Talk About Tennis 2.0

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 13, 2022 3:32 pm Well, but different tournaments mean different things for all players. For Carlitos or Jannik, this does not mean much. For Rune or Draper, it might mean more.
It is like local tournaments. I am sure that the Tallin tournament means more to Kontaveit than all other tournaments, excluding Slams. Cami said it: one of her dreams was winning the WTA Bogota.
I say that this was one of those over reactions to the extra long dominance of the Big 3. We will see younger champions again. Not necessarily at 18, but yes at 20. And it might be soon.

meganfernandez wrote: ↑Thu Oct 13, 2022 5:17 pm

Owendonovan wrote: ↑Thu Oct 13, 2022 12:52 pm I think the top 2 qualifiers bailing speaks volumes about the importance they feel this tourney is.

They would probably be embarrassed to take up a spot in this event AND the bigger Turin final. Better to give their spots in the Milan event to another young player who would qualify. They don't need this event, but some other young gun does.

Firstly, this 'next gen' thing is not a tournament. It's an exhibition. So to compare it to a real tournament doesn't make sense. It's an exhibition where they play around with the rules and scoring system to make it more 'attractive' to the people whose attention span is about 4 seconds.

Secondly, no-one 'needs' this exhibition. The tour existed fine without it for decades. It's just another gimmick designed to make extra money for the people in charge.

Luca Fiorino
@FiorinoLuca
UFFICIALE

Matteo Arnaldi sostituisce Holger Rune alle
@nextgenfinals


Saranno tre gli italiani al via
Translated from Italian by Google
OFFICIAL

Matteo Arnaldi replaces Holger Rune at
@nextgenfinals


Three Italians will be at the start

Great photo, but the nature of NextGen means that this isn't the most well known group just yet, so some names would've been nice. A second threaded post with all the qualifiers names from left to right feels like a very easy thing to do here if it wouldn't fit in the first post.

We are tennis fans here, and I can only name Musseti, Draper and Nakashima. The other 5 I can't tell.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 7:08 pm We are tennis fans here, and I can only name Musseti, Draper and Nakashima. The other 5 I can't tell.

Right. I can only identify 2 (Musetti and Nakashima). I know Draper is there, but can I actually pick him out? No.

Interesting that in the top 25 ranked NextGen players there are 10 Italians.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 7:08 pm We are tennis fans here, and I can only name Musseti, Draper and Nakashima. The other 5 I can't tell.

I only got Nakashima and thought Musetti was one of the Cerundalos. Never even heard of Passaro and Arnaldi.

With the Fast Four format, I'm going with a big server - Draper.

Ponchi you didn't include "Not a Clue" as an option.

ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 8:53 pm Ponchi you didn't include "Not a Clue" as an option.

Or "Other". Could be the alternate!

Tuesday, November 08, 2022 Day 1

Centre Court Starts At 2:00 Pm

RR1
(5) Jiri Lehecka VS (8) Francesco Passaro
Not Before 3:00 Pm
RR1
(2) Lorenzo Musetti VS (6) Chun-Hsin Tseng
7:30 Pm
RR1
(9) Matteo Arnaldi VS (4) Brandon Nakashima
Followed By
RR1
(3) Jack Draper VS (7) Dominic Stricker

ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 9:32 pm Tuesday, November 08, 2022 Day 1

Centre Court Starts At 2:00 Pm

RR1
(5) Jiri Lehecka VS (8) Francesco Passaro
Not Before 3:00 Pm
RR1
(2) Lorenzo Musetti VS (6) Chun-Hsin Tseng
7:30 Pm
RR1
(9) Matteo Arnaldi VS (4) Brandon Nakashima
Followed By
RR1
(3) Jack Draper VS (7) Dominic Stricker

So... Rune was to be the top seed, but because he pulled out (before the thing begins), there is no #1 seed, and the 8 players are seeded #2 to #9?
Seems stupid.

Yes, 5 of the 8 players are players whom a lot of us have never heard of or seen - or, if we have, it's been in a Challenger or similar, and we didn't retain the name.
If they're going to continue with this 'Next Gen' gimmick, I'd prefer that ALL the players be players that most people don't know. Hell, Musetti, Nakashima, and Draper have been playing top level tournaments for a while now - especially Musetti. We already know that they're good, and that they will likely improve.

I know they want the sponsor and fan money that the known names bring in... But if they made the 'Next Gen' thing for truly unknown players, it would be more interesting to guess which players will be playing top level tournaments in a few years.

Deuce wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 11:44 pm

ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 9:32 pm Tuesday, November 08, 2022 Day 1

Centre Court Starts At 2:00 Pm

RR1
(5) Jiri Lehecka VS (8) Francesco Passaro
Not Before 3:00 Pm
RR1
(2) Lorenzo Musetti VS (6) Chun-Hsin Tseng
7:30 Pm
RR1
(9) Matteo Arnaldi VS (4) Brandon Nakashima
Followed By
RR1
(3) Jack Draper VS (7) Dominic Stricker

So... Rune was to be the top seed, but because he pulled out (before the thing begins), there is no #1 seed, and the 8 players are seeded #2 to #9?
Seems stupid.

It is soooo dumb that it makes me think there has to be a reason. Like some things were already printed up or something would have been hard to change. Or Rune gets a bonus for being the No. 1 seed at Next Gen, so they agreed to not let someone else have the seeding. I don't know, but something. Otherwise, whyyyyyy?

I think Megan has it right.