The Lost Generation of Nishikori, Raonic and Dimitrov.

[Kirijax]

Raonic and Dimitrov were both knocked out of Wimbledon today, leaving none of the "young guns" who were supposed to take over from the Big Four left in the tournament. I'm starting to have doubts if these three will ever reach their potential. Maybe they already have.

Kei Nishiori:
Age: 25
Highest Ranking: 4
Tournament titles:
9 (5 500 and 4 250)
Masters 1000: None
Best Slam Results:
Australian: QF (2012, 2015)
French: QF (2015)
Wimbledon: 4th round (2014)
U.S. Open: Final (2015)

Milos Raonic:
Age: 24
Highest Ranking: 4
Tournament titles:
6 (1 500 and 5 250)
Masters 1000: None
Best Slam Results:
Australian: QF (2015)
French: QF (2015)
Wimbledon: SF (2014)
U.S. Open: 4th round (2012, 2013, 2014)

Grigor Dimitrov:
Age: 24
Highest Ranking: 8
Tournament titles:
4 (1 500 and 3 250)
Masters 1000: None
Best Slam Results:
Australian: QF (2014)
French: 3rd round (2013)
Wimbledon: SF (2014)
U.S. Open: 4th round (2014)

At the end of 2014, all three seemed to be rising but it's amazing what six months will do. Now they seem to be stalled while the young guys are starting to make their move. All three have their vulnerabilities: Nishikori (body), Raonic (techinique) and Dimitrov (mental). All three of them need to make a statement this summer or they could watch the younger guys zooming past them pretty soon.

 

[Moxie]

Given the new "late-blooming" phenomenon in the men's game, I still think Nishikori, especially, has some time, and he's made one Slam final, despite the late-nights and long matches. Raonic's game being what it is, I think he's at his level, or almost over-achieving. #4 is a high-ranking for him, given the current competition at the top, and the limitations of his game. I don't like his game, but I admire his ambition and commitment. The one I'm losing faith in is Dimitrov. He's got a lot of weapons, but no identifiable fire in the belly. The loss today to Gasquet was a head-scratcher. I think nehmeth said something about a battle of underachievers. Only the older one beat the young one in straights. Not to completely diss Gasquet, as he's had some good performances on grass, but straight sets? And one of Dimitrov's paltry 4 titles is on grass, if I'm not wrong. I don't think Dimi ever broke today. Where was the fight?

 

[nehmeth]

Given the new "late-blooming" phenomenon in the men's game,

Catchy Mox. I'm going to run with it - due to the late blooming phenomenon in the men's game, it is premature to call it the "lost" generation.

Look at Stan garnering his slams later in life. Marin snagged his first at 25 last year. Kei's is smaller and light boned. I'm happily surprised that he has stayed as healthy for such long stretches. Raonic has battled the injury bug as well. Let's give them some time to see how they come along.

Dimi suffers from...uzzled:s:nono Cluelessness? Lack of motivation? I have no idea. Sadly I hold out more hope for the other two.

 

[Kirijax]

So do you think the window of opportunity has shifted?

17-25

to

20-28

to

24-32 now?

If that is the case, then they still might have some chances. But the biggest thing for me is not these guys but the guys coming up behind them. NRG just might get shoved out of the way if they keep messing around.

 

[Moxie]

Given the new "late-blooming" phenomenon in the men's game,

Catchy Mox. I'm going to run with it - due to the late blooming phenomenon in the men's game, it is premature to call it the "lost" generation.

Look at Stan garnering his slams later in life. Marin snagged his first at 25 last year. Kei's is smaller and light boned. I'm happily surprised that he has stayed as healthy for such long stretches. Raonic has battled the injury bug as well. Let's give them some time to see how they come along.

Dimi suffers from...uzzled:s:nono Cluelessness? Lack of motivation? I have no idea. Sadly I hold out more hope for the other two.

