The Random Tennis News Thread

[The Special Juan]

First topic message reminder :

There's not really a thread up for random tennis news that perhaps doesn't require it's own topic.

First of all, it's sad to hear of the death of Brad Drewett, Chief Executive of the ATP. I don't know if anyone's mentioned that and I've missed it.

Secondly, here's an interesting bit of tennis gossip about Evert and Connors: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/04/tennis-connors-evert-idUKL3N0DL05G20130504

[LuvSports!]

Goffin did beat Kohli, Thiem, Sousa (twice) and did bagel dimi.
You can only beat what's out in front of you and he has done that brilliantly.

[summerblues]

There so often seems to be fields of very different quality in the weeks when there are 2 ATP500 tournaments (e.g. Dubai > Acapulco, Beijing > Tokyo..) Basel usually has a stronger field than Valencia and still does this year, but the distribution is odd:
Basel seeds are 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 13, 28, 30
Valencia seeds are 5, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Assuming that most of the players ranked between 18 and 28 have chosen to play this week, that means that they are lurking unseeded in the Valencia draw.

Ah, interesting observation; also confirmed here:

http://live-tennis.eu/

[The Special Juan]

Thiem plays Goffin today in Valencia. I'll try and catch that one. It's also the (real) women's WTF this week.

[djlovesyou]

Liam Broady won his fourth futures title of the year yesterday, and will move to a career high of about 240.

Hasn't got much to defend at all until next summer so a great chance to break into the top 200 and beyond in the coming months, seems to be finding some really good form and given he chooses to do so, will get a DA into AO qualifying.

[Born Slippy]

So predictions for this week from QF onwards:

BASEL

Federer d. Dimitrov
Karlovic d. Wawrinka
Goffin d. Raonic
Gulbis d. Nadal

Federer d. Karlovic
Goffin d. Gulbis

Federer d. Goffin

VALENCIA

Ferrer d. Youzhny
Murray d. Kohli
Simon d. Lopez
Berdych d. Robredo

Ferrer d. Murray
Simon d. Berdych

Ferrer d. Simon

[Born Slippy]

My prediction of Simon to make the final not started well as he drops the first set versus Dolgo 6-0! Tough opener.

[Born Slippy]

Bad loss for Stan. Looking like he will be in danger of dropping out of the top 8 after Oz.

[Jahu]

Djoko has become a happy Father of a son, so congrats to him and his wife

[HM Murdock]

Djoko has become a happy Father of a son, so congrats to him and his wife

Well done the Djokos.

It's pretty remarkable that the baby arrived so conveniently in a gap in his tournament schedule!

I'm interested to see what impact, if any, this has on Novak as a tennis player. I don't think he has the kind of Federer-esque temperament to barely miss a beat. He could go right off the boil with his focus on family life. But he's also the kind of guy where the positive vibes of a happy family life could set him off on a bit of tear.

I'm not expecting much for the rest of this season but the start of 2015 will be interesting.

[The Special Juan]

He could do me a favour and retire!! Seriously though, I think he will go on a crazy tear at the start of next year because he'll probably be fired up for tennis after spending the close season at home. Then again, if the baby impacts on his training schedule he might be in trouble.

[The Special Juan]

Stefan Djokovic v Lenny Federer, Wimbledon final 2039. Make it happen gents.

[Jahu]

Djoko has become a happy Father of a son, so congrats to him and his wife

Well done the Djokos.

It's pretty remarkable that the baby arrived so conveniently in a gap in his tournament schedule!

I'm interested to see what impact, if any, this has on Novak as a tennis player. I don't think he has the kind of Federer-esque temperament to barely miss a beat. He could go right off the boil with his focus on family life. But he's also the kind of guy where the positive vibes of a happy family life could set him off on a bit of tear.

I'm not expecting much for the rest of this season but the start of 2015 will be interesting.

A bit tough to know. having babies in Ballkans and especially sons, kind of equals to a Prince being born after 5 daughters for a King.

So it will be a hectic family thing for Djoko, endless visits from guests/extended family etc.

Lets see

P.S: Let's all just pray, the baby boy gets his Moms ears and not from DJoko  

[Born Slippy]

So predictions for this week from QF onwards:

BASEL

Federer d. Dimitrov
Karlovic d. Wawrinka
Goffin d. Raonic
Gulbis d. Nadal

Federer d. Karlovic
Goffin d. Gulbis

Federer d. Goffin

VALENCIA

Ferrer d. Youzhny
Murray d. Kohli
Simon d. Lopez
Berdych d. Robredo

Ferrer d. Murray
Simon d. Berdych

Ferrer d. Simon

9/16 right. The carnage in Valencia caught me out!

[temporary21]

Nadal is out of Paris, is he still playing in Basel?

[Calder106]

Cilic not playing Paris either.

[lags72]

An official press 'announcement' is due from Rafa later this afternoon (says BBC radio news).

[The Special Juan]

Murray wanted a good draw at Paris. He didn't get it.

1R - Bye
2R - Benneteau/Lu
3R - Dimitrov
QF - Djokovic (stops there, doesn't it?)
SF - Ferrer/Nishikori
F - Federer

[lags72]

Horrible draw !

[Born Slippy]

Murray wanted a good draw at Paris.  He didn't get it.

1R - Bye
2R - Benneteau/Lu
3R - Dimitrov
QF - Djokovic (stops there, doesn't it?)
SF - Ferrer/Nishikori
F - Federer

Hmm, if he doesn't beat Ferrer tomorrow, his season probably ends in Paris doesn't it?

[The Special Juan]

If Nadal withdraws from the WTF as is rumoured he may well make it.

[Born Slippy]

Ferrer has had a bit of a shocker as well:

R2 - Goffin
R3 - Simon
QF - Kei
SF - Novak
F - Fed

[biugo]

Nadal is going to have the surgery - he won't be there at WTF

[biugo]

Ferrer has had a bit of a shocker as well:

R2 - Goffin
R3 - Simon
QF - Kei
SF - Novak
F - Fed

and Murray's draw is too.
Actually, I feel that with the "new" generation finally blooming, we'll see more and more of these draws. (there were tough draws before, but we wouldn't see danger anymore with players we've seen play and lose repeatedly already)

[biugo]

Some completely unrelated tennis coming stats news: Federer has 986 career wins currently, and has potentially another 14 matches in the season (Basel, Paris, WTF and 2 DC), which means that if he wins every single match from now on, he would win his 1000th match, the DC and YE#1 at the same time... Now that would be a nice high to end a career

[Guest]

Some completely unrelated tennis coming stats news: Federer has 986 career wins currently, and has potentially another 14 matches in the season (Basel, Paris, WTF and 2 DC), which means that if he wins every single match from now on, he would win his 1000th match, the DC and YE#1 at the same time... Now that would be a nice high to end a career

That would be amazing.. but I don't expect it to happen.

Also don't expect Federer to retire anytime soon. Without using my emancipator powers (which of course would makes things too easy) I expect the Fed express to keep playing 'till the end of 2018 - if he can stay fit.



emancipator

[The Special Juan]

Anything to get out of babysitting.

[The Special Juan]

Here's a nice wee article on Zverev that I stumbled across on the ATP website.  I wonder if the Raonic/Dimitrov/Dolgo generation will be passed over and Thiem/Zverev/Coric will clean up after Murray/Djokovic have moved on.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/10/43/Emirates-ATP-Star-Of-Tomorrow-Alexander-Zverev.aspx

The way I look at it now, there's 4 generations of players about at the moment.

1 - The elder statesmen - Federer, Nadal, etc (I include Nadal because although he's only a year older than Mockovic, he's been winning for over a decade).
2 - Murray and Djokovic, plus Cilic as he's been around for ages
3 - Dimitrov, Raonic, Nishikori, Dolgopolov are the main ones here
4 - Thiem, Coric, Zverev.

