Can anyone stop another Sinner-Alcaraz final?

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Well, hello and welcome to the Tennis Podcast on a Friday night after the ATP Finals semi-finals have just been complete. You are right. I am not Catherine Whittaker. Catherine Whittaker isn't here.

There's only me and Matt Roberts. So what's going to happen is anybody's guess. Matt, how are you doing? I'm very well, thank you. And especially anyone's... guess because it's friday night it's disco david so literally anything could happen that's right uh katherine actually we say disco david katherine's um sent us photos of

what seems to be a quite elaborate wine tasting session. So maybe for the best she's not with us. I think she is still doing the YouTube upload. So if you're watching this on YouTube... well done something's that could be fun yeah that could be i mean i'm almost looking forward to that um Listen, we've got plenty to catch up on because we've had a full week of the ATP finals now and we've got the semifinals to come tomorrow. So we're going to take the two group...

in turn, the Bjorn Borg group and the Jimmy Connors group. And we're going to look at the doubles. We're going to throw ahead to the semifinals, which... I'll give them to you right away because I dare say you know the scores and the results. It's going to feature... Who'd have thought it? Yannick Sinner and Carla Zaukaraz in the two semifinals. Sinner is going to face somebody who he has so many great matches against in Alex Diminor.

But you never know. And we're going to get Carlos Alcraz against Felix Ogiali-Assim. And it's Ogiali-Assim and his group, the Bjorn Borg group, that we're going to concentrate on.

first because that's the one that has just been completed and it's resulted in another win for ogelyasim against alexander zverev six four seven six so he finishes second in his group sinner had already guaranteed his place in the semis before He played against his opponent today in Ben Shelton, but he's gone 3-0. But that match tonight, Matt, that was a proper knockout match, straight knockout. That's the sort we like.

And you could probably feel that in the nerves out there, would you say? Yes, this was neither player at their best, I would say. Quite far from it, in fact. And I would say Zverev was probably felt like maybe the better player at the start of the match in the opening stages. But once Orjali Asim got the crucial break in that first set, which was to win.

the first set, he broke to win it 6-4. I felt like Orjali Asim became the better player for the rest of the match, but couldn't really take his chances. He kept getting either breakpoint chances or sort of... half chances openings like love 30 and he just couldn't quite put the hammer down and convert and i think there were a lot of nerves there and it looked for a little bit as well like that

second set tie break might slip away from Orgelia's team and we could end up in a third set with neither player playing their best. And that would have been really nerve central, I think. But ultimately... Quite a familiar story, I would say, in terms of some plays for Orgi Aliasim that were effective for him, you know, going to the slice. It's very...

didn't really know what to do off that shot for much of the match. Often would sort of drop it short or hit it in the net and allow Ogialia Seem to take over with his forehand. Zverev was having a... a total hot or cold day at the net and mostly cold he dunked a lot of easy volleys into the net today there were a couple of he picked up off his toes that were like wow but there was a just a lot of like misses he wasn't

convincing up at the net and I think Augelius took advantage of that and yeah ultimately Augelius seemed kind of the bolder bigger player on on some of the key points today and and just managed to to squeak through even without his best tennis. And yeah, they, you know, that, that was enough to get him through the group. And, you know, it's, it's Ujali Asim who lost his opening. match to Sinner but has bounced back well with a three set win over Shelton and now this one over Zverev and sort of

sort of keeps up his good form that he sort of came into this event with. He was one of the form players coming in and I think he'll be pretty pleased he's managed to sort of capitalise on that and get through the group. Yeah, he's done well considering he looked...

physically impeded in the first match I mean he played a great set against Sinner he lost it narrowly 7-5 and then seemed to hurt his calf but he did say after that as the matches went on he said look it's not a problem I mean you wouldn't be surprised if you get some time would you at this stage of the season? I'm mightily impressed with him when I think back to the chat I had with him just before the US Open.

If somebody had told us, I know he'd had a decent first half of the season. He'd won a lot of matches. He'd won some titles. But they weren't anything like what he's... gone on to do. I really wouldn't have seen this coming. And so I find that very impressive. One thing that...

strikes me that we're able to do now now that the group stages are complete obviously we we know the semi-finals we're going to build up to the semi-finals but we've also now seen the conclusion of several players seasons One of those being Zverev. Yes, he's still got the Davis Cup finals to come next week. But I mean, we hear a lot of my takes about Alexander Zverev. And you know...

how unimpressed I've generally been with him throughout the year. I mean, I find it astonishing that he's still at the ranking he's at. I mean, obviously, the ranking doesn't lie, but he's lost to so many players. How do you assess it? And what do you expect for the year to come? Because I felt like that was a really regressive performance tonight. The manner in which...

His forehand just deserted him. By the end of the match, it sort of started off well, and he was being aggressive, and he was going forward a bit, but nowhere near enough, in my opinion. But by the end, he looked lost to me. But I'm curious to know what you think. Well, firstly, the people definitely enjoy your Zverev takes. So you should... definitely give your takes as well. But look, I've agreed with you all year long, really. I think he's going to be in for a bit of a shock.

