2012 atp tour

ATP World Tour Finals 2012: Story so far in pictures, quotes and results

Atp world tour finals 2012: our writer at the o2 rounds up the tournament so far in pictures, quotes and results.

It’s the half-way stage at the World Tour Finals, and some things never change.

Novak Djokovic has beaten Andy Murray in yet another classic, race-to-the-wire contest, and has as good as guaranteed a place in the semis.

Roger Federer has reached all sorts of records and is the first to qualify for the semis—nothing new there.

David Ferrer lost to Federer yet again—that’s 14 times—but played a storm against Juan Martin del Potro, as he has done in most of their contests and on most surfaces.

Amid the action came news from the ATP that the season-ending tournament would continue to be played in London until 2015, and little wonder. Every session has been sold out, with attendance expected to top the million mark by the end of this, the fourth, World Tour Finals at the O2.

The players love it too. Uniquely, they arrive at the venue by riverboat. They have their own locker rooms. They even have individually embroidered towels—and most of them make sure they take every one of them home in their bag!

What also never changes is the complexity of the format—or rather the complexity of the qualification for each player from each pool.

The top man from each pool will advance to play the second man from the other pool in the semifinals, and the ranking is affected by the number of match wins, number of sets and games won, head-to-head in the tournament…the permutations are many-headed. So while Federer has qualified already, his last match against del Potro could determine whether he is No1 or No2 in this pool.

As for the Djokovic pool, ahead of their final round-robin matches there were no fewer than 10 scenarios.

Here are a few pointers, along with some photos and quotes from the biggest indoor tennis tournament in the world.

No1 Novak Djokovic

The 2008 champion and end-of-year No1 beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straights and came back from a set down to beat Murray. In only one of the 10 scenarios can he fail to qualify: if Tomas Berdych beats him in two sets and Murray beats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in two.

Djokovic on confidence:

“Well, confidence plays a key role for any person on this planet, I think, especially for the athletes at this level. You need to try to rely on your strength in your game and you need to believe in your shots, believe in your instincts. When you have that positive mindset, when you believe in your game, you have better chances of winning those crucial points.

No2 Roger Federer

The six-time and defending champion has already qualified for the semifinals with two straight-sets wins over Janko Tipsarevic and Ferrer. His performance against del Potro may affect whether he qualifies top or second in his pool.

Federer reached a record 40 match-wins in the tournament after Round 1 and crossed the 70 match-win mark for the season with the second round win.

Federer, asked if he is feeling the benefit of missing Paris:

“Well, I don’t know. Never find out because I don’t get a chance to go back to Paris and play. [But] I’m happy that I feel fine just in time…really since yesterday I feel fine. So obviously it was good for me to start Tuesday.”

No3 Andy Murray

After pulling out last year with injury after one match, Murray has made no secret of wanting to end his best ever season on home soil with a good run here. He beat Berdych in three but lost to Djokovic, also in three. He needs to beat Tsonga to keep his qualification to the semis alive, and a straight-sets win would see him through.

Murray on his relationship with Djokovic:

“I think both of us probably see each other’s games pretty well. Especially this year, because we’ve played so much. You kind of know a little bit what to expect…The intensity of my matches with him have been extremely high this year. But the one thing I would say is, this year I think both of us probably have seen things in each other’s games probably improve, and that’s why there’s a lot of long rallies, and the matches are incredibly tight.”

No4 David Ferrer

The Spaniard beat del Potro in three sets but lost to Federer in two. His progress to the semifinals, which he reached last year, will almost certainly depend on the scores he and del Potro achieve in their closing round-robin matches: If they are in a two-way tie, Ferrer will edge it on the basis of their head-to-head.

Ferrer leads the 2012 tour with 73 match wins, though Djokovic could draw level with a final round-robin win.

Ferrer on Federer, to whom he lost for the 14th time:

“I think he has a very good slice and very good serve. It’s very difficult for me to serve to Roger, no? Maybe with the other players I can receive better. And Roger I can’t do…He’s very good, so maybe the difference with him is because he’s better than me, no?”

And Federer’s view of the only other man aged 30 or more in the tournament:

“Again today, I think Ferrer showed why he’s so tough to beat. He makes you hit the extra shot, he makes it physical. You know that mentally he’s not going to go anywhere. That’s why he has so much respect from his fellow competitors…I think this is really the time for him right now where all his hard work is starting to pay off for him…I think now in particular he can shine and prove to not only you guys, but also I think the other players, how tough he really is.”

No5 Tomas Berdych

The big Czech may have lost in three to Murray, but he looked very strong in beating Tsonga, also in three. He has to put in a top-notch performance against Djokovic to stand a chance of beating Murray to qualification for the semis, but he came close last year, losing in a third-set tie-breaker.

Berdych, on emulating his female compatriots, who won the Fed Cup, in the upcoming Davis Cup final.

“I think the girls are quite used to that, to win. They did it already twice in the two years. They just give the turn to us. It should be our team who is going to…make the Czech tennis really the best possible year ever to happen. So, you know, we will try to definitely do that, try to fight for us, for the country, try to bring the trophy after 32 years back home.”

No6 Juan Martin Del Potro

Possibly the dark horse of the tournament, he won two indoor titles ahead of London, including his first win in seven attempts this year over Federer. He beat an ailing Tipsarevic with ease, but was beaten by Ferrer in three. His concluding match against Federer could be very influential: earn him qualification for the semis and determine whether Federer finishes top of the pool or second.

Del Potro and on facing Federer for the eighth time in 2012:

“I need to beat Roger once again, it’s going to be a different match like 2009 here, but also is going to be a special match for me. Could be my last match in this season, so I will try to play similar to the finals in Basel, trying to be more aggressive than him all the time and see if I have little chance to beat him.”

No7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

The Frenchman who reached the finals last year, looks in danger of failing to qualify this year. He lost to Djokovic in two sets and Berdych in three. How he performs against Murray may have a greater impact on the Briton’s fortunes than on his own. Only one of the 10 possible scenarios sees him qualify: Djokovic has to beat Berdych in straight sets, and he has to do the same against Murray—and the Frenchman has beaten Murray only once, back in 2008.

No 8 Janko Tipsarevic

The Serb came to London as alternate last year, and took Murray’s place for two matches—beating Djokovic for the first time in his career and losing to Berdych in a final-set tie-break. Playing right up to Paris to qualify, he has been coping with the after-effects of a virus, losing quickly to both Federer and del Potro. His rackets came out in sympathy in the latter match: Despite its shortness, he had strings go in four rackets.

Tipsarevic, asked about his performance so far:

“Great [laughter]. Well, I just answered. If you ask me if I’m happy with my performance, I’m not. I’m playing horrible. I’m playing worse than horrible. I’m playing the worst tennis that I played in a long time. But I’m on the court, behaving good, not throwing my racket, giving my best.

“I would like to thank the fans who are supporting me despite my tennis…But, it’s sad to say, but this is the best I can do right now.”

…And added, when asked about wearing glasses:

“Even though you can really not see it in the last two matches, [my glasses are] really helpful.”

