Next Gen ATP Finals

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Next Gen ATP Finals

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Just seen this thread too so am copying my post:

(Mods, would it be appropriate to merge the two threads? Or delete my post on the other one if that was a 'start-up' thread and this is 2019?)

Loving watching Sinner - he was dynamite at Wimbly qualis (despite losing).

Such beautiful timing and balance. A real fave.

Some other great matches too.....

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Thursday 7th of November 2019 08:40:31 AM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

From what I have seen so far, the event seems decent - crowds in evenings are full. The players are taking it seriously. The first to 4 games, 5 set structure works really well for me; it feels like it is a serious event, a sort of U21 World Championships, more so than the value the Elite Trophy in WTA brings to the table, IMO. The Elite Trophy is the B Finals, who cares, this is the U21 Finals and could stick around.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Approx 3 1/2 years ago, I went to a futures tournament in Murcia. Many will remember my "laundry duties" on behalf of Billy Harris that week. So why am I posting about it here on the Next Gen ATP finals thread.

That week, a certain CD on this board asked me to keep my eye out for a couple of promising youngsters - Caspar Ruud and Alex de Minaur, Today they played each other in these Next Gen finals. Alex de Minaur won 4-1 4-0 4-2. I remember being incredibly impressed by de Minaur on that day, while Ruud unfortunately had to retire injured.

They have come a long way since then, so all I can say is - CD, great spot sir. Picking these two out so long ago and now here they are. My write up on the pair of them can be found on this page.

britishtennis.activeboard.com/t61652091/week-7-spain-f4-10000-murcia-clay/

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Sunday 10th of November 2019 07:36:17 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Approx 3 1/2 years ago, I went to a futures tournament in Murcia. Many will remember my "laundry duties" on behalf of Billy Harris that week. So why am I posting about it here on the Next Gen ATP finals thread.

That week, a certain CD on this board asked me to keep my eye out for a couple of promising youngsters - Caspar Ruud and Alex de Minaur, Today they played each other in these Next Gen finals. Alex de Minaur won 4-1 4-0 4-2. A remember being incredibly impressed by de Minaur on that day, while Ruud unfortunately had to retire injured.

They have come a long way since then, so all I can say is - CD, great spot sir. Picking these two out so long ago and now here they are. My write up on the pair of them can be found on this page.

britishtennis.activeboard.com/t61652091/week-7-spain-f4-10000-murcia-clay/

Well, it seems 3 1/2 years down the line, it all holds very true

Alex de Minaur - It was this Aussie that really impressed me. He turned 17 yesterday but could probably still pass as a 15 year old. And heaven help the tennis world when his physique catches up. His talent was much more instinctive and what impressed me most was his variation. He wasn't afraid to throw in the drop shot and was extremely comfortable coming to the net and volleying. He certainly looked the more "naturally gifted" of the two players.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

That's very sweet of you, Bob

And your road-trips are legend! Including or excluding laundry biggrin

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

I wonder if the ATP tried finding a headline sponsor for this event. Seems a bit strange that we have the Nitto ATP Finals, but just the NextGen Finals, not sure why it couldn't be the "Name of Big Company" NextGen Finals. And I just noticed it's purely for prize money this event. Obviously they couldn't hand out ranking points because it's only open to U21 players.

Tennis TV put a post on social media, showing what the line up would have been in 2006:

Nadal
Baghdatis
Djokovic
Berdych
Murray
Gasquet
Wawrinka
Almagro

And I saw a very interesting comment asking whether we will ever see a next gen group, like the 2006 cohort that produces 4 grand slam winners.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Highlighting the huge boom in Italian tennis, worth re-posting the tweet from Jim Courier from the LTA strategy (tongue in cheek, sigh) thread:

@TennisPublisher
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Jim Courier says the increased number of Futures and Challenger-level events in Italy is part of the reason why Italian players have seen increased success in pro tennis. Players dont have to spend so much money on planes and trains he says #MoreFutures #MoreChallengers

5:31 AM - 1 Jun 2019

Again, maybe our dear federation could live and learn....

Although Sinner is freakishly good (blinkin' amazing match at Wimbly qualis this year, for £10 only), as mentioned before, they have several other very promising youngsters, including a top-400 player born in 2003! (Lorenzo Musetti) As well as Berretini, and 8 in the top 100, 15 in the top 200, three juniors in the top 400, the best junior overall by a country mile, etc. etc. etc.