Stan is specifically who I was thinking of, of course. Don't know if Cilic is one to look at, or a one-slam fluke, yet. I think Kei has time. Roanic seems like he could be the Berdych of his era: solid mid-top 10 with no Slam. For those 2, I see solid futures, if not glittering. As to Dimitrov, I'm with you. I think he's more "Gasquet" than "Wawrinka," or even Ferrer or Berdych. He looks poised to wander around in the teens-20s of the rankings.

 

[El Dude]

Even if they peak a bit later it will go down as a lost generation - sort of like the generation between Agassi/Sampras/Courier/Rafter and Federer/Hewitt/Roddick - the Kafelnikov/Kuerten/Rios crew. Some good players there but no great ones.

Someone of that crew is going to win a Slam or two, but none are going to be great. Don't forget David Goffin as well, who has quietly become relevant.

But yeah, it is looking more and more like the Kyrgios/Coric/Kokkinakis/Zverev generation will be the next dominant crew.

 

[Fiero425]

Given the new "late-blooming" phenomenon in the men's game,

Catchy Mox. I'm going to run with it - due to the late blooming phenomenon in the men's game, it is premature to call it the "lost" generation.

Look at Stan garnering his slams later in life. Marin snagged his first at 25 last year. Kei's is smaller and light boned. I'm happily surprised that he has stayed as healthy for such long stretches. Raonic has battled the injury bug as well. Let's give them some time to see how they come along.

Dimi suffers from...uzzled:s:nono Cluelessness? Lack of motivation? I have no idea. Sadly I hold out more hope for the other two.

I've been using the adjective of "gutlessness" with these technically superior athletes! All I know is that past generations "rose to the occasion" a lot more than the pros of today! I can run down 20 memorable upsets of tops players from the 70's thru 2002! It just doesn't happen these days and I've railed about it for quite a while! It's not like I'm looking for Nole or Roger to get knocked out prematurely, but event after event, it's not much you have to worry about that happening! To get multiple players of a generation with streaks in the double digits making major 1/4's and semis routinely, that says a lot about how good they are, but also labels their rivals as "worthless!" :nono :cover :ras: - Knocking off Rafa these days is like waiting to beat Laver, Rosewall, and Connors at their career ends! It would have been a lot more impressive if some of those guys with MP's finished the deal just once in the crunch at a major of an elite player at their best; just once or twice would have been nice! :nono :cover

 

[Moxie]

Even if they peak a bit later it will go down as a lost generation - sort of like the generation between Agassi/Sampras/Courier/Rafter and Federer/Hewitt/Roddick - the Kafelnikov/Kuerten/Rios crew. Some good players there but no great ones.

Someone of that crew is going to win a Slam or two, but none are going to be great. Don't forget David Goffin as well, who has quietly become relevant.

But yeah, it is looking more and more like the Kyrgios/Coric/Kokkinakis/Zverev generation will be the next dominant crew.

Goffin could become something like the Davydenko of his era: quietly racking up wins under the radar.

 

[sid]

Raonic is another Roscoe Tanner,big serve not quick enough around the court,if big 4 have a bad day he might win.Nishiori of the 3 might be the one who brakes in @ some point.ps By saying big 4 Nadal i still would not wright off just yet,or Stan you can add as a big 4 atm in place of Nadal.

 

[herios]

Someone of that crew is going to win a Slam or two, but none are going to be great. Don't forget David Goffin as well, who has quietly become relevant.

Goffin will overtake Dimitrov after Wimbledon. Therefore the packing order among them will be:
1. Nishikori
2. Raonic
3. Goffin
4. Dimitrov.

I am not giving up yet on any of them, as far as their peak, as of yet.
I think there is still room for improvement.

 

[herios]

So do you think the window of opportunity has shifted?

17-25

to

20-28

to

24-32 now?

If that is the case, then they still might have some chances. But the biggest thing for me is not these guys but the guys coming up behind them. NRG just might get shoved out of the way if they keep messing around.

The peak is now anywhere between 24-30. Over 30, so far was only Ferrer, Estrella Burgos is apeculiar case.

