Talk About Tennis 2.0

Mens Singles Draw

N. Djokovic 1 vs Qualifier/LL
A. Popyrin vs M. Polmans WC
Y. Hanfmann vs G. Monfils
A. Murray vs T. Etcheverry 30

A. Mannarino 20 vs S. Wawrinka
A. Shevchenko vs J. Munar
C. O'Connell vs C. Garin
R. Bautista Agut vs B. Shelton 16

T. Fritz 12 vs F. Diaz Acosta
R. Carballes Baena vs B. Gojo
F. Marozsan vs M. Cilic
Qualifer/LL vs F. Cerundolo 22

L. Musetti 25 vs B. Bonzi
J. Duckworth WC vs L. Van Assche
A. Vukic vs J. Thompson
M. Berrettini vs S. Tsitsipas 7


J. Sinner 4 vs B. van de Zandschulp
Qualifier/LL vs P. Cachin
D. Galan vs J. Kubler WC
J. Wolf vs S. Baez 26

F. Tiafoe 17 vs B. Coric
T. Machac vs Qualifier/LL
A. Tabilo vs Qualifer/LL
D. Altmaier vs K. Khachanov 15

A. de Minaur 10 vs M. Raonic
M. Arnaldi vs A. Walton WC
P. Kotov vs A. Rinderknech
Qualifier/LL vs N. Jarry 18

S. Korda 29 vs Qualifier/LL
Q. Halys vs Qualifier/LL
C. Eubanks vs T. Daniel
T. Seyboth Wild vs A. Rublev 5

Bottom Half

H. Rune 8 vs Y. Nishioka
L. Djere vs A. Cazaux WC
A. Fils vs J. Vesely
R. Safiullin vs T. Griekspoor 28

U. Humbert 21 vs Qualifier/LL
Z. Zhang vs F. Coria
D. Shapovalov vs Qualifer/LL
Qualifier/LL vs H. Hurkacz 9

G. Dimitrov 13 vs M. Fucsovics
S. Ofner vs T. Kokkinakis
M. Marterer vs N. Borges
C. Lestienne vs A. Davidovich Fokina 23

F. Auger-Aliassime 27 vs D. Thiem
A. Muller vs Qualifer/LL
P. Kypson WC vs E. Ruusuvuori
Qualifier/LL vs D. Medvedev 3


A. Zverev 6 vs D. Koepfer
S. Kwon vs Qualifier/LL
J. McCabe WC vs A. Michelsen
B. Zapata Miralles vs J. Lehecka 32

C. Norrie 19 vs J. Varillas
D. Lajovic vs Qualifier/LL
M. Purcell vs Qualifier/LL
A. Ramos-Vinolas vs C. Ruud 11

T. Paul 14 vs G. Barrere
M. Giron vs J. Draper
M. Kecmanovic vs Y. Watanuki
R. Hijikata vs J. Struff 24

A. Bublik 31 vs Qualifier/LL
M. McDonald vs J. Shang WC
D. Evans vs L. Sonego
R. Gasquet vs C. Alcaraz 2

Sinner vs Botic
De Minaur vs Raonic
Felix vs Thiem
Gasquet vs Alcaraz
Eubanks vs Daniel
These are the most interesting first rounders I see

likely first round upset: Tiafoe to Coric...not expecting any others, really..in the first round.

Uhm... The days of Tiafoe being a TOTAL head case are a bit behind him. Sure, he can lose it, but not again the lower players.
I say that is a 60-40 match, for Francis.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 9:12 pm Uhm... The days of Tiafoe being a TOTAL head case are a bit behind him. Sure, he can lose it, but not again the lower players.
I say that is a 60-40 match, for Francis.

His recent record is pretty poor..so is Coric's of course but I am more disappointed with Tiafoe's decline...

I think Tiafoe has plateaued. He worked his way to a more than decent level and now seems to be stuck. Let's see how he does vs Coric, who when he's not injured is pretty decent and can steal a match or two.

About him having plateaued. Agree. He took his talent to his highest level. Now, I don't know what else he could do.

He hasn't stayed at that level though....

Hard to stay at ones highest possible level constantly. He might still get back there.

His style is prone to fluctuations. The flashiness is there, but the silly choices remain (although he did cut down on them).
But I don't think that he is truly a "permanent top 15" player, ala Ferrer, Henman or Tsonga. I don't think he can reach consistency. And maybe his SF USO run was his peak. Which is a fine one.

Who are the current "permanent top 15", but not good enough for a Slam title?

Can't name them all, but there are a few I don't think will get a slam:
Rublev. The lack of variety will always hurt him.
Fritz. Although I can't see what's missing.
Zverev. He went out due to injury, and now he is back. But I don't know if he can get a slam.
Stefanos. Same as above, but now that back injury is worrisome.
Ruud. He will be in this group for a good time, because he can win a lot on clay. I don't know if he will be able to take that next step, although RG seems possible once Novak retires.

This ties to another question we asked a while back: how many current players will make it into the top 10 at one time in their career? I am surprised, for example, that DeMinaur just made it

Poll started. 6 votes, to be spread amongst up to three players, with a maximum of three votes to any player.

has the draw in printable form

Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Jan 12, 2024 4:01 pm Who are the current "permanent top 15", but not good enough for a Slam title?

everyone except those who have already won one, and Sinner...!