Next year, if he doesn't come close to defending those Australian Open points that are really, you know, bolstering his ranking right now, he's got what, over a thousand points on his ranking is that Australian Open final. and take those away and he's in with the pack you know he is in with the pack who are a long way behind

Alcaraz and Sinner. And that's the way I see it right now. You know, there's that stat doing the rounds, isn't there, that Zverev is closer in points to the world number 1,000 than he is to the world number 2. and he's the world number three. And it's really illustrative of the gap between them. But I do think... that gap has increased over the year, you know, like start of the season, he obviously reached that Australian Open final. He got...

He got absolutely taken apart in it and it felt then like the gap was big. The gap feels bigger now, I would say, and Zverev feels much more in a group with the likes of... Orjali Asim and Dimonor and Mazzetti and a couple of other players who are maybe injured, like a Jack Draper. He's in that category. going down, I would say, whereas a lot of those are on the way up looking to pass Fereb. And all of the same things we've always thought about his game have been evident this year.

to an even starker degree, I would say. You know, not bold in the big moments, not taking on the forehand and being outplayed by a lot of players. I know he's talked a lot about having some injuries this season and how that he feels has sort of impeded him this season.

And maybe that is the case. But I do think the general trend for him has been just sort of down for a little while now. And I don't really see many attempts to... course correct you know if i think back a year ago he was talking in the right way in terms of i need to try and be more aggressive against the big players but he's never put it into action and we've had a lot of

data now and evidence to suggest that that he's not really going to and you know in the right conditions when his serve is working he remains you know a very difficult player to beat and I think You know, that will probably always be the case. But those things don't often come together. And he's not really been a massive, massive threat for much of this season, I would say.

would kind of be where I am with it. And I think probably similar for you. Yeah. Interestingly, watching Auger Liasim felt a bit like watching Zverev against Taylor Fritz tonight. i.e. this feels repeatable this could become a another problem player for him and you can see on Felix's face that he kind of knows knows what he needs to do to beat him and he didn't even play that well tonight

To my mind, if I'm Zverev in his camp, I'm thinking of Elina Svitolina or I'm thinking of, you know, you want to go further about Mary-Joh Fernandes. These are the sort of players who overhauled their... their standard game to become more aggressive. I do think from what people with way more knowledge than me... would say is that he's technically deficient in terms of being able to actually do those things yeah that doesn't necessarily work for him but

I think the bigger problem is that in his DNA, he just moves backwards. If somebody stands up to him, like any old bully, stand up to them, they just shrink. And that happens a lot with him. So I agree with you. I think it would be a big surprise to me if he were to defend those points in Australia. we could be looking at another Medvedev really next year in terms of ranking drop-off. Maybe not to that extent, but still, I think we might have seen the best of him, really.

We'll see how it goes. The way Felix is playing, it's going to be interesting. We'll preview his semi-final in part three.

Yannick Sinner is going to be his opponent. He's come through 3-0. He actually probably looked at his weakest maybe against Zverev, I'd say. That was when Zverev played well and made a lot of the fact that he had most of the break points. But I find... from a Sinner perspective, Matt, that it might be even more encouraging that he was able to win that with his serve by just fighting off break points, finding first serves, and then...

winning the big points. Because if he can do that, then maybe he's not on top. I mean, how are you going to beat him then? Because, you know, his standard game is better than everybody, bar one player who on his day might be better. Some days might be worse, but the rest of them, what chance have they got? I found Zverev's comment about Sinner's serve in that match. Again, a classic Zverev.

comment like almost like whining a little bit about the fact that cinema made first serves on break points as though it was i don't know lucky or something it's it's kind of like when when someone says, oh, you only won because you've got a good goalkeeper. It's like, well, having a good goalkeeper is a perfectly legitimate thing to have. Like that's baked into squad building. And like for Sinner, it's like, it's like...

Yeah, I'm going to find my first serve on the biggest points and you're going to have to deal with that. Like Sinner time and time again is stepping up in those biggest moments in a way that's very evident. Yeah, he has been impressive, Sinner. Even, I would say, without really his absolute best because he hasn't needed it. He just looks in total control at the moment. I've really enjoyed his body language.

after he's hit some of these drop shots. He's become quite comfortable now playing the forehand drop shot. It's a shot that he is using... frequently and efficiently and effectively and I think he's pleased with himself there's this sometimes there's a little smirk there's a little see that I can do that and what I am really hoping for is

obviously, Senna Alcares, and whether he can deploy it against Alcares, against that movement. You know, the guy who we know that is in his head when he's hitting these drop shots. You know, he doesn't need them to be... Shelton, for instance, but it's a good time for him to practice them. And I think he's used that shot really effectively through the group stages. And I mean, the stats right now are a joke, really, in terms of what Sin is putting together at this tournament.

not even dropping sets in it in back-to-back years so far. And he's now on 29 wins in a row on indoor hard courts, which...

equals one of Federer's streaks. Federer also had a streak of 33 and Djokovic had a streak of 35. But he is, you know, he's up with them in terms of... this run of form that we're seeing right now and he is doing that thing in terms of what they always did which was just being able to keep the rest of the top 10 guys just at arm's length and just kind of cruise through have plenty in the tank for what he's going to need if he has to face Alcares.

