Did Connors and Agassi Alter The Tennis Universe?

[scoop]

Everyone in tennis is struck by how the younger #NEXTGEN players have struggled so mightily to make inroads into the ATP Elite pantheon – and marveled at how the older players continue to improve and maintain their dominant ways.

While players like Federer, Nadal, Karlovic, Muller, Wawrinka, Estrella Burgos, Robredo, Haas, Ramirez-Hidalgo, Youzhny, Djokovic, continue to enjoy success on the ATP Tour into their thirties, the youth brigade has been forced to suffer and scrap and fight for every single match win.

Tennis used to be a young man’s game but not anymore. The power elite of tennis are all over the age of 30. And the predicted youth rebellion continues to exercise their collective patience, waiting and striving and pushing and pressing to overthrow The Five Kings.

There has to be a reason for this strange change in the tennis universe. Could it be rooted in the examples of Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi? Specifically Connors’ historic run to the US Open semifinal at age 39 and Agassi’s consistent elite results all the way into his mid thirties.

Is it possible that these two aged pioneers forever altered the power structure of tennis and shifted the balance to older veteran players and from the young up and comers?

Recall the days when the top ten featured mostly younger players. The top five in May 2002 was 1 Hewitt (age 21), 2 Haas (24), 3 Agassi (32), 4 Kafelnikov (28), 5 Safin (22).

So could there be any other explanation for this shift? Could it be that the players love to play tennis more today? Could it be connected to more serious fitness regimens and nutritional programs? Or is it all just a big coincidence?

 

[scoop]

Players like Rios and Safin used to groan and moan about life on the tour and that they didn't like it but now all the players love the life and you never hear any complaints that the season is too long, etc. The ATP Tour has never been in a better place than it is right now with President Federer and VP Nadal who have made tennis great again and everybody is happy to be a part of the action.

 

[atttomole]

Interesting topic. The reason is that the top 3/4 players we have had in the past 10 years or so have been the best cohort of top players ever. As a result, it has been very difficult for the younger generation to make a breakthrough. A bit of this topic has been discussed in TF forums.

 

[scoop]

When players like Safin who claims he hated the Tour life all the sudden pop up and play ITL league team tennis you know the tour life was a special privilege. What's next? Marcelo Rios playing WTT?

 

[scoop]

I would not be surprised if there is a slight element of fear of beating Rafa or Fed in a GS. Everyone knows how vital they are to the economics of the Tour. And everyone knows it's just about sacrilege to beat Fed or Rafa in a GS. They are both so beloved and respected that it's got to be hard for a young chap trying to win everyone over to try to slay a demi-god. I would not at all be surprised if this factored into Thiem's subpar performance vs Rafa on Chatrier. With Rios it was the complete opposite - everyone disliked Rios and wanted to whip his a55. Like Bill Tilden said: "I never lose to a player I despise." Consider also what that could also possibly mean: "I can't beat a player I love and respect very much."

 

[scoop]

Kozlov beats D Brown in three sets. I told you it was a good match up for Kozlov.

 

[El Dude]

Scoop, historically speaking, the youth of the 80s and 90s is more of an outlier than the 30-somethings of now. Going back to the 70s, you still had the old guard from before the Open Era playing at a high level deep into their 30s, and even Pancho Gonzales winning a Grand Prix tournament in 1971 at age 43! Before the Open Era, players regularly remained at a high level into their 30s, and some played into their 40s and even occasionally 50s.

Men's tennis started getting really young in the late 70s, and then started getting older again five years or so ago. It is hard to say what the future will bring.

 

[scoop]

Henk of course they do but when they step on the stadium and they have to DO IT it's a whole different feeling. Many players have told me about it for Facing Fed Rafa and Hewitt - listening to the intros of Fed Rafa Hewitt they hear all the majors and achievements and it intimidates them. Several players said this to me about Facing Fed Rafa and Hewitt. They actually listen to the intro while warming up and then they feel the energy of the crowd - like even Stan said after losing to Fed in Aus this year he said he knows everyone wants Fed to win and that if it affects a vet legend like Stan surely really does affect the younger players in ways they may not even be able to verbalize.

 

[scoop]

Henk; Kyrgios is a different bird. Yes he got Rafa at Wimble but since that he's not knocked off any of the Five Kings in a GS. I agree Thiem not being comfortable on Chatrier was a factor and possibly even the KEY factor of the match.

 

[scoop]

Agree Ed Dude, one single person can come along and blow the whole tennis universe off its axis like Rafa did. It could be Felix, it could be Opelka, it could be Khachanov, could be anybody of NEXT GEN.

 

[scoop]

Hartt; Deferring mentally to a legend happens 90 percent of the time. Very few ruffian come up like Djokovic and antagonize the legends. But that's what has to be done. Rafa did it differently with respect and kind words but on the court Rafa was/is a killer with no problem of over-respecting.

 

[scoop]

Andrew: That is the intrigue of it all - which player(s) will suddenly break out of the chains that bind? It could happen sooner than later or later than sooner.

 

[scoop]

Henk; I support the decision but it's a bit early. Has a week to recover. Remember the young Rafa days when the schedule was different and the day after winning Paris Rafa would go straight to Queens and be hitting on the grass. Now he's got a week off and he's pulling out of Queens though he won Paris easier this year than any year he ever won it. That said, the legend deserves a vacation after a very busy clay season.

 

[scoop]

Henk; I agree Rafa deserves a break and we don't need Rafa over doing it this year with all the pressure tennis that is ahead in the race with RF to be no 1. Queens will be a great event with or without Rafa. Still trying to get into WC tennis. I think it's a great event and the skill level is definitely special. But we know how tennis is and even guys like Schwartzman and Zeballos and Vinolas and Saurex Navarro barely get any ink or publicity. Just about all the media attention focused on the big stars. I wish the public was more interested in the lesser known players because they are all interesting characters and stories and miracles to be where they are in tennis.

 

[scoop]

Andrew; I just don't see anyone like a young Hewitt with his 'me against the world' attitude and cockiness. It would have been interesting to see the young Hewitt rebel coming up right now. If he was 19 right now and yelling his come ons and taking veteran scalps I guarantee you the media and the star players would be whining and complaining about Hewitt just like they did back in the late 90s and early 2000s when Hewitt rose to the top. Remember Corretja and the Spaniards and the Argentines could not stand Hewitt. I remember Hewitt was so intense he roared a huge COME ON after breaking Corretja in the first game of the match!!! Talk about cocky and in your face. Then later on Hewitt nearly triple bageled Corretja at the Aus Open. Hewitt was a real rebel and I would say if he was around today he would be the most hated guy in tennis by far. Yelling those come ons at Fed and Rafa and Andy would have caused quite the shi7storm!!

 

[scoop]

The grass has caused some players some serious injuries namely Raonic and Philippoussis come to mind.

 

[markowitz]

Chazz, How can you pick Murray to win Wimby when you know that both Jack Sock and Ryan Harry Harrison are in the Main Draw?

 

[scoop]

Wonder if Greg Sharko has the stat on injuries by surface? Have to guess hard first then clay then grass.

 

[scoop]

Unbelievable that the great Yoshihito Nishioka has become a butt of jokes. This guy is going to shock the world again. Chazz and Dan when Nishioka wins his first major you both are getting tattoos that say "Yoshihito Nishioka Grand Slam Champ"