2025 ATP General News

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yeah, Italy has really come along of late. Sinner is obviously quite easily the best Italian player of the Open Era, followed by Adriano Panatta. After that it is probably Matteo Berrettini, but Musetii has a chance of eventually at least making it to #3. Anyhow, by my estimation, here are the top 10 Italian players of the Open Era:

1. Jannik Sinner: 3 GS, 1 TF, 4 Masters, 19 titles, #1
2. Adriano Panatta: 1 GS, 1 Masters, 11 titles, #4
3. Matteo Berrettini: 10 titles, #6
4. Fabio Fognini: 1 Masters, 9 titles, #9
5. Corrado Barrazutti: 5 titles, #7
6. Paolo Bertolucci: 6 titles, #12
7. Lorenzo Musetti: 2 titles, #10
8. Lorenzo Sonego: 4 titles, #21
9. Tie (all roughly equal): Andrea Gaudenzi, Andreas Seppi, Marco Cecchinato - all 3 titles, best rank #16-18

Musetti will jump over the "two Bs" if he wins Madrid. If not, he'll still probably get there eventually. I think he's got a good chance of passing Fognini and Berrettini. To pass Panatta, he'll either have to win a Slam or several Masters (I sort of see 3 Masters are being roughly equal to 1 GS, in terms of career greatness).

Ever since Italy won the DC in 2023, Italian players have really lifted their games,,especially when Jannik reached the No 1 ranking, we have some really good juniors coming through the ranks which is also pleasing to see.

 

[Fiero425]

OMG, who's this Diallo? Is there something in water? Pospisil, FAA, Shapovalov, now this doll! I've never been so proud to have duel citizeship!

 

[El Dude]

OMG, who's this Diallo? Is there something in water? Pospisil, FAA, Shapovalov, now this doll! I've never been so proud to have duel citizeship!

Fiero, my friend...

 

[Moxie]

ATP 1000 Madrid,
SFs, Friday May 2,
Not before 4pm local time,

Rudd (14) vs Cerundolo (20) Cerundolo leads their H2H 5-3

Not before 8pm,

Draper(5) vs Musetti (10) Draper leads their H2H 3-0 this will be their first meeting on clay

Well I have my dark horse Fransico in the SF and my Italian Musetti , I wonder if we will see them battle it out in the final

I'll be rooting for Cerundolo today. (Has Margaret mentioned he's her dark horse for Madrid? ) But I would be happy for either. I have a bit of a renew faith in Ruud, and would like him to finally win a 1000, and also to go into RG with confidence. Rooting for Musetti over Draper, but it's a tough ask. He'll have to play better than yesterday.

 

[mrzz]

I'll be rooting for Cerundolo today. (Has Margaret mentioned he's her dark horse for Madrid? ) But I would be happy for either. I have a bit of a renew faith in Ruud, and would like him to finally win a 1000, and also to go into RG with confidence. Rooting for Musetti over Draper, but it's a tough ask. He'll have to play better than yesterday.

We are in the same boat again!

Re: yesterday's Mustetti match, he could have played better, yes, but I was positively surprised by his calm and tactical obedience, which are two very underrated and important qualities in a tennis player. Diallo missed his fair share of doable shots, and Musetti just kept feeding it to him. Also, he realized Diallo was struggling with his looped backhand returns. They were not pretty, but they were working, so no reason to change it. I expect a completely different approach to today's match -- way more dtl backhands for starters.

 

[Moxie]

Sloppy match. Lots of nerves on both sides. Cerundolo could have won that match, even in straights, but the nerves and inexperience at this level really got to him. But both were tight. Ruud needed this one, and he knew it. I hope the next match is of a better quality.

 

[El Dude]

I'm glad to see Ruud get a chance for his first Master's title. Really hoping Musetti can pull it off against Draper, so we can have a new winner. But...Draper is looking pretty fearsome.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I'll be rooting for Cerundolo today. (Has Margaret mentioned he's her dark horse for Madrid? ) But I would be happy for either. I have a bit of a renew faith in Ruud, and would like him to finally win a 1000, and also to go into RG with confidence. Rooting for Musetti over Draper, but it's a tough ask. He'll have to play better than yesterday.

I am glad you were paying attention lol!
Ceruneolo didnt play to the level he did in the SF sad to say,
I also think Draper will be hard to beat, he has been playing very well, and Lorenzo will have to be at the top of his game to defeat him
BTW Jack who is very good friends with Jannik, practiced on the clay with Jannik at the MC country club for 3 days before competing in Madrid

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Casper Ruud making the final in Madrid, his 3rd career Masters 1000 finals, first since Monte Carlo 2024, will return to the Top Ten just 2 weeks after leaving

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just watched a video showing Alcaraz moving freely and the bandages have come off both legs, in practice, so I think going by the video he will play in Rome, still waiting for confirmation from his team.

In Estoril both Fonseca and FAA have stayed to practice before they head to Rome

 

[kskate2]

Really love Dangerous, but as I mentioned before, he's just not ready yet. This year alone I've seen him lose 3-4 winnable matches. Needs a shrink ASAP or maybe one day he'll get tired of losing and do something about it

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

What I really like about Drapers fhand is that he can use spin and also flatten it out when needed and he does use his lefty serve to his advantage.
Lorenzo's serve has gone AWOL when needed so far in this match and Draper is returning it with ease.

 

[mrzz]

Draper is playing super well. I hate his guts, but he is playing big boy tennis.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Draper is playing super well. I hate his guts, but he is playing big boy tennis.

Yep Jack is playing well and I cant see him losing this match, he has played well all week.

 

[Jelenafan]

Really love Dangerous, but as I mentioned before, he's just not ready yet. This year alone I've seen him lose 3-4 winnable matches. Needs a shrink ASAP or maybe one day he'll get tired of losing and do something about it

Needs a lobotomy.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Needs a lobotomy.

Did you actually watch the match? a lobotomy? really..........lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Mrzz,

Well my Italian is kind of holding his own in the 2nd set,I am praying for some kind of miracle lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Okay Lorenzo that was a love service game which you needed and Jack will now serve to force a TB for the 2nd set
Lets see if you can break him?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Oh well it will be a TB for the 2nd set
Lorenzo Forza!
Lorenzo to serve first
Your serve has let you down Lorenzo in this match when it was most needed,. more so in a TB,

 

[El Dude]

Musetti blew a couple great chances to get mini-breaks.