2023 ATP General News

[Jelenafan]

Has anybody else even confirmed this rumored sale up to now?

Seems odd to move the largest attendance tournament outside of the Slams. This year they had a record 61,000 people attending the first Saturday of IW. Tiriac sold his stake in the Madrid Masters and they didn't move that Masters out of their venue (for now).

 

[tented]

Has anybody else even confirmed this rumored sale up to now?

Seems odd to move the largest attendance tournament outside of the Slams. This year they had a record 61,000 people attending the first Saturday of IW. Tiriac sold his stake in the Madrid Masters and they didn't move that Masters out of their venue (for now).

True, it could be that Ellison wants out (for whatever reason), and is simply looking for someone to buy him out, but leave everything else as is.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Carlos Alcaraz will not play the Davis Cup Finals Group stage next week he will be replaced by Albert Ramos Vinolas

 

[mrzz]

Brazilian João Fonseca won the US Open junior tournament. This kid is going places.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Matteo Berrettini has confirmed that he suffered a 'ruptured ankle ligament' in his 2nd round match at the USO which forced him to retire against Rinderknech.
However, the scans have confirmed that the injury is not as serious as originally feared. He won't be able to represent Italy in the DC or compete ATP events in Asia. He has begun 'intense rehab' and hopes to return to the tour shortly after Shanghai Masters, which concludes on October 15.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Disney, Charter settle cable dispute hours before 'Monday Night Football' season opener

Disney and Charter Communications announced a deal to settle a dispute that had cut some 15 million cable TV customers off from ESPN and other Disney-owned stations.

apnews.com

Told ya Monday night football would be as far as the dispute would last

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Christopher Eubanks will join Team World in Vancouver as an alternative for Laver Cup
Arthur Fils will join Team Europe in Vancouver as an alternative for Laver Cup

 

[El Dude]

Good old Toni Nadal:

"Current Novak Djokovic Well Below That of 5-10 Years Ago": Rafael Nadal's Former Coach Rips Into Current Generation

Former coach to Rafael Nadal has made a bold claim saying Novak Djokovic was better 5-10 years ago then he is now.

thesportsrush.com

I agree that current Novak isn't as good as 2011-16 Novak. Not sure about the rest, though - that the supporting cast was better a decade ago than it is now. Maybe?

And doesn't seem like he's doing much for FAA:

"Where Was Toni Nadal": Fans Ask Felix Auger-Aliassime to Fire Rafael Nadal's Ex-Coach

Felix Auger-Aliassime implored by fans on social media to fire coach Toni Nadal after disappointing first-round exit in 2023 US Open

thesportsrush.com

(Sportsrush looks pretty trashy, but maybe appropriate to cover TN's latest)

 

[the AntiPusher]

Here's your morning laugh for today

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I do find all of your ideas about the calendar intriguing, even when I don't agree with them. Perhaps we need a thread to discuss calendar changes.

One thing I disagree with you on is that tennis loses casual fans. Most casual fans tune in for Majors only. Most especially because that's what they have access to, and they're the famous ones. I don't watch golf, generally, but I pay attention to the Majors. So they don't really matter. Sure, the calendar is front-loaded with Majors in the first 6.5 months, but I would argue that the rhythm of the calendar benefits the players, too. The end of the year tapers down a bit, and culminates in the YEC.

If you move Rome and the FO to after the USO, I have two questions: a) what do you put between the AO and Wimbledon? (Though, this would allow for a grass MS1000, if they could find a facility to accommodate it.) And b) while Rome is nice in the autumn, Paris is a bit cooler and wetter. Also, it has about 4 fewer hours of available daylight. They have lights now, and roofs, but you'd considerably change the character of the tournament.

I guess the Paris Masters could be moved up to that spot. So, the 2-year calendar would look something like this:

Odd year (2025, 2027, etc.)

Australian Open - January
Rome - May
French Open - late May-early June
Wimbledon - July
US Open - late August-early September
Indian Wells - October
Paris Masters - late October-early November

Even year (2026, 2028, etc.)

