Rafa and Roger fans - any new possible favorites in the queue?

[El Dude]

I know, they're not dead and buried and we can hope for another year or two of top 10 tennis from each. But I imagine some of you are looking around for possible suitors of your next favorite player? Scoping the field of young 'uns? Or is that just me?!

I haven't connected yet with a young player, but I'm looking. I've long soured on Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov is just so disappointing (and not that young anymore). I'm keeping an eye on Coric, Zverev, Chung, Rublev, and Ymer. I'd like to follow an American, so am keeping my eye on Donaldson, Fritz, and Tiafoe. But no one has stood out as "my" player. Yet.

Anyhow, I was just thinking about what makes a player one's favorite. I was only a casual tennis fan until five or six years ago, but remember liking Federer as soon as I heard of him back around the time he won his first Slam (that's how casual I was - I didn't even know about him until he won a Slam, I believe). When I got really seriously into following the sport in 2009 or 2010, Roger was my favorite. I also like Pete Sampras back in the day, and before him Stefan Edberg, and first of all, Bjorn Borg.

So now I'm curious: what will make me decide on a new favorite? I imagine that, like falling in love, it isn't a matter of deciding, but it just happens.

So what about others? Any suitors in the mix?

 

[Front242]

Must say I liked what I saw from Quentin Halys in his match against Novak, especially the 3rd set. Hope to see more good matches from him this year. Definitely a lot of potential there.

 

[El Dude]

But he's French, so his ceiling is a top 20 player with just a taste of the top 10 every now and then.

 

[Front242]

Most likely yup.

 

[tented]

I know, they're not dead and buried and we can hope for another year or two of top 10 tennis from each. But I imagine some of you are looking around for possible suitors of your next favorite player? Scoping the field of young 'uns? Or is that just me?!

I haven't connected yet with a young player, but I'm looking. I've long soured on Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov is just so disappointing (and not that young anymore). I'm keeping an eye on Coric, Zverev, Chung, Rublev, and Ymer. I'd like to follow an American, so am keeping my eye on Donaldson, Fritz, and Tiafoe. But no one has stood out as "my" player. Yet.

Anyhow, I was just thinking about what makes a player one's favorite. I was only a casual tennis fan until five or six years ago, but remember liking Federer as soon as I heard of him back around the time he won his first Slam (that's how casual I was - I didn't even know about him until he won a Slam, I believe). When I got really seriously into following the sport in 2009 or 2010, Roger was my favorite. I also like Pete Sampras back in the day, and before him Stefan Edberg, and first of all, Bjorn Borg.

So now I'm curious: what will make me decide on a new favorite? I imagine that, like falling in love, it isn't a matter of deciding, but it just happens.

So what about others? Any suitors in the mix?

I've been thinking about this myself recently, and even discussing it with other members, so I'm glad you opened a thread.

The guys I've been watching in the Top 100 are Coric (19), Thiem (22), and Sock (23), but mainly Coric, because he's more of a shot-maker than the other two.

There are other young(ish) guys I enjoy, such as Pospisil, Goffin, and Delbonis, but I don't think they will be truly great players, so I'm not that invested in them.

Beyond the Top 100, I'm curious about Noah Rubin (19), who won junior Wimbledon in 2014, but I haven't been able to see much, since he isn't someone who's regularly televised.

 

[Kieran]

In a word, no.

But when I get a chance to, I'm enjoying watching tennis from a neutral perspective at the moment...

 

[10isfan]

I hope Zverev breaks out soon. I don't want to think about Coric being at the top. His game is not fun to watch. I am also impressed with Ymer.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I know, they're not dead and buried and we can hope for another year or two of top 10 tennis from each. But I imagine some of you are looking around for possible suitors of your next favorite player? Scoping the field of young 'uns? Or is that just me?!

I haven't connected yet with a young player, but I'm looking. I've long soured on Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov is just so disappointing (and not that young anymore). I'm keeping an eye on Coric, Zverev, Chung, Rublev, and Ymer. I'd like to follow an American, so am keeping my eye on Donaldson, Fritz, and Tiafoe. But no one has stood out as "my" player. Yet.

Anyhow, I was just thinking about what makes a player one's favorite. I was only a casual tennis fan until five or six years ago, but remember liking Federer as soon as I heard of him back around the time he won his first Slam (that's how casual I was - I didn't even know about him until he won a Slam, I believe). When I got really seriously into following the sport in 2009 or 2010, Roger was my favorite. I also like Pete Sampras back in the day, and before him Stefan Edberg, and first of all, Bjorn Borg.

So now I'm curious: what will make me decide on a new favorite? I imagine that, like falling in love, it isn't a matter of deciding, but it just happens.

