Shanghai

[jimlosaltos]

Bit late to get this up, but some good matches under way.


When Mommy is Your Coach/ Svengali

Holger Rune came from behind over Matteo Berretti, who bombed 16 aces, but not before this amusing exchange. This is what happens when your mommy is your coach/svengalli.

Very shot vid on Twitter at link. Holger Rune's mother, Aneke gestures to him to cover the forehand side on breakpoint against Matteo Berrettini. So, the Italian gets an unreturned serve to Holger's backhand. Rune gives his mother a rude gesture.

https://x.com/tennismasterr/status/1843268817545527308

[jimlosaltos]

Playing Softball

Medvedev joins Zverev in criticizing the soft "pressureless" Wilson balls being used on some of the Asian swing now including at Singapore. But he adds an insight on how it affects different players.

From Tennis365: "The Russian called the supervisor onto court in his opening match, complaining that the balls in use – made by Wilson – were “not good enough for professional tennis” during his 7-5, 7-5 victory over Thiago Seyboth Wild.

Later and more calmly, he explained: "Questioning about his protestations after the match, the 28-year-old believed that the balls in use only gave Sinner and Alcaraz – the top two players in the world – an even greater chance of lifting the title.

“I think these balls mainly favour players who can be powerful on a set shot,” said Medvedev. “Some have real skills in this area of the game, others need movement.

“In fact, the two best players in this area… they are already the best players in the world… and I am sure they would be without the balls, but with these balls only Alcaraz and Sinner can generate crazy power. “It gives them an extra advantage. I try to fight with what I can. We train a lot. I try to get that power, which I have never had since I was young because of my body type.


https://www.tennis365.com/tennis-news/jannik-sinner-carlos-alcaraz-extra-advantage-daniil-medvedev

[jimlosaltos]

Novak Djokovic got past Alex Michelsen, the 20 yo American, in two tense tiebreaks and faces Cobolli, who topped Wawrinka, presumably tomorrow.

There is discussion that Djokovic has regained interest in the final matches of the year, since Alex de Minaur's injuries make Djokovic's path to qualifying for the year-end event clearer.

Djokovic also entered the Paris Masters, where he is the defending champ.

Novak is in the lower, Zverev, half in Shanghai -- yet again avoiding meeting both of Alcaraz and Sinner who are once again in the same half. Strange coincidences.

[jimlosaltos]

Update: More on the dead tennis balls, others agree, this time via the New York Times.


In his press conference, Medvedev said the slower balls tied into a wider issue on tour. “The last two or three years, the matches are longer on the ATP Tour because the balls don’t go that fast — longer rallies, longer games. You cannot serve aces.”

Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka expanded on Medvedev’s comments in posts on X. “Recently, there are many balls and courts that have this tendency, and powerful players have an overwhelming advantage,” Nishioka said.

“From the side that fights with timing and speed, there are more and more moments when nothing works.”

[stroke]

Playing Softball

Medvedev joins Zverev in criticizing the soft "pressureless" Wilson balls being used on some of the Asian swing now including at Singapore. But he adds an insight on how it affects different players.

From Tennis365: "The Russian called the supervisor onto court in his opening match, complaining that the balls in use – made by Wilson – were “not good enough for professional tennis” during his 7-5, 7-5 victory over Thiago Seyboth Wild.

Later and more calmly, he explained: "Questioning about his protestations after the match, the 28-year-old believed that the balls in use only gave Sinner and Alcaraz – the top two players in the world – an even greater chance of lifting the title.

“I think these balls mainly favour players who can be powerful on a set shot,” said Medvedev. “Some have real skills in this area of the game, others need movement.

“In fact, the two best players in this area… they are already the best players in the world… and I am sure they would be without the balls, but with these balls only Alcaraz and Sinner can generate crazy power. “It gives them an extra advantage. I try to fight with what I can. We train a lot. I try to get that power, which I have never had since I was young because of my body type.


https://www.tennis365.com/tennis-news/jannik-sinner-carlos-alcaraz-extra-advantage-daniil-medvedev

It is not his body type, it is his WTA like technique. But be that as it may, he is no doubt one of the best players in the world. Sinner is just as slight a build as Meddy.

[stroke]

Tiafoe goes out to Safiullin in 3 long sets. Late in the 3rd, the chair umpire throws in 3 time violations on Tiafoe. Tiafoe really got more and more miffed at each one. I personally think all 3 should not have been called, not that it matters. Tiafoe at conclusion of the match really went off on the umpire with several shouted "F You's".

[don_budge]

Not a good look for the ATP or America in China. I think that he should be suspended. This level of vitriol is not acceptable. Ironically...his outburst comes after a match with a Russian. Are they posting flags at this ATP venue in China? Just curious. I wonder if the Russian flag is flyable in China. The two countries have been cozying up together in recent years. I wonder if I am going to be flagged for political commentary. My question seems warranted. Free speech is debatable these days. Optional. Depending upon the venue.

https://tennisuptodate.com/atp/video-frances-tiafoe-loses-his-mind-repeatedly-screaming-swear-words-at-umpire-in-shanghai

[don_budge]

Censorship...

Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information.

This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient".

Censorship can be conducted by governments, private institutions.

