Indian Wells: Emma Raducanu says it has been a 'very cool three weeks' since US Open win
Emma Raducanu says it has been “pretty cool” to receive the congratulations of other players at Indian Wells, but now is the time to get back to business.
Emma Raducanu says it has been “pretty cool” to receive the congratulations of other players at Indian Wells, but now is the time to get back to business.
The ATP has announced an adjustment to the FedEx ATP Rankings logic following prior calendar changes due to COVID-19.
Effective immediately and retroactively, ATP Tour-level tournaments with a ranking drop off date after 9 August 2021, including tournaments played during the revised ranking period (17 August 2020 – 9 August 2021), will be included in a player’s ranking breakdown for 52 weeks, regardless of when the next edition of the tournament commences. The change addresses situations in which a player does not keep his ranking points for 52 weeks due to the earlier scheduling of the same event in the following year.
Due to the adjustment’s impact on players who competed at the 2020 ATP 250 tournament in Nur-Sultan, the first tournament affected by the outlined scenario, and the implications for subsequent entry lists, the ATP, in consultation with the ATP Player Council, has decided to re-run the entry lists that closed in the week of 27 September. This has been done to ensure all acceptances for upcoming tournaments operate under the same entry principles aligned with the latest FedEx ATP Rankings logic.
This adjustment aligns with the traditional FedEx ATP Rankings approach taken prior to the introduction of COVID-19 modifications. Since the Tour’s return from suspension in August 2020, the ATP has remained flexible in its approach towards the FedEx ATP Rankings and will continue making adjustments where necessary to maintain a fair merit-based system for players.
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The ATP Tour returns to Indian Wells for the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 event of the season at the BNP Paribas Open, where in the absence of the past five champions the favourites arrive with little previous success in the desert. Following its cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was rescheduled this year to be held in October.
The top two seeds are Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas and both are bidding for a maiden Indian Wells trophy. The FedEx ATP Race To Turin heats up in the Californian desert with a string of contenders desperate to strengthen their claim to a Nitto ATP Finals berth. ATPTour.com looks at 10 things to watch this week in Indian Wells.
1) Newest Major Champion Medvedev Leads Pack: Hot on the heels of the biggest title of his career at the US Open and subsequent team success at the Laver Cup, the Russian looks to maintain his momentum on US soil and claim his second Masters 1000 trophy of the season.
The World No. 2, who defeated Reilly Opelka for the Toronto Masters 1000 trophy, has also claimed titles in Marseille and Mallorca. He will attempt to add another at Indian Wells as the top seed, where he will attempt to build on a modest 3-3 record.
2) Tsitsipas Circling: In only his third appearance in the BNP Paribas Open, the Greek star arrives as the second seed. The 23-year-old has shown great consistency at Masters 1000 events this season, advancing to at least the quarter-finals in five of the first six events at this level.
Tsitsipas won his first Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo, where he did not lose a set, and will try to claim his second in Indian Wells, where success has eluded him in the past (1-2 record). The second seed fell in the third round of the US Open before helping Team Europe clinch the Laver Cup in Boston.
3) FedEx ATP Race To Turin Heats Up: Several players are trying to stake their claim to one of the remaining spots at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from 14-21 November. Following his maiden hard-court title and his fifth trophy of the season in San Diego, Norway’s Casper Ruud moves into eighth in the Race.
As a result of seventh-placed Rafael Nadal’s absence in Turin due to injury, the cut is effectively ninth in the Race, with recent Metz champion Hubert Hurkacz, US Open semi-finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime and Sunday’s Sofia champion Jannik Sinner keen for a strong showing in Indian Wells to stay in contention.
4) #NextGenATP Debuts: Since the BNP Paribas Open has not been held since 2019, there are several #NextGenATP stars who will make their debut at the Masters 1000 event. Umag champion Carlos Alcaraz and Parma titlist Sebastian Korda lead the bunch.
Alcaraz reached his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final in New York last month, following a five-set upset of World No. 3 Tsitsipas, while Korda advanced to the fourth round at a major for the second time at Wimbledon in July. Newport finalist Jenson Brooksby, his compatriot Zachary Svajda, Danish teenager Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune and Italian Lorenzo Musetti are the other #NextGenATP names set to make their main draw debuts at Indian Wells.
5) New Champion Incoming: A first-time BNP Paribas Open singles champion is guaranteed in 2021. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is not playing and 2019 finalists, reigning champion Dominic Thiem and five-time champion Roger Federer, are injured. Thiem announced in August he would miss the remainder of the season due to a right wrist injury. Will Cincinnati titlist Alexander Zverev, Russian star Andrey Rublev or Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini seize the opportunity to make their mark in the desert?
