[Blog] Second Tier Players

[El Dude]

Read all about it.

 

[mrzz]

Very good reading material as always, El Dude.

I can't help but think that JMDP is more than a second tier player, although, yes, you are right, it is only a "could have been" (that still can be, I hope), results wise.

But one (subjective) thing I think separates him from the rest is his attitude/capacity against all members of the big four (three). He always steps up on court to take it to them, and usually the result is never a given. For me (and that's the subjective part) those matches are much more "open" than (usually) the rest of the second tier x top dogs match-ups. The list of epic matches (winning or losing) or important wins of JDMP against the big three is evidence of that. From the top of my head:

USO 2009 (semis and final)
DC against Djokovic (2012?)
DC against Nadal (2012?)
Olympics against Federer and Djokovic
RG against Federer (2009?)

 

[El Dude]

Thanks mrzz.

Yeah, I agree that JMDP is something more than a second tier player. In a way he's closer to Andy Murray than he is to David Ferrer in terms of how much of a threat he is to the Big Three. But I categorize him as a second tier player because his overall results, especially from 2010 to the present, have been more akin to a second tier player. It seems possible, likely even, that if he hadn't gotten injured in early 2010 than he would have vied with Andy for "best of the rest," probably even won another Slam or two. Assuming he regains his health, I think he's got the best chance of a(nother) Slam among the six players that I list as true second tier players. But he's got to get healthy, and of course who knows how a second wrist injury will impact his confidence. He's hard not to root for.

 

[tented]

For me (and that's the subjective part) those matches are much more "open" than (usually) the rest of the second tier x top dogs match-ups. The list of epic matches (winning or losing) or important wins of JDMP against the big three is evidence of that. From the top of my head:

USO 2009 (semis and final)
DC against Djokovic (2012?)
DC against Nadal (2012?)
Olympics against Federer and Djokovic
RG against Federer (2009?)

Wimbledon against Djokovic (2013) -- the best match of the tournament.

 

[Riotbeard]

Very good read. I think what sets JMDP apart from the other people, is that his setback have been mostly out of his hands, compared to the mental flubs or perpetual immaturity of the other players on the list. Delpo has never had more than two seasons in a row uninjured to build career momentum, which has really set him back. Overall though, I think Delpo (for the time being at least) fits into this article, even though he is a bit different.