ATP/WTA 2020 Australian Summer

[BobbyMorri]

The tennis season has just finished. Which means the Aussie summer of tennis is about to start.

Whole new schedule this year with the ATP Cup. For the men

Week 1 (6th of Jan)
3rd-12th of Jan
ATP CUP
Brisbane- Sydney-Perth

Qatar Open
ATP 250 Tour

Week 2 (13th of Jan)
Adelaide International
ATP 250 Tour

Auckland Open
ATP 250 Tour

For the girls

Week 1
Brisbane International
WTA Premier

Shenzen Open
WTA International

Auckland Open
WTA International

Week 2
Adelaide International
WTA Premier

Hobart International
WTA International

All leading up to the Australian Open, which starts Jan 20th

I will post some of the news and line ups for the tournaments in the coming hours. I need lunch.

 

[BobbyMorri]

WEEK 1

Not sure if the ATP Cup deserves its own thread or not. I will add some info here but I will keep it brief.

Spoiler: ATP Cup Entry List

Big Matches from SMH
Great Britain v Bulgaria, Sydney, January 3: Andy Murray makes his debut in Sydney as he continues his comeback. Grigor Dimitrov leads the Bulgarians and can beat anyone on his day. Has started the summer in fine form in the past.
Australia v Germany, Brisbane, January 3: The brilliant Alex Zverev and Germany had the better of the Australians when they met here in Davis Cup in 2018 but Alex De Minaur is a far better player now and Nick Kyrgios loves the team atmosphere. John Millman grows another leg on Pat Rafter Arena.
Spain v Georgia, Perth, January 4: Rafael Nadal steps out in the west to begin his run towards the Australian Open, leading the Spanish charge against Georgia.
Austria v Argentina, Sydney, January 6: Austria's giant-killer Dominic Thiem will lead his nation into action against the tough Argentinians, who will pin their hopes on world No.14 Diego Schwarzman.
Australia v Greece, Brisbane, January 7: Stefanos Tsitsipas electrified Australia last summer and will find himself in one of the better match-ups of the tournament against the host nation.
Russia v USA, Perth, January 5: Daniil Medvedev continued his climb up the rankings in 2019 and the world No.4 arrives in Australia as a major factor. He spearheads the Russians against John Isner and the Americans.

UPDATED: Qatar biggest names are Stan, Rublev, Tsonga and Raonic. Jordan Thompson is also playing here.

Spoiler: Qater Entry List

16 Wawrinka, Stan (SUI)
23 Rublev, Andrey (RUS)
29 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA)
31 Raonic, Milos (CAN)
38 Djere, Laslo (SRB)
40 Krajinovic, Filip (SRB)
43 Mannarino, Adrian (FRA)
47 Tiafoe, Frances (USA)
49 Verdasco, Fernando (ESP)
51 Chardy, Jeremy (FRA)
52 Sonego, Lorenzo (ITA)
54? Dolgopolov, Alexandr (UKR) PR
56 Bublik, Alexander (KAZ)
58 Bedene, Aljaz (SLO)
59 Kecmanovic, Miomir (SRB)
61 Gasquet, Richard (FRA)
63 Thompson, Jordan (AUS)
64 Andujar, Pablo (ESP)
65 Herbert, Pierre-Hugues (FRA)
66 Berankis, Ricardas (LTU)
67 Kukushkin, Mikhail (KAZ)

Brisbane is packed. Such a shame they have are kicked off Pat Rafter till Thursday that week. Barty is the big big name in her home state.

Spoiler: Brisbane Entry List

Heard the WC's are Sammy, Aja and Venus.

Serena, Coco Grauff, Andrenecu, Woz, Goerges are the big names here. It is a very strong line up for an International tournament. Auckland is one of the best WTA Internationals on tour, so no surprise

Spoiler: Auckland Entry List

1. Bianca Andreescu (5)
2. Serena Williams (10)
3. Petra Matric (15)
4. Amanda Anisimova (24)
5. Julia Goerges (28)
6. Caroline Wozniacki (37)
7. Catherine Bellis (43)
8. Rebecca Peterseon (44)
9. Jelena Ostapenko (45)
10. Caroline Garcia (46
11. Alison Van Uytvanck (47)
12. Viktoria Kuzmova (52)
13. Svetlana Kuznetsova (54)
14. Carla Suárez Navarro (55)
15. Alizé Cornet (59)
16. Tamara Zidansek (63)
17. Lauren Davis (64)
18. Cori Gauff (68)
19. Daria Kasatkina (69)
20. Kirsten Flipkens (70)
21. Jil Teichmann (73)
22. Laura Siegemund (75)
23. Monica Puig (79)
24. Taylor Townsend (82)

Shezen has Benici, Mertens, Mug and Sabalenka as its big names. A lot of these players will go to Hobart afterwards i reckon.

