Dire Strai(gh)ts: ATP Wrap

In our season seven finale, we’re recapping this odd and transitional year on the ATP Tour, a year in which Novak Djokovic came very close to winning the first Grand Slam since 1969 and a bunch of youngsters shook the table of Big 3 hegemony. We take an honest look at our breakout predictions – not great, Bob – and reminisce about some truly wild (and some depressing) Remember When moments. Although there’s much levity, you know us – we’re not going to recap the ATP season without talking about the dark shadow cast by the ATP’s repeated fumbling of the Zverev & Basilashvili abuse allegations.    Thanks for your support this year and every year – see you in 2022!    04:00 In Australia, Russians make history and Djokovic wins his 9th 14:00 The spring gives us a sign of what’s to come (Rublev, Karatsev, Hurkacz, Sinner) plus a quick chat on PTPA progress this year 20:55 Clay season: Tsitsipas announces himself as a favorite for Roland Garros alongside Nadal & Djokovic 22:35 Novak screams and hollers his way to the Roland Garros title, beats Tsitsipas from 2 sets down  27:20 Grass season: Djokovic’s Wimbledon win seemed kinda … easy? Golden Slam Watch is on 41:40 US Open: BathroomGate went on way too long; breakouts galore; Medvedev kills the dream 46:15 Fall season: Norrie wins IW, Frances captures our attention, Russia bookends its year with a dominant Davis Cup win 49:00 Let’s look at the receipts: titles and rankings  52:50 How’d we do on our breakout picks? 55:15 Remember When? Hecklers, innocent bathroom breaks, the code-cracking racquet launch, YawnGate, and the unfortunate trend of ATP players using homophobic slurs 65:05 The ATP’s Integrity Problem