2021 ATP General News

[Moxie]

I know tons about doping in Russia but the same is true of Spain which is why the baseless allegation 'cos he's Russian is pointless when you conveniently ignore the fact that Spain went literally went overnight from being nothing special to winning a ton of gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics courtesy of the infamous Dr. Fuentes who also worked with tennis players and the very same was said about the 2010 World Cup. They're as much a nation of cheats as Russia. And as I mentioned, Karatsev is not winning matches because of stamina but shot making and can go from being terrible one set or match to great the next. Nothing suss at all there due to inconsistency.

https://www.playthegame.org/news/ne...doctor-stands-behind-spanish-olympic-success/

Cristiana Perez, wife of alleged doping doctor Dr Eufemiano Fuentes, claims that Spain owes much of its gold medal glory at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics to the work of her husband.

However, Perez, a former Olympic sprinter at the 1988 Seoul Games, told Spanish newspaper La Provincia that she would refuse to name names, out of loyalty to friends and colleagues, fearing the consequences of her revelations for Spanish Sport.

“It's a Pandora's Box and if opened one day, it could bring down sport,” Perez told La Provincia, reports Agence France Presse.

"But out of respect for my companions, to the people who sacrificed so much, I'm keeping mum although I could speak out and ruin all those caught up in this little world."

https://11x2.com/news/1167678/fuent...-team-would-be-stripped-of-the-2010-world-cup


"Fuentes: If I would talk, the Spanish football team would be stripped of the 2010 World Cup."

Had to edit this to say doping in Spain has most definitely not been criminalized since 2006. Look at the embarrassment the Spanish government/courts made over Fuentes' blood bags. First ordered them to be destroyed and now they're outside statute of limitations and won't be re-tested. Gee, I wonder why. Very honest nation they are when it comes to sport. Not. Totally without morals or decency.

You say "the truth hurts," but the above is not "truth" but allegations made by one discredited cycling doctor, and his wife. Do they have motivation to say these things? Perhaps they do. But the truth is in the WADA findings, I would argue, much more than in allegations made by one married couple.

As to Karatsev, here is the answer to his SF run at the AO, in terms of precedence...it's the first time in the Open Era that a person has made a semi-final in their Major debut. https://ausopen.com/articles/match-report/karatsev-makes-history-run-semis

His career record in ATP matches is 15-12, and yet he's made the SF of a Major, and you're willing to put it down to experience. For a suspicious guy in some directions on doping, your willful naïveté in other directions seems risible.

 

[Jelenafan]

Karatsev is the new Giant of mens tennis! Joins the top 25 ranking.

Wins his first ATP 500 over Harris 6-3, 6-2.

Come on down to Miami and win your first Masters, Aslan !!! At this rate he could be top 10 by Wimbledon....

 

[Front242]

You say "the truth hurts," but the above is not "truth" but allegations made by one discredited cycling doctor, and his wife. Do they have motivation to say these things? Perhaps they do. But the truth is in the WADA findings, I would argue, much more than in allegations made by one married couple.

As to Karatsev, here is the answer to his SF run at the AO, in terms of precedence...it's the first time in the Open Era that a person has made a semi-final in their Major debut. https://ausopen.com/articles/match-report/karatsev-makes-history-run-semis

His career record in ATP matches is 15-12, and yet he's made the SF of a Major, and you're willing to put it down to experience. For a suspicious guy in some directions on doping, your willful naïveté in other directions seems risible.

Well aware of the record he set with his SF run but truthfully he beat no one in any way great. Schartzman is nothing special on hardcourts, Dimitrov is inconsistent and hasn't played particularly well for quite some time, Auger-Aliasimme ?! Please. Guy is great in a couple of sets and then flat as a pancake. Karatsev was riding a wave of confidence after 3 qualifying rounds and hits the ball cleanly and aggressively. Has a decent serve, changes the angle on the ball very well, very good inside out FH, good backhand, hits down the line well. Drugs don't make you hit the ball like that. Only practice, talent and skill and, yes, experience. You get better with match play. Knocked out some inconsistent players and then lost to the eventual champion who had won it 8 times before then and now 9. No shame or surprise there at all. Yes, I'm putting it down to experience that he's getting better as he's now 27. You think players who are crap at 19 or 20 can't improve after a good few years ? Re Fuentes, what the hell would he be lying for ? It's most definitely truth and that's why the Spanish courts did nothing about the whole scandal and covered it up. Duh! What have he and his wife got to gain from saying this ? The fact that the blood bags were first ordered to be destroyed by the courts says it all and then they wouldn't re-test them. Why if they had nothing to hide would the Spanish courts have gone down this route. They obviously had A LOT to lose. The whole thing stinks as those manky bags probably do after all these years.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Karatsev is the new Giant of mens tennis! Joins the top 25 ranking.

