2022 ATP General News

[Fiero425]

Well , Novak must be pretty thrifty. I wonder if Becker asked him for a large loan ... jajaja

I thought that was one of the reasons for Becker's dismissal; his financial problems along w/ him being a bad influence on NOVAK when he cheated!

 

[the AntiPusher]

I thought that was one of the reasons for Becker's dismissal; his financial problems along w/ him being a bad influence on NOVAK when he cheated!

You're correct. Becker is the Bad Influence himself..

 

[Moxie]

I think he lives in Monte Carlo. I'm not sure how much he is still obligated for taxes in his country of Serbia.

He does live in Monte Carlo, so that he can evade Serbian taxes. It was a joke.

 

[Moxie]

Personally I think because some here really dislike Djokovic, any analysis of his game boils down to " I hope he loses". Other than a healthy Nadal and perhaps a surging Alcaraz, and Medvedev on HC, as of now I don't genuinely see any other legit challengers to his throne. Let's face it the crown princes ( the "mirror, mirror gazing " Zverev and Tsitsipas) don't exactly inspire confidence, FAA is the eternal "Potential, potential, potential" and the rest of the top 20 lack consistency, much less mental heft.

Speaking for myself, as one who really dislikes Djokovic and always hopes he loses, I'm not sure what analysis of his game you want, beyond assessing it before he gets/got back up to speed. It's not like it has changed vastly in the past few years, though the serve has gotten a lot better in the past few. But if you want to talk about who can challenge him, if he can still find his level, and it appears he has, I agree with you. We find ourselves back to a place where it's Nadal, if healthy, and hardly anyone else. At the risk of beating a dead horse, (or a couple of horse's asses,) Zverev and Tsitsipas have been frankly woeful. They are top 5, they are young, supposedly ambitious. Djokovic was basically out until last month. Nadal has been out since IW. Medvedev is out. Look how they dealt with this golden opportunity: Zverev 0 titles. Tsitsipas won MC, but barely showed up for the final yesterday. Old Man Nadal won Oz.

I expect Medvedev to return to a form to trouble the old guard, but if those clown princes can't seize an opportunity, I have little faith in them going forward, and I hope all the youngsters pass them at the Majors in the future.

 

[Moxie]

In Geneva, Paire won a match (Ruusuvuori.) Thiem lost in straights (Cecchinato, 3 and 4.) Oh, and for those who like a "where are they now?" Lukas Rosol, #251, lost in qualifying.

 

[Kieran]

In Geneva, Paire won a match (Ruusuvuori.) Thiem lost in straights (Cecchinato, 3 and 4.) Oh, and for those who like a "where are they now?" Lukas Rosol, #251, lost in qualifying.

I’m relieved. I was anxious in case Rosol faced Rafa in Paris. Blokes like Rosol annoy me. He’s better than his career shows, but he only seemed to turn up and play his best against Rafa. A typical local hero, plays great when it suits him then bellyflops into wet cement for the rest of the season…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Speaking for myself, as one who really dislikes Djokovic and always hopes he loses, I'm not sure what analysis of his game you want, beyond assessing it before he gets/got back up to speed. It's not like it has changed vastly in the past few years, though the serve has gotten a lot better in the past few. But if you want to talk about who can challenge him, if he can still find his level, and it appears he has, I agree with you. We find ourselves back to a place where it's Nadal, if healthy, and hardly anyone else. At the risk of beating a dead horse, (or a couple of horse's asses,) Zverev and Tsitsipas have been frankly woeful. They are top 5, they are young, supposedly ambitious. Djokovic was basically out until last month. Nadal has been out since IW. Medvedev is out. Look how they dealt with this golden opportunity: Zverev 0 titles. Tsitsipas won MC, but barely showed up for the final yesterday. Old Man Nadal won Oz.

I expect Medvedev to return to a form to trouble the old guard, but if those clown princes can't seize an opportunity, I have little faith in them going forward, and I hope all the youngsters pass them at the Majors in the future.

Hmm I should have taken out 'copy right' when I referred to the 'Clown Princes" Sasha and Stefanos yesterday..... I will allow you to use it....lol!

