My biggest hope for tennis

[El Dude]

No, not that Roger Federer will win one more Slam - I hope that happens, but that is for Roger, myself, and his fans (plus "18" sounds better than "17" to me).

But my biggest hope right now is for some new young player to emerge and show the potential to be the next great player. Hopefully we have another few years of Rafa, Novak and Andy playing at a high level, but I'd also like to see some new blood at the top, certainly within a few years. To be honest, I'm a bit sick of Big Four dominance (now Big Two, maybe Three if Andy returns to form). I'm ready for some new blood.

I've written bout this a lot, but I just don't see the current 20-25 generation as being a serious challenge and will only take a Slam here and there because those three are starting to age. Dimitrov, Raonic, Nishikori, Janowicz, Busta...some good players, and probably all fixtures in the top 20 for years to come, some even in the top 10, but none are likely to be truly great players. Maybe a few Slams amongst them, but again, mainly only by default.

As an added question, who of the age 21 and younger generation do you think has the best chance of being an elite player? Do any of Vesely, Thiem, Kyrgios, Coric, or Garin have that kind of potential? Anyone else?

 

[Moxie]

"The player to be named later?"

I also thought that Lajovic demonstrated some good chops.

We ARE seeing some pressure even from the "Lost Generation." They see the Big Guys vulnerable, and the blood is in the water. They may not start winning Majors, but they are starting to make noise. As for the up-coming youngsters, it's hard to say. We hardly get to see enough of them, but there are surely some potentials in there. Thiem and Vesely seem to be breaking through, early.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

No, not that Roger Federer will win one more Slam - I hope that happens, but that is for Roger, myself, and his fans (plus "18" sounds better than "17" to me).

But my biggest hope right now is for some new young player to emerge and show the potential to be the next great player. Hopefully we have another few years of Rafa, Novak and Andy playing at a high level, but I'd also like to see some new blood at the top, certainly within a few years. To be honest, I'm a bit sick of Big Four dominance (now Big Two, maybe Three if Andy returns to form). I'm ready for some new blood.

I've written bout this a lot, but I just don't see the current 20-25 generation as being a serious challenge and will only take a Slam here and there because those three are starting to age. Dimitrov, Raonic, Nishikori, Janowicz, Busta...some good players, and probably all fixtures in the top 20 for years to come, some even in the top 10, but none are likely to be truly great players. Maybe a few Slams amongst them, but again, mainly only by default.

As an added question, who of the age 21 and younger generation do you think has the best chance of being an elite player? Do any of Vesely, Thiem, Kyrgios, Coric, or Garin have that kind of potential? Anyone else?

My biggest hope for tennis is that these nonsense baseline rallies on grass give way to attacking tennis and S&V on the surface. After 6 weeks of clay grinding, which i love, there needs to be a contrast.

 

[DarthFed]

No, not that Roger Federer will win one more Slam - I hope that happens, but that is for Roger, myself, and his fans (plus "18" sounds better than "17" to me).

But my biggest hope right now is for some new young player to emerge and show the potential to be the next great player. Hopefully we have another few years of Rafa, Novak and Andy playing at a high level, but I'd also like to see some new blood at the top, certainly within a few years. To be honest, I'm a bit sick of Big Four dominance (now Big Two, maybe Three if Andy returns to form). I'm ready for some new blood.

I've written bout this a lot, but I just don't see the current 20-25 generation as being a serious challenge and will only take a Slam here and there because those three are starting to age. Dimitrov, Raonic, Nishikori, Janowicz, Busta...some good players, and probably all fixtures in the top 20 for years to come, some even in the top 10, but none are likely to be truly great players. Maybe a few Slams amongst them, but again, mainly only by default.

As an added question, who of the age 21 and younger generation do you think has the best chance of being an elite player? Do any of Vesely, Thiem, Kyrgios, Coric, or Garin have that kind of potential? Anyone else?

My biggest hope for tennis is that these nonsense baseline rallies on grass give way to attacking tennis and S&V on the surface. After 6 weeks of clay grinding, which i love, there needs to be a contrast.

Yes, I'd love for them to bring back the real grass to force more attacking tennis. But I've been saying that for well over 5 years. Not going to happen.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

No, not that Roger Federer will win one more Slam - I hope that happens, but that is for Roger, myself, and his fans (plus "18" sounds better than "17" to me).

But my biggest hope right now is for some new young player to emerge and show the potential to be the next great player. Hopefully we have another few years of Rafa, Novak and Andy playing at a high level, but I'd also like to see some new blood at the top, certainly within a few years. To be honest, I'm a bit sick of Big Four dominance (now Big Two, maybe Three if Andy returns to form). I'm ready for some new blood.

I've written bout this a lot, but I just don't see the current 20-25 generation as being a serious challenge and will only take a Slam here and there because those three are starting to age. Dimitrov, Raonic, Nishikori, Janowicz, Busta...some good players, and probably all fixtures in the top 20 for years to come, some even in the top 10, but none are likely to be truly great players. Maybe a few Slams amongst them, but again, mainly only by default.

As an added question, who of the age 21 and younger generation do you think has the best chance of being an elite player? Do any of Vesely, Thiem, Kyrgios, Coric, or Garin have that kind of potential? Anyone else?

My biggest hope for tennis is that these nonsense baseline rallies on grass give way to attacking tennis and S&V on the surface. After 6 weeks of clay grinding, which i love, there needs to be a contrast.

Yes, I'd love for them to bring back the real grass to force more attacking tennis. But I've been saying that for well over 5 years. Not going to happen.

I'm watching guys hit 125 mph serves and then stay back and getting to dumb rallies where they are slipping and sliding around. The court at Queens Club is easily fast enough to attack on.

 

[DarthFed]

Queens and Halle are legit but it's still Wimbledon they prep for and it is a whole different ballgame there.

 

[El Dude]

"The player to be named later?"

I also thought that Lajovic demonstrated some good chops.

We ARE seeing some pressure even from the "Lost Generation." They see the Big Guys vulnerable, and the blood is in the water. They may not start winning Majors, but they are starting to make noise. As for the up-coming youngsters, it's hard to say. We hardly get to see enough of them, but there are surely some potentials in there. Thiem and Vesely seem to be breaking through, early.

Lajovic looked good, but he's not a future elite - same as Busta, Pospisil, etc.

Yeah, Thiem and Vesely could both be good, but great? Maybe.

If I had to bet on who among the Lost Generation would win Slams I'd say Grigor and Milos. While Milos lost to Djokovic, I was impressed with his maturation and poise and his game is just nasty when he's on. I could see him getting hot and stealing Wimbledon at some point - not this year, certainly, but if and when Rafa, Novak and Andy lose a bit of movement.

Grigor has the best all-around game of the Lost Generation, so could be a threat at any Slam. But again, none of these guys is likely to win more than a Slam or two.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I also sincerely hope the backwards baseball cap finally goes extinct...and let add excessive towel requests, let's campaign for 5th set tie breakers, and getting rid of tennis in the Olympics.

 

[Moxie]

"The player to be named later?"

I also thought that Lajovic demonstrated some good chops.

We ARE seeing some pressure even from the "Lost Generation." They see the Big Guys vulnerable, and the blood is in the water. They may not start winning Majors, but they are starting to make noise. As for the up-coming youngsters, it's hard to say. We hardly get to see enough of them, but there are surely some potentials in there. Thiem and Vesely seem to be breaking through, early.

Lajovic looked good, but he's not a future elite - same as Busta, Pospisil, etc.

Yeah, Thiem and Vesely could both be good, but great? Maybe.

If I had to bet on who among the Lost Generation would win Slams I'd say Grigor and Milos. While Milos lost to Djokovic, I was impressed with his maturation and poise and his game is just nasty when he's on. I could see him getting hot and stealing Wimbledon at some point - not this year, certainly, but if and when Rafa, Novak and Andy lose a bit of movement.

Grigor has the best all-around game of the Lost Generation, so could be a threat at any Slam. But again, none of these guys is likely to win more than a Slam or two.

I would agree with all of this, which is why I give Rafa 4+ more Slams. I agree with you on Raonic…I think he's improved a lot of parts of his game, and if we put of the poll of who's going to win one Major, amongst the kids, I'd give him one. I've been impressed with his improvements, and I think he's really ambitious. Same with Dimitrov. And I agree with you…a Slam or two between them.

 

[Moxie]

I also sincerely hope the backwards baseball cap finally goes extinct...and let add excessive towel requests, let's campaign for 5th set tie breakers, and getting rid of tennis in the Olympics.

