2021 ATP General News

[rafanoy1992]

That was a confidence booster for Nadal, I'm sure Rafa did not want to lose to Stefano on red clay after losing that hearbreaker on the hardcourts of the AO. Tsitsipas blinked and he's going to rue his lost chances tonight.

Having said that, I do think Stefanos on form looks more like a top 4, SF contender for Roland Garos. Indeed, how close is Tsitsipas from grabbing a #4 ranking from here to the French Open?

Theim is a huge question mark and both he and Medvedev with his COVID status are going to be in all likelihood less than ideally prepared for the best of five test at RG. It will be interesting to see how the seedings/draw pan out for the French Open, especially with a rusty Federer grabbing a qtrfinal slot. It makes a huge difference to the rest of the players if Rafa goes in seeded 3rd as opposed to 2nd.

The good news is that Thiem only leads less than 500 points over Tsitsipas for the number 4 ranking. However, Tsitsipas is defending 960 points combined for Madrid and Rome. So, Tsitsipas can easily lose half of those points unless he wins one of the Masters events.

 

[don_fabio]

Well, @don_fabio, you were hoping for 2 good finals and this one was, and it looks like the other one was too.

Highly entertaining 3 and half hours of tennis, just disappointed that the greek could not capitalize against this version of Rafa. One of those matches which makes you hate watching tennis when you see what a certain player is able to lose, but again love it for how entertaining it was and all the drama.

 

[Moxie]

That was a confidence booster for Nadal, I'm sure Rafa did not want to lose to Stefano on red clay after losing that hearbreaker on the hardcourts of the AO. Tsitsipas blinked and he's going to rue his lost chances tonight.

Having said that, I do think Stefanos on form looks more like a top 4, SF contender for Roland Garos. Indeed, how close is Tsitsipas from grabbing a #4 ranking from here to the French Open?

Theim is a huge question mark and both he and Medvedev with his COVID status are going to be in all likelihood less than ideally prepared for the best of five test at RG. It will be interesting to see how the seedings/draw pan out for the French Open, especially with a rusty Federer grabbing a qtrfinal slot. It makes a huge difference to the rest of the players if Rafa goes in seeded 3rd as opposed to 2nd.

As you say, Thiem is a big question mark. Fitness issues and apparently having a bit of an existential crisis. And he and Medvedev will surely be ranked top 4 going into Roland Garros. Worth remembering that Daniil has yet to win a match there and yes, not going in well-prepared, in all likelihood. I'd rather see Tsitsipas ranked 4, but as rafanoy says, he's got a lot to defend coming up. Will be interesting too see how the rest of the tune-ups go.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Highly entertaining 3 and half hours of tennis, just disappointed that the greek could not capitalize against this version of Rafa. One of those matches which makes you hate watching tennis when you see what a certain player is able to lose, but again love it for how entertaining it was and all the drama.

I didn't have any problem with Tstis loosing..i.got over it as quickly as Rafa raise his arms to the sky and thank the tennis gods in heaven

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Congratulations to GOATdal.

 

[Moxie]

Highly entertaining 3 and half hours of tennis, just disappointed that the greek could not capitalize against this version of Rafa. One of those matches which makes you hate watching tennis when you see what a certain player is able to lose, but again love it for how entertaining it was and all the drama.

It's possible that "this version of Rafa" is still better than Tsitsipas.

 

[Front242]

That was a confidence booster for Nadal, I'm sure Rafa did not want to lose to Stefano on red clay after losing that hearbreaker on the hardcourts of the AO. Tsitsipas blinked and he's going to rue his lost chances tonight.

Having said that, I do think Stefanos on form looks more like a top 4, SF contender for Roland Garos. Indeed, how close is Tsitsipas from grabbing a #4 ranking from here to the French Open?

Theim is a huge question mark and both he and Medvedev with his COVID status are going to be in all likelihood less than ideally prepared for the best of five test at RG. It will be interesting to see how the seedings/draw pan out for the French Open, especially with a rusty Federer grabbing a qtrfinal slot. It makes a huge difference to the rest of the players if Rafa goes in seeded 3rd as opposed to 2nd.

Haven't read up much on Medvedev (nothing actually) since hearing he was withdrawn for a positive covid test but, unless he had proper symptoms, it would mean nothing physically and all he'd have been missing out on was match play. Doesn't bode well for him to try and finally get past the first round of RG though with no match play. Not sure when he's scheduled to play next.

 

[Front242]

Karatsev looks drained, so many UFE.

Didn't get the chance to watch it but read he was exhausted alright. First thing I thought of was is he injured when I saw he failed to win a single point in that TB but, in a way, I'm glad 'cos it'll shut up the doping accusations when people see he gets tired like a normal person and simply couldn't recover enough from his tough match against Djokovic.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Theim has just started training again,to me,he should enter a lower ranked clay tournament,than going straight into Madrid Masters 1000.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Didn't get the chance to watch it but read he was exhausted alright. First thing I thought of was is he injured when I saw he failed to win a single point in that TB but, in a way, I'm glad 'cos it'll shut up the doping accusations when people see he gets tired like a normal person and simply couldn't recover enough from his tough match against Djokovic.

