2025 ATP General News

[MargaretMcAleer]

Okay I missed my calling as a 'detective' instead I opted for a medical career

Novak Djokovic is scheduled to play in the Giorgi Armani Tennis Classic at the Hurlingham Club this coming Friday, this is part of the pre - Wimbledon Exhibition events, Novak will be facing Daniil Medvedev

 

[mrzz]

Summoning @mrzz for mags.

I appreciate your concern, @MargaretMcAleer. I am fine, thanks for asking. Super busy running after my own tail, and also for some reason lost quite a bit of interest in our beloved game, honestly...

I'll try to find some time and annoy you guys as usual.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I appreciate your concern, @MargaretMcAleer. I am fine, thanks for asking. Super busy running after my own tail, and also for some reason lost quite a bit of interest in our beloved game, honestly...

I'll try to find some time and annoy you guys as usual.

Thanks for responding Mrzz, I understand life takes over at times, glad to know your okay, take your time to come back and annoy us!

 

[Fiero425]

For all that people lament that the standardized/homogenization of tennis surfaces has altered the game (personally I think the rackets/strings have more to do with today's power game) IMO grass is still grass.

Here are the "non superstars" who have made it to the finals of Wimbledon since 2016

2016 Milos Raonic
2017 Marin Cilic
2018 Kevin Andersen
2021 Matteo Berrettini
2022 Nick Kyrgios

Of course none of them made the leap to winning the actual championships, it was one of the usual suspects (Novak, Federer, Murray & now Alcaraz)

Now not dissing them but no way in hell do these same guys make the final of Roland Garros, but do we see a common thread?
I see big servers with first strike capability/tendencies.

Serve is still huge on grass, more than any other of the surfaces IMO. You can debate how much, but again that list of finalists...

I agree, rackets & strings have made all the difference when it comes to great play today! It's why we respect, revere, & idolize past stars like Borg & Laver who became great w/ a stick & kite string "back in the day!" As for the grass, it's been improved greatly! The bad bounces don't occur half as much as in the past! It's been plush of late compared to the dirt-track Becker was scuffing up back in the 80's! Draper is on course to be one of those "Big serve/1st strike" players who might do well & get to the Qrts. or SF this yr.!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Q 32 yo Bernard Tomic claimed his first tour level victory since the AO in 2021! defeating fellow Aussie WC Rinky Hijikata 36 75 62, Tomic will play RBA in his next match in Mallorca

 

[Jelenafan]

I agree, rackets & strings have made all the difference when it comes to great play today! It's why we respect, revere, & idolize past stars like Borg & Laver who became great w/ a stick & kite string "back in the day!" As for the grass, it's been improved greatly! The bad bounces don't occur half as much as in the past! It's been plush of late compared to the dirt-track Becker was scuffing up back in the 80's! Draper is on course to be one of those "Big serve/1st strike" players who might do well & get to the Qrts. or SF this yr.!

It's amazing that Borg was able to win 5 straight and make 6 straight Wimbledon finals back in the day when the grass was so bad. Arthur Ashe once stated that making a bad volley on grasscourt tennis was almost better than making a good volley because the near mishit would make the ball careen even crazier off the turf...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Giorgio Armani Tennis Clasic held at Hurlingham a week before Wimbledon will feature several top players, including Musetti, Draper, Tiafoe. Tsitsipas, KAA Cilic and Djokovic, Rune,, Berrettini ( which is good news, seeing he had to withdraw from Queens ) hopefully he will be able to play at Wimbledon

Tsitsipas won a close match against Tiafoe, 76(9) 67(4) 10-7, he was 9 of the last 12 points in the TB and will be back on Friday

 

[Fiero425]

What's in the water over there in England? I see they have another huge, muscle-bound hottie by the name of Billy Harris! He knocked off his countryman Norrie! With Draper, they should be in a real power in Davis Cup, United Cup, Nations Cup, & Laver Cup! I said the same about Serbia, but even w/ Djokovic they only took 1 Davis Cup & 1 ATP (United) Cup so far; so what do I know?!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In Mallorca,
Tien won in straight sets against Shelton who looked hampered by his knee? 64 76(2), Tien is the youngest American to defeat a Top Ten player on grass in history to reach his first grass court QF

