The ATP Tour is competing in three cities this week, and Tuesday saw plenty of action. Let’s catch you up on anything you may have missed.
Dominic Thiem continues to grind
The fact that he is World #99 is really mind-boggling. The Austrian is determined to return to the top of his game after a long absence due to a wrist injury. Despite signs of progress last season, 2023 is still getting going for him. It makes sense to turn to the clay courts in an attempt to rediscover his form, as in his peak few bettered him on the posh red ash. Moreover, he has recently had the verbal backing of Rafael Nadal in a bid to return to the top of his game (not too discouraging, of course). Either way, his straight-sets win Tuesday was solid and sets up a clash with Juan Pablo Varillas.
Jack Sock really struggles
I noted a couple of weeks ago that I cannot see a return to the top of the singles game for American Jack Sock. Let’s just say Tuesday doesn’t fill me with any more confidence. He looks sluggish, uninspired, and detrimentally low on confidence.
Shockingly, he lost to a part-time tennis player and full-time real estate investor named Matija Pecotic, after winning the first set. The Croatian made his tour debut at the age of 33 and has become the recent story in the tennis world. With ten aces, he proved that he has a solid game that can compete at the professional level. On the other hand, though, it shows the continued demise of Jack Sock. The once Top 10 player looks a shadow of his former self and as this week shows, sadly it doesn’t look like getting any brighter for him.
Daniil Medvedev still struggling
The case of Daniil Medvedev is a bit bizarre, really. The now-World #11 has rather quietly slumped down the rankings for twelve months now; it’s crazy to think around this team a year ago he sat top of the pile at World #1 (not for long of course).
Remember that period between 2021 and 2022 when he looked virtually invincible? Tuesday, far from it. A three-set victory against Alejandro Davinovich Fokina was anything but routine. The reality is it should’ve been. There were moments of frustration from Medvedev as well, as he often sarcastically clapped at his box. It highlights the frustration he must have been feeling as of late due to his inexplicable drop-off. Hopefully, good times are ahead, and what better chance to get the ball rolling than with a solid week in Rotterdam.
Main Photo from Getty.
