Is Stanimal the prototype for the future champion?

[Federberg]

Watching what Stan has done in the last few matches, I am just so impressed. We talked about what the next new dominant style of play is likely to be. Have we just been watching it?

 

[brokenshoelace]

One handed backhand, iffy movement, shaky transition game? No.

This is by no means a knock on Stan. But it takes some serious talent to do what he did, and it's not something to be mimicked. Hitting one handed bullets from 4 feet behind the baseline is not exactly a "prototype" especially in a game where movement and defense is increasingly important. That actually says a lot about how good Stan has been, don't get me wrong, but it's not something for future generations to look at. Djokovic on the other hand, is.

 

[Federberg]

That's a fair critique of his movement. But one could argue it's just about good enough. But the power, that's a game changer surely. Not sure I've seen anyone hit that ball as consistently hard, apart from pre-injury Delpo. Obviously there will always be improvements on a prototype, and movement would be one of those things

 

[DarthFed]

The power part is. This was discussed in that recent thread about what figures to be the next dominant style. I think it's going to become more about power and eventually we are going to get more and more tall players in tennis. And unlike Isner, Karlovic, Raonic, etc. the "trees of the future" will be able to move well.

 

[Federberg]

^Yes exactly. That's what I was getting at. Power that renders good movement almost irrelevant. And Stan is just about the only guy right now that does that. Kyrgios looks like he will have that capability in the future.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I don't think it's going to become necessarily more about power. Gonzalez and Blake hit as big if not bigger than most of the tour today. Those were legit ball-bashers.

The reason why say, Del Potro was special was because his power was controlled and he could construct points. With the surfaces not being that fast, athletes like Murray, Nadal and Djokovic who can produce power (but not necessarily otherworldly power) and combine in with movement, defense, transition and great point constructions are too good at negating power on average.

I think someone who's been on tour forever and only recently started having success says more about where the game is heading than three all time greats (well, two all time greats and Murray).

 

[Puppet Master]

Who needs defense when you can attack like that . If he would improve his net play and general transition game, who in the world could stop him?

 

[brokenshoelace]

Who needs defense when you can attack like that . If he would improve his net play and general transition game, who in the world could stop him?

Too late for the transition game now. That's the problem with Stan, while he has improved his movement admirably, his transition is to hit bullets from unlikely positions. When it works, it's unplayable. When it doesn't, it's, well, unplayable for different reasons.

 

[Federberg]

^Since the beginning of last year, only Novak has been as successful as him. Seems to be working more and more!

 

[brokenshoelace]

^Since the beginning of last year, only Novak has been as successful as him. Seems to be working more and more!

The inconsistencies are still there since that's not exactly a high percentage game. Also, Novak being the only one more successful is a bit of a technicality since Nadal and Federer have stunk up the joint and Murray only recently rediscovered his best form.

Tennis wise, what separated the big 4 from the others in terms of consistency is that their games are not low margin. That's huge, especially on today's surfaces.

 

[Kieran]

Up until the middle of the second set, Novak was considered the prototype of the complete tennis player...

 

[Federberg]

^Since the beginning of last year, only Novak has been as successful as him. Seems to be working more and more!

The inconsistencies are still there since that's not exactly a high percentage game. Also, Novak being the only one more successful is a bit of a technicality since Nadal and Federer have stunk up the joint and Murray only recently rediscovered his best form.

Tennis wise, what separated the big 4 from the others in terms of consistency is that their games are not low margin. That's huge, especially on today's surfaces.

That's true BS, but for my money this is way more exciting now!

 

[brokenshoelace]

Up until the middle of the second set, Novak was considered the prototype of the complete tennis player...

Exactly. And he actually is. At least, he's the prototype for the complete baseliner. Though that's almost the same thing these days.

 

[brokenshoelace]

^Since the beginning of last year, only Novak has been as successful as him. Seems to be working more and more!

The inconsistencies are still there since that's not exactly a high percentage game. Also, Novak being the only one more successful is a bit of a technicality since Nadal and Federer have stunk up the joint and Murray only recently rediscovered his best form.

Tennis wise, what separated the big 4 from the others in terms of consistency is that their games are not low margin. That's huge, especially on today's surfaces.

That's true BS, but for my money this is way more exciting now!

Well, few players are more exciting than Stan when he's on and we're all suckers for a one handed backhand anyway.

 

[Federberg]

^I don't think there's any argument that Novak is the template for the current dominant player. I think the other thread was about what comes next

 

[Fiero425]

Up until the middle of the second set, Novak was considered the prototype of the complete tennis player...

Success breeds that kind of discussion! I still blame Chris Evert for almost killing tennis; esp. for women! You had a glut of little girl phenoms like Austin, Jaeger, Bassett, and Tesmesvari who all broke down trying to challenge women who were experienced athletes with moonballs, drop shots, and being human backboards for the most part! Graf took it to the next level with a dominating serve and forehand, but the 80's were dismal for the ladies with Martina and Evert owning the tour for a while there and clear dominance over the rest of the ladies! You had a sprinkling of success with Mandlikova, Shriver in doubles with Martina, then the coming of age in Graf, Sabatini, Seles, and Sanchez-Vicario! Just musing; that's what I'm paid for right? :angel: :dodgy:

 

[DarthFed]

^I don't think there's any argument that Novak is the template for the current dominant player. I think the other thread was about what comes next

Exactly, we are talking about the next dominant style to take over the game in the future. I think it's going to be tall players with power and movement. It was mentioned on the other thread that it may be a bunch of Safin 2.0's that we see take over the game.

 

[Fiero425]

^I don't think there's any argument that Novak is the template for the current dominant player. I think the other thread was about what comes next

Exactly, we are talking about the next dominant style to take over the game in the future. I think it's going to be tall players with power and movement. It was mentioned on the other thread that it may be a bunch of Safin 2.0's that we see take over the game.

I wouldn't mind that at all! People know how I anointed Safin the most talented since Ilie Nastase who had it all! Marat had power and touch with his psyche the only thing to hold him back from greatness! :nono :angel:

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

I don't think it's going to become necessarily more about power. Gonzalez and Blake hit as big if not bigger than most of the tour today. Those were legit ball-bashers.

The reason why say, Del Potro was special was because his power was controlled and he could construct points. With the surfaces not being that fast, athletes like Murray, Nadal and Djokovic who can produce power (but not necessarily otherworldly power) and combine in with movement, defense, transition and great point constructions are too good at negating power on average.

I think someone who's been on tour forever and only recently started having success says more about where the game is heading than three all time greats (well, two all time greats and Murray).

well, i think you have the point right there - Stan's game right now to me is closer to DelPo than Blake. he hits with a shtload of power, but not as flat as Blake did, and that's why he's able to win slams (plural, even). however, it's still, as you say, not as forgiving as Fedaldjorray, and that's part of why Stan goes through patches of bad play for months at a time, and will never be as dominating as the other four were.

 

[Front242]

Well Soderling is back hopefully within a year