I've noticed also he's been doing some interviews for Spanish TV in Spanish, I think, for the first time. Sinner, I think he's just sort of feeling himself a little bit at the moment. I've enjoyed seeing that as well. Yeah, he's in... He's in a great place. He's looked very, very good, as you'd expect. It's interesting to me how...

how he's able to just keep his focus. I mean, we've always remarked upon his focus, but today was a dead rubber, you know, and he's not even dropped a set against Shelton, who's... Obviously come out swinging and has played some decent stuff this week. I know he didn't win a match, but... He really should have won a set against Zverev. He was 6-3 up in the tiebreaker against Zverev in the second set of that one. He was up against Shelton. Sorry, he was up against...

Felix Ogiali as well. He was a set-up there. And he's got... Sinner to a tie break in this one, but Sinner wins the match in straight sets despite not needing to. I mean, that is something else. And this streak that he's building against Shelton now is just... It's becoming pretty outrageous. Yeah, I think Shelton, from memory, Shelton beat him in Shanghai a couple of years ago, like literally right after post-Puke Sinner in Beijing.

I think it was the next tournament and Sinner was just out of gas and Shelton won their first meeting. But since then, Sinner's won eight in a row and now 19 sets in a row. A lot of them, as you say, David, have looked like this in terms of just on the scoreboard.

you think that's quite a close match. You know, there's a tie break in there. I think Sinner only won nine more points in the entire match. Like it's not, it's not a huge disparity and yet it's a huge disparity now in their head to head and the general feel of that. rivalry if you can if you can call it that like Sinner is winning the big moments winning all the key points and sets and yeah I don't know

Maybe we'll throw this question to you, David. If we're assessing a player's season, now that they've all finished, you know, Shelton, that was his last match, where are we with Ben Shelton? Because there have been times when I thought... he was making a case for being kind of best of the refs kind of thing, you know, in terms of his slam consistency. And he finally got that Masters 1000 title, didn't he? But...

Actually, his record against the top players is not great. And I think he has been a little bit exposed this week, it's felt to me. Yeah, I think it's a really good year, the fact that he's got to this tournament. He's qualified. And I remember him pushing Alcaraz at the French Open. I thought he was impressive there. He obviously won the one that Sinner in Our Crowds didn't attend, the 1,000 in Canada there. So great stuff. Well done. And in America, in the hard courts...

Yes, I think he did kind of look like the next one at that level, with Fritz, you know, obviously, but maybe the coming man he felt at that time. But I also feel like that that was in... Slightly artificially inflated because it was in America. Because...

of the benefits I think he gets from playing in front of a US crowd and the buzz he gets and so forth. And I think the hype he ends up getting is probably not quite in... in line with with the level he's producing i think he's getting he gets a bit better every year that that's a good sign i think his work ethic is there i think his dad really knows what he's doing and they've got a good thing going there um but i don't

I don't see him as the next one. I feel like, had Draper been fit all year, he's way ahead of him, I think, still. I think, like I've said before, I think Art of East would be ahead of him if he was fit. And these are just my opinions. There's many that might disagree, but I think he is... there are some limitations still there. He's got incredible strengths, but he does have weaknesses. And I don't think those players at the top have weaknesses. And so, you know, I think he...

I think he's still got improvements that he will make. I think he will get better. But I also think there's a limit to how much better he'll get, personally, just because I'm not convinced the limitations can be totally overcome. So, you know. I suppose the big sort of gutting moment for him of his season still is that shoulder injury at the US Open. We didn't quite get to see.

you know what his full potential was at that tournament when he was probably in his best form of the season with the momentum behind him you know you kind of is you know there's a little asterisk next to that one i suppose in in terms of you know just Would love to see him back in that situation, in form, in New York, and kind of see what he can do. But I do ultimately agree with you. OK, well, that's the Bjorn Borg group. We'll come back in part two to talk about the Jimmy Connors group.

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guaranteed himself the year-end world number one ranking, Matt, going 3-0. It was a rather more eventful journey than it was for Yannick Sinner. Not hugely surprising, but... The fact is he won all three matches. He's got that number one ranking. And boy, did that mean a lot to him. He had the number one trophy today presented to him. And that really meant something to him, I thought.

