British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

wolf · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 31 & 32 - ATP Masters 1000 (National Bank Open) - Toronto, Canada (hard)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Guess the organisers are a bit happier though, given Mboko's win over Gauff last night

That will certainly have put a smile on their faces

And for all the people who went to Wimbly Qualis and watched her (Mboko, that is

) through the quali event, it was a rare treat and so good to see her just announcing herself on the adult stage

9vicman · Futures qualifying

JonH comes home wrote:
Fair point Indy. Talking of interesting, anyone else struggling to find this event interesting? I dont know if it is lack of the Brits doing well, or lack of some of the big names, but both mens and womens are struggling to capture my interest.

Im thinking its more that the 1000 concept is actually diminished by over supply and by the 10 day format. Scarcity is better, sometimes.

Im good with the Miami and IW events, would prefer them as one week though for each, but the gap for two big events fits well.

The 3 clay court Masters events is too many, on the mens side - I cant recall what women have, is it Dubai? But the three mens events has always felt too many for me. Personally, Ive never liked Madrid, Id get rid of that one and stick with MC and Rome as two one week events.

Canada and Cinci is too much in this slot, Ive always felt one should go - dont care at all for Cinci so Id stick with Canada and hope that if it was the only one, it would be more exciting too follow.

Shanghai and Paris suit me fine. Again, 7 days is all that is needed. Women have Wuhan thrown in there, which feels such an irrelevant event, personally Id can that for an event in Europe, but I guess that wont happen.

I guess what Im saying is 9 is just too many in both sides, Id cull it to 7, can the 10 day events, and mainly in this slot and the clay season, its just too congested and it actually diminishes the product and the value of the win. Snore.

Well there's one more men's Masters event to come, potentially Middle East (Saudia Arabia) in Feb.

I don't have a problem with the number of Masters Events. The top players should be playing each other more frequently. But no need to make them almost two week events to increase the draw sizes to 96. I quite liked when Miami was the only Grand Slam sized draw and now it diminishes these events.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

9vicman wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Fair point Indy. Talking of interesting, anyone else struggling to find this event interesting? I dont know if it is lack of the Brits doing well, or lack of some of the big names, but both mens and womens are struggling to capture my interest.

Im thinking its more that the 1000 concept is actually diminished by over supply and by the 10 day format. Scarcity is better, sometimes.

Im good with the Miami and IW events, would prefer them as one week though for each, but the gap for two big events fits well.

The 3 clay court Masters events is too many, on the mens side - I cant recall what women have, is it Dubai? But the three mens events has always felt too many for me. Personally, Ive never liked Madrid, Id get rid of that one and stick with MC and Rome as two one week events.

Canada and Cinci is too much in this slot, Ive always felt one should go - dont care at all for Cinci so Id stick with Canada and hope that if it was the only one, it would be more exciting too follow.

Shanghai and Paris suit me fine. Again, 7 days is all that is needed. Women have Wuhan thrown in there, which feels such an irrelevant event, personally Id can that for an event in Europe, but I guess that wont happen.

I guess what Im saying is 9 is just too many in both sides, Id cull it to 7, can the 10 day events, and mainly in this slot and the clay season, its just too congested and it actually diminishes the product and the value of the win. Snore.
Well there's one more men's Masters event to come, potentially Middle East (Saudia Arabia) in Feb.
I don't have a problem with the number of Masters Events. The top players should be playing each other more frequently. But no need to make them almost two week events to increase the draw sizes to 96. I quite liked when Miami was the only Grand Slam sized draw and now it diminishes these events.

I thought about the Saudi event after although last Id remembered it was touted for season opening ie before the AO. Is there any confirmation that its definitely Feb? There seemed to still be negotiations going on between the rival grand slam and ATP future tour bids when I last read about it?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
QF: Guido Andreozzi & Sander Arends (ARG/NED) CR 70 (46+24) vs (2) Julian Cash & Lloyd Glasspool CR 7 (4+3)

L16: (6) Joe Salisbury & Neal Skupski CR 30 (16+14) defeated Austin Krajicek & Horacio Zeballos (USA/ARG) CR 67 (59+8) by 7-6(2) 6-1

*****

QF: (1) Marcelo Arévalo & Mate Pavic (ARG/CRO) CR 2 (1+1 vs (6) Joe Salisbury & Neal Skupski CR 30 (16+14)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

L16: (ALT) Fernando Romboli & John-Patrick Smith (BRA/AUS) CR 109 (51+58) defeated (3) Harri Heliövaara (FIN) & Henry Patten CR 10 (5+5) by 6-4 6-7(9) [10-7] bleh

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
L16: (ALT) Fernando Romboli & John-Patrick Smith (BRA/AUS) CR 109 (51+58) defeated (3) Harri Heliövaara (FIN) & Henry Patten CR 10 (5+5) by 6-4 6-7(9) [10-7]

Dang. Harri commented in his blog how JP Smith was doing well and a player to watch, he and Neal Skupski played well together at Washington. Not sure Smity has a permanent partner, but one to keep an eye on.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Harri says they never got to grips with the conditions here. And many players are commenting the same. They at least improved on last years result, round one loss, and are now going to Henrys house for a few days to train ahead of Cinci.

jb288 · Satellite level

They both looked rather miserable in this match. Think a bit of team energy would have made a difference, though I know that's easier said than done.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Ive actually wondered if as a team they are going through a bit of a doldrum. Not saying a split is near or anything, but maybe they arent quite meeting their own expectations right now.

9vicman · Futures qualifying

JonH comes home wrote:
Ive actually wondered if as a team they are going through a bit of a doldrum. Not saying a split is near or anything, but maybe they arent quite meeting their own expectations right now.

Am sure they're not, in terms of tournament successes at the highest level, with only one title albeit the Australian Open. But they did have three match points against the eventual Wimbledon champions and are third on the race. The stats don't lie.

-- Edited by 9vicman on Monday 4th of August 2025 12:56:51 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

9vicman wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Ive actually wondered if as a team they are going through a bit of a doldrum. Not saying a split is near or anything, but maybe they arent quite meeting their own expectations right now.
Am sure they're not, in terms of tournament successes at the highest level, with only one title albeit the Australian Open. But they did have three match points against the eventual Wimbledon champions and are third on the race. The stats don't lie.

-- Edited by 9vicman on Monday 4th of August 2025 12:56:51 PM

definitely and they are clearly a good team and good friends - but maybe a sense of frustration seems to be there, am only basing that on reading Harri's blogs, tbh.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QF: (2) Julian Cash & Lloyd Glasspool CR 7 (4+3) defeated Guido Andreozzi & Sander Arends (ARG/NED) CR 70 (46+24) by 7-6(5) 6-3

jb288 · Satellite level

Winning streak up to 17 now!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Krawietz and Putz next.

Really impressive run this by Lloyd and Julian.