While in Turin Carlos Alcaraz enjoys training, friendly combing the mischievous Alexander Bublik after the latter hit him with a spoon, in Athens this Saturday it will be decided who will be the eighth passenger of the Masters Cup: him, Lorenzo Musetti, or Felix Auger-Aliassime, who in case the flies had already left for Italy and is rehearsing for the race, for fear that it will finally be his turn to compete. And so it happens. The final configuration of the master tournament, the one that brings together the best of the best, is grotesque charmglitter, tuxedo and art; this time also disorder. There are eight, but so far there are only six and the ATP solves as it can, as it goes.
Indeed, it’s time to improvise. And a question that flits here and there. There are less than 24 hours left until the starting signal, finally made official with Sunday’s duel between Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Miñaur, at 2pm. (Movistar+) – and we still don’t know the name of the tennis player who will complete the quota, as well as whether Djokovic will ultimately play or not. “I don’t know where this information comes from. I will decide at the last minute”, the Serbian had said three days earlier, when the president of the Italian federation had assured that yes, that Nole would be there, that the tournament would have that attraction. However it never arrived. Nole won’t be there and the organizational fabrics are falling apart.
It is not the first time that the roster has been closed at the last minute, a habit since the ATP decided in 2022 that the cut would not take place at the Paris Masters, the immediately preceding tournament, but the following week. In the background, as often happens, the congestion of the calendar: more minor tournaments, more restrictions, a tight competition to readjust everything and thus barely resolve the process; As a result, there is now great chaos in Turin, where the Belgrade native will not show – 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 forced and spaced take-off, with matches from one group to the other – there are two, with four tennis players each – and the request of the victims: Lorenzo Musetti, who was left out and finally comes in to replace the Balkan player, and the American Taylor Fritz. Both will have to compete on consecutive days, Monday and Tuesday, instead of taking a break in between. Meanwhile for Alcaraz the scenario is softening – 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, given that his group will find its logical order starting from Tuesday. That is, the natural course of the tournament is altered.
Close to Federer
Norwegian Casper Ruud will have to come in as a second substitute and the ATP is trying to cover his back for the future. It was unlikely to happen, but it happened, even if from next year similar circumstances will be avoided, given that the limit for determining who can participate will be set once again in Paris. So, no last minute scratches and, once again, complete photo. The portrait taken on Friday in Turin was unpublished, where only six players posed, instead of the eight candidates. Musetti or Auger-Aliassime were expected, they will both be there, but not Djokovic. In addition to the Alcaraz-De Miñaur opener, Zverev-Shelton will be played this Sunday (8.30pm).
Meanwhile, the champion of 24 majors considers the course finished. Really, what better way. Work finished: 101 titles, just a couple of those won by Roger Federer; so close and so far from Jimmy Connors’ record (109). At 38, Nole is still capable of coming back (4-6, 6-3 and 7-5) and resisting the three-hour battle proposed by Musetti. Immediately afterwards, with the trophy already in hand, the Serbian fired back via his social media: “I really wanted to compete in Turin and give my all, but after today’s final in Athens, I’m sorry to announce that I will have to withdraw due to an injury (officially to the shoulder)”.
More than simply exhausted, already exhausted, he now prefers to seal 2025 with the frame he was used to, after a Hulk scene: tearing off his shirt. Everyone was waiting for it, but he made it clear: Djokovic sets the times.
RYBAKINA, SPECIFIED AND CHAMPION
CA | Turin
Elena Rybakina’s insipid celebration is in line with a rather bland and flat tournament, as full of millions as it is emotionless. The Kazakh has just beaten the number one, Aryna Sabalenka, 6-3 and 7-6(0); He completed a seamless journey, with six wins in as many matches; and, as if that wasn’t enough, thanks to the plenary session in Riyadh he pocketed no more and no less than 5.2 million dollars (4.5 euros).
But little more than a fist to the sky, a few quick words and we go home. This season is over. Thanks to her and the moans of her opponent, on whom the camera is focused. Paradoxical year: between successes and disappointments.
Sabalenka, 27, began by losing the Australian Open final and ended it by bowing in the desert, once again deprived of her master honeys. It still falls in the finale, like in 2022. That is, a yes but no. Given its potential, the harvest ends up looking short.
He will turn the page with another great one in his record, the US Open, and three other joys in Brisbane, Miami and Madrid; However, he leaves with a crooked expression and curses because he doesn’t take advantage of the carousel: there are ten different winners since 2014. None of them have repeated themselves since the days of Serena Williams. And meanwhile Rybakina is back at the top, after a season of discretion.