Yeah, definitely. And I thought that was potentially a bit of a trap match for him last night against Mazzetti, given that he didn't need to win it to get through the group. There was the pressure of knowing if he won it, he would secure number one. And he was against. who we're going to talk about with momentum and feeling and the crowd behind him. I think there was a Carlos Alcres of old that would have struggled in those sort of circumstances. But I think we did see...

some of the growth that he's taken on this year. And he was, yeah, he was impressive. And it does mean a lot to him, I think. I think he really respects and knows how good Yannick Sinner is. and therefore knows what an achievement it is to finish ahead of him. Even if Yannick Sinner misses...

a few months of this season as he did. I think that only adds to it. I think Alcres would have thought, well, I've got to finish the year number one if I've played a full season and he hasn't. And yeah, I've been pretty impressed with him considering that... You know, he's not really had a very good record at this tournament, generally, this time of year. I think this is definitely the best he's looked at the ATP finals in his career. And I'm going to throw this one back at you, David.

You said early that you felt like you'd be able to tell what kind of form Alcaraz is in. And that opening match against Dimonor took us in a couple of different directions. Like he started off... blisteringly good, then totally lost his way in that first set and then was incredibly good again in the second set. And I felt like you came out of that feeling pretty good about Carlos Alcaraz and how he's...

how he's playing this week. Yeah, it's not been like the US Open, I'll be honest. I thought it might be when we saw the first five games against Imenor. I thought, OK, he looks... bang on it here and then we saw him lose his way a bit and it was a bit more like sort of i don't know french open Carla Sancras, which she still won. But you know what I mean? The US Open level was a different thing altogether. And look, the...

There have been lost set against Taylor Fritz, and I think we should... We should come on to that. I mean, I'll give you my prediction about Carlos Alcres in part three when we do the semifinals. I can't wait. David's been teasing that he's got a theory about these semifinals, but he won't say what it is.

Yeah, but we aren't always that up on the ATP finals. And the year-end events generally, I mean, they can sometimes be a bit lacklustre and lacking drama and lacking... players being at their best and yet there was a day in the early stages of this tournament when well mid midway through when taylor fritz took it to carlos

And I wasn't able to watch the whole match. I watched the highlights later. But you and Catherine were so into this, so into the way Fritz was playing. And I mean, he won the first set on a tie break. He was keeping it close all the way through. in the second set. In fact, he was piling the pressure on early on. I remember there was a really long Alcaraz service game, wasn't there? And he was just piling it on.

not quite managing to win the match. And then eventually Alcaraz turned it around and won. That was the day that we'll talk a little bit about Lorenzo Mazzetti in a while. That was the day that Mazzetti got his win as well. So it was all happening that day. brilliant day of tennis and actually the tournament as a whole i think has been a good one this time but tell us about that match with taylor fritz why why that was so good

It really is one of the best matches I've ever seen Taylor Fritz play. And I suppose you can take that one way and say, well, isn't that just a total encapsulation of... the problem right because he because he still lost and these were in conditions which i would say suit him more than most of the slams you know these indoor conditions i think would suit fritz over an alcaraz

And that's right. That is the challenge because he can still play that well. And ultimately what it can do is force Alcaraz to reach a level. that he doesn't have and just inspire brilliance from Alcarez. And that is kind of what ended up happening. I think also what ended up happening was that it took so much effort for Taylor Fritz to be playing at that level that inevitably had... couple of lulls be it of just form or energy or sort of mental mental locked in-ness like

Because it takes so much to challenge Alcaraz for three hours like that. And that was all that happened. Like a couple of poor games and the match was gone. But... I do want to focus on what he did well because he was superb. Really, really good. Alcross played a sloppy tie break in that first set. But otherwise, this was Fritz really like... toe-to-toe with Alcaraz, outplaying him, really going after his shots. And that game you mentioned, the 15-minute game that it took Alcaraz to hold serve.

What impressed me the most was Taylor Fritz's service game straight after. I thought, this is the moment everything changes. Al Kraz has had a 15-minute hold. I bet he breaks in the next game. Fritz held in 60 seconds. Like what a baller move. And then just like threw the balls down the other end of the court and was like, go on then, you'll serve again.

And that it was like the presence and the energy of him was like, I belong here. I really felt like he thought that he belonged. And I was so impressed with him. So impressed. And obviously ended up impressed with Alcraz for managing to turn it around. And yeah, I don't know how to come out of that match. Do you end up feeling more positive about Taylor Fritz? Because...

You've seen something from him that you haven't really seen before. I think you have to. I think you have to. To me, he's Mr. Reliable. He's proved himself over the last... five years. I think he's been the American number one for the last five years. I think he's sealed that again. But that's not enough for him. He's got more ambition than that. He wants to beat these guys.

I don't think when it really matters that he probably will because he's just not quite, he's not as good as them. They are generational players that he's trying to be. Sinner, Alcras, there was Djokovic. He's a really, really top-level player, Fritz, apart from those guys.

