Tennis Thread

[truthaboutluv]

I assume they just stay as is. If no tournament was played then no points are lost or gained. 

[theatremouse]

My understanding is that points are always on a rolling basis. So until this years occurrence of a tournament, you still have your points from last year for that tournament. Once the dates of last year's tournament passes, you'd normally have the points from this year's tournament, but if the tournament didn't happen (or you just didn't play in it) you do "lose" last year's points from that tournament, basically because the dates passed. I *think* when a tournament moves dates the dropping of last year's points is still based on the week of the year, not when the new dates are. Hence the question: are points effectively frozen or still affected by the passage of time?

[truthaboutluv]

Well I can only make an assumption, as I don't work for the ATP or WTA, but I believe they will be frozen and the players have protected ranking. Because I just don't see how players will be penalized for tournaments that were never played.

It's one thing if the player pulled out and so they don't defend their points. But there is no tournament happening at all. So my assumption is that the points are all frozen at where they were when the last tournaments were played. 

[roseha]

I guess they will have to make an executive decision about freezing points.  My understanding is that in the ATP at least, the best 12 tournament results are used to summarize the *ranking*, going back 12 months and which determine the player's seeding in most events.  The *points* start over with each tournament, and go by the current year to qualify for the year end event in London.   So it's conceivable that they could let them drop off if they resume after 6 weeks though that's certainly not a given.  Or they could freeze the points and/or rankings? which I would guess is more likely if the players will be voting on it.  It seems to me that they may just freeze the rankings since no events are played? It's clearly an unprecedented situation although I can't help remembering that after Monica Seles was stabbed by a crazed Steffi Graff fan, her fellow top players (with the exception of Sabatini who abstained) voted against freezing her number one ranking.

It's also worth noting that some tournaments (Wimbledon mainly) seed the players as they see fit, and don't always rely on the rankings.

Edited March 12, 2020 by roseha
Edited to comment on points vs rankings

[roseha]

Update:  The ATP and WTA have suspended events until June 7.  Here's their statement.  Just one comment: If you carefully read the last paragraph, you may notice there's no reference to the French Tennis Federation, who have just unilaterally moved Roland Garros to six days after the US Open without consulting anyone else.  As you may imagine this has been met with huge criticism. (Bolding is mine)

"The professional tennis season is now suspended through 7 June 2020, including the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour. At this time, tournaments taking place from 8 June 2020 onwards are still planning to go ahead as per the published schedule.

In parallel, the FedEx ATP Rankings and WTA Rankings will be frozen throughout this period and until further notice.

The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to professional tennis demand greater collaboration than ever from everyone in the tennis community in order for the sport to move forward collectively in the best interest of players, tournaments and fans.

We are assessing all options related to preserving and maximising the tennis calendar based on various return dates for the Tours, which remains an unknown at this time. We are committed to working through these matters with our player and tournament members, and the other governing bodies, in the weeks and months ahead.

Now is not a time to act unilaterally, but in unison. All decisions related to the impact of the coronavirus require appropriate consultation and review with the stakeholders in the game, a view that is shared by ATP, WTA, ITF, AELTC, Tennis Australia, and USTA."

[shok]

9 hours ago, roseha said:

who have just unilaterally moved Roland Garros to six days after the US Open without consulting anyone else.  As you may imagine this has been met with huge criticism.

I wouldn't say huge criticism. A couple of guys like Vasek Pospisil and Jamie Murray were critical but a lot of other players have welcomed the change and are happy to have a chance to play for money and points in another grand slam. The people that are losing their minds are the Federer fans who are dreading Rafa wins another slam or two and equals or betters Roger.

[Jillibean]

I feel like having those two GSs so close to each other will end up being something of a loss for both. I imagine people who are really hoping to win are going to prioritize the tournament for which they better like their chances. The top players aren’t going to play two weeks of hard courts and then be ready to play on clay a week later. This could potentially mean that someone like Rafa will skip the US open and someone like Federer might skip RG. I get that it’s a time crunch because the players play outside, but eesh. In my opinion it would make more sense to put RG toward the end of July/beginning of August and then move the US Open back about a week, maybe two. You can easily still play outside in New York in September, and while it won’t technically still be summer break or Labor Day weekend, who even knows what summer break is going to look like this year. 

[BlackberryJam]

Fed was going to skip the French anyway, wasn't he? I thought he was taking the whole clay season off.

The French and Wimbledon used to be right on top of each other like that. It's only the last few years that they've had a longer break between the two.

I'm not saying the French officials were right to do this, but it's not unprecedented or horrible.

[Jillibean]

5 hours ago, BlackberryJam said:

Fed was going to skip the French anyway, wasn't he? I thought he was taking the whole clay season off.

The French and Wimbledon used to be right on top of each other like that. It's only the last few years that they've had a longer break between the two.

