2025 Men's Wimbledon Championships

[El Dude]

You gotta love Wimbledon with their British qualifiers. Carlos Alcaraz faces #733 in the world, Brit Oliver Tarvet, who won his first ATP level match in the 1st round, defeating another qualifier.

 

[Moxie]

Zed says he feels very alone in life and is considering therapy/
"I've never felt this empty before"/
He said he as been through a lot of difficulties in the media and in life generally.

( part of his press conference after his first round loss, via Wimbledon press)

Zverev...honestly, I feel for the guy, but after Roland Garros, I pretty sold on him ever winning a Slam. He might win another Masters or two, but I also wouldn't be surprised if the end is sooner than we think, unless he has a come-to-jesus moment. How long can he maintain being the Blue Balls Boy of tennis?

Zed also said in that presser, as I read, that he's not even finding the same joy in winning, as before. This is sad, but also very whiny for a young, handsome millionaire who gets to make a living playing tennis, and is at the top of the sport. (#2 & #3 count as Top of the Sport, I think.) What/whom he never blames is himself, or his tennis, and both of which are to blame for his lack of a Major, IMO. I thought his serious injury a couple of years ago might give him a new attitude, and for a short while, I thought it had. But it hasn't. There is no come-to-Jesus for him, IMO. He's hardened into believing that it's external forces, and not him, that undermines his success. I might feel bad for him if he were in the least a sympathetic figure, but he just isn't. It's hard to feel for someone who is already feeling so sorry for himself, in a real "first world problems" way. All this to say, he might be someone who doesn't stick around much past 30. Maybe he'll find a good therapist.

 

[El Dude]

Zed also said in that presser, as I read, that he's not even finding the same joy in winning, as before. This is sad, but also very whiny for a young, handsome millionaire who gets to make a living playing tennis, and is at the top of the sport. (#2 & #3 count as Top of the Sport, I think.) What/whom he never blames is himself, or his tennis, and both of which are to blame for his lack of a Major, IMO. I thought his serious injury a couple of years ago might give him a new attitude, and for a short while, I thought it had. But it hasn't. There is no come-to-Jesus for him, IMO. He's hardened into believing that it's external forces, and not him, that undermines his success. I might feel bad for him if he were in the least a sympathetic figure, but he just isn't. It's hard to feel for someone who is already feeling so sorry for himself, in a real "first world problems" way. All this to say, he might be someone who doesn't stick around much past 30. Maybe he'll find a good therapist.

If the joy of winning isn't there, he's going to fall from the top fairly quickly. I think that's something that we talk a bit about, but gets understated: Just how much drive it takes to stay on top. All of the best players share a similar trait: They work so damn hard. Plus, with the overall level of competition higher than ever before, there's no room to "Gerulaitis it" and stroll onto court still drunk from the night before.

If and when that drive wanes, things fall apart relatively quickly - or at players drop a solid notch. Of course he could become a paycheck player and just stick around to earn a few million more.

To be honest, I'd be surprised if Zverev is still in the top 10 by the end of 2026, or maybe 2027. He'll give it a go for a bit more, but once it becomes crystal clear he's never getting past Sincaraz, he'll start dialing it in and start falling. I just don't see him being satisfied working so hard only to win a Masters a two a year.

As I called him, he's the Blue Balls Boy of the ATP. His career is literally the best in the Open Era among players who haven't won a Slam, and he's miles ahead of most one-Slam winners (There are 27 of them, and I'd guess his overall career is better than 20 of them...say what you will about GOAT points, but he has more GOAT points than every one-Slam winner except Roddick and Chang, just a hair more than Medvedev).

 

[El Dude]

GOAT Points - through 2024:

0-1 Slam Winners (Slam winners in bold - GOAT Points, Overall GOAT Rank)

1. Andy Roddick (169, #21)
2. Michael Chang (153, #23)
3. Alexander Zverev (148, #25)
4. Daniil Medvedev (147, #26)
5. Goran Ivanisevic (125, #30)
6. David Ferrer (124, #31)
7. Thomas Muster (123, #32)
8. Tom Okker (123, #33)
9. Vitas Gerulaitis (120, #34)
10. Juan Martin Del Potro (111, #36)

And so forth. As you can see, he's got the most GOAT points of any Slamless player by a good margin, and more than all but two one-Slam winners. His 148 is tied with Stan Smith - and after this year, he's surpassed him. He's got more than multi-Slam winners like Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Gustavo Kuerten, Stan Wawrinka, and Marat Safin.

And he's well aware of this. I don't know if he knows about GOAT points, but he has said before that he's probably the greatest player never to win a Slam (and by "greatest," he and I both mean career accomplishments - not necessarily peak level. So don't get your panties in a wad, Mecir, Rios, and Nalbandian fans).

 

[El Dude]

Did anyone watch the Tsitsipas press conference? According to Gill Gross it was "very dark" and implied he might call it a career if his injuries don't improve. He's got a long-term back injury going back to at least the ATP Finals 2023. Sounds like he needs to a few months off, even the rest of the year, and see how he heals up.

