Cincinatti Combo

[stroke]

Sinner is just treating the field thus far as if they are not really on the Tour. So very unusual in this day of "paper thin margins ".

[jimlosaltos]

Sinner is just treating the field thus far as if they are not really on the Tour. So very unusual in this day of "paper thin margins ".

Point.

[jimlosaltos]

Coming up Ben Shelton vs Sasha Zverev could be a good measuring rod for how both are doing going into the US Open,

Ben looks sharp. But he's 0-3 vs Zverev and, I believe, only taken one set. Somewhat unusually, in only 3 matches, Zverev has won on grass, clay, and hard courts vs Ben.

On the other hand, Zverev has never looked this vulnerable (speaking in general over the past months, not just Cinci). Really lacking confidence or something. Talked about a great session he had with Uncle Toni and how that got him excited again.

[stroke]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNVhoCBMClT/?igsh=MTR5MGRoMDhtNWtobg==

Atmane takes out Rune in 2 sets. Another great win, but his win over a totally engaged Fritz, who clearly did not want to lose this match, was even more impressive. He has Sinner next. Atmane, a great athlete, lefty, has a lot of tools, but he does seem to give up a lot of court, like so many players. Hard to see him beating Sinner.

[klacr]

Sinner in scary form. Amazing how he just marginalizes opponents. Alcaraz still worth the price of a ticket for the show and shotmaking. We may wanna get used to it. These guys will be battling for at least the next decade. Scary thought, both of these guys are still so young, wait until their bodies and mind fully mature at 25-26. I reckon they are only at 85-90% of their full capacity right now.


Kyle LaCroix
Boca Raton
SETS

[jimlosaltos]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNVho...RoMDhtNWtobg==

Atmane takes out Rune in 2 sets. Another great win, but his win over a totally engaged Fritz, who clearly did not want to lose this match, was even more impressive. He has Sinner next. Atmane, a great athlete, lefty, has a lot of tools, but he does seem to give up a lot of court, like so many players. Hard to see him beating Sinner.

Got to favor Sinner, of course, but what Atmane has shown has been amazing. Here's a guy, 136 in the world, relatively unknown and he's got great skills and talent.

Last week Terrence Atmane lost to fellow qualifier Facundo Bagins, 689 in the world. This week, he's doubled his earnings for the year, jumped to the top 100, and top 50 in the "live" rankings. Started to break out in tears after topping Taylor, then stopped and put game face back on. Cinderella stories like this are part of what makes tennis great. Kudos.

Both Taylor Fritz, world number 4, and Holger Rune were mystified, no idea how to respond. Atmane was often playing from "Medevevian depths" but hitting such a huge, lefty forehand often within a yard of the baseline that he was beating Fritz with power seemingly from the box seats. Then when Rune tried to serve and volley to exploit Atmane's depth, the Frenchman would spin a little backhand at his toes.

Earlier this week, I remember Ben Shelton going for a winner from deep out of court on his forehand and missing. His father-coach Bryan smiled ruefully, the announcers said, "Ben's still learning. That's a wasted shot." Atmane must have hit that same, virtually identical shot 20 times this week. Owns it.

[stotty]

I caught the third set between Rublev and Carlos. Carlos played like a drain at times — with the lapses which we all know him for. Yet he still rolled out the winner. I have never known a player have so many careless spells in matches yet still win the majority. He’s not the neat and tidy match player Roger was that’s for sure, nor stingy like Rafa was — still if he wins...

[don_budge]

The best thing to come out of Cincinnati lately. This magic music video by John Yandell. I love it. He loved it. I miss him. In memory of John. Federer...Forehand Not Gone.

https://www.tennisplayer.net/members/music_videos/federer_fh_not_gone/index_small.html

[jimlosaltos]

I caught the third set between Rublev and Carlos. Carlos played like a drain at times — with the lapses which we all know him for. Yet he still rolled out the winner. I have never known a player have so many careless spells in matches yet still win the majority. He’s not the neat and tidy match player Roger was that’s for sure, nor stingy like Rafa was — still if he wins...

Wasn't Fed erratic early on? I remember McEnroe calling Fed a "disappointment" when he hadn't won a major until he was, what 22 yo? That's how old Alcaraz is.

I have to keep reminding myself that Alcaraz is younger than Sinner - and look how much Sinner's game has evolved in the last two years.

[jimlosaltos]

Sinner prevails over Atmane but the 23 year old qualifier acquitted himself well. Sinner wasn't broken in their two sets, but barely made a dent on Atman's either.

To me, Atman's motion is a bit like Kyrgios', low toss, what I call the "Aussie running serve" since watching Patrick Rafter seemingly get half way to the net before making contact (exaggeration !).

In this highlight vid from ATP, Atmane hits 3 straight aces against Jannik who, in case anyone here doesn't know already (unlikely), is a very good returner.

As a lefty, that deuce serve right in the T, moving away is a real weapon. He was hitting it against, Fritz, Rune and today, so it seems repeatable.

Great run for the world 136 coming in. It wasn't just a hot match, or a couple, look at who he beat:

1) Rune world number 9
2) Fritz, R4
3) Fonseca R52
4) Cobolli, seeded 15 and on a run
5) Nishioka


Hot Shot: Atmane drops 3 straight aces on Sinner Cincinnati 2025

https://www.atptour.com/en/video/hot-shot-atmane-drops-3-straight-aces-on-sinner-cincinnati-2025

[jimlosaltos]

P.S. Atman had a birthday present for Sinner on the way in.

https://x.com/josemorgado/status/1956798182660468785

[stroke]

https://vsin.com/tennis/jannik-sinner-vs-carlos-alcaraz-prediction-odds-preview-cincinnati-best-bets-for-august-18-2025/

[jimlosaltos]

Atmane's 112 MPH service return vs Rune, multiple views in a ~60 sec video, YT Short.

A run-around forehand from outside his backhand side, doubles alley.

Screen cap, vid link below.

filedata/fetch?id=108156&d=1755450578&type=thumb

https://youtube.com/shorts/bbLEll7fSb4?si=nnex9KOdhzOMYNtl

[jimlosaltos]

Iga beat Rybakina and Paolini is up a set and a break on Kudermetova.

So, we're approaching an Iga - Jasmine women's singles final.

[jimlosaltos]

Why did Atmane write "Fermi's Paradox" on the camera lens after winning the quarterfinal? cont ...

filedata/fetch?id=108161&d=1755461793&type=thumb

The paradox, named for physicist Enrico Fermi, addresses "the high likelihood of aliens existing and the lack of evidence for that existence. If the universe is so vast, why has no other intelligent life been observed?"

Perhaps Atmane is saying that he has been a walking paradox: There is a high likelihood he can play good tennis, but in his career so far, it hadn't been observed. From The Athletic: "His ATP Tour career record prior to this event was 5-14; his ATP Challenger record, one rung down, a modest 74-48. He is only 19-10 at Challenger level in 2025, despite winning two titles in the spring.

"At this year’s French Open, his home Grand Slam, the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd booed him following a limp defeat to Richard Gasquet, a statesman of the French game. At the 2024 edition, he somehow avoided being defaulted after lashing a ball into the stands in frustration and striking a spectator; a few months later, his former sponsor, Asics, dropped him. Atmane had carried Nike shoes onto court the day before he announced their split."

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