Spoiler: Shenzen Entry List

1 Bencic, Belinda –
2 Sabalenka, Aryna
3 Mertens, Elise
4 Wang, Qiang
5 Muguruza, Garbiñe
6 Rybakina, Elena
7 Zhang, Shuai
8 Zheng, saisi

9 Alexandrova, Ekaterina
10 Linette, Magda
11 Wang, Yafan
12 Siniakova, Katerina
13 Blinkova, Anna
14 Pliskova, Kristyna
15 Sasnovich, Aliaksandra
16 Zhu, Lin

17 Tsurenko, Lesia
18 Cirstea, Sorana
19 Jabeur, Ons
20 Diyas, Zarina
21 Peng, Shuai
22 Rogers, Shelby
23 Doi, Misaki
24 Sorribes Tormo, Sara

 

[BobbyMorri]

Week 2

WTA
Adelaide has announced Halep, Barty and Alex De Minour. The WTA will be stacked I reckon.The draw cut off is 30.....WC to Venus Williams. She will do both Brisbane and Adelaide. Can't think of the last time Venus has played so much before an open and in Australia before. Muguruza(Not anymore) and Ostapenko are both in Qualies. Big names missing the cut. Kiki Ml is also in the qualies.

Spoiler: Adelaide WTA Entry List

Seq Player NAT Rank (Dec 2)
1 Barty, Ashleigh AUS 1
2 Halep, Simona ROU 4
3 Kvitova, Petra CZE 7
4 Bertens, Kiki NED 9
5 Konta, Johanna GBR 12
6 Kenin, Sofia USA 14
7 Martic, Petra CRO 15
8 Vondrousova, Marketa CZE 16

9 Riske, Alison USA 18
10 Vekic, Donna CRO 19
11 Kerber, Angelique GER 20
12 Yastremska, Dayana UKR 22
13 Sakkari, Maria GRE 23
14 Stephens, Sloane USA 25
15 Kontaveit, Anett EST 26
16 Sevastova, Anastasija LAT 27

17 Goerges, Julia GER 28
18 Collins, Danielle USA 29
19 Wang, Qiang CHN 30

Little Old Hobart Town has given Sammy Stosur a WC. I expect her doubles partner Zhang Shuai will play here also. Mertens is the biggest name. The Hobart Queen is back. Kuznetsova is a welcome addition as well.

And we gave a WC to Muguruza, a former winner. 3 former slam champions.

Spoiler: HobartWTA Entry List

Elise Mertens (BEL) No.17
Elena Rybakina (KAZ) No.36
Shuai Zhang (CHN) No.39
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) No.40
Magda Linette (POL)) No.43
Catherine Bellis (USA) No.43 SR
Rebecca Peterson (SWE) No.44
Caroline Garcia (FRA) No.46
Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) No.47
Yafan Wang (CHN) No.48
Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) No.52
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) No.54
Marie Bouzkova (CZE) No.57
Alize Cornet (FRA) No.59
Anna Blinkova (RUS) No.61
Fiona Ferro (FRA) No.62
Timara Zidansek (SLO) No.63
Lauren Davis (USA) No.64
Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) No.66
Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) No.70
Lin Zhu (CHN) No.71
[WC] Sam Stosur (AUS) No.99

ATP

Worry that Alex continues to play the week before the open. Killed him last year. Felix Auger-Aliassime has also been announced. So perhaps the ATP field will be very light. Novak is named but I suspect he will withdraw if he does deep in the ATP Cup. Hopefully Alex does the same

Spoiler: Adelaide ATP Entry List

2 Novak Djokovic
18 Alex De Minaur
21 Felix Auger-Aliassime
22 Lucas Pouille
23 Andrey Rublev
27 Pablo Carreno-Busta
32 Taylor Fritz
33 Cristian Garin
35 Jan-Lennard Struff
36 Reilly Opelka
38 Laslo Djere
41 Albert Ramos-Vinolas
42 Daniel Evans
44 Sam Querrey
45 Pablo Cuevas
49 Fernando Verdasco
50 Juan Ignacio Londero
51 Jeremy Chardy
55 Gilles Simon

Auckland has announced Medvedev and Sharpolov. John Millman is playing here as well. weird. Must hate Adelaide. Flogini is the 2nd seed.

