Tennis

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Tennis Australia was told by government that International Players would not be allowed to arrive Mod December for 2021 Australian Open as previously planned with a two week quarantine. Earliest players can arrive is January 1, 2021.

All Australia tennis tourney tuneups for the Australian Open have been moved to Melbourne, site of the Australian Open. Melbourne has had zero new COVID-19 cases the past 3 weeks.

Other January 2021 Australian Open tuneups in other nearby countries have been postponed. (New Zealand etc..)

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Round Robin Round 1

Thiem over Tsitsipas
Nadal over Rublev
Djokovic over Schwartzman
Medvedev over Zverev

Round Robin Round 2

Thiem over Nadal
Tsitsipas over Rublev
Zverev over Schwartzman
Medvedev over Djokovic

Round Robin Round 3:

Rublev over Thiem
Nadal over Tsitsipas
Djokovic over Zverev
Medvedev v Schwartzman

Semifinals:

Medvedev v Nadal
Thiem v Djokovic

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Round Robin Round 3:

Rublev over Thiem
Nadal over Tsitsipas
Djokovic over Zverev
Medvedev v Schwartzman

Semifinals:

Medvedev v Nadal
Thiem v Djokovic

Thiem over Djokovic. He becomes the 2nd player with at least 5 wins each over Federer, Djokovic, Nadal. (Andy Murray)

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Thiem over Djokovic. He becomes the 2nd player with at least 5 wins each over Federer, Djokovic, Nadal. (Andy Murray)

ATP Finals semifinals:

Thiem over Djokovic
Medvedev over Nadal

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ATP Finals semifinals:

Thiem over Djokovic
Medvedev over Nadal

ATP Finals:

Medvedev over Thiem.

Daniil Medvedev is the 2020 ATP Finals Champion. He went 5-0, and defeated the number 1, (Djokovic), nunber 2 (Nadal) , and number 3 (Thiem) ranked players in the World to do it.

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https://twitter.com/Barbados/status/1332026459406397449?s=19

This is more challenging than it looks.

..... separately, it would appear February 1 is a possible Australian Open target date.

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The Australian Open will begin February 8th, 3 weeks later than normal.

https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2020/12/report-australian-open-begin-february-8/91999/

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Jon Wertheim is saying that Indian Wells, CA, the 5th biggest professional tennis tournament of the calendar year, held annually in March, is soon announcing its cancellation for the 2nd straight year, for 2021. (3 months in advance). Not sure if possibility of later year reschedule or wait until 2022.

They were the first major sporting event cancellation in 2020.

[Not A Serious Person]

Jon Wertheim is saying that Indian Wells, CA, the 5th biggest professional tennis tournament of the calendar year, held annually in March, is soon announcing its cancellation for the 2nd straight year, for 2021. (3 months in advance). Not sure if possibility of later year reschedule or wait until 2022.

They were the first major sporting event cancellation in 2020.

This hurts as the junior's Easter Bowl, which is the week before in the same spot, will also be canceled.

This follows on the junior winter nationals getting canceled in Tuscon and Orlando.

If you are a highly rated junior (HS) player looking to get coaches' attention, these cancellations really hurt.

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This hurts as the junior's Easter Bowl, which is the week before in the same spot, will also be canceled.

This follows on the junior winter nationals getting canceled in Tuscon and Orlando.

If you are a highly rated junior (HS) player looking to get coaches' attention, these cancellations really hurt.

Yep. These are big junior events.

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American Sofia Kenin was named 2020 WTA Player of The Year by International Media. She's the 8th American to win it since its first year in 1977. It's the 20th time an American has won if you include repeat winners.

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This hurts as the junior's Easter Bowl, which is the week before in the same spot, will also be canceled.

This follows on the junior winter nationals getting canceled in Tuscon and Orlando.

If you are a highly rated junior (HS) player looking to get coaches' attention, these cancellations really hurt.

Reduced field Orange Bowl is allowing 1 person per player this week in Miami. Some are using their coach, others family etc...but you get one person only.

