Top Seeds? More Like Seeds of DISAPPOINTMENT!

GM. This is Ad-Out Tennis, we’re like an open window in a greyhound bus full of farts - refreshing.

Here’s what we got for you today:

• Tumbling seeds in Rome

• Is this the most injury plagued season, ever?

• Disrespect Masters 1000

👇 Listen: We discover live on Served, that the Danimal needs to set more deadlines.

WHO GOT NEXT?

Advantage: Underdogs

The Rome Masters 1000 has been wilder than a toga party this year. Big upsets are happening left and right, leaving us fans with more whiplash than a Nadal forehand.

We expected the usual suspects to dominate, right? Djokovic channeling his inner gladiator, Ben Shelton looking like the next American tennis hero, Holger Rune ready to take the world by storm. Nope. Nada. Zip. These guys all exited stage left earlier than anyone predicted.

Upsets are part of the beauty of sports. But the volume of top seeds faceplanting in Rome is enough to make you question the fabric of reality.

Is the Colosseum air cursed? Did someone spike the pasta? 🍝

Now, if you’re wondering if the rest of the tournament is still worth watching, the answer is YES. There’s still hope!

🇩🇪 Alexander Zverev vs. 🇺🇸 Tommy Paul. This is the final we NEED.

TP holds a 2-0 lead in their H2H matchup, but Zverev boasts a 72% career win percentage on clay and they’ve never met on the dirt.

This is MUST WATCH TV. 🍿

LONGER TOURNAMENTS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

It’s a medical convention, everyone!

Remember the montage you HAD to watch on Youtube? The one where young Rafa is chasing down every ball like a man possessed?

Yeah, that’s starting to be MIA on the tour these days.

The injury and illness report is reading like a dystopian novel. It’s like a biohazard zone out there, with top players dropping faster than your crypto portfolio.

Rising star Carlos Alcaraz? Out with a bum forearm. Jannik Sinner? He signed out with a hip flexor that’s not too thrilled. Even the ageless Novak Djokovic is recovering from an unexpected head injury from a water bottle (it was an accident, relax).

This laundry list of injured stars doesn’t even cover everyone.

Ugo Humbert’s knee is throwing a tantrum and Jiri Lehecka’s back is out on a serious strike.

And let’s not forget the travel bug.

Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina withdrew from Rome and Andrey Rublev was eating baby food in a hospital bed before miraculously winning Madrid just 1.5 weeks ago.

Will any of the superstars be ready to take Paris? Who is to blame?

We’re not sure, but the schedule looks worse than an unwashed protein shake. Sooner or later, you’ll find prop bets on who can avoid the trainer’s room the longest.

So what’s the fix?

Shorter seasons? More down time between key tournaments? A magic injury-preventing pill?

Tennis needs to figure it out, because right now, it’s looking less like Roland Garros and more like a trip to the ER.

ROGER FEDERER 🎥 

Tissues ✅ Headband ✅ Wristband ✅ RF97 Pro Staff ✅ Rolex Daytona (working on it)

CIAO TO SPORTSMANSHIP

Battles Inside the Roman Tennis Colosseum

We all know tennis can get heated, but the Rome Masters 1000 has been looking more like the Colosseum - full of bloodthirsty spectators.

This year’s tournament has been a masterclass in disrespect, courtesy of the Italian crowd. Remember Sebastian Korda? He called out the crowd on X after his win over the hometown favorite, Flavio Cobolli:

I’m all for friendly heckling. But tennis tees are supposed to stained with sweat, not tears.

The line must be drawn.

Korda wasn’t alone in this. Sofia Kenin was taking HEAT from the crowd in her matchup against the hometown favorite, Lucia Bronzetti.

Can you guess her reaction? 👇🤭

And let’s not forget last years first round matchup between Andy Murray and Fabio Fognini. Murray got an earful of boos and whistles from the crowd after arguing with chair umpire Mo Lahyani because he missed a call.

Sports fans are passionate. I get it.

But there’s a fine line between fired-up and being a toxic troll. Leave the trouble at home, folks.

AD-OUT MEMES

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