Wins his first ATP 500 over Harris 6-3, 6-2.

Come on down to Miami and win your first Masters, Aslan !!! At this rate he could be top 10 by Wimbledon....

Impressive started the season ranked No112 now ranked inside the Top 30.His record so far this season 12-2

 

[Moxie]

I never once said Stan doesn't dope but I've never once read his name mentioned with doping till today and it was merely in Karatsev's defense as he improved late in his career around same age as Stan. Karatsev's game to me shows nothing that would stand out as doping related whatsoever. It'd be different if he had beaten or slaughtered Djokovic at the AO but he didn't do well against him at all so I see nothing suss at all. Aggessive players always have their moments till someone with a great return of serve and all round game like Djokovic bring them back down to Earth but sure we all also know how Djokovic went from constantly reiring in matches up to and including 2011 and then suddenly turned into superman in 2011 supposedly 'cos of a new diet lol oh and eggs. Must be the extra protein eh. I think Karatsev isn't the one the finger should be pointed at here.

I'm not *only* pointing the finger at Karatsev. The only reason no one questions Stan's sudden change in fortunes is in part that it hasn't changed the balance of power enough. Everyone says that Stan is an "anomaly," but no one asks why...because they don't care. But Karatsev isn't comparable to Stan, who was actually a big feature on tour well before he started winning Majors, and had troubled Novak even at the AO before finally beating him there. He was even more of a feature on clay, as well. And I know you have ever shaken the tree on Djokovic. Though not when he first came up to 2.0, when he was beating Nadal and saving Federer's bacon, but only when he started to look like a threat to Roger's legacy in his own right. That's when you got exercised about the "egg," and etc. Let's face it: you only care about one thing...insisting that Spain is a big doping country so that you can continue to throw mud at Nadal because he is the biggest blight on Roger's resume. Even though Nadal has had no such surge in form, ever. He has been consistently excellent since he was 16. He is our last great teenager, to date. And you keep bringing up Fuentes, which was a cycling scandal in 2006, hoping that it still means something, even though Spain is far down the list on doping offenders. Your agenda is obvious. Your blinkers where you don't care is, too.

 

[Carol]

Davydenko was of the best players of Federer's generation and I see no reason to tarnish his name tbh. He maintained his ranking for years by playing almost every week and then had a bad wrist injury and was never the same and retired. He was a great player. Lower ranked challenger level players often have no choice but to fix matches just to earn a living. The earnings at this level are pitiful unlike greedy top players who won't even play till the tournament give them 1 million for turning up. Why is it weird Medvedev played badly ? He just served poorly and had no game plan at all and was playing the player who has won the most AOs. Nothing strange that he lost, disappointing yes with the scoreline and performance but no idea what you're trying to insinuate about people "talking about it more and more". He just lost. People would be more likely to be talking about it if he WON!

Davydenko never won one GS but certainly he gave a hard time to the opponents but he wasn't very consistent, he played a very good match and the next ptttfff. Medvedev is a copy of him and we'll see how many GS is going to win (he is 25 already) or others young players will do before him.
I'm not insinuating anything, I've said that people are talking about how bad he played that final and how happy he looked during the Ceremony, ridiculously happy

 

[Front242]

Karatsev is the new Giant of mens tennis! Joins the top 25 ranking.

Wins his first ATP 500 over Harris 6-3, 6-2.

Come on down to Miami and win your first Masters, Aslan !!! At this rate he could be top 10 by Wimbledon....

He should definitely go to Miami. Likely to be playing a ball boy at this stage with no one else participating! Even if he doesn't win it, he'd definitely win a few matches and pick up a good few points. VERY interested to see him on grass.

 

[Front242]

Davydenko never won one GS but certainly he gave a hard time to the opponents but he wasn't very consistent, he played a very good match and the next ptttfff. Medvedev is a copy of him and we'll see how many GS is going to win (he is 25 already) or others young players will do before him.
I'm not insinuating anything, I've said that people are talking about how bad he played that final and how happy he looked during the Ceremony, ridiculously happy

Medvedev made a great speech complimenting Novak at the ceremony and handled himself very well. Told the fans he was sorry he couldn't make it more of a match and spoke greatly of Djokovic not only as a player but as a friend to him on tour. One of the most admirable runner up speeches I've heard. Davydenko played too much which contributed to to him being fatigued and inconsistent. Rome 2007 Davydenko v Nadal was a great match. Felt like a final but was only the SF.