And the fact that he rolled through his service game in 60 seconds doesn't actually surprise me because he does that a lot. He knows his marks that he has to hit. He doesn't faff about. He just gets the job done. So often he just wins matches, just gets the job done. job done but then he runs into these players and he and he doesn't look a threat that happens a lot so the fact that he looked a threat in this match

to me, should give him massive encouragement because he clearly, and listening to him afterwards, he clearly decided he was just going to take it on all the time. He wasn't going to settle into his reliable patterns. then get beaten by a better player. He was going to try to unsettle Alcaraz. And clearly he achieved that, at least. I'd be encouraged by that. Yes, I think you're right.

I think he gave an interesting answer in the press conference, didn't he, in a little exchange he had with Charlie Eccleshire, actually, who's out there for The Athletic. And I think... You know, Fritz is quite a sort of analytical guy. I think he does look at the sort of the big picture of the sport. And I think maybe a couple of years ago, he thought, right, I'm trending. up here I'm improving Nadal's gone Djokovic can't go on forever could be my time

I think he really thought that if he keeps making the improvements, he would probably win a major. And I think he has kept making those improvements. He's a better player now than he was a few years ago. He's not one of these ones who's just... He's kept getting better. But he said, we're now in a big two era. And I don't think he saw that coming. You know, I think he knew that Alcaraz was brilliant, but I think he's...

The fact that Alcres and Sinner have just shut everyone else out, I think has maybe spooked Fritz a little bit, you know. And he's done all that he can and he will continue to.

but it just might not be enough. And I almost think in this moment, we saw another little him being spooked because I think he thought that that might be enough to beat Alcaraz. He doesn't get the win. And then he was pretty flat. in the next match you know like ultimately that's the thing with fritz here he's it's such a weird group this the way it's played out like fritz has got a win in his first match impressed me maybe more than he sort of ever has in his second match

But he's not come through the group because he's ended up putting in a bit of a lackluster display against a very, very good Dimonor, who we must talk about. But you kind of think you just... Want him to go again after that Alcaraz and just prove that, okay, even if I lost that, I'm still the next best guy in this group. But I can understand, I suppose.

It's just how hard that is after he's given it all against Alcaraz. It is tough to go again. And I think he found that. We have seen him have a couple like that this year. You think back to him losing to Galmon Fies. the Australian Open that I mean Gale was fantastic that day but it shouldn't happen really for a player of his level I think the other thing just to bear in mind is I found

The Tennis TV have got all the press conferences on the YouTube channel, and I listened to them all the other morning. And Fritz was talking... quite worryingly, I thought, about tendinitis in his knees and saying that he now can't play consecutive days without quite a lot of pain. like really being impeded and not being able to quite push off and i guess be as explosive as he wants to be um and and it sounds as i mean he says look

Why would I do anything dramatic when I can still play like that against Alcaraz, even though I've got this pain? So he's... That's the way he's looking at it. But that's not ideal, is it? Really, he says the only way you can solve it really is by having time off and... kind of realigning and rebuilding and all that sort of stuff and well at least you know now the season

is over. So hopefully, I hope for his sake, that that gets sorted out. But he does pound those knees. I mean, you know, you think he does, although he wins... points efficiently in a way he's got his patterns it's physically demanding still you know he plays a lot of hardcore tennis he plays a lot of tennis generally you know and I just wonder whether

We're going to see more of this with players like him who've just been so reliable. I mean, Zverev's been banging on about how many injuries he's had this year. You know, these guys have got quite a few miles on the clock. So... I am interested to see whether he can go again, Fritz, because as you say, it's one thing trying to improve your top level so that you can get that win that you're so searching for against the top couple.

But what if you sort of lose your floor a bit because you're physically impeded or because you're mentally fried? It's a tough sport. You mentioned Alex Diminor and on the subject of being a bit fried. What a week.

he's at i mean you know he lost his first two matches and i mean in his words he was as low as he's ever been on a tennis court and after a match after his after his second match wasn't it against was that the one against Mazzetti um he was devastated and he was so candid in his press conference about how upset he felt and how just just fed up of losing big matches you know he's had a really good year he's in the hb finals you know he's done so many good things

He has spoken openly about his mental health and feeling burnt out earlier this year. And I kind of feel like this was another manifestation of that. Thank goodness he then was able to follow it. with an absolutely massive win against Taylor Fritz, when it was his turn to do what Fritz did against Alcraz and just take it to an opponent and just wrestle it from him, play beyond his normal comfort zone almost.

but then just get the ecstasy of achievements. I mean, it sounded like he'd already made peace with himself because he'd played on his own terms. But you won't find much of a... a contrast like that in the space of a couple of days in the players press conferences yeah tennis is Just such a crazy sport, isn't it? You can be stuck in one place for so long, whether it be a certain ranking or, in Dimonor's case, unable to get a top... 10 win as he really struggled for one

hadn't he recently? And that's kind of what he was talking about, you know, sort of almost questioning his own status in the sport, you know, like, do I belong here? That kind of thing. I can't finish these matches off against players similar to my ranking. And then... A couple of days later, he gets that win.

playing, as you said, super aggressively, really good from him against Taylor Fritz. And then, because Alcaraz beats Mazzetti, he qualifies for the semifinals. And he's gone from, in his words... One of the darkest places he's ever been in after a tennis match through to the semi-finals of the ATP finals, which for Alex Dimonor is a great result. And I think...

