2025 ATP General News

[mrzz]

Baez wins the first in the Rio final, match more competitive than the 6x2 score indicates.

Baez super solid to say the least. Some quite good forehands on the mix.

 

[mrzz]

Breaks traded to begin the second, Baez broke first but let his intensity drop. Muller raised his level and broke back.

 

[mrzz]

Baez breaks and will serve at 4x3

 

[mrzz]

Godzilla appears in Copacabana beach, climbs Corcovado hill and fornicates with Christ the redeemer statue.

 

[mrzz]

Baez successfully defends his title, 6x2 6x3

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ATP500 Dubai Duty Free Championships.
24 February - March 1st.
Jack Draper has withdrawn his place in the draw will be a LL.

Daniil Medvedev is the top seed and he will want to find some solid form, he reached the QFs of Doha last week, forced to retire against FAA due to food poisoning , he will play against Struff in his 1st round match.
There are no byes for seeded players, and no easy draws in ATP500 events.
Ugo Humbert is the defending champion, he won in Marseille earlier this monthe and will be keen to bring that form this week to Dubai.
Alex de Minaur 2nd seed will play against Cilic, who is using his PR ranking to enter the event. Andrev Rublev No 3 seed enjoyed a brilliant week in Doha beating Jack Draper in the final, he will start against a qualifier.Grigor Dimitrov is another player that will play against a qualifer in his 1st round match
The 4th seed Tsitsiaps faces a challenging draw, taking on Lorenzo Sonego in the 1st round.
FAA, Lehecka and Fils could all pose threat, FAA and Lechecka both made the SFs in Doha last week, Fils has an impressive ATP500 record winning Hamburg and Tokyo last year.
Some interesting 1st round matches,
Daniel Evans v Karen Khachanov
Gael Monfils v Matteo Berrettini

 

[Fiero425]

I guess it was wishful thinking Djokovic'd ask for a WC into Dubai since he lost early in Qatar! He's in the area; invested time & energy! On to IW! ;-)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ATP250 Chile Open,
24th February - March 2,

Homes star Tabilo is the top seed in Santiago, the Chilean who advances to the final at the ATP250 12 months ago, will seek his first win of the season when he takes to the court at the clay court event.
Sebastian Baez is the defending champion in Santiago, he will seek his eighth tour level title and second in as many weeks after winning in Rio De Janeiro
Francisco Cerundaldo, never been beyond the 2nd round, will hope to change that this week, he has won 2 of his 3 titles on clay.
Chilean Nicolas Jarry soared to the crown in Santiago in 2023, the 29 yo will aim to rediscover his winning from in front of his home fans.
Alongside Tabilo,Baez, and Jarry, other South American players to watch, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Marino Navone, Thiago Seyboth Wild, Fancisco Comensana, Facundo Diaz Acosta.Seyboth Wild has achieved the best result in Santiago from this group winning the title in 2020.
Europeans In Action,
Former champion Pedro Martinez, Italian Luciano Darderi, Spaniard Martinez won the title in 2022, while Darderi was QF last year

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Musetti has withdrawn in Acapulco, meaning that Denis Shapavolov is now seeded at No 9

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ATP500 Dubai Duty Free
Results,top seeds who were defeated,
Marin Cilic defeated Alex de Minaur (2) 62 36 63
Haly (Q) defeated Rublev (3) 36 64 76(5)
Nuno Borges d Fils (8) 62 61
C.O'Connell wins on retirement 60 against Grigor Dimitrov, with a right hip issue, this season so far has been a physical nightmare for him, he has retired mid match in 3 of his last 4 matches

 

[El Dude]

Fils got spanked. He really seems off this year.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Berrettini d Monfils 75 64 in Dubai, Matteo is back in the Top 30

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Medvedev moves into his 3rd straight Dubai QF
Dedending champion Humbert falls to Tallon Griekspoor
A relieved Tsitispas moves through in 3 sets against KK,
ATP500 Dubai,
QFs, Thursday 27th February,
FAA vs Cilic (PR)
Nardi LL vs Halys
Medvedev (1) vs Griekspoor
Tsitsipas (4) vs Berrettini

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ATP500 Mexico
Tommy Paul gives to walkover to Giron, due to stomach issues
Holger Rune retires 0-3 in his match against Nakashima, due to illness, Rune confirmed food poisoning
Casper Rune gave a walkover to WC Mendez

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

David Goffin, 34, arrived in Acapulco on a seven match losing streak, knocks out Ben Shelton 76(3) 63 to make ATP500 Acapulco QFs, should nudge Goffin back into the Top 50

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A great straight sets win 63 64 to Tien (Q) over the No 1 seed Zverev, Tien's return of serve a highlight in this match, the biggest win of his career to date,. ATP500 Mexico
Quite frankly Zverev has struggled on this Golden Swing,
1. Is it a AO Hangover
2. Pressure from No 1 ranking opportunity.

 

[kskate2]

P.S.A. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER IN MEXICO. This includes ice cubes in your drink. Several players had to retire/withdraw w/ food poisoning (Holger, the Ghost, Tommy)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ATP500 Mexico
QFs Thursday 27th February,
D.Goffin vs B.Nakashima
D.Shapovalov (9) vs M.Giron
A.Davidovich Fokina vs WC Pacheco Mendez
L.Tien (Q) vs T.Machac (8)

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

A great straight sets win 63 64 to Tien (Q) over the No 1 seed Zverev, Tien's return of serve a highlight in this match, the biggest win of his career to date,. ATP500 Mexico
Quite frankly Zverev has struggled on this Golden Swing,
1. Is it a AO Hangover
2. Pressure from No 1 ranking opportunity.

I'd still say the win over Medvedev at the AO is the biggest win of Tien's career. Winning a match at a slam is much more important than winning a match at a 500. The win just solidifies that Tien is no fluke, and that he's here to stay. You don't beat Top 5 players like Medvedev and Zverev shortly after turning 19 if you aren't something special. His rise reminds me a lot of Jannik Sinner when play resumed in 2020 after COVID. Don't be surprised if Tien is the #1 player 4 years from now.

 

[El Dude]

Felix seems to be playing with a bit more spine, winning lots of three-setters. Hope, for his sake, this speaks of more to come, but he's having his best start - possibly of his career, or at least in a few years.