2025 ATP General News

[MargaretMcAleer]

Learner Tien and Joao Fonseca headline first IW wild cards!

 

[kskate2]

so they aren't tone deaf afterall

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It will a another TB in the match between Berrettini - Griekspoor, Matteo win the 1st set TB 76(4) it has been a tight contest so far
Matteo just when you needed a good 1st serve, you fluffed it, Tallon a good returner of the ball, and Tallon has SP?
Griekspoor wins the 2nd set 76(6) onto a 3rd set, their previous match also went 3 sets.

 

[kskate2]

Griek is a good baseliner w/ an underreported 1st serve. Babycakes, always has a tough battle w/ him. Oh well, lunch is over. I'll have to check the scores later to see how it turned out

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Matteo with BP good return on Tallons 1st serve serve and will serve for the match 5-4
Matteo Forza!
Brerettini d Griekspoor in a 3 set match 76(4) 67(6) 64 and levels their H2H 1 all
Well done Matteo, Tallon is a tricky opponent and good to see you backed up from yesterdays match against Djokovic!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ATP500 Doha,
QFs Thursday 20th February,
Starts at 2.30pm local time,
A.de Minaur (2) vs A.Rublev (5)
D.Medvedev (4) vs FAA
Not before 5.30pm local time,
C.Alcaraz (1) vs J.Lehecka
J.Draper (8) vs M.Berrettini

 

[the AntiPusher]

Maybe Safin, but not Nalbandian. I think Nalbandian was already falling behind the curve by 2005, as Rafa surpassed him. Nalbandian was a very good player, but I don't know if he was ever going to reach an elite level like Safin or Hewitt (those players beat Pete at the US Open at 20). That said, Nalbandian should have had a Ferrer type career at the very minimum.

Cilic is Medvedev with better longevity. Side-by-side comparison of the two looks almost equal, except Cilic has 200 extra match wins. (Just think, if Federer never has that resurgence, Cilic likely has 3 slams and is in the same boat as Wawrinka.)

That's very generous to say that Cilic aka cough drops was as good as Medvedev who still appears to be suffering from PTSD of AO 22 final.

 

[the AntiPusher]

OMG, Tsitsipas just lost to a guy who was cramping the entire 3rd set TB. Literally could only limp. Granted, Medjevkovic is trending these days, but this has to be a new low for the Greek.

Is Tsip back with his pappy coaching him?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

FAA moves on to the SF in Doha after Medvedev retires due to illness, he lost the 1st set 63
In the earlier match Rublev won in a hard fought match against the No 2 seed Alex de Minaur 61 36 76(8) to advance to the SFs!
FAA will play Rublev tomorrow in the 1st SF

 

[Jelenafan]

Is Tsip back with his pappy coaching him?

It seem Tsitsipas natural talent got him so far, but without the hard work needed to address his weaknesses ( particularly his BH) the mental grind of tour play finally got to him.

Winning matches over rank &file players isn’t automatic; its harder work & not as much fun then.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jiri Lechecka wins the 1st set over Alcaraz 63, in Doha, from a break down, he is a player with great pace off the ground that can rush Alcaraz and that is what happened in the first set

 

[the AntiPusher]

It seem Tsitsipas natural talent got him so far, but without the hard work needed to address his weaknesses ( particularly his BH) the mental grind of tour play finally got to him.

Winning matches over rank &file players isn’t automatic; its harder work & not as much fun then.

He needs someone like Roger Federer to fix his head and his game. If he had any common sense he would reach out to him to be a technical consultant before he begin to exit his prime years due to age and attrition.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Reason why Medvedev retired in his QF match against FAA he had food poisoning and hopes to be well for Dubai next week

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This has been a great contest so far in the QF match between Alcaraz v Lehecka
Alcaraz cut down on his UFE in the 2nd set and played with more controlled aggression and won 63, 1 set all ( Lehecka 1st set 63), also which player can make the first strike., and some great exchanges at the net between both players.
Going 3, Lehecka taking a toilet break, play has just resumed.
Alcaraz get the early break in the 3rd set, though serving at 4-3 Alcaraz had a DF did not help his chances and then a wild fhand and Jiri broke back
4 all 3rd set
Jiri with MP great returns and wins the match 63 36 64! over Alcaraz, BTW Alcaraz had the match in his hands, but let Jiri back in serving at 4-3 in the 3rd set with a DF and UFE off his fhand
Well done Jiri a really great match between these 2 players!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

With that win Jiri Lehecka is now inside the Top 10 of the live race,
He missed 2 slams last year due to back fractures, I also feel his game is suited to grass, he can volley well as in did in his match against Alcaraz
If he can remain injury free, I feel he is a top 10 player, he has great pace off the ground and serve

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The last QF match in Doha,
Berrettini v Draper, split sets, with Jack finally able to break the Matteo serve 64 on his 12th try, ( Berrettini 1st set 64)
Going 3 sets

 

[Fiero425]

I woke up late to see Qatar has been decimated w/ their top players in the draw getting knocked out! I guess Djokovic has nothing to be embarrassed about! Is this a trend or just an anomoly of a young season?

 

[mrzz]

I have Lehecka in my top 10 lists in a few threads here

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have Lehecka in my top 10 lists in a few threads here

I hope he can stay injury free he certainly is Top Ten material

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I cant see Matteo getting out of this match, Draper has been running him all over the court and winning more points from the back of the court
Draper leads 4-1 3rd set, looks like Matteo has run out of gas, his first serve is keeping him winning some points