I'm not saying the French officials were right to do this, but it's not unprecedented or horrible.

Right, but right on top of each other as in three weeks, not as in six days. Six days isn’t a reasonable turnaround time to get into a rhythm on a completely different surface. 

[theatremouse]

9 hours ago, BlackberryJam said:

Fed was going to skip the French anyway, wasn't he? I thought he was taking the whole clay season off.

He just had surgery so it was less skipping and more recovering, but yeah, he already was not going to play RG this year. If anything the move makes it possible, though unlikely, he'll play there this year.

[BlackberryJam]

6 hours ago, Jillibean said:

Right, but right on top of each other as in three weeks, not as in six days. Six days isn’t a reasonable turnaround time to get into a rhythm on a completely different surface. 

It used to be two weeks, so they would leave the French, then head straight to Queens/Halle the very next day or one day later if you were in the final, play that tournament to adjust to grass, have 7 days off then start Wimbledon.

I mean, I agree it kind of sucks, but not something that's never happened before.

[roseha]

Reuters is reporting that Wimbledon is expected to cancel this year's tournament soon.  More below.  I wonder how much tennis will end up being played at all this year.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-tennis-wimbledon/wimbledon-will-be-canceled-says-german-tennis-official-report-idUSKBN21H0P8

[mojoween]

And tennis, of every sport, is the one that could best adapt to social distancing.  But they most likely have no desire to play in empty stadiums while waving hello to each other from the baseline.

[roseha]

It's so sad.  Given the international travel and audience that tennis has though I can see why they have to be so cautious.  When they canceled the Olympics I thought it would be hard for Wimbledon to make it (I think they are supposed to make it official tomorrow).

On the feel good side, the USTA has just devoted their space (the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center) to New York City as an emergency treatment center for COVID-19 patients and to help medical staff.

And Roger and Mirka have donated one million Swiss Francs for coronavirus support in Switzerland.

Edited March 31, 2020 by roseha
to elaborate

[TVbitch]

I hope if restrictions stay in place for months, some sports will decide to still have games and just show them on TV or live stream. It sucks the fans can't be there to cheer and clap, but they will be watching, and some money can be made. If it can be done safely, we need it! 

[shok]

9 hours ago, roseha said:

And Roger and Mirka have donated one million Swiss Francs for coronavirus support in Switzerland

Why does Fed always get so much publicity for anything he does? Other players do as much or more and don't get big headlines like he does. Djokovic donated one million euros in Serbia, and Rafa and his friend Pao Gasol are leading a challenge to collect eleven million euros from other Spanish athletes (and are very close to their goal) plus Rafa was part of a telethon last weekend that raised three quarters of a million euros. I'm sure most of the other tennis players are also doing good things.

[AimingforYoko]

Wimbledon cancelled.

[roseha]

Here's the official story from the BBC:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/52104196

 

[BlackberryJam]

I noticed that Rafa is doing some tweets and videos, one of him cooking. I don't speak Spanish, but I'd be interested in what he's saying, if anyone is in the know. 

[shok]

14 hours ago, BlackberryJam said:

I noticed that Rafa is doing some tweets and videos, one of him cooking. I don't speak Spanish, but I'd be interested in what he's saying, if anyone is in the know. 

Is this the tweet you're thinking of?  Translated, it says:

rafaelnadal "Hi everyone! Here I am, again ... Today it's my turn to cook for myself and my wife ... Let's see if you know what I was doing ... I'll answer later ...
I hope you are all well and at home, taking care of yourself. Be strong and courageous!

 

Here's the video, with a wink and a dimple. 😍

 

[shok]

Like all of us, I think Rafa and his sister Maribel, are going a little stir crazy with the isolation. 😄

 

Translated from Spanish by Microsoft

Victory stays home! 😂 Maribel's big win @RafaelNadal in a very tight match. Let's go! #yomequedoencasa

[Ohwell]

I'm surprised he doesn't have his own tennis court.

[BlackberryJam]

I'm sure he does, but patio tennis with a chair net is such a sibling thing.

[bzzzr]

On 4/5/2020 at 7:56 AM, Ohwell said:

I'm surprised he doesn't have his own tennis court.

With referee and audience, but they're on lockdown.

[BlackberryJam]

Lock down has brought out Evil Alternate Universe Rafa.

PS, this is just a joke about the dodgy facial hair. I love Rafa and I know he's always doing good work and that's part of this spot. 

 

[BitterApple]

Rafa looks really cute with facial hair.

[AimingforYoko]

Wimbledon's $2m Insurance gamble pays off.

