Laver Cup broke it’s own attendance records this past weekend in San Francisco. Next year it shifts back to O2 Arena in London. Founder Roger Federer said on Andy Roddick’s podcast Served that he would like to stage future Laver Cups in South America, Asia and also Grand Slam venues.
American Learner Tien was down 57 35 to Daniil Medvedev and then won eight games in a row until the Russian retired with cramps. Tien will face Sinner in the Beijing 500 final and will become the highest ranked teenager in ATP next week. This will be the Southern Califorian’s first ATP final.
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from Shanghai Masters after beating Taylor Fritz in Tokyo final 64 64 due to “struggling physically.”
Four time champion of Shanghai Novak Djokovic’s 2025 draw in China: R2 – Moutet/Cilic R3 – Tiafoe R4 – Rublev/Cobolli QF – Shelton/Ruud SF – Sinner/Fritz F – Zverev
Angry fan: “I can’t believe the mess the ATP has become. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the typical format of quarter-finals on Friday, semi-finals on Saturday with the final on Sunday. Now you get finals every day of the week and no one knows what round is on which day.”
Carlos Alcaraz engaged in a furious verbal exchange with veteran chair umpire Fergus Murphy in Tokyo because of how quickly he is starting the shot clock: “Do you think this is normal? You never played tennis in your life!”
A curious ritual from Jannik Sinner was observed in Beijing… Every time Sinner opens a new plastic water bottle, he always dumps a small amount of the fresh water before taking his first sip. Sinner also employs some more typical superstitions – he avoids stepping on the lines and always wants to pick up the coin at the toss.
Sinner can return to World No. 1 in October 27th if he wins Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna. Then he would still lose it after one week, as the 2024 ATP Finals points (1500 vs. Alcaraz’s 200) drop after Paris (where he can earn maximum 1000).
Coco Gauff has qualified for the WTA Finals in Riyadh after battling into the quarterfinals in Beijing by beating Belinda Bencic 64 46 75. The 21 year old has qualified for the WTA Finals four years in a row and is the defending champion.
Question: Because we have seen a string of retirements today, you (Qinwen) were coming back from injury, but Iga mentioned earlier the WTA requirements are crazy for the top players, I wanted to hear your reaction to that, if that’s any part of today?
Qinwen Zheng: “I mean, this is part of the games. As a professional player, I mean, this is what it is because we have to play that many tournament because there is in the calendar. I think my situation’s different than them. I coming from surgery, which is really rush decision for me to playing here. But also it is the right decision for me because I want to see where my body is right now. Okay, now I know to compete third set, the amount of hitting the balls is too much for me. But I don’t think for professional player the calendar is too much because the strongest players survive, and that’s the rules in my head.”
Carlos says there are too many mandatory tournaments: ‘I agree with Iga’ I think that the schedule is really tight. They have to do something with the schedule. I think there are too many mandatory tournaments, too many in a row. They put in some rules that we have to play Master 1000s, 500 tournaments, whatever it is. But there are too many rules that we as tennis players are not allowed to have a choice if we have to play or not. To be honest, I have to consider in the future if I have to skip some mandatory tournaments just to maintain my physical condition and good shape. Obviously it’s more than the physical condition. I think mentally it’s really demanding as well, playing so many mandatory tournaments in a row or playing so many tournaments without having days to rest up mentally. I will consider skipping some mandatory tournaments to the benefit of myself mentally. I agree with Iga and I think a lot of players are gonna do that.
My Facing Andre Agassi book is progressing better than expected and will be ready for early 2026 or perhaps late 2025.
Carlos Alcaraz · Coco Gauff · Laver Cup · Learner Tien · Roger Federer
