Rolex Shanghai Masters, China - ATP Masters 1000, 2023

[Fiero425]

Well the seeds are falling by the wayside as they say! The 1st couple matches have resulted in upsets as Rune's gone w/ de Minaur following soon after! Everyone's just ripping the ball and seeds are being run off the courts; looking bad while it's happening! The Big 3 records will survive forever if the game is this devastating to players that they are breaking down before 21-22 years old! FAA's in trouble, down a set to Fucsovics! All we need now is for Medvedev to go down to Garin later today! Let's hope not! I want him to get a crack at Alcaraz if both can make the final! I'm doubtful that'll happen!

 

[Kieran]

Well the seeds are falling by the wayside as they say! The 1st couple matches have resulted in upsets as Rune's gone w/ de Minaur following soon after! Everyone's just ripping the ball and seeds are being run off the courts; looking bad while it's happening! The Big 3 records will survive forever if the game is this devastating to players that they are breaking down before 21-22 years old! FAA's in trouble, down a set to Fucsovics! All we need now is for Medvedev to go down to Garin later today! Let's hope not! I want him to get a crack at Alcaraz if both can make the final! I'm doubtful that'll happen!

Wow, Rune was slaughtered! He really ought not to go to places like China if he’s not 100%.

FAA is in a life and death struggle. I know he’s lacking in confidence but this is what mental toughness is for, to get you back to equilibrium when confidence is gone. It’s not easy, I hope he gets over this terrible slump, he’s a classy shotmaker..

EDIT: nah, he’s gone. He’s at the stage where this whole season was not only a wipe out, but actually several steps backwards. He’s going to have to start again, with this year’s failures hanging over him..

 

[nehmeth]

Wow, Rune was slaughtered! He really ought not to go to places like China if he’s not 100%.

FAA is in a life and death struggle. I know he’s lacking in confidence but this is what mental toughness is for, to get you back to equilibrium when confidence is gone. It’s not easy, I hope he gets over this terrible slump, he’s a classy shotmaker..

EDIT: nah, he’s gone. He’s at the stage where this whole season was not only a wipe out, but actually several steps backwards. He’s going to have to start again, with this year’s failures hanging over him..

FAA does not play smart tennis; he gets himself in to difficulties of his own making. I never saw a huge upside to him. He’s got nice strokes, power and quickness, but that will only get you so far.

 

[nehmeth]

Well the seeds are falling by the wayside as they say! The 1st couple matches have resulted in upsets as Rune's gone w/ de Minaur following soon after!

Marozsan v. De Minaur is a matchup between a hitter and a counterpuncher. When Fabian is playing well (and limiting his errors), he can beat anyone in the world. He defeated Alcaraz in Rome. De Minaur has no weapons other than his speed and consistency.

 

[tented]

I decided to pass on that match, I see Muzz didnt take my advice, from his last match, and didnt go and practice his serve

He can be recalcitrant, I’ve heard.

 

[the AntiPusher]

FAA does not play smart tennis; he gets himself in to difficulties of his own making. I never saw a huge upside to him. He’s got nice strokes, power and quickness, but that will only get you so far.

Good points. Felix doesn't play like a true Toni Nadal disciple. His serving patterns and low percentage fhs are his bugaboos.. All is not lost with Felix ..he needs to go back to the drawing board..I think he needs to go back to the RG match he played vs Rafa..That's the BEST he has ever played. To loose a final set at RG vs Rafa when Felix ONLY had 3 UFEs is astonishing..just my two cents worth

 

[nehmeth]

Safiullin’s deconstruction of Murray was no fluke. He took down Zverev in two, finishing him off with a complimentary baguette. I enjoy watching this kid hit the ball.

 

[rafanoy1992]

With the Zverev loss, Ben Shelton has a really good chance to reach QFs now. He does potentially face Sinner in the 4th Round but it should be a good match.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The bottom half of the Shanghai draw is already wide open with 7 seeds eliminated and 2 yet to debut tomorrow
# 3 Rune
# 9 Zverev
# 11 De Minaur
# 14 FAA
# 17 Musetti
# 23 Griekspoor
# 28 Etcheverry

 

[tented]

 

[Moxie]

Thank goodness I forgot to do my draw challenge. I haven't even paid attention to this tournament yet, and apparently it's a blood-bath.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I am curious to see on how Sinner responds after winning an important title at Beijing. His toughest opponent will be Medvedev at the QF stage. If he can somehow win that potential match again, then I see him reaching the final.

I would say that the two goals for Sinner going into 2024 AO are to remain healthy AND be seeded number 4. If Sinner can somehow reach the Shanghai final, then he will be closer to remain ranked 4 in the world until the start of 2024 AO.

