2025 ATP General News

[Moxie]

Zverev v Popyrin is less interesting than I was hoping. Both playing below best level. Popyrin at the level he played last round would have had his way with this Zverev, but he didn't show up this match. Zverev a bit more aggressive in the 3rd. Up 3-0.

 

[Kieran]

On a side note, I am reminded of a recent conversation between Andy Roddick and Chris Eubanks in which they talked about the game changing within the last year or so, with players hitting the ball harder than before. Maybe it is rackets, or maybe we're going into an era in which players play even harder, but with less matches played. Sort of like how in baseball, only a handful of pitchers throw 200 innings, when that used to be the baseline for a full-time starter. The average fastball has increased by something like 5 mph in the last 10-15 years...which is a huge increase, and it is leading to fewer innings.

That was a very interesting discussion, wasn’t it? The way everybody can slide on hard courts, on grass. It always makes me shiver to watch this. We noticed it with tweeners: tweeners are an everyday thing now, no ooh’s and ah’s, something that players thirty years ago might call a trick shot, the tweener is now a full fledged defensive weapon and we routinely see tweener lobs, tweener slice, tweener drop shots, top spin tweener serves.


Squash shots, I don’t know how many I’ve noticed this year alone, players reaching wide at full strength and with a flick of the wrist sending a squash shot whizzing by their opponent. No burden to the wrist at all. Players taking a cut on everything.

The game has evolved to the point that the most difficult shots and ways of moving have become commonplace. Kids are trying everything. It’s very exciting, and it’s part of the Big 3 legacy, as they say. Here’s the video, for anyone who missed it. Only about 8 minutes long.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ATP 1000 Toronto,
QFs, Tuesday August 5th,

A. Rublev (6) vs T. Fritz (2) Fritz leads their H2H 5-4

B.Shelton (4) vs A de Minaur (9) First Meeting

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Honestly, if Ben Shelton wasn't still playing, I would have stopped paying attention to this tournament by now. He's the only one of the remaining players left that really moves the needle. All the others are over 25, and you pretty much know what their ceiling is (spoiler alert: all of them are good, but never really going to be elite). Shelton, on the other hand, still has the potential to be an elite player (at least he's still young enough to make you think that he still might have that next gear in him).

If Shelton wins the tournament, it could be marketed as the first (of possibly several) big titles for a potential elite player. If anyone else wins it, it feels like just another title won by a good, but not elite, player (when the top players were out).

 

[mrzz]

If he's second tier, he's arguably the greatest second tier ever.

But not because of what he accomplished in the last three years. He is obviously quite bellow his past level. Current Zverev is running for worst second tier ever, just look at the comments here... Same goes for Medvedev and even Tsitsipas. Same names, but far weaker competition.

 

[Fiero425]

But not because of what he accomplished in the last 3 yrs. He is obviously quite below his past level. Current Zverev is running for worst 2nd tier ever, just look at the comments here... Same goes for Medvedev and even Tsitsipas. Same names, but far weaker competition.

We've spoken of this; the underachievement of what we've coined "Lost Gen II." Again, the Big 3 have had an influence, making these poor guys 2nd tier greats w/ just a handful of Masters & a couple Majors stolen thru upset & happenstance! Sascha's a "greatest 2nd tier" player w/o a doubt! He probably should have won more, but has secured a spot "up high" w/ a couple YEC's & Olympic Gold! Murray secured his elite spot w/ 2 OGM's to go along w/ those 3 Majors! I don't hold it in such high esteem, but if the Tennis Intelligentsia is going to elevate Nadal due to the notoriety of having OG, it's been matched by Novak in 2024, so that's been squashed! End RANT!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

2025 USO prize money sets record for largest purse in tennis history.
The mens and womens singles champions will each take home $5 million, up 30% from the $3.6 million awarded in 2024, making it the largest payout in the sport.
For the first time ever, the winning teams from the mens doubles, womens doubles, and mixed doubles will earn $1million in prize money

 

[Kieran]

2025 USO prize money sets record for largest purse in tennis history.
The mens and womens singles champions will each take home $5 million, up 30% from the $3.6 million awarded in 2024, making it the largest payout in the sport.
For the first time ever, the winning teams from the mens doubles, womens doubles, and mixed doubles will earn $1million in prize money

Don’t let me hear women tennis players complain about money again…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Don’t let me hear women tennis players complain about money again…

Not after that fiasco in the Wimbledon Ladies final this year

 

[Moxie]

Don’t let me hear women tennis players complain about money again…

Note: that prize money is for the winners. The distribution is the crucial thing, and it's the men that have been complaining about that. (See: PTPA)

 

[kskate2]

Zed loses the SF battle against the ugliest FH on tour. Into the final goes KK. He'll face an American, with a losing record to Ben. Suffice it to say, he'd rather see Tay in the final.

 

[kskate2]

Alexander Zverev wins. Crickets.

Doesn't anyone care about the possible fourth best player on tour?

As if. He's entirely predictable. There's no Sincaraz or Djoke up North and he still can't win this title. Who's he going to hire next? Nads?

 

[Moxie]

Zed loses the SF battle against the ugliest FH on tour. Into the final goes KK. He'll face an American, with a losing record to Ben. Suffice it to say, he'd rather see Tay in the final.

I'm glad I stuck with the women's SF in Montreal. This one was a snore, when I switched over. I know Zed is having an existential crisis, but he still could have won this match.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I know nobody stayed up for it, but Ben Shelton defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3. They really need to make the start time for these semifinals earlier, lol. There's no reason for the 2nd semifinal of a Masters to start at 11 pm ET, especially containing one of your marketable players (in Shelton). Another instance of tennis shooting itself in the foot.

 

[Kieran]

Note: that prize money is for the winners. The distribution is the crucial thing, and it's the men that have been complaining about that. (See: PTPA)

I don’t agree with them either. Isn’t Nick their poster boy?

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I don’t agree with them either. Isn’t Nick their poster boy?

Also Pospisil, who recently retired.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Tsitsipas has received a wild card for ATP250 Winston-Salem

 

[Moxie]

I don’t agree with them either. Isn’t Nick their poster boy?

No, Djokovic and Pospisil. You don't agree that the money needs to be better allocated in the game?

 

[kskate2]

ugly FH won the 1st set TB. Ben looks nervy and rattled.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Karen Carpenter wins the 1st set 76(5) against Shelton in the final at Toronto