[bogbrush]

Some completely unrelated tennis coming stats news: Federer has 986 career wins currently, and has potentially another 14 matches in the season (Basel, Paris, WTF and 2 DC), which means that if he wins every single match from now on, he would win his 1000th match, the DC and YE#1 at the same time... Now that would be a nice high to end a career

That would be amazing.. but I don't expect it to happen.

Also don't expect Federer to retire anytime soon. Without using my emancipator powers (which of course would makes things too easy) I expect the Fed express to keep playing 'till the end of 2018 - if he can stay fit.



emancipator

This would be hugely welcome, at the moment I still see nobody to hold my attention post-Fed.

[LuvSports!]

Good points TSJ but I would even go a step further.
1) Oldies - Feds, Hewitt, Ferrer, Robredo, Lopez
2) Mid-old - Stan, Berdych, Tsonga, Rafa, Murray, DJoko, Delpo, Cilic
3) Youngish -Nishi, JJ, Raonic, Goffin, Dimi, Tomic
4) Young - Thiem, Sock, Vesely
5) Teens - Kyrios, Coric, Zverev, Garin, Koslov, Kokkinakis

[ListenUp]

Liam Broady won his fourth futures title of the year yesterday, and will move to a career high of about 240.

Hasn't got much to defend at all until next summer so a great chance to break into the top 200 and beyond in the coming months, seems to be finding some really good form and given he chooses to do so, will get a DA into AO qualifying.

I'm impressed to see Liam Broady is now the British no. 4, with a career high of 235. He's overtaken Kyle Edmund, which I really didn't see happening a year or so ago. Kyle seems to be in the doldrums at the moment but hopefully will bounce back.

Liam had a good win over Tim Smyczek yesterday in the Charlottesville Challenger.

[Calder106]

Liam Broady won his fourth futures title of the year yesterday, and will move to a career high of about 240.

Hasn't got much to defend at all until next summer so a great chance to break into the top 200 and beyond in the coming months, seems to be finding some really good form and given he chooses to do so, will get a DA into AO qualifying.

I'm impressed to see Liam Broady is now the British no. 4, with a career high of 235. He's overtaken Kyle Edmund, which I really didn't see happening a year or so ago. Kyle seems to be in the doldrums at the moment but hopefully will bounce back.

Liam had a good win over Tim Smyczek yesterday in the Charlottesville Challenger.

According to reports today Edmund has split from having Rusedski as his head coach. Seems like Greg could not commit enough time along with his other commitments.

[ListenUp]

According to reports today Edmund has split from having Rusedski as his head coach. Seems like Greg could not commit enough time along with his other commitments.

Yes, I'd read that and wasn't sure how to put it without suggesting that Rusedski might be connected with Kyle's doldrums.

I don't actually know how long he'd been Kyle's "official" coach. What happened to Colin Beecher?  (Edit: just looked it up - since about April, apparently.)

Surely Kyle needs a full-time coach more than he needs that particular coach.

[CaledonianCraig]

Liam Broady won his fourth futures title of the year yesterday, and will move to a career high of about 240.

Hasn't got much to defend at all until next summer so a great chance to break into the top 200 and beyond in the coming months, seems to be finding some really good form and given he chooses to do so, will get a DA into AO qualifying.

I'm impressed to see Liam Broady is now the British no. 4, with a career high of 235. He's overtaken Kyle Edmund, which I really didn't see happening a year or so ago. Kyle seems to be in the doldrums at the moment but hopefully will bounce back.

Liam had a good win over Tim Smyczek yesterday in the Charlottesville Challenger.

According to reports today Edmund has split from having Rusedski as his head coach. Seems like Greg could not commit enough time along with his other commitments.

And to think that some people wanted Greg to coach Andy Murray.

[Henman Bill]

Federer wins match 990. If he reaches Paris and London finals he could get to 998. If so, he could get to 1,000 at the Davis cup final. If not, he could get to 1,000 in Australia which is more likely.