 

[El Dude]

I'm starting to like Arthur Fils, who has been my sleeper pick to join the fray of top young guys. He's not ready to win this tournament, but a year from now could be making some noise. Top 100 just before his 19th birthday and now at #44. I haven't watched a lot of him, but what I saw was good: lots of energy and a nice forehand. Who knows, he could be the guy to make France relevant.

 

[the AntiPusher]

The bottom half of the Shanghai draw is already wide open with 7 seeds eliminated and 2 yet to debut tomorrow
# 3 Rune
# 9 Zverev
# 11 De Minaur
# 14 FAA
# 17 Musetti
# 23 Griekspoor
# 28 Etcheverry

MM, tell me if I'm not correct but Rune, FAA and De Minaur was playing great tennis last year post USO..

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

With the Zverev loss, Ben Shelton has a really good chance to reach QFs now. He does potentially face Sinner in the 4th Round but it should be a good match.

Ben Shelton beating Sinner would be huge, and shake up the pecking order of the great young players. It would basically mean that Shelton is already in the same class as the top players like Alcaraz, Medvedev, Sinner, and Zverev.

 

[Kieran]

Ben Shelton beating Sinner would be huge, and shake up the pecking order of the great young players. It would basically mean that Shelton is already in the same class as the top players like Alcaraz, Medvedev, Sinner, and Zverev.

No it wouldn’t! It would basically mean he beat Sinner. To be in the same class as those players he needs to win tournaments. Not only matches.

And big tournaments. Not 250s like The Big T’oe…

 

[tented]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

MM, tell me if I'm not correct but Rune, FAA and De Minaur was playing great tennis last year post USO..

Alex has been playing okay post USO he did make the final of Masters 1000 Toronto this year against Sinner, even though he lost, Alex makes the best of his limited weapons against players, Rune still has back problems, I feel he should close his season and get his back healed, FAA continues to struggle to find form presently.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I'm starting to like Arthur Fils, who has been my sleeper pick to join the fray of top young guys. He's not ready to win this tournament, but a year from now could be making some noise. Top 100 just before his 19th birthday and now at #44. I haven't watched a lot of him, but what I saw was good: lots of energy and a nice forehand. Who knows, he could be the guy to make France relevant.

I am also on the Arthur Fils train. He actually won his 1st title already this year (250 event at Lyon). In addition, he reached another final (Montpellier) but lost to Sinner in the final.

His FH will be a force of a weapon! He hits it aggressively and hard. His BH is not too shabby either. But the one thing I really like about him is his aggressive mindset. He is in the Alcatraz/Shelton group in which he is not afraid to go for his shots especially on the FH side. Another thing, for a 19 year old, he has a very good physical built. It is why he has not have any nagging injuries so far for his young age.

The only thing or shot I do not like about him as of right now is his serve. Fils does not hit his serve soft but it needs big improvements definitely if he wants to reach a higher level. Part of the reason I do not like his serve is his ball toss. His ball toss is high so therefore it reduces some of the power. It reminds of Delpo’s serve. Del Porto was 6’6 but he had a high ball toss, so he couldn’t hit his serve as effective/powerful as he needed to be.

Arthur Fils is in the same position right now. If he can somehow lower his ball toss and have a more efficient/powerful serve, he will be someone to really watch in 2024!

 

[Kieran]

I am also on the Arthur Fils train. He actually won his 1st title already this year (250 event at Lyon). In addition, he reached another final (Montpellier) but lost to Sinner in the final.

His FH will be a force of a weapon! He hits it aggressively and hard. His BH is not too shabby either. But the one thing I really like about him is his aggressive mindset. He is in the Alcatraz/Shelton group in which he is not afraid to go for his shots especially on the FH side. Another thing, for a 19 year old, he has a very good physical built. It is why he has not have any nagging injuries so far for his young age.

The only thing or shot I do not like about him as of right now is his serve. Fils does not hit his serve soft but it needs big improvements definitely if he wants to reach a higher level. Part of the reason I do not like his serve is his ball toss. His ball toss is high so therefore it reduces some of the power. It reminds of Delpo’s serve. Del Porto was 6’6 but he had a high ball toss, so he couldn’t hit his serve as effective/powerful as he needed to be.

Arthur Fils is in the same position right now. If he can somehow lower his ball toss and have a more efficient/powerful serve, he will be someone to really watch in 2024!

I’m looking forward to seeing how this lad develops, based on your post.

Hopefully he’s on the up and up! One thing we know about the development of tennis stars is that each generation builds on the past. I think from what you’re saying - and others - that this bloke might be an attractive prospect to add to the Alcaraz/Sinner/Rune camp…