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ATP World Tour Finals 2012: Federer beats Ferrer to make semi-finals

ATP World Tour Finals 2012: Djokovic seizes qualification in style

The Best Matches of the 2012 ATP Tour

With the tennis season over for another year I thought it’d be a good time to take a look back at some of the best matches that we’ve had the pleasure of witnessing ever since play got underway on the 1st of January 2012 at the Brisbane International.

Rather than me rattling off my favourite matches that Roger’s played this year (I’ll be doing that in another post ;)) I thought I’d do something different and get a range of opinions on the matter.

About a week and a half ago I emailed a few tennis bloggers whose blogs frequent and asked them the question: what was your favourite match of the year on the ATP Tour and why?

Here are their answers:

Cincinnati Masters 1000 First Round: Haas d. Nalbandian, 6/7 7/6 6/3

Jesse Pentecost – The Next Point

Tommy Haas, on his umpteenth comeback, was in the midst of an Indian Summer – highlighted by defeating Federer for the Halle title – and had returned to the cusp of the top 20. Meanwhile on the very afternoon that Haas won Halle, across the Channel in London David Nalbandian was famously defaulted from the Queens final after kicking a linesman. He hadn’t won a match since. Added frisson came from the previous week, when this same pair had met in the opening round in Toronto (the tour has a way of throwing up these repetitions), which Haas had narrowly won.

Haas moved ahead 5/2 in the first set, and appeared to be cruising when Nalbandian stepped it up, saving multiple set points, eventually forcing a tiebreaker, which he took to love behind some unusually strong serving. The Argentine then held a match point in the second set, but could not convert. Haas took the ensuing tiebreaker. The third set hinged on a marathon eighth game, with Nalbandian serving. He couldn’t quite hold and Haas eventually and painstakingly broke through, and then served it out. Perhaps fittingly, given that the afternoon had already witnessed a torrent of winners, it ended with an ace.

Nalbandian had lost his fifth match in a row, while Haas won the 496th of his career.

Madrid Masters 1000 Final: Federer def. Berdych 3-6 7-5 7-5

Marina aka Penabaza – RogerFedererFans.com Forum

The Madrid Open victory was Roger’s 74th career title and brought him back to Number 2 in the ATP world rankings.

Roger now holds the record there with three titles and will be the ONLY champion on blue clay, since the tournament will go back to red next year.

Another reason why I picked this match was because it was Roger’s first title on clay after winning Roland Garros back in 2009 😉

Roger Federer doesn’t stop to amaze me and I’m always looking forward to see him play again. December will be a boring month for us Roger/Tennis fans. With only some exhibition matches of Roger in Brazil and Argentina. But Roger deserves and needs his rest, after such a long year on the tour again. Time to spend with his family and to refill the tank before he’s going back to the court and starts practising again. Looking forward to see his 2013 schedule asap!

I was lucky to see Roger twice this year. In Fribourg during Davis Cup against USA and in Basel in October. He’s my Maestro, my hero and my everything and I congratulate him on his amazing 2012 and look forward for everything that will happen in 2013.

Wimbledon 3rd Round: Federer def. Benneteau 4-6, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-1

Kyle Johansen – Lefty Advantage

Why was this my favourite match of the year? Well, for one, it was a high-class grass court tennis match at a Grand Slam level. Two, Federer showed the qualities that make him the champion he is today. After the match, Benneteau remarked that you never know how Roger is feeling on court because he hides his emotions so well – his body language is the same regardless of whether he is playing amazing or is struggling to find his game.

Ultimately, Federer survived one of the biggest scares he has ever had, and went on to win his 17th Grand Slam by beating Djokovic and Murray back-to-back in 4 sets. For being an amazing display of skill, heart, courage, and passion, this match is my favourite of the 2012 tennis season.

Wimbledon 2nd Round: Rosol def. Nadal 6-7 6-4 6-2 2-6 6-4

Amy Fetherolf – The Changeover

When Rafael Nadal walked onto Centre Court at Wimbledon to play World No. 100 Lukas Rosol in the second round, there was no reason to believe this match would be anything different than the status quo. When Rosol squandered three set points, and Nadal won the first set in a tiebreak, 11-9, conventional wisdom would suggest that the Czech would likely fade away in straight sets.

Instead, Rosol played the match of his life, beating Nadal in a titanic five set battle. When he had chances to falter, he came up with incredible shotmaking that blindsided Nadal. After the determined Spaniard leveled the match at two sets apiece, Rosol, with steely resolve not frequently seen in lower-ranked players, simply never allowed Nadal the opportunity to get back into the deciding set after earning an early break.

What makes this match so compelling is that Nadal was not playing poorly, hitting 19 aces, 41 winners, and just 16 unforced errors. Many times when a top player loses to a much lower-ranked opponent, it is because the top player is not playing their best. Not so this time. Rosol was unquestionably the better player that day. Rosol’s incredible stats: 22 aces, 65 winners, and 29 unforced errors.

French Open Quarter Final: Djokovic def. Tsonga 6-1 5-7 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 6-1

Melinda Samson – Grand Slam Gal

The atmosphere created by a Parisien crowd watching a French player play the world No.1 was fantastic. And the twists and turns in the score line made every minute of the four hour plus match fascinating.

Djokovic won the first set easily, then Tsonga won the next two before Djokovic saved four tense match points and went on to win the match in five sets.

This match had all the elements that make tennis memorable; great players, great tennis and great atmosphere.

Australian Open Final: Djokovic def. Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5

Matthew Lambert – Tennis Stats

The match: Most importantly, the quality of tennis was absolutely incredible, with the two most consistent players in the game trading crushing blows in an endless stream of pulsating baseline encounters.

Nadal edged a tight first set 7-5, before Djokovic came on strong, taking the next two sets 6-4, 6-2 and taking a 4-3, 40-0 lead on the Nadal serve. Clinging on to the match by his fingertips, Nadal somehow clawed his way back from the brink. As he saved break point after break point, Nadal became more and more pumped up. By the time the 4th set reached a tiebreak, he was positively frenzied. When Rafa finally closed out the set, he dropped to his knees, fists pumping furiously. It was a fantastic moment, probably my favourite of the season.

A turbo-charged Nadal then ran out into a 4-2 lead in the deciding set, but now it was Djokovic’s turn to find an extra gear. The Serb hit back, and with the scores level at two sets all, four games all, the two gladiators embarked on an epic 32 shot rally. When Djokovic finally pushed a backhand long, he collapsed onto his back, chest heaving up and down like a drowning man dragged to shore.

Both players were at the limits of their physical and emotional endurance, but it was Djokovic who found a final burst to push himself over the finish line. He dropped to the court once again, this time in triumph as well as exhaustion.

The significance: After his exceptional 2011, Djokovic knew that the other three top guys would come at him incredibly strong this season, and he laid down a vital marker at Melbourne Park by beating first Murray and then Nadal in two epic encounters. Nadal lost this battle, but he took a giant stride in the Serbo-Spanish war which has been played out across the battlefields of the ATP tour in recent years. He proved to the tennis world, and, more importantly, to himself, that even when Djokovic plays at his peak, Rafa has the commitment and the ability to live with him.