Again, it's a funny group. You've got three people there who only won one match and lost two. So you're going to get one of them coming through even with a negative record. But it's Alex Dimonor and it's just... It's just wild how those things can change in tennis, having been stuck for so long. Things just can just sort of flip in a day. And Alex Dimenor has experienced that because that was a...

brutal loss against Mazzetti. I'm sure we're going to talk about it a lot from a Mazzetti perspective and mostly we've been viewing that from a Mazzetti perspective and most people have been viewing that from a Mazzetti perspective. It's just such a... compelling story but dim and all let that go like that was that was a joke really it was a brutal loss from him and

For him to turn it around just a couple of days later, I was very pleased for him. I have a lot of time for Alex Dimonor and his general approach to the sport. And actually, it feels in a way... Like everybody won in that scenario in the end because Mazzetti only needed the one win. You know, he's had this run to get into this thing where he's just...

looked so sad and so depleted and so in desperate need of the Maldives. And he's finally qualified because Novak Djokovic has let him in. And he's just... You know, the remains of him almost have been taken to that court each day. And I mean, he's done his best. And then suddenly he managed to pull it out. Well, with some help from Dimonor. But what a match. 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. to just get his hero's reaction from the crowd, chanting his name.

I mean, it was very emotional, very sweet. And he went over to his family and his wife's crying and his family are all there. And it felt like he'd won the tournament. He'd won his one round-robin match and now he's on his way home again, you know. But it kind of doesn't matter, does it? Because he had his moment. And now Dimonor gets his moment in response.

Yeah, everyone won except Taylor Fritz in that group, I think is the conclusion, unfortunately, for Taylor Fritz. it was magical those Mazzetti scenes like genuinely like I didn't I didn't know a round robin match could could move me that much like genuinely like As you said, the circumstances so specific. That was why he's played every week since the US Open. That's why he was so desperate to get to Turin. And...

It was just amplified because you thought, OK, he has finally made it to Turin. Thank goodness. But what state he's in. He's depleted. He hasn't got his legs. Like, how can he compete with the best players in the world? And yet he was brilliant in that first set. really good against Dimonor but then the leg started to go Dimonor took over he levels it up he goes a break up in the third and you're thinking okay this is this is gonna just sort of

maybe Peter out for Mazzetti, but he found a spark. And when Mazzetti finds a spark in a tennis match... He's the guy I say wow at the most at the moment, apart from Carlos Alcares. He's the guy who is conjuring up shots and... creatively thinking of rallies and points in his head and putting them together in such a fascinating, compelling way to watch and his changes of pace, his changes of height. His willingness to get the forehand into play in those closing stages.

Just mesmerising. There was a point where they both fell on the floor afterwards. A really, really long point. Dimador won it with a smash. And they both just fell backwards, breathing heavily. It was really cinematic. Yeah, eventually Mazzetti won it with, you know, you kind of want a great match to end on a great point. And it did. Mazzetti with a brilliant forehand passing shot. And you'd called it, David. You said...

Either way, win or lose, Mazzetti is... going to be in tears at the end of this one and the ball had barely left his strings and he was in tears like it was it was unbelievable and he suddenly had all this energy he was beating his chest he leapt over the barrier jumped into his into his player box. And yeah, I said on our friend's show the other night, he went full Mondo Duplantis and just had an amazing moment and went over and kissed his girlfriend.

Yeah, it was a special moment. I don't think he's going to be able to go to the Maldives, is he? Because his girlfriend is so heavily pregnant. Yeah. I don't suppose they'll be able to fly. I think she's expecting very soon. He's pulled out of the Davis cart. But... You're right. He only needed the one and he got it. And boy, did he get it in special, special circumstance. It was amazing.

I'd like to make an early request to the draw gods for them to have a rematch in Melbourne in the quarterfinals. Oh, yes. I hope the draw gods are listening. yeah put it in put it in dimanore's backyard this time yeah yeah okay well we're gonna look ahead and make a preview and predictions for the semi-finals in part three and also have a look at the doubles. New products to launch, new people to develop, new goals to crush. Workday Go is designed for small and mid-sized businesses.

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Welcome back to part three of the Tennis Podcast. And as well as the singles, the doubles has been flying along over the last few days. I've been finding myself watching quite a lot of it. I mean, it's been... Quite intriguing and interesting from a scoreline perspective. A lot of the matches have felt quite similar to me. You know, the men's doubles often does these days.

mouth agape at how powerful and consistent they are but serve does dominate a lot and um you know we've ended up with four Four doubles pairings that are seriously strong. And I suspect we're going to get some really competitive semifinals as well. I mean, there are a lot of British players involved. There's five of them in total. So from a sort of British perspective, obviously I'm quite pleased about that.