 

[Kieran]

In hindsight, it seems typical of the type of player he is that Bublik ducked out in round 1. Some writers on tennis.com were predicting great things for him, which is recentism in overdrive.

Thiem retired years ago, now Sissy, Med & Sasha are god in the first round of a slam. Pity about Thiem but the others? Good riddance. The least tough generation in tennis history..

 

[Jelenafan]

Please re-read what I actually wrote: I'm grouping him with those players as having significant gaps between their talent and results. I said nothing about comparing their results. So:

Holger:
Talent: top 5 player; Slam winner (maybe multi-Slam), multiple Masters.
Results: mostly top 10-15; one Masters, 2.5 years ago with no follow-up. Very few titles.

FAA:
Talent: top 10 player; Masters winner, maybe Slam contender.
Results: brief time in top 10, more top 20 recently; some 250s and 500s, but no Masters yet and 25 years old soon.

Etc.

Again, the GAP, not equating their results or how good they are relative to each other.

The nerve of you to respond with logic & rationale…and then to have the gall to ask me to re-read what I rushed through the first time…

Oh the insanity! ; )

 

[Jelenafan]

Did we see the valiant effort of our Gael Monfils to upset his fellow countryman & # 18 seed Hubert?

Alkez Monfils!!!!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Zed also said in that presser, as I read, that he's not even finding the same joy in winning, as before. This is sad, but also very whiny for a young, handsome millionaire who gets to make a living playing tennis, and is at the top of the sport. (#2 & #3 count as Top of the Sport, I think.) What/whom he never blames is himself, or his tennis, and both of which are to blame for his lack of a Major, IMO. I thought his serious injury a couple of years ago might give him a new attitude, and for a short while, I thought it had. But it hasn't. There is no come-to-Jesus for him, IMO. He's hardened into believing that it's external forces, and not him, that undermines his success. I might feel bad for him if he were in the least a sympathetic figure, but he just isn't. It's hard to feel for someone who is already feeling so sorry for himself, in a real "first world problems" way. All this to say, he might be someone who doesn't stick around much past 30. Maybe he'll find a good therapist.

Moxie,
I didnt have the time to write the whole of his presser, at TF as I read it on social media, as it was quite long, though I did fully read it.
I agree with your thoughts ' he never looks at himself in the mirror, he puts the blame on his losses always on someone else, he has done this most of his career, he has always had this 'entitlement attitude' as if he was born to win Majors etc, he has never improved his game, it is still the same boring game since he came on tour, well to me it is 'boring' he hasnt the mentally to win a Major, we have seen that in the past and the present. Zverev has also had some good coaches over the years, presently his father is his coach, previously JCF, Lendl and David Ferrer, I have also heard he is a lazy trainer
At the end of the day, tennis being an 'individual sport' it is up to any player if they want to succeed.
I agree with your thoughts it is hard for someone who is already feeling so sorry for himself, in a real 'first world problems way'

Back to watching the 3rd set of Fonseca's match where he has just broken Brooksby Yay!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Nicolas Jarry someone to watch? follows up with a 5 set win over Rune, with a straight forward 62 62 63 win over Tien, Chilean is a power serving player, plays Fonseca/Brooksby winner next, and is in Alcaraz's quarter

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Suspended match from yesterday completed,
Nakashima #29 defeated BU 64 46 76(1) 64

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

No 12th seed Tiafoe defeated in 4th sets by Norrie 46 64 63 75

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Fonseca d Brooksby 64 57 62 64 for a young man who has played a few matches on grass in his young life he has made round 3 at Wimbledon
Fonseca will play Jarry next
Well done young man it is just a pleasure to watch your play! his rocket ground strokes on the grass at times were just 'sic'
Mrzz will be soo proud!

 

[kskate2]

No 12th seed Tiafoe defeated in 4th sets by Norrie 46 64 63 75

not a well played match from Big Foe. A 12 seed should have performed better against Norrie who couldn't even win matches until right before RG. I guess the upset bug continues to roll

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

not a well played match from Big Foe. A 12 seed should have performed better against Norrie who couldn't even win matches until right before RG. I guess the upset bug continues to roll

BTW with Tiafoe losing, Rublev is virtually guaranteed to return to the Top Ten after Wimbledon

 

[lomaha]

Anyone know what Pat Cash is doing in Diallos box?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Anyone know what Pat Cash is doing in Diallos box?

I will text my Canadian tenns friend who is watching the match, we have been texting about his match earlier, she should know hopefully

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I will text my Canadian tenns friend who is watching the match, we have been texting about his match earlier, she should know hopefully

That was quick, Shirley texted back as said she has no idea why Cash is in his box and it came as a surprise

 

[kskate2]

According to the gossip mongers at ESPN, Cash is part of the Diallo coaching team w/ 2 others. Craig O'Shannessy and Martin Laurendeau

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is an upset,
Lehecka (23) whose game I feel suits the grass beaten in straight sets by Bellucci 76(4) 61 75