Tournament & Tour Announcements

[JazzNU]

First 6 Months of the ATP 2021-2022 Calendar. Putting this here for reference for @Ti and anyone that needs easy access to it since the ATP site isn't making it as easy to view as it should be. Right click the image and open it in a new tab and you'll be able to zoom and see what it actually says.

[meganfernandez]

Don't forget it was Guy Forget who, as TD totally botched the Osaka situation.

I think it was mostly Osaka herself who messed up the Osaka situation.
She made a statement, which put her in a particular position, seemingly without doing any research with regards to what the response might be. Then, of course, she was completely unprepared for the response(s) which came, so she left.

Osaka started it and misstepped for sure. Personally, I give her some grace for that, especially given her state of mind at the time. We all screw up. The TD/ITF/etc could have handled it differently and more gently, and I think the popular opinion was that they were the adults in the room and should have acted like such. But it's likely that we don't know everything they did and said to her/her team before issuing the statement that many consider incendiary and unnecessarily harsh. I think people assume their only response was the statement that she could be DQ'd if she kept skipping press conferences. I interpreted the statement as "Look, kid, we don't have time for this s---." And I thought "good for them, that's my initial reaction, too." They also had a responsibility to inform the public what the situation was. But it really wasn't the best way to handle it, and cooler heads should have prevailed. I just didn't have as much ire for the tournaments/ITF as most people did because A.) I was mostly on the media's side of the whole thing; B.) I figured I didn't have all the information on their conversations; and C.) my big contention is infantilizing women, and the way everyone jumps to her defense has the whiff of infantilization to me. Like she needs protection. And I don't think she does. I think she handles herself very well.

It was an awful situation all around, except in that it sparked a needed conversation.

I was with a group of USTA staff last night - I'm new to the board of our local section - and they wondered if Osaka will every play again. I think she will. Do you?

Anyway, yay Amelie! Love this.

[ponchi101]

Osaka will play again. I don't think she is signed up for the Aussie tournaments as a token, and as quiet and easy going as she is, I do believe in her love for the game.

[Deuce]

Don't forget it was Guy Forget who, as TD totally botched the Osaka situation.

I think it was mostly Osaka herself who messed up the Osaka situation.
She made a statement, which put her in a particular position, seemingly without doing any research with regards to what the response might be. Then, of course, she was completely unprepared for the response(s) which came, so she left.

Osaka started it and misstepped for sure. Personally, I give her some grace for that, especially given her state of mind at the time. We all screw up. The TD/ITF/etc could have handled it differently and more gently, and I think the popular opinion was that they were the adults in the room and should have acted like such. But it's likely that we don't know everything they did and said to her/her team before issuing the statement that many consider incendiary and unnecessarily harsh. I think people assume their only response was the statement that she could be DQ'd if she kept skipping press conferences. I interpreted the statement as "Look, kid, we don't have time for this s---." And I thought "good for them, that's my initial reaction, too." They also had a responsibility to inform the public what the situation was. But it really wasn't the best way to handle it, and cooler heads should have prevailed. I just didn't have as much ire for the tournaments/ITF as most people did because A.) I was mostly on the media's side of the whole thing; B.) I figured I didn't have all the information on their conversations; and C.) my big contention is infantilizing women, and the way everyone jumps to her defense has the whiff of infantilization to me. Like she needs protection. And I don't think she does. I think she handles herself very well.

It was an awful situation all around, except in that it sparked a needed conversation.

I was with a group of USTA staff last night - I'm new to the board of our local section - and they wondered if Osaka will every play again. I think she will. Do you?

Anyway, yay Amelie! Love this.

Fair enough.

As for Osaka's future... I, too, am wondering about it.
I see her view of pro tennis as being similar in a way to Kyrgios's view. Of course, the way that they each react to it is very different - but I think that both of them absolutely love the game of tennis, but don't at all like all of the stuff that is part of the pro game - the spotlight, the pressure, the media, the officials, etc.
If they weren't so good at tennis, they'd be able to enjoy the game more, because they'd be playing it at a lower level, where there is less outside pressure, less spotlight, less (or no) media, etc.

Kyrgios has managed to make a lot of money while playing a limited schedule at a fraction of his potential. He's not a kid anymore (though his comportment would have people believe otherwise), and I think he'll probably retire within 2 years.
It would not surprise me if Osaka plays a limited number of tournaments in 2022, and then retires. It's all dependent upon whether she can overcome the negatives that pro tennis brings to her life. And that itself may depend upon what kind of advice and help she gets to help her. At a certain point, she may simply feel that pro tennis is really more of a negative than a positive in her life, and that it doesn't look like that will be changing anytime soon - so, might as well eliminate a negative from her life.

[Owendonovan]

If I'm 24, worth $50+ million and have experienced my profession with and without the attention, money, obligations, expectations and how they've affected me both positively and negatively, physically and mentally, I might choose a new path in life. Why sweat the stuff that you don't really enjoy? Maybe being a hitting partner could satisfy the need for some high level tennis if needed? 24 is young to be set for life financially. I don't know Naomi's ambitions, double digit GS wins don't seem to be an easy feat these days on the women's side.

[ponchi101]

The thing is, as I said before, it seems to me she really enjoys tennis. Sure, when you lose, it is hard, but in the last match she lost (Leylah @ the Open), you could see she never gave up. She has a competitive spirit that I believe only comes from an enjoyment of the sport.
Of course, I also hope she stays because it would be a huge loss for tennis, if she leaves.

[meganfernandez]

The thing is, as I said before, it seems to me she really enjoys tennis. Sure, when you lose, it is hard, but in the last match she lost (Leylah @ the Open), you could see she never gave up. She has a competitive spirit that I believe only comes from an enjoyment of the sport.
Of course, I also hope she stays because it would be a huge loss for tennis, if she leaves.

I think Osaka loves playing tennis, too. She posted training videos recently (noting that she never does that). She's training for the Australian. I don't think she would have had so much success already if she didn't truly love it.

Apart from that, it would be very hard to walk away from tennis if you're in her shoes - it's your identity, your parents put everything into helping you succeed, so many people (her teams) count on her and want her to do well. Of course they would understand if she truly didn't want to do it anymore, but accepting that could be very tough for a sensitive soul like her (a compliment).

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]

[JazzNU]

[JazzNU]

[skatingfan]

It's like they're trying to rub it in Novak's face.

[ponchi101]

Nobody even knows if Roger is going to be able to play. This is... a bit premature?

[Deuce]

Nadal hasn't been the healthiest player lately, either - it wouldn't exactly be surprising if he's out for months again at some point this year.

This is nothing but an attempt to sell tickets to people who know that 'Federer' and 'Nadal' are famous players, but who don't follow tennis enough to have any clue as to their current physical conditions.

[atlpam]

My first thought to this announcement was "Swan Song".