Picked by: Foot Soldiers of Tennis

Sometimes it can be painfully one sided, as Paolo Lorenzi tends to find against Novak Djokovic, but every now and then things unfold differently. Such was the case for Lukas Rosol’s encounter with Rafael Nadal. Rosol is a big man with a big game, but one that wouldn’t be loaded with sophistication.

Not that he needed that. He just hit Nadal, the player you associate with physical endurance and endless topspin, clean off the court. You can argue the conditions helped, and they did, and I am sure Rafa fans will point to his fitness, but it simply doesn’t happen that one of the elite four gets pummelled.

As well as the absurdly successful yet high risk play of Rosol’s tennis, it was compelling to watch Nadal struggle to deal with his failure to control the match, highlighted by his attempt at intimidation into bumping into Rosol during a changeover. It was Don’t you know who I am?? met with I don’t really give a damn .

There have also been plenty of lower ranked players who have been in such promising positions, Alejandro Falla spring to mind, who crack when they realise what’s within reach. The way Rosol served out the match was simply magnificent.

Even during the game, you sense this was one of those odd contests where everything fell just as it needed to for the underdog. But no matter that Rosol has largely, quietly, returned to the circuit. It still made for a match of the year.

French Open Quarter Final: Djokovic def. Tsonga 6-1, 5-7, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1

Brodie – Mind The Racket

Suddenly, two unreturnable serves from Tsonga each followed by a grunt and a subsequent roar from the French crowd. Their man was alive. Suddenly the Bat signal had appeared in the sky and the Frenchman transformed from your boring, run of the mill tennis player into a multiple tools, ball crushing, line painting super hero. His movement, power and unpredictability had him creating chances as well as playing ridiculous defense and winning points he had no business in even being in.

Unfortunately for Tsonga, Djokovic is still Djokovic. While cracking in the crucial moments of sets two and three, the ends, and losing them both 7-5, he pushed the fourth set to a tiebreak. Barely. It was all set for Tsonga to make his big break through at Roland Garros and qualify for the semifinals.

What follows is made for tennis and Roland Garros lore. The clear favourite, every ounce of momentum and the capacity crowd on his side, Tsonga failed to cross the match point finish line. Four times.

It was like watching Batman corner The (D)Joker for their final encounter. Everyone knows the expected outcome. Instead, the Joker pulls out a gun, shoots Batman, the movie ends, the lights come on and you are left stunned in your chair with bits of popcorn stuck between your teeth wondering it is what you just saw. The plot wasn’t just lost, it came crashing to a devastating, miraculous end as Djokovic took the fourth set tiebreak 8-6 and then cruised through the fifth set to take the match, 6-1. Djokovic would lose to Nadal in the Roland Garros final, but it was a crushing loss for Tsonga who hasn’t looked quite as good since.

World Tour Finals Round Robin: Del Potro def. Federer 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3

Joanna – mariposaxprs

That’s why Del Potro’s victory over Federer at the WTF RR is my personal favorite for 2012. He became the only player to have defeated the Maestro twice at the World Tour Final. In Fed’s 11-year stint at the WTF, Fed has maintained an astounding 42-9 record – he’s only lost once to Hewitt, Nalbandian, Gonzalez, Simon, Murray, Davydenko and Djokovic.

Del Potro’s victory at the WTF was his second consecutive win over Fed, after defeating Fed in Basel. One interesting factoid: Of Del Potro’s 4 career wins over Fed, 3 have now taken place on indoor HCs.

As both a Del Potro and Federer fan, I like watching each player get irritated with himself in this match-up. Del Potro chided himself after hitting unforced errors, while Fed yelled at himself in German (during the Basel final, the commentator had remarked that Fed spent more time rolling his eyes at himself after losing a point).

While both players smiled after hitting their respective tweeners at 4-4 in the first set, the match quickly grew serious. The points DelPo played to reach first deuce on Fed’s serve at 4-4 in the first set were particularly entertaining, featuring swift volleys and the rare BHDTLs.

I like Del Potro’s celebration after this victory — he gave a little hop and a skip. His celebration after defeating Fed for the second time this year was an unfettered expression of joy, unlike his more restrained celebration at Fed’s hometown tournament in Basel two weeks earlier. To me, it encapsulated the progress he’s made on indoor HCs this year. Prior to 2012, Del Potro had never won a title on indoor HCs. Now he has three, and has taken a firmer hold of his place in the top 8.

Wimbledon 2nd Round: Rosol def. Nadal 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

Stephen Kelly – Shank Tennis

Not exactly. Three aces and a thumping off-forehand winner put paid to any notions of nerves from a player the pre-match markets had given a 1.26% chance of victory. It was the definitive anti-choke and a fitting end to a superb match that featured the dream combination of high quality play and a bit of bad blood between the players.

That Nadal finished on the losing side despite hitting 42 winners to 16 unforced errors says a lot. It was a phenomenal performance from Rosol and nothing he has done since suggests it was anything but a once-off freak performance to be savoured.

Australian Open Semi Final: Djokovic def. Murray 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-5

Adame Gale – Tennis Martian

Both men stormed to the semis with the loss of only one set, to set up a rematch of last year’s final. But would it be as one-sided as that encounter? I was on the edge of my seat before the match even began…

While Djokovic took the first set, Murray was playing with surprising, sustained aggression, and clawed back to a set all. I was teetering by the time the third set reached a tie-breaker, and Murray actually won it.

Suddenly, before our eyes, the great underachiever, finally playing the way we’d long said he should, was two sets to one up against the undisputed world number one at a major! This was momentous, stupendous, astonishing and…temporary. Djokovic –of course -snatched the fourth set 6-1 in a blistering comeback.

So it all came down to the fifth. I’d climbed back onto my chair by this point, to witness the final, nerve-tingling grapple for a place in the title match. Despite Murray’s best efforts, an adrenaline-fuelled Djokovic was just too good. He took it 7-5 in the fifth, to the roars of the Aussie crowd. Awesome.

What was your favourite match of 2012? Let me know in the comments below, and if you’d like to be added onto this list then just drop me an email via the contact form.

Photo Credit: Jiazi

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Djokovic Defeats Federer to Win World Tour Finals

Roger federer wants faster courts and so do i.

Awesome piece, and I was honoured to be apart of it. There were so many amazing matches this season!

Cheers Kyle and thanks for contributing! @Mzemek made a pretty good call in the Federer vs. Fish one from Cincy being up there, I’d forgotten how good that one was actually but the highlights reminded me.

I still have the match on my DVR. I watch the first set over and over.

Hmm, great selection in this post, I will pick one that is not featured on this post – the semifinal between roger and delpo at the olympics. epic match, the 19-17 score at the last set, drama and highly entertaining.

It’s funny you should mention this -I was really torn between that one and the AO semi-final as my match of the year. You’re right -it was a fantastic encounter, such quality, such heart from both.

Funnily enough, I was actually going to do this one (I swear), but deliberately didn’t since I figured other people probably would. Maybe everyone else thought the same.