This is the first time that one country's had that number reach the last four of the events since since Australia did it in 1992. I mean, that's that's good going, isn't it? Cash and Glasspool have secured the year end number one ranking as well. They're the first all-British team to achieve that. But you're left with a lineup, which is Simone Balelli and Andrea Vavasori against Harry Heliovara and Henry Patton.

And then we've got Joe Salisbury and Neil Skupski against Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool. I mean, even though they're all those Brits, I think the whole mixed doubles thing has just meant that... I have quite a soft spot for Vavasori all the time these days, Matt. Yeah, I can get on board with that. Anyone who plays like that at the net defending the Sararani serve is...

is a hero really. And the way he, the way he took that on at the U S open was, was superb. And yeah, you know, there is a nice sort of flavor to these semifinals with, with all, with, you know, Three teams with at least one Brit in and then the All-Italian team in their home tournament. Tough to call, I think, from here, but it often is in men's doubles, right? The margins are thin in these matches.

If you told me any one of those four teams was the champion, I wouldn't be surprised. But based on what I've seen, I mean... Heliovar and Patton I saw edged out by Salisbury and Skubski in the group stages, but they both qualified in the end. And these matches, they're on a knife edge so often. But, you know, I sort of think... he's so used to these big match occasions now and with the Italian crowd I mean it could be dramatic stuff just still going yeah it's cool

Okay, well, yeah, I'm going to go for the Italian pair to win it. There you go. I'm on the record. Now, what about these singles? semifinals Matt we've got Yannick Sinner against Alex Diminor in the afternoon what's the record now is it 12-0 in the favour of Sinner it is indeed is that the one you're making a bold prediction on

Hold on. And then we've got, in the evening, we've got Carlos Akraz against Felix Ogiali Asim. I actually think I could make a reasonably compelling argument for both of them being upsets. here's my reason please make those arguments now i am okay all ears okay so i don't think that sinner is at the top of his game even though he hasn't lost a set I don't think he's playing as well as I have seen him play. And I think that Alex Dimonor has got absolutely nothing to lose now. Nothing at all.

And even Sinner said that. Sinner was interviewed. He said, he's got nothing to lose. I've got a lot to lose, which I thought you're both in the semifinals, mate. But, you know, he knows what it's like. And I think the last couple of times I've seen them play, Dimonor has just made some incremental impressions. in those matches he got a set in beijing didn't he yeah he it's just felt like there are little things he's doing in in terms of rushing sinner i

I mean, it's difficult to rush Sinner because he's so fast and so balanced, but he's just taken it on. I think we're going to see Dimonor try to do to Sinner what Fritz tried to do to Alcaraz. And what, frankly, Dimonor managed to do to Fritz. I think the blueprint needs to be the same. Just go for it. Just go for it. And that in itself isn't enough. Sinner plays well, Sinner still wins. But, you know, he's not always going to be on. Not to the very top of his ability. And if he's a bit off...

I don't think... One of these days, I think if Dimonor keeps believing, one of these days he's going to beat him. I think. Because I don't think he's... I don't think he's David Ferrer against Roger Federer. And I don't think he is that. I think he comes at it with more to throw at the opponent, more ambition, more possibilities, more belief most of the time.

I still think Sinner will win, obviously. Okay. But I'm just, and you may say, oh, you're just having your cake and eating it here. Which I'm still going to go for a Sinner Alcaraz final because... Oh, I thought you were doing something. No, no, you'd be mad not to, right? You'd be mad not to.

For the tape, David has built this up since before we started recording. David was giving it the whole, you wait for my part three predictions. I was thinking, okay, I can't wait. And you're going Cine Alcaraz. I mean, listen, it's one thing to make the case for it. It's another thing to actually say you think it's going to happen. I don't think he's ultimately going to win, but I think he could.

I think he could win, and I think he absolutely – it could end up being a really close – much closer score than – I think the – you know, it's so easy. Yeah, the assumption is like 6-2, 6-2. Yeah, Sin is just going to kill Dimon or he always beats him. Right. Well, I think that's – A bit lazy, really. And I was struck by the Beijing match, like you. And like, I was guilty of completely writing that match off before then. I think I said it on the pod, like...

I didn't really need to see Sina Dimonor again. I kind of knew how it went. But Dimonor did show something in that match. He was closer. He was really aggressive. And he is... As you said, I think the most compelling argument is hopefully some freeness and some lightness for Dimonor. Like, whereas the pressure is on Sinner. But... I just can't make a strong case for De Menor indoors, in Italy, in a week where he's already lost two matches.

like i and sinner hasn't lost a set you know like i just think to me that the most likely is sinner in straights but not not a blowout I tell you, that drop shot you talk about, Sinner wants to leave that alone. You don't want to be drop shotting that guy, I think. He doesn't need to hit it, probably. No. You know?

So I think he probably will leave it alone. I think if you do because you want to use your new toy, then I think you risk getting stung against a guy like Deminor. On the subject of...