 

[Moxie]

Hmm I should have taken out 'copy right' when I referred to the 'Clown Princes" Sasha and Stefanos yesterday..... I will allow you to use it....lol!

I figured you wouldn't mind. It's good to coin a phrase.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Speaking for myself, as one who really dislikes Djokovic and always hopes he loses, I'm not sure what analysis of his game you want, beyond assessing it before he gets/got back up to speed. It's not like it has changed vastly in the past few years, though the serve has gotten a lot better in the past few. But if you want to talk about who can challenge him, if he can still find his level, and it appears he has, I agree with you. We find ourselves back to a place where it's Nadal, if healthy, and hardly anyone else. At the risk of beating a dead horse, (or a couple of horse's asses,) Zverev and Tsitsipas have been frankly woeful. They are top 5, they are young, supposedly ambitious. Djokovic was basically out until last month. Nadal has been out since IW. Medvedev is out. Look how they dealt with this golden opportunity: Zverev 0 titles. Tsitsipas won MC, but barely showed up for the final yesterday. Old Man Nadal won Oz.

I expect Medvedev to return to a form to trouble the old guard, but if those clown princes can't seize an opportunity, I have little faith in them going forward, and I hope all the youngsters pass them at the Majors in the future.

FAA, who is not good at Clay and has the tendency to overhit shots on pressure moments, showed more resiliency than Tsitsipas against Djokovic this week.

Jannik Sinner, whose game and physical body need more improvements (both takes time), has showed more mental resiliency than both Tsitsipas and Zverev in the past year.

 

[Moxie]

FAA, who is not good at Clay and has the tendency to overhit shots on pressure moments, showed more resiliency than Tsitsipas against Djokovic this week.

Jannik Sinner, whose game and physical body need more improvements (both takes time), has showed more mental resiliency than both Tsitsipas and Zverev in the past year.

Well-pointed out, my friend. As I said, I'll be happy to see the youngsters pass up Zed and Tits, because they are squandering their opportunities.

 

[Jelenafan]

FAA, who is not good at Clay and has the tendency to overhit shots on pressure moments, showed more resiliency than Tsitsipas against Djokovic this week.

Jannik Sinner, whose game and physical body need more improvements (both takes time), has showed more mental resiliency than both Tsitsipas and Zverev in the past year.

I don’t think Sinner has had a particularly impressive 2022 TBH. He hasn’t made it past the Qtrs of any tournament this year or in his last 13 tournaments entered.

 

[Moxie]

I don’t think Sinner has had a particularly impressive 2022 TBH. He hasn’t made it past the Qtrs of any tournament this year or in his last 13 tournaments entered.

But he's only 20.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I don’t think Sinner has had a particularly impressive 2022 TBH. He hasn’t made it past the Qtrs of any tournament this year or in his last 13 tournaments entered.

Yes, you are correct. But like what @Moxie has said before this post, he is only 20 years old turning 21 this upcoming August. So, he has a lot of time to improve his game and physical tools this year and off-season. In addition, he switched coaches right after AO this year. Furthermore, he got an illness and some unlucky injuries right after reaching AO QF.

Sinner might not become an all-time great player trajectory like Alcaraz, but the most important thing is that he improves his game steadily.

I would rather have Sinner get stagnant now while he is 20 years old than when he is 25-27 years old.

Like I said before, Sinner is similar to Andy Murray when Murray was 20 years old. Murray was skinny and was trying to becoming more consistent on the tour. Then, he bulked up, and he started to win more consistently.

Now, Sinner does not have the defensive ability of Murray or even the tennis skills, but Sinner has the talent and especially the mind to become a very good player in the future assuming he continues to work on his game and physically tools consistently.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yes, you are correct. But like what @Moxie has said before this post, he is only 20 years old turning 21 this upcoming August. So, he has a lot of time to improve his game and physical tools this year and off-season. In addition, he switched coaches right after AO this year. Furthermore, he got an illness and some unlucky injuries right after reaching AO QF.

Sinner might not become an all-time great player trajectory like Alcaraz, but the most important thing is that he improves his game steadily.