 

[Carol]

Medvedev made a great speech complimenting Novak at the ceremony and handled himself very well. Told the fans he was sorry he couldn't make it more of a match and spoke greatly of Djokovic not only as a player but as a friend to him on tour. One of the most admirable runner up speeches I've heard. Davydenko played too much which contributed to to him being fatigued and inconsistent. Rome 2007 Davydenko v Nadal was a great match. Felt like a final but was only the SF.

Maybe you have not read what Medvedev has said two days ego about he knows he didn't do anything in the AO final and about Novak he wants to keep the #1 for long time but he and other young players will try he won't

 

[Front242]

Maybe you have not read what Medvedev has said two days ego about he knows he didn't do anything in the AO final and about Novak he wants to keep the #1 for long time but he and other young players will try he won't

Yeah I read that. Good that he's hungry to get the number one spot from Novak. I said nearly a year and a half ago I think he'll be the next number 1 and sticking to that.

 

[Moxie]

Well aware of the record he set with his SF run but truthfully he beat no one in any way great. Schartzman is nothing special on hardcourts, Dimitrov is inconsistent and hasn't played particularly well for quite some time, Auger-Aliasimme ?! Please. Guy is great in a couple of sets and then flat as a pancake. Karatsev was riding a wave of confidence after 3 qualifying rounds and hits the ball cleanly and aggressively. Has a decent serve, changes the angle on the ball very well, very good inside out FH, good backhand, hits down the line well. Drugs don't make you hit the ball like that. Only practice, talent and skill and, yes, experience. You get better with match play. Knocked out some inconsistent players and then lost to the eventual champion who had won it 8 times before then and now 9. No shame or surprise there at all. Yes, I'm putting it down to experience that he's getting better as he's now 27. You think players who are crap at 19 or 20 can't improve after a good few years ? Re Fuentes, what the hell would he be lying for ? It's most definitely truth and that's why the Spanish courts did nothing about the whole scandal and covered it up. Duh! What have he and his wife got to gain from saying this ? The fact that the blood bags were first ordered to be destroyed by the courts says it all and then they wouldn't re-test them. Why if they had nothing to hide would the Spanish courts have gone down this route. They obviously had A LOT to lose. The whole thing stinks as those manky bags probably do after all these years.

You are making a joke of yourself in justifying Karatsev's run at the AO. Schwartzman is more than "nothing special" on hards...he's made 2 QFs at the USO. And Dimitrov has made SFs at the AO and the USO, plus a couple of QFs. Sure, Karatsev could have learned something in his years wallowing around in the challengers and ranked mainly in the 400-500s, but it's pretty rare...oh, wait, it never happened before! I'll agree that it was an astonishing run, but don't make less of the guys he beat. It makes you seem like you're grasping in your argument. He beat some top players and good on him. But PEDs don't only increase endurance and strength. They also can increase alertness and aggressiveness. These can help a player who has a good game but fails at getting over the hump. I'm sure you know this. Sure, I think most players these days are coming more into their own at +24/25 years. I'm only pointing out that your curiosity about players coming "out of nowhere" stops where it doesn't suit you.

And yes, Fuentes and his wife had motivations to lie...he was already a liar and a criminal, and if you think you can leverage something to get you off, or sentence lowered, why wouldn't you lie further? I don't know how you have so much confidence it that little, when there is so much other evidence on the other side. The thing that you never cop to is that the Spanish government actually investigated and tried this case. What about France, Russia, Italy and even Belgium that are high on the list of dopers in sport? Where are they in looking into their own cases? You cite this case in Spain all the time, (from 2006,) but you have nothing to say about countries that have terrible doping records and no investigations.

 

[Moxie]

He should definitely go to Miami. Likely to be playing a ball boy at this stage with no one else participating! Even if he doesn't win it, he'd definitely win a few matches and pick up a good few points. VERY interested to see him on grass.

I agree he has an interesting game for grass. And everyone who doesn't want to hold themselves for clay should see Miami as the land of opportunity.

 

[Front242]

You are making a joke of yourself in justifying Karatsev's run at the AO. Schwartzman is more than "nothing special" on hards...he's made 2 QFs at the USO. And Dimitrov has made SFs at the AO and the USO, plus a couple of QFs. Sure, Karatsev could have learned something in his years wallowing around in the challengers and ranked mainly in the 400-500s, but it's pretty rare...oh, wait, it never happened before! I'll agree that it was an astonishing run, but don't make less of the guys he beat. It makes you seem like you're grasping in your argument. He beat some top players and good on him. But PEDs don't only increase endurance and strength. They also can increase alertness and aggressiveness. These can help a player who has a good game but fails at getting over the hump. I'm sure you know this. Sure, I think most players these days are coming more into their own at +24/25 years. I'm only pointing out that your curiosity about players coming "out of nowhere" stops where it doesn't suit you.