I'm totally on board with the end of backwards baseball caps. I don't care about the toweling. I'd probably say, yes, do away with tennis in the Olympics. It's disruptive to the calendar, messes up the points on a yearly basis, and doesn't really tell us anything about who the better tennis players are.

The fifth set tie-break: I'm very torn on that one. If I were going to make a quick-fix, though, I would say, make them all TBs through at least the SFs, or perhaps only finals, but then I think it should get played out, even at the USO.

 

[rafanoy1992]

"The player to be named later?"

I also thought that Lajovic demonstrated some good chops.

We ARE seeing some pressure even from the "Lost Generation." They see the Big Guys vulnerable, and the blood is in the water. They may not start winning Majors, but they are starting to make noise. As for the up-coming youngsters, it's hard to say. We hardly get to see enough of them, but there are surely some potentials in there. Thiem and Vesely seem to be breaking through, early.

Lajovic looked good, but he's not a future elite - same as Busta, Pospisil, etc.

Yeah, Thiem and Vesely could both be good, but great? Maybe.

If I had to bet on who among the Lost Generation would win Slams I'd say Grigor and Milos. While Milos lost to Djokovic, I was impressed with his maturation and poise and his game is just nasty when he's on. I could see him getting hot and stealing Wimbledon at some point - not this year, certainly, but if and when Rafa, Novak and Andy lose a bit of movement.

Grigor has the best all-around game of the Lost Generation, so could be a threat at any Slam. But again, none of these guys is likely to win more than a Slam or two.

I would agree with all of this, which is why I give Rafa 4+ more Slams. I agree with you on Raonic…I think he's improved a lot of parts of his game, and if we put of the poll of who's going to win one Major, amongst the kids, I'd give him one. I've been impressed with his improvements, and I think he's really ambitious. Same with Dimitrov. And I agree with you…a Slam or two between them.

Moxie, Raonic is a potential dark horse for Wimbledon. You know the Big Four would not like to see Raonic on their quarter.

 

[El Dude]

I'll take your one or two between the two of them and more than double it: 2-5 Slams between the two of them.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I also sincerely hope the backwards baseball cap finally goes extinct...and let add excessive towel requests, let's campaign for 5th set tie breakers, and getting rid of tennis in the Olympics.

I'm totally on board with the end of backwards baseball caps. I don't care about the toweling. I'd probably say, yes, do away with tennis in the Olympics. It's disruptive to the calendar, messes up the points on a yearly basis, and doesn't really tell us anything about who the better tennis players are.

The fifth set tie-break: I'm very torn on that one. If I were going to make a quick-fix, though, I would say, make them all TBs through at least the SFs, or perhaps only finals, but then I think it should get played out, even at the USO.

I'm not life or death on the 5th set TBs, but I think it takes it's toll..with injuries and shortened careers.

Winpmblen would get an exemption as the matches are generally far shorter.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

it is real grass..the are hundreds of types of grasses. we don't go.."oh I want the u.s open to be on grass again"..

some folk grew up watching s&v on "realgrass" and hark back in a nostalgic way, but we had no rallies and people didn't like it.

tennis in general. we are stuck in this "weak era" of old men dominating until the dead generation of younger guys burst into life.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

it is real grass..the are hundreds of types of grasses. we don't go.."oh I want the u.s open to be on grass again"..

some folk grew up watching s&v on "realgrass" and hark back in a nostalgic way, but we had no rallies and people didn't like it.

tennis in general. we are stuck in this "weak era" of old men dominating until the dead generation of younger guys burst into life.

You bring up an interesting point...FYI...HATED the mindless "rush the net, serve and volley, I can't hit a topspin backhand" 2 stroke era.

You can take all Kevin Currens, Wayne Arthur's, Greg Rusedskis et al and shove 'em...lol

However, I think the game has evolved where a hybrid style would be far more entertaining on grass....

 

[El Dude]

we are stuck in this "weak era" of old men dominating until the dead generation of younger guys burst into life.

I wouldn't call it a weak era at all - it is a great era, with three of the ten or fifteen greatest players of the Open Era playing. But what I'm concerned about is 2016 and beyond, when the current elite are turning 30 and slowing down and there are no great players taking their place. So we'll have a diminished Rafa-Novak-Andy and a mediocre generation in their prime. My hope is that by then we'll see some hint of who the next great players are, otherwise we'll be in a mini dark age ala the late 90s and early 00s.

