Nitto ATP Finals, 2021, Turin, Italy

[MargaretMcAleer]

Do you say that because of withdrawals, or based on where they started? Because I would call Sinner, Norrie and Karatsev creditable alternates.

The withdrawals primarily.

 

[Fiero425]

I dont think we can blame the Pandemic,because some players have been complaining for sometime,before the pandemic 'the season is too long'....seeing the withdrawals in the YEC this year,is kind of alarming,though it is the end of the season,players carry niggling injuries,also the 'off season' is short,players need vacation,before they train again for the new season.I have always thought the AO for example could be moved to allow players more time to get ready and travel to Australia,though I doubt it will happen,only happened last year because of players having to quarantine for 2 weeks.The main reason AO is scheduled in January is it is the school holdiays,though playing it at the end of January could still be feasible.

Our USO always coincides with the Labor Day holiday splitting the event in half and allowing kids to see more tennis over that long weekend!

 

[Moxie]

Our USO always coincides with the Labor Day holiday splitting the event in half and allowing kids to see more tennis over that long weekend!

And probably grown-ups, who tend to spend more money.

 

[Moxie]

I dont think we can blame the Pandemic,because some players have been complaining for sometime,before the pandemic 'the season is too long'....seeing the withdrawals in the YEC this year,is kind of alarming,though it is the end of the season,players carry niggling injuries,also the 'off season' is short,players need vacation,before they train again for the new season.I have always thought the AO for example could be moved to allow players more time to get ready and travel to Australia,though I doubt it will happen,only happened last year because of players having to quarantine for 2 weeks.The main reason AO is scheduled in January is it is the school holdiays,though playing it at the end of January could still be feasible.

I'm not really trying to blame the pandemic, myself, just trying to mention something some players have said. The complaint that the "season" (which we both put in quotes, I think, because the notion that it's a "season" is a joke,) is too long has been going on for some time. And they did shorten it. And there are "breaks" that work out, particularly for the higher ranked players. But the notion that there is much of a break between now and when the first important exhos and tournaments start again is laughable.

 

[Moxie]

The withdrawals primarily.

But isn't it a bit harsh to compare it to an ATP500? I mean, even with the withdrawals, only the top 12 players in the world are in.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

But isn't it a bit harsh to compare it to an ATP500? I mean, even with the withdrawals, only the top 12 players in the world are in.

To me it is a weak top 12....apart from Novak,The Young Greek and Sasha,apologies to the rest

 

[Moxie]

To me it is a weak top 12....apart from Novak,The Young Greek and Sasha,apologies to the rest

Right, but isn't this a function of the transitional period? And no love for Medvedev? Rafa qualified, but is out due to injury. Who else was there?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Right, but isn't this a function of the transitional period? And no love for Medvedev? Rafa qualified, but is out due to injury. Who else was there?

Oops I forget Meddy sorry,Rafa gets a pass,also Theim is also injured

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Oops I forget Meddy sorry,Rafa gets a pass,also Theim is also injured

I mean you compared last year to this year,the depth really is not there,just my opinion.

 

[Moxie]

I mean you compared last year to this year,the depth really is not there,just my opinion.

I get your point, but it is what is on offer. You do have #1 and #2 playing, but it would be interesting to know when the field has last looked this less-than-intimidating.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I agree with you,Safin was also a 'big guy' in terms of build and a great mover for a big tall person,though he wasn't injury bound.Any player can have abdominal problems and can pull a muscle while playing tennis,like what happened to Matteo.I saw your post that his name is down to play on Tuesday,lets see if that happens.

Aahh Margaret..Safin was only 6'4..if you want to build a perfect tennis player it would be Marat ..not Roger..not Rafa( yeah I said it) not Sampras or even Novak..I would have loved to see Marat vs Novak in their prime . (Safin post his prime destroyed Novak pre prime on grass at SW19.)..it's the players 6'5 and over who has been injury prone ..El Dude did a post about it years ago if I remember correctly.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

mr aa (aka borginreverse) before this year his 2 highest year end rank were 102, 195.

his 6 or so other seasons were way outside the top200..now he's within a sniff of playing at the wtf/yec.

he is dreaming the undreamable dream.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Aahh Margaret..Safin was only 6'4..if you want to build a perfect tennis player it would be Marat ..not Roger..not Rafa( yeah I said it) not Sampras or even Novak..I would have loved to see Marat vs Novak in their prime . (Safin post his prime destroyed Novak pre prime on grass at SW19.)..it's the players 6'5 and over who has been injury prone ..El Dude did a post about it years ago if I remember correctly.

Pity he was a 'headcase' at times he should have won more GS...I watched him live at the AO,always was a big fan

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I get your point, but it is what is on offer. You do have #1 and #2 playing, but it would be interesting to know when the field has last looked this less-than-intimidating.

Agree,it is what it is..maybe EL Dude when he has time can look that up for us.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

wtf 2017 got alot of hate as top players were out and jack sock qualified and final was dimitrov vs goffin.

 

[Moxie]

wtf 2016 got alot of hate as top players were out and jack sock qualified and final was dimitrov vs goffin.

2016 was the year that Murray won over Djokovic in the final to take the YE#1, so the one that Dimitrov won was 2017, but I take your point. That is well-spotted.

 

[kskate2]

Yeah El Dude ..KS was the first to be smitten with him..Do you think if he tried he could squire as many WTA players as Radek Stepanik aka the Worm.jajaja

You leave Babycakes alone. He is not a serial womanizer like Lipps

 

[El Dude]

I tried withdrawing a bunch of times, but got two kids out of it.

 

[Fjaka2.0]

It comes as it had to come:

First SF Nole vs Alexandar
Second SF Daniil vs „it doesn’t matter who“

Let’s see how it goes on faster HC

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Seeing this tournament is now a ATP500 tournament

I will watch my youngster Sinner take on Meddy even though it is a dead rubber,good experience for Sinner