FONSECA'S BASEL BREAKTHROUGH, SINNER TOPS ZVEREV AND MORE WITH ATP WRITER SAM JACOT | FULL PODCAST

ATP writer Sam Jacot joins the podcast to recap Joao Fonseca's biggest title to date in Basel, and explains why the Brazilian teenager is making strides to become a generational superstar. Jacot breaks down Jannik Sinner's narrow victory over Alexander Zverev in Vienna, assessing Zverev's level and Sinner's decision to re-invent parts of his game. The writer also discusses Belinda Bencic and Ann Li's recent tournament wins, with the latter being another American woman to have success in 2025.

Jacot also reacts to the news that Saudi Arabia will host a new Masters event in the years ahead, and ponders how the schedule could be adjusted going forward. The jouralist also shares some early thoughts on the WTA Finals and the ATP Paris Masters, where Valentin Vacherot continues to impress and Grigor Dimitrov made a triumphant and winning return to the court. Hosted by Mitch Michals.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:16 Jacot on covering the young ATP players that are having success on tour
2:10 Tien, Mensik and others notching wins and results
3:05 Why are so many younger players having success in their first seasons on the ATP?
5:00 Losing finals gives you scar tissue that is hard to break free from
5:30 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is still looking for his first title
6:28 Joao Fonseca wins Basel, notches his first ATP 500 level title
7:30 Fonseca enters the Top 30 for the first time
8:42 How Fonseca has been able to stay fresh at the end of a long pro tennis season
10:35 What are reasonable expectations for Joao Fonseca in 2026?
13:03 Jannik Sinner defeats Alexander Zverev to win Vienna
14:20 Zverev raises his level, but it isn't enough to beat Sinner
15:10 Sinner dug deep, which was something he hasn't had to do much recently
16:20 Sinner is looking to evolve his game to combat Alcaraz
17:00 Changing your game while trying not to give confidence to other players
18:30 Any worries about Sinner's fitness after cramping in Vienna?
20:41 Belinda Bencic defeats Linda Noskova to win the Japan Open
21:40 Bencic's longevity as a top WTA player is impressive
22:43 Elena Rybakina qualifies for the WTA Finals
24:33 Mirra Andreeva gets a break and a chance to reset
25:42 The WTA Finals begin in Saudi Arabia this Sunday
26:37 It's great for the WTA that their year-end Finals has a long-term home
28:01 The ATP will add another Masters 1000 event to the calendar in Saudi Arabia
29:01 How the tennis schedule will change going forward
30:00 Tours requiring players to play a certain amount of 500 events is a hot button topic
31:38 Ann Li wins Guangzhou for her 2nd career title
32:55 Nine American women in The Top 40, half of the WTA Finals field are Americans
33:48 ATP Paris Masters are underway
34:10 Valentin Vacherot continues his winning ways
35:00 Vacherot is into the Top 40 and climbing
36:03 Fonseca keeps winning in Paris, and Felix Auger Aliassime still alive in The Race to Turin
38:00 Jacot on the beginning of the Paris Masters
39:00 Grigor Dimitrov returns to the court
40:51 There won't be a Sinner/Alcaraz final in Paris, as Alcaraz was upset!
42:20 What's next for Jacot covering the final events of the 2025 season
43:30 Thanks to Sam Jacot for appearing on The Inside-In Tennis Podcast!


You can listen to this episode here:
Apple: https://t.co/0P7vT9N4TS
Spotify: https://t.co/oVUa5EnYir
iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-th...

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