2025 ATP General News

[MargaretMcAleer]

Wimbledon Update:
OUT: Korda
IN: Eubanks

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Well with Ben Shelton losing today at Queens in two tiebreakers to Rinderknetch it sets up the top 8 seeds at Wimbledon. Ben had an outside chance to overtake little Holger as the 8th seed.

The only thing left unresolved is whether Jack Draper can leapfrog from #6 to #4 seed at the Champhionships depending on how he and Fritz do at this warmup tournament. Novak, Musetti & Little Holger will be in the 5-8 seeds regardless.

Draper making it to the 4th seed is huge, as he wouldn’t have to face Alcaraz or Sinner until the semis.

ETA:

Actually Medvedev if he wins the tournament at Halle and say, Little Holger loses at the QF or earlier at Queens still has a shot at #8.

Depends. At 4, he could still draw Djokovic in the quarters, which would be a nightmare draw. For Draper or Fritz, it might be an advantage to be #5 or #6, than be #4 and potentially have the Djokovic-Alcaraz-Sinner path to a title.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Depends. At 4, he could still draw Djokovic in the quarters, which would be a nightmare draw. For Draper or Fritz, it might be an advantage to be #5 or #6, than be #4 and potentially have the Djokovic-Alcaraz-Sinner path to a title.

Being seeded fourth is crucial in any Grand Slam as it means you will face one of the 2 top seeds in the SF and the other one in the final.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Being seeded fourth is crucial in any Grand Slam as it means you will face one of the 2 top seeds in the SF and the other one in the final.

In almost all cases, and if Djokovic was seeded 3rd, being seeded 4th would be a huge advantage. However, in this slam, Djokovic being seeded out of the Top 4 is a fly in the ointment. It's possible between Fritz and Draper, one could be seeded 4th and get Djokovic in their quarter, and the other player be seeded 5th or 6th and be in Zverev's quarter.

I think for a player like Fritz or Draper, it's more crucial to avoid Djokovic in the quarters than having a Top 4 seed. Neither of them are beating Djokovic/Alcaraz/Sinner back-to-back-to-back Top 4 seed or not.

 

[Fiero425]

In almost all cases, and if Djokovic was seeded 3rd, being seeded 4th would be a huge advantage. However, in this slam, Djokovic being seeded out of the Top 4 is a fly in the ointment. It's possible between Fritz and Draper, one could be seeded 4th and get Djokovic in their quarter, and the other player be seeded 5th or 6th and be in Zverev's quarter.

I think for a player like Fritz or Draper, it's more crucial to avoid Djokovic in the quarters than having a Top 4 seed. Neither of them are beating Djokovic/Alcaraz/Sinner back-to-back-to-back Top 4 seed or not.

Typical; Fritz out after winning Boss event! Tough 1 for Fonseca; while Michelsen pulled it out! It's gonna be a free-4-all at Wimbledon!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In almost all cases, and if Djokovic was seeded 3rd, being seeded 4th would be a huge advantage. However, in this slam, Djokovic being seeded out of the Top 4 is a fly in the ointment. It's possible between Fritz and Draper, one could be seeded 4th and get Djokovic in their quarter, and the other player be seeded 5th or 6th and be in Zverev's quarter.

I think for a player like Fritz or Draper, it's more crucial to avoid Djokovic in the quarters than having a Top 4 seed. Neither of them are beating Djokovic/Alcaraz/Sinner back-to-back-to-back Top 4 seed or not.

In Every Case being seeded fourth is a Huge Advantage full stop!
You keep speaking in hypotheticals? saying if Novak was seeded 3rd? lets stick to the facts, Zverev is seeded 3rd and that cant change,
Anyway Fritz just lost his match to Moutet meaning he will drop to 4,635 points
Jack Draper is still in the mix at present in London
Fritz I believe will play Eastbourne, apparently even though Fritz won Eastbourne last year, the tournament dosent count towards the seedings at Wimbledon

 

[El Dude]

It’s true, but we’re a dying breed, let us have our final futile glories..

Well, Novak is the only one with any remaining possible glories and those look rather questionable at this point.

But we've got at least three players to be really excited about (Alcaraz, Sinner, Fonseca), with many others who are at the least very interesting (Draper, Mensik, etc) -- all born after Roger played his first professional match, many after Rafa's first, and one or two even after Novak's.