[coolpixel]

Liam Broady won his fourth futures title of the year yesterday, and will move to a career high of about 240.

Hasn't got much to defend at all until next summer so a great chance to break into the top 200 and beyond in the coming months, seems to be finding some really good form and given he chooses to do so, will get a DA into AO qualifying.

I'm impressed to see Liam Broady is now the British no. 4, with a career high of 235. He's overtaken Kyle Edmund, which I really didn't see happening a year or so ago. Kyle seems to be in the doldrums at the moment but hopefully will bounce back.

Liam had a good win over Tim Smyczek yesterday in the Charlottesville Challenger.

how much money do players that rank make and how do they fund all that travel and stay?

[dummy_half]

Liam Broady won his fourth futures title of the year yesterday, and will move to a career high of about 240.

Hasn't got much to defend at all until next summer so a great chance to break into the top 200 and beyond in the coming months, seems to be finding some really good form and given he chooses to do so, will get a DA into AO qualifying.

I'm impressed to see Liam Broady is now the British no. 4, with a career high of 235. He's overtaken Kyle Edmund, which I really didn't see happening a year or so ago. Kyle seems to be in the doldrums at the moment but hopefully will bounce back.

Liam had a good win over Tim Smyczek yesterday in the Charlottesville Challenger.

how much money do players that rank make and how do they fund all that travel and stay?

Not much - Broady is picking up just over $2K for winning Futures, and a bit less when he is qualifying for Challengers.

[Born Slippy]

Broady has stormed into the top 200 having reached the final last week. He crushed the seeded Mike Russell in his last match to reach another QF and faces a qualifier next so will go a bit higher. Impressive progress.

Edmund has got back on track with a QF this week which will get him up to about 220 in the rankings. Ward is also in the QF of the same event. Good week for the lesser Brits.

[HM Murdock]

Djokovic has extended Becker's coaching contract into next year.

I had reservations about this pairing but a Wimbledon title, 4 Masters and a (likely) YE#1 must be considered a successful season.

[lags72]

It may not have been a spectacular season for Novak, but it's undoubtedly been more than respectable. And it can very likely end in style with one more big title still to come methinks......

Just eight losses to date. - half of which were to either Federer or Nadal, so no shame there.

No reason to change coach when you're efficiently holding down the top spot against strong opposition.

[Haddie-nuff]

Just thought I would casually mention the fact, in case anyone is remotely interested, that the World No.3. has had his appendectomy (uneventful) and left hospital to return home. Where, I at least, hope he will make a speedy and fully recovery, to return to the court in 2015
Good Luck Rafa

[It Must Be Love]

Just thought I would casually mention the fact, in case anyone is remotely interested, that the World No.3. has had his appendectomy (uneventful) and left hospital to return home. Where, I at least, hope he will make a speedy and fully recovery, to return to the court in 2015
Good Luck Rafa

Let's hope so

It wasn't a serious operation, so it should only be a few weeks before he starts training again.

[Haddie-nuff]

Absolutely

[laverfan]

Absolutely

Very glad to see you back, H-n.

[Haddie-nuff]

Thank you LF nice to see you too

[Jahu]

Good luck to Rafa, happy he is fine.

I miss him kicking Djoko

[temporary21]

Alarming news just in that Andy Murray, the former Us open and Wimbledon champ, has returned to England only to find his mother, astonishingly is STILL on strictly.

[Haddie-nuff]

       

[Born Slippy]

James Ward has reached the final in his Challenger this week. Moves him to #101 in the live rankings. A win in the final over John Millman (#278) will propel him into the top 100 for the first time. It would also I think probably mean he would be certain to have direct entry to the Australian.

[Born Slippy]

Just looking at the rise of Liam Broady, the last time GB played a Davis Cup match he was British number 16. 6 months later and he has risen 250 places in the rankings and is now Brit number 3. #progress.

[Born Slippy]

Ward lost unfortunately. Shame as that was a great chance to go top 100.

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