 

[Moxie]

"The player to be named later?"

I also thought that Lajovic demonstrated some good chops.

We ARE seeing some pressure even from the "Lost Generation." They see the Big Guys vulnerable, and the blood is in the water. They may not start winning Majors, but they are starting to make noise. As for the up-coming youngsters, it's hard to say. We hardly get to see enough of them, but there are surely some potentials in there. Thiem and Vesely seem to be breaking through, early.

Lajovic looked good, but he's not a future elite - same as Busta, Pospisil, etc.

Yeah, Thiem and Vesely could both be good, but great? Maybe.

If I had to bet on who among the Lost Generation would win Slams I'd say Grigor and Milos. While Milos lost to Djokovic, I was impressed with his maturation and poise and his game is just nasty when he's on. I could see him getting hot and stealing Wimbledon at some point - not this year, certainly, but if and when Rafa, Novak and Andy lose a bit of movement.

Grigor has the best all-around game of the Lost Generation, so could be a threat at any Slam. But again, none of these guys is likely to win more than a Slam or two.

I would agree with all of this, which is why I give Rafa 4+ more Slams. I agree with you on Raonic…I think he's improved a lot of parts of his game, and if we put of the poll of who's going to win one Major, amongst the kids, I'd give him one. I've been impressed with his improvements, and I think he's really ambitious. Same with Dimitrov. And I agree with you…a Slam or two between them.

Moxie, Raonic is a potential dark horse for Wimbledon. You know the Big Four would not like to see Raonic on their quarter.

I absolutely agree with this. Nobody wants Raonic in their quarter at Wimbledon. With his serve, and his new willingness to come forward I think he's super-dangerous. And, given his ranking, and an interesting draw, Wimbledon being as volatile as it has been…who knows? Maybe Dark Horse, and not just spoiler.

 

[Moxie]

I'll take your one or two between the two of them and more than double it: 2-5 Slams between the two of them.

OK! That's a fun bet. If between Raonic and Dimitrov, they finish with 2, I win. However, if you're going to "more" than double it, it has to be 3-5+, between them. I'll meet you back here in 10 years. If you're right, I'll buy you dinner in NYC. :laydownlaughing You can tell me what I win if I'm right.

 

[herios]

"The player to be named later?"

I also thought that Lajovic demonstrated some good chops.

We ARE seeing some pressure even from the "Lost Generation." They see the Big Guys vulnerable, and the blood is in the water. They may not start winning Majors, but they are starting to make noise. As for the up-coming youngsters, it's hard to say. We hardly get to see enough of them, but there are surely some potentials in there. Thiem and Vesely seem to be breaking through, early.

Lajovic looked good, but he's not a future elite - same as Busta, Pospisil, etc.

Yeah, Thiem and Vesely could both be good, but great? Maybe.

If I had to bet on who among the Lost Generation would win Slams I'd say Grigor and Milos. While Milos lost to Djokovic, I was impressed with his maturation and poise and his game is just nasty when he's on. I could see him getting hot and stealing Wimbledon at some point - not this year, certainly, but if and when Rafa, Novak and Andy lose a bit of movement.

Grigor has the best all-around game of the Lost Generation, so could be a threat at any Slam. But again, none of these guys is likely to win more than a Slam or two.

I was disappointed by Grigor, this spring, except his SF run in Rome and title in Bucharest, but he underperformed in the rest.
Milos got really consistent this spring, living up to his ranking, now fully planted in the top 10. He had only one upset by Berlocq and that is it.
I am sure the improvements will show on grass as well, just I hope he won't slip like a few years ago and get injured.

 

[Moxie]

^ Given that most wouldn't have expected a "quality" clay season from Milos, I'd say he's sitting in a good place. He should be expected to have reasonably good to very good grass results, which could round him in nicely to the No. Am. HC swing. He's certainly better positioned than Dimitrov, Nishikori (who will remain a wild card, for the time being,) and Janowicz, who's turning out to be a bad bet. Dolgopolov and Gulbis may have something to say. For the middle-weights, I think that's all I can think of. Maybe Garcia-Lopez, to have a game that translates, for a while, and how about "Anything is Posopisil?"