Yeah I think it was that and because I used ATP in the title/question, technically not ATP I don’t think but I’d have included it.

I think a few people were going to pick that, I think because I said ATP when I asked and used it in the title everyone thought it wasn’t going to be allowed but I wouldn’t have minded. Was a great match.

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The Toss: Best matches of 2012

• Author: C.W. Sesno

Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in a near six-hour Australian Open final, but some say it was an overrated match. (Getty Images)

With the ATP World Tour Finals in the books, we can finally close down the 2012 season. Looking back, it was certainly a year of memorable matches, from the near six-hour epic between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final, to Victoria Azarenka's near-upset of Serena Williams at the U.S. Open , to Andy Murray's breakthrough at the U.S. Open. In between the drama on the biggest stages, we had some wild matches week in and week out that produced some quality tennis, even if the sport's biggest titles weren't on the line.

This week's Toss features a panel of tennis writers who spent the last 10½ months watching every kind of match -- good, bad and ugly -- to try to answer a seemingly simple question.

Today's Toss: Which matches stood out as the best of the year?

Courtney Nguyen: Thanks for joining this week's discussion, everyone. As the ATP and WTA seasons have officially wrapped up -- yes, there's the Davis Cup final this weekend, but seriously, at some point we must draw a line -- the offseason has  finally arrived and with it an ever-so-brief respite for those of us who have spent virtually every day of the last 11 months watching tennis. So we should obviously use this break to keep talking about tennis, right?  Right.

This week I wanted to get your wise input on some of the best matches of the year. I'm not sure there's a match that stands out as being the obvious or unanimous choice this year. We've had long matches, we've had historic matches and we've had memorable matches. But what exactly do we mean when we say one single match was  great or even the best ?

Ben Rothenberg, New York Times tennis blogger: As you say, Courtney, we've all watched a dizzying amount of tennis this year, so I think we should probably do this in somewhat of a pyramid format so as not to drown immediately.

Let's start from the top with the Slam finals. For me, the best of them was the men's Wimbledon final, where Roger Federer beat Murray. I know, I know, the Australian Open final between Djokovic and Nadal was incredibly long and intense. But when I think back to which one I'd rather watch again, it's Wimbledon. The momentum swings were meaningful, the occasion was massively important to both and the tennis was consistently strong. The Aussie final was more of a Sisyphean stalemate that lasted nearly six hours, and I'm not sure I want to put myself through that again.

High marks also go to the U.S. Open women's final, but I think Serena's walkabout in the middle of the match takes some shine off of what was ultimately the most dramatic finish to a women's Slam final in years.

And the worst, by far, was the women's Australian Open final. After Maria Sharapova got off to that 2-0 lead it was complete one-way traffic the rest of the way, and it was perhaps the least entertaining Slam final I can remember. Azarenka deserves massive props for bringing the best tennis of her career to the biggest match of her career.

Amy Fetherolf, Founder, Drop Shot Dispatch , The Changeover :  To me, calling a match  good or  the best is fairly subjective. Many fans have conflicting opinions on what makes a match great.

For some, a great match needs only to present drama. For example, the U.S. Open final between Murray and Djokovic was an unpredictable, lengthy affair that had some large implications for the ATP landscape, allowing Murray to rightfully enter the Big Four once and for all. But in reality, that match was a bit of an error-fest. Both players were nervy. Sure, there was some excellent shotmaking at times, but I wouldn't call it a great match, quality-wise.

One match that stands out to me was that second-round match at Wimbledon between Lukas Rosol and Nadal. Aside from Rosol's scoring arguably one of the biggest upsets in recent history, both players were playing outstanding tennis at the same time. Winners-to-unforced differential doesn't always tell the full story, but Rosol hit 22 aces, 65 winners and 29 unforced errors. Nadal hit 19 aces, 41 winners and just 16 errors. It was one of the best (and most dramatic) matches I saw this year because it was won on the merits of great tennis, and not because one player was making more errors than the other.

ROTHENBERG: I agree. Rosol's toppling Nadal will go down as the most memorable match of the year. Results on the ATP Tour have become wildly predictable (injuriously so, I would say), and that match stands as the biggest shock of the last 10 or so years. So many better players have fallen short of what Rosol did that day, losing to the Big Four in a way that seems to be almost deferential. But Rosol wanted no part of deference.

I saw him nearly get triple-bageled in Melbourne by non-legend Philipp Petzschner. But that day at the All England Club, Rosol played fearless, out-of-his-mind tennis, and was nearly unbeatable in the fifth set, either hitting outright aces or first-ball winners on nearly every service point. It was really something to behold.

That performance was massive not only because of Rosol's refreshing display of cojones but also because of what it did to Nadal's year. It was Nadal's final match of 2012 and it completely changed the landscape of the men's game. It arguably helped Murray reach the heights he did, and it shrunk the Big 4 to a Big 4(-1).

Erik Gudris, tennis writer and blogger : For me, there wasn't one truly great match this year, but a few very good ones with some low points thrown in. I agree with Ben that that while many will pick the Aussie final as the best men's match of the year, the fact that it took FOREVER to finish turned it into one of those rare Slam finals that you almost didn't care who wins, as long as someone did.

Step back a round and you get my pick for the best men's match: The Aussie semi between Murray and Djokovic was packed with dramatic ebbs and flows and it was the first time we had really seen Murray fight like that with his back against the wall.

For the women, I again agree with Ben that the U.S. Open final between Williams and Azarenka was the best. Serena's drop in level in the second set aside, that dramatic third set left everyone guessing who'd prevail.

By far the worst match of the year on either side of the aisle also involved Serena. Her first-round loss to Virginie Razzano at Roland Garros was a slow-motion train wreck of nerves from the first point. Not to negate Razzano's fighting against cramps and the umpire in the last set, but that was a match Williams should have won.

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NGUYEN: Interesting call on Rosol-Nadal. Once Amy noted stats from that match, it all started coming back to me. My memories from that match mainly revolve around laughter. Lots of laughter. "LULZ," as the kids call them these days. ROTFLMAO in response to Rosol's audacious shotmaking and his ability to somehow make Rafa look ... mortal. But whether that match changed the course of the 2012 season, I'm not so sure. I don't know if I buy into the idea that Rosol took Nadal's knees out from under him. The fact remains that was the last match Rafa played, but it's hard to really get a handle on the "what if" Rafa had been around the second half of the season.

Going back to the broader question of what makes a match "great," I think it's a combination of the match's importance, the quality and the sheer entertainment value, with the percentages shifting according to your own subjectivity. I mean, I was thoroughly entertained by Kaia Kanepi's three-set win over Caroline Wozniacki in the third round of the French Open, but that match was horrible. I enjoyed it for the human drama and some of the ridiculous (in a bad way) shotmaking.

I agree with all of you on the Australian Open men's final, which was high stakes and at times high quality. But in the end I did not find a six-hour match like that entertaining in the least. Kind of hard to call something the best match of the year when you find yourself praying for it to just ... end.