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If you are going to get some off season work in, you may as well do it with 30 Grand Slam Singles Titles, Sebi Korda:

https://twitter.com/atptour/status/1338176861424156672?s=19

(Their son by the way is a very promising baseball pitcher/3rd Baseman at USC.)

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Reduced field Orange Bowl is allowing 1 person per player this week in Miami. Some are using their coach, others family etc...but you get one person only.

16 year old American Wildcard Ashlyn Krueger wins the girls 18's. She won the 16's last year,...the first player to go back to back since Bianca Andreescu. Nice offensive, game, good size, good fight and temperament. It's the 4th straight American winner. Robin Montgomery won it last year. Krueger hopes to play a junior slam.

[Not A Serious Person]

Reduced field Orange Bowl is allowing 1 person per player this week in Miami. Some are using their coach, others family etc...but you get one person only.

Remember these are kids as young as 12.  Sometimes only having one parent, or just a coach is tough on them.

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Australian Open Main Draw Singles, and, Top 10 Doubles, get to bring 2 people for 2021. Everyone else gets 1.

This is the way the tour used to be before people such as Martin as Navratilova  began using/bringing the team concept.

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Some speculation whether or not Roger Federer would play the 2021 Australian Open. He's training in Dubai, and he is on the entry list.

ATP Calendar:
Delray Beach 250 and Antalya 250 same week.
Aussie Open Qualifying in Doha.
ATP Cup/ATP 250 both in Australia.
Australian Open.

WTA Calendar:
Abu Dhabi 500
Aussie Open Qualifying in Dubai.
Two diff WTA500 events Australia.
Australian Open.

Notable Aussie Open Wildcards, Andy Murray, Astra Sharma (Vandy). Murray also taking a wildcard at Delray Beach. Chris Eubanks (Georgia Tech) is in the AO qualifying tournament.

Season starts Jan 7th. AO begins Feb 8th.

Normal Calendar 2022.

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Some speculation whether or not Roger Federer would play the 2021 Australian Open. He's training in Dubai, and he is on the entry list.

ATP Calendar:
Delray Beach 250 and Antalya 250 same week.
Aussie Open Qualifying in Doha.
ATP Cup/ATP 250 both in Australia.
Australian Open.

WTA Calendar:
Abu Dhabi 500
Aussie Open Qualifying in Dubai.
Two diff WTA500 events Australia.
Australian Open.

Notable Aussie Open Wildcards, Andy Murray, Astra Sharma (Vandy). Murray also taking a wildcard at Delray Beach. Chris Eubanks (Georgia Tech) is in the AO qualifying tournament.

Season starts Jan 7th. AO begins Feb 8th.

Normal Calendar 2022.

And shortly after this, Federer has  now decided to withdraw from 2021 Australian Open per Tony Godsick his agent. He’ll return after the Australian Open. His streak of 21 straight Australian Opens, ends.

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Jon Wertheim is saying that Indian Wells, CA, the 5th biggest professional tennis tournament of the calendar year, held annually in March, is soon announcing its cancellation for the 2nd straight year, for 2021. (3 months in advance). Not sure if possibility of later year reschedule or wait until 2022.

They were the first major sporting event cancellation in 2020.

Indian Wells is targeting October, 2021 as a possible reschedule date for its March 2021 event. Nothing definitive yet.

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Tom Perrotta, a kind and generous person, and a really good insightful tennis journalist, died today. He was 44. (He was diagnosed at 40.)

This was one of his final pieces in November:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-a-stay-at-home-pandemic-a-sportswriter-finds-a-silver-lining-11606402801?redirect=amp#click=https://t.co/fzTXfQIY9f

https://awfulannouncing.com/tennis/tennis-writer-tom-perrotta-passes-away-at-44.html

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1) Fresh off of a strong finish to 2020,  Aryna Sabalenka takes the WTA title in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with wins over Hercog, Tamljanovic, Jabeur, Rybakina, Sakkari, Kudermetova. It was also a strong tourney for Maria Sakkari with comeback wins over Gauff, Kenin and a win over Muguruza. Marta Kostyuk also had a nice tourney.

2) 18 year old American Whitney Osuigwe with the epic comeback down 2-6, 2-5, to win her AO qualifying tourney. Notables, there were also good runs for Genie Bouchard and Caty McNally but they came up short in AO qualifying.