And yes, Fuentes and his wife had motivations to lie...he was already a liar and a criminal, and if you think you can leverage something to get you off, or sentence lowered, why wouldn't you lie further? I don't know how you have so much confidence it that little, when there is so much other evidence on the other side. The thing that you never cop to is that the Spanish government actually investigated and tried this case. What about France, Russia, Italy and even Belgium that are high on the list of dopers in sport? Where are they in looking into their own cases? You cite this case in Spain all the time, (from 2006,) but you have nothing to say about countries that have terrible doping records and no investigations.

So you're what saying what exactly?! Fuentes did Spain a favour by keeping quiet. Yeah, thought so. The courts ruled that the blood bags should be destroyed and then later decided not to but store them and then they never re-tested them cos it was past the statute of limitations. If that doesn't ring alarm bells of government/national sports scandal cover up in people's heads I don't know what more to say.

Schartzman had made 2 AO 4th rounds in 2018 and 2020 before this year. USO is not the AO. Different surface and speed. Dimitrov made the AO SF in 2017, yes. and that's why I said he hasn't played well for quite some time. Past results don't = current form. 2018 QF and then 2019 4th round, 2020 2nd round loss. His most recent result before this year was a 2nd round loss. I'm well aware PEDs help alertness and aggressiveness, hence why I don't buy the player X has amazing mental strength crap people spout 'cos as you mentioned this can indeed be bought. If you want to point the finger at Karatsev's mental alertness and aggressiveness I can think of quite a few players this applies to.

 

[Jelenafan]

I agree he has an interesting game for grass. And everyone who doesn't want to hold themselves for clay should see Miami as the land of opportunity.

Those Russian boys if they all choose to play (Medvedev, Rublev, Karatsev, and even my lobotomy boy Kachanov...) could do damage, and of course you have the Canadian Lads (Shapovalov, FAA, Pospisil, Raonic) and lets' not forget the Italian Guns (Berretini, Sinner, Musetti) but the cynic in me would not be shocked if Zverev steps up to the plate and wins another Masters, which sets him up to collapse under the crush of new expectations.

 

[Moxie]

So you're what saying what exactly?! Fuentes did Spain a favour by keeping quiet. Yeah, thought so. The courts ruled that the blood bags should be destroyed and then later decided not to but store them and then they never re-tested them cos it was past the statute of limitations. If that doesn't ring alarm bells of government/national sports scandal cover up in people's heads I don't know what more to say.

Schartzman had made 2 AO 4th rounds in 2018 and 2020 before this year. USO is not the AO. Different surface and speed. Dimitrov made the AO SF in 2017, yes. and that's why I said he hasn't played well for quite some time. Past results don't = current form. 2018 QF and then 2019 4th round, 2020 2nd round loss. His most recent result before this year was a 2nd round loss. I'm well aware PEDs help alertness and aggressiveness, hence why I don't buy the player X has amazing mental strength crap people spout 'cos as you mentioned this can indeed be bought. If you want to point the finger at Karatsev's mental alertness and aggressiveness I can think of quite a few players this applies to.

That's not what I said, at all. Fuentes didn't keep quiet. He shouted a bunch of stuff that was never proven. What I DID say was that Spain actually investigated a drug scandal in sports in their country, which was about cycling, on the list as the dirtiest sport out there. I mentioned other countries that have far worse records than Spain which have not held such investigations, and you have nothing to say about that.

As to the rest, you are just arguing a straw man. Keep running around that other players have other attributes, but they don't have the jump in results that Karatsev has. Some come by it naturally, and demonstrate it throughout their careers. The point about Karatsev is that he's come out of nowhere. I'm sure you see the difference. At least you admit that there is a benefit from PEDs that could have helped him. I'm not trying to slam the guy. I'm really just pointing out that you pick and choose who you think dopes. You also ignore countries that have poor doping records over just the one that you like to cite, even though there are actually countries that have terrible doping records compared to Spain. I've done the homework for you. If you're going to keep saying the same thing over and over, just because you want to, I suppose that's your choice, but it would be inaccurate.

 

[Moxie]

Those Russian boys if they all choose to play (Medvedev, Rublev, Karatsev, and even my lobotomy boy Kachanov...) could do damage, and of course you have the Canadian Lads (Shapovalov, FAA, Pospisil, Raonic) and lets' not forget the Italian Guns (Berretini, Sinner, Musetti) but the cynic in me would not be shocked if Zverev steps up to the plate and wins another Masters, which sets him up to collapse under the crush of new expectations.

