While Carlos Alcaraz is having fun training in Turin, giving a friendly comb to the mischievous Alexander Bublik after he hit him with a spoon serve, in Athens it will be decided this Saturday who will be the eighth passenger of the Masters Cup: him, Lorenzo Musetti, or Felix Auger-Aliassime, who in case the flies have already traveled to Italy and is rehearsing for the race, so that it will finally be his turn to compete. And so it happens. The final configuration of the master tournament is grotesque, one that brings together the best among glamorglitter, tuxedos and art; this time also disorder. There are eight, but so far there are only six and the ATP decides as it can, as it goes.
In fact, it’s time to improvise. And a question floating here and there. There are less than 24 hours left until the starting signal – finally made official with this Sunday’s duel between Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Miñaur, at 2pm. (Movistar+) – and the name of the tennis player who will complete the quota is still unknown, as well as whether Djokovic will finally play or not. “I don’t know where this information came from. I will decide at the last minute,” said the Serbian three days earlier, when the president of the Italian federation assured him that yes, Nole would be there, that the tournament would have that attraction. However, it never arrived. Nole won’t be there and the organizational seams are popping.
It is not the first time that the squad has been closed at the last minute, a custom since in 2022 the ATP decided that the cut would not be made at the Paris Masters, the tournament immediately preceding it, but rather the following week. Basically, as so often, the calendar congestion: more smaller tournaments, more narrowness, tight competition to readjust everything and thus barely resolve the bureaucracy; Consequently, there is now a great deal of confusion in Turin, where the Belgrade driver will not parade – nor did he do so last year, due to injury – and thinking minds are trying to make more or less sense of a strange, not to say crooked, start.
From the beginning, a criss-cross and forced takeoff, with matches from one group and another – there are two, with four tennis players each – and the demand for the victims: Lorenzo Musetti, who had been left out and finally comes in to replace the Balkan, and the American Taylor Fritz. Both will have to compete on consecutive days, Monday and Tuesday, instead of having an intermediate break. Meanwhile, for Alcaraz the situation is easing up – he had a meeting with Djokovic – and the Murcian already knows that if he reaches the semi-finals on Saturday he will have a day to recharge his strength, as his group will regain logical order from Tuesday. In other words, the natural course of the tournament is changed.
Close to Federer
Norwegian Casper Ruud will have to join as second reserve and the ATP is trying to protect itself for the future. It was difficult for this to happen, but it happened, although from next year circumstances like this will be avoided, as the limit to determine who participates will be defined again in Paris. So no last minute scratches and, again, photo complete. Unpublished portrait from Friday in Turin, where only six players posed, instead of the eight candidates. Musetti or Auger-Aliassime were expected, and both will be there, but Djokovic will not. In addition to the Alcaraz-De Miñaur opening, this Sunday the Zverev-Shelton (8:30 p.m.) will be played.
Meanwhile, the 24-major champion considers the course over. Indeed, what better way. Work accomplished: 101 titles, just some of those won by Roger Federer; so close and so far from Jimmy Connors’ record (109). At 38 years old, Nole is still capable of coming back (4-6, 6-3 and 7-5) and resisting the three-hour battle proposed by Musetti. Soon after, with the trophy in his hands, the Serb took to his social networks: “I really wanted to compete in Turin and do my best, but after today’s final in Athens, I regret to announce that I have to withdraw due to an injury (officially to the shoulder)”.
More than without strength, already exhausted, he now prefers to seal 2025 with the frame he was used to, after a scene similar to that of the Hulk: tearing his shirt. Everyone was waiting for him, but he clarified: Djokovic sets the times.
RYBAKINA, INDEPENDENT AND CHAMPION
CA | Turin
Elena Rybakina’s insipid celebration is in keeping with a rather bland and uneventful tournament, as full of millions as it is devoid of emotion. The Kazakh has just beaten number one, Aryna Sabalenka, 6-3, 7-6(0); He ended a peaceful journey, with six wins in as many games; and, as if that weren’t enough, thanks to the plenary session in Riyadh, he pocketed neither more nor less than 5.2 million dollars (4.5 euros).
But little more than a fist in the air, four hurried words and back home. This season is over. She deserves the lamentations of her opponent, at whom the camera is pointed. Paradoxical year: between successes and disappointments.
Sabalenka, 27, started by losing the Australian Open final and ended up bowing in the desert, once again deprived of her masters. It falls again in the final, as in 2022. In other words, a yes, but no. Given its potential, the harvest ends up seeming short.
He will turn the page with another great record, the US Open, and three more joys in Brisbane, Miami and Madrid; However, she leaves with a crooked expression and curses because she doesn’t take advantage of the merry-go-round: there have been ten different winners since 2014. None of them have been repeated since Serena Williams did it. And meanwhile, Rybakina rises to the top in the end after a season of stealth.
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