2022 ATP General News

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa practicing with Korda who is one of his huge fans

Thanks Carol I was watching that practice on Twitter

 

[Kieran]

Kieran, Did you see the look of a shark in the eyes of Rafa's ? It was like he smelled blood and Daniil's game was the prey. I didn't recall seeing that when he played Roger in the AO17 final or 2012 final at AO vs Novak. Even last week, Rafa has finally opened the shoulders and I look forward to how he will play the channel slams.

Exactly. He looked cold and stern in game 11, as if he's thinking, okay, enough BS, you won this, now win it again. Daniil was like a boxer being held up in the ring, and Rafa amazingly shed his nerves, because let's face it, when he served for the match he blew it. But yeah, ruthless and unwilling to put up with any more of it, he was unassailable in that game, and Sampras-like in the next one. You know yourself, we Rafa fans never sit easy when he's serving for the set, or the match. His serve can go AWOL. But the last two slams he's won, he's held serve to love in the final game of the match...

 

[kskate2]

Sorry, I forgot to post these last week. Delpo's been in Miami for several days:

 

[Jelenafan]

Nadal speaks out on Zverev:

Nadal urges tougher penalties for abuse violations after lenient Zverev ban

Nadal believes Zverev should have received a stronger punishment that will deter younger players from committing the same unacceptable acts

tennishead.net

“On the other hand, if we are not able to control this type of attitude on court, not just this one instance in particular, there has been other stuff going on in the last couple of months.

“If we are not able to penalise these types of attitudes in a little stronger way, then we as players will feel stronger and stronger all the time.”

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak Djokoivc has confirmed he will be playing at Monte Carlo (clay) in April

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Miami Open main draw wild cards,

Murray
Kyrgios
Draper
Shang
Thompson

Nick K and Thanasi Kokkinakis have received wild card into the doubles

 

[Moxie]

Miami Open main draw wild cards,

Murray
Kyrgios
Draper
Shang
Thompson

Nick K and Thanasi Kokkinakis have received wild card into the doubles

Who is "Shang?"

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Who is "Shang?"

A Chinese player, also known as Jerry Shang

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Miami Update:

OUT: Rafa Nadal
IN: Millman

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

It is worrisome that Thiem keeps reporting he is fine in practice and keeps pushing back his return date to the tour.

I think he is fairly nervous as he made huge progress before the wrist set him back, and he has huge expectations having won a slam and had great results overall before the wrist issues.

He is just going to have to dive back in even if it is a 250 tourney.

 

[Fiero425]

It is worrisome that Thiem keeps reporting he is fine in practice and keeps pushing back his return date to the tour.

I think he is fairly nervous as he made huge progress before the wrist set him back, and he has huge expectations having won a slam and had great results overall before the wrist issues.

He is just going to have to dive back in even if it is a 250 tourney.

Very "Tommy Haas!"

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Daniil Medvedev and other Russians players could be barred from playing Wimbledon unless they provide 'assurances' they do not support Putin,not wave the Russian flag.( at present the ATP and WTA have banned the Russian flags beside all Russian players)
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston says he is in 'discussions' with All England Club on Russian players

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Stan Wawrinka and Jo-Wilfired Tsonga received main draw wild cards ATP1000 Monte Carlo

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Along with Novak Djokovic,Dominic Thiem,Gael Monfils,Karen Khackanov,Christian Garin confirm for Serbia Open starting April 18th.

 

[Moxie]

Daniil Medvedev and other Russians players could be barred from playing Wimbledon unless they provide 'assurances' they do not support Putin,not wave the Russian flag.( at present the ATP and WTA have banned the Russian flags beside all Russian players)
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston says he is in 'discussions' with All England Club on Russian players

I am really not sure how I feel about this. Should athletes be asked to take a political stance in order to participate in a tournament? I'm OK with the banning of the flag, as some kind of sanction against Russia, but isn't this some kind of thought police in a free country? Do we need to know where Medvedev stands in order to let him play?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am really not sure how I feel about this. Should athletes be asked to take a political stance in order to participate in a tournament? I'm OK with the banning of the flag, as some kind of sanction against Russia, but isn't this some kind of thought police in a free country? Do we need to know where Medvedev stands in order to let him play?

I agree.I know Medvedev and Rublev have stated 'no war' Rublev in a recent tournament,when he won his matches,signed on the screen 'No War.I think that is enough evidence to show how both those players feel.To have to public;y come out and assure the All England Club that they are against Putin,to be able to play,I feel is going too far.Medvedev also said he is sad there isnt a Russian flag beside his name,though at present he understand why the ATP took that stance.

 

[tented]

I am really not sure how I feel about this. Should athletes be asked to take a political stance in order to participate in a tournament? I'm OK with the banning of the flag, as some kind of sanction against Russia, but isn't this some kind of thought police in a free country? Do we need to know where Medvedev stands in order to let him play?

They’re going to put them in a Catch-22 if this happens: if they denounce Putin, they potentially put their family members at risk who are still in Russia; if they don’t, they won’t get to play at Wimbledon.

This is a bad idea which I hope the All England Club will not pursue.

 

[Moxie]

They’re going to put them in a Catch-22 if this happens: if they denounce Putin, they potentially put their family members at risk who are still in Russia; if they don’t, they won’t get to play at Wimbledon.

This is a bad idea which I hope the All England Club will not pursue.

I hadn't even thought about what peril their taking a stance could put their families in. Good point. I don't see any good reason to make athletes pawns in all of this. Sanction Russia, but not individual players.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I am really not sure how I feel about this. Should athletes be asked to take a political stance in order to participate in a tournament? I'm OK with the banning of the flag, as some kind of sanction against Russia, but isn't this some kind of thought police in a free country? Do we need to know where Medvedev stands in order to let him play?

I'm not with this either. If they opposed Putin publicly, wouldn't it put there family and loved ones in KGB target list?

 

[Kieran]

I am really not sure how I feel about this. Should athletes be asked to take a political stance in order to participate in a tournament? I'm OK with the banning of the flag, as some kind of sanction against Russia, but isn't this some kind of thought police in a free country? Do we need to know where Medvedev stands in order to let him play?

No, it stinks of fish, and not only for the reason @tented suggested, but also because it would start a trend of placing private political views under scrutiny for athletes if they want to compete anywhere. There’s something sinister and Big Brother-ly about it. Okay, imagine we say that this is an exceptional moment (it isn’t, but imagine), then of course every little political cause will become equally exceptional in future, and sports will be just another thing in life that’s poisoned by modern tribal politics, political posturing, and virtue signalling.

If a Russian player began to troll people with pro-Putin tweets celebrating the violence against Ukraine, which is what the chess grandmaster Sergey Karjakin is doing, then they could be looked at, but even then, the fact that this isn’t actually a crime would have to be remembered. They’d face a hostile crowd but we’d show the tyrants that in the west even despicable views are allowed to be expressed. In fact the best way to let people know how despicable they are, is to let them be held up in the light, and be clearly seen.

The fact that this is even being considered shows the toxic influence of cancel culture is reaching everywhere. Purity tests have no place in sports.

I’m glad to see the WTA are once again knocking it out of the park, by seeing the moral implications of this. They’re really to be admired for all their stances lately.

WTA head Steve Simon says players should not be banned from tournaments because of politics