Tennis tournaments and highlights in the remainder of 2020

If there is something that dazzles all tennis fans, it is the fact that it barely stops for a year and is able to provide moments of emotion for eleven months. In this sad and atypical season marked by the coronavirus, the end of Roland Garros 2020 should not entail a general disconnection from tennis since there are many things at stake. Since the battle for number 1 with Novak Djokovic Y Rafael Nadal involved, even the behavior of favorites and promising youngsters in a reduced indoor tour, but in which the two usual big tournaments will be played at this time of year. These are the 10 great incentives and unknowns to solve in the remainder of the season:

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1. Rafael Nadal before his two great pending accounts

Paris and London. That would be the Spanish roadmap in case he decides to compete; two tournaments that he has never won, the ATP Finals being the only major gap in his record. Perhaps this year could be a good opportunity, not arriving with the usual physical wear of a whole season. In addition, he has margin to win points after the semifinals in the Masters 1000 Paris harvested last year and not pass the round robin at the O2 Arena, with what this implies in the objective of narrowing the margin with respect to Novak in the ranking.

2. Novak Djokovic and his desire to perpetuate himself at number 1 in the ATP rankings

The objective is clear: to reach March being number 1 in the world and without having lost that position at any time. With it, Djokovic would surpass Federer as the tennis player with the most weeks at the top of the classification. He has a significant margin over Nadal in the current rankings, but he cannot be distracted one iota.

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3. Stefanos Tsitsipas’s defense of his status as “Master”

The Greek was crowned in a brilliant and surprising way last year in the ATP Finals and will have as a priority objective to return to sign a great performance, with the addition of staying in the top-5 of the classification. He will arrive with confidence after what was done at Roland Garros and is expected to be a fixture in the big tournaments to be played.

4. Dominic Thiem and the attempt to avoid the hangover of success

It cannot be considered a failure to fall in the quarterfinals against Schwartzman, but considering that Roland Garros is his fetish tournament and that he showed many doubts against Gaston, it is clear that the Austrian did not arrive in top form. Winning the US Open is such a remarkable joy that it can be a double-edged sword and sap your performance for a while. You will have to find your rhythm and you will do so by competing in Vienna, as well as in Paris and London.

5. Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, brimming with winning ambition

With their place already secured for the ATP Finals, Russians and Germans arrive with some needs to vindicate themselves to this final stretch of the season and want to be protagonists by adding a title. Their game can be perfectly adapted to indoor conditions and a lot is expected of them.

6. The fierce battle for the two vacant spots for the ATP Finals

A prevailing need to score points to achieve a higher status in their sports careers. That’s what many players eager to complete a tournament that already has six qualifiers will be looking for. Diego Schwartzman, Matteo Berrettini, Andrey Rublev, Gael Monfils, Denis Shapovalov or Roberto Bautista are some of those who have serious options to opt for those two succulent tickets to London.

7. Veterans’ ability to react in difficult moments

Illustrious names such as Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic, Grigor Dimitrov or Kei Nishikori do not go through the best of times. All of them have the opportunity to accumulate appearances in ATP events and try to regain confidence, win matches, qualify for titles and regain positions in the world rankings.

8. Jannik Sinner and his performance on indoor courts

His game seems designed to compete on these types of tracks, so there is a lot of excitement around him. The young Italian, brand new top-50, wants to continue taking advantage of his upward trend and could be the protagonist in many of the events that will be played this month.

9. Andy Murray’s ability to find hope

To row against the current you need at least an impulse, an achievable goal, a hope. That is what the Briton is looking for, who left Roland Garros immersed in a sea of ​​doubts and very disappointed in himself. Last year he shone in this phase of the season, winning in Antwerp, so he wants to get back to his best level.

10. Lorenzo Musetti and Carlos Alcaraz, closing in on the top-100

Italian and Spanish greatly excite all the fans, and it is no wonder. Both have put an end to the top-150, and it would not be unreasonable that, if they continue in this good moment, it can approach the 100 best in the world. An unthinkable goal for both of them for 2020, but their innate talent and excellent results place them in an ideal position to get closer and, if not to do so this month, to leave the task well advanced for 2021.