2025 ATP General News

[PhiEaglesfan712]

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.

I can live with this explanation.

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.

I will be on the lookout.

 

[don_fabio]

Zed is playing every week of the tennis calendar.

 

[Federberg]

The LA Olympics start on Friday, July 14, and I highly doubt Wimbledon will want to conflict with it, which is what is going to happen if it keeps its normal slot. (But if Wimbledon doesn't budge, it probably spells the end of tennis at the Olympics as we know it.)

Some shuffling of the schedule is needed to make things work in 2028. One solution is to move Wimbledon to the late May/early early June slot that the French Open normally has, and move the French Open to fall (like 2020). Another is to move Wimbledon following the Olympics and try to make it work like 2012.

lol! You don't know the All England Club if you think they'll change for the Olympics.. They'll be fully confident, rightly so, that tennis players would rather win Wimbledon than play the Olympics. For a start they actually get PAID. Frankly tennis fans are still going to watch Wimbledon. And Brits, will still flock to SW19. But hey.. if I'm wrong. Respect!

 

[Jelenafan]

I get that we all like who we like and we all dislike who we don’t cotton to, that’s just life. So no one should be forced to like or even appreciate Monfils.

However, What I’ve noticed is that IMO it’s Monfils perceived natural talent that gets under some tennis fans skins, they are almost angry because they feel like he’s squandered his talents.

If it’s a journeyman counterpuncher hovering at # 60-100 rankings through their career nobody bats an eye, but Monfils was a top Junior player who won Junior Slams and was touted as a future champhion.

So his counterpunching style of play , which many players have, annoys them to a higher degree. I dunno, for me his game at this point is what it is. He’s the only “flashy” counterpuncher in the game today.

Personally I’m amazed, all things being equal, and with his grinding style of play, at his longevity.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

My favorite youngster, talking about Favorites lol! Fonseca has accepted a wild card into Halle
Interested to watch how his game translates to the grass
Also some withdrawal news
Fils has withdrawn from Halle, with ongoing back problems ( back fracture) I will be surprised if he plays Wimbledon
Berrettini withdrew from Boss Open, again ongoing abdominal problem, playing at Wimbledon this year, looks in doubt

 

[kskate2]

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.

He never said he was retiring in Rome. He said this year would be his last Rome. As in the ripcord is not far off, will happen sometime this year.

 

[kskate2]

The LA Olympics start on Friday, July 14, and I highly doubt Wimbledon will want to conflict with it, which is what is going to happen if it keeps its normal slot. (But if Wimbledon doesn't budge, it probably spells the end of tennis at the Olympics as we know it.)

Some shuffling of the schedule is needed to make things work in 2028. One solution is to move Wimbledon to the late May/early early June slot that the French Open normally has, and move the French Open to fall (like 2020). Another is to move Wimbledon following the Olympics and try to make it work like 2012.

As Mox and others said. Not gonna happen. Wimby is steeped in tradition. Even when they hosted the games in 2012. Remember how meticulous they were about the courts? They said they needed at least 2-3 weeks to cultivate the grass and get it ready and they got what they requested. I think they'll do what Mox said and move tennis to the back end of the games to allow more time for folks to travel and get used to the conditions.

 

[Jelenafan]

As Mox and others said. Not gonna happen. Wimby is steeped in tradition. Even when they hosted the games in 2012. Remember how meticulous they were about the courts? They said they needed at least 2-3 weeks to cultivate the grass and get it ready and they got what they requested. I think they'll do what Mox said and move tennis to the back end of the games to allow more time for folks to travel and get used to the conditions.

The LA games will be thus less “disruptive” then the 24 Games because it will simply jumpstart the HC season.

 

[Jelenafan]

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 hear ya, though personally as of now I think Rune still has a better shot at a Slam than Shelton, Musetti could sneak in a French Open crown.

