2025 ATP General News

[Jelenafan]

In other news, Fabio Fognini did NOT in fact retire in Rome, but lost today in Stuttgart to Coretin Moutet, (in a tight 3, to his credit.) Only Fabio can know what he's playing for, now.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Moxie]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

That is WAY too many dollar signs for the first round of Stuttgart. ($9125...I looked it up.) Plus, he's been playing challengers. Not that much $$$ in those.

 

[Jelenafan]

That is WAY too many dollar signs for the first round of Stuttgart. ($9125...I looked it up.) Plus, he's been playing challengers. Not that much $$$ in those.

$$$

 

[Moxie]

$$$

OK, it must be the sponsorships, then.

 

[Fiero425]

In other news, Fabio Fognini did NOT in fact retire in Rome, but lost today in Stuttgart to Coretin Moutet, (in a tight 3, to his credit.) Only Fabio can know what he's playing for, now.

I say the same for Monfils and RBA! Checking the ranks, add Cilic to the list! "Go away! We've had enough of your acts! I know I have!"

 

[Jelenafan]

I say the same for Monfils and RBA! Checking the ranks, add Cilic to the list! "Go away! We've had enough of your acts! I know I have!"

Hey Fiero, per Monfils took this from the ATP website: those numbers are just half a year, can’t say that I judge him for playing on…. ; )

 

[Moxie]

Hey Fiero, per Monfils took this from the ATP website: those numbers are just half a year, can’t say that I judge him for playing on…. ; )

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I don't know anyone else but Fiero who'd say they'd had enough of Monfils. He played two of the best matches I've watched this season so far.

 

[Jelenafan]

I don't know anyone else but Fiero who'd say they'd had enough of Monfils. He played two of the best matches I've watched this season so far.

Last year Monfils beat Alcaraz (#3) at the Cincinnati Masters & of course this year he upset Fritz (#4) at the Austrailan, the guy can still sum up magic at times!

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I don't know anyone else but Fiero who'd say they'd had enough of Monfils. He played two of the best matches I've watched this season so far.

Monfils is not my cup of tea either. I really don't understand the appeal of him, especially in 2025. He is no different from Tsitsipas.

 

[Moxie]

Monfils is not my cup of tea either. I really don't understand the appeal of him, especially in 2025. He is no different from Tsitsipas.

You're within your rights not to care for Monfils, but I don't see how you compare him to Tsitsipas. One is a 38-year-old at the end of his career, still playing with fire and enjoyment, and electrifying crowds. The other is an overrated player, supposedly in his salad years, moping around and playing below potential. Did you mean to draw a different parallel?

 

[Fiero425]

I don't know anyone else but Fiero who'd say they'd had enough of Monfils. He played two of the best matches I've watched this season so far.

I've just never been a fan of Monfils' whole act! He constantly gets into battles w/ players that go the distance, his body barely able to make it before coming to life to snatch away a match! After killing himself to win, he promptly WD's or retires the next round! That bugs me and has become all too common place on the tour; both w/ men & women!

 

[Moxie]

I've just never been a fan of Monfils' whole act! He constantly gets into battles w/ players that go the distance, his body barely able to make it before coming to life to snatch away a match! After killing himself to win, he promptly WD's or retires the next round! That bugs me and has become all too common place on the tour; both w/ men & women!

I have a hard time understanding any complaint about players working hard to win a match. Sometimes they pay for it the next round, yes. But what would you rather see...that they roll over? It's even happened to Djokovic a few times in the past year+. Personally, I'd rather see them give it all to win than give up.

 

[Kieran]

You're within your rights not to care for Monfils, but I don't see how you compare him to Tsitsipas. One is a 38-year-old at the end of his career, still playing with fire and enjoyment, and electrifying crowds. The other is an overrated player, supposedly in his salad years, moping around and playing below potential. Did you mean to draw a different parallel?

