🎉 Happy birthday to Rank No. 133 Jozef Kovalik! Srećan rođendan! 🎉

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Hey, Tennis Pro! It's finally Fridaaay!

Simon says... Adieu Paris! After a surprise run by Gilles Simon in his so-called last ATP tournament, the crowd-favorite Frenchman of the week finally bows out to Felix Auger Aliassime who demonstrated a stroke of authority. Most of us had considered Simon's career practically over since his French Masters debut draw against Andy Murray, but he managed to delay his final pro match twice, jumping the Brit and beating American golden boy Taylor Fritz in the Round of 32.

Unfortunately, the youth caught up with him in the race and Felix the Canadian put a stop to his underdog run after a convincing victory in two straight sets and allowing only one game in the first set and three in the second. Simon himself made reference to physical exhaustion in the post-match interview against Fritz and it seems that age finally took its toll on him. Meanwhile, we pay tribute to a great Frenchman who hangs up his racket with great gallantry and leaving the Parisian public with one last show of grace for the rest of time.

🐐 Nole is the Paris Masters' GOAT

In case you didn't know, the most successful player in the Masters 1000 in Paris is none other than Novak Djokovic (as if that is a surprise). Nole dominates several Tour tournaments, but his claim over the Paris' Throne is far superior to the rest. The Serbian has won 6 titles in Paris, dating from 2009 to the most recent win last year, losing only one final in the seven occasions he has reached the last instance. The curious thing is that his domain is such that the holder of second place in Paris is German Boris Becker, who owns half as many trophies as the Serbian, with only 3 to his account.

I found the graph interesting since it shows in a very visual way the percentage increase seen in tennis in relation to the points earned in the first instance, all the way to the number of titles obtained by Novak. The horizontal bars show how the percentage accumulation of points, games and tie-breaks are reflected in set, match and title wins. Nole follows the correct formula and shows off enviable numbers in the French capital, looking down on the rest saying: “Catch up… or bite the dust!”

✌️ Rafa's out early of the City of Love

It seems that Rafael Nadal was weighed down by the ghosts of the past in Paris, since the history without Masters 1000 titles of the Spaniard in the French capital was repeated once again in this year's edition. Rafa's best results at the Paris Masters were a semi-final loss against Alexander Zverev in 2020 and reaching a championship match, also losing to Argentina's David Nalbandian in 2007.

Everything points to the fact that Rafael just doesn't get his best tennis on the Parisian hard court. Although, in his defense, he faced one of the best versions of Tommy Paul, who one by one dispatched the Top 3 Spaniards of the moment (except for No. 1 Alcaraz). Bautista Agut, Rafa Nadal and Carreno Busta ran into the American who boasts a 3-1 record vs Top 5 so far this season.

I think that, although it hurts to see one of Rafa's last falls in Paris (if not the last one of his career), this pause before the Turin Finals will do the Spaniard a lot of good. Rafa expressed some regret at leaving his newborn at home and perhaps he needs that last dose of quality time with his family before seeking to close the year at full speed in Italy.

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👋 So long, and thanks for all the tennis!

👉 Carlos Alcaraz: the master juggler.

👉 Nitto ATP Finals video preview.

👉 Throwback to baby Alcaraz and Rune.

👉 A warm goodbye from Gilles Simon.

👉 Monfils and Svitolina's son newest video.