Tennis Prose




Nov/21

16

Nitto ATP Finals

For several years now the Nitto ATP Finals has not been able to produce a race for the no. 1 ranking. This year Novak Djokovic clinched the top ranking two weeks ago in Paris, it is the seventh time Djokovic has finished the season as world no. 1.

Though the tournament is still prestigious and interesting to see which of the top eight ranked “Masters” players can take home the “World Tour Finals” honors, it does lack the suspence and intrigue of a pressurized race to be no. 1. Such as 2001 Hewitt battled it out with Agassi and Kuerten for no. 1.

Or in 1998 when Sampras and Rios had to settle the score in Germany. But Rios lost his first match to Henman and pulled out of the tournament and so Sampras cruised to his sixth and final year end world no. 1 ranking.

The number one ranking hasn’t been up for grabs at year end Masters for … I can’t even remember that last, good race. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have been dominant in their big years save for when Andy Murray snuck in for a year.

So far this year Medvedev is looking like the top threat to avenge the Paris loss to Djokovic but Rublev, Zverev, Berrettini, Ruud, Tsitsipas and Hurkacz won’t roll over.

Rublev pounded a still struggling Tsitsipas yesterday and Medevdev just escaped 76 in third to Zverev.

Another note, all the players seem to be wearing some combination of blue and black to match the court atmosphere. Sure it does look uniform and tidy but a little splash of yellow and red and white and green wouldn’t be a bad thing.

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9 comments

  • Hartt · November 16, 2021 at 1:26 pm

    Sadly, Matteo Berrettini had to retire in his first match and now has withdrawn from the tourney because of an ab injury. This was such an important tourney for him, especially since it was in Italy. He will be replaced by Jannik Sinner, the first alternate, so at least the local fans still will have an Italian player to root for.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 16, 2021 at 2:00 pm

    Hartt, how did the injury happen? I saw the first set of the match vs Zverev and he seemed okay, I didn’t see any trace of any injury though I wasn’t watching the match closely or every point but he seemed to be playing very well and was inthe winning position in the first set tiebreaker but he let Zverev off the hook – or perhaps Zverev stole the set with superior tennis in the clutch.

  • Hartt · November 16, 2021 at 6:44 pm

    He was injured very suddenly, even stopped right in the middle of a game. After a MTO he tried to play, but only lasted a couple points. Looked like he was in tears. He had to be totally gutted, playing the ATP Finals in Italy meant a lot to him.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 16, 2021 at 7:35 pm

    Was it an awkward shot or movement that caused the sudden injury, or did it just seem to happen out of nowhere?

  • Sam · November 20, 2021 at 1:43 pm

    Now that the Australian Open has made their power play about forcing players to get the jab ๐Ÿคฎ, I sure hope Djokovic boycotts it.

    I don’t know whether he’s gotten the jab or not. But even if he has, he needs to stand up for other players, who should have the right to play in Australia without having to inject something dangerously experimental into their bodies.

    Anyway, they need to rename the tournament the “Australian Dungeon.” If it goes ahead as planned, I will not follow any of the resultsโ€”for me, it will just be like two weeks with no tennis on the schedule. In other words, I’ll be doing a “fan boycott.” ๐Ÿ‘Š

  • Sam · November 21, 2021 at 4:33 am

    Speaking of the jab, did you hear that Pat Cash’s mom almost died after taking it? ๐Ÿ˜ฒ

    https://rumble.com/vpb84g-tennis-pro-pat-cash-talks-about-his-mothers-two-strokes-and-heart-attack-fr.html

    Just recently, Djokovic talked about not conforming and standing up for the little guy. So, I sure hope he opposed the Australian tyranny!

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 21, 2021 at 8:15 am

    Sam, Pat Cash is a hero. He’s been very outspoken against the scamdemic.

  • Sam · November 21, 2021 at 2:59 pm

    Scoop, glad to hear it. Thank goodness Cash’s mom has recovered! ๐Ÿ˜Ž

    And now is Djokovic’s chance to become a hero. ๐ŸŽ– There are things far more important than GOAThood and #21. Besides, the majority of tennis fans believe he’s reached the former milestone anyway.

  • Scoop Malinowski · November 21, 2021 at 5:31 pm

    Sam, Pistol Pete Sampras bestowed Djokovic with the greatest of all time honor last week, finally convinced by the 7 years as year end no. 1 and the head to head vs Fed and Nadal and the rest of the records. No other tennis great challenged Pete on that, none refuted him. So it’s official now Djokovic is the greatest. Yes it will be interesting to see how Djokovic handles this Australian absurdity.

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