We can look to the crazy speed-demon that is Alcaraz, who almost seems to be the immortal lovechild of Roger and Rafa, combining bits of Roger's magical finesse with some of Rafa's adamantine spirit (and legs), with a disarmingly charming boyish charisma. Or we've got stone-cold Sinner, who seems like a cannon-wielding version of Novak (if a bit less Gumby-esque), blasting the ball through everyone's defenses (except Carlos), without shedding a single bead of sweat. And of course the two combined are more than the sum of their parts: a study in, dare I say, equal contrasts of style and demeanor. Or we can look to young Joao Fonseca, who looks like the best answer we'll ever get to the wistful question: What would a healthy Del Potro look like, with the benefit of a quicker, more tennis-appropriate body? The sky's the limit for the young Brazilian, with his bossanova smiles and capoeira-esque skills. The hope of not only Brazil, but South America (and dear mrzz).

Or we can dig deeper and enter the Nordic Edda of Holger Rune and revel and mourn with JelenaFan the epic tale of drama with tinges of tragedy and comedy. Or we can enjoy the cool British bloke companionship of Jack Draper, the nice guy at the pub who might buy you a pint while he takes your girl. Or....well, maybe that's enough for now. You get the idea...lots of fun players and stories to go around, that are relevant now and tomorrow.

But...I mostly jest and almost feel a sense of homey familiarity when I see Fiero spouting "get off my lawn" old man inanities or see Moxie emerge out of nowhere, finding some random comment that she somehow interprets as a slight on Rafa, ready to do battle with shield and spear in hand. Or Front coming out with daggers already bloodied (though whose blood remains unclear; a somewhat suspicious stab wound in his own side), and mostly definitely when our board's Irish seanchai, painting with words about the artistry of ye olden tymes in a way that only he can. I can almost taste the creamy storm of barley and hops, and see the fading glimmer of the Tuatha de Danaan over preternaturally green hills.

So war on, my friends, war on. Love you all, those mentioned and those not. We're a tribe, of sorts!

 

[Kieran]

Well, Novak is the only one with any remaining possible glories and those look rather questionable at this point.

But we've got at least three players to be really excited about (Alcaraz, Sinner, Fonseca), with many others who are at the least very interesting (Draper, Mensik, etc) -- all born after Roger played his first professional match, many after Rafa's first, and one or two even after Novak's.

We can look to the crazy speed-demon that is Alcaraz, who almost seems to be the immortal lovechild of Roger and Rafa, combining bits of Roger's magical finesse with some of Rafa's adamantine spirit (and legs), with a disarmingly charming boyish charisma. Or we've got stone-cold Sinner, who seems like a cannon-wielding version of Novak (if a bit less Gumby-esque), blasting the ball through everyone's defenses (except Carlos), without shedding a single bead of sweat. And of course the two combined are more than the sum of their parts: a study in, dare I say, equal contrasts of style and demeanor. Or we can look to young Joao Fonseca, who looks like the best answer we'll ever get to the wistful question: What would a healthy Del Potro look like, with the benefit of a quicker, more tennis-appropriate body? The sky's the limit for the young Brazilian, with his bossanova smiles and capoeira-esque skills. The hope of not only Brazil, but South America (and dear mrzz).

Or we can dig deeper and enter the Nordic Edda of Holger Rune and revel and mourn with JelenaFan the epic tale of drama with tinges of tragedy and comedy. Or we can enjoy the cool British bloke companionship of Jack Draper, the nice guy at the pub who might buy you a pint while he takes your girl. Or....well, maybe that's enough for now. You get the idea...lots of fun players and stories to go around, that are relevant now and tomorrow.

But...I mostly jest and almost feel a sense of homey familiarity when I see Fiero spouting "get off my lawn" old man inanities or see Moxie emerge out of nowhere, finding some random comment that she somehow interprets as a slight on Rafa, ready to do battle with shield and spear in hand. Or Front coming out with daggers already bloodied (though whose blood remains unclear; a somewhat suspicious stab wound in his own side), and mostly definitely when our board's Irish seanchai, painting with words about the artistry of ye olden tymes in a way that only he can. I can almost taste the creamy storm of barley and hops, and see the fading glimmer of the Tuatha de Danaan over preternaturally green hills.

So war on, my friends, war on. Love you all, those mentioned and those not. We're a tribe, of sorts!

That’s brilliant stuff, brother! And you’re bloody right, we’ll carry the memory of these Fedalovich wars like a good barrister remembers a precedent in law that gets him a definite W.

It’s difficult to shake it off. Even when McEnroe said that Sinner and Alcaraz would beat Rafa in Paris, I thought well now, and in my head I found a thousand battles, based mainly on the thought that neither of them would have gotten to the fifth set, given Rafa’s allergy to fifth sets in RG finals.

But then I thought, but what if, and so what would Rafa do about The Magnificent Seven first points in the TB. He’d find a way, that’s what he’d do!!

But you know yourself, if we’re not partisans then we might as well watch soap operas instead. We’ll take our prejudices to the grave, where my gravestone will read “Here Lies Kieran Nobody Grumbling His Final Words Over and Over: Injuries, Context, Opportunity, Rafa!”