I think Felix will, as long as he's fit, fully fit and there's no reason to think he won't be, I think he'll likely play pretty well. He'll do what he does. He'll hit good serves. He'll hit good forehands. He'll hit his better backhand. He'll move well. And I think the danger is Alcraz has got number one now. That was the goal.

Really. I mean, I know he'll say, well, no, winning the tournament's the goal and beating Yannick Senna's the goal. Of course they are. But you wanted number one. You've had that big... There could be a drop-off tomorrow. There could be a loss of... focus and like a flatness to him um he has been way better this year on on that score you know he's he's been repeatable he's been consistent

But I think against a guy who's just going to keep plodding along in the way that he does, winning his own serve, this is the sort of match where Al Kraus could go bit walkabout. I'm still picking it. to be Cinerats because I just think well I mean that's just that's it's too it's too persuasive to think that it won't be in the end

But I don't necessarily think I'll be sitting here tomorrow night having just thought, oh, well, that was all a bit boring. There was a part of me that wanted Mazzetti to beat... Alcaraz because then we would have got Alcaraz-Sinno in the semis and Alcaraz would have needed to win to finish the year number one.

Like it would have been like number one on the line in that match. And look, then we obviously wouldn't have been able to get a Cine Alcaraz final, which sort of is the ultimate for the tournament, I suppose. But I sort of did... Like the idea of that being on the line for Alcaraz when he plays Sinner, because I do take your point about potential drop for Alcaraz now that he has secured the year in number one.

But he has been so good this year at not losing his focus. I could definitely see like... Him having to come through a tie-break against Orgi Aliasim. I think sets could be close, but yeah, Senna Alcaraz for me. And who's winning the tournament?

I'm going to go Sinner. But, you know, Alcrest plays well against Sinner. He really, really does. but I'm going to go Sinner. Indoors, ability to just rush him a little bit more. Yeah. You? I think the same. I don't think in the end that I saw what I thought I was seeing at the start of that first match. Okay, yeah. When I thought, okay, well, it's that Carlos Auerkraut, is it? Then, well, I pick him to beat Sinner basically every time if I see that version.

But I don't think it is that version. Maybe not indoors yet. We've seen just one or two drop-offs still. It's going to be fun. It's going to be fun. And you're right, it has been a good ATP finals. Yeah. We're down on it, generally, but I've actually really enjoyed this week. Yeah, it's been very good.

OK, well, we will be back in a couple of days time and we will be live on Sunday night, eight o'clock UK time. Or, well, I mean, that's assuming everything's done. of course i think the final starts at five uk time yeah so could be touching but um you know

We'll keep you posted. Keep an eye on our YouTube channel. That's where we'll be live. And, of course, you'll be able to watch it via catch-up and listen to it as a podcast as well. Catherine will be back with us for that. We may even get a bit of bonus Charlie Eccleshare.

trying to see if we can sort that out he's on site at the moment in uh in shirin so hopefully he'll be joining joining us for a little while a huge happy birthday to katherine's brother math which is why Catherine's not here tonight because she's celebrating with him And, yeah, we can't wait to have Catherine back with us. As well as Catherine's mascot, Phoebe, who's an ever-present. My mascot, Maisie. All right, Maisie. Matt's enormous mascot, Roger.

We've also got our top folks and executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff, without whom we would not be able to produce the tennis podcast. So a huge thank you to all of you and to just friends of the tennis podcast everywhere because... Frankly, it is because of Friends of the Tennis Podcast that we're able to do this just for a living.

it's amazing but but uh yeah thank you to you all um and look if you want to become a friend of the tennis podcast it is worth it we think uh eight editions of tennis relived every single year we've just produced our latest one on the the great bud collins um which we we lovingly put together um we've produced another six already this year there's still one to come there's an archive of

More than 100 Friends shows now as bonus shows. Those include Q&As with us. We do one of those a month live on YouTube and available as podcasts as well. There's Hannah's brilliant column. She's a wonderful writer. She makes... me think about the sport in a completely different way um we have the barge which is our online community that you can get involved in and watch matches together so that you've got some tennis company um that's

That's what you get for becoming a friend of the tennis podcast and you help keep the show going. So do become one if you haven't already. And thank you to all of those. Thank you also to The Athletic, our partners. We're proud parts of The Athletic Podcast Network. And Matt, we... We'll go and put our heads down because we've got a big day of semi-final action coming up tomorrow. And no football to get in the way. No Fulham, no Albion. It's a bit boring, isn't it? It's actually a relief.

A nice week off from all the stress. We can't lose if we don't play. No, that's right. Let's do that every week. Okay. Well, sleep well, Matt. I'll speak to you tomorrow to natter about the semifinals and we'll all come back together on Sunday night to do it all live on YouTube. For now, though, we'll go to bed. And we'll see you in a couple days. If you're a smoker or vapor ready to make a change, you really only need one good reason.

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