This Week's Drop Shots: November 18th, 2020
“This Week’s Drop Shots” details the latest results, hot takes, and breaking news from around the tennis world in a quick and easy-to-read format.
The end of the season is almost here! The ATP Finals are underway, some Challenger and ITF tournaments are happening across the world, but many people are already talking about the Australian Open that’s only a couple months away. For now, let’s focus on the latest results and stories from the tennis world:
Results - Nitto ATP Finals
Only 3 full days of action have been completed, but we already know who’s looked good and who’s underperformed. In Group London, Dominic Thiem has secured his spot at the top with 2 impressive wins over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal. Andrey Rublev has dropped to 0-2 in the group after a phenomenal 2020 season. In Group Tokyo, Novak Djokovic answered the initial questions emphatically with a convincing win over first-time qualifier Diego Schwartzman. He and Daniil Medvedev will square off today to decide who will advance to 2-0 and who will drop to 1-1 in the Group Stage.
Don’t overlook the doubles competition, which has been incredibly entertaining thus far. In Group Mike Bryan, the pair of Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Metkic have made their mark and started off 2-0. They’ll face Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo in an attempt to stay undefeated in the Group Stage. In Group Bob Bryan, the #1 seeded pairing of Bruno Soares and Mate Pavic came back to win their first match after a slow start in the opening set. They dropped a tough match this morning to Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers, who are undefeated at the top of the group.
Whether you’re watching the singles or doubles competition (or hopefully both), you’re watching the best in the world go toe-to-toe to wrap up an unconventional 2020 season. Follow us on social media for updates and our takes on the action in London!
Serena…as a Tennis Parent
As Olympia (daughter of Serena Williams) has taken to the court, the legend herself has documented the early tennis lessons. Don’t worry, Serena has already committed to not being the “helicopter parent” for Olympia. Check out these articles (here and here) to see the best posts covering Serena with her daughter on court!
Winner of the Week
Although we’re nowhere near the end of the ATP Finals, the winner of this week has to be Dominic Thiem. Not only has he passed the eye test with flying colors, but he becomes just the 2nd man to notch a win over Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic at this event.
TopCourt Partnership
Take advantage of our partnership with TopCourt! This new platform gives you exclusive access to coaching, drills, and insight from the best mentors and athletes in tennis. With winter coming and COVID shutting down leagues, use TopCourt to learn and improve your game! From doubles experts such as the Bryan brothers to the legendary Venus Williams, the individuals sharing their knowledge with you are phenomenal. Click here for your free trial of TopCourt, courtesy of Cracked Racquets!
Favorite Content
We’ll see you all next week for another recap, but be sure to check out some of our favorite recent articles and episodes!
The Deciding Point: Sabalenka Wins Again, World Tour Finals, and Jannik Sinner
Vicky Duval’s latest episode of The Sideline