 

[Moxie]

Even if they peak a bit later it will go down as a lost generation - sort of like the generation between Agassi/Sampras/Courier/Rafter and Federer/Hewitt/Roddick - the Kafelnikov/Kuerten/Rios crew. Some good players there but no great ones.

Someone of that crew is going to win a Slam or two, but none are going to be great. Don't forget David Goffin as well, who has quietly become relevant.

But yeah, it is looking more and more like the Kyrgios/Coric/Kokkinakis/Zverev generation will be the next dominant crew.

I take your point that peaking late, even if they win a few slams makes them still a lost generation. You've proven to us that only those who start early turn into all-time greats. The youngsters coming up will almost surely pass them in achievements. Probably only one or two of them, and they are yet to be named, with certainty.

 

[brokenshoelace]

It's a terrible generation. I've said it two years ago, said it last year, said it this year, caught flack each and every time, and yet, am proven right each and every time.

 

[Fiero425]

It's a terrible generation. I've said it two years ago, said it last year, said it this year, caught flack each and every time, and yet, am proven right each and every time.

I've called this past generation gutless for years, allowing the "Big 4" to own the tour's Majors and Masters! There just weren't that many upsets to take note of until recently! I think even the women have had more turnover; which is normally strange to see! :cover :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Moxie]

It's a terrible generation. I've said it two years ago, said it last year, said it this year, caught flack each and every time, and yet, am proven right each and every time.

I'm trying to remember how much "flack" you've caught for it. (I could be wrong.) But aside from some wistfulness and occasional optimism about them from the general populace, and specific cheerleading from actual fans of theirs, (of which there are a limited number,) I think we've all been wondering what's up with this group. El Dude has been signaling it for years.

 

[Kirijax]

It's a terrible generation. I've said it two years ago, said it last year, said it this year, caught flack each and every time, and yet, am proven right each and every time.

I'm trying to remember how much "flack" you've caught for it. (I could be wrong.) But aside from some wistful and occasional optimism about them from the general populace, and specific cheerleading from actual fans of theirs, (of which there are a limited number,) I think we've all been wondering what's up with this group. El Dude has been signaling it for years.

That "flak" is all from Fiero, the stirrer of pots.

 

[El Dude]

It's a terrible generation. I've said it two years ago, said it last year, said it this year, caught flack each and every time, and yet, am proven right each and every time.

Huh? Everyone has been saying it is a poor generation for as long as you have. I don't get this flack you claim to be getting, or the sole knowledge of this generation's crappiness. Nice narrative, though.

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

 

[Moxie]

It's a terrible generation. I've said it two years ago, said it last year, said it this year, caught flack each and every time, and yet, am proven right each and every time.

I'm trying to remember how much "flack" you've caught for it. (I could be wrong.) But aside from some wistful and occasional optimism about them from the general populace, and specific cheerleading from actual fans of theirs, (of which there are a limited number,) I think we've all been wondering what's up with this group. El Dude has been signaling it for years.

That "flak" is all from Fiero, the stirrer of pots.

And Fiero even liked your post, bless him, but he's agreeing in a big way with BS. He calls them all "gutless." That no one is disagreeing is the point, I think.

 

[Kirijax]

I'm trying to remember how much "flack" you've caught for it. (I could be wrong.) But aside from some wistful and occasional optimism about them from the general populace, and specific cheerleading from actual fans of theirs, (of which there are a limited number,) I think we've all been wondering what's up with this group. El Dude has been signaling it for years.

That "flak" is all from Fiero, the stirrer of pots.

And Fiero even liked your post, bless him, but he's agreeing in a big way with BS. He calls them all "gutless." That no one is disagreeing is the point, I think.

Maybe but you don't have to taste everything he's stirring.

 

[Moxie]

That "flak" is all from Fiero, the stirrer of pots.

And Fiero even liked your post, bless him, but he's agreeing in a big way with BS. He calls them all "gutless." That no one is disagreeing is the point, I think.

Maybe but you don't have to taste everything he's stirring.

:huh: