Mixed Reactions From Players
Italian veteran Lorenzo Giustino, who recently lifted the Monastir Open trophy, welcomes the change.
“I think it’s a good decision,” Giustino said last week. “In my opinion, there shouldn’t be any tournaments after the ATP Finals. What’s the point of events in November or December? The goal should be to reach the Finals, and if you’re not there, then it’s time to watch, rest, and prepare for the next season. We travel all year long. Every sport has its breaks, but in tennis, we play nonstop.”
Giustino’s relaxed stance is perhaps understandable. The 34-year-old Italian has already competed eight times at the Australian Open and now sits at world No. 229, just inside the range typically needed to qualify for Melbourne. In recent years, players ranked around No. 230 have secured spots in the qualifying draw of the “Happy Slam”.
For Alejandro Moro Cañas, who lost to Giustino in the Monastir semifinals, the situation is a bit different. The Spaniard is currently ranked No. 238, just outside the expected cutoff. Determined to make one last push, he’s staying another week in Tunisia, using a wild card to compete in an ITF World Tennis Tour M25 event in search of vital ATP Ranking points.