So for me: The best men's Slam final was definitely Federer's win over Murray at Wimbledon, and the best women's final was Serena's narrow win over Azarenka at the U.S. Open. That said, I'm not sure either was the match of the year.

What about some of the year's unsung matches? Sharapova's three-set win over Sam Stosur in the Stuttgart quarters was a flat-out awesome match. As was Serena's straight-set win over Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon, which was pure offensive tennis at it's finest. And how about Azarenka's grinding win over Angelique Kerber at the WTA Championships a few weeks ago? Or perhaps the biggest upset in the women's game this year: Laura Robson sent Kim Clijsters into retirement with a remarkable display of lefty hitting. Each one of these matches was high quality from beginning to end and, honestly, I'm not sure  that many people even watched them.

GUDRIS: I totally forgot about Kanepi vs. Wozniacki in Paris until Courtney just reminded me. Thanks a lot. That one might just outrank Williams-Razzano as the worst match of the year.

What makes a match  great ? A lot depends on who is playing, the stakes and, yes, the quality of play, to a certain extent. But a great match could also be a singular performance. Serena's complete dismissal of Sharapova in the gold-medal round of the Olympics wasn't a match, yet it was "great" simply because we were able to sit back and marvel at Williams' level of play.

Another quality match that I think deserves a mention is the U.S. Open quarterfinal between David Ferrer and Janko Tipsarevic that slowly built into a dramatic and satisfying final-set tiebreak. It's a shame in some ways that it got scheduled during the middle of an afternoon session. I hope those who didn't see it then will carve out some time in the offseason to watch and appreciate it . (SI.com's Richard Deitsch had it as the best match of the tournament up to that point.)

ROTHENBERG: If we're talking about memorably comprehensive performances, how about the absolute shellacking that Kerber laid on Clijsters at Wimbledon? Nobody really talked about that match at the time because A) it was on Court 3 on the second Monday, meaning it was largely overshadowed, and B) the lopsided beatdown of a beloved mother made people a little uncomfortable.

Kerber also played a starring role in one of the great melodramas of the year later that week in an all-German quarterfinal against Sabine Lisicki, a match that I will remember forever for its incredible momentum swings and suffocating sarcasm. The match was so ridiculous that it's currently being developed into a German musical called "Zwei verärgerte blonde Frauen in Großbritannien." Well, no, not really. But it should be .

FETHEROLF: Speaking of Kerber, my vote for the best women's match of the year goes to the round-robin match at the WTA Championships between Kerber and Azarenka that Courtney mentioned earlier.

In a tournament that usually suffers from the effects of a long season with fatigued players, Kerber and Azarenka played one of the most dramatic and hard-fought matches of the year. Even though the physical toll of the match ended up perhaps costing Azarenka the chance to reach the final of the Championships, it was an appropriate bookend to her incredible season. In fending off two match points and winning an intensely competitive match that lasted more than three hours, she proved that her newfound mental strength is very real.

I think when Azarenka won the Australian Open in January, many were skeptical that she could sustain her positive attitude, since it seemed like such a sudden change. Of course, she backed up her excellent results and earned the year-end No. 1 ranking, but her mental strength was especially impressive in that match against Kerber.

ROTHENBERG: Azarenka's consistency is what was most impressive. Her ability to tough out tight match after tight match (e.g. vs. Mona Barthel in Indian Wells, vs. Stosur in New York) is what kept her at No. 1 for so long. Even if you think Williams has had the better year, it's tough to say that Azarenka hasn't done the ranking proud.

But one of the matches that most pops out to me is one that broke from a consistent, established pattern. Andy Roddick went into Miami with a 2-21 record against Federer, his inability to break through against the Swiss champion largely defining how his career was seen by many. But in what he knew would be his final year on tour, Roddick saved his best for last.

Roddick still finished his career 3-21 against Federer (more of a lopsided football game than a normal head-to-head for two former No. 1s), but the top match on their ledger will stand as a "Roddick W" for the rest of time.

GUDRIS : Ben, I'm glad you mentioned Roddick's win in Miami. I remember before that match he had said he felt like something good was coming. And, of course, I thought, "Yeah, Roger Federer." But that match felt almost like it was scripted by Hollywood. Roddick goes in as a massive underdog but wins the first set, then has a depressing second set that makes everyone think it's a foregone conclusion. Instead, Roddick rallies with some of his best tennis to win the match and then closes with a final acknowledgement to the heavens honoring his late friend and agent Ken Meyerson. Classic three-act structure with a feel-good cathartic ending. See you at awards season, Andy.

NGUYEN: All right, so real quick before we wrap this up: Most overrated match of 2012? Ready, set, go.

ROTHENBERG: That interminable Jo-Wilfried Tsonga-Milos Raonic match at the Olympics that went 25-23 in the third set. On the one hand, I liked it because it showed that best-of-three is plenty. On the other, it was treated like some sort of all-time classic when it was little more than a serve-fest.

FETHEROLF: I'm going with that U.S. Open final between Murray and Djokovic. I don't question its significance, and I'm truly glad it settled the endless "When is Andy Murray going to win a Slam?" questions. But I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed by the match itself. I heard commentators call it a "classic" match, and started to wonder whether we were watching the same thing. To me, quality-wise, it was the fourth-best Grand Slam final of the year. (Behind, in order: Wimbledon, Australian Open and Roland Garros.)

At the risk of sounding anti-U.S. Open, an honorable mention goes to the women's final in New York. Azarenka played really well to force a third set, but had Williams not suddenly started playing shockingly poorly, it wouldn't have even gotten to that point.

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Men's Tennis ATP Rankings 2012

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Last Updated: November 12, 2012

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ATP Finals Schedule and Results 2012

• Round Robin

American tennis player Chris Eubanks continually has defied expectations throughout much of his career. The former collegiate tennis star's journey to the pro tour might have been unconventional, but has proven successful. Through his positivity, on-court power and passion, Eubank’s game has brought him to the Grand Slams, the commentator’s stands and now, to the greatest athletic stage in the world, the Olympic Games. 

College career to the pro tour

Atlanta native Eubanks' tennis career started as he tagged along as a child to watch his dad give lessons to his older brother.

Before long, Eubanks picked up the racket himself. Eubanks played in junior tournaments but was not a standout by any stretch. At age 12, Eubanks began to practice at South Fulton Tennis Academy, which at the time was operated by former pro tennis player Donald Young ’s parents. Young became a world No. 1 junior under his parents’ tutelage and reached a career-high rank of No. 38 while on the ATP Tour. When Young rolled through town, Eubanks was invited to hit with him. Eubank’s access to hit with a world-class player only propelled his career.

In 2012, Eubanks was given an interesting proposition: Young’s father suggested that instead of his continued focus on tournaments and wins, Eubanks should prioritize development. He took off close to a year of tournaments to hone in on his game, and even traveled with Young to tournaments across the world as a hitting partner. Eubanks got a crash-course of the pro tour but didn’t necessarily see himself following the same path professionally. The next step he wanted to take was college tennis.

