The big 2

[El Dude]

Yep, but I think their shared reign will be short and rocky. They're both going to start showing vulnerabilities, with more frequent upsets this year. Just call it a hunch (and maybe wishful thinking).

 

[the AntiPusher]

Yep, but I think their shared reign will be short and rocky. They're both going to start showing vulnerabilities, with more frequent upsets this year. Just call it a hunch (and maybe wishful thinking).

Seem like a lot of you guys are starting to give up on the big four..base on what..Rafa and Roger have missed months due to injuries in 2016 but still besides Stan ..the masters series and grand slam were won by Novak and Andy..previously if one of the big four were injured, then the big titles still was won by the other 3. Until that formula changes, I am gonna stick with the big 4, I am not ready to jump off the bandwagon.(ESPN) had a decent write up about this today..please read.)

 

[El Dude]

I'll check it out. Just to clarify, I don't think they're going to stop being good, but that we're going to see worsening erosion. We've already seen it with Roger and Rafa, obviously, and Novak really struggled in the second half of last year. Andy has never been hugely consistent, so who knows how long he can maintain the level he's shown for the last seven or eight months.

So yeah, I see more upsets, younger players getting better and better, and a their collective hold on the tour and the big titles getting weaker and weaker. It is inevitable, after all.

 

[El Dude]

Actually, I see two things happening at once this year:

One, the Big Four have a slight resurgence, with Rafa and Roger back in action.

Two, the Big Four start becoming more vulnerable to upsets.

They seem contradictory, but I think both can be true.

 

[Fiero425]

I'll check it out. Just to clarify, I don't think they're going to stop being good, but that we're going to see worsening erosion. We've already seen it with Roger and Rafa, obviously, and Novak really struggled in the second half of last year. Andy has never been hugely consistent, so who knows how long he can maintain the level he's shown for the last seven or eight months.

So yeah, I see more upsets, younger players getting better and better, and a their collective hold on the tour and the big titles getting weaker and weaker. It is inevitable, after all.

We've been waiting for over 10 years! So far only Cilic and Wawrinka have broken the lock on majors and Masters 1000 events! First it was Baby Fed with the potential, and since then seen many come and go including Kei & Raonic, now Zverev & Theim! There are a number of other HOT players, but they still haven't made their mark! :nono :cover

 

[El Dude]

OK, I read the article - plus the one below it about Milos, Kyrgios, Thiem, and Zverev. Not much to quibble with. I particularly found the analysis of what the younger guys need to work on to be interesting and spot on.

Anyhow, reading that article, it is hard not to think the Big Four will rule the roost, at least one more year. But I also think we have to keep in mind the young guys coming up. As the second article says, Kyrgios has the talent and skills to win right now, just not the attitude. Maybe he'll never win a Slam, but maybe he'll win the Australian Open. Thiem might be a threat at RG this year, and maybe the others soon enough (evidently Pam Shriver sees him taking a step forward in his late 20s, like Stan). Milos needs to get over the hump and actually beat Novak. Zverev still has some growing to do (quite literally, in terms of filling out), and the author agrees with me that he's going to be a Slam threat in 2018.

I personally don't see Cilic being a serious threat to win another Slam. He and Kei are in the next tier down, that they could win one if they the draw complete opens up and/or they get a convenient walkover. Stan? Who knows. Del Potro? I'd love to see him win, but it is hard imagining him winning seven matches in a row. Who knows, maybe we need to start taking Grigor seriously again.

So yeah...2017 is still wide open, but the window is going to close, and soon. If the Big Four do dominate (meaning, win 3+ Slams and take at least the top 2 spots), I think this will be the last year.

 

[Fiero425]

OK, I read the article - plus the one below it about Milos, Kyrgios, Thiem, and Zverev. Not much to quibble with. I particularly found the analysis of what the younger guys need to work on to be interesting and spot on.