Spoiler: Auckland Entry List

1. Daniil Medvedev (5)
2. Fabio Fognini (12)
3. Denis Shapovalov (15)
4. Karen Khachanov (17)
5. John Isner (19)
6. Benoit Paire (24)
7. Hubert Hurkacz (37)
8. Adrian Mannarino (43)
9. Radu Albot (46)
10. Frances Tiafoe (47)
11. John Millman (48)
12. Lorenzo Sonego (52)
13. Cameron Norrie (53)
14. Casper Ruud (54)
15. Ugo Humbert (57)
16. Joao Sousa (60)
17. Feliciano Lopez (62)

No Nick in either tournament. Only 2 of the top 10 are playing this week. Both ATP fields are on the light on names. I wouldn't rush to buy tickets to see Novak in Adelaide yet either. Surely he will either withdraw or tank.

Kooyong

Spoiler: Field

Cilic
Kyrgios
Tomljanovic
Wozniacki
Sharapova
Dimitrov
Raonic
Vandeweghe
Gasquet
Kwon
Coric

 

[BobbyMorri]

I do lol that Sydney got shafted still, despite them stuffing up everything to keep them happy. It was Fed withdrawing which caused that. I guess they host the finals. Still, suck it Sydney.

Brisbane has that list of ATP players from the cup(etc Novak, Sharpo, Tsitsipas, Sascha and the Aussies) PLUS a stacked WTA field. One lucky city

 

[BobbyMorri]

Two-time champion Elise Mertens back for Hobart International 2020 | Hobart International Tennis

World No.17 and two-time tournament champion Elise Mertens will compete at the Hobart International 2020

www.hobartinternational.com.au

Mertens is back baby.

 

[John Smith92]

Hope ATP cup doesn't dilute the Brisbane field too much, I've enjoyed the quality last five or so years and have absolutely no interest in a glorified exhibition.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Hope ATP cup doesn't dilute the Brisbane field too much, I've enjoyed the quality last five or so years and have absolutely no interest in a glorified exhibition.

The stupid thing is the ATP have control of Pat Rafter arena till the Thursday that week. Part of the deal with tennis Australia.

So, that means, Ash Barty will be playing on the outside courts for her first couple of rounds.

 

[John Smith92]

The stupid thing is the ATP have control of Pat Rafter arena till the Thursday that week. Part of the deal with tennis Australia.

So, that means, Ash Barty will be playing on the outside courts for her first couple of rounds.

Tennis Australia truly are a special organisation.

 

[matt_897]

Final is on the Sunday so it would be just the one round Ash would be on the outside courts but still a bizarre situation. I wonder if there is a dead tie, they might switch them around....

 

[TheHitman]

January is my favorite month for tennis

 

[Roobs321]

A young Joan Plowright (50s-60s) would have been ideal for an Ash Barty biopic.

 

[Leeda]

Ash is the lion tamer of the season.. she rocks and puts herself to the fire... no... want me t say more..
No it makes no sense but she does what she does and I say what I say and and and... .. rock on...

 

[BobbyMorri]

Adelaide has a (potential) coup. Novak Djokovic could play in a week before a slam for a while. He is listed as playing as per the AA. Very rare nowadays. Waiting for the actual lists for the fields to be released before I update above.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Such a shame that someone like Jordan Thompson has to play in Qater during our summer of tennis. All because of the ATP Cup. I really hate what Tennis Aus has done to our summer of tennis. No Hopman Cup, no opportunities for Australian WCs at ATP events, Barty playing on a show court for her first match as a number 1 player in her home country.

Really hope the media give TA a spray. In a time of increased womens sport, they have gone all-in with the ATP against the ITF. Indeed, I hope the ATP Cup flops.