Love "lobotomy boy Kachanov." In the sense that I don't like him, and I think he's a ball-basher and the Frankenstein monster of the top tier. Interesting notion that it'll be Russians v. Canadians v. Italians in Miami. You're probably right. None of them, you could argue, has a reason to save themselves for clay. (Except Fognini.) I hope they fight to the death for it. My first choice would be Medvedev. I really do want him to come out on top of the scrum.

 

[Jelenafan]

Love "lobotomy boy Kachanov." In the sense that I don't like him, and I think he's a ball-basher and the Frankenstein monster of the top tier. Interesting notion that it'll be Russians v. Canadians v. Italians in Miami. You're probably right. None of them, you could argue, has a reason to save themselves for clay. (Except Fognini.) I hope they fight to the death for it. My first choice would be Medvedev. I really do want him to come out on top of the scrum.

Musetti and Sinner could do well on the clay, but c'mmon they're both a whopping 19 years old (Musetti just) so a hop across the pond for a diluted Masters in Miami is so tempting. Carreno Busta's best results are on HC , no? so I shouldn't forget the Spanish guys like him and RBA.

As to the Americans, whose on the radar? Taylor? Opelka, Tiafoe and John Isner will probably all play , but what a valley on US prospects on even American HC tennis. Sebastian Korda would be nice if he got a WC.

 

[Moxie]

Musetti and Sinner could do well on the clay, but c'mmon they're both a whopping 19 years old (Musetti just) so a hop across the pond for a diluted Masters in Miami is so tempting. Carreno Busta's best results are on HC , no? so I shouldn't forget the Spanish guys like him and RBA.

As to the Americans, whose on the radar? Taylor? Opelka, Tiafoe and John Isner will probably all play , but what a valley on US prospects on even American HC tennis. Sebastian Korda would be nice if he got a WC.

Musetti played Acapulco, so I expect most of those who are already in N. America to play Miami. Sinner, Shapo and PCB played Dubai, so I'm not sure it's worth the schlepp. Isner, Tiafoe, Korda, also Dimitrov and Zverev played Acapulco, so they might be up for Miami. I expect that most of the Miami draw will come from the Acapulco players.

 

[Front242]

That's not what I said, at all. Fuentes didn't keep quiet. He shouted a bunch of stuff that was never proven. What I DID say was that Spain actually investigated a drug scandal in sports in their country, which was about cycling, on the list as the dirtiest sport out there. I mentioned other countries that have far worse records than Spain which have not held such investigations, and you have nothing to say about that.

As to the rest, you are just arguing a straw man. Keep running around that other players have other attributes, but they don't have the jump in results that Karatsev has. Some come by it naturally, and demonstrate it throughout their careers. The point about Karatsev is that he's come out of nowhere. I'm sure you see the difference. At least you admit that there is a benefit from PEDs that could have helped him. I'm not trying to slam the guy. I'm really just pointing out that you pick and choose who you think dopes. You also ignore countries that have poor doping records over just the one that you like to cite, even though there are actually countries that have terrible doping records compared to Spain. I've done the homework for you. If you're going to keep saying the same thing over and over, just because you want to, I suppose that's your choice, but it would be inaccurate.

Which countries have worse records than a corrupt sports doctor responsible for the massive increases in gold medals won by Spain at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics and winning the 2010 World Cup along with tons of corrupt cyclists and never released tennis players' names out of interest 'cos those records you posted say nothing of the magnitude of those wins ? Russia are obviously on par with Spain for their Olympic disgrace but frankly that link you posted says nothing comparable to that. The fact that it wasn't proven what Fuentes and his wife alleged is because the Spanish courts and government covered it all up as they had way too much to lose and it would have been an even bigger scandal than the cover up was. Going round in circles here and it's boring. And don't forget Luis Garcia Del No Moral, yet another disgraced Spanish doping doctor. Won't take you too long to see which players he's allegedly worked with and it's been posted many times before. David Ferrer being the Spanish player among his alleged clients seeing as we're discussing Spain. Sadly Marat Safin too who I liked very much as a player and Igor Andreev who I also liked.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Musetti played Acapulco, so I expect most of those who are already in N. America to play Miami. Sinner, Shapo and PCB played Dubai, so I'm not sure it's worth the schlepp. Isner, Tiafoe, Korda, also Dimitrov and Zverev played Acapulco, so they might be up for Miami. I expect that most of the Miami draw will come from the Acapulco players.

Musetti has qualified for Miami due to recent withdrawals of Millman and Ramos-Vinolas.I am not going to update the withdrawal list for the moment.