Just curious, are you still big on Tiafoe?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I will post the confirmed list of withdrawals for next week,

London,
Paul, defending champion
Musetti defending R/U
Korda
Berrettini
Nick K, btw Nick K has withdrawn from Wimbledon this year, ongoing wrist and knee problems, Nick wont be commentating for BBC at the Championships in 2025
Doubtful,
Alcaraz, Dimitrov

Halle
Fils, Griekspoor
Doubtful
Hurkacz, Machac.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Zed is playing every week of the tennis calendar.

Don I had to laugh at Zed after his win against Moutet, " I made it complicated' though a win is a win

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I hear ya, though personally as of now I think Rune still has a better shot at a Slam than Shelton, Musetti could sneak in a French Open crown.

Just curious, are you still big on Tiafoe?

Tiafoe is so up and down, I don't really know what to make of it. But if it is going to happen, it's almost likely going to be a US Open. Tiafoe always seems to turn up there, making the semifinals in 2022 and 2024, and the quarterfinals in 2023.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Phil
Frances needs to "show up;" more on the tour except USO, to get more consistency and build up his ranking for starters, though he didnt have a bad clay season
Shelton needs a new coach other than his dad to take him to the next level, as I have said many times this year

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

El Dude,
I watched some of the youngser Engel today impressed with the youngsters serve, still a long way to go
Engel will play FAA in a QF match tomorrow
FAA defeated Perricard, I predicted FAA to win, needed that win to get him out of his slump, also I feel players have worked out how to defeat Perricard, he has a one dimensional game he needs to add variety, also FFA has a good return of serve, one of the elements to defeat Perricard

 

[Moxie]

He never said he was retiring in Rome. He said this year would be his last Rome. As in the ripcord is not far off, will happen sometime this year.

I know, and I said as much. He was careful only to say that it was his last Italian Open. But I'm still scratching my head as to why he didn't retire there. They could have thrown him a nice farewell. It's not like he's making much money still being on tour. @Jelenafan made the point, re: Monfils, that he's made $800K+ so far this year, at 38, and it's not half over. That's real money. Plus, he and Elina try to play lots of coed events, and share baby duty. He may as well get paid to help babysit, since he's still playing well and having fun.

I'm not trying to make a huge deal out of it. I'm just so perplexed by it. He was a stylish, former top-10 player with real game, and now he's just limping off into the sunset. I agree with you that he'll likely call it quits this year. But why not take the big send-off at home, and go in style? But who ever really understood the Fabulous Fabio Fognini (F3,) anyway?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I know, and I said as much. He was careful only to say that it was his last Italian Open. But I'm still scratching my head as to why he didn't retire there. They could have thrown him a nice farewell. It's not like he's making much money still being on tour. @Jelenafan made the point, re: Monfils, that he's made $800K+ so far this year, at 38, and it's not half over. That's real money. Plus, he and Elina try to play lots of coed events, and share baby duty. He may as well get paid to help babysit, since he's still playing well and having fun.

I'm not trying to make a huge deal out of it. I'm just so perplexed by it. He was a stylish, former top-10 player with real game, and now he's just limping off into the sunset. I agree with you that he'll likely call it quits this year. But why not take the big send-off at home, and go in style? But who ever really understood the Fabulous Fabio Fognini (F3,) anyway?

Knowing The Fog over the many years Moxie do yourself a favor and try not to understand him,
As I say in Italian.......Lascialo Stare E Basta!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Confirmation that Alcaraz will now play at Queens, he was doubtful, he will arrive Saturday to prepare.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

With Sheltons QF win at the Boss Open over Jiri 64 64, Ben will be a Top Ten player when the new rankings come out
BTW last time there were 3 American men in the Top Ten was in October 2006, Roddick, Blake and Fish

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Quite a line up for a SF 250 tournament in Stuttgart

Zverev (1) vs Shelton (3)
Fritz (2) vs FAA (4)

 

[kskate2]

Confirmation that Alcaraz will now play at Queens, he was doubtful, he will arrive Saturday to prepare.

And I don't suspect he'll play the full week. Probably 2 matches and withdraw or lose gracefully