6) Zverev Poised For Deep Run: Another player integral to Team Europe’s Laver Cup triumph, Zverev has been on a red-hot run since his fourth-round Wimbledon departure. The German went on a 16-match winning streak – capturing a Tokyo Olympics singles gold medal (d. Khachanov) and his fifth Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati (d. Rublev) – before Novak Djokovic stopped him in the US Open semi-finals. While yet to pass the Round of 16 in the desert (5-4 record) Zverev has won 17 of his past 18 matches.
8) Fans Relish Return To The Desert: After the cancellation of Indian Wells in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic also forced the postponement of the 2021 edition from March to October. It makes for a welcome return for fans, given the event has been voted by players as the Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year for the past six years it was held.
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9) Doubles Field Stacked: Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic have already won nine titles together this season including Masters 1000 trophies in Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome, as well as Wimbledon and a Tokyo Olympics gold medal. The top seeds in Indian Wells head a loaded doubles draw ahead of second seeds, US Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury.
This year’s Halle Open runners-up Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz reunite, while Doha-winning Russians Rublev and Aslan Karatsev and Italians Jannik Sinner and Berrettini team up. World No. 13 Denis Shapovalov joins forces again with former World No. 3 in doubles Rohan Bopanna, while Reilly Opelka and Alex de Minaur are a first-time pairing.
10) Murray Leads Wild Cards Into Battle: In his first outing at Indian Wells since 2017, the 2009 runner-up Andy Murray is one of the five main draw wild cards. Murray has compiled a 25-12 record in the desert since his debut in 2006 and reached his first tour-level quarter-final in nearly two years two weeks ago week in Metz.
The other wild cards are #NextGenATP Americans Brooksby and Zachary Svajda, 2017 semi-finalist Jack Sock and #NextGenATP Dane Rune. Former World No. 8 and four-time ATP Tour titlist Sock reached his first tour-level quarter-final since 2018 in Newport last month.
Dominic Thiem will not require surgery to overcome a right wrist injury, the former World No. 3 has revealed on social media on Monday.
The Austrian has not played since he sustained the injury during his first-round match against Adrian Mannarino at the Mallorca Championships in June. He missed the chance to defend his maiden Grand Slam trophy in New York last month and his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy from 2019 in Indian Wells this fortnight as a result, but held hopes he could begin training as soon as the wrist was strengthened.
“I had a very important thing today. I was in Belgium to decide if I need surgery on my wrist or not and luckily I have very, very good news. I won’t need the surgery,” Thiem said on social media. “It’s really stable and it’s looking good, my wrist.
“The next week I have to make it more flexible and strengthen my wrist, do everything to prepare to slowly start playing tennis again. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been a pretty long time without a racquet and I honestly miss it.”
The 28-year-old announced in August he would miss the remainder of the season due to a detachment of the posterior sheath of the ulnar side of his right wrist. Thiem owns a 9-9 record on the season, with his best result coming at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he reached the semi-finals.
Good news! pic.twitter.com/pKyHjSdtwE
— Dominic Thiem (@ThiemDomi) October 4, 2021
An investigation into claims world number four Alexander Zverev was violent towards a former girlfriend is “under way”, the men’s ATP Tour says.
Naomi Osaka drops out of the women’s top 10 for the first time since winning the 2018 US Open title.
An Independent Safeguarding Report, commissioned by the ATP earlier in the season, has been completed. It represents a key element of the ATP’s overall safeguarding review to ensure all adults and minors involved in professional tennis are safe and protected from abuse.
Compiled by a team of experts led by Chris Smart, former Detective Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police (UK), the report outlines a number of wide-ranging recommendations to ensure safeguarding is embedded across all aspects of ATP organisational activity. Topics covered include prevention, reporting and investigation of abuse, disciplinary measures, policy statements, event safety, training, information sharing, collaboration with other bodies of tennis and the appointment of dedicated safeguarding leads.
ATP will now evaluate the recommendations to identify immediate next steps and develop a longer-term safeguarding strategy relating to all matters of abuse, including domestic violence.
Massimo Calvelli, ATP CEO, said: “As an organisation we recognise the need to be doing more to ensure everyone involved in professional tennis feels safe and protected. The recommendations of the Safeguarding Report will help us approach this in a robust way. We are committed to making meaningful steps forward and know this won’t be an overnight process.”