When an individual such as an author or other creator engages in censorship of their own works or speech, it is referred to as self-censorship.

General censorship occurs in a variety of different media, including speech, books, music, films, and other arts, the press, radio, television, and the Internet for a variety of claimed reasons including national security, to control obscenity, pornography, and hate speech, to protect children or other vulnerable groups, to promote or restrict political or religious views, and to prevent slander and libel.

Specific rules and regulations regarding censorship vary between legal jurisdictions and/or private organizations.

Not a good look for the ATP or America in China. I think that he should be suspended. This level of vitriol is not acceptable. Ironically...his outburst comes after a match with a Russian. Are they posting flags at this ATP venue in China? Just curious. I wonder if the Russian flag is flyable in China. The two countries have been cozying up together in recent years. I wonder if I am going to be flagged for political commentary. My question seems warranted. Free speech is debatable these days. Optional. Depending upon the venue.

https://tennisuptodate.com/atp/video...re-in-shanghai

The ATP has ignored the seismic event at the tournament in Shanghai the other day. Acting like it didn't happen. Tennis metaphoring life. It's inconvenient. Francis went off the rails in a public setting. Is he getting preferential treatment? Certainly other players have been made an example of for lesser outbursts. Remember Novak accidentally hitting the linesman with a ball. Remember his stand against vaccinations. He was vilified. What is the difference between these two players? One warrants expose coverage and the other gets the code of silence. What is the difference between the two? Do we see this same sort of bias in society today?

It slipped out...then it became a torrent. I don't believe I have ever seen such an outburst from a professional tennis player. John McEnroe had some rather tense moments. Ille Nastase had his turn. They got lots of attention from the press. Francis Tiafoe goes full volcano and not a peep. Even coverage in other media is rather silent in comparison to the noise he made.

The ATP has censored the event up to this point. Damage control. Image is everything. Fake news. The suppression of information. Most interesting.

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https://youtu.be/IwccrGmvDIM?si=Wg6xUq3vSoJ5urYe

The incident.

[stroke]

Surely he will receive the maximum fine and a suspension. Anything less would be a travesty of justice to me, not that it matters. In another incident at the conclusion of the 1st set Zverev vs Griekspoor, Zverev attempted to reach a short ball and the umpire, Lahyani, correctly called double bounce. Zverev was enraged and went full princess mode in going off on Lahyani, the umpire(not profane). Leoni actually pacified and coddles him as if he had made an error. That IMO was just bad umpiring. Codding the spoiled brats just makes it worse to me.

[stroke]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DA5fMxruZRR/?igsh=a3p1eXgzZG92amZy

Tsitsipas also unhappy. I will say umpire Norm seems to not coddle like umpire Leoni, which to me is a real plus, particularly by today's standards.

[stroke]

Fritz absolutely routining a simply not competitive Rune out there. Rune at one time was thought to be maybe in the conversation about the upper realms of the game, but he seems a very long way from that.

[stroke]

Tsitsipas 3 winners and 16 errors off the backhand vs Med.

[jimlosaltos]

Tiafoe goes out to Safiullin in 3 long sets. Late in the 3rd, the chair umpire throws in 3 time violations on Tiafoe. Tiafoe really got more and more miffed at each one. I personally think all 3 should not have been called, not that it matters. Tiafoe at conclusion of the match really went off on the umpire with several shouted "F You's".

Presumably, Tiafoe will get a suspension and forfeit winnings from that event. He has apologized profusely and I hope sincerely.

This is NOT an excuse, but Tiafoe was one of several players who seemed completely unaware that the umpire was not making the final decision:

"a new system first trialled after the French Open automatically starts the clock three seconds after the previous point has finished, taking away the umpire’s chance to intervene."

Lahyani had to "remind Djokovic" during his match with Michelsen. I continue to be amazed at how many players either don't know (or pretend to not know) basic rules. Did the ATP do a poor job of informing them? Are their coaches negligent? Or do players just not pay attention? I remember before one Australian Open a couple of players were loudly complaining about some change, claiming they were surprised. Another player said, "We had a zoom call before the event and neither of them bothered to log in. In fact, hardly anyone logged in."

Suggestion: Don't complain about a rule if you don't even know what it is.

Carlos Alcaraz was at least aware of how delays were being called but didn't like it: “It’s crazy,” the world No.2 told Sky Sports. “I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces. I’ve never seen something like that in tennis.”

Also, Tiafoe was trying to game the system by doing fake ball tosses, without even taking his racket back, to stop the clock. Didn't work this time.

Tangentially, Shanghai had incidents that show a perhaps not widely realized problem with ELC. Without lines people, the chair has to assume a number of their other tasks and in the rush between points can make mistakes like -- calling out the wrong score in Wawrinka -Safiullin match.

[stroke]

I personally think the mistake made by umpire Carlos is completely unrelated to this stuff. Just my opinion. I think the players are completely aware of the rules. Alcaraz is a class act. I certainly have no problem with how he acted with his reprimand involving his time violation. He handled it with respect and class. I do personally have an issue with the Tiafoe actions. I think he was completely wrong, no respect shown to anyone. Not ok in my book, but I am a bit old school.