Nick Kyrgios

[El Dude]

Here's some food for thought. With Nick Kyrgios' second QF appearance at a Slam as a teenager, I believe he's the first player to make it to two QFs as a teenager since...well, let's see.

It isn't Novak Djokovic, who had appeared in only one (the 2006 French Open); he turned 20 just before his SF appearance at the 2007 French Open. Andy Murray didn't make a QF until he was 21. Del Potro caught fire at a young age, his first QF appearance--the 2008 US Open--was around his 20th birthday and he was in a few more before turning 21. Not even Rafael Nadal, who turned 20 years old a day or two before making his second Slam QF in 1986 on route to his second Slam title. Hewitt only had one QF, Safin none.

But guess who played in two QFs before turning 20 years old? Late-blooming Roger Federer. Actually, after making the 2001 Wimbledon QF at age 19, Roger didn't make it to the second week of a Slam until exactly two years later when he won his first Slam at age 21.

Before Roger we'd probably have to go back to the 1990s to find a player who made it to the second week of a Slam twice before his 20th birthday. I know Andre Agassi made three SFs before turning 20, but Pete Sampras didn't do it. So yeah, pretty remarkable feat from Kyrgios.

 

[Federberg]

That's interesting I would have assumed that Rafa would have made his second QF as a teen..

 

[El Dude]

It was really just a matter of days - I had to calculate. Rafa's birthday is June 3 and the 2006 French Open ended June 11, so I figured that the QF was four days before that on June 5.

 

[Puppet Master]

Those are some nice stats, and I haven't really watched many of his matches, perhaps some aussie or anyone who follows him could tell me but, how does he play on clay? If he pulls off an upset during the red dirt season we could start talking about him winning titles, I mean he has already achieved a lot, but he still needs oodles of experience, and of course, his game needs to develop a lot before he can make it happen.

 

[El Dude]

Puppet Master, I can't answer your question but unfortunately we might not see a lot of clay action from Kyrgios as he's out until mid-May or so. Maybe some, but not much.

He did win a couple clay Challenger tournaments last year, including one final against Jack Sock.

 

[Puppet Master]

Puppet Master, I can't answer your question but unfortunately we might not see a lot of clay action from Kyrgios as he's out until mid-May or so. Maybe some, but not much.

He did win a couple clay Challenger tournaments last year, including one final against Jack Sock.

Well that is unfortunate, I just hope that he doesn`t get hindered by injuries constantly, I really wouldn`t like to see a tall, lanky guy who can play his best tennis for about a month and then sit out the rest of the season. Poor Delpo :nono

 

[Moxie]

Dude, Roger was never really a late-bloomer, though, was he? I think that phrase used to get tossed around the old tennis board because he didn't win a Major at 19, and people had been looking for him to do it from the teen years, obviously. But you've told us before that 21 is right on track for elite, multi-Slam winners. I don't think we'll see another teenage Slam winner out of the current crop, either, but at the usual 20-21, more likely, as the Big 4 are aging-out.

 

[herios]

Dude, Roger was never really a late-bloomer, though, was he? I think that phrase used to get tossed around the old tennis board because he didn't win a Major at 19, and people had been looking for him to do it from the teen years, obviously. But you've told us before that 21 is right on track for elite, multi-Slam winners. I don't think we'll see another teenage Slam winner out of the current crop, either, but at the usual 20-21, more likely, as the Big 4 are aging-out.

I agree with moxie. Starting to win slams at 21 like Roger did, will be sufficient going forward to become an elite player.
The young players cannot penetrate through the rankings anymore as they used to. Just look how many of those mid range top 100 get better in the late 20's and how many 30+ players are sticking around these are multiple layers to get through and makes it much more difficult to get a higher ranking for young players.
And if they are talented enough, then because the game is too physical, they get injured way too early.

 

[Kirijax]

Guy needs a publicist. Obviously.

Herald Sun
‏@theheraldsun
I have sex before a game, says @NickKyrgios, adding he attracts plenty of girls http://bit.ly/1AsS0x2

 

[tented]

Guy needs a publicist. Obviously.

Herald Sun
‏@theheraldsun
I have sex before a game, says @NickKyrgios, adding he attracts plenty of girls http://bit.ly/1AsS0x2

The same way Gulbis attracts girls in Sweden.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Contrary to the popular opinion, sex before the event actually helps performance. There is a show called "sports science" on ESPN in which they "demonstrated" this. It is true for both male and female athletes and in a wide variety of sports. Here is one small episode from sports science show.

 

[El Dude]

He isn't really all that likeable so far, is he? Of course how many 20 year olds are likeable?

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTaZkf4dih8[/video]

 

[Riotbeard]

He isn't really all that likeable so far, is he? Of course how many 20 year olds are likeable?

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTaZkf4dih8[/video]

He's only unlikeable because we all want to have sex with model-looking women/men and get paid millions to play tennis within 24 hour time periods.

Right?

Or is that just me...

 

[Kirijax]

He isn't really all that likeable so far, is he? Of course how many 20 year olds are likeable?

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTaZkf4dih8[/video]

He's only unlikeable because we all want to have sex with model-looking women/men and get paid millions to play tennis within 24 hour time periods.

Right?

Or is that just me...

It's just you. ....but just the "only" part.