Ultimately, Eubanks stayed close to home and attended Georgia Tech. As a Yellow Jacket, Eubanks began to sharpen his game. His sophomore and junior collegiate years he dominated both seasons without dropping a home match and won ACC Player of the Year awards consecutively in 2016 and 2017. 

The summer of 2017 was transformative for the young player. He spent the summer playing in pro tournaments and made waves in his hometown when he had a quarterfinal run at the Atlanta Open. Later that summer, he received a wildcard to his first U.S. Open main draw. 

Following his first Grand Slam appearance, Eubanks forewent his last year of NCAA eligibility in 2017 and turned pro that October. Equipped with a big serve and powerful forehand, Eubanks spent the next two years clambering in the high 100’s before finally cracking the top 150 rankings in 2019. In 2022, Eubanks had his first U.S. Open win, and in July of 2023, took home the title in Mallorca. It was his quarterfinal Wimbledon cinder-fella run a week later that would delight and shock the world. In 2023, Eubanks ascended to a career-high world No. 29. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chris Eubanks (@chris_eubanks96)

The Mayor of the ATP Tour

Before his glimmering grass-court run at Wimbledon, Eubanks became known for his joy and genial attitude amongst players on the tour. In college, he won the USTA/ITA Sportsmanship Award in 2016 and the 2017 ITA Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. He’s been referred to as “The Mayor” or “The Governor” by his fellow American players for getting to know everyone on the tour. While some players remain stoic and stone-faced in the company of potential competitors, Eubanks enthusiasm and friendliness has transformed potential on-court foes into off-court friends.

“Some people just kind of operate better when they are a little bit more to themselves, a bit more quiet,” Eubanks said.

Typically, throughout my career. I've played my best tennis when I'm a little bit more relaxed when I'm a bit talkative. I'm kind of having fun on the court. So I think it's what lets me feel my most authentic self.

That Eubanks-brand of ebullience has dazzled tennis fans on courts around the world, and on their screens, as Eubanks has served as a commentator for the Tennis Channel. Eubanks is at home in-front of the camera and has no trouble providing in-depth commentary with the intimate knowledge of being a current touring professional. 

When asked about the Olympics and if he was a fan, commentator Chris made an appearance, easily rattling off the last few editions of the Games he watched.

“I can remember Beijing '08,” Eubanks said. “I can remember London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo obviously 2020. And now, Paris 2024.”

And, like any good sports commentator, the storylines and stars.

“I believe it might have been ‘08 when Michael Phelps dominated. I believe Usain Bolt was probably 2012 when he dominated. So, I can remember a few sports here and there and big moments, but the tennis is always what really sticks out about those Olympics.”

Commentator Chris will have to take a backseat for Paris, as he turns his attention to his on-court game as a member of Team USA. 

Teeming with Pride

It has been an extra patriotic year for the 28-year-old. In February, he made his debut at the Davis Cup, an annual team event that pits countries against one another in team tennis. 

“It's almost like you have a stronger sense of not wanting to let your teammates down when you're representing your country and you're playing for them,” Eubanks said of his time on the U.S. Davis Cup team. 

In his Davis Cup debut, a tie-break between the U.S. and the Ukraine, Eubanks helped the team qualify for a Finals Group Stage, after he defeated Viacheslav Bielinskyi in straight-sets on the first day of competition. 

“It was certainly a different experience," Eubanks said. "Something that I really, really look forward to, and I really enjoy and I look forward to in the future, given the opportunity, but there's something special about playing a team have it in representing your country in tennis.”

Eubanks will reunite with many of his Davis Cup teammates as member of the American Olympic men’s team in Paris. 

“I think we [the U.S. Olympic men’s tennis team] have some pretty good camaraderie and are supportive for each other. So yeah, it's going to be a fun time. No doubt.”

A new Olympian

During the last Olympic Games in 2020, Eubanks' ranking sat outside the top 200, and he certainly was not on any short lists for the Games. But in 2024, after continually shattering expectations, Eubanks knew there was a chance.  

“I kept track of the guys who were ahead of me,” Eubanks said. “But I knew it would be close. I knew I might really have a shot (at) making the team and as the following months kind of came and went, that thought on the horizon started to become a bit clearer.”

In June, the American Olympic tennis roster was named , and as the newest member of the team, Eubanks defied the greatest expectations set on him: his own.

“It's something I didn't really know would come my way, with how strong American men's tennis has been the past few years,” Eubanks said. “So when I saw that there was a close chance to make the team, I was like, 'Oh, man, like I might actually get a chance to go to the Olympics.' So now I'm super excited about it. Can't wait to get over there and looking forward to it.”  

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Sergei Ryakhovsky

The balashikha ripper, the hippopotamus,   active for 6 years (1988-1993) in russia, confirmed victims, possible victims.

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Sergei Ryakhovsky (Sergei Vasilyevich Ryakhovsky) a Soviet-Russian serial killer known as the Balashikha Ripper and The Hippopotamus. Ryakhovsky was convicted for the killing of nineteen people in the Moscow area between 1988 and 1993. Ryakhovsky's mainly stabbed or strangulated his victims, he mutilated some bodies, mainly in the genital area. Allegedly Ryakhovsky carried out necrophilic acts on his victims and stole their belongings. Ryakhovsky standing 6’5" tall and weighting 286 pounds, gaining him the nickname, The Hippo. Sergei Ryakhovsky died on January 21st 2005 from untreated tuberculosis while serving his life sentence in prison.

Sergei Ryakhovsky Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Sergei Ryakhovsky (aka) the Balashikha Ripper, The Hippopotamus, was active for 6 years between 1988-1993 , known to have ( 19 confirmed / 19 possible ) victims. This serial killer was active in the following countries: Russia

Sergei Ryakhovsky was born on December 29th 1962 in Balashikha, Moscow Oblast, Soviet Union. He had a physically defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems including being teased or picked on.

Sergei Ryakhovsky a necrophile male citizen of Russia.

Prior to his spree he had killed, commited crimes, and served time in jail.

In 1988 (Age 25/26) Sergei Ryakhovsky started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, commit acts of necrophilia , torture , strangle , rape , mutilate, and murder his victims.

He was arrested on April 13th 1993 (Age 30), sentenced to death by firing squad at a maximum-security penal colony in Solikamsk, Perm Oblast, Russia. He was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.

Sergei Ryakhovsky died on January 21st 2005 (Age 42), cause of death: natural causes, untreated tuberculosis at a maximum-security penal colony in Solikamsk, Perm Oblast, Russia.

Profile Completeness: 62%

Sergei Ryakhovsky has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.

Sergei Ryakhovsky a known:

( 651 killers ) serial killer.

The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.

( 308 killers ) RAPIST

Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.

( 60 killers ) NECROPHILIAC

Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia, is a sexual attraction or sexual act involving corpses. Serial Killer Necrophiliacs have been known to have sex with the body of their victim(s).

( 89 killers ) TORTURER

Torture is when someone puts another person in pain. This pain may be physical or psychological. Tourturers touture their victims.

( 251 killers ) STRANGLER

Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.

