2024 ATP General News

[MargaretMcAleer]

17 yo Joao Fonseca aka Fonzie is the youngest player in almost 10 years to reach an ATP QF ( Zverev in Hamburg 2014) after beating 2020 champ Cristian Garin 64 64 to reach the last 8 in Rio, his hometown

Well done Young Man!

 

[rafanoy1992]

If Joao Fonseca turns out to be a very good tennis player, then he will join a list of very good/great players that were born in August:

Sampras/Tsitsipas, Federer/FAA, Rod Laver, Andy Roddick, Sinner and Fonseca are all born in the month of August! I am not even kidding either!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Not much talk of Alex Michelson, 19, US, but he's been making some noise, I have noticed, and he's making short work of Jordan Thompson in Los Cabos, ATM, 6-1, 4-2. Thompson just held, but it was a struggle.

Thompson held on to win in 3 sets 06 76(1) 75 down a set and 4-1, saved 3MPs
BTW if Stef wins the Los Cabos tournament he can get back into the Top Ten,

 

[Moxie]

If Joao Fonseca turns out to be a very good tennis player, then he will join a list of very good/great players that were born in August:

Sampras/Tsitsipas, Federer/FAA, Rod Laver, Andy Roddick, Sinner and Fonseca are all born in the month of August! I am not even kidding either!

He did beat Garin, so he's into the QF. Spare a moment to remember that Garin was once a youngster to look out for.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

SFs Los Cabos,
S.Tsitsipas (2) vs C.Ruud (4)
A.Zverev (1) vs J.Thompson (8)

 

[mrzz]

Can we call him Fonzie?

Hey @mrzz , can you tell us anything about this kid? The only thing that stands out on Wikipedia is that he was the 2023 juniors #1 - the first Brazillian to be juniors #1.

He got to #1 by winning junior's USOpen. I saw the semis and the final: he is my kind of player, *very* aggressive -- at least as aggressive as were young Rublev and Jarry.

Seems to have the head in its place too. Still considering doing college in US, and refused to be called a star. You can almost forget he is carioca (i.e. from Rio de Janeiro)!

 

[El Dude]

He got to #1 by winning junior's USOpen. I saw the semis and the final: he is my kind of player, *very* aggressive -- at least as aggressive as were young Rublev and Jarry.

Seems to have the head in its place too. Still considering doing college in US, and refused to be called a star. You can almost forget he is carioca (i.e. from Rio de Janeiro)!

Thanks, bud! Sounds like my type of player, too (I remember that you and I both really liked Rublev early on).

I'm still waiting on one of the new pups to capture me fully...who knows, maybe he's going to be the guy (I like most of the young guys to varying degrees, but none has emerged as my favorite).

 

[Front242]

Fonseca is playing ridiculously well. Those forehands down the line and cross court are insanely good. Seems like his game is very suited to clay. Like a mix of Berdych's easy power combined with Soderling. Vicious stuff. Hope he features at RG.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

18 yo Jakub Mensik continues his fairytale run in Doha, now the youngest finalist in Doha history, defeating Monfils 64 16 63
Mensik will play Khachanov in the final

Well done Jakub! ( he will enter the Top 90)

BTW, both Mensik and Monfils were born on September 1, Mensik in 2005 and Monfils in 1986
I feel at this stage Mensik game is suited to HC

In 2023 Mensik played the USO lost to Fritz 3rd round in straight sets
In 2024 Mensik played the AO , came through qualies, played against Hubi in the 2nd round and lost in 4 sets

 

[rafanoy1992]

Watching some of the Mensik’s game against Monfils, two things I really like: His 1st serve and easy power on both wings. For an 18 year old, he has tremendous power which is really good.

Two things I kinda don’t like about his game: 2nd serve and his movement. His 2nd serve is easily fixable as I think he is just trying not to DF and just wants to start a rally. On the other hand, his movement especially his lateral movement is something to keep an eye on. If he is able to become a much better lateral mover, then he can become a very good player. If not, he will struggle on the court especially against players that can move him around laterally.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think we all have to take a 'deep breath' while it is good for these younger players to play well at these events, they have a long way to go in their respective tennis careers
Under the new rule of the NEXTGen they can only play so many ATP events in one year, ( similar to the WTA rule) which I think is a great move
One thing I loved about Mensik he chose to play in Doha as they were giving free I phones a typical response from a 18 year old

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have to agree with Front regarding Fonzie's game has a great fhand, can go down with ease cross court and down the line, he has a game for the clay,looking forward to watching him going forward

 

[El Dude]

I watched highlights of Fonzie's defeat of Fils. I hate saying it, but his forehand reminded me a bit of Federer's, with that sneaky power and it seemed like he could hit it wherever he wanted to.

 

[Moxie]

I watched highlights of Fonzie's defeat of Fils. I hate saying it, but his forehand reminded me a bit of Federer's, with that sneaky power and it seemed like he could hit it wherever he wanted to.

I haven't seen that, and am just getting my first look at him, now. He's got some impressive easy power, takes the ball on the rise. Mrzz said he won Jr. USO, so he makes sense for hc. Am still trying to decide if he's opportunistically good on clay, or if he actually has the footwork for it. Robbie Koenig likens his FH to DelPotro. In any case, the future is looking bright. I love that 3 Fed fans have chimed in on him positively.

 

[Moxie]

That BH is a whip, btw.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The way Fonzo flattens out his fhand with speed reminds me of Fernando Gonzalez

 

[Moxie]

Navone has a bit of a Gael Garcia Bernal-vibe.

 

[Moxie]

The kid is cramping, but just got a break back. Hoping the crowd will help carry him. Meanwhile, Ruud takes the first set v. Tstisipas, playing some of his best tennis in a while.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Props to Navone played in a really tough atmosphere, defeating Fonzie in 3 sets, Navone came through qualifying.Gutsy effort!
Bad luck to Fonzie cramping didnt help his cause., making the QFs is a solid result for the 17 year old, keep working hard!

 

[Moxie]

Interesting, given their rankings, the H2H Ruud v. Tsitsipas is 1-1. Or, was. Great win for Ruud! He needed it. Tsitsipas probably did, too, but who cares?