In parallel, an internal investigation into allegations concerning Alexander Zverev at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai in 2019 is currently underway. The ATP fully condemns any form of violence or abuse and will investigate such allegations related to conduct at an ATP member tournament.
Calvelli said: “The allegations raised against Alexander Zverev are serious and we have a responsibility to address them. We hope our investigation will allow us to establish the facts and determine appropriate follow-up action. We understand Zverev welcomes our investigation and acknowledge that he has denied all allegations. We will also be monitoring any further legal developments following the preliminary injunction obtained by Zverev in the German Courts.”
No. 10 Jannik Sinner, +1
The #NextGenATP Italian has jumped into the Top 10 in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin after he overcame Frenchman Gael Monfils to defend his Sofia Open title. The 20-year-old has now captured three tour-level trophies this season and is aiming to make his debut at the season finale, which will be held at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from 14-21 November. Read Sofia Final Report & Watch Highlights
View Latest FedEx ATP Race To Turin Rankings
No. 8 Casper Ruud, +1
The 22-year-old has risen one place to regain his spot in eighth place after he lifted his fifth tour-level trophy of the season at the San Diego Open. It is the first time the Norwegian, who defeated former World No. 1 Andy Murray en route to the title, has won a tour-level crown on hard. Read San Diego Final Report & Watch Highlights
No. 14 Cameron Norrie, +1
The Brit continued his career-best season in San Diego as he reached his fifth tour-level final of the year. It means the Los Cabos champion has moved one position to No. 14 in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin as he looks to make a late push to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals.
Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 26 Sebastian Korda, +2
No. 33 Ilya Ivashka, +2
No. 38T Grigor Dimitrov, +6
No. 42T Filip Krajinovic, +6
No. 55 Gael Monfils, +18
Britain’s Cameron Norrie loses in straight sets to Casper Ruud in the San Diego Open final.
Only a week after Hubert Hurkacz edged past his nearest rival into eighth place in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin, Casper Ruud returned the favour.
The Norwegian reclaimed eighth spot following his first tour-level title on hard courts at the San Diego Open, where he breezed past Cameron Norrie 6-0, 6-2 on Sunday. It gave Ruud a tour-leading fifth trophy for the season and a timely reminder his best was not confined to clay with a month still left to book a passage to the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
“I know that now I will jump up to eighth and it’s fun because Jannik [Sinner] and Hubert are the closest guys behind me,” Ruud said. “Within these two weeks we’ve all won a tournament so it’s a strong competition now. I think us three are the closest to capturing the last two spots.”
Hurkacz – who captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Miami in April – snuck above the 22-year-old a week ago, following his third tour-level title of the season in Metz. It made for a short turnaround as the Pole headed Stateside for the San Diego Open, where he fell in the second round to Aslan Karatsev, No. 12 in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin.
View Latest FedEx ATP Race To Turin Rankings
Following his maiden Grand Slam semi-final in New York – a run which eventual champion Daniil Medvedev ended – Felix Auger-Aliassime catapulted into contention. Like Ruud, Hurkacz and Sinner, the 21-year-old’s eyes are firmly fixed on a Nitto ATP Finals debut. But at the weekend he was displaced by fellow #NextGenATP rival Sinner for 10th spot.
Top seed Sinner defeated Gael Monfils to defend his ATP 250 title in Sophia less than 24 hours before Ruud’s title run across the Atlantic. With seventh-placed Rafael Nadal out for the remainder of the season, it will be a fiercely contested battle for what shapes as two final berths in Turin.
“Obviously there are some big events that will be played now – Indian Wells, there’s 1000 points on the line – also Paris and Vienna,” Ruud said. “There is no way I can kind of relax and think that I will make it because I have to try to think that Hubert and Jannik can both do really well, so I have to do the same.
“I think that’s how it should be. It should be a strong competition and whoever gets there in the end, deserves it more. It’s as simple as this. This win really helps me and in a part of the year where previously I haven’t done too well… I think they should play San Diego more times in October in future years.”
Ruud’s 2,925 points currently leaves him 1,030 points behind sixth-placed Matteo Berrettini in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin. As he prepares for the short trip to join his remaining race contenders in the Californian desert this week, only 605 points separate him and 11th-placed Auger-Aliassime.
“I’m looking forward to playing [Indian Wells] as a main draw player [for the first time],” Ruud said. “As a seeded player I will have a bye and I will take the time now to recover and recharge the batteries and go full for Indian Wells.”