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

That’s brilliant stuff, brother! And you’re bloody right, we’ll carry the memory of these Fedalovich wars like a good barrister remembers a precedent in law that gets him a definite W.

It’s difficult to shake it off. Even when McEnroe said that Sinner and Alcaraz would beat Rafa in Paris, I thought well now, and in my head I found a thousand battles, based mainly on the thought that neither of them would have gotten to the fifth set, given Rafa’s allergy to fifth sets in RG finals.

But then I thought, but what if, and so what would Rafa do about The Magnificent Seven first points in the TB. He’d find a way, that’s what he’d do!!

But you know yourself, if we’re not partisans then we might as well watch soap operas instead. We’ll take our prejudices to the grave, where my gravestone will read “Here Lies Kieran Nobody Grumbling His Final Words Over and Over: Injuries, Context, Opportunity, Rafa!”

I thought Mac was drinking 'Kool Aid" when he said Sinner and Alcaraz would have beaten Rafa in Paris, honestly Mac 'Engage Brain Before Opening Your Mouth,

 

[Kieran]

I thought Mac was drinking 'Kool Aid" when he said Sinner and Alcaraz would have beaten Rafa in Paris, honestly Mac 'Engage Brain Before Opening Your Mouth,

We can see the level they played at was at times the next stage after the Big 3, that’s how tennis moves, but if Carlos gave Rafa as many opportunities as he gave Sinner to get the win, Rafa’s would have won in four sets, at worst. Sinner was up a break in the third, and Rafa is a giant compared to Sinner at this level. He tends to close the deal.

And Carlos didn’t really reach his highest level until the late third, and then late fourth set. Too late, in other words..

 

[El Dude]

That’s brilliant stuff, brother! And you’re bloody right, we’ll carry the memory of these Fedalovich wars like a good barrister remembers a precedent in law that gets him a definite W.

It’s difficult to shake it off. Even when McEnroe said that Sinner and Alcaraz would beat Rafa in Paris, I thought well now, and in my head I found a thousand battles, based mainly on the thought that neither of them would have gotten to the fifth set, given Rafa’s allergy to fifth sets in RG finals.

But then I thought, but what if, and so what would Rafa do about The Magnificent Seven first points in the TB. He’d find a way, that’s what he’d do!!

But you know yourself, if we’re not partisans then we might as well watch soap operas instead. We’ll take our prejudices to the grave, where my gravestone will read “Here Lies Kieran Nobody Grumbling His Final Words Over and Over: Injuries, Context, Opportunity, Rafa!”

Wow, I didn't hear that doozy from Mac: always the victim of recency bias, or the whim of the moment. How many times has he said some variant of "Certainly this match will determine the greatest of all time"?

Anyhow, I say BS to that. Evidently Mac doesn't remember Rafa at RG, especially 2008 to 2013. Rafa on clay, during that time especially (he wasn't quite as good in 2017-22, imo) was the greatest player I've ever seen (i.e. peak Rafa on clay = greatest player I've ever seen).

But...I resonate with an element of what he's saying as I'm grudgingly coming to the point that Alcaraz and Sinner, right now, are about as good as the Big Three were. Maybe not at their very best, but close, if not on par. We still haven't seen a reign of dominance like Roger in 2004-07, which remains the best four year run in tennis history. We haven't seen a season like Novak in 2015, which is the best season in ATP history (edging out even Laver in '69, Mac in '84, and Roger in '06). And to Mac's bombastic claim, we haven't seen a surface dominance like Rafa on clay.

Will any of those heights be equalled or surpassed by Alcaraz or Sinner? I don't think so, but who knows. Of the three "specialty domains" I mentioned, I think Rafa's is the most unreachable - that a player could be as dominant as he was on a surface, which to me is odd that Mac would think otherwise. But Mac is Mac.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW,
Sinner breaking Novak's reconrd as 54 consecutive weeks as World No 1 ( Novak was at 53)

 

[El Dude]

BTW,
Sinner breaking Novak's reconrd as 54 consecutive weeks as World No 1 ( Novak was at 53)

I don't understand this. 53 consecutive weeks is not the record - not even Novak's best run, which was 122 weeks in 2014-16.

And of course the record is Roger with 237 weeks in 2004-08.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I don't understand this. 53 consecutive weeks is not the record - not even Novak's best run, which was 122 weeks in 2014-16.

And of course the record is Roger with 237 weeks in 2004-08.

Agree 53 weeks it was not Novaks best run, of course Roger 237 weeks in 2004-08 was off the charts

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

With Taylor Fritz loss today to Moutet at Queens
Jack Draper will have to reach the SF at Queens, he will be the 4th seed at Wimbledon
That would be massive as he would avoid Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev all until the SFs