus (e.g. in my state of NSW, the vast majority of cases are linked to overseas alighting) so travelling especially to the hardest hit US without an emergent reason, is irresponsible.
The following tourneys are in his native Spain, so at least said element of international travel is taken away from his decision to attend them.

I would rather see the US Open cancelled then to not have the two time defending champ not participating. But your rational makes more practical Sense.

 

[Moxie]

My slightly tongue in cheek response was per , with Tiafoe potentially Covid compromised, and the US not an inviting place to visit if we’re in our 2nd/3rd COvid wave by then , perhaps all the non NorthAmericans you’ve mentioned would opt out.

A raging pandemic versus a plateaued European circuit.

Isner versus Shapovalov, who knows?

If Novak and Rafa demure, and it seems they will, there's a big open space for the ambitious. Thiem, Zverev and Dimitrov have already proven that they have more ambition than sense, so they'll be here. Tsitsipas is playing exhos, and he's young, so he might be willing to quarantine or whatever, and take his chances at the most "open" USO in years. What the heck, @El Dude, it could even be FAA's year. If both of the Big 2 skip, I rather like the notion of the free-for-all.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

China will not stage any international sports for the rest of the year,(apart for the trials of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and the neighboring city of Zhangjiakou.)
China also have four ATP tournaments lined up which are cancelled.
Chengdu 250
Zhuhai 250
Beijing 500
Shanghai 1000