Nitto ATP Finals 2024, Turin, Italy

[El Dude]

To be fair to Daniil, he had a pretty good year in 2023. No Slams obviously, but he won two Masters and five titles overall. What is concerning, though, is that all of his titles were before Roland Garros, so he hasn't won a title in a year and a half (since Rome 2023). But he's still going deep in Slams - from Wimbledon last year year he's reached two Finals, two Semifinals, one QF and one 4R. He's just sort of taken up the pre-Slam Andy Murray role: always around deep in tournaments, but not winning them.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

At least Medvedev turned up in his match today against Alex de Minaur defeating him in straight sets 62 64
Not like the complete "jerk' he was in his match against Fritz, with no focus at all, and acting like a 'clown on court' losing in straight sets

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sinner d Fritz 64 64, in a rematch of the USO final
He's won 6 consecutive sets against Fritz and won their last 3 matches
67-6 in 2024
8th win in a row!
Sinner's bhand sliding pass one of the highlights of this match, Fritz threw everything at him, including the 'kitchen sink, Sinner too good when it mattered.

 

[tented]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Zverev d Ruud 76(3) 63, good match but a disappointing ending from Ruud

In the earlier match,
Alcaraz d Rublev 63 76(8) , Alcaraz recovered well from his 1st round match, good on serve and looked like himself in the long rallies, keeps his finals hopes alive

 

[tented]

 

[El Dude]

This finals really seems to be displaying the different tiers of tennis players right now. Of course it is a spectrum, but it really seems like we have separation between several groups:

Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic
Zverev, Medvedev
Rublev, Ruud, Tsitsipas, Fritz
Dimitrov, De Minaur, Rune, Hurkacz, Berrettini, Khachanov, Shelton, Tiafoe, Paul, Draper, FAA, Fils, Baez, etc

Tsitsipas was formerly in the second group, but has since fallen and seems to be heading for the fourth group. I'd like to put Rune in the third group, but he just hasn't solidified himself there yet. The fourth group is a mixed bag: some guys on the rise (presumably Rune, Shelton, Draper, Fils), some guys who fell back and may or may not rise again (FAA, Berrettini), some guys who have presumably settled in there as being as good as they'll get (Tiafoe? De Minaur?), and some guys who can be really good in certain contexts but aren't quite well-rounded enough to be in the third group (Hurkacz, Khachanov, Baez). Paul is interesting, because he keeps getting better every year, though it is hard to imagine him rising too much further.

I'm not sure Novak still belongs in the first group. I think the AO will tell us a lot.

 

[Kieran]

Okay so, permutations: Who's good at this game?

If Sinner wins a set tonight, he's through, but I'm not sure who goes through with him. If Sinner wins the match then Fritz is through, and if Dannii wins in straights, he's through as group winner, I believe with Sinner second?

That's as clear as mud.

What about tomoro?