Australian Open - January
Indian Wells - March
Paris Masters - May
Wimbledon - July
US Open - late August-early September
Rome - September
French Open - October

 

[kskate2]

You know that there’s football seasons in France and Italy?

Not only that Kieran, but our clueless mate @PhiEaglesfan712 fails to realize the NFL is playing several games across the pond. I told him previously it's no accident that the USO ends on the first Sunday of the NFL regular season. No sport here can compete w/ the NFL, not even the NBA. Never have and never will. The regular season lasts four months. During that time other sports in the U.S. take a backseat and purposefully avoid scheduling anything against it.

 

[kskate2]

I guess the Paris Masters could be moved up to that spot. So, the 2-year calendar would look something like this:

Odd year (2025, 2027, etc.)

Australian Open - January
Rome - May
French Open - late May-early June
Wimbledon - July
US Open - late August-early September
Indian Wells - October
Paris Masters - late October-early November

Even year (2026, 2028, etc.)

Australian Open - January
Indian Wells - March
Paris Masters - May
Wimbledon - July
US Open - late August-early September
Rome - September
French Open - October

This odd year even year thing would never work. How are tournaments supposed to keep up w/ this ever changing schedule? It would be difficult for them to plan repairs and expansions. And IW in October would not have much viewership or fans attending in person. October in the US is chock full of the NFL, post season MLB and college football. I can't speak for the Euro tournaments, but in the US everything is about money, ratings and TV rights.

 

[Kieran]

This odd year even year thing would never work. How are tournaments supposed to keep up w/ this ever changing schedule? It would be difficult for them to plan repairs and expansions. And IW in October would not have much viewership or fans attending in person. October in the US is chock full of the NFL, post season MLB and college football. I can't speak for the Euro tournaments, but in the US everything is about money, ratings and TV rights.

Plus Europe doesn’t take kindly to having champions league football and all the big leagues being affected by tennis. Not just one league here. Every country has one. Oh but wait - football would continue unaffected. It’s on a scale unimaginable. Tennis would suffer. The FO can’t compete with the Champions League…

 

[don_fabio]

Does anyone watch this forgotten competition called Davis Cup? Croatia lost to USA a few days ago. Now Croatia plays against Finland.

On the other channel there is Novak - Fokina. Novak came to Valencia to help Serbia against Spain.

 

[mrzz]

Does anyone watch this forgotten competition called Davis Cup? Croatia lost to USA a few days ago. Now Croatia plays against Finland.

On the other channel there is Novak - Fokina. Novak came to Valencia to help Serbia against Spain.

By chance I am watching Brazil VS Denmark

 

[don_fabio]

32.6 degC and 62% humidity in Valencia indoor court. Looks like Air Condition unit gave up.

 

[Moxie]

Does anyone watch this forgotten competition called Davis Cup? Croatia lost to USA a few days ago. Now Croatia plays against Finland.

On the other channel there is Novak - Fokina. Novak came to Valencia to help Serbia against Spain.

I've watched some. Foki gave Novak a run for his money, but it was straight sets, in the end. Good match!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I've watched some. Foki gave Novak a run for his money, but it was straight sets, in the end. Good match!

I also watched that match, agree it was a good match
I have been watching DC there have been some good ties, though I wish they would go back to how the original DC ties were played, they have really stuffed up DC, some of the ties not many fans at all.
BTW Andy Murray missed his Grans funeral to play DC, he dedicated his win to her.

 

[mrzz]

By chance I am watching Brazil VS Denmark

And Brazil won the first match! Thiago Monteiro upsets Holger Rune in three sets! Vamos! This most likely defines the tie as the rest of Denmark's teams is above #400, and also we do have two double specialists in the team (plus in form Thiago Wild who is yet to play).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Spain is out of the 2023 DC during the group stages, and have failed to qualify for the final 8 in November.