Week 46 - ATP World Tour Finals, London (hard)

TMH · Futures qualifying

RE: Week 46 - ATP World Tour Finals, London (hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

TMH wrote:
brendan wrote:
you should all know by now that the big 4 are getting old and their dominance is over - sure, they can win some more big trophies but the weekly grind of the tour looks beyond them now so it's time to look to the next generation who, like it or not, are going to be the names to watch for the next few years
Let's revisit this in a year if/when they're all back to full fitness again.
Murray and Djokovic have dominated the tour (along with Wawrinka) since Federer/Nadal's injury issues so it seems a bit odd to write them all off after just one injury-hit season before they've even returned.

... and as I said Nadal and Federer clearly dominated this year ( after many previous write-offs for both of them ). The time will come, but as yet? As Jon says let's revisit this if and when ... ( or indeed just 2 or 3 of them in reasonable fettle ).

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 20th of November 2017 05:20:54 AM

JonH · All-time great

Well done Dimitrov - 11 of the 15 matches went to 3 sets, that is an impressive number of tight matches and whereas the tennis may not always have been top, top level, the excitement generally was. And Dimitrov and Goffin played some excellent points not least the one in the last but one game when Dimitrov scrambled a lob and Goffin tried a tweener before Dimitrov put away the overhead.

My colleague is Bulgarian and managed to get finals tickets (face value £90, reseller had them at £60 due to a Roger fan selling them on in disgust - silly people) and she and her flat mate had a fantastic evening, very excited and enjoyed every minute. They hadnt planned to go to the final but went on Friday and saw Dimitrov beat Carreno Busta, enjoyed it so much they went back tonight.

Spectator · All-time great

Well done to both. An excellent match - and an excellent tournament for both. Wonderful for Dimitrov (and Dani Vallverdu, congratulations to him, as well) finally to break through the 'talented but not quite realising his talent' barrier. Wonderful for Goffin and his coach Thierry Van Cleemput - an amazing week, beating both Nadal (albeit injured) and Federer, and making the finals of the tournament. Wonderful for them both to show so much good sportsmanship, too (especially Goffin, in the face of some not-very-helpful attendees).

And there was GB involvement in the championship, too. Congratulations to Jonny Marray - apparently now Kontinen and Peers' coach - as they take the title!

As a fan of all the above, I have to admit to being quite happy with the outcomes, even without either Mr Murray involved at the end.

-- Edited by Spectator on Monday 20th of November 2017 09:56:39 AM

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Excellent final match. Disappointed Goffin didn't win but he fought very hard. Felt so sorry for him at the end. Looked like the last thing he wants to do is play the DC final next weekend with so much pressure on him personally. Good luck to him and Belgium but fear the French may just have too much for a very tired man.

Spectator · All-time great

Yes, I would have liked Goffin to win, though can't be unhappy about Dimitrov. And the idea that he now has four days to prepare for the DC is a bit silly. But I liked what he said about his run making him feel he really belonged among the top players and hope that carries him through the next stages. And what a huge achievement for him and the Belgian team to reach the DC finals twice in three years. Extraordinary.

Have to admit that this feels like a 'can't lose' DC final, too. On the one side numerous French players it would be lovely to see win a DC title. And on the other surely the most unlikely team of plucky winners in recent years. Wish tennis did draws!