3) 20 year old American Sebi Korda has a chance for his first ATP Title this afternoon in Delray Beach, FL. Really impressive all court play, focus, and composure from Sebi. He spent part of his off season training with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in Las Vegas. With a win he'll improve to 87th in the World. He very much looks like a top 50 player in 2021.

[Not A Serious Person]

1) Fresh off of a strong finish to 2020,  Aryna Sabalenka takes the WTA title in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with wins over Hercog, Tamljanovic, Jabeur, Rybakina, Sakkari, Kudermetova. It was also a strong tourney for Maria Sakkari with comeback wins over Gauff, Kenin and a win over Muguruza. Marta Kostyuk also had a nice tourney.

2) 18 year old American Whitney Osuigwe with the epic comeback down 2-6, 2-5, to win her AO qualifying tourney. Notables, there were also good runs for Genie Bouchard and Caty McNally but they came up short in AO qualifying.

3) 20 year old American Sebi Korda has a chance for his first ATP Title this afternoon in Delray Beach, FL. Really impressive all court play, focus, and composure from Sebi. He spent part of his off season training with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in Las Vegas. With a win he'll improve to 87th in the World. He very much looks like a top 50 player in 2021.

With the Williams in their career twilight, a number of good American women are coming ... Kenin (who has already arrived with by winning the AO last year and world #3), Gauff, Osuigwe, Anisimova, Li, McNally, Bellis, Di Lorenzo, and Dolehide.  One of them can emerge as a rival to Osaka and/or Barty in the years to come.

[shoothoops]

With the Williams in their career twilight, a number of good American women are coming ... Kenin (who has already arrived with by winning the AO last year and world #3), Gauff, Osuigwe, Anisimova, Li, McNally, Bellis, Di Lorenzo, and Dolehide.  One of them can emerge as a rival to Osaka and/or Barty in the years to come.

Yep, lots of talent and depth on the Women's side. I'd add even more names to your list, Amanda Anisimova, who is already top 30 at age 19. Robin Montgomery, others...etc...

There were 30 top 200 American Women's players this past year. Players in their 20's. such as Jenn Brady, Danielle Collins, etc...have been much improved as well. Don't forget Stephens is only a years removed from a U.S. Open Title, and, when fit and focused, can beat anyone. Keys has also knocked on the door of winning a slam.

So there are still plenty of current players capable of at least winning a slam, Serena, Keys, Stephens, Brady, etc...let alone the younger group led by Kenin, Anisimova, Gauff, etc...

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American Madison Keys tested positive for COVID-19 before flying to Australia and will stay home and miss the tourney. She is a former top 10 player, currently ranked 16th, and a former AO Semifinalist. She'll be back next month.

Andy Murray has also tested positive for COVID-19. He was training in Roehamptom in London, where there has been an outbreak. He has an AO wildcard. He is now doubtful for that.

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While many ATP/WTA players are arriving just fine in Australia for the Australian Open, there have been two flights that have contained COVID-19 positives.

All flights to Australia have been private charter flights. The two separate flights came from Abu Dhabi and LAX.

The LAX flight contained two positives. Of the 79 people on the flight, 24 were players. The Abu Dhabi flight had 64 passengers, 23 were players.

All players.must isolate in their hotel rooms for 14 days, and will not be able to practice or participate in any events. From Abu Dhabi, this list includes Maria Sakkari, Bianca Andreescu, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ons Jabeur, Belinda Bencic, Angelique Kerber, Marta Kostyuk, Paula Badosa. From the L.A. flight, some of these players include Sloane Stephens, Victoria Azarenka, Kei NIshikori.

The two positives on the U.S./L.A. flight were a flight crew person, and a support staff person for a player. They had negative tests, took the flight, and tested positive upon arrival to Australia.

Andreescu's coach tested positive from the Abu Dhabi flight.

COVID-19 positives were transported to the "Health Hotel" (Holiday Inn Melbourne) while the main hotel is the long time popular with player/fan/staff, Grand Hyatt Melbourne. There are roughly 1,240 players, staff etc...