Nitto ATP Finals 2023, Turin, Italy

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jannik Sinner has become the first Italian "Ever' to reach the SFs at the ATP Finals, in its 54 year history! and he did it in dominant fahsion, going 3-0 to win his group round robin group with victories over Tsitsipas, Djokovic and Rune, ( as I am Italian I could not be prouder of what Jannik as achieved so far in his career)

 

[lomaha]

No doubt he will, I will be interested to see if he keeps Becker on for next year, they really didnt have a lot of time together in the few tournaments this year

After the match he said that they were evaluating but that he could easily see them continue together. His former coach Lars, has stopped working with him and is now the coach of the danish female tennis player Clara Tauson.

 

[lomaha]

He didn't lose today on conditioning and stamina. Did he? He should work on those, which I am very much beginning to think have to do with expending too much emotional energy. But I don't think he lost for that reason today.

Agree. He lost because he woke up to late. He was nervous in the first set and his legwork to slow. And he just lost to a better player on the day. Sinner is on fire just as Rune were last year in Paris.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I still think FAA will jump a couple steps forward - go back to where he was in 2022 and then take another step forward from there, and at least more firmly join the Rublev/Ruud/Hurkacz coterie, and maybe half a step up to Zverev/Tsitsipas in the "lesser elite" category.

Tiafoe is weird, because he has a few people who believe he's a potential elite. I see him as a potential...well, "tier 2.5" type ala Gasquet/Monfils...not quite a true 2nd tier guy, but will be around the top 10-20 range, maybe dip into the top 10 a bit. I mean the guy is almost 26 and has just lightly fondled the top 10. He's had a few matches here and there where he looked really good, but I just don't see him getting significantly better. Could be wrong, though. Still, he's the type of player who, in a "weak era" (e.g. late 90s, early 00s) might have won a Masters. Look at the list of Masters winners back then...lots of guys who would have maxed out at ATP 500s today, if that.

Shelton looks good, but it is too soon to say where he'll end up. He could be a future lesser elite or Jerzy Janowicz. And I find him kind of annoying, so he's a guy I'll probably root against. Seems a lock for the top 10, though, and I think should be at least in the Rublev/Hurkacz group, maybe in the Zverev/Tsitsipas category. Fils is a guy that I hope could be really good, like maybe even in the Alcaraz/Rune/Sinner range. But I'm probably getting ahead of myself.

Anyhow, I do feel that the talent level is rising overall, at least among players debuting over the last 15 years or so. Next Genners are better than Lost Gen, and Millenials are better than Next Gen. So tennis is going in a good direction. While Next Gen didn't give us any true ATGs, there are several guys who are as good or better than any of Lost Gen -- Thiem (the first Next Genner), Medvedev (the best Next Genner), Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rublev, Hurkacz, maybe one or two others. And Millenials have a handful of guys who could be even better than most of those guys - Alcaraz is already there, Rune and Sinner are getting there, FAA remains a darkhorse, plus Shelton, Fils, etc.

As for Rune, I still hold to the view I expressed late last year...I see an explosive player who will have spells in which he's virtually unbeatable, and even peaking a bit higher than Alcaraz for spells, but being far less consistent. Sinner will be right there with them, although maybe a sliver behind.

I Always felt Frances Tiafoe was a very talented athletic player that plays without being fundamentally advanced. However, as with most sports whenever the pressure is at the highest or the critical points, the fundamentals is what gives you the best opportunity to hit and execute your strokes..e.g. when stressed whenever you're serving, dropping your head too soon may cause you to misplace your 2nd serve or moving your head while hitting your bh or FH may produce UFEs. Watch Rafa, Novak or Medvedev whenever they execute their strokes, a still head is the key..

FAA ..I just can't put my finger on what's keeping himself from being more consistent but maybe his shot selections and he has the horrible tendency of playing down to the levels of his competition. All tennis players at every level is guilty of this and he just needs to make up his mind that he wants to take it to highest level or the deepest part of the Sea. I would interested in hearing from Toni Nadal about his assessment of Felix s lack of not being more consistent.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Agree. He lost because he woke up to late. He was nervous in the first set and his legwork to slow. And he just lost to a better player on the day. Sinner is on fire just as Rune were last year in Paris.

It's the God's honest truth, Sinner was the better player yesterday.

 

[El Dude]

I Always felt Frances Tiafoe was a very talented athletic player that plays without being fundamentally advanced. However, as with most sports whenever the pressure is at the highest or the critical points, the fundamentals is what gives you the best opportunity to hit and execute your strokes..e.g. when stressed whenever you're serving, dropping your head too soon may cause you to misplace your 2nd serve or moving your head while hitting your bh or FH may produce UFEs. Watch Rafa, Novak or Medvedev whenever they execute their strokes, a still head is the key..