[dcalley]

 

[shok]

It's getting so dire, Rafa is becoming a pastry chef! His right-handed Extreme Grip backhand on the mixer looks pretty weird though.  🤪

He's making a cake, he says his mother has abandoned him, so now she can't complain if it tastes good or not. 

https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal/status/1249749650128674817

Translated from Spanish by Microsoft

I'm overwhelmed with work at home ... 😩 It would be easier to be in the Monte Carlo tournament (which I would have played this week) training 3 hours of tennis 🎾 😂😂😂 But for now it's what you play and with a good face! 😀 Then I put a photo of the result... and that said, to animate !!

https://twitter.com/CynKar/status/1249850152661192705

José Andrés‏Verified account @chefjoseandres teases him and tweets:

The racket you catch it beautifully, but the whisk is grabbed by the other way! 😘😂😂😂😈👨‍🍳😘 @RafaelNadal I give you cooking class in exchange for tennis class? @WCKitchen #ChefsForSpain

[BlackberryJam]

I kind of love Rafa's cooking videos. 

[dcalley]

On 3/31/2020 at 3:35 PM, roseha said:

On the feel good side, the USTA has just devoted their space (the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center) to New York City as an emergency treatment center for COVID-19 patients and to help medical staff.

More on this: Now Open: The Billie Jean King… Field Hospital

[roseha]

I just found this in The Guardian and found it really sad, all the more because I thought tennis should have had its head examined for letting Coco Gauff play so much after the extraordinary burnouts of teenagers Austin, Jaeger et al.  It's not like there weren't any past examples.

'I was just lost': Coco Gauff says rapid rise and hype led to depression

"Gauff’s tale is troublingly familiar. Capriati struggled to overcome very different problems away from the court and burned out before she got out of her teens. Injury prematurely cut down Austin and Jaeger. Gauff, Andreescu and Osaka have it all before them, good and bad."

[BlackberryJam]

Rafa is doing a Q&A. I wonder if he's arranged for Roger to call in or something?

 

[BlackberryJam]

So...Rafa and Pau Gasol are joining forces to try and raise 11 million euros for Corona virus relief.  I don't speak Spanish and I can't translate at the moment, so I don't know the details.

 

On the other hand…

Djokovic is anti vaxx.

 

 

[theatremouse]

Djokovic has a long history of believing in non-science medicine and various quackery, which is his right as a human, but I prefer he'd shut up about it in public given that children look up to him and shit and he spouts nonsense. But I digress.

[shok]

There's an interesting article in The Guardian about Novak and his wife Jelena. Must say I agree with the author.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/apr/20/no-vaxx-djokovic-why-his-spiritual-world-view-can-have-a-dangerous-side

[BlackberryJam]

Yes.

[roseha]

20 hours ago, theatremouse said:

Djokovic has a long history of believing in non-science medicine and various quackery, which is his right as a human, but I prefer he'd shut up about it in public given that children look up to him and shit and he spouts nonsense. But I digress.

My feeling is that if Novak refuses to get a Coronavirus vaccine, if/when there is one, he should not play on the tour and expose untold numbers of people.  But I wouldn't hold my breath waiting to see anyone tell him that.  I imagine realistically he would have to cave, at least I hope so.

Roger's proposal of the two tours uniting would be great, though of course many current events might have to be eliminated or combined, but I think long run it would benefit everyone.  The new ATP head, Massimo Calvelli, has given some interesting interviews to the effect that he thinks that tennis doesn't get the exposure it should given its popularity and is much too fragmented from a fan's perspective (certainly true) and that one advantage it has is that the men and women both play at the biggest events.  Maybe tennis can use this time partly to organize itself to everyone's benefit.

[shok]

On 4/22/2020 at 1:48 PM, roseha said:

Roger's proposal of the two tours uniting would be great, though of course many current events might have to be eliminated or combined, but I think long run it would benefit everyone. 

This has pissed off a number of people. It's NOT Roger's idea but it's just so typical of his arrogance for him to put out a tweet implying it is. Even Rafa, who is normally very non-confrontational, made a point of saying "as we previously discussed" when he replied to Roger's tweet. Other players have noted that the idea has been discussed for months. The WTA, especially Billy Jean King, have been fighting to make this happen for decades.

All the women tennis players are tweeting "Yes Yes Yes" but most of the men are saying "hold up a minute, what's in this for us?" and I have to say I personally agree with the guys. What would the ATP have to gain? I'm not particularly a fan of women's tennis and I know during a slam, I get right pissed off when my tv carrier is showing four women's matches and I have to wait or go to a stream to watch some decent tennis.

I'd like some more information about their reasoning for considering this. It seems to me we've heard a lot of stories about disarray in the ATP Players Council (didn't a half a dozen guys resign within the past year because they couldn't agree with some of the decisions being made?) so shouldn't they get their own house in order before they start adding a bunch of activist women players to the mix?

 

ETA: "many current events might have to be eliminated or combined"  How would eliminating many current events help the game??? Isn't their biggest dilemma right now figuring out a way to pay lower ranked players more money? Fewer tournaments or events would just exacerbate the problem even more, for both the men AND the women. 