Sergei Ryakhovsky Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-06-30 collected by killer.cloud, 8 timeline events of serial killer sergei ryakhovsky.

The 8 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Sergei Ryakhovsky. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline .

Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Sergei Ryakhovsky (1988-1993).

Walter E. Ellis 7 Victims during 22 Years

Gao chengyong 11 victims during 15 years, william suff 12 victims during 7 years, andrás pándy 6 victims during 5 years, serial killers by active year, books that mention sergei ryakhovsky.

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External References

• Sergei Ryakhovsky on en.wikipedia.org , Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018 .
• Juan Ignacio Blanco , Sergei Vasilyevich RYAKHOVSKY on murderpedia.org , Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018 .
• Q372816 on www.wikidata.org , Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018 .

Sergei Ryakhovsky is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

• #3 of 45[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in December
• #10 of 60[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #10 of 29[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in Russia
• #10 of 55[ Page 1 ] of Capricorn Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #11 of 89[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Torturers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #27 of 250[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #35 of 307[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #63 of 651[ Page 5 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #264 of 651[ Page 18 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
• #381 of 651[ Page 26 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
• #516 of 651[ Page 35 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers

The 5 longest best-of-three set ATP matches: Rafael Nadal’s latest epic ranks 3rd, Novak Djokovic features

Rafael Nadal’s marathon quarter-final victory against Mariano Navone at the 2024 Swedish Open was the third longest best-of-three set match in the history of the ATP Tour’s records. 

Nadal ‘s latest epic was not even his longest match in this format, while Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic both feature among the top five.

Interestingly, the four longest men’s best-of-three contests were all won by the player who lost the opening set, and two took place in 2024.

Two of the matches were at the 2012 London Olympics , where players had to win by two clear games in the third set as there was no tiebreak.

Here, we look at the five longest ATP matches played in the best-of-three set format since 1991 — when the ATP started recording match times.

The 4 players to complete a career Golden Slam as Novak Djokovic seeks to join Rafael Nadal on list Rafael Nadal +101 in ATP Rankings as he sets record showcasing his amazing longevity

Longest best-of-three set ATP matches

1. roger federer d. juan martin del potro 3-6, 7-6(5), 19-17 in 2012 olympics sfs — four hours and 26 minutes.

Federer and Juan Martin del Potro faced off in the last four of the tennis event at the 2012 London Olympics, which was staged on the grass courts of Wimbledon’s All England Club.

The pair split the first two sets, which featured only a single break, as the tight encounter went to a decider where serving continued to dominate.

Federer broke the big Argentine for the first time to go up 10-9 in the third, but he lost his serve to love when attempting to close out the match.

The Swiss then earned the decisive break at 17-17 and finally prevailed after a gruelling final set that featured three sets worth of tennis.

Tennis at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Full schedule details revealed Gold for Carlos Alcaraz, Paris tears for Novak Djokovic – our Olympic predictions

2. Rafael Nadal d. Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(9) in 2009 Madrid SFs — four hours and three minutes

Nadal and Djokovic contested the longest best-of-three set ATP match where a tiebreak is used in the deciding set in the semi-finals of the 2009 Madrid Open.

In the first edition of the ATP Masters 1000 event played on clay, the thrilling and highly physical battle was decided by a final set tiebreak after Djokovic had led 3-1 in the third.

In an incredible conclusion to the last four clash, Nadal saved three match points in the tiebreak to triumph in one of the best matches of the pair’s rivalry.

3. Rafael Nadal d. Mariano Navone 6-7(2), 7-5, 7-5 in 2024 Bastad QFs — four hours

A 38-year-old Nadal met 23-year-old Argentine Mariano Navone in the last eight of the 2024 Swedish Open in Bastad, a clay-court ATP 250 tournament.

The Spaniard fought back from a 1-4 deficit in the first set before losing it in a tiebreak, but clinched the second set to level the match, despite seeing a 3-0, double break lead slip away.

In the decider, Nadal battled from 0-2 down to earn a 5-2 advantage, only to fail to serve the match out twice. However, the tennis great got the job done at the third attempt to hold off the world No 36 in a brutal contest.

4. Juncheng Shang d. Corentin Moutet 6-7(9), 6-2, 7-6(10) in 2024 Madrid 1R — three hours and 59 minutes

Juncheng Shang and Corentin Moutet faced off in the opening round of the 2024 Madrid Masters and the duo played out arguably the match of the tournament.

Moutet converted his ninth set point, after saving three, to finally win a marathon opener set on a tiebreak, before the Chinese wildcard took the second set in convincing fashion to force a deciding set.

Shang was pegged back by the French qualifier after having a 3-0 third set lead, but he ultimately converted his sixth match point in an epic tiebreak.

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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TV and Streaming Viewing Picks for July 22, 2024: how to watch NBA Summer League Final

The NBA Summer League ends tonight with the final between Memphis and Miami on ESPN.

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College Football ACC Football Kickoff Day 1, Hilton Charlotte Uptown, Charlotte, NC ACC Football Kickoff: Florida State, Georgia Tech, SMU — ACC Network, noon ACC Football Kickoff: Florida State, Georgia Tech, SMU Head Coaches and Athletes — ACC Network Extra, noon ACC Football Kickoff: Commissioner Jim Phillips’ Forum — ACC Network, 1 p.m.

Host: Taylor Tannenbaum ACC Huddle: Season Preview — ESPN2/ACC Network, 8 p.m.

Big Sky Media Day — ESPN+, noon College Football Live — ESPN2, 3 p.m. SEC Inside: Oklahoma & Texas Spring Football — SEC Network, 11 p.m.

Golf How Good is Golf? — NLSE, 9 a.m. The First Cut — CBS Sports Network, 2 p.m. Golf Central — Golf Channel, 4 p.m. Inside the PGA Tour — Golf Channel, 7 p.m,. Lessons With a Champion Golfer: Michelle Wie West, Part 2 — Golf Channel, 7:30 p.m.

Mixed Martial Arts The Ultimate Fighter: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko: Episode 5 — ESPNews, 9 p.m. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko: Episode 6 — ESPNews, 10 p.m. UFC 304 Countdown: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 — ESPN2, 11 p.m. UFC Unleashed: British Invasion — ESPN2, midnight The Ultimate Fighter: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko: Episode 7 — ESPN2, 1 a.m. (Tuesday)

MLB American League Tampa Bay at New York Yankees — MLB Network/Bally Sports Sun/YES, 1 p.m. Detroit at Cleveland — Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports Great Lakes, 6:30 p.m. Chicago White Sox at Texas — NBC Sports Chicago/Bally Sports Southwest, 8 p.m. Anaheim at Seattle — Bally Sports West/Root Sports, 9:30 p.m. Houston at Oakland — Space City Home Network/NBC Sports California, 9:30 p.m.

