Clay chaos

MONTE-CARLO
Tsitsipas needed that one

Stefanos Tsitsipas clinched his third title in Monte-Carlo, after 2021 and 2022, proving way too powerful for Casper Ruud (6-1, 6-4) who still had a great week after that weird loss in Estoril’s semi-finals while defending his title. The Greek is only the third player, with Rafael Nadal and Ilie Nastase, to win his first three finals here. Tsitsipas will be back in the Top 10 and it’s the first time since Roland-Garros 2021 that he found a way to beat three Top 10 in a row (Zverev, Sinner, Ruud).

If there was a player in need of a strong start on clay, it was Stefanos Tsitsipas. Finalist in Roland-Garros in 2021, he’s been looking lost for some time already and, even at just 25, looked like he would be relegated to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s afterthought on that Tour. No wonder he got so emotional after winning that Masters 1000: doubt was creeping. “I did need a week like this a lot, especially the rough months that I have been through the last half of 2023 until now,” he admitted. We all agree.

Novak Djokovic was the other player looking for confidence. He got it, but not fully. Sure, the World No.1 fought his way through the semi-finals and got more matches under his belt. But his level of play was still very far from his standards. “I'm used to really high standards in terms of expectations of the results, so not having a title is, maybe compared to the last 15 years, not a great season at all. But I had semis in Australia, semis here. I only played three tournaments this year, so of course, you know, it's normal to expect that you have some seasons where you don't start well, and this is the one."

But the timing is not ideal as Djokovic dreams of that gold medal at the Olympics. There have been many changes around Djokovic since the end of last year and again after Miami where he parted ways with Goran Ivanisevic. It might start to feel a bit too much for someone who has been such a creature of habits in his work. But Djokovic also proved far too often how good he is at peaking at the right times, for us to start doubting he can do it again this year. I guess Roland-Garros will be the next true judge of where he stands in 2024.

MONTE-CARLO 
Umpiring was MIA

Sinner got robbed. The ATP will ditch line judges in 2025, only using electronic calls. And unfortunately for those who disagree with the move, umpiring in Monte-Carlo didn’t help their lobbying. Even on clay where you can see marks clearly, a shocker happened during the Jannik Sinner - Stefanos Tsitsipas match that cost the Italian a spot into the final of a Masters 1000.

There is no way to understand how that second serve, which was way out, didn’t get called by absolutely anybody whose eyes had one job: spot that ball. Sinner should have led 4-1 in that third set and be done with that match. Humans make mistakes, sure. But this one? Unacceptable at this level.

“It’s hard to swallow because I was playing very good tennis”, said Sinner who also tried to keep the bigger picture in mind. “Everyone can make mistakes, unfortunately, or fortunately. You know, I can make mistakes too. And that’s what happened.” Yet he didn’t shy away from admitting that this mistake cost him the match, also because a few minutes later he started to cramp: “It’s a very likely consequence of what happened because it also affects the nervous side of the brain (smile), and then, it’s not easy to play.”

It also came a few days after Daniil Medvedev lost his mind on the court after a dubious call. And because when it rains, it pours, the umpiring week in Monte-Carlo also had to deal with this Holger Rune situation. That quickly evolved into a Rune vs the ATP situation.

During his quarter-final against Sinner, Rune received a warning for gesturing to a feisty part of the crowd that it should shut up. The score was 5-5 and 0-30 in the second set. And, I’m sorry, it has to be one of the most ridiculous warnings in recent memory. If you let the crowd heckle players, you let them answer as long as it doesn’t get wild. Rune did nothing much different from what Novak Djokovic did the same week, with no consequences, while dealing with some hostile fans.

And so the whole thing escalated because Rune had already been dealt a very rough schedule: two matches played until late on Thursday, and scheduled on Friday at 1 pm against Sinner. Rune, beaten by Sinner and upset by this warning thing, then fell on the tweet above from the ATP. That was the last drop for him and he lashed out at it. A perfect storm.

QUESTION OF THE DAY 

I asked you last time if it was time to worry again about Carlos Alcaraz as he struggled to start his clay season. You all answered yes. It’s official, we’re “Team Worrying”.