 

[El Dude]

I've only watched a bit of the Fonseca match, but man - I just love this kid's game. Even if he loses to Fritz, as seems likely, it is really easy to imagine that next step up where he's a terror on the tour. At the very least, I expect him to be the third best player on tour with in the next year or two...and maybe legitimately challenge the Dynamic Duo.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I've only watched a bit of the Fonseca match, but man - I just love this kid's game. Even if he loses to Fritz, as seems likely, it is really easy to imagine that next step up where he's a terror on the tour. At the very least, I expect him to be the third best player on tour with in the next year or two...and maybe legitimately challenge the Dynamic Duo.

Fonseca started a bit slowly in the 1st set, though there was only 1 break, he is holding his own in the 2nd set soo far, he has soo much variety in his game and it suits grass, I love watching him full stop

 

[El Dude]

Fritz seems to know how to exploit Fonseca's rough edges. Just stay steady, and don't be disconcerted by the flashes of brilliance. Let Fonseca beat himself.

 

[El Dude]

I think my only concern about Fonseca--aside from the specter of injury that is a concern for all young players, until they establish themselves--is that there's a quality of slim margins with his play. He can do so much, but everything seems to require slim margins: making those winners, getting his angles. Fonseca shows good defense, but his game is primarily offensive. He's going to have spells where he might be "Fonshanka"...and/or get flustered by just missing his shots.

Right now, he almost reminds me a bit of "Federer 2.0"...the later version of Federer that had lost a bit on defense, and thus couldn't fall back on it when his shots weren't there. We might see runs like Roger's 2017 when he was hitting so well and nigh unbeatable, but also 2013, when he was shanking all over the place and couldn't find a rhythm. Just speculating, though. He's got a lot of room to grow, still.

 

[El Dude]

I love how Fonseca looks like a cannon-wielding Del Potro, then slows it down and drops a little doink, like he did to win that last service game. It is a winning combo.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Fonseca wins the 2nd set TB over Fritz 76(5) going 3
No play suspended due to darkness
This match will be continued tomorrow, bad luck for both players, though cant play in the dark, just as Fonseca had the momentum as well after winning the 2nd set.

 

[Front242]

I think my only concern about Fonseca--aside from the specter of injury that is a concern for all young players, until they establish themselves--is that there's a quality of slim margins with his play. He can do so much, but everything seems to require slim margins: making those winners, getting his angles. Fonseca shows good defense, but his game is primarily offensive. He's going to have spells where he might be "Fonshanka"...and/or get flustered by just missing his shots.

Right now, he almost reminds me a bit of "Federer 2.0"...the later version of Federer that had lost a bit on defense, and thus couldn't fall back on it when his shots weren't there. We might see runs like Roger's 2017 when he was hitting so well and nigh unbeatable, but also 2013, when he was shanking all over the place and couldn't find a rhythm. Just speculating, though. He's got a lot of room to grow, still.

Federer had back problems in 2013 though so his timing and movement were all off. Hence the shanks that year which was understandable. He let tons of balls go past him when he wasn't even far away from them rather than risk making it worse. The way all injured players should react tbh if they choose to play but sometimes it's better to just take a bit of time off. He was stubborn that year.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I love how Fonseca looks like a cannon-wielding Del Potro, then slows it down and drops a little doink, like he did to win that last service game. It is a winning combo.

My husband says Fonseca's fhand reminds him of Del Potro's fhand, his fhand creates soo much easy power

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW,
Seeing Fritz v Fonseca match suspended due to bad light,
Their match will be the 2nd match tomorrow on centre court in Eastbourne to play the 3rd and final set

 

[El Dude]

My husband says Fonseca's fhand reminds him of Del Potro's fhand, his fhand creates soo much easy power

Yeah, I and others have made that comparison, too. I've suggested that he might give us a taste of what a healthier--and better moving--Del Potro would have looked like, albeit with a more diverse range of options.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yeah, I and others have made that comparison, too. I've suggested that he might give us a taste of what a healthier--and better moving--Del Potro would have looked like, albeit with a more diverse range of options.

Fonseca certainly has the variety in his game, volley's well and uses the slice and lob to his advantage