Anyhow, reading that article, it is hard not to think the Big Four will rule the roost, at least one more year. But I also think we have to keep in mind the young guys coming up. As the second article says, Kyrgios has the talent and skills to win right now, just not the attitude. Maybe he'll never win a Slam, but maybe he'll win the Australian Open. Thiem might be a threat at RG this year, and maybe the others soon enough (evidently Pam Shriver sees him taking a step forward in his late 20s, like Stan). Milos needs to get over the hump and actually beat Novak. Zverev still has some growing to do (quite literally, in terms of filling out), and the author agrees with me that he's going to be a Slam threat in 2018.

I personally don't see Cilic being a serious threat to win another Slam. He and Kei are in the next tier down, that they could win one if they the draw complete opens up and/or they get a convenient walkover. Stan? Who knows. Del Potro? I'd love to see him win, but it is hard imagining him winning seven matches in a row. Who knows, maybe we need to start taking Grigor seriously again.

So yeah...2017 is still wide open, but the window is going to close, and soon. If the Big Four do dominate (meaning, win 3+ Slams and take at least the top 2 spots), I think this will be the last year.

Many players have the ability and as good as the Big 4 have been over the last decade, when vulnerable the "also-rans" couldn't complete the job; many times with leads and multiple MP's! It just been gutless and will continue to think that way until someone breaks through and breaks through this year; not 2018! :nono :cover

- - http://fiero4251.blogspot.com/2016/08/fan-page-novak-nole-djokovic.html - -

 

[El Dude]

Fiero, the "also-rans" are declining: Berdych, Tsonga, Ferrer, Gasquet, etc. Actually, a couple of them did break through and win Slams: Cilic and Wawrinka.

Maybe they hold on in 2017, but by 2018 we should be seeing their reign challenged.

 

[LegendsofSport]

What does 2017 hold for Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray ???

You would expect them to win at least one each, one should get two. I'd love to see Nadal and/or Fed add to their tally but they arent getting younger, and injuries hurt them both in 2016. Maybe someone like a Dimitrov will finally stand up?

 

[Front242]

There's only one thing about Dimitrov standing up and it's not helping his tennis :cover

 

[sid]

The big 2 go into round 2 @ AO.

 

[Front242]

They must be so proud.

 

[sid]

They must be so proud.

One of the big 2 is now in round three :snicker

 

[sid]

Wow one of the big 2 gone.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Wow, both of the big 2 are gone. Time to close this thread and also stop using the stupid term big 2 to which no one else subscribed other than the OP.

 

[Front242]

Both are number 2s. Flushed down the toilet. Gone. "Dangerous floaters".

 

[the AntiPusher]

Both are number 2s. Flushed down the toilet. Gone. "Dangerous floaters".

I don't know if I would consider Istomin and M Zverev dangerous floaters..Istomin hasn't won two matches in a row for almost two years ...And Isner had no business M Zverev .. Novak and Andy both ran into two hot players.

 

[Front242]

Both are number 2s. Flushed down the toilet. Gone. "Dangerous floaters".

I don't know if I would consider Istomin and M Zverev dangerous floaters..Istomin hasn't won two matches in a row for almost two years ...And Isner had no business M Zverev .. Novak and Andy both ran into two hot players.

I was referring to the 2 turds who were knocked out, hence "number 2s" Sh1t floats, you know. Sometimes.

 

[mrzz]

(answering AP above) It is true. The point is... how many hot players have the real big 3 (gotta give credit to Djokovic) ran into in history? A lot, but they found a way to win. For years. That´s why I, since the beginning, complained about the term.

Not dishing Murray, I saw most of the match and it was pretty high quality. Murray played well too, and 99% of the time guys playing the way M Zverev was playing will start to miss a lot. He was also pretty honest in the post match interview. I mean, no shame in that loss. But still...

 

[the AntiPusher]

Both are number 2s. Flushed down the toilet. Gone. "Dangerous floaters".

I don't know if I would consider Istomin and M Zverev dangerous floaters..Istomin hasn't won two matches in a row for almost two years ...And Isner had no business M Zverev .. Novak and Andy both ran into two hot players.

I was referring to the 2 turds who were knocked out, hence "number 2s" Sh1t floats, you know. Sometimes.

My baad,, I gotta ya now..thanks and very well understood