SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale


By Chris Oddo | Sunday November 18, 2018


Recency bias is a thing in tennis just like it is in all sports, and we tend to remember what happened yesterday more vividly than what happened a week or a month ago, let alone a full season. That’s why we are going to see Alexander Zverev’s plastered all over the papers (deservedly so) on Monday—the German hit another level in the season finale on Sunday and he’ll be given his due and then some.

It’s also why we won’t be talking about Novak Djokovic and, to a lesser degree, Roger Federer as much on Monday.

Djokovic drew rave reviews for epic run to the title match at the World Tour Finals, but he fell prey to Zverev in the final, letting the German walk away with all the accolades as well as the trophy and a giant magnum of Moet champagne.

Tennis Express

And even further down the hype totem pole falls Federer. The Swiss started the year brilliantly, winning the Australian Open and reeling off 17 consecutive match wins, but now that the season’s done, many don’t know if the 37-year-old has what it takes to produce a proper encore to a season that saw him win his 20th major title and become the oldest singles No.1 in the history of the ATP.

Will he or won’t he be a factor in 2019?


Djokovic wisely cautioned media against counting the Swiss maestro out.

“Regarding Roger's form, look, when Roger is playing, you always expect him to win,” Djokovic said on Saturday in London after the Swiss’ season ended with a straight-sets loss to eventual champion Zverev in London. “That's why it's strange for you guys that he doesn't win a big title since January this year.”

Djokovic says people have counted Federer out before, and it turned out to be a big mistake.

“A lot of people have signed him out, put him into retirement already many, many times before in the last five years,” he said. “He's proven everybody wrong by winning additional three, four slams in the last couple years.

“Do not count him out, that's all I can say.”

Tecnifibre T-Fight

Federer closes his 2018 campaign with a 48-10 record and a 4-6 record against the Top 10. After winning his 99th career title at the Swiss Indoors Basel he was two matches from winning his 100th career title twice, as he reached the semifinals at the Paris Masters and the World Tour Finals.

The loss left the Swiss feeling disappointed but at the same time hopeful.

“I'm a little bit disappointed there because I believe I was close,” he said. “Being close makes me believe I can keep going, I can win again. That's uplifting in some ways. But because I know I could have won, I'm also disappointed because I aim high. From that standpoint, I'm a little bit disappointed now, which is normal. Overall I'm happy how the season went. There's many positives, to be quite honest. So I'm excited for next season.”

 

Latest News