Sad that s/final wasn't the final....I thought the tough physical encounter with Novak could prove too much for him in the final against Matteo

 

[Front242]

Sad that s/final wasn't the final....I thought the tough physical encounter with Novak could prove too much for him in the final against Matteo

I like Berretini too and happy for him to be back playing well after his comeback from injury so all good. Semi and beating Djokovic at his home tournament was a pretty damn good result anyway for Karatsev. Hoping he makes his way to the top 10 by year end.

Edited cos forgot Belgrade was a 250 and not a 500. Still, beating Djokovic in the semi is a great result. Pity it wasn't a 500 though in terms of points won for reaching the semi but plenty of tournaments left this year and Karatsev has a very good shot at reaching the top 10.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I like Berretini too and happy for him to be back playing well after his comeback from injury so all good. Semi and beating Djokovic at his home tournament was a pretty damn good result anyway for Karatsev. Hoping he makes his way to the top 10 by year end.

Edited cos forgot Belgrade was a 250 and not a 500. Still, beating Djokovic in the semi is a great result. Pity it wasn't a 500 though in terms of points won for reaching the semi but plenty of tournaments left this year and Karatsev has a very good shot at reaching the top 10.

I am also happy for Matteo,his tennis had gone AWOL for awhile.Still impressive win from Karatsev,he hits such a heavy ball on clay,he will be a difficult opponent in the remaining clay season.

 

[Moxie]

Fun fact: Nadal extends his record with this now his 18th consecutive year of winning at least one title. (I'm guessing that's on the men's side, and Open Era.) Novak 2nd with 16. Roger has 15.

 

[rafanoy1992]

As you say, Thiem is a big question mark. Fitness issues and apparently having a bit of an existential crisis. And he and Medvedev will surely be ranked top 4 going into Roland Garros. Worth remembering that Daniil has yet to win a match there and yes, not going in well-prepared, in all likelihood. I'd rather see Tsitsipas ranked 4, but as rafanoy says, he's got a lot to defend coming up. Will be interesting too see how the rest of the tune-ups go.

Yeah, Tsitsipas has to win one of the remaining Clay Masters 1000 tournaments in order for him to surpass Thiem before RG. The other solution will be if Medvedev doesn’t play RG...

 

[the AntiPusher]

Oh, hey, AP...how exciting. Can't help you. Tsitsipas just lost his first set of tennis in two weeks, and I'm pretty sure he's wondering what just happened.

Just checking the local listings here .the Barcelona final will be shown at 9 pm CST on ESPN . I guess here football /Soccer is still King

 

[Jelenafan]

Yeah, Tsitsipas has to win one of the remaining Clay Masters 1000 tournaments in order for him to surpass Thiem before RG. The other solution will be if Medvedev doesn’t play RG...

With the altitude and faster conditions, Madrid Masters would seem Tsitsipas's best shot. Personally I like his chances against anyone on clay not named Nadal, but of course the tennis Gods will probably conspire to place them in the same qtr at Roland Garos , after having them first face Sinner, Karatsev and Musetti in the same quarter.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I will say this: Tsitsipas has impressed me in terms of mental resiliency and toughness this 2021 season. He is playing very well this season so far...the only match that I thought he played "bad" or "gave away" the match is the Mexico Open Final against Zverev. Other than that, he has been solid this year. I hope he continues to play well throughout the 2021 season.

Like I always said, out of the "young" players (Medvedev, Zverev, and Rublev), he has the highest ceiling. If he can somehow return better on hardcourts, he will be a complete player.

 

[Carol]

Rafa one more time jumping to the pool, CONGRATS CHAMPION!!!!!!!

https://i2.wp.com/rafaelnadalfans.c...-win-with-swimming-pool-dive-2021-photo-5.jpg

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa one more time jumping to the pool, CONGRATS CHAMPION!!!!!!!

https://i2.wp.com/rafaelnadalfans.c...-win-with-swimming-pool-dive-2021-photo-5.jpg

God those 'pink socks' LOL!

 

[Moxie]

With the altitude and faster conditions, Madrid Masters would seem Tsitsipas's best shot. Personally I like his chances against anyone on clay not named Nadal, but of course the tennis Gods will probably conspire to place them in the same qtr at Roland Garos , after having them first face Sinner, Karatsev and Musetti in the same quarter.

He was in the final there a couple of years ago, beating Rafa in the SF and losing to Novak in the F, so I'd say he has a very serious shot there, this year. Court and conditions suit his game. Rafa plays Madrid rather indifferently (for various reasons,) Thiem and Meddie question marks. I'd say that Novak will be gunning for this one, but, should they meet in the final, Novak would face a very different Stefanos than he did 2 years ago.