I would rather have Sinner get stagnant now while he is 20 years old than when he is 25-27 years old.

Like I said before, Sinner is similar to Andy Murray when Murray was 20 years old. Murray was skinny and was trying to becoming more consistent on the tour. Then, he bulked up, and he started to win more consistently.

Now, Sinner does not have the defensive ability of Murray or even the tennis skills, but Sinner has the talent and especially the mind to become a very good player in the future assuming he continues to work on his game and physically tools consistently.

There was some talk in Rome, that Sinner should have gone to a 'more experienced coach' after parting ways with Piatti for such a long time, though it may take some time with his new coach,so far Jannik seems happy, to me that is the main thing.

 

[rafanoy1992]

And looking at Sinner's losses this year:

Tsitsipas (2x), Hurkacz, Cerundolo (retired due to blisters), Zverev (very close call), and FAA.

Other than Cerundolo, he has lost to basically to Top 10 players this year (yes, some of those losses were horrible, however, that's part of the process).

Yes, he does need to figure out to win against Top 10 players at some point, but it is part of the process he needs to learn with his coaches.

Not everyone can be the Big Three and Alcaraz in which you win against Top 10 players consistently at 20 years old or younger.

 

[Jelenafan]

Yes, you are correct. But like what @Moxie has said before this post, he is only 20 years old turning 21 this upcoming August. So, he has a lot of time to improve his game and physical tools this year and off-season. In addition, he switched coaches right after AO this year. Furthermore, he got an illness and some unlucky injuries right after reaching AO QF.

Sinner might not become an all-time great player trajectory like Alcaraz, but the most important thing is that he improves his game steadily.

I would rather have Sinner get stagnant now while he is 20 years old than when he is 25-27 years old.

Like I said before, Sinner is similar to Andy Murray when Murray was 20 years old. Murray was skinny and was trying to becoming more consistent on the tour. Then, he bulked up, and he started to win more consistently.

Now, Sinner does not have the defensive ability of Murray or even the tennis skills, but Sinner has the talent and especially the mind to become a very good player in the future assuming he continues to work on his game and physically tools consistently.

Oh I like Sinner, but I’ve yet to see that distinctive mental strength you talk about. As mentioned, he’s *only* 20, but as a fallback we say that understandably about virtually everyone 21 and under, that their game is still developing. His fundamentals on the groundies are good, serve needs work and there is a hint of a good transition game. At a comparable age I would say Felix had a more developed game.

What I do like is he seems to have a genial, calm presence in the court; Yes, while he does show emotions, it doesn’t resort to self destructive histrionics like so many others.

The next 12 months will certainly be interesting.

With players, if they develop into solid top 20 player (Berdych, Tsonga, Ferrer, Robredo, etc) there is certainly no crime in that. So hard to gauge when the young player if/when will make the quantum leap to be a genuine contender.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

And looking at Sinner's losses this year:

Tsitsipas (2x), Hurkacz, Cerundolo (retired due to blisters), Zverev (very close call), and FAA.

Other than Cerundolo, he has lost to basically to Top 10 players this year (yes, some of those losses were horrible, however, that's part of the process).

Yes, he does need to figure out to win against Top 10 players at some point, but it is part of the process he needs to learn with his coaches.

Not everyone can be the Big Three and Alcaraz in which you win against Top 10 players consistently at 20 years old or younger.

I also think a lot of people forget that players, younger players like Sinner develop at their own pace,I also feel it is 'unfair' to compare them to other players say at a similar age.

 

[Moxie]

Medvedev back in action later today in Geneva, v. Gasquet. Kokkinakis already beat Fognini earlier.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Would be nice to get a cupcake draw for Rafa and let the number one player in the world prove to the ATP that he feels invincible..( just put CAG in his qtr)

 

[kskate2]

Medvedev back in action later today in Geneva, v. Gasquet. Kokkinakis already beat Fognini earlier.

Meddie out in straights to Reeshard. He was completely at sea for a set and a half and then knocked off some significant rust in the 2nd set, but too little too late as Richie takes a close TB.