I could be wrong, but didn't Tiafoe not have much formal training? I believe his dad worked maintenance at a tennis court, and got Frances in for sporadic lessons and playing time.

FAA ..I just can't put my finger on what's keeping himself from being more consistent but maybe his shot selections and he has the horrible tendency of playing down to the levels of his competition. All tennis players at every level is guilty of this and he just needs to make up his mind that he wants to take it to highest level or the deepest part of the Sea. I would interested in hearing from Toni Nadal about his assessment of Felix s lack of not being more consistent.

Very interesting observation - I think you are right. He also seems to lack a certain fire.

 

[atttomole]

This match reminds me of what Federer did to Medvedev a couple of years ago in Miami. Carlito is mixing things up. Drop shots, aces, rallies…,ettc. He keeps Medvedev guessing. The drop shots are tormenting Medvedev.

 

[Moxie]

Carlitos seems to have gotten the feel for the speed of the court...he's really fun to watch right now. What a return game he played earlier to break Medvedev at love.

 

[Moxie]

I doubt very much that Jannik is thinking of the money. If he is, then he’s a low level thinker and he’ll never be a great player. The money automatically follows these chaps around. He won because winning is a habit and he wants to keep the momentum going. If he’d chucked in a loss against Rune it would have affected him going forward. 3 loses without reply against Holger and a potential match in the final?

He most likely will lose against Djoker if they meet again but he’ll have a much better chance with the momentum behind him..

This is what Annacone just said, who is commentating on my TV. You wanna win? Keep winning. Mentioning guys he coached, Sampras, Henman, Federer and now Fritz, he says they're hard-wired to win, not lose. Plus, it occurs to me, almost every other tournament they play during the year, and most of there careers, you lose, you go home, so it would be pretty weird to try to lose.

 

[Kieran]

All of a sudden Charley is trending again.

 

[nehmeth]

Carlos v. Sinner in the semis? Picking the young Spaniard to win in two.

 

[Moxie]

Carlos v. Sinner in the semis? Picking the young Spaniard to win in two.

No, Alcaraz gets Novak...Sinner will play Medvedev.

 

[rafanoy1992]

No, Alcaraz gets Novak...Sinner will play Medvedev.

It will be tough for both Alcaraz and Sinner but I am excited for a potential Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner ATP Tour Finals championship match!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

After the match he said that they were evaluating but that he could easily see them continue together. His former coach Lars, has stopped working with him and is now the coach of the danish female tennis player Clara Tauson.

Lars use to coach Clara before didnt he? hopefully Clara can stay injury free, I like her game, another player that 'has fire in their belly' and does not take a backward step

 

[the AntiPusher]

No, Alcaraz gets Novak...Sinner will play Medvedev.

That's awesome semis.

 

[tossip]

I Always felt Frances Tiafoe was a very talented athletic player that plays without being fundamentally advanced. However, as with most sports whenever the pressure is at the highest or the critical points, the fundamentals is what gives you the best opportunity to hit and execute your strokes..e.g. when stressed whenever you're serving, dropping your head too soon may cause you to misplace your 2nd serve or moving your head while hitting your bh or FH may produce UFEs. Watch Rafa, Novak or Medvedev whenever they execute their strokes, a still head is the key..

FAA ..I just can't put my finger on what's keeping himself from being more consistent but maybe his shot selections and he has the horrible tendency of playing down to the levels of his competition. All tennis players at every level is guilty of this and he just needs to make up his mind that he wants to take it to highest level or the deepest part of the Sea. I would interested in hearing from Toni Nadal about his assessment of Felix s lack of not being more consistent.

FAA has personality of a door knob.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Oh well Aussie Nick K got his predication correct with Charly winning in SS, Roddick and Courier picked Meddy
I am just watching the high lights of the match, quite frankly I am not surprised Meddy wasnt at his best when he played Zverev, still to me when they play each other, they bring out their worst tennis for some reason,

 

[tossip]

This match reminds me of what Federer did to Medvedev a couple of years ago in Miami. Carlito is mixing things up. Drop shots, aces, rallies…,ettc. He keeps Medvedev guessing. The drop shots are tormenting Medvedev.

He was confusing Medvedev with his variety.

 

[the AntiPusher]

FAA has personality of a door knob.

Sometimes it takes a stoic personality like Felix s to make it as high as he has. I don't have a problem with it. Felix is a good dude and not some whiny sissy like the big haired dude or Denis the Menace.

 

[Kieran]

It’s fairly interesting that there’s been no suggestion that Danii tanked. The draw looks better for him now…