ATP depth isn't what it used to be. The latest history-flavored podcast from Saqib at Tennis Accent underscores that point and a lot more:

The 1980s had its superstars, but it had other major champions who elbowed their way to the victory stand. Saqib talks to Pat Cash and Andres Gomez, new at Tennis Accent ---->>

3 - Iga Swiatek is the youngest player in the Open Era to reach three consecutive semi-finals in Women's Singles at the Cincinnati Open (2023-2025). Quality. #CincyTennis | Cincinnati Open wta WTA Insider

Wimbledon completely changed Iga Swiatek's year and vibe. We don't count Canada since Iga barely had any time off after her SW(iatek)19 championship.

Yup.

Rybakina started the North American swing early and is gaining confidence match by match. Sabalenka was quite unfocused today in the brutal conditions, but still an awesome serving day and a few FH cross-court bullets. Will play Świątek now and she's 0-3 against Iga this year.

We will see what happens in New York, but for now, today's result tells me a lot more about Sabalenka than Rybakina.

Rybakina has world-class talent. She put it together for a year. Now it's time for her to maintain (which is what Sabalenka had been doing for a few years but is now showing signs of losing).

Rybakina needs to do what Sabalenka began doing in 2023. Sabalenka needs to get back to where she was before the Roland Garros final, which changed her year for the worse. She's not the same player.

It's wild to contemplate just how much has changed in women's tennis from the Roland Garros final until now, especially regarding Sabalenka and Swiatek.

Entering the RG final, Sabalenka had reason to think she could clean up at the majors and ascend to a much higher place. Swiatek was at low ebb. Complete 180 for those two since Aryna's loss to Coco in Paris.

A few swings change everything: the story of tennis.

Players winning a Masters 1000 title because of opponent's retirement 1990: Edberg | Paris 1991: Sanchez | Rome 1996: Agassi | Miami 1998: Costa | Hamburg 1999: Kuerten | Monte Carlo 2004: Roddick | Miami 2011: Murray | Cincinnati 2014: Nadal | Madrid 2025: Alcaraz | Cincinnati

ATP tennis is a story of two people. If one of those two people is hurt/unwell, it is quite deflating. Gut punch for the fans and the tournament.

This has been said before and will be said again: Tennis should think about playing tournaments when it's not supremely hot in that locality. Cincy in October, for instance.

Imagine a 1,000-point August tournament in San Francisco, not Ohio, and have Cincy in October. If tennis had leaders, these things would at least be considered.

Unless it's a sauna in New York...

People are (quite reasonably and logically) asking how Cincy in October could work under the current calendar. The answer: It wouldn't. The tennis calendar can use a drastic overhaul, IMO.

The ideal tennis calendar would involve a number of traits/details: * less travel between continents * less hot-weather tennis * larger breaks between big tournaments * more surface variety The current calendar falls well short of these goals

Not much else to add, no?