National League New York Mets at Miami — SNY/Bally Sports Florida, 6:30 p.m. St. Louis at Pittsburgh — Bally Sports Midwest/SportsNet Pittsburgh, 6:30 p.m. Cincinnati at Atlanta — MLB Network (backup)/Bally Sports Ohio/Bally Sports South, 7:20 p.m. Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs — Bally Sports Wisconsin/Marquee Sports Network, 8 p.m. San Francisco at Los Angeles Dodgers — NBC Sports Bay Area/Spectrum SportsNet LA, 10 p.m./MLB Network, 11:30 p.m. (joined in progress)

Interleague MLB Network Showcase, Target Field, Minneapolis, MN Philadelphia at Minnesota — NBC Sports Philadelphia/Bally Sports North, 7:30 p.m.

MLB Tonight: On-Deck Circle — MLB Network, 6 p.m. MLB Tonight Post-Game — MLB Network, 10:30 p.m.

Arizona at Kansas City — Dbacks.TV/Bally Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m. Boston at Colorado — NESN/Rockies.TV, 8:30 p.m.

MLB Central — MLB Network, 9 a.m. MLB Now — MLB Network, noon Diamond Dreams — Stadium, 2 p.m. Stadium Unpacks — Stadium, 2:30 p.m. Off Base — MLB Network, 4 p.m. Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Tuesday)

NBA Las Vegas Summer League Final, Thomas & Mack Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Paradise, NV Memphis vs. Miami — ESPN/TSN4/TSN5/Sportsnet One, 8 p.m.

NBA Today — ESPN, 3 p.m. NBA GameTime — NBA TV, 10:30 p.m.

NFL Fantasy Football Today — CBS Sports Network, 1 p.m. NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m. The Insiders — NFL Network, 7 p.m.

NHL NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 6 p.m.

Soccer Morning Footy — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 8 a.m. Attacking Third — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 4 p.m. Scoreline — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 5 p.m. ESPN FC — ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. Línea de cuatro — TUDN, 1 a.m. (Tuesday)

Sports News & Talk Follow the Money — DraftKings Network, 7 a.m. SportsCenter — ESPN, 7 a.m. The Carton Show — FS1, 7 a.m. Best of SportsGrid — SportsGrid, 7 a.m. GOJO and Golic — DraftKings Network, 8 a.m. Get Up — ESPN, 8 a.m. SportsCenter — ESPN2, 8 a.m. Sports News Highlights — NLSE, 8 a.m. The Early Line Live — SportsGrid, 8 a.m. Sportswoman — Women’s Sports Network, 9 a.m. Morning Buzz — CBS Sports HQ, 9 a.m. SportsCenter — ESPN2, 9 a.m. The Dan Patrick Show — Peacock, 9 a.m. The Dan LeBatard Show With Stugotz (Local Hour) — YouTube, 9 a.m. Game ON — Women’s Sports Network, 9:30 a.m. Sportswoman — Women’s Sports Network, 10 a.m. Nothing Personal with David Samson — DraftKings Network, 10 a.m. The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz — DraftKings Network, 11 a.m. Up & Adams — FanDuel TV, 11 a.m. NewsWire LIVE — SportsGrid, 11 a.m. B1G Today — Big Ten Network, noon Midday Rundown — CBS Sports HQ, noon The Pat McAfee Show — ESPN, noon Live on the Line — Stadium, noon The Rich Eisen Show — The Roku Channel, noon Sportswoman — Women’s Sports Network, 1:30 p.m. Game ON — Women’s Sports Network, 2 p.m. Lombardi Line — DraftKings Network, 2 p.m. SportsCenter — ESPN, 2 p.m. The Domonique Foxworth Show — ESPN2, 2 p.m. Sports News Highlights — NLSE, 2 p.m. The Pat McAfee Show — YouTube, 2 p.m. Game ON — Women’s Sports Network, 2:30 p.m. Stadium Clubhouse — Stadium, 3 p.m. Trending Now — CBS Sports HQ, 3 p.m. CBS Sports HQ Spotlight — CBS Sports Network, 3 p.m. The Paul Finebaum Show — SEC Network, 3 p.m. Ferrall Coast to Coast — SportsGrid, 3 p.m. GM Shuffle — DraftKings Network, 4 p.m. You Better You Bet — Stadium, 4 p.m. CBS Sports HQ Spotlight — CBS Sports Network, 4:30 p.m. Around the Horn — ESPN, 5 p.m. Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5;30 p.m. The Immortals: Cycling Greats — NLSE, 5:30 p.m. Sportsline Picks & Previews — CBS Sports HQ, 6 p.m. SportsCenter — ESPN, 6 p.m. ESPN BET Live — ESPN2, 6 p.m. Sports News Highlights — NLSE, 6 p.m. Game Time Decisions Live — SportsGrid, 6 p.m. The Rally– Stadium, 6 p.m. Game ON — Women’s Sports Network, 6:30 p.m. Sportsday — BBC News, 6:45 p.m. Bully Ball w/Rachel & Boogie — DraftKings Network, 7 p.m. Stadium Clubhouse — Stadium, 7 p.m. Primetime Scoreboard — CBS Sports HQ, 7 p.m. Sportsday — BBC News, 7:45 p.m. Game ON — Women’s Sports Network, 8 p.m. Game ON — Women’s Sports Network, 8:30 p.m. Sportsday — BBC News, 8:45 p.m. Where Wolf: The Search for ChiefsAholic — ESPN2, 9 p.m. Sportsday — BBC News, 9:45 p.m. SportsCenter at Night — ESPN, 10 p.m. In the Arena: Serena Williams: Out of the Shadow — ESPN2, 10 p.m. SportsRage Late Night LIVE — SportsGrid, 10 p.m. Contacto deportivo — TUDN, 10 p.m. Game ON — Women’s Sports Network, 11 p.m. Scoreboard Final — CBS Sports HQ, 11 p.m. SportsCenter at Night — ESPN, 11 p.m. Sports News Highlights — NLSE, 11 p.m. Game ON — Women’s Sports Network, 11:30 p.m. Headlines & Highlights — CBS Sports Golazo Network, midnight SportsCenter at Night — ESPN, midnight Contacto deportivo — Univision/TUDN, midnight TMZ Sports — FS1, 1 a.m. (Tuesday) SportsCenter at Night — ESPN, 1 a.m. (Tuesday) The Bostonian vs. The Book — SportsGrid, 1 a.m. (Tuesday) Cooligans — DraftKings Network, 2 a.m. (Tuesday) The Bostonian vs. The Book — SportsGrid, 2 a.m. (Tuesday) Boomer and Gio — CBS Sports Network, 6 a.m. (Tuesday) Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Carly and Michelle — ESPN2/ESPNU, 6 a.m. (Tuesday) Maggie and Perloff — YouTube, 6 a.m. (Tuesday)

Tennis ATP Tour Atlanta Open, Atlantic Station, Atlanta, GA 1st Round — Tennis Channel, noon

Center Court Live: Croatia Open Umag (ATP Tour)/Generali Open (ATP Tour)/Iasi Open (WTA Tour)/Prague Open (WTA Tour) — Tennis Channel, 4 a.m. (Tuesday)

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

Tom Luginbill moves to ACC Network primetime broadcasts

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DraftKings officially sells VSiN back to Musburger Media

VSiN is no longer under the DraftKings umbrella.