I agree with you. Monfils is the type of player we often see, when they should keep a straight face and get serious, they crack a joke instead. He’s not built for durability and the business end of the second week, he’s got too much talent and not enough focus and grit, but we’ve always have players like that, and though they drove us mad and we wish they had Rafa’s intensity, they don’t.

I’ve grown to like him more as the years pass because I’ve come to understand that I never fully understood him. Why play a trick shot and prolong a point when the same point could be done and dusted with a simpler shot? Because he can’t resist it, and because he likes to enjoy himself, and entertain the punters. He’s done incredible, really, to last so long and so highly ranked, too. Himself and Svitolina is one of the coolest love stories in tennis history.

I get the impression he’s great to be around and a very intelligent man, so he’s not really like Sissy at all, who’s an empty head…

 

[lomaha]

I have a hard time understanding any complaint about players working hard to win a match. Sometimes they pay for it the next round, yes. But what would you rather see...that they roll over? It's even happened to Djokovic a few times in the past year+. Personally, I'd rather see them give it all to win than give up.

I think it's a hard discussion because if they go to extremes to win the game and has to withdraw in the next round, the player he should have met get's an advantage compared to the others. And in some cases a player has reached the final in 3 matches because two of the opponants has withdrawn and his opponant has played 5..

But I agree that you play to win. In any way possible.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

If you like players that "play with fire and enjoyment, and electrifying crowd" and "are never fully understood", then you all should be rooting for Ben Shelton. He offers all of that (and much more), and is just 22 years old. Also, he is already taking the game seriously at this age (unlike Monfils, who waited until his 30s). Yeah, he can make dumb errors and be frustrating at times (kind of like Musetti), but (like Musetti) he is improving, and I believe he will win a slam at some point.

By the time it is said and done, Shelton and Musetti will have slams under their belt. Better than underachieving players like Monfils, Tsitsipas, Kygrios, and so on (Holger Rune is in danger of joining this list).

 

[Moxie]

Hubie Hurkacz's back is giving him trouble again, and he's pulled out of Stuttgart. Apparently flared up during his win over RBA yesterday.

 

[kskate2]

If you like players that "play with fire and enjoyment, and electrifying crowd" and "are never fully understood", then you all should be rooting for Ben Shelton. He offers all of that (and much more), and is just 22 years old. Also, he is already taking the game seriously at this age (unlike Monfils, who waited until his 30s). Yeah, he can make dumb errors and be frustrating at times (kind of like Musetti), but (like Musetti) he is improving, and I believe he will win a slam at some point.

By the time it is said and done, Shelton and Musetti will have slams under their belt. Better than underachieving players like Monfils, Tsitsipas, Kygrios, and so on (Holger Rune is in danger of joining this list).

So now we're back to telling people who they should like?

 

[Moxie]

So now we're back to telling people who they should like?

I don't mind. He's always campaigning for Shelton.

 

[Moxie]

If you like players that "play with fire and enjoyment, and electrifying crowd" and "are never fully understood", then you all should be rooting for Ben Shelton. He offers all of that (and much more), and is just 22 years old. Also, he is already taking the game seriously at this age (unlike Monfils, who waited until his 30s). Yeah, he can make dumb errors and be frustrating at times (kind of like Musetti), but (like Musetti) he is improving, and I believe he will win a slam at some point.

By the time it is said and done, Shelton and Musetti will have slams under their belt. Better than underachieving players like Monfils, Tsitsipas, Kygrios, and so on (Holger Rune is in danger of joining this list).

I never said I didn't root for Ben Shelton. I do.

Monfils has a much better excuse than those other ones for achieving less than we thought he might, and it's specifically that he's the same age as Rafa, meaning also just a year older than Novak, and 5 years younger than Roger. He wasn't always as committed to the win as much as the entertainment, but he has found a better balance and renewed commitment, late-career. esp. compared to those other guys.

 

[El Dude]

17-year old German Justin Engel has now won his first two matches at Stuttgart, and also his first two ATP tour level matches. I mentioned him a while ago, but definitely worth watching. He beat #94 Duckworth and #35 Alex Michelsen.