So what about others? Any suitors in the mix?

For me it is easy.. I look for passion, commitment, and absolutely NO sense of entitlement. That is why Tomic and Sock could NEVER be on my list.

I really like Alex Zverev. I sense he wants it so badly. And I love his easy power. Very Safin like.

I like Coric, but his game does not thrill me.

I have to say I personally don't know of any in the cue that have dominance potential.

But I am constantly on the look out. Indian Wells this year will be fertile scouting ground.

 

[Fiero425]

We're all assuming "The Big 3" will have to move along sooner or later, but IMO they aren't going anywhere! We've buried Roger a few times and he's still a solid #3 playing major finals! You can't say that about any of the coming crop; having every opportunity with skill, talent, and youthful exuberance at their beck and call! They've all crashed and burned, come and gone, and I'm just not sure if the changing of the guard is going to happen any time soon! We all had hope Del Po would come of age and challenge the elite! Short-lived; surprise, injury bug! That's the way it's been with the next of them in Kei & Milos! Both have challenged the best, but they can't stay on the court for long either! I'm done with Grigor after that loss to Murray in Cincy last season! Like so many of these newbies, he had multiple match points and breaks giving away his lead and the match! I'll have to call it gutless to this day! Even if Roger were to hobble away, who's supposed to challenge Nole when these guys can't handle the old men now? :cover

 

[El Dude]

Fiero, I'm not saying it will happen soon, just that it will happen. And unlike the Grigor-Kei-Milos generation, the next generation (born 1994-98) will be rising as Novak-Murray will be declining. At some point they'll pass each other on the mountain, so to speak.

When that will be, I don't know. I do expect the tour to become more competitive over the next few years. Maybe not so much this year, although as I've said elsewhere I expect some bounce-back from the 89-93 bunch, but I do think we'll continue to see gains from the Young Punks and by next year they'll start being a factor in big tournaments, or at least some of them will.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

My favorites went like JMac,Edberg,Sampras,Roger...Sooo, I am looking for exciting attacking tennis with a solid single handed backhand?

I don't know man...Roger probably has 10 more years in him. I will start looking after that.:snicker

 

[Fiero425]

My favorites went like JMac,Edberg,Sampras,Roger...Sooo, I am looking for exciting attacking tennis with a solid single handed backhand?

I don't know man...Roger probably has 10 more years in him. I will start looking after that.:snicker

Roger might haunt the tour for quite a few more years with the pathetic progression of the "next generation!" These guys are moving like snails with only a glimpse of what "could be" in Kei, Grigor, and Milos! There are players like Edberg and Sampras, they just aren't in the top echelon; guess that's what you mean! We get the style in Milos at times and Ivo D. lives it, blasting in first serves and relentlessly attacking the net! :eyepop :angel: :dodgy:

 

[10isfan]

Sad to say, I don't think Fed will be around for more than two years. He said when he starts getting relegated to smaller courts, he will stop. By then, he won't be contending for majors. He is probably still motivated by that elusive 18th to assure his record doesn't get broken.

 

[bajana]

That young lad from Canada, Felix Auger-Aliassime. I'm dubbing him a Federal tennis player, as in FAA

 

[Busted]

Sad to say, I don't think Fed will be around for more than two years. He said when he starts getting relegated to smaller courts, he will stop. By then, he won't be contending for majors. He is probably still motivated by that elusive 18th to assure his record doesn't get broken.

I don't know how this old thread ended up at the top of the forum today, but seeing this nearly 18--months old comment made me laugh. What a difference a 18 months has made. Roger will probably still only play 2-3 more years - but now it's adding to 19 Slams that will keep him motivated.

 

[El Dude]

Hard to fault 10sfan. Who thought Roger would resurge like this? No one. A year ago things were looking grim...now #20 seems probable, either now or next year.


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[El Dude]

That young lad from Canada, Felix Auger-Aliassime. I'm dubbing him a Federal tennis player, as in FAA

To answer my own question, the three young uns I'm most excited by are Aliassime, Zverev and Rublev, followed by Tiafoe, Ruud, Shapovalov and one or two others. But if I were to guess my favorite player in five years, it will probably be one of those first three.


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[Vamos Texas]

If Kyrgios or Dimitrov ever got serious that would be awesome.
Thiem is my leading candidate for new favorite player.

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[GameSetAndMath]

FAA was born on Aug. 8th same as some other player.

 

[britbox]

If Kyrgios or Dimitrov ever got serious that would be awesome.
Thiem is my leading candidate for new favorite player.

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Dimitrov's days of being an upcoming talent are gone. He's 26 and these young fellas will surpass him. Grigor's best window to make an impression is probably right now - this very tournament in Cinci.... something tells me, he'll fall short.