BJK CUP
Raducanu did the unexpected

Emma Raducanu got back into the spotlight at the worst time for France. A win in Le Portel against Caroline Garcia on Friday and another against Diane Parry on Saturday, and just like that Great Britain was qualified for the finals. Katie Boulter also came to play with a crucial win against Clara Burel.

“I'm still in a bit of disbelief. The performances today from Katie and Emma were just incredible," captain Anne Keothavong said. Beating France in France and on clay before Roland-Garros and the Olympics? Yep, chapeau!

Naomi Osaka made a winning return in the BJK Cup. The Japanese hadn’t played since 2020 but she was in Tokyo to help the team beat Kazakhstan this weekend. It could help her get that exemption to play in the Olympics as she hasn’t played the BJK Cup twice during this Olympic cycle. Iga Swiatek responded to the call, against Switzerland, and sent Poland into the finals.

BUSINESS
Tennis revolution on the way. For real, this time?

The Athletic reveals that tennis leaders (ATP, WTA, Grand Slams) are meeting up this week in London to find a common strategy regarding their scheduling issues and the Saudi Arabia funding situation ($1 billion, anyone?). It comes after the Guardian also expressed how the sport was at a crossroads due to Saudi Arabia’s offer and the Premier Tour's temptation in response to it. The Tour against the Grand Slam events? Please tell me how this would help to grow that sport… It will not, so a compromise needs to be found at that table.

The issue is not easy to solve. The Tour needs more money but the players don’t want to keep playing that much, and they also demand a bigger share of the Tour’s money. That schedule has been causing troubles for a long time, exposing again the conflictual interests that have often frozen any chance of change. Something will have to give at some point, and The Athletic’s sources seem to think it could be the Masters 1000 currently held in Paris which would be taken out of the calendar so an event could be set up in Saudi Arabia.

IMG’s tennis players will have even more opportunities at the IMG Academy, as the academy has formed a new partnership with IMG’s tennis division. What does it mean? More access to training, academic facilities, and campus center, as well as “immersive training experiences” and access to coaches and other specialists.

We told you in the last edition that luxury brands were all coming for tennis! And what great timing after Iga Swiatek crossed paths with Zendaya, another Lancôme icon, in Indian Wells? It’s a major signing for Swiatek who is no doubt trying to get more mainstream power. Shameless plug, but I talked to her and her team about the business side of her career last year and you can still read it here.

LATEST NEWS 
Alcaraz out of Barcelona

• As feared after he had to give up on Monte-Carlo, Carlos Alcaraz lost his race against the clock to defend his title in Barcelona. On Sunday, he withdrew from the tournament due to that right arm injury. He took a last test on Sunday and didn’t like how he felt.

• Sebastian Korda was robbed during his week in Monte-Carlo for the tournament. He was attacked by two people a couple of days before the start of the tournament, and his watch was stolen. That watch was a Richard Mille costing around $300k.

• Elina Svitolina told Time that restrictions against Russian Olympians weren’t enough.

• Venus Williams has a new wellness book on the shelves for you. The tennis star is releasing Strive, “a guide towards living your best life”. You’ll have to wait until September 10 though to get all the tips and tricks.

• Netflix has for now given up on tennis, but it didn’t give up on sports as a whole: Meghan Markle will release a series about the world of professional polo, shot mainly at the US Open Polo Championship in Wellington. Tennis should feel a little bit insulted…

EDITOR’S PICKS 

• Listen to: Served, by Andy Roddick. That tennis podcast is entirely popcorn-worthy. No surprise with someone like Roddick who’s always been saying what he was thinking. He def should join NCR and The Tennis Podcast in your rotation.

• The best culinary experiences from around the world? Food & Wine has you covered. Also, don’t we all dream of eating our way through Tokyo? Duh.

• A Samsonite Duffel bag in the Tennis Sweet Spot favorite color? Take my money, thank you very much.

• When the boarding starts and you can’t find that passport again, or that boarding pass, or both? Get that life-saver of a pouch.

• When you put that sunscreen on, don’t you dare forget these lips. Yes, you, just about to play tennis for three hours under that sun. The perk? Sun Bum lets you pick a flavor.
  
  

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