 

Edited April 24, 2020 by shok

[BlackberryJam]

5 hours ago, shok said:

This has pissed off a number of people. It's NOT Roger's idea but it's just so typical of his arrogance for him to put out a tweet implying it is. Even Rafa, who is normally very non-confrontational, made a point of saying "as we previously discussed" when he replied to Roger's tweet. Other players have noted that the idea has been discussed for months. The WTA, especially Billy Jean King, have been fighting to make this happen for decades.

All the women tennis players are tweeting "Yes Yes Yes" but most of the men are saying "hold up a minute, what's in this for us?" and I have to say I personally agree with the guys. What would the ATP have to gain? I'm not particularly a fan of women's tennis and I know during a slam, I get right pissed off when my tv carrier is showing four women's matches and I have to wait or go to a stream to watch some decent tennis.

I'd like some more information about their reasoning for considering this. It seems to me we've heard a lot of stories about disarray in the ATP Players Council (didn't a half a dozen guys resign within the past year because they couldn't agree with some of the decisions being made?) so shouldn't they get their own house in order before they start adding a bunch of activist women players to the mix?

 

ETA: "many current events might have to be eliminated or combined"  How would eliminating many current events help the game??? Isn't their biggest dilemma right now figuring out a way to pay lower ranked players more money? Fewer tournaments or events would just exacerbate the problem even more, for both the men AND the women. 

 

What?

I mean, sure, you like the men's game better than the women's, but combining the tours is more likely to bring in more fans, not less.  I think most tennis fans are tennis fans. Give me a good match, no matter the gender of the players. It's offensive to say that the women's game isn't decent tennis. 

I just don't get the problem with activist women. Activist women are AWESOME. They do incredible things to promote gender equality and social justice. Calling a woman, calling a PERSON, an activist is a compliment. But not every woman in the WTA is an activist. Many sit on their rumps and support total assholes like Ilie Nastase (I'm looking at you Halep.) A female athlete is doesn't automatically fit into a particularly role or ideology. 

If the men's tour is in such disarray among  the leadership, I'm sure there are plenty of women who could fix that for them, or better yet, just show them how it's done. 

[theatremouse]

I didn't think Roger was implying combining the tours was a new idea or his idea. I thought his point was "now with everything paused indefinitely is a good time to actually do it". That's the part that is his idea: since zero events are or will be happening for some time, it's a non-disruptive opportunity to do it.

[shok]

On 4/21/2020 at 4:49 AM, BlackberryJam said:

So...Rafa and Pau Gasol are joining forces to try and raise 11 million euros for Corona virus relief.  I don't speak Spanish and I can't translate at the moment, so I don't know the details.

 

 

They announced the other day that they had wildly exceeded their expectations and raised 14 million euros. Good for them and I'm sure the Spanish Red Cross will put it to good use.

 

Rafa's new yacht was delivered yesterday. It's a catamaran, 24 meters long, 12 meters wide, and sleeps 12 with all the bells and whistles he could want. Fancy schmancy.  😛 Hope he gets to use it a lot while the tour is shut down.

 

[xaxat]

I heard that one of the reasons players are questioning the proposed quarantine procedures for the U. S. Open is that they would require the players to stay at hotels at La Guardia airport.

Having stayed at several of those hotels, I am entirely sympathetic.

 

[Harry24]

Grigor Dimitrov withdrew from the Djokovic event this week not feeling well, and tested positive for Covid when got home to Monte Carlo:

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/29343928/grigor-dimitrov-tests-positive-covid-19-adria-tour-event-canceled

I have a feeling this is really going to spook a lot of players.

[theatremouse]

Coric and Troicki are also positive. Zverev was negative and apparently regretful.

[shok]

1 hour ago, theatremouse said:

Coric and Troicki are also positive. Zverev was negative and apparently regretful.

Troicki's pregnant wife is also positive, as is Grigor's coach and Novak's physical trainer. What a shit show that whole exhibition turned out to be. Djokovic is taking a lot of heat in the press and on social media (well deserved imo).

[Spunkygal]

Novak and Jelena have tested positive but the kids are negative.

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/29351887/novak-djokovic-tested-positive-coronavirus

[mojoween]

I don’t get it.  Wasn’t Novak bitching about the ‘rona just two months ago?  Why on earth would he run a tournament?

[TVbitch]

It's not just the tournament, he was way more stupid than that. ...plus, he can't dance. 

https://nypost.com/2020/06/22/novak-djokovic-in-hot-water-over-reckless-partying-tournament/

 

[BlackberryJam]

So the Djokovics tested positive.

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/29351887/novak-djokovic-tested-positive-coronavirus

What a fucking disaster that is. Did I notice that the younger brother, Djordie(?) was organizing? Didn't that kid never attend school because they took him everywhere with Novak? I always felt sorry for him.