 

[Cats_R_Cool_4_Ever]

Had a dream about Rafa last night. That I met him. Lol

Getting excited for the tennis season to start again, even though this is the first time in soo many years I will not be attending AO. Luckily though, as they’re working on the train lines so the traffic will be horrendous. Good luck to anyone going from other places other than Melbourne.

 

[BobbyMorri]

just updated the 2nd-week entry lists.

Bouchard must have gotten a WC into Auckland in the first week. Not sure why that is news, but it is.

 

[matt_897]

Such a shame that someone like Jordan Thompson has to play in Qater during our summer of tennis. All because of the ATP Cup. I really hate what Tennis Aus has done to our summer of tennis. No Hopman Cup, no opportunities for Australian WCs at ATP events, Barty playing on a show court for her first match as a number 1 player in her home country.

Really hope the media give TA a spray. In a time of increased womens sport, they have gone all-in with the ATP against the ITF. Indeed, I hope the ATP Cup flops.

The only stuff-up is the Hopman Cup, there is no reason why they couldn't of done that after the ATP Cup matches there (maybe in a shortened format...)

But you can't blame TA for the ATP Cup, they saw an opportunity to get the top male players as start up for the summer in a new event and it's nice to have something different to start the season. I'm really looking forward to it...

Much better format than the new DC format which shouldn't of changed anyways...

Jordy could of played the challenger in Canberra if he wanted to play in Australia, surprised he didn't.

Bit weird John has gone to Auckland, maybe wants to play in a few different places before he retires.

 

[John Smith92]

JP Smith and Arina Rodionova win the WC playoffs into AO main draw. Not exactly a thrilling glimpse into the future of Australian tennis but both played well.

 

[matt_897]

Bit disappointing Rodinova won given some of the players on the women's side. I guess she will enjoy the check.

Not surprised by Smith in the men's, there was no real standout player in that draw (Bolt has been out of form really) so the consistentc hallenger level player gets it. Again, he'll enjoy the check...

 

[John Smith92]

Bit disappointing Rodinova won given some of the players on the women's side. I guess she will enjoy the check.

Not surprised by Smith in the men's, there was no real standout player in that draw (Bolt has been out of form really) so the consistentc hallenger level player gets it. Again, he'll enjoy the check...

The men's side especially was pretty underwhelming. I'm assuming that Duckworth and Popyrin just made the cutoff for direct entry, and O'Connell must have been guaranteed a wildcard already, so Bolt was the only player there with the weapons to make a jump into the top 100 and he was injured. I wonder if Kokkinakis is healthy atm, and if so whether he was extended an invitation.

 

[Redline]

The men's side especially was pretty underwhelming. I'm assuming that Duckworth and Popyrin just made the cutoff for direct entry, and O'Connell must have been guaranteed a wildcard already, so Bolt was the only player there with the weapons to make a jump into the top 100 and he was injured. I wonder if Kokkinakis is healthy atm, and if so whether he was extended an invitation.

I think Kokkinakis is as healthy as he can be but we all know he will likely break down again and just didn't want to risk it when not playing for points.

I have a feeling he will get a main draw wildcard anyway as I think they will want him to play in Adelaide the week before. Bolt a bit unlucky to miss out but had a mixed year.

 

[Redline]

Andy Murray not making a return to the Australian summer.

Huge bonus for one of the Australian men who will now get his wildcard. Pateick-Smith has one of five locked in. Assuking Duckworth gets direct entry then O'Connell, Pohlmans, Bolt and Kokkinakis which each get one. The other one who now might be in the mix is Ebden.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Muguruza is coming down to Hobart instead of Adelaide. Huge get for us. we now have 3 former slam champions. She has got the 2nd WC(Stosur would be the first)

We have a lovely line-up this year. Giorgi is in qualies, always good to watch for reasons....Gasparyan is in qualies and someone I am interested in after Wimbledon this year and that 1 hand backhand.

 

[wally funk]

By far, the most disappointing aspect of this summer's tennis is the lack of the Hopman Cup. More, even, than the lack of Kei Nishikori and Sir Andy.

 

[brucetiki]

Looks like Adelaide has a great WTA list. So glad Adelaide has a proper event now instead of the joke that was WTC.