CONGRATULATIONS Billie Jean King Cup final qualifiers:
Spain, Czech, Republic, France, Canada, USA, Italy, Germany, Kazakhstan, Slovenia. The teams will meet again at the finals in November 7 - 12, 2023.
CONGRATULATIONS: Monte Carlo Open Champion - Andrey Rublev
On the ATP side a friend keeps talking about The Fab Four. Who are the Fab Four and when did they become the Fab four? Eh she then reeled off the names - Sinner, Rublev, Fritz, and Medvedev. What? No Novak, no Tsitsipas, no Zeverev and what about Alcaraz, Rune, Ruud and Tiafoe? Ok she said The Fab Five - Sinner, Rublev, Fritz, Medvedev, Alcaraz. Uhm I told her but, but, but Rune is now 8-2 vs Top 10 players in France......She crunches up her nose and says "well I don't like him...." Yeah fandom is irrational and strange.
So MCMer experts who are your Fab Four or Fab Five? Do we even want to start that label? Is the consistency there? Storylines are floating all over the tennis world, especially with Novak's loss at Monte Carlo, Sinner's loss to Rune and Rublev's championship run.
Nary a mention of Rafa and I wonder if Feliciano will formally retire on his home turf? I might be the only one with this POV but I sense that Novak is a bit vulnerable as we move along on the tennis calendar. I know the high expectations for him this year and I don't ever rule him out, but I believe the pressure by the young, hungry and very talented players definitely pose a threat. On any given day and all that......
Let's see what's on tap for this week.....
Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell ATP 500
Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899
Barcelona, Spain
April 17 - 23, 2023
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| The Red Carnation is the National Flower of Spain. It represents Spanish culture in religion, dance, and even bull-running. Spain being a Catholic country the flower is a religious symbol of the passion of Christ. |
Surface: Clay
Draws: Singles 48, Doubles 16
This is the 70th edition of the tournament and it is the oldest tourney in Spain.
Most titles: Rafa Nadal with 12. He is also the oldest title holder, winning at age 34 in 2021. (And a shoutout to Canadian doubles star Daniel Nestor, who won the doubles title 4 times.)
This will be Feliciano Lopez’s last Barcelona because he is retiring this year. He considers it his home tourney and has played it an incredible 22 times.
Defending champion: Carlos Alcaraz who defeated Pablo Carreno Busta.
Seeds: Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Jannik Sinner, Frances Tiafoe, Karen Khachanov, Cameron Norrie, Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Grigor Dimitrov, Daniel Evans, Roberto Bautista Agut, Denis Shapovalov, Francisco Cerundolo, Yoshihito Nishioka.
All the seeds have a first-round bye.
Wildcards: All Spanish players - Pablo Anduhar, Feliciano Lopez, Daniel Rincon, Fernando Verdaso
Protected ranking: Atilla Balazs
Withdrawals: Pablo Carreno Busta, Sebastian Korda, Daniil Medvedev, Rafa Nadal, Brandon Nakashima, Mikael Ymer
Singles Draw
Doubles Draw
OOP
BMW Open ATP 250
MTTC lphitos
Munich, Germany
April 17 - 23, 2023
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| Germany's national flower is the Cornflower. In the 1800's Wilhelm I, Empeor of Prussia, proclaimed the flower as his favorite and made it a symbol of the nation. Its color, also known as Prussian blue, came to be the dominant color for the uniforms worn by the Prussian Army. |
Surface: Clay
Draws: Singles 28, Doubles 16
This tournament was first held in 1974.
Most titles: Philipp Kohlschreiber with 3 (2007, 2012, 2016).
Defending champion: Holger Rune, with his first ATP title, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp.
Seeds: Holger Rune, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev, Botic van de Zandschulp, Sebastian Baez, Lorenzo Sonego, Roberto Carballes Baena, Marc-Andrea Huesler
The top 4 seeds receive a first-round bye.
Wildcards: All German players – Daniel Altmaier, Yannick Hanfmann, Max Hans Rehberg
Protected ranking: Kyle Edmund
Withdrawals: Matteo Berrettini, Maxime Cressy, Jack Draper
Singles Draw
Doubles Draw
OOP
Srpska Open ATP 250
National Tennis Center
Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
April 17 - 23, 2023
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| The Golden Lily is the national flower of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is said to symbolize the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is sometimes described as a symbol of their suffering with the red stamen representing their blood during times of conflict. The flower exudes a sweet musky smell and blooms from May through July. |
Surface: Clay
Draws: Singles 28, Doubles 16
This is the first edition of the tournament.
Seeds: Novak Djokovic, Andrey Rublev, Borna Coric, Miomir Kecmanovic, Tallon Griekspoor, Jiri Lehecka, Richard Gasquet, Gregoire Barrere
The top 4 seeds receive a first-round bye.
Wildcards: Damir Dzumhur from Bosnia and Herzegovina, plus Hamad Mededovic and Gael Monfils
Withdrawals: Benjamin Bonzi, Fabio Fognini
Singles Draw
Doubles Draw
OOP
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix WTA 500
Porsche Arena
Stuttgart, Germany
April 17 - 23, 2023
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| Spring in Stuttgart. The Magnolia blossoms are transforming Stuttgart into a wonderul sea of flowers. So gorgeous.... |
Surface: Clay (indoor)
Draws: Singles 28, Doubles 16
The tournament was first held in 1978. It became a WTA tourney in 2021.
The singles champion receives a Porsche along with prize money.
Most titles: Martina Navratilova with 6.
Defending champion: Iga Swiatek who defeated Aryna Sabalenka.
Seeds: Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur, Caroline Garcia, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Daria Kasatkina, Maria Sakkari
The top 4 seeds receive a first-round bye.
Wildcards: German players Tatjana Maria, Julie Niemeier, plus Paula Badosa, Emma Raducanu
Withdrawal: Belinda Bencic
Singles Draw
Doubles Draw
OOP
As always Big Thank you to Hartt and her wonderful research.
NOTE:
I am posting a link here to the String Theory PDF that Hartt referenced in the old thread. It is long but worth the read. Would love to hear your opnions.
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