2022 ATP General News

[Nadalfan2013]

Thank goodness Novak pulled that TB out or there would be no final to see tomorrow! Saved by the real GOAT! Some 500 we got!

An embarrassing match for Djokovic regardless. Maybe the next time you go watch Djokovic in person you will receive a racket on your head. Keep on rooting for him.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I’m actually kind of shocked he is doing anything for the rest of the season much less an exhibition.

 

[Moxie]

I’m actually kind of shocked he is doing anything for the rest of the season much less an exhibition.

You mean Rafa?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I’m actually kind of shocked he is doing anything for the rest of the season much less an exhibition.

Rafa had already scheduled this exhibition to South America some time ago, the dates have just been released a few weeks ago (when I was on holidays, so I just posted the news today). I am not shocked at all.lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Looking forward to watching the final between Tiafoe and Fritz in the final at Tokyo
Impressed with Frances on the fast courts at Tokyo, also Fritz.

 

[Fiero425]

An embarrassing match for Djokovic regardless. Maybe the next time you go watch Djokovic in person you will receive a racket on your head. Keep on rooting for him.

Well I guess Novak Djokovic totally embarrassed himself winning his 90th title & his 1st 500 event of the season! He's the 1st to win on grass, clay, & HC! ND's automatically qualified for the YEC w/ this win in Astana keeping him in the top 20! He's hopeful of a successful winning kick to 2022 in Paris & YEC!

 

[don_fabio]

Novak on 90 titles now. It's reasonable to think he could get to Fed's 103 and surpass it.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Congratulations to Taylor Fritz who won in Tokyo, defeating Frances Tiafoe in 2 tight t/breakers 76 (3) 76 (2). Fritz has natural tennis ability, though at times his mental ability can let him down.Fritz becomes the first American Champ since Pete Sampras in 1996.( Fritz was in quarantine for COVID the previous week, a great result with him winning in Tokyo).,

 

[Moxie]

Novak on 90 titles now. It's reasonable to think he could get to Fed's 103 and surpass it.

Medvedev is the first players since Felix to make Novak look beatable, in the late season. Too bad he couldn't finish...it was shaping up to be a good match.

Is it "reasonable" that Novak will meet and surpass Roger in titles? I would say "reachable" is a better word. That's still 13 to tie and 14 to pass. He's 35 and a half, and he hasn't had a 7 title season in 6 years (2016.) Obviously, 2020 was curtailed for everyone, and this year by his choices. Clearly, he's going for the record at Majors, and he tends not to play as many tune-ups. The younger players are encroaching, so this particular record may come down to him playing to 39 years old. Which he may do. But Roger, who just retired at 41, won his last title at 38. He won 11 titles after 35. And he, like Novak, had very few injuries in his career until the late years. Novak will focus on the Majors. It may make the 104 in titles unreachable, but I doubt he will care, if he gets the most Majors.

 

[don_fabio]

Medvedev is the first players since Felix to make Novak look beatable, in the late season. Too bad he couldn't finish...it was shaping up to be a good match.

Medvedev is a very tough match up for Novak on HC. When russian is playing his best he puts huge amount of pressure on Novak, making him look for answers and change his tactics more than against the other players and you can see he doesn't feel comfortable at all playing Daniil on HC.

Reachable is a better word, you are right. It won't be easy and Novak will always prioritize slams as you pointed, but if he continues to win 4 titles per year and if he plays more or less full schedule for the next few years, it looks doable at this point. I hope he can add one more title this year, preferably Tour Finals.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Tsitsipas has received a wild card into next weeks Stockholm Open

 

[Moxie]

Tsitsipas has received a wild card into next weeks Stockholm Open

He could use the practice.

 

[Moxie]

Medvedev is a very tough match up for Novak on HC. When russian is playing his best he puts huge amount of pressure on Novak, making him look for answers and change his tactics more than against the other players and you can see he doesn't feel comfortable at all playing Daniil on HC.

Agreed. He challenges Novak at his own game, with enough quirk and surprise, plus the added height and a pretty good serve.

Reachable is a better word, you are right. It won't be easy and Novak will always prioritize slams as you pointed, but if he continues to win 4 titles per year and if he plays more or less full schedule for the next few years, it looks doable at this point. I hope he can add one more title this year, preferably Tour Finals.

I agree he could add at least one more this year, which would be amazing, given how many he skipped. But even 4 more a year is a lot of years to keep playing at the top of the game. I think he'll "fall into" the lead over Roger in titles, if it happens. Meaning, as I said, I don't think he'll prioritize it. But if he's close, on the waning edge of his career, he might add the odd small tournament. He's made no secret of his ambitions as to owning records, at least over his closest contemporaries.

 

[Moxie]

YOUNG PLAYER SPOTTING: I meant to post this earlier. At the new Gijón tournament, Martín Landaluce lost to Tommy Paul, 3 and 0. He's 16 years old, from Madrid, 6'3", no ranking at all. Only his 2nd ATP match, the other being last week at a Challenger, which he also lost. But he's not bad at all. I only watched a little, but at 1-2 on Landaluce's serve, they played a game that lasted some 20 minutes, in which Paul eventually got the break. He has a serve. He's a nice size and can obviously gain some muscle weight. Could grow a little taller. He has practiced with Alcaraz. He'll be 17 in January. Righty with a 2-hander. Watch this space.

 

[Moxie]

BTW, @don_fabio, I didn't get a snapshot of it, but you won the Astana draw challenge outright! Not always easy with all of those weird people we never heard of who anyway play in our group. Congratulations!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I was going to attend the ATP tournament in Florence which replaces some of the China swing this year, Florence one of my favorite cities in the world, players like FAA and Matteo are playing, would have had a chance to watch these players live, ( not to be seeing I had to come home early from my holiday due to family illness).

 

[El Dude]

Anyone know why Andy Murray is still playing? Is it for love of the game, money, or because he thinks that, somehow, he'll pull out a final, magical big title or even Slam? To be honest, I keep forgetting that he's still playing, yet he actually played in 16 tournaments this year so far.

A crazy stat: He hasn't won a title since 2019 (an ATP 250) and before that in 2017 (an ATP 500). Since his last title, he's played in 34 tournaments with no titles...34!

I'm reminded of latter-day Lleyton Hewitt or Mats Wilander. Hewitt's last big title was in 2003, but he remained a top 10 player for a few more years, slipping out of the top 10 for good in 2006. But he kept plugging along, ranking in the top 20 as late as 2010, and then winning two improbably titles in 2014. But from 2005 to 2016, he won only 7 titles, one 500 and six 250s, among a total of 150 tournaments played. Gotta respect his tenacity, I guess.

Wilander, of course, had that great 1988 season in which he won 3 Slams and finished #1, and then never won even another Masters. He finished 1989 at #12, and then never ranked within the year-end top 40 again, despite playing until 1996.

Just wondering why Andy is following in the Wilander-Hewitt path. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[El Dude]

YOUNG PLAYER SPOTTING: I meant to post this earlier. At the new Gijón tournament, Martín Landaluce lost to Tommy Paul, 3 and 0. He's 16 years old, from Madrid, 6'3", no ranking at all. Only his 2nd ATP match, the other being last week at a Challenger, which he also lost. But he's not bad at all. I only watched a little, but at 1-2 on Landaluce's serve, they played a game that lasted some 20 minutes, in which Paul eventually got the break. He has a serve. He's a nice size and can obviously gain some muscle weight. Could grow a little taller. He has practiced with Alcaraz. He'll be 17 in January. Righty with a 2-hander. Watch this space.

Moxie calling dibs! But nice catch...hopefully he develops into a player.

On a related note, I'm starting to see Jack Draper's name show up. I remember a few years ago some raving that he was the future of British tennis, but then he didn't really develop. But he didn't start playing in ATP matches until 2021--I'm guessing covid delayed that by a year--and he's still young, not turning 21 until December. Ranked #46 right now. His best result so far was probably Canada in which he lost to Carreno Busta in the QF, but not before beating Tsitsipas and Monfils.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Anyone know why Andy Murray is still playing? Is it for love of the game, money, or because he thinks that, somehow, he'll pull out a final, magical big title or even Slam? To be honest, I keep forgetting that he's still playing, yet he actually played in 16 tournaments this year so far.

A crazy stat: He hasn't won a title since 2019 (an ATP 250) and before that in 2017 (an ATP 500). Since his last title, he's played in 34 tournaments with no titles...34!

I'm reminded of latter-day Lleyton Hewitt or Mats Wilander. Hewitt's last big title was in 2003, but he remained a top 10 player for a few more years, slipping out of the top 10 for good in 2006. But he kept plugging along, ranking in the top 20 as late as 2010, and then winning two improbably titles in 2014. But from 2005 to 2016, he won only 7 titles, one 500 and six 250s, among a total of 150 tournaments played. Gotta respect his tenacity, I guess.

Wilander, of course, had that great 1988 season in which he won 3 Slams and finished #1, and then never won even another Masters. He finished 1989 at #12, and then never ranked within the year-end top 40 again, despite playing until 1996.

Just wondering why Andy is following in the Wilander-Hewitt path. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Murray is playing at the Gijon Open in Spain which has just begun

 

[Moxie]

Moxie calling dibs! But nice catch...hopefully he develops into a player.

Not even. You guys often spot people from I don't even know where and bring them to our attention. @JesuslookslikeBorg brought Coric to us YEARS ago, as you did Felix. Also, the long-missed Johnsteinbeck brought us Thiem. And well-spotted, all. This kid Landaluce was on my TV today, so I take no credit for turning on the television. His name caught my attention in terms of historical/linguistic interest, ("Al Andaluz" is the Arabic name for Spain, and "Landaluce" is a surname I've never heard in Spain, but the kid is as blonde as a Scandinavian, so I have no idea there.) But, anyway, that was my curiosity for googling a bit. Not even tennis. But he does seem to have potential, and to be built right for a tennis player. Plus, he'll likely have the Spanish tennis federation behind him, so keep an eye out.

On a related note, I'm starting to see Jack Draper's name show up. I remember a few years ago some raving that he was the future of British tennis, but then he didn't really develop. But he didn't start playing in ATP matches until 2021--I'm guessing covid delayed that by a year--and he's still young, not turning 21 until December. Ranked #46 right now. His best result so far was probably Canada in which he lost to Carreno Busta in the QF, but not before beating Tsitsipas and Monfils.

I've been noticing him a bit, too. I wonder if there will be a "Covid class" of players that develops a bit later due to losing quality time in the lockdown.