Who can keep up with the tennis right now? Amid the eerie silence on majority of the tennis courts, without noise except the squeaking feet of players as they aim to take the next shot, we have now become accustomed to listen and watch the action from our TV screens. The ATP Dubai Tennis Championships was the prime focus for many tennis fans this past week. And it was only fitting that the tournament served as a culmination of Aslan Karatsev’s breakout season on the big stage.
ATP Dubai Tennis Championships 2021: Three Things We Learned
The moment @AsKaratsev beat Harris 6-3 6-2 to lift his first title on the ATP Tour!#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/p3QiMWXDdo
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 20, 2021
Karatsev Wins Maiden ATP Tour title
At the start of the year, Aslan Karatsev, 27-years-old and teetering outside the top 100 had never played in a Grand Slam. In fact, he had recorded a meagre three wins at tour level in his decade-long career. On the face of it, this was an unlikely platform to single-handedly launch the near-destruction of an entire sport.
Perhaps we only need to listen to the way pundits and fans talk about him with a fixation on his physical strength. The best moment in tennis right now has to be the moment right before Karatsev lines up to serve. At the Australian Open, ESPN co-commentator Brad Gilbert adduced how he has seen athletes upper legs rub together. But in his 40 years in the sport, Karatsev is the only player whose calves rub together.
Karatsev put a jewel on this Cinderella story at the Dubai Championships. He secured his maiden ATP title with a thoroughly deserved 6-3 6-2 win against the tenacious Lloyd Harris, and is guaranteed to crack the top 30 when the rankings are updated on Monday.
If Karatsev keeps his year up, how long until the rest of the ATP starts working on their calves?
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) March 19, 2021
Harris’ moment will surely come, but if ever we needed a reminder of Karatsev’s irresistible form it came in the second game of the match. The Russian was forced to defend a Harris missile on the forehand wing. Rather than relent, Karatsev upended the point by crushing a forehand cross court that looped just inside the baseline.
From that moment on, Harris looked like a floored boxer who took one punch too many on the ribs. The South African appeared to be struggling physically in his stunning upset of Denis Shapovalov in the semifinals, and he ran out of gas in his bid to become the first qualifier to win the Dubai title.
Rublev Falls Short in Bid to Match Federer
The conclusion of the Middle Eastern swing was expected bear the same narrative as the previous four ATP 500 tournaments. The similarities: 32 or 48 players contest for the ultimate prize, but Andrey Rublev ends up winning the lot.
Rublev was seeking an unprecedented fifth successive title at 500-level. After his success in Rotterdam a fortnight ago, he arrived in Dubai on 20-match winning spree. Five wins in the Emirates second city would have taken the Russian to within touching distance of Roger Federer’s 28 consecutive wins at this level.
But in the quarterfinals, his streak snapped at the hands of the secret weapon, which Rublev and Medvedev unleashed to the tennis world at the ATP Cup. There are no prizes for guessing who.
"Don't worry Andrey, I got this" 😏
Hamburg 2020: Rublev 🇷🇺
St Petersburg 2020: Rublev 🇷🇺
Vienna 2020: Rublev 🇷🇺
Rotterdam 2021: Rublev 🇷🇺
Dubai 2021: Karatsev 🇷🇺It's another Russian victory at ATP 500 level! pic.twitter.com/fqYKwrFtEU
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 20, 2021
Thiem Falters, Nishikori Finds Form
The pressing concern for Dominic Thiem this season is that he hasn’t quite summoned the moxie and precision which is synonymous with his game. Thiem is 5-4 for the season, and his spasmodic brilliance won’t cut it against consistent top performers. He has looked deflated to the point where he needs a proper, long break from tennis to recharge his batteries.
Defeats to Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open, Bautista Agut in Doha, and most recently to Lloyd Harris in Dubai served up another telling reminder that at this level, ranking alone won’t win matches.
Dominic Thiem still not looking great in 2021, loses his first match in Dubai against the in-form qualifier Lloyd Harris, 6-3, 6-4.
Thiem doesn't look close to 100% physically, won't play till Monte Carlo.
Dominic is 5-4 this year…
[getty] pic.twitter.com/HMFOAFKomm
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 16, 2021
While Thiem falters, Kei Nishikori is finding form at just the right time. The Japanese #1 is past his injury nightmare. Nishikori played six matches in 2020, and admitted, he was scared to pick up a racket due a debilitating elbow injury.
So far in 2021, he has made two quarterfinals, in Rotterdam and Dubai respectively. Among the players he has beaten this year include: